Community Blogs

Rome, Italy

• May 7

Italian food is popular across the world, and with good reason. Get a taste of what's in store with the following sections: Cuisine in ItalyHistorical...

Marco Rossi

21

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

• May 6

Luxembourgish is Germanic language similar to German. Not required for expats (English/French/German work). "Moien" = hello. Citizenship requires A2-B1 level. Most multilingual country.

Thomas Weber

21

Bern, Switzerland

• May 6

Famous Swiss legends: William Tell (apple-shooting hero), Tatzelwurm (Alpine dragon), Sechseläuten (snowman burning festival). Rich folklore includes giants, fairies, Christmas traditions.

Ingrid Vogler

25

Singapore, Singapore

• May 6

Singapore Post delivers domestic mail in 1-2 days. Letters S$0.37-0.70, international S$0.70-1.40. 200+ POPStation automated lockers for 24/7 parcel collection. Highly reliable service.

Kevin Lim

13

Bangkok, Thailand

• May 6

Thai education free for citizens (pre-K to grade 12). International schools cost ฿200,000-800,000/year ($5,500-22,000). School year May-March. Quality varies widely.

Lisa Thompson

23

Berlin, Germany

• May 6

Germany's €49 Deutschland-Ticket offers unlimited regional trains, S-Bahns, U-Bahns, trams, buses nationwide. Single tickets €2.90-3.50. Reliable with 95%+ punctuality in cities.

David Miller

22

Doha, Qatar

• May 5

Qatar English news: The Peninsula, Gulf Times (daily papers), Doha News online, Al Jazeera English. International news via satellite/online. Some content censored. VPNs common.

Ahmed Al-Rashid

20

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• May 5

Register with your local municipality within five days, obtain health insurance within four months, and open a Dutch bank account—these are the critical first steps for new arrivals.

James Van Der Berg

25

Paris, France

• May 5

There’s a good reason why France remains the most visited country in the world. In fact, there are thousands of great reasons to soak up all that joie de viv...

Olivia Martin

21

Pretoria, South Africa

• May 5

Car insurance in South Africa is not legally required but highly recommended due to high accident and theft rates, with comprehensive, limited, and third-party coverage options available.

Rachel Ndlovu

18

London, United Kingdom

• May 5

Top London attractions: British Museum (free, 6M+ visitors), Tower of London (£30), Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey (£25). Need 3 days for highlights, 5-7 for comprehensive visit.

Priya Sharma

23

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• May 4

In the Netherlands, dial 112 for all emergencies requiring police, fire, ambulance, or rescue services, with English-speaking operators available 24/7.

James Van Der Berg

27

Paris, France

• May 4

Foreigners in France can open EUR accounts with banks like BNP Paribas or Credit Agricole, or choose multi-currency accounts from Wise and Revolut for EUR plus 25-40+ currencies.

Olivia Martin

19

Global, Global

• May 4

UK expats must file tax returns if they earn UK-sourced income like rental income or pensions, with deadlines of 31 October for paper and 31 January for online submissions.

The Expat Collective

22

Berlin, Germany

• May 4

Children learn German most effectively through immersive experiences like German kindergartens, playground interactions, and combining structured learning with fun activities.

David Miller

17