Community Blogs

Warsaw, Poland

• Feb 26

Polish names reveal gender instantly: females end in "a" (Zofia, Katarzyna), males in consonants (Kazimierz, Tomasz). Surnames change by gender: Kowalski/Kowalska.

jamesmitchell

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

• Feb 26

A practical breakdown of Playa del Carmen's rental market beyond the tourist corridor, real prices for singles, couples, and families in Colosio, Playacar, and the residential developments south of centro, plus tips on navigating high vs. low season pricing.

Jimmy

Madrid, Spain

• Feb 26

Thinking about working in Spain? Before you sign the wrong dotted line, it’s important to understand the basics of employment contracts. Whether you’re consider...

Emily Johnson

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

• Feb 26

Xcaret excels for culture and families, Xplor for adventure with zip lines, and Xel-Ha for all-inclusive snorkeling. Prices range $100-180 USD with distinct experiences for different travelers.

carlosmendoza

Warsaw, Poland

• Feb 26

Poland's most common surnames: Nowak (201k+, means "new"), Kowalski (135k, blacksmith), Wiśniewski (108k). The -ski suffix was noble/land ownership, now democratized. Surnames change by gender: Lewandowski→Lewandowska.

jamesmitchell

Doha, Qatar

• Feb 26

Although mortgages are still a relatively new option for expats in Qatar, more foreigners are using them to finance property purchases in designated zones. If y...

London, United Kingdom

• Feb 26

The UK has long been one of the major financial centers of Europe. Residents have a number of different banks to choose from, each offering various packages tai...

Priya

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Feb 25

Finding Your Amsterdam: Neighborhood GuideWhen I first considered living in Amsterdam, I thought neighborhoods were just neighborhoods. After six years here, I'...

Berlin, Germany

• Feb 25

Fortunately for expats, transferring money overseas in Germany is a fairly straightforward process. That said, there are several factors that you need to keep i...

David Miller

Brussels, Belgium

• Feb 25

For most expats, Belgium might not be the obvious choice as a retirement destination. However, with its central location in Europe, beautiful historic cities, a...

Sophie

Rome, Italy

• Feb 25

Expats who opt for mobile banking in Italy can access various on-the-go financial services. If you’re always traveling or out and about, mobile banking gives yo...

Marco R

Warsaw, Poland

• Feb 25

Explore Poland's magnificent castles including Malbork (world's largest brick castle at 21 hectares), Wawel Royal Castle where Polish kings were crowned, and fairytale Moszna with 99 turrets - medieval fortresses telling centuries of defensive history.

jamesmitchell

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Feb 25

Why Dutch Hospitals Are ExcellentAfter six years in the Netherlands, I can confidently say that the country has one of Europe's best healthcare systems. The Net...

Bern, Switzerland

• Feb 25

Finding work in Switzerland as an international can be exciting, especially since many roles in finance, IT, and pharmaceuticals use English as the working lang...

Ingrid

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

• Feb 25

Colectivos in Playa del Carmen start at just 10 pesos for local rides within the city and go up to 80 pesos ($5 USD) for longer routes like Tulum. They run every 2-5 minutes along the Riviera Maya corridor, making them the cheapest way to travel between Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Akumal. This complete guide covers routes, prices, and how to use them like a local.

carlosmendoza