/Expat Tools
I moved overseas in the summer of 2011 and have been overseas (minus a few short stints back in the US) ever since. It’s an incredible lifestyle that everyone should try at least once in their life. I’ve lived in North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and traveled Europe extensively. It is certainly an exciting life and I’m never quite sure what new thing I’m going to see each day.
This site is my “lessons learned” for those beginning their expatriate journey or about to take their first overseas trip. Most of the products/services below should be applicable to any overseas destination. Keep in mind none of this should be considered tax or financial advice as I’m just a dude who lives abroad with no expertise in either of these subjects.
Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links and I may make a commission which helps keep the site running.
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/Tech
NordVPN – I’ve been using Nord for the last 5 years with no issues. I previously used PIA and had an issue with violating their terms of service by connecting from a banned country’s IP. I don’t know, it was strange… Nord offers plenty of server locations, fast connections, and it runs stable on my Mac, PC, and iPhone. They offer other interesting options like a dedicated IP to avoid all of those annoying captchas but I haven’t tried it yet. This is an absolute must have to keep you from getting locked out of your bank while trying to access it from a Chinese IP address (ask me how I know…)
Google Voice – This is my default US line for two factor authentication texts and calls. I also use this to call the US for free. It doesn’t have the best audio quality (Whatsapp audio is much better) but I can’t complain because it’s free! This doesn’t work for all financial institutions but this is a must have for anyone traveling or living overseas.
US Mobile Light Plan Annual 2GB – Absolutely critical for institutions that don’t recognize Google Voice numbers for two factor authentication. Also, if you bank with Chase, they have difficulty dialing Google Voice numbers. The key here is the ability to receive SMS texts as well as wifi calling for voice. US Mobile’s plan gives you unlimited and texts for $8 a month.
Apple iPhone Pro – I’ve been ride or die iPhone since I (sadly) left my Blackberry behind in the early 2010s. It’s worth it to invest in the Pro model for the camera alone. I find I don’t have room for my DSLR camera on most of my trips so the iPhone Pro is my primary camera. Other killer apps include Apple Wallet, which is a great backup if you don’t want to carry all of your physical cards at once.
eSIMDB – A fantastic site to find eSIMs based on your travel destination. You can sort by duration, data amount, price, throttling, etc. My personal favorite is the “best price/GB” sorting feature. I always know I’m getting the best deal by checking this site before purchasing an eSIM for my trips.
Apple Macbook Air – The battery on these things is insane. I came from using a Dell XPS and this is a night and day improvement. Also, the laptop has business being as powerful as it is for its size. It easily fits into a backpack and stays cool when using it in your lap. They continue to improve each year and cannot think of a better value laptop, especially to travel with.
Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones – I personally prefer Sony’s noise cancelling product to Bose and Apple’s. My previous two Bose headphones fell apart after mild use. My wife has the Apple headphones but I prefer the sound quality, noise cancelling, and weight of the Sonys. I’ve been using the WH-1000MX3s for years and plan on upgrading once these the battery starts to degrade (no sign of this yet)
GL.iNet Travel Router – There are many reasons to travel with a router. You can have a VPN built in for all your connected devices. There’s no need to pair every device (phone, computer, Roku, etc) at every hotel you stay at. Most importantly, they don’t take up much space and don’t cost much. The real benefit of using these are on cruises, airplanes, hotels that charge per connected devices. Connect with the router and you’ll only pay once for all of your connected devices.
/Finance
When it comes to finance the key to a successful overseas trip or deployment is redundancy. Be redundant in every way. This means traveling with both a Visa and Mastercard. Pack a Capital One card and a Chase card. Have several ATM cards from different banks. Inevitably one of your transactions will be flagged as fraudulent. If you don’t have the time (or patience) to deal with it at that moment, it’s key to have a backup from a completely different financial institution.
Just a reminder, always decline the foreign conversion when completing a transaction (ATM, restaurant, hotel, etc) Your bank will certainly give you a more competitive rate than the vendor charging you. For fun, you can take the amount they try to charge you in USD and compare it to your settled amount after having your bank do the conversion. You’ll be shocked to see how much you save paying in the local currency. On top of this, you’ll likely get cash/points from the transaction, a win-win!
Schwab Bank Investor Checking – This is my primary ATM card. Pretty much the perfect banking setup: free worldwide ATMs and no foreign transactions fees. The Visa debit card works just about everywhere and the customer service is great. I had fraudulent transactions after using some questionable ATMs and it was similar to disputing a credit card transaction. Highly recommended and literally saves me hundreds of dollars a year.
Fidelity Cash Management Account – This is my backup ATM card. Similar to the Schwab setup above this has worldwide free ATMs and does not have foreign transaction fees. What’s even cooler about this account is the ability to set the “core” position of your account to SPAXX, Fidelity’s Government Money Market Fund. This means you’ll earn significantly more interest than a typical checking account. Note that as a result, this isn’t technically a “checking account” and is not FDIC insured. For me this isn’t an issue as the underlying asset is government bonds.
Wise Transfer Money –
International Notary Services –
/Credit Cards
You should be getting 2x back on every purchase abroad at a bare minimum. Anything less than that and you’re leaving money on the table. Also, no sense in packing a card with foreign transaction fees. Recommend accumulating points in an ecosystem with transfer partners for outsized value redemptions. For example: Amex MR points = ~2¢ each, Chase UR points = ~2¢ each, Capital One points = ~1.8¢ each. Playing the points game can make that next trip much more affordable.
Capital One Venture X – This is my daily driver at the moment. It’s great because it has no foreign transaction fees, gets 2x on all purchases, and has great travel protections. More importantly it comes with Priority Pass and access to Capital One lounges, which are incredible. Seriously, the DFW Capital One lounge has some of the best food I’ve had in any airport lounge. While the Priority Pass lounges in the US are less than stellar, there are some amazing lounges in Europe and Asia. Although the annual fee is $395, you can get this back with a combination of $300 in travel credits and what is effectively $100 in points each year.
Capital One Savor – For the ultimate minimalist setup, pairing the Savor with the Venture X can’t be beat. Getting 3x back on dining, grocery, and entertainment is great for a no annual fee card. Just like the Venture X there are no foreign transaction fees, making this a solid 2 card setup. This is a good compromise for those who aren’t ready to commit to a life of churning and binders of credit cards.
/Power
Epicka Universal Travel Adapter – A one stop shop for travel adapters. Works with European, United Kingdom, Australian, and US outlets. It’s got a fuse for safety and has USB ports in addition to the AC outlet. Nothing fancy, just gets the job done. Note this does not modify voltage. You’ll need a transformer (see below) for going from 220V to 110V.
Bestek 250W Travel Transformer – Many smart devices are dual-voltage so many do not require a transformer. However, for those devices that do require a transformer (cough electric razor cough) the Bestek is a good option due to its small size and sufficient wattage for most travel related electronics.
Anker Power Bank – Back in my day these could only charge phones… Crucially this one has the oomph to charge a Macbook as well. I wanted to go with a name brand for a power bank given how paranoid airlines have gotten with these in recent years. I’ve been using Anker’s products for years with no issues.
/Travel Gear
Away Carry-On Luggage – This suitcase has served me well on many trips. It’s lightweight, well built, and hasn’t given me any issues to date. Honestly it just works and I don’t spend much time thinking about luggage, which is how it’s supposed to be.
Luggage Scale – I’m not a fan of the airlines getting greedy by nickeling and dining travelers with overweight baggage. It’s not below me to do the “check-in shuffle” and transfer weight from one bag to another or put it on my person. It’s all getting on the plane, what difference does it make?! To deny the airline the satisfaction of profiting from your overpacking, check your stuff with this luggage scale before heading to the airport.
Apple Airtags – This is cheap insurance and comically gives you more granular location data than most airlines/shipping companies have. You won’t have visibility over an ocean but as soon as a shipment hits port, you’ll be sure to know. I always throw one in my backpack and carry-on when going on a trip. I also used one in the seat of my scooter in Asia. The use cases for these are endless.
Brita Filtering Water Bottle – This is great for not only filtering water from that questionable airport fountain but it makes regular potable water taste great as well. I’ve had mine for a few years and its easily paid for itself several times over with the amount I’ve saved from not purchasing bottled water (which is grossly overpriced and a small part of me dies every time I have to pay $3.50 for 10 oz of what should be pennies)
TSA Lock – Helpful not only during travel, but great for locking luggage in a hotel room. I’ll throw my laptop, passport, and any other valuables I’m not carrying on my person in a bag and lock it. It’s no Fort Knox but it should be enough to deter any nosy housekeepers.
/Health
Travel insurance – This is highly trip dependent but I recommend checking your existing policy to see what is and is not covered. You’ll want to close any gaps in international coverage. Depending on the country you’re traveling to you may want a policy that includes medical evacuation.
First Aid Kit – A basic kit should work. Just make sure you have some antiseptic and bandaging until you can make it to the pharmacy or doctor. I use the Johnson & Johnson kit in the link as it has just about everything and is cheap. Remember to check the medicine expiration dates before any extended trips.
Pepto Bismol – Always a good idea to have a few of these in your bag. This will give you the confidence to try that Bangkok street food. This is probably my most consumed over the counter product overseas.
Anti-Diarrheal – You don’t need it, until you really need it. Remember to pack several of these. Check the usage instructions as it may take more than one to relieve your symptoms…
Ibuprofen – It’s clear why you’d want to have a pain reliever and fever reducer in your bag. These take up very little space and are very cheap.
Liquid IV (Sugar Free) – Great for re-hydration after food poisoning, a difficult hike, or a long night. I prefer the sugar free ones as they taste just as good as the originals.
Vaccine Checklist – Country specific vaccine requirements
/Safety
Current Security Alerts – Country specific security alerts from the US State Department.
/Booking
When I travel it’s usually to visit a new place, friends, to do an activity, etc. As a result, how I get there and where I stay is largely driven by best value (aka no luxury vacations for me) I loved to backpack and stay in the 14 person dorm hostels but I’m at a point now where I value privacy, a good night sleep, and a reasonably comfortable accommodation.
Flights – Google Flights allows you to search “Anywhere” from your chosen location. This is a game changer as it allows you to see where you can go for cheap. Given flights are often the most expensive part of a trip, this can open a lot of options for exciting trips.
Hotels – Location, location, location. Get the best value hotel in the best location. Don’t worry about hotel brand loyalty, the value of these loyalty points are only going down. In my opinion, 3-star accommodations are the sweet spot to maximize both value and comfort. Anything above that and you start to lose benefits (breakfast, wifi, parking) for the sake of luxury.
Rental Cars – Unless you are traveling with an entourage or with a purpose that requires a certain vehicle (offroading, towing) get the cheapest thing you can possibly book. Take advantage of any credit card provided insurances if possible and inspect the car thoroughly for damage before leaving.
/Residence
A brief note on residence, if you are an American you will need to find an address to use as your residence while overseas. This can be a family member, friend, or virtual mailbox service. Life can be very difficult if you do not maintain a mailing address in the US as some financial institutions will require this for compliance reasons. I have not used a virtual mailbox service so I cannot endorse one or another. Just be sure to check if your virtual mailbox is flagged by USPS as a Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA).
/Taxation
The subject of taxation on expats is complex. I highly recommend paying a CPA who understands international taxation and is familiar with the IRS’ foreign income exclusions, including the bona fide resident test as well as the physical presence test. This is a huge benefit of living overseas (in 2025 for example you can exclude up to $130,000 of foreign-earned income) but it is critical you work with someone who understands the rules to avoid any issues. Also, keep your state residence (discussed above) in mind when tax planning.
Thanks for reading! Safe travels and keep exploring…