UPDATED MAY 2026
I moved overseas in 2011 and have been abroad ever since — North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. This is my running list of products and services that makes this lifestyle possible.
Most items apply equally to long-term expats and frequent travelers. None of this is tax or financial advice — I’m just a dude who lives abroad who wants to share some lessons learned.
Some links are affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no cost to you.
01 — TECH
📱Connectivity & Devices
Stay connected with the tools below. These are essential for banking overseas and other two factor authentication related services.
Must Have
Five years of daily use with zero issues. Fast connections, plenty of server locations, stable across Mac, PC, and iPhone. An absolute must to avoid getting locked out of your US bank from a foreign IP.
Must Have
Default US number for two-factor authentication and free calls back to the US. Not compatible with every institution, but a decent free option for most. Audio is passable — WhatsApp is better for actual conversation.
US Mobile — Light Plan
Must Have
Critical when banks don’t accept Google Voice for 2FA (Chase in particular). SMS texts and WiFi calling for $8/month. The backup when your Google Voice number isn’t recognized.
Recommended
The best aggregator for comparing eSIM plans by destination, duration, data, and price. The “best price/GB” sort is a game-changer.
Recommended
The camera alone justifies the Pro model — good enough to replace a DSLR for most trips. Apple Wallet is a solid backup for carrying fewer physical cards. Get an unlocked model for the freedom to get local carriers and eSIMs.
Recommended
Exceptional battery, runs cool, fits in any backpack. Coming from a Dell XPS the difference is night and day. Best value laptop for travel.
Recommended
I prefer these over Bose and Apple for noise cancellation, sound quality, and durability. My previous Bose headphones fell apart with mild use.
Recommended
Connect your devices once and forget about it. Can configure a built-in VPN and no need to re-pair at every hotel. Especially valuable on cruises and flights charging “per connected device” where you can pay for one internet connection and use on any device connected to the router.
02 — FINANCE
💵 Banking & ATMs
Redundancy is everything. Carry at least a Visa and Mastercard from different institutions. Always decline foreign currency conversion — your bank’s rate will always beat the vendor’s.
Schwab Bank Investor Checking Account
Must Have
The gold standard: free ATMs worldwide with full fee reimbursement, no foreign transaction fees, a Visa debit card that works nearly everywhere. Saves me hundreds of dollars annually.
Fidelity Cash Management Account
Recommended
Solid backup to Schwab with same ATM and no-FX-fee benefits. Core position can be set to SPAXX money market, earning significantly more interest. There are FDIC insured options that earn lower rates as well.
Wise — International Transfers
Must Have
The document has “Transfer Money” as a blank placeholder. Wise is the leading service for low-fee international wire transfers, real exchange rates, and multi-currency accounts — essential for paying rent or bills in foreign currencies.
International Notary / Apostille Services
Recommended
Living abroad frequently requires notarized documents. NotaryCam handles remote online notarization; Apostille.us assists with document legalization for foreign use. If you are near a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, this is often a service they provide for a fee.
03 — CREDIT CARDS
💳 Points & Travel Perks
Minimum 2x back on every international purchase. No foreign transaction fees is non-negotiable. Build points in transferable ecosystems — Amex MR and Chase UR regularly redeem at ~2¢ each.
Daily Driver
2x on all purchases, no FX fees, Priority Pass + Capital One Lounge access, strong travel protections. The $395 annual fee is effectively offset by $300 in travel credits plus $100 in anniversary points. The Capital One lounges (especially DFW) are genuinely excellent.
Pair With Venture X
3x on dining, groceries, and entertainment with no annual fee and no FX fees. The ideal minimalist two-card setup — high earn rates across common use categories without a wallet full of cards.
04 — POWER
🔌 Adapters & Charging
Make sure you pack a travel adapter so you can plug in your devices. Most electronics are dual voltage (110V/220V) but check before you accidentally fry something. If it has a motor or heating element, you will typically need a transformer sized for that device.
Epicka Universal Travel Adapter
Must Have
Covers EU, UK, AU, and US outlets in one device. Includes fuse and USB-A and USB-C ports. Note: does not convert voltage — you’ll need a transformer for 110V-only devices. Check your device plug to see if something like “100-240V” is listed.
Bestek 250W Travel Transformer
Recommended
While most modern devices are dual-voltage, some aren’t (electric razors). At 250W with a compact form factor, this covers most travel electronics.
Recommended
Powerful enough to charge a MacBook Air. You can charge with USB-A, USB-C and has a handy light. For me this is the sweet spot of being compact and powerful enough for phone/laptop charging.
05 — TRAVEL GEAR
🧳 Luggage & Essentials
I’ve tried to adopt a minimalist approach when it comes for packing for trips. Sure it’s nice to have a lot of stuff with you but we’ve all seen the person with the 90lb checked bag trying to muscle this across the cobblestone streets of Italy.
Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack
Must Have
Slick bag. The original 26 liters expands an additional 6 liters with an expandable compartment. This flexibility is great for airlines with strict requirements for your personal luggage item.
Must Have
Admittedly, I was late to the packing cube party. However, I was converted when my wife no longer needed overflow space in my bags thanks to compression packing cubes. Just make sure they are the compression type so you can cram more into the finite space of your bag.
Must Have
Useful in transit and at hotels. Lock your laptop, passport, and valuables in your room. A solid deterrent even if not impenetrable. Any cheap model will do.
Must Have
Cheap insurance with location data often more granular than what airlines provide. Put one in every bag. Use cases are endless.
Recommended
Lightweight, durable, and otherwise unremarkable. It just works. When you can’t get by with just a backpack, a lightweight carry-on such as this is a good choice.
Recommended
Check your bags before leaving and redistribute weight to avoid airline overweight fees. Unfortunately airlines seem to be getting more strict on weight limits. Don’t give the airlines an opportunity to charge you by showing up with an overweight bag…
Recommended
Filters airport’s less than delicious tasting water and saves a significant amount over buying bottled water on the road. Mine has paid for itself many times over by now.
06 — HEALTH
🏥 Medical & Wellness
Coming from the USA with the highest medical costs in the world, this is often overlooked as “healthcare is cheaper in X country.” This may be true but even in the countries with significantly cheaper healthcare you can still be looking at a bill of tens of thousands of dollars depending on the care received. Travel or international health insurance is comparatively cheap and provides peace of mind when in a foreign country.
Travel Insurance
Must Have
Check your existing coverage first to see if your new destination is covered. Often the best value will be a high deductible “emergency only” plan. For remote or destinations without high quality healthcare, confirm the policy includes medical evacuation.
Must Have
Keep a basic kit with antiseptic and bandaging for blisters, minor cuts, etc. Check expiration dates before any extended trip.
https://amzn.to/4w6EDQI
Must Have
You don’t need it — until you really need it. Pack several and read the instructions. You often need to take more than once at a time. This is what lets you say yes to Bangkok street food.
Must Have
Pain reliever and fever reducer. Cost almost nothing and takes up almost no space. Non-negotiable. Splurge for the liquid gels for faster absorption.
Recommended
For rehydration after food poisoning, a hard hike, or a long night. Sugar-free version is healthier and tastes as good as the original in my opinion.
07 — SAFETY
🛟 Safety & Vaccines
Stay safe and be aware of what’s going on around you when traveling. There are some great free resources below to make sure you’re up to speed.
US State Department STEP Program
Must Have
Always enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive country specific alerts and allow the embassy to contact you in an emergency. It’s free and covers things like crazy weather, civil unrest, and just about anything else that could impact your stay.
CDC Country Specific Vaccine Info
Must Have
Check CDC.gov for destination-specific vaccine requirements before every trip. Some destinations require proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry. Don’t get denied entry for this…
Garmin inReach Mini — Satellite Communicator
Recommended
Good to have while hiking off-grid or traveling to a remote region. This satellite communicator allows two-way messaging and SOS signaling with no cell signal required. Just make sure to check country specific rules for satellite communicators to avoid any misunderstandings at customs.
08 — BOOKING
✈️ Flights, Hotels & Cars
Stop overpaying for flights, hotels, and rental cars. With a little planning and flexibility you can literally cut your trip cost in half.
Must Use
The “Anywhere” search is a genuine game-changer — see every cheap flight from your departure city at once. Flights are the biggest expense; flexibility in dates and destination can dramatically change what’s affordable.
Must Use
I’ve used several paid “flight deal” programs but Going is my favorite. They seem to have the most deals from my home airports and provide useful data like normal price, deal threshold, average deal, etc so you can evaluate each deal relative to what is typical for that route.
Recommended
I’ve found Booking.com has the widest global coverage with free-cancellation. For Asia, Agoda has the best selection of properties. My strategy is to book a room with free-cancellation, monitor the reservation for price drops, and rebook if I see a better deal.
Recommended
Once I’ve booked a fully refundable hotel, I will send this to Pruvo to price track. Pruvo will send an email if it finds the same hotel at a cheaper rate. When this happens, book the new, lower rate and cancel the original refundable booking.
Recommended
Similar to Pruvo, AutoSlash can track car rental bookings and alert you of price drops. You can also use them to request pricing. They’ve always given me competitive rates
09 — RESIDENCE
📫 US Address & Mail
If you’re American, maintaining a US mailing address is essential as financial institutions require it. Use family, a friend, or a virtual mailbox service. This also determines if you will be subject to state income taxes if your previous US address was in a state that charged income taxes.
Traveling Mailbox / PostScan Mail
Recommended
The document mentions virtual mailboxes but endorses none. These provide a real US street address, scan incoming mail, and let you manage everything digitally. Verify the address is not CMRA-listed before using for bank correspondence.
State Domicile Planning
Recommended
Where you establish “residency” for state tax purposes is a major financial decision. Florida, Texas, Nevada, and South Dakota have no income tax and are the most common domicile choices for US expats.
10 — TAXATION
🧾 Expat Tax Planning
Work with a CPA specializing in international taxation. In 2026 you can exclude up to $132,900 of foreign-earned income under the FEIE — but only if you qualify under the Bona Fide Residence Test or the Physical Presence Test. Not financial advice.
Expat-Specialized CPA
Must Have
Generic CPAs often miss the nuances of Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE), Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), and Specified Foreign Financial Assets (Form 8938). You may be required to report accounts exceeding $10,000 to the IRS annually. Bright!Tax, Greenback Tax Services, and Taxes for Expats specialize in this space.
This site documents personal experience and product preferences. Nothing here constitutes tax, legal, or financial advice. Some links are affiliate links — I may earn a small commission at no cost to you, which helps keep this site running.
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