Americans are Taking "Scouting Trips" to Europe, But Moving Abroad Isn’t As Simple As Going On Vacation
As the allure of overseas living grows, Americans are increasingly venturing abroad on "scouting trips" to see if they can handle the transition. However, finding a new home abroad is far more complex than simply enjoying a vacation. Financial advisor Alex Ingrim, who has lived in five different European countries over the past 17 years, shares his advice for making your scouting trip a success.
Key Takeaways:
- Beyond the Sunshine: Don’t limit your exploration to peak season. Visiting during the off-season or winter months will provide a more realistic view of daily life.
- More Than a Quick Escape: Six weeks is the minimum time needed to truly experience the challenges and nuances of living in a new country.
- Embrace the Mundane: Run errands like grocery shopping, banking, and visiting local cafes as if you were a permanent resident, not a tourist.
- Choose Your Home Wisely: Select an Airbnb or homestay that reflects your long-term budget and lifestyle needs. Prioritize walkability, accessibility to transportation, and amenities that match your daily routines.
Beyond the Tourist Trap: A Deeper Dive into the Scouting Trip
1. Beyond the Tourist Trap: Embracing the Off-Season
The "sunny" appeal of a potential new home can be misleading. While your scouting trip might be during the idyllic summer months, it’s essential to experience the "off-season" reality. "The Costa del Sol in Spain or holiday destinations in Cyprus may feel much different in the winter than in the summer high season," Ingrim notes. By visiting during the winter or off-season, "you will get a more realistic view of day-to-day life."
2. Seeing Beyond the Surface: Extending Your Stay
A two-week vacation can’t truly prepare you for the challenges and adjustments of living overseas. Ingrim emphasizes the importance of staying for at least six weeks. "If you go for two weeks, you’re not really fully going grocery shopping," he explains. "You can get by just taping over some cracks in what you do on a daily basis." However, "if you go for longer than a month, you have to think about different problems. Like maybe you can’t just go to a laundromat, and you need to actually have a place that has a washer."
He also points out the potential frustrations of everyday life: "A lot of the little things that you can say, ‘Oh, haha, it was really fun when we were on vacation,’ would just annoy you to death after six weeks."
3. The Daily Grind: Running Errands Like a Local
Step away from the touristy restaurants and cafes, and embrace the routines of everyday life. "Try to understand the realistic budget for how you live," Ingrim advises. This includes frequenting the same grocery stores, banks, and local repair shops that you would use as a resident.
Take note of the impact on your consumption habits. "The one thing we hear all the time from people is they have to go out food shopping every few days," Ingrim says. "They live on the third floor, and their apartment doesn’t have an elevator, so they’re wondering, ‘How can I carry this much food up the stairs every other day?’" While seemingly trivial, these everyday challenges can reveal crucial lifestyle adjustments.
4. Finding Your Fit: Choosing the Right Accommodation
Your temporary accommodation should reflect your long-term housing budget and preferences. "This way you can judge the quality of construction, your space requirements and how you will function with a European kitchen first-hand," Ingrim suggests.
Neighborhood selection is equally critical. Prioritize areas with the amenities that will support your daily life. Do you rely on public transportation? Is the neighborhood walkable? Are there restaurants, shops, and other places that align with your daily routines and leisure activities? If you have children or plan to, research school districts.
"It’s nailing down the combination of what’s your lodging going to look like, and then how does that fit in with your daily lifestyle within the neighborhood?" Ingrim says. Don’t forget your hobbies and lifestyle preferences. Are there nearby gyms or bike paths? "Whatever it is, see if it’s readily available," he advises. "If not, it will absolutely get annoying to go and find it later."
Embracing the Challenges of Overseas Living
Scouting trips offer a valuable opportunity to glimpse the realities of overseas living. By stepping beyond the tourist allure, exploring the off-season, running everyday errands like a local, and choosing accommodation that reflects your long-term lifestyle, you can make informed decisions about your future home. Moving abroad is not just about finding a new location; it’s about finding a new way of life. The more you understand the everyday realities of your chosen location, the more prepared you will be to embrace the challenges and rewards of a new chapter.
