Time for Plan B - Part 3
How to plan and execute on a scouting trip if you are thinking of relocating to another country
This post is the conclusion to my Substack article detailing the scouting trip, an essential element in the process of relocating to another country.
In Part 1 I explained what a scouting trip is, why it is a fundamental part of successful relocation strategy, and what to do in advance before leaving. In Part 2 I detailed the items you need to check off while in your desired country before making your decision.
Scouting Trip Checklist
These are the items for which you need to obtain answers on your scouting trip:
Housing
Cost of Living
Healthcare
Visa and Residency requirements
Cultural Adaptation
Language
Transportation
Infrastructure
Support Networks
Weather
Quality of Life
Education system (if applicable)
Employment opportunities (if applicable)
What to do after you arrive
You have arrived in your desired country.
You have scheduled time to complete all the items on your checklist. How do you spend your days in addition to crossing the criteria off of your list?
Do your best to live as a local during the time you are there.
Go to the local food market. More than once. Go on a Saturday to see how busy it is.
This is your opportunity to eat and drink the local cuisine beyond the restaurants and coffee shops.
Buy your groceries locally. Shop at the larger grocery stores, not just convenience stores. Look for staple products that you typically purchase. Are they available? If not, can you find an acceptable substitute?
After traveling and living part-time in Europe for a number of years, I have often found everyday food items be much cheaper and of a higher quality than in North America. Most European countries have a strong and well-established food culture. I will be writing a series of posts on this in future.
Try to make breakfast, lunch and dinner on your own.
Get a haircut. Talk to locals and expats alike to see who they would recommend as a barber or hairdresser. In my experience the price for a haircut can be very reasonable in southern Europe, with the same or even higher quality as I have received in North America.
What are you “weighting” for? Join a local gym. This is where you will see both locals and expats working out.
If you work out at a gym at home, you will likely want to continue this healthy habit in your new country.
Exercising at a gym will not only benefit your physical and mental health, but your social life as well. Many expats join gyms and do classes together. As in your home country, it is a great way to meet people.
Note: Even in a low cost of living country, gym memberships can be as expensive as in North America.
Your scouting trip is also an opportunity to research prices of products you may purchase when you settle in your new country.
Compare cell phone plans between different providers. Go to department and electronics stores. In Europe electronics can be more expensive than in North America so be prepared for a price difference.
When should you visit?
In my previous article I advocated for visiting your desired country at a time other than the height of summer.
August in southern Europe is a notably challenging time as many Europeans are on vacation at some point during this month.
Not only will the crowding in tourist hotspots (as well as secondary and tertiary cities and towns) be at its peak, the weather is also at its best with one sunny and hot day after another.
You are not getting a true picture of the weather or the complete vibe of the location you are interested in.
In late October things will likely have changed. Immensely.
The weather will not be as warm or pleasant in most cases. Between November and January, it will be much colder.
In apartments or homes without insulation as you may be used to in your home country, you can get a nasty surprise when trying to sleep in the evening and are shivering in your bed.
There can be tremendous rain or even snowfall in the winter months. This is particularly relevant if you intend on purchasing a property and living there full-time.
If you can only take one scouting trip before making a decision, then try as much as possible to experience overlap between two distinct seasons.
The longer you can stay in an area, the easier it will be for you to make an informed decision as to whether or not you can stand the weather.
Additional expenses on your scouting trip
There are few necessary expenses that you will likely incur during your scouting trip.
Transportation. Be prepared to spend on in-country transportation. Do not skimp on this! You need to explore the city, region, and country you are interested in to get a complete picture of where you may be living in future.
You can often get excellent value if you purchase a longer-term public transit pass i.e. for a duration of one week or more. Passes in many countries can be significantly cheaper than what you would pay in North America. This is especially important for metro and tram lines. Taking the train or bus regularly will give you the real insight as to how locals live as they go to and from work, shopping and entertainment among other activities.
Rideshare services like Uber and Bolt can be less expensive in Europe than in North America.
Note: In Portugal I have recently noticed rideshare drivers cancel short trip confirmations from the airport to the auto rental or train station. I’m assuming the cancellation on the driver's side was due to the trip not being enough of a fare. I have not experienced this before.
Guides. Hiring professional guides can add considerable value to your scouting trip and maximize the use of your time. Guides can take you to the areas and activities frequented by locals that would likely become part of your routine. It’s a good idea to get recommendations on guides from social media groups in your desired location.
Emergency Fund. Make sure to set money aside for unforeseen events that your travel and health insurance may not cover such as dental work.
Pack appropriately.
Do not overpack! I cannot stress this enough. Do not overpack.
After having brought an oversized suitcase in previous trips of two week to two month durations, I have been able to downsize my luggage requirements to one carry-on and one backpack.
I realize that packing lightly is not possible for everyone. If you can downsize your luggage, this will make a huge impact on your mobility throughout your scouting trip. This is especially important if you are shuttling between different locations as part of your mission to explore different areas in your desired destination.
In future I will post proven travel tips on maximizing your luggage space and packing efficiently for international trips.
That’s it. I hope that these three posts have been encouraging and motivated you to plan for and do a scouting trip if you are thinking of relocating to a new country.
Please let me know in the comments if you are planning to relocate to another country. If you have already gone through the international moving process, please feel free to share your insights below.
Good luck! Tchau!