Open an account that supports multi‑currency balances, FX spreads under 0.5%, and ATM fee rebates up to $200 monthly. Hold one bank-issued debit and at least two credit cards on different networks (Visa, Mastercard); store one card in a locked piece of luggage and one in a secure wallet. Keep physical cash of at least USD 2,000 split among major currencies in denominations under 50, and automate recurring bills with a single billing profile to avoid missed payments.
Buy an eSIM plan with global coverage plus a local physical SIM for the second slot; target 15–30 GB monthly when working remotely and add a battery hotspot with minimum 5,000 mAh. Install a paid VPN and a password manager, secure accounts using a hardware 2FA key such as YubiKey, and keep encrypted backups of passports and critical documents in cloud storage with access logs enabled.
Book monthly stays through platforms offering clear cancellation policies and negotiate a discount of 10–20% on reservations of 30+ nights. Track visa expiry dates in a spreadsheet with automated reminders at 45 and 15 days prior. Purchase trip insurance that includes medical evacuation and at least $100,000 medical coverage; verify response times and local hospital partners. Pack two sets of work attire, three casual outfits, use packing cubes, carry two power banks at 20,000 mAh each, a universal adapter, and a compact first-aid kit.
Packing – 7-piece wardrobe + luggage checklist suited to mixed climates
Recommendation: Pack seven interchangeable garments plus a waterproof shell and a lightweight insulated layer; this set covers hot daytime, cool nights, wet spells and keeps total carry weight low.
7-piece capsule wardrobe
1. Short-sleeve merino top – 150–200 g; odor-resistant, quick-dry, neutral color; wears solo in heat or as a base layer.
2. Long-sleeve merino base – 160–230 g; 200–250 gsm merino blend for sun protection and extra warmth at night.
3. Midweight insulating layer – lightweight fleece or synthetic, 200–300 g; slim fit, breathes during active days.
4. Packable insulated jacket – 200–300 g synthetic or hydrophobic down; compresses into its pocket and doubles as a pillow on transport.
5. Waterproof/breathable shell – 2.5–3-layer construction, 200–350 g, hooded with taped seams; worn over other items during rain or wind.
6. Convertible pants – zip-off legs, nylon-spandex blend, 250–350 g; quick-dry, usable as shorts or trousers across climates.
7. Versatile secondary bottom – lightweight skirt, technical skirt-short, or second pair of trousers in a neutral shade; suitable for casual evenings.
Luggage checklist
Bag system – one 40L carry-on backpack or 45L hard-case plus a 20–30L daypack; aim to keep combined packed weight under 12 kg when possible.
Packing tools – two packing cubes (small, medium), one compression sack to compress bulky items, one shoe bag.
Clothing extras – 3–4 underwear, 3 pairs socks (two merino, one synthetic camp sock), one set sleepwear, one swim brief/kit.
Toiletries – solid shampoo bar, 30 ml refillable bottles, toothbrush, razor; store liquids within local carry-on volume limits.
Electronics – USB-C PD charger, universal adapter with USB-C/USB-A ports, 20,000 mAh power bank, phone, cable pouch, lightweight e-reader or tablet.
Health & safety – mini first-aid kit, 5-day supply of prescription meds plus copy of prescriptions, insect-repellent wipes, sunscreen SPF 30+, water purification tablets.
Laundry & repair – sink soap sheets, small sink stopper, universal needle-and-thread kit, three safety pins, multi-purpose tape strip wrapped around a card.
Documents & money – digital scans of passport and insurance, physical insurance card, primary credit/debit cards in RFID sleeve, printed emergency contacts.
Extras – microfiber towel, packable hat, compact umbrella, reusable water bottle 0.75–1 L, small ziplock bags for wet/dirty items.
Source: REI packing guide https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/packing-list.html
Visas and legal stays: planning 12+ month routes, renewals, avoiding overstay fines
Map exact entry and exit dates in a spreadsheet, then construct a 12+ month route that alternates visa-exempt stays, short-stay visas, and longer residency permits.
Keep these hard rules:
– Schengen area: 90 days within any 180-day window; count backwards each calendar day and never exceed 90 total. Use official Schengen calculators or a rolling-day formula in your sheet.
– United States: ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program allows up to 90 days; B‑2 tourist admissions commonly grant up to 6 months per entry. Overstay consequences: if you overstay >180 days but <1 year and then depart, expect a 3-year re-entry ban; overstay >1 year triggers a 10-year ban.
– United Kingdom: standard visitor admission normally max 6 months per visit; long-term visitor visas exist but each continuous stay still limited to 6 months.
– Thailand: typical tourist entries are 30 days (visa exemption) or 60 days (tourist visa), with a common extension of +30 days at Thai immigration. Overstay fine commonly 500 THB per day up to 20,000 THB, plus deportation or blacklist risk.
– Mexico: FMM tourist permit commonly issued up to 180 days on arrival; extensions are rare and require approval from immigration authorities.
Practical renewal and compliance measures
– Set three calendar alerts per visa: 90 days, 30 days, and 7 days before expiry, then immediately schedule the extension application or departure flight. Use timezone-aware calendar entries synced across devices.
– Maintain clear digital scans and printed copies of passport ID page, visa stamps, entry/exit cards, and extension receipts. Store encrypted cloud backups plus an offline copy locked in luggage.
– Apply for extensions early: submit paperwork at the local immigration office at the earliest allowed date rather than waiting until last minute; same-day processing is rare.
– Convert repeated short stays into a legal long-stay permit when eligibility exists: work permit, student visa, retirement visa, marriage visa, investor or freelance visa streams often allow continuous residence beyond cumulative tourist limits.
– Avoid repeated border jumps to reset visa clocks in countries that have banned that tactic; if you rely on back-to-back short stays, verify bilateral rules and airline boarding requirements regarding onward tickets.
| Country / Area | Typical max stay | Extension / conversion options | Common penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen | 90 days per 180 days | National long-stay visas; work/study/residency permits | Fines, deportation, entry ban |
| United States | 90 days (ESTA), up to 6 months (B‑2) | I‑539 to extend B‑2; change status via USCIS where eligible | 3-year / 10-year bars after long overstays |
| United Kingdom | Typically 6 months per visit | Work, study, family visas to achieve longer residence | Refusal of entry, removal |
| Thailand | 30–60 days typical; extensions +30 common | Education, retirement, business visas; long-stay programs | 500 THB/day up to 20,000 THB; deportation, blacklisting |
| Mexico | Up to 180 days | Temporary resident visas available via consulate | Fines, immigration detention until paperwork cleared |
Quick compliance checklist:
– Enter diary entries the day you receive a stamp; update spreadsheet totals immediately.
– Book outbound tickets only after confirming legality of planned stay; carry proofs at check-in if airline requires onward travel evidence.
– When applying for a national visa, submit required financial proofs, criminal record checks, medical certificates as specified by that country; missing documents cause rejections and illegal presence.
– If an overstay occurs accidentally, contact the nearest embassy and local immigration office the same day; voluntary reporting often reduces penalties compared to detection at an exit point.
Connectivity: portable router, eSIM strategy, and step-by-step backup internet setup
Concrete recommendation: run a dual-WAN system: a pocket router with a local physical SIM as primary and two eSIM profiles on your phone used as staged backups.
Hardware specifics: choose a device that supports SIM failover, Ethernet WAN, and USB tethering. Good options: Teltonika RUTX11 (industrial, dual-SIM, hardware watchdog, Ethernet/WAN rules), Netgear Nighthawk M1/M2 (mobile hotspot, battery-powered, 4G LTE Advanced), Huawei E5788 (compact hotspot). Aim for: dual-SIM or USB-modem compatibility, LTE Category 12+ or 5G NR if available, AC/AX Wi‑Fi, and a battery capacity or external USB-C PD support. Carry a secondary battery pack 20,000 mAh with 18W+ PD output to run a router 10–20 hours.
SIM and eSIM allocation: place a local prepaid physical SIM in the router with a 30‑day or rolling plan sized to your consumption: 3–5 GB monthly = light web/mail, 10–30 GB = remote work + occasional media, 50+ GB = heavy streaming. Keep two eSIM profiles on the phone: one global/regional plan (Airalo, Ubigi, GigSky) as immediate backup; one country-specific plan purchased after arrival to reduce per-GB cost. If voice number is needed, keep a low-cost local SIM in a secondary phone or an eSIM voice plan separate from data profiles.
APN and device unlocking: verify device is unlocked and carrier-agnostic. Populate APN fields manually when auto-config fails: APN = provider value (example: internet); Username = blank unless provider specifies; Auth = PAP/CHAP only if required; Proxy = leave blank. Store APN entries in router UI and phone eSIM settings.
DNS and routing settings: set router DNS to 1.1.1.1 and secondary 8.8.8.8 to reduce captive-portal confusion. Configure split DNS if using corporate VPN so internal domains resolve via VPN while general DNS uses public resolvers. Disable captive-portal auto-redirect where possible.
Cost benchmarks: Airalo regional eSIMs: approx $3–$15 per GB depending on country and bundle; global eSIM bundles start near $5 for 1 GB up to $50+ for larger packages. Holafly/GigSky unlimited or flat-rate short-term packages typically range $30–$90 per 7–30 days depending on coverage. Buy local physical SIM on arrival when price per GB drops below global eSIM rates.
Step 1. Insert physical SIM into router, update firmware, set APN, enable DHCP and WPA2/WPA3 with a unique SSID and a strong password.
Step 2. Install two eSIM profiles on primary phone: keep one active and the other staged (installed but inactive). Label profiles clearly: “GlobalBackup” and “LocalReserve”.
Step 3. Configure router WAN priority and health checks: ping 8.8.8.8 every 15–30 seconds, timeout 5s, failover threshold 3 consecutive failures. If router UI lacks this, use a small script or select a router with built-in watchdog.
Step 4. Enable USB tethering as a secondary WAN option: pair phone via USB, enable tethering, then set USB interface as lower-priority WAN with automatic promotion on primary loss.
Step 5. Create two SSIDs: “HomeNet” (primary) and “HomeNet-Backup” (hotspot mode using phone eSIM). Set captive portal bypass rules and low DHCP lease time on backup SSID to reduce stale connections during failover.
Step 6. Add a spare mobile hotspot device or cheap unlocked phone with a local pay-as-you-go SIM as tertiary backup. Keep it charged and tested monthly.
Step 7. Test the chain monthly: disable primary SIM, confirm automatic failover to USB tether or eSIM hotspot within 60–90 seconds, run speedtest and DNS check, re-enable primary and verify return to primary within configured thresholds.
Step 8. Security: enable device admin passwords, disable remote management on public networks, run a VPN client that auto-starts on failover, and keep router firmware current. Store SIMs and emergency QR codes for eSIM activation in encrypted cloud notes and an offline copy on a microSD card.
Outcome: this configuration yields continuous connectivity with multi-layer redundancy, predictable data cost control, and automated recovery when a cell layer drops.
Money management: multi-currency accounts, low-fee transfers, simple tax filing
Open a Wise multi-currency account; fund it in USD, EUR or GBP and enable local bank details (EUR IBAN, GBP sort-code/account, USD ACH). Keep a secondary account such as Revolut or a local bank with an ATM-friendly debit card.
Use Wise’s fee calculator before each transfer. Expected FX cost: roughly 0.35%–1.5% of the amount depending on corridor and payment method. OFX waives transfer fees on many corridors above ~$10,000 and typically offers margins near 0.2%–0.6% on larger sums. CurrencyFair charges about 0.1%–0.3% plus a small fixed fee. Avoid PayPal when converting significant sums; spreads often reach 2.5%–4%.
Carry at least one credit card without foreign transaction charges: examples include Capital One Venture, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, American Express travel cards where available. Use a debit account that reimburses ATM fees worldwide such as Charles Schwab Investor Checking when banking is US-based.
Operational rules
Keep two active payment rails: one multi-currency FX account to receive and convert funds, one local-currency account to spend and withdraw cash. Move large invoices via OFX or bank transfer after checking the live mid-market rate; lock rates with forward contracts or limit orders when a transfer exceeds $20,000. Enable 2FA on all financial services and export monthly CSV statements to a secure cloud folder.
Tax filing checklist
Determine tax residency using local rules; many jurisdictions apply a 183-day presence test. Collect a yearly packet: income statements, bank statements, invoices, dates and places of stays, proof of local taxes paid, and exchange-rate evidence supporting each income item. Retain records seven years.
US citizens and green-card holders must submit Form 1040 by April 15; filing an extension moves the deadline to October 15. Claim Foreign Earned Income Exclusion with Form 2555 when meeting the bona fide residence test or the 330-day physical presence test. File FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) when aggregate foreign account balances exceed $10,000 at any time during the year. File IRS Form 8938 when specified foreign financial assets exceed reporting thresholds: single and living abroad $200,000 on the last day of the year or $300,000 at any time; married filing jointly $400,000 and $600,000 respectively.
Self-employed payees should set aside estimated tax equal to combined income and self-employment rates; absent precision, reserve 25%–35% of gross receipts as a starting point. Make US estimated payments with Form 1040-ES on Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, Jan 15 (following year) when US obligations exist.
Use bookkeeping tools that export tax-ready reports: Wave (free), QuickBooks, Xero. Reconcile bank CSVs monthly, tag each income entry with provenance and exchange-rate evidence, and produce quarterly profit summaries to estimate liabilities. When moving substantial sums, compare mid-market rate plus provider fee, and choose the provider that yields the lowest total cost per transfer.
Extended-stay housing: vet listings, negotiate monthly rates, handle deposits
Ask the landlord to provide three recent utility bills and a government ID scan within 48 hours; verify names match the listing and cross-check the property address on the local cadastral map.
Vetting checklist
- Listing age: accept ads posted within 30 days; compare across platforms and check Google cache or Wayback to detect recycled postings.
- Photo authenticity: run Google Reverse Image Search and TinEye; request a real-time 90-second phone video showing entrance, street sign, meter, bathroom and balcony views.
- Ownership verification: match owner name to municipal property register or a recent tax/utility bill; if an agent represents the owner, request written authorization or agency license number.
- Comparables: compile 3 units within 1 km, same bedroom count, posted within 30 days; calculate average rent and current vacancy trend to use as bargaining baseline.
- Internet and utilities: request a recent Ookla speed-test screenshot, average monthly utility bills and indicate who is responsible per service.
- Lease specifics: require explicit clauses listing included furniture, appliance condition, repair response time measured in hours/days, permitted occupants and renewal/notice periods expressed in days.
Negotiation playbook
- Benchmark: present the three comparables and request a rent reduction equal to the difference between listing and average; target 8–12% discount with a 3-month commitment, 12–18% with 6 months, 18–30% with 12 months.
- Payment leverage: offer one to three months’ rent upfront in exchange for a 4–8% discount per prepaid block; state preference: bank transfer trace or escrow.
- Non-monetary concessions: trade rent reduction against waived cleaning fee, included parking, paid internet installation or minor furniture upgrades; convert each concession into a currency value and include that in the proposal.
- Timing and process: initiate offers during the last 10 days of the month when vacancies increase; submit a written proposal with numeric terms, response deadline and exact move-in date.
- Proof of reliability: attach the previous 12 months’ rent receipts, recent employer/contractor invoice proving income, two references and a government ID; offer a background check only if landlord requests it.
Deposit handling and documentation
- Caps and legal baseline: seek a cap at one month’s rent unless local statute permits higher; check whether deposits must be held in a tenant-protection scheme or escrow at the municipal housing office.
- Payment method: transfer only to the named bank account of the landlord or registered agency; obtain the bank transaction receipt plus a written deposit receipt listing amount, date, account number and tenancy start date; avoid unreceipted cash.
- Move-in protocol: complete and sign an inventory checklist within 24 hours; attach 12+ timestamped photos including appliance serial numbers and meter readings; both parties sign and retain copies.
- Deductions: require itemized invoices and receipts prior to any withholding; specify a fixed cleaning cap in local currency or a maximum percentage of the deposit.
- Return timeline: include a clause stating return of deposit within 14–30 calendar days after tenancy end; require an itemized deduction list with originals if any amount is withheld.
- Dispute path: specify an escalation route such as a named mediation body or small-claims court, expected timeline and the bank account designated to receive any refund.
Sample lease clauses (copy, edit to local law)
- “Security deposit: Tenant pays a security deposit equal to one month’s rent. Landlord will place the deposit into a designated escrow account and provide written receipt within 3 business days.”
- “Move-in inspection: Tenant and Landlord will sign an inventory checklist within 24 hours of possession. Tenant will provide timestamped photos covering each room and meter readings; copies exchanged by both parties.”
- “Deposit return: Landlord will return deposit within 21 calendar days after tenancy end with an itemized deduction list supported by original receipts if any amount is withheld.”
Sample negotiation message (edit numeric values)
- “I can sign a 6-month lease and pay two months’ rent up front. Target monthly rent: $950 (current listing $1,100). Requested move-in: 2026-01-15. Please confirm acceptance or propose a counteroffer within 72 hours.”