Deciding to live as an expat, whether it's for work, increased quality of life, or a retirement spent somewhere relaxed and picturesque, is a huge and life changing decision. Choosing where to settle down is probably the biggest part of this decision - where do you start when you are trying to establish where your new home should be? Your decision ...

Over the past few decades Cardiff, the capital of Wales, has transformed itself from a dingy industrial port city to one of Britain’s leading urban centres.  This metamorphosis was partly driven by the total architectural overhaul of the ‘Cardiff Bay’ area, once the city’s docks. It’s now an ultramodern waterfront that is home to the Welsh Assembly and the Millennium Centre arts complex. Further landmark projects in the Bay area, including t...

Now you know all about the many benefits of learning a foreign language during your study abroad placement, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is to ensure those lofty ambitions of speaking a foreign language become reality. Whilst most of it is just a question of practise, practise, practise, there are a few different methods you can carry out to achieve language fluency throughout your study abroad experience.   Fake it unti...

Puerto Vallarta is a highlight when visiting the Mexican Riviera. Not only is it a clean city but the attractions and activities available are always exciting.Here are my top 10. DISCOVER SIERRA MADRE TRADITIONS and a taste of Mexico This all day tour takes you to Puerto Vallartas southern region. At an elevation of more than 2000 feet, you can visit the 16th century village of El Tuito where you can sample locally made breads, tortillas and many...

Brazil is a country that has a lot to offer international visitors, and when you are relaxing on the beaches of Rio or exploring the beautiful Amazon region, there is no doubt that it is a country which has a lot of things going for it. The economy in Brazil proved to be strong and resilient through the economic problems after 2008, although its growth has slowed recently, but there are still plenty of jobs and roles where expats living in the co...

China is a vast and fascinating country. It is rich in history and culture with Beijing alone being home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is definitely an interesting place to visit. China is one of the most populous countries in the world and with a huge landmass; we’re talking about a large swath of the world. Still unsure about how this number of people translates into situations in daily life? In China:  80 billion chopsticks—or ...

Newcastle can often be overlooked, with it’s proximity to the ever-popular cultural mecca that is Sydney, but this growing harbour town is not to be missed. Originally established as a penal colony where prisoners were sent to live out harsh sentences mining coal and steel, the city has a dark and tumultuous past. Market crashes have hit this industry-dependent community hard in the past, but the turn of the century has cast a new light of hope. ...

Brisbane, Australia’s third largest city, is often overlooked by travellers as they whirlwind across the Land Down Under.  The river city entwines you in her relaxed, and sometimes, fun and kooky vibe. You can embrace her small city diversity in suburbs ranging from artsy and alternative, to gourmet and uber-chic. It’s all here for the taking.  The added bonus over her more sophisticated cousins, Sydney and Melbourne, is the price of sp...

With a combination of modernity and outstanding natural surroundings, Vancouver is one of Canada's most desirable cities. While many visitors have openly mused about moving to this amazing metropolis during their time here, it is worth noting that the cost of living in this place is no joke.  Are you prepared to pay the price to live in paradise? Read on below to see if you have what it takes.   What you can expect to earn here Being th...

Airline ticket prices have reflected the increase in the cost of airplane fuel that has been rising over the past few years. For all the nomads with nagging wanderlust, this expensive shift has caused many of us to work odd jobs (I’ve had jobs removing staples, drink vendor in the stands at sports games and even selling spa promotions on the street) in order to fulfil the high prices asked of us. However, it isn’t just that tickets are more expen...