Scout Your Future Home Abroad Like a Boss: 10 Tips to Guide You
We’ve all heard stories of people moving to a new country sight unseen and falling in love with it. But I firmly believe in taking a scouting trip first. A place can sound perfect on paper but feel entirely different in real life. I thought Lisbon would be my dream city—but I was only days in, I knew it wasn’t for me. Lesson learned: research is great, but nothing replaces lived experience.
Cuenca, Ecuador is next on my list for a test drive as a potential home base. I’ve done my online homework, but now it’s time for boots on the ground 👣to see if it’s a good fit. Exciting? Yes. Overwhelming? Also yes. A vacation? Heck no! Scouting a city for relocation goes beyond hitting all the major attractions or capturing Instagram-worthy shots. It’s about figuring out whether you can actually live and thrive there?
After learning some hard (and sometimes expensive💸) lessons from previous scouting trips, I’ve put together a game plan. Whether you’re considering Cuenca, Lisbon, or Kuala Lumpur, these strategies can help you make an informed decision before packing up your life and taking the plunge.
1. Live Like a Local
This one might seem obvious, but you can’t get a real feel for your new city by staying in a hotel. Rent a local apartment instead—whether through the Plum Guide, Booking.com, Vrbo, or other platforms. You’ll get a taste of the daily routine:
🛒 Grocery shopping—How easy is it? What’s available?
🔥 Cooking with local appliances—Is that stove trying to kill me?
🚮 Trash & recycling systems—Simple or unnecessarily complicated?
💡 Pro tip: If possible, stay in different neighborhoods. A place might feel fine during the day but have a totally different vibe at night.
2. Safety: Beyond the Statistics
As a queer Black woman, safety is a top priority. Crime stats are a starting point, but real-world observations matter just as much. Here’s some of what I’ll be paying attention to:
- Do I feel comfortable walking alone, both day and night? Are my spidey senses tingling⚡?
- Do locals seem relaxed, or are they hyper-alert?
- What do expats and locals say about crime?
3. Walkability & Neighborhood Vibes
A city’s energy is best experienced on foot (or by bike). Before arriving, research the safe neighborhoods that might suit your lifestyle. Once there, take long, aimless walks. In Cuenca, I’ll be checking out the historic center but also the residential areas like El Vergel, Heroes de Verdeloma, and Gringolandia (yes, that’s a real name). My checklist:
- Are the streets clean and well-maintained, or are they an obstacle course?
- Are people friendly?
- Are there green spaces, parks, or places to just chill in peace?
- Is it easy to run errands on foot?
4. Getting Around Efficiently
Reliable transportation can make or break a city’s livability.
- Are buses or trains reliable, safe, and easy to navigate?
- Are taxis and rideshares fair, or are there scams to watch out for?
- If you need to drive, is it a nightmare or manageable?
5. Climate Reality Check
A city’s weather can seriously impact your daily life. As a woman of a certain age, I no longer chase summer— I generate enough random internal heat on my own,🔥 thank you very much. But Cuenca sits lower than Quito (8,200 vs. 9,300 feet), which should mean warmer days and cooler nights with some rain.
Beyond just temperatures, I ask:
- Does the city experience extreme weather or natural disasters?
- How might climate change impact it in the future?
6. Daily Conveniences: What’s Easy, What’s Hard?
Some things you take for granted back home might be wildly different abroad. I’ll be checking:
- How easy it is to find specialty foods (for my lactose-intolerant self)?
- The availability of work-friendly locations with solid WiFi
- Where to buy toiletries for African-American skin?
- Can I open a bank account as an American? Some international banks no longer want to work with Americans because of all the required reporting. Thanks, FATCA.
If basic errands feel exhausting or frustrating, that could be a red flag. 🚩
7. Healthcare: Can You Access Good Care?
Even if you’re in perfect health, you need to know the quality of the medical and dental systems.
- How easy is it to get a doctor’s/dentist’s appointment? What’s the cost?
- What’s the availability of medications?
- Are there English-speaking doctors/dentists or translators available?
- Do expats need specific health insurance?
8. Social Life & Community: Finding Your Tribe
Moving abroad is easier with a social network—but as an introvert, making connections isn’t always easy for me, especially when you add a language barrier. But I’ll be pushing myself to do it.
I’ve already joined some Cuenca expat Facebook groups where I can ask questions and try to make some connections. And while expats communities can help make the transition smoother, integrating with locals will be key to truly feeling at home. Once there, I hope to ease in by attending events, language exchanges, or just going dancing 💃—because socializing with words is overrated.
Why am I not prioritizing finding the LGBTQ+ scene right away? Because I want to make sure I like the city first. No point falling for someone in a place I hate. Universe, are you listening?
9. Cost of Living: The Number Don’t Lie
True affordability isn’t just about rent—it’s about everything. Play a game called “pretend I live here” by:
- Window shop and recording prices as if you were settling in.
- Checking groceries, transportation, healthcare, internet, cell phone service, utility costs, etc.
- Factoring in lifestyle expenses like Spanish classes, art supplies, or gym memberships—whatever you’re into.
10. Trust Your Gut
While I love me a spreadsheet, logic alone won’t cut it—you also need a gut check. Does the city energize or drain you? Sometimes a place checks all the boxes but just feels wrong—and that’s just as important as the hard facts…at least, to me.
BONUS:
Remember to Have Fun!
True, scouting trip isn’t a vacation, but the whole point is to see if you can actually build your dream life there. Enjoy what the city has to offer without going crazy. For me, that means things like a cooking class, a street food tour, an art class, or just chillin’. Whatever brings you joy, go revel in it!
Final Thoughts
Scouting a city for relocation isn’t about finding the perfect place—because no place is perfect. It’s about finding a city that aligns with your lifestyle, budget, and personality enough that you can imagine yourself building a fulfilling life there.
I’ll be documenting my scouting experience in Cuenca, so stay tuned for the follow-up post. If you’ve ever scouted a city for relocation, I’d love to hear your experiences! What factors mattered most to you? Drop a comment below.
Until next time, happy scouting! ✈️🌍
Awesome blog! And a very timely topic
Timely for you personally or just in general? 😊
Oh, any I’m glad you enjoyed it. Silly me, I was so busy wondering if you were about to start on a journey that I forgot to say that part.
Great points and things to think of.
It was good for me to write them all down. Helps keep me accountable too.