Travel Blogs
14 Reasons Why We Chose Da Nang: A Family's Complete Breakdown
After eight years of expat living across Costa Rica and Thailand, our family of four chose Da Nang for its perfect balance of beach and city life, affordable cost of living, excellent safety, thriving international community, and endless natural beauty. Whether you're a digital nomad, retiree, or family considering a move to Vietnam, Da Nang offers an exceptional quality of life at a fraction of Western prices.
Best Travel eSIM with Unlimited Data: Save Up to 32% on Holafly Plans (2025 Review)
After six months of traveling across Southeast Asia with our Holafly eSIM, we're sharing everything you need to know about the best travel eSIM with unlimited data—and how to save up to 32% on your plan.
From Ten Suitcases to Home: The First Six Months of Our Costa Rican Adventure
When people ask us how we ended up living in Costa Rica, we usually start with the practical stuff – the residency requirements, the international schools, the peaceful country with no army. But the real story isn't found in visa paperwork or expat forums. It's written in moments: a Halloween party at a burger joint where we barely spoke Spanish, Christmas morning on a beach instead of in snow, the day we realized we weren't tourists anymore but weren't quite locals either.
Building Our Dream: From Shipping Containers to Sea Casa
Moving to Costa Rica had already felt like jumping off a cliff. But deciding to build our own home? That was like jumping off a cliff while simultaneously learning to fly. We'd gone from having "the brand-new house, brand-new cars, high paying jobs" - the typical North American lifestyle we were supposed to want - to standing in a field with a contractor named Leo who barely spoke English, planning to turn shipping containers into our forever home.
Season Two: Deeper into Paradise - Our 2019 Costa Rica Adventures
By 2019, we were no longer the wide-eyed newcomers who had stumbled off a plane with dreams and uncertainty. We'd become something else entirely - "locals" who still maintained our sense of wonder, business owners who never forgot we were living someone else's vacation dream, and seasoned Costa Rica Expats who were just getting started with real exploration.
This was our second season in paradise, and it looked nothing like the first.
season 3: Adapting to Paradise: How 2020 Changed Everything in Costa Rica
The year 2020 was supposed to be different. We had plans. Big plans. More adventures, more beaches to explore, more of Costa Rica to share with you, even a trip back to Canada! Instead, it became the year that taught us the most about adaptation, creativity, and finding new ways to connect with our community when the whole world seemed to stop.
Season 4: Adventures, Food Trucks, and Finding Our Rhythm in Paradise
The year 2021 started with a sense of cautious optimism. We'd survived 2020, adapted to a new way of creating content, and found our rhythm as established expat business owners. But as the new year unfolded, we discovered that even after four years in Costa Rica, this country still had surprises waiting around every corner.
This was the year we'd become cultural ambassadors for hidden gems, develop a thriving consultation business, and learn that our growing community wasn't just watching for entertainment anymore - they were actively planning their own Costa Rican adventures.
Season 5: Competition, Construction, and Community Building in Paradise - The Complete Year
The year 2022 marked our fifth anniversary in Costa Rica, a milestone that transformed us from expats documenting our journey into established locals actively shaping our community. This was the year we became true cultural bridges, expanding our horizons beyond Sámara while deepening our roots at home through ambitious construction projects and unforgettable culinary competitions.
season 6: Adventures Beyond Borders: A Journey Through Central America and Mexico
The year marked a transformative journey across four countries that redefined our understanding of Central America and Mexico. What began as familiar territory in our Costa Rican home base evolved into ambitious explorations spanning Nicaragua's volcanic landscapes, Mexico's Caribbean coastlines, and Panama's cultural bridges. This wasn't just travel - it was cultural immersion that challenged preconceptions while revealing the interconnected beauty of a region too often misunderstood.
season 7: A Complete Journey of Discovery and Transformation
A Year of Exploration, Challenges, and Life-Changing Decisions - From Costa Rica to Bangkok
The year 2024 marked our most transformative period since we arrived in Costa Rica seven years ago. What began as familiar explorations of our adopted homeland evolved into a year of unexpected challenges, culinary discoveries, health scares, spiritual growth, and ultimately, life-changing decisions about our future. This wasn't just another year in paradise - it was a pivotal chapter that would reshape our family's trajectory while deepening our appreciation for both the country we'd called home and the new adventures awaiting us in Southeast Asia.
Why Holafly Plans is the Best Travel eSIM for Digital Nomads and Remote Workers in 2026
Working remotely while traveling the world isn't just a dream anymore—it's a lifestyle that millions of digital nomads embrace every day. But here's the challenge: staying reliably connected across multiple countries without breaking the bank or dealing with complicated SIM card swaps. That's where Holafly Plans comes in as a complete game-changer for location-independent professionals, long-term travelers, and anyone who needs consistent, unlimited internet connectivity on the go.
When Paradise Isn't Perfect: Our Eye-Opening Mexico Adventure
Picture this: You're living your dream life in Costa Rica, surrounded by pristine beaches and friendly locals. Life is good. But after six years, wanderlust kicks in, and Mexico's turquoise waters start calling your name. So you pack your bags, book your flights, and prepare for what you think will be a perfect two-week getaway.
Spoiler alert: It wasn't perfect. But it was definitely unforgettable.
Five Times Nicaragua Stole Our Hearts: A Journey Beyond the Headlines
The first time we crossed the border from Costa Rica into Nicaragua, we honestly weren't sure what to expect. The media painted pictures of political unrest and danger, but our friends kept insisting we were missing out on something special. After five separate trips spanning several years, we can say definitively: our friends were right.
From Bangkok's Smog to Paradise Waters: Our Koh Larn Island Awakening
The first time we stepped off the ferry onto Koh Larn's pier, we realized something had been missing from our Bangkok city life. After months of navigating concrete jungles and breathing questionable air quality, this small island just 45 minutes from Pattaya felt like discovering a hidden world.
How to Save 10% on Holafly eSIM Plans: The Complete Travel Connectivity Guide
Are you tired of astronomical roaming charges ruining your travel budget? We've discovered the ultimate solution that's transformed how we stay connected worldwide - and we're sharing an exclusive discount code that saves you 10% every month.
Overland Southeast Asia with Pets: How One eSIM Kept Our Family Connected Across 3 Countries
here's something beautifully anarchic about crossing borders overland. No sterile airport terminals, just you, your family, and the growing realization that staying connected shouldn't feel like solving a Rubik's Cube at every border crossing.
We just traced an ancient route through Southeast Asia — Thailand to Cambodia to Vietnam — with four Chihuahuas, two teenage boys, and our entire life packed into suitcases and bags around us. This is the story of how we did connectivity right, and why it mattered more than we ever expected.
SafetyWing Review 2026: 9 Years of Real Experience (Family of 4)
When we first moved abroad in 2017 with two young kids and dreams of living internationally, one question kept us up at night: "What happens if someone gets sick or hurt thousands of miles from home?"
That terrifying thought led us to SafetyWing, and after nine years of continuous coverage across Costa Rica, Thailand, and Vietnam, we can confidently say it's the single most important decision we made for our family's international lifestyle.