They moved to Dubai in pursuit of the expat dream. They're not giving it up so easily.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Style
A woman riding her bike in Dubai's Jumeirah area on March 2, 2026.
A woman rides a bicycle along the beach in Dubai's Jumeirah area on March 2, 2026.

Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images

Puerto Vallarta became a favorite escape for Americans. Now, some are thinking twice.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A young damily sits on a couch, a dog on their lap.
Hannah Donovan and her family.

Courtesy of Talie Boyle

After 5 years of living abroad in Canada and Europe, I took off my rose-colored glasses and moved back to the US

Tech Insider : Business
Woman smiling at Mont Royal viewpoint -
I spent years living in Canada and Europe before returning to the US. Life abroad was great in many ways, but it was not the extended vacation it looked like.

Sydney Baker

I left the US to start over after a tragedy — and fumbled through 5 classic first-timer mistakes

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Author Melanie Gordon smiling with trees behind her
If you're traveling solo for the first time, especially after a significant life event, I hope this helps you avoid some of the pitfalls I fell into.

Melanie Gordon

Layoffs, sky-high rent, and a $3,000 preschool bill convinced me I can't live in the US anymore. We're moving to Japan.

Tech Insider : Business
A man posing for a photo in Japan.
Nick Woolsey moved back to the US for six years after leaving Japan. Now he's going back.

Japan Remotely

I moved to a small mountain town in Italy. The community I've found here beats anything I've had in the US.

Tech Insider : Business
Woman and man on vespa
I've met some incredible people while living in a small town in Italy.

Su Guillory

We tried building our dream life in Portugal. After 3 years, we realized living abroad was actually holding us back.

Tech Insider : Business
Author Yvonne Ivanescu, cat, and partner at home in Portugal
Portuga

Yvonne Ivanescu

I moved from the US to Spain and fell in love. Despite the difficult language barrier, we're still together 2 years later.

Tech Insider : Business
Author Kiersten Brown and a man smiling
I moved from the US to Spain and fell in love with a man who doesn't speak English. In some ways, the language barrier made our communication skills stronger.

Kiersten Brown

I moved to Malaysia in my 30s. I didn't know where to go or what to do, so I started a club to connect the expat community.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A man posing in front of a street hawker in Malaysia.
Joshua Webley settled down in Malaysia last year and started an expats community to meet new people.

Provided by Joshua Webley.

I moved from the US to France. It took 4 years and one great piece of advice for the country to finally feel like home.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Sand beach beneath the colorful old town Menton on French Riviera, France
When I moved from the United States to France, one piece of advice and a few years of living in my new country helped me adjust.

Xantana/Getty Images

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