Plan Then Go

Trial Stays Before Moving

A trial stay is the single most important step between dreaming about moving abroad and actually doing it. It transforms abstract research into real-world experience — and it often reveals surprises, both delightful and deal-breaking.

How Long Should a Trial Stay Be?

The ideal trial stay is 3–4 weeks minimum. Two weeks feels like a vacation; a month starts to feel like living. You’ll experience the rhythm of daily life — the grocery store at rush hour, the weekend markets, the way the weather shifts, and how it feels to be alone in a foreign place on a Tuesday afternoon.

If you can swing it, 2–3 months is even better. Many tourist visas allow 90-day stays, which gives you a true taste of seasonal life and enough time to build routines and social connections.

What to Evaluate During Your Trial Stay

Go beyond tourist attractions. Here’s your evaluation checklist:

  • Healthcare: Visit a local doctor or clinic, even for a routine checkup

  • Groceries: Shop at local markets and supermarkets to understand food availability and costs

  • Transportation: Use public transit, walk different routes, try ride-sharing apps

  • Safety: Walk around at different times of day and night; note how safe you feel

  • Social life: Attend expat meetups, join a class, visit community centers

  • Internet reliability: Test speeds at different times from multiple locations

  • Noise and environment: Is your neighborhood peaceful or chaotic? At all hours?

Live Like a Local, Not a Tourist

The purpose of a trial stay is to simulate real life. Rent an apartment instead of staying in a hotel. Cook most of your meals. Walk to the bank, the pharmacy, the post office. Try to handle a small bureaucratic task. These mundane experiences reveal far more about whether a place is right for you than any guided tour ever could.

💡 Pro Tip

Visit during the “worst” season for your destination. If it’s known for rainy winters, go in winter. If summers are brutally hot, go in summer. If you can be happy there during the toughest time, you’ll love it the rest of the year. Everyone loves a place at its best — it’s the off-season that reveals compatibility.

Making Connections During Your Stay

Loneliness is a real risk of expat life, so use your trial stay to test the social waters. Attend expat meetups (InterNations, Facebook groups), take a language class, join a walking group, or volunteer. Pay attention to whether you’re able to meet people and form connections — the quality of your social life abroad will dramatically affect your happiness.

Your Next Step

Book a 3–4 week trial stay in your top destination. Rent an apartment with a kitchen, make a list of things to evaluate, and approach it with curiosity rather than a foregone conclusion. Let the experience speak for itself.