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Top 25 Blogs from US Expats

These days, we’re more connected globally than ever before. Living and working abroad no longer has to be a pipe dream reserved for the exclusive few – nowadays, carving out a new life in a foreign country is a real possibility to anyone who sets their mind to it. If you’ve been pondering life abroad recently, this ultimate list of the top blogs from US expats living all over the globe is a great source of inspiration, information, and ideas.

Updated:

25/01/2022

Read time:

11 minutes

There are an estimated 9 million Americans living abroad, with people from all different backgrounds leaving their US roots behind to build a new life overseas. As a result, you can find American expatriates all over the world, with thriving expat communities who can help you through those first daunting steps as an international traveller.

Perhaps you’re already familiar with travelling abroad long-term, or maybe you’re only just dipping your toes into expat waters. Either way, one great way of gaining insight into what it’s like to be an American living abroad is to read first-hand accounts of the people already living the lifestyle. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate list of the top blogs penned by US expats; sharing their best travel hacks, real-world insights and top tips for living away from the States. If you would like to find out how to transfer money online as an expat, we also have a guide to help you get all the details you need.

US Expats in Europe

From Paris to Berlin, Europe is a much-loved tourist destination for Americans, and after reading the accounts of these expat bloggers, it’s easy to see why.

As one of the most diverse continents in the world, Europe is known to entice expats for many different reasons. Whether you are eager to immerse yourself in historical culture, hoping to learn one of Europe’s 24 official languages or simply want to devour every staple cuisine, there are many fantastic expat blogs which detail what to expect on the other side of the pond.

David Lebovitz | https://www.davidlebovitz.com/

David’s blog is a food-focused account of life in Paris, with mouth-watering French recipes published on a regular basis alongside tips, guides, and advice on living and working in Paris as a US expat. David launched his blog in 1999 and it’s grown ever since. Alongside his blog, David has released nine cookbooks and was named one of the Top Five Pastry Chefs in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Pack Mama | https://www.thepackmama.co/

Sarah Hollis is the self-proclaimed Pack Mama: “an animal lover that identifies as female and believes that her pets are ‘fur kids’.” After relocating to Austria in 2020, Sarah and her husband have been creating weekly vlogs which capture the stunning scenery of Gmunden, a quaint resort town, and its surrounding areas. As well as vlogging, Sarah pens weekly recaps which provide insight into local life, popular tourist spots, scenic trails and advice on safely transporting pets overseas.

Charming Marie | https://charmingmarie.com/

Charming Marie was founded by Hannah (middle name Marie!), a freelance writer and content creator originally from LA and now living in Utrecht, Netherlands. Hannah’s blog chronicles her travels across Paris, London, and Amsterdam, and now focuses largely on her take on Dutch culture, cuisine, travel guides around her local area, and general expat life in the Netherlands.

A Wanderlust for Life | https://www.awanderlustforlife.com/

A Wanderlust For Life is a European food and travel blog founded by Sean and Jessica, who moved to Amsterdam from the United States in 2014. The pair have travelled to over 22 countries within Europe since, and share their adventures with a focus on “gastronomy, soft adventure, and quirky activities” to help others following in their footsteps discover some exciting experiences and places.

Provence Post | http://www.provencepost.com/

Provence Post was founded by Julie Mautner, who has been living and working in the South of France on and off since 1999. Julie’s background is as a travel advisor and writer about food, chefs, restaurants, and travel, so Provence Post comes with plenty of experience and specialist knowledge about all there is to enjoy in Provence.

Ciao Amalfi | http://www.ciaoamalfi.com/

Ciao Amalfi shares insider tips on discovering the most beautiful experiences and things to do on Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast. The blog was founded by Laura, a writer, photographer, and social media manager who shares jaw-dropping photos and fantastic accounts of her time in Italy.

An American in Rome | https://anamericaninrome.com/

An American in Rome provides a useful guide to Rome and Italy beyond, including tips and guides to what to do, where to eat, getting around, and the best-hidden gems around Italy for expats to discover. The blog is written by Natalie, originally from California, who has been living in Rome since 2010 – so she has plenty of years of insider secrets to back her up!

Belle Provence Travels | https://belleprovencetravels.com/

Belle Provence Travels was founded by Tuula, who moved to the south of France from California in 2010. As well as sharing some fantastic insider travel tips for Provence on her blog, Tuula is a travel writer for International Living magazine, and her talent for writing is clear from her blog which makes you really feel like a part of her adventures.

Following the Funks | https://followingthefunks.com/

Following the Funks was founded by Catie and Jason, and documents the couple and their daughter, Sofia’s, international travels and expat life in their home base of Izmir, Turkey. Originally a podcast, the couple turned their attention to blogging to document the ups and downs of expat life, living in a foreign country, and international travel.

Pret a Voyager | http://pret-a-voyager.com/

Pret a Voyager was founded by Anne Ditmeyer, who founded her blog in 2007 after moving to Paris from America. Anne works as a creative coach and workshop facilitator and uses her blog to document her life in Paris and provide tips and resources for other expats thinking about making the big move to France long-term.

Wagoners Abroad | https://wagonersabroad.com/

Wagoners Abroad follows Heidi and Alan’s adventures living as expats in Spain. The couple, originally from California, finally settled in Spain after several years of travelling internationally across the world, and now use their blog to inspire others to think outside the box and pursue a life off the beaten path.

The Portable Wife | https://theportablewife.com/

Chelsea moved from America to London with her husband and their dog in 2018, and has documented their life in the UK ever since. Chelsea shares beautiful photography of her travels throughout Europe with countless destination guides, as well as providing a great overview of moving to London for other US expats.

City Starlings | https://www.citystarlings.com/

City Starlings was founded by Jamie, who is on a mission to bring Munich alive through the stories of expats and locals alike. Originally from the US, the blog focuses on providing great travel tips and recommendations for anyone passing through the city of Munich on their travels.

US Expats in Latin America

Latin America is famously colourful and full of life; each of the countries entirely unique in their offerings and well worth exploring.

Moving at a slightly slower pace than Western countries, the continent is known for its unmatched hospitality. Latin Americans extend a warm embrace to all visitors, happily sharing and celebrating their cultural heritage with expatriates from all corners of the world.

There are plenty of diverse and beautiful Latin American landscapes to enjoy, so if you are struggling to decide where to visit first, these brilliant expat bloggers should be able to offer some assistance. If you would like to find out moving and living as an expat in Mexico, follow our guide to find out all the information you need.

PTY Life | http://pty.life/

Joey Bonura first travelled to Panama in 2009 when he was just 18-years-old, and found his home there ever since. Launched in 2012, PTY Life covers a broad range of things to do in Panama, events on, Panama news, travel tips for other expats, and more.

Life in Peru | https://lifeinperu.com/

Life in Peru is a blog founded by Ward Welvaert and Patricia Carrasco, who now live in Cusco, Peru with their two children. The couple moved to Peru after their wedding, but first met in North Carolina. Life in Peru largely consists of interesting and insightful personal essays about their life in Peru and an expat’s perspective on current events.

Two Weeks in Costa Rica | https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/

Two Weeks in Costa Rica is a blog following the adventures of Matt and Jenn, a couple who left their home in Boston and moved to Costa Rica full-time in 2013. Now, the couple live in Costa Rica with their two children and offer itinerary services for tourists looking to make the most of their time in the country.

LifeTransplanet was founded by Britton and Cassie, who took the leap from their home in Greeley, Colorado to Puerto Rico in 2013. Their blog follows the inspiring steps they took to retire in their 30s and retire to the beautiful tropical island of Puerto Rico, and includes some fantastic travel tips for other expats travelling in the area.

VidaMaz was founded by Greg and Diane, an American family that moved to Mazatlán, Mexico in 2008 with their children. Now, their blog documents their life in Mexico, as well as some great tips on things to do around Mazatlán for families and solo travellers alike.

US Expats in Asia

Nothing quite compares to the hustle and bustle of Asian cities like Hong Kong, Hanoi and Tokyo. But if it’s sun, sea and sand you are searching for, Asia has that too.

There are 48 countries in Asia and every one of them offers something different to Western visitors. While culture shock and language barriers can be disarming at first, travelling to Asia is an invigorating venture that is not to be missed. You also won’t have to worry about transferring funds to Asia, you can easily compare find out the best rates before you make an online money transfer to Asia.

Travelling around South-East Asia is a popular route for many Americans, with many choosing to stay and set up a new life for themselves once the backpacking is over. No matter where in Asia you are going to be based, these expat bloggers have got you covered.

Albom Adventures | https://www.albomadventures.com/

Albom Adventures was founded by Rhonda and Jeff Albom, who have lived in New Zealand for the past 16 years and visited over 60 countries on six different continents! These two serious world travellers use Albom Adventures to share their expert knowledge on travelling around the world, with hundreds of travel resources on some of the best experiences and adventures to discover all around the world.

Best Living Japan | https://bestlivingjapan.com/

Best Living Japan was founded by Lauren Bliss Kawasake, an American mother of four who has lived in Japan with her husband for over 25 years, and Sandra Takada, an Asian-American mother of two also living in Tokyo with her husband and children. The blog focuses on raising children in Japan for globally-minded families in particular, with the pair combining their years of experience in raising children with their years of living in Japan as foreigners to offer the best advice, tips, and activities for like-minded expats living in Japan.

Expat Edna | https://expatedna.com/

Expat Edna was founded by Edna, an American writer and photographer who started travelling at age just 18 years old, and has lived all over the world in the 12 years that followed. Now, Edna lives in Bangkok and shares insights into her life as an expat as well as providing more general tips and travel guides for others interested in following in her footsteps.

US Expats in South Africa

Located on the southernmost tip of Africa, this is a popular country with self confessed sun worshippers and avid adventure seekers from the US.

From epic national parks and lush forests to vast winelands and stunning beaches, South Africa has something for everyone. Follow our guide to sending money to South Africa, to get the best rates to transfer your funds with ease.

2 Summers | https://2summers.net/
Heather Mason is an American writer and photographer living in Johannesburg, where she moved from Washington D.C. in 2010 and has stayed ever since. Her blog, 2 Summers, documents her life in Johannesburg through personal essays and provides a fantastic insight into what life as an expat abroad is really like in this diverse and exciting city.

General US Expat Blogs

The Culture Blend | http://www.thecultureblend.com/

The Culture Blend was founded by Jerry Jones, a cross-cultural trainer, coach, and writer with a mission to “help global people do their thing better”. Jerry’s sight consists mostly of insightful personal essays into life as an expat, spanning across culture, family, his own experiences as an international traveller.

Endless Distances | https://www.endlessdistances.com/

Endless Distances was founded by Sarah, an occupational therapist, yoga teacher, travel blogger, and writer. Sarah has travelled the world 100% gluten-free ever since 2012 – so her blog is packed full of fantastic tips on navigating different corners of the world with dietary requirements. We loved reading about Sarah’s inspiring back story and what led her to life as an expat today.

Candace Abroad | https://candaceabroad.com/

Candace Abroad follows Candace’s travels from the US to London, who moved abroad in 2016 to study and hasn’t looked back. Interestingly, Candace also spent six months stuck in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the peak of the pandemic in 2020. Her blog mainly focuses on life as a young expat in London, with some great insights into things to do and sights to see around the city.

Sending money as an expat

One thing all expats will need to consider at some point is how to transfer your funds from your home country to your new location. If you’ve moved abroad long-term, using the wrong transfer service could lead to hundreds or even thousands of dollars lost to exchange rate markups and high transfer fees, so it pays to do some research and find the best way to get your money overseas.

Use our comparison tool for sending money to the United States and around the world for an unbiased breakdown of the best money transfer services available to you.

Choosing the best blogs from US Expats

With millions of American expats located all over the world, it’s not surprising that there were also a lot of blogs to choose from for our list. To give you an insight into our selection criteria for this list, here’s how we picked the best blogs for expats:

Relevancy:
We made sure to only select blogs that are updated on a regular basis so that the information you are being provided with is up to date and applicable to 2021.

Quality:
The blogs listed above all have high standards, providing quality, accurate information that will genuinely help other expats or would-be expats when researching into life abroad.

Aesthetics:
User experience is not something to be overlooked, so we made sure the blogs we listed have great photos, a clear and easy-to-use design, and engaging content.