Places I Remember with Lea Lane
On this monthly award-winning travel podcast, host Lea Lane shares travel memories and travel tips with passionate travelers, travel experts, and savvy locals around the world. Lea has traveled to over 100 countries, is the author of nine books, a blogger at forbes.com, and a contributor to dozens of guidebooks. Smart. Fun! Over 100 episodes!
Places I Remember with Lea Lane
Thinking of Moving Abroad? The Ultimate Checklist
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Where would you relocate if you could choose anywhere? And what's the best way to go about it?
More Americans are packing up and relocating abroad, and we dig into what makes a place feel safe, walkable, healthy, and genuinely enjoyable day to day. We compare two helpful lenses for choosing a destination: global livability rankings (think Copenhagen, Vienna, Melbourne, Tokyo) and expat friendliness lists that spotlight surprising standouts like Taiwan, Cambodia, Bahrain, and Oman, alongside familiar favorites like Portugal and Canada.
We’re joined by Darren Johnston from Send My Bag, a company that helps people relocate by shipping millions of bags worldwide. We talk through a simple expat move checklist: deciding what to keep versus sell, planning baggage and shipping, and thinking early about pets. Then we zoom into the first week after arrival, when you need local cash, groceries, bedding, and the basics that turn an empty place into a functioning home.
We also cover the essentials that keep a move overseas from spiraling: staying connected with eSIMs, setting up finances with a realistic three-to-six-month buffer, navigating slow bureaucracy, and building community through expat groups, local clubs, and everyday routines.
Darren shares travel memories of Rome and his pull toward Tokyo, reminding us that the best relocation plans still start with curiosity.
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Darren Johnston is a relocation expert at Send My Bag, an international luggage shipping and relocation platform. Launched in the UK in 2006, the company now serves customers in over 80 countries each month.
Podcast host Lea Lane has traveled to over 100 countries, and has written nine books, including the award-winning Places I Remember (Kirkus Reviews star rating, and 'one of the top 100 Indie books of the year'). She has contributed to dozens of guidebooks and has written thousands of travel articles. Read her weekly essays on Substack.
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Our award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane, has produced over 130 travel episodes! New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of the month, on Apple, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. All episodes are also on the website: placesirememberlealane.com and appear on Lea's Substack, Lane Changes.
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Why More Americans Move Abroad
Lea LaneAmericans are increasingly interested in relocating abroad. And the decision is about more than just finding a lower cost of living. Many are looking for reliable health care, walkable green areas, cultural opportunities, a big expat community, a slower pace of life, and a feeling of safety. We did a deep dive into traveling for relocation retirement in episode 57. On this episode, we'll be updating and discussing best places and best ways to relocate. Our guest is Darren Johnston, an executive at the British company Send My Bag, which helps customers ship millions of bags around the world while helping people relocate. Welcome, Darren, to Places I Remember.
Darren JohnstonHi there. Thank you very much for having me, Lea. Really excited to be here.
Lea LaneGreat to have you. I hear that wonderful Northern Ireland accent. I love it.
Darren JohnstonOh, thank you very much.
Lea LaneLet's start with some of the most popular places to relocate. There are many lists of top cities for livability. We'll go over some of the most recent ones and give our takes. The Economist Intelligent Unit's 2026 Global Livability Index asks residents to share experiences that make their hometowns exceptional. The annual ranking assesses 173 cities worldwide with stability,
Most Livable Cities To Consider
Lea Lanehealthcare, culture, and environment, education and infrastructure as the factors. The list of their top 10 most livable cities in 2026 are number one, Copenhagen, Vienna, Melbourne, Sydney, Zurich, Geneva, Osaka, Adelaide, Vancouver, and Tokyo. Any thoughts on those cities?
Darren JohnstonWhat they all have are beautiful skylines, obviously, for a start. They're beautiful places to live. Looking at some places that our customers are regularly shipping, they're definitely up there. Very, very popular for relocations, but also they're very good for city breaks and small breaks as well. If you want to investigate if that's potentially a good option for you to live abroad.
Lea LaneI think all of them are so livable because many of them are have green infrastructure. They're ahead of the curve on that one. Very good public education, rich culture, safety, efficient public services. I've been to all of them and I think they're all happy places. You know, when they have rankings for happy countries, these are ones that rate high. I think they're set for livability for the residents. There's another wonderful list from Internations, which is the world's largest expat community, and it shares its list of the world's friendliest cities toward foreign residents worldwide. And I'll give you the list of these. And some of them are interesting and we'll go over them. Some of them are ones you would expect. Number one is Portugal, then Taiwan, Mexico, Cambodia, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Oman, Colombia, Vietnam,
Friendliest Places For Expats
Lea Laneand Canada. These are countries that are all friendly toward expats. Any comments on these, Darren?
Darren JohnstonYeah, a lot of those countries we would see are older customers sent to. They are very, very popular. The thing that's kind of strikes is a lot of them are quite hot. They're very nice, habitable countries, and you're going to get a lot of sunshine in a lot of them. Anyway, one of the things that really stands out for those destinations is the culture for a start. Typically, there's already a lot of large expat communities in those particular destinations and very easy to integrate. You've also got beautiful weather and lovely climates in those areas too.
Lea LaneIt's very interesting on this list because Portugal is number one right now, it seems, just by word of mouth in terms of where to go, where people are going. And so to hear that it's the friendliest is not surprising. But there are a couple of places on this list that are surprising, perhaps. The number two, Taiwan. It's not a place you would automatically think of as a friendly place. Particularly, you don't hear about it that much. But I think about 88% of the people who did the survey commented on its general friendliness. Cambodia is another place where, again, you don't hear about it that much, but it's a friendly place. And Bahrain in the Gulf area is a wonderful expat destination and not one that I would think of automatically. So I think that one in Oman, another area in the Middle East, it's important when you're planning to, you know, thinking about where you may maybe going to look at some of these surveys that these companies do. They're very extensive and they might give you ideas that you wouldn't otherwise have. The tenth country is Canada, and everybody knows that's friendly. Some of them are not surprising. Obviously, Portugal, Canada, they're very famous. Okay, so I have a list of seven steps to becoming an expat. And we'll just go through them and give your opinion, Darren, on what you might consider important under each step. The first is going. You have to set up your travel arrangements. What are some of the arrangements you would think about when you're starting the idea of becoming an expat?
Darren JohnstonIt's important to consider how much you're actually going to be bringing with you whenever you're thinking
What To Bring And Pet Planning
Darren Johnstonabout your travel. If it's a it's a full relocation, if you're going to be moving across the country, that decision actually starts with what are you keeping, what are you selling, what are you bringing. And that will then sort of give you an idea of well, how am I going to travel? What sort of baggage requirements am I going to need? And then that snowballs into another question entirely.
Lea LaneAbsolutely. You'd have to think about whether you're going by plane, train, or other mode of transportation too. All of these things are the very beginning of what you want to think about. What do you take? And among those things, how about pets? When do you start worrying about how you ship a pet or whether you take a pet?
Darren JohnstonIf the destination you're going to isn't really animal-friendly, or perhaps it doesn't have a good resource for your pet, you might not want to go there. If you've done all that research ahead of time and you know where you're going and you're thinking about your pet, I think really you're looking at one of the specialist options to get your pet there, depending on how your mode of transport is. Some will let you bring them where they can come in with you on the plane and might be on the hold. And then if it's on a train, it's a completely different requirement altogether.
Lea LaneAnd I know people who have shorter stays, maybe 18 months or so. They try to put their pet with a family member if it's something that would be difficult. As you said, it depends on the dog or cat or whatever. Going is one thing. Arriving, what do you do in the first few days?
Darren JohnstonI think the first few days is kind of critical, depending on how far you're going. Are you going to be jet lagged? Are you going to just get there and then immediately want to hit your bed and get sleep cycle up and running? Well, we need to get some food in the house to eat. We need to get some utensils in the house to cook with, or the pots in the pans, and bed sheets in the mattresses and the blankets. And it's a big long shopping list if a
First Week Setup After Arrival
Darren Johnstonbig full move. And if you haven't brought half of it in your bag, then you're straight to the shop for that.
Lea LaneRight. And I think you should grab some local cash at the first ATM you find to buy all these things too. You should think about how you do that. Yeah, that that could be a very interesting week or so just trying to get yourself ready when you arrive. What about communications? Here you are in a new place. What are some helpful things in terms of communicating?
Darren JohnstonI think eSIMs are incredibly popular nowadays, you know, that can kind of get you up and running whenever you first arrive in a country. A lot of these eSIM providers, depending on where you're going, allow you to have a specific amount of data that will at least allow you to have some form of internet access. If you have family back home, you can say I've arrived safely, you can let them know that everything's going okay. And basically allows you a little temporary window until you get things arranged in your household, at least allows you to check Facebook, look at expat groups and locations in your area that you can really use to start getting your own little community up and running.
Lea LaneI think it's also important to have country-specific electrical adapters so that you can get online and to know this kind of thing ahead of time, because that could be awful when you want to communicate and you can't do so. There are mail service companies. There's something called earth-class mail that's very useful if you want to deal with snail mail and that kind of thing. Now, finances, whether you'll look for a job, you have a job, you work remotely, or you're retired. What are some of the things to consider in terms of finances, generally speaking?
Darren JohnstonYeah, absolutely. A lot of our customers are able to stay employed at their place of work in the USA.
eSIMs, Adapters, And Staying Reachable
Darren JohnstonSo it might be if they're traveling to Europe, their new working hours actually become in the evening, like 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., where that's
Money Planning And Banking Basics
Darren JohnstonEast Coast 9 to 5 or whatever that might be. If you're going to get a new job, you're probably thinking about looking at the job boards before you actually get in the country. While you're in the process of planning, maybe you're sending applications in. But in the interim, you want to make sure you have minimum three to six months window to keep you afloat before even considering all the additional costs of the first month of buying all the additional items. You just need day-to-day money, safety net to keep you going until things really get sorted.
Lea LaneMany expats maintain a bank account in their home country as well as one in their new home. So you want to research about that. It might be helpful to maintain both for a little while. And what do you think about ATMs? They're all over the place. And I think they offer a good exchange rate.
Darren JohnstonYeah, absolutely. You might get some before you go. Obviously, you might find competitive exchange rates in your home country to get you enough to get the first month or two. Also, some countries have a restriction of how much money you're actually allowed to bring in in cash anyway. So ATMs are valuable, especially if you're going to somewhere like Europe, frequent around main hubs and cities. So it is a good option to have before you get a bank account sorted because bureaucracy can be a little bit slower in different countries. So it's important that you have something to keep you going.
Lea LaneAbsolutely. Now, how about connections? How will you connect with other expats and meet local residents and make friends and get grounded? What are some ideas for that?
Darren JohnstonI think the internet is incredibly popular now for situations like this. Facebook groups for every single option you can think of. Brits in Australia, you have Americans in New Zealand. There's so many variations that you could probably go as narrow as your particular city and
Finding Community And Learning Language
Darren Johnstonyou will find hubs, you will find communities. I also think Reddit is a very good option. It has good subreddits like for uh R forward slash expats. It's very, very popular for expats looking to move. And you also have local community centers, they will typically have expats situations going on there. So again, checking that out ahead of time on Facebook or just having a look and see what there is.
Lea LaneI would think gyms, libraries, book clubs, classes, you can find people locals all over if you take a little time and think about it. How about language? You want to be able to communicate a little bit at least in the beginning. Everything involves language. Gestures take you only so far. So, what would you suggest as a way to speed that up, perhaps?
Darren JohnstonYeah, you have very, very intuitive apps now for learning the language. Geolingo is a very good one. It's very, very popular. It has a range of languages on there that allows you to get the basics before you actually arrive in the country. You also have the option of learning when you're in the country. I have seen a lot of expat stories where they don't learn the language and they find the actual day-to-day living incredibly difficult. You have to have someone local to book a doctor's appointment for them because that just doesn't have an English option. So I think it is important to at least get your good grips of the basics and at least allow you to kickstart because you can kind of learn while you're there. You know, you will pick up friends that speak that language as the first tongue and then maybe English as a second one, and they can kind of help bring that forward for you.
Lea LaneIt really is worth your time before you leave to try to learn as much as you can. Obviously, it helps. So that's an idea for being successful. Another one is to be open and adaptable. When you're in a new country, you might get a little bit of culture shock. What are some suggestions to embrace the new culture?
Darren JohnstonI think if you know it's coming, it's less difficult to be shocked by it. If you go into it with the open mind that this is going to be challenging and this is going to be a little bit difficult, it does soften the blow and it helps you stay grounded throughout that whole process. The homesickness is real, you know, three to six months in
Culture Shock, Friends, And Patience
Darren Johnstonand it does become difficult. I had one the other day where they simply explained that they just missed the simplicity of getting in their car and going to Target and buying some groceries and then bringing them back home again. Whereas doing something similar in their new destination involved public transport and carrying the bags, and it was very, very difficult. So I think research ahead of time, maybe what you can expect, but know what's coming. And I think it kind of helps that in a general way.
Lea LaneAbsolutely. If you're open to the idea of change, just generally speaking, it'll make it a better experience. Although it may be more difficult to shop, look, think of all the wonderful things you can do when you speak to the grocery person and when you stop in the little cafe. And you know, these things can be looked at both ways. So if you're adaptable, it helps tremendously. Now, a support network also is successful for someone. What are some ways to find people besides going to a gym or something that can actually be friends to you? How how can you make friends?
Darren JohnstonOh, how can you make friends? Uh, I think just going in somewhere with a smile on your face and and being pleasant. I think if you tend to be nice, people typically tend to find themselves to you. If you go into a location and you're pleasant and polite and happy, you know, and you get speaking to someone and you become a regular, let's say it's a cafe, for example, and that's not your new favorite spot, and someone sees you go in there two or three times, and then the next time you go in, you just give them a wee wave and a smile and a hiya, you know, next thing you know, you're at the table sitting with them, and that's a very easy way to open up a friendship.
Lea LaneYeah, I found in traveling, if you smile and ask a question, you start a conversation. And it, as you said, if you go back to the same place, you may find the people again and again, and then you become friends. You can have lunch with your coworkers, you can invite them for midday coffee, you can uh seek out groups and clubs. If somebody in every country that has the same interest, if you're a bird watcher or a bocce player or whatever it may be, think of it in those terms and you'll meet people. And I think another way to be successful is to be patient when you're doing this. How does that help you?
Darren JohnstonYeah, I think if you expect things to happen too quickly once you've arrived or once you're settling in, I think you would ultimately be a bit disappointed, or you'd have to be very lucky for things to be fast. The bureaucracy of getting bank accounts and the all the documents set up, that can be slow. I've seen people wait five to six months to get the actual documentation to confirm their citizenship and stuff. And once that's hanging over your head, it can still be quite difficult. So you have to be patient. You're basically moving to a different location where they have different customs and they have different ways of doing things. If you take the time to learn and adapt yourself, it's going to give you a better experience, should I say.
Lea LaneAbsolutely. And you can keep in touch with your friends back home. That's another thing. You don't have to just cut that off. There are social networks and blogs and all kinds of things. I like to schedule when I go for a longer trip. I'll speak to you every Wednesday at two or whatever. That way you know you'll you'll stay in touch. So it makes you feel good. So don't think you won't be still connecting to your friends. Preparing, uh, your company does very well in terms of that. Do you write an inventory list? And how would you start the process? What would you make sure you don't forget?
Darren JohnstonRealistically, if you are a planner, I'm a bit of a planner. Some people aren't planners, but whenever you're moving halfway around the world or do a different destination entirely, you do need a bit of planning skills. You need a couple of iterations of a to-do list and a to sell list and a
Inventory Lists And Shipping A Car
Darren Johnstonto buy list. And I think planning goes a long way. So realistically, you're looking at an inventory of what's in your house. If I asked you what's in your house, you would you'd be able to give me the basic details. But I think it's surprising until you dig in your cupboards and you realize how much stuff you actually have, you start to think, well, all this can't come with me. It has to go somewhere and it's probably not going to fit in my boxes.
Lea LaneWell, I've done it, I've taken a video of my stuff and just tried to narrate it, and that helps me. It's my video inventory. So you can do that if you have lots of stuff, just mark and say what it is, and then later on you can look at it and say, I don't need it. What about cars and vehicles? Is that something that's very difficult to bring?
Darren JohnstonThere are definitely specialist companies set up for the likes of shipping cars in the same vein as containers. Some do container shipping and car shipping as well, or unless the car would have sentimental value, most people would opt to sell it before they move country. It's not uncommon for someone to bring the car with them, especially if they've had it a number of years, or if it's only recently bought and they think the car would be well set up for the destination. For example, like larger pickup trucks might not be great for European roads, and obviously the seat would be on the left-hand side and the roads are on the right. There are question marks on where it works for you and maybe where it doesn't.
Lea LaneRight. Well, there's a lot to think about, and we've certainly covered a bit of it. But again, today you can find out on the internet so many of these questions specifically. So before you leave is the time to think of all these things and not let it put you off because it's very exciting. Expats love it. My friends are very happy in their new country. Some of them are staying a short while, some are staying their whole lives, but it's it's an adventure. The name of the podcast is Places I Remember. So, Darren, will you share a memory of somewhere in the world that you really feel is special, even whether we move there or not?
Darren JohnstonAbsolutely, yes. One of my favorite European destinations that I've been to is Rome. It is just scenic and beautiful. I went there with my partner a number of years ago. Every day is just something brand new.
Rome Memories, Tokyo Dreams, Closing
Darren JohnstonSomething I won't forget about Rome as well, is the cobbled streets. The wheels were going everywhere trying to drag this along the cobbled streets to and from the train station. But it is so fascinating to be there. It was wonderful from going across and seeing the Pantheon. As soon as my kids are old enough where I can ship them out of the house, it's one of the top destinations that I'll be back to. That and South Africa.
Lea LaneReally? Now, do you think you might be an expat?
Darren JohnstonMy partner won't let us move away from the country because she's quite close with her parents. Whereas if I had it my way, I would be in Tokyo. (So Oh, really?
Lea LaneOkay, well, that's that's something to consider too when you don't agree on it. That's another podcast. Communication with your partner. That's something we didn't discuss. Everyone should get on the same page. Tokyo, because you'd like to go there, or have you been?
Darren JohnstonI haven't been. There's something about Tokyo that really draws me. There's something about the Japanese culture, the city itself, really, really draws me there. I would very much enjoy living there. Friend of mine, his brother, lives in Japan, not in Tokyo. He would frequently send him photos and tell him about things that are happening. It just wells up in me sometimes. I'd love to be there. So that'll be the first big trip I take once I can do it without kids.
Lea LaneSounds like you're gonna have a wonderful time there. It's very exciting to hear somebody who's passionate about a place and you know that they're gonna get there. I was in Tokyo three different times, and I was in an earthquake. It was a small one, but it was an experience. I know we've helped listeners understand some of the considerations of a big move to another country. You can check our archive on Places I Remember, because we have covered many of these countries. It's good to take a deep dive and think about them ahead of time, as we've discussed. So thank you, Darren Johnston, officer at Send My Bag, a company helping customers relocate by shipping millions of bags around the world. You've really been a very good guest. Thanks so much.
Darren JohnstonThank you so much. Really appreciate you having me on.
