11 Must-Haves We Use in Our Global Life
The Expat Holiday Gift Guide
The holidays are here and as someone living the expat life with two young daughters across three countries (and counting!), I know firsthand what items actually make a difference in creating a smooth transition abroad. These aren't just gift suggestions - they're the tried-and-tested tools our family uses daily in our global life. From staying connected with family to managing the practical aspects of life abroad, each item on this list has earned its place in our expat journey.
Here's what works for our family (and might be perfect for yours):
Digital Journal Subscription - Notability: We use this daily for everything from school notes to visa checklists. The best part? It syncs across devices, so our family's plans are always there.
Amazon Alexa: Trust me on this one - from setting school alarms to letting the kids call me during date nights in Doha, our Alexa has become command central for our family routines.
A NordVPN Subscription is essential for accessing Netflix shows from home and maintaining privacy. We learned this one the hard way in our first month abroad!
Fire TV Stick When the girls are homesick, being able to watch their favorite shows from any country is priceless.
The Your Expat Life Summit Ticket: Give the gift of expert guidance and community. Join us on January 18th for practical insights on schools, visas, and creating your family's global life.
Longchamp Le Pliage Bag My absolute favorite travel companion. It folds flat in your suitcase and unfolds to carry all those must-have treats from home during airport visits.
Digital Luggage Scale: Moving between London, Copenhagen, and Doha taught us this is non-negotiable. Save yourself from airport stress and excess baggage fees.
International Power Adapters: A must-have in every room! We keep one for each family member's electronics because hunting for adapters at 7am before school is not fun (trust me, we've been there).
Power Converter: Different from adapters - this saves your electronics from voltage disasters. After frying my favorite hair tool in London, this became essential.
Duolingo: I try to use this daily with the girls - watching them learn new languages while playing is amazing. Makes those first few initial conversations in a new country so much easier.
AirTags: Pop these in suitcases, backpacks, and, yes, even favorite stuffed animals (lesson learned after a tearful night in Doha when Mia's special toy got packed in storage).
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What else is on your Christmas list? Let me know in the comments.