Welcome to Expat Explorers

We are a family with two young children who love to travel. We don't believe the world revolves around us. We think we should revolve around the world. Travel helps us to understand our place on the planet. 

Whether you're an expat, a family, an intrepid explorer, an armchair traveller or just looking for holiday ideas, this website is for you. We don't sell anything - we just do this for the passion of travel. We've collected together travel insights and expat advice to get you inspired. Happy travels.

I want to go home - the cause of early repatriation

Looking for the perfect desert island? Video: Palau Sibu, Malaysia

How quickly someone settles is as much about what they have left behind, as it is about getting to grips with their new surroundings. Missing family and friends were the top reasons respondents cited for missing home (62% combined). 47% missed family, 15% cited friends, 10% stated countryside, 3% said weather. A further 2% missed their working life.

Are children disadvantaged by expat life? 49% of expats think so.

Book launch May 2019. Available from Amazon Kindle

Expat experience book - we've nearly 500 responses to our book survey. Can you help?

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We'd like to remember Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore who passed away on Monday, by hearing what you like best about this city-state. Tell us here.

Hello kitty

Running highs and lows

I high-fived Puss in Boots, waved to Elmo and blew a kiss to Betty Boop. And then I didn’t wake up. 

Am I going crazy?

Find out what I’m talking about.    

1942: The end of an era

Living on a battlefield in Singapore

Singapore is the first country I've lived in where the battle scars are still visible, and the nightmares are still in living memory.

You don't have to scratch the surface very deep to find evidence of the Second World War. 
Find out more here.

Learning to speak English:
What we say and what we mean

It's such a widely spoken language, you would think that the English language was as ordered as it subjects.

Think again. If English (spoken by Brits) is not your first language, here's a chart to help you navigate the subtleties and subtext.

Driving in Singapore

Driving in Singapore: how to convert your licence

If you have a driving licence you can drive in Singapore, but you need to convert it. It's an easy, although convoluted, process.

We going through it at the moment, so come and feel our pain.

Remembrance Sunday in Singapore

Remembrance Sunday in Singapore

We may be far from Flanders Fields, but the poppy, the symbol of Remembrance Day, was out in force at the annual service.

Held at Kranji War Cemetery, the commanding hill was a Prisoner of War camp during the Japanese Occupation of the Second World War. 

Like a fish out of water?

Signs that make you think

Or smile, or question someone's sanity.

Do you have a sign to share? We'll share it on our Facebook Page.

Cape Leeuwin

South Western Australia in photos

Here's an outline of what you can pack into a week in South Western Australia, along with our photo gallery.

Busselton

South Western Australia in a week:
Part 3. Margaret River

Margaret River is a great place to base yourself for a week exploring the region, whether you want the vineyards (there are lots of them), the manmade spectacles (underwater observatory, lighthouses, jetties) or the natural (trails for hiking, caves and beaches). 

Fremantle Prison

South Western Australia in a week: Part 2. Fremantle

Fremantle has a bi-polar character. On one side, it's a pretty chilled out place, with coffee shops and fish and chips on the beach. On the other, its colonial history is interwoven with prison escapes and visits to the hangman's noose. It's a good place to start a tour of this region.

Making friends

South Western Australia in a week: Part 1. The journey

We lose our sense of sense of humour and our luggage.

Why are our holiday always like a soap opera or a National Lampoon's film?

Here is what we have learnt on this trip:
1. You need a visa - don't forget;
2. If you do forget you may miss your flight;
3. Arriving at your destination is no guarantee that your luggage will arrive.

Here's what happened on day one.

Time for some exercise

Scrambling over the Al Hajar Mountains

You can approach the Al Hajar Mountains from the UAE side, in Ras al Khaimah, or from Dibba in Oman. You can go up, and you can come down. What you can't do is go over.
Here's our insight into the spiny backbone of the Arabian Peninsula.

The Burj Khalifa, Dubai

Climbing on top of the world

We travel around the world so why not up? Here's an insight into the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. 

Standing proudly, it peaks at 828m, making it the tallest building in the world.

Dubai likes its claims to fame: it has the largest fish tank, the longest indoor ski slope, the largest housing development, and the list goes on.

But this is one super structure that is worthy of the claim. Click here to find out more.

Cider with rosé

Celebrating a birthday, promotion or just turning a meal into something special, doesn't have to revolve around popping a cork on a bottle of Champagne. How about a bottle of cider?

We review the new French restaurant in Circular Road - Le Comptoir. It's something a little different: a nod to traditional French cuisine with fresh, updated flavour combinations all wrapped in a pancake. Pair it with a glass of sweet, dry or rosé cider, and it's a great evening out.

Discover more here.

Roundabouts I love

Driving in Dubai

A skill or an art form? Blink and the road network changes. 
The UAE is not the easiest place in the world to drive, but there are plenty of interesting roundabouts to stop you from getting bored if you do get lost. 

Find out more by clicking here.

Is Elmo allowed to drive?

Driving in Singapore
How to convert your licence

Once you know the steps, it's easy to convert your driving licence, but you'll need to do in within the first 12 months of moving here, unless you want to prove yourself and take the practical too. 
Here's our guide.

Tea at Raffles

Afternoon tea at the Raffles' Hotel, Singapore

Afternoon tea at this Singapore landmark is more than a tide-me-over snack. 

With an east meets west twist, you could skip lunch and dinner and graze all afternoon, sipping tea, coffee or bubbly.

We took our two princesses for this grand tea. They were not disappointed.

Top tips: travel safety

Top tips for travelling safely

Travel helps us to understand the world. But things can go wrong when we're looking around in awe.

How do you avoid unwanted attention? 
How do you keep safe?
Here's our top tips. 

To request the article as a pdf please email us.

Do you have a top tip to share? We'd love to hear from you.

Is British best?

An expat education

Moving from country to country can be disruptive to your child's education.

Do you choose the international system or the British? 
Why is there always a waiting list?
What happens when you return to Blighty?

These are just some of the questions expat parents ask. Here's an insight into one family's education journey.

Triathlon kit list

The night before a race everyone gets nerves. I often can't find my helmet, I forget to pack in the all important Vaseline, or I fail to pack something completely.

So I put together a list. I have a lot of lists, but this time I can't lose it because I'm keeping it here and sharing it.

Here's our top triathlon kit list.
And here's an insight into combining travel and sport.

Day trip from Singapore: Pulau Ubin

Sometimes you just need to escape the city. 

A short boat ride away is the perfect answer - Palau Ubin.

With no roads or cars, this is great place to take the family cycles, walking or camping.

Just pack a picnic & some mozzie spray. 

Dear expats, what do you miss about home?

Every year expats fly home in a migratory pattern that is familiar to most. And now the homing instinct has kicked in and they are returning.
But why? It's about your identity and place in the world. 

Today's weather

What's the weather like in Singapore?

It's one of the first questions friends from home ask me. 

The answer is that it's changeable and it rains a lot. Sounds a bit like the UK, doesn't it? 

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Here's my insight.

Where in the World are We?

Think you know your travel destinations? 

Prove it. 

Join us on Facebook for our weekly Where in the World are We? competition. Just for fun. The answers are revealed here.

Staying with the family: 
the grandparents visit Singapore

My parents recently came to visit us in Singapore. I asked my mother to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and offer some top tips for first time travellers. 
Here's her advice.

Want to be a film star? Film set travel

Fancy yourself as a Angelina Jolie or Harrison Ford? Where in the world can you step onto a movie set and transport yourself to the silver screen?

Here's our top recommendations.

Singapore restaurant review: 
The Tiffin Room, Raffles Hotel

The Tiffin Room at Raffles Hotel is steeped in history. The ghosts of past socialites and fashionistas still echo in the lobby, and sweep down the grand staircase. Where else would you go for tiffin?

But what does tiffin mean? Afternoon tea or a curry lunch? 
We went to find out.

A weekend in Hong Kong:
Rainbow lights and culinary delights

How would you spend 48 hours in Hong Kong? Here's our suggestions for restaurants and things to do.
The meaning of travel? What do you see when you sit and watch? A lady walking out of McDonald's wearing ballet shoes en pointe, apparently.

Top apps for expats

Becoming an expat - there an apps for that

Technology has made life a lot easier. Whether you use to for finding your way, finding friends or keeping in contact with the mother country, there is an app for everyone. 

Here's our favourites. 
What's your's?

Dear Mosquito, What is your point?

Down with Dengue Fever
I've just emerged from the wobbly world of dreaded Dengue Fever. 

It's a mosquito-born tropical disease that worries most expats. 

Do you know what to look out for and how to prevent it?

Life in Singapore

Do you live in Singapore? 
Here are some new stories for you:

• Top ten activities in Singapore
• Weekend escape: Bintan Triathlon
• Sentosa: what is it? Bite-sized trips
• Singapore: 7 signs you've arrived

The Telegraph: Globetrotting with kids in tow 

Ever wondered what's it's like to to be an expat? 
Is expat life a choice or a reaction to the job market?
What are the pros and cons?
What is it like if you have young children?

We've lived in one of the coldest places on the planet, one of the hottest and one of the most humid. 
Here's our story.

Latest destination: 
Three generations travel overland from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. 

Did we survive the journey? 

Did we find Lara Croft on the set of Tomb Raider? 

Did my daughter work out how to get on top of the elephant?

Find out here.

New Zealand holiday ideas - in video

New Zealand travel insights 
Free guide
The British heir to the throne and his young family are visiting New Zealand this month – a trip we took with our young princesses a couple of months ago.  I like to think of it as a royal recce! 


If you fancy getting an insight into this fantastic country, here are out latest resources:

• New Zealand travel stories
• New Zealand itinerary
• Sign up for free downloadable guide

Great walks in NZ with kids

Walking on the wild side: New Zealand's West coast
What makes a great walk? The weather? The scenery? The company? Our answer is driftwood, tree tops and murder.
 
Here's our insights of three great walks on New Zealand's West Coast. 

Top tip: take a camera. It’s a photographer’s paradise.

To read more click here.

Travel top tips

Top tips: Travelling with kids
How to travel with young children: contact us for our new free Jigsaw Pieces top tips for leaving home without a stroller. 

We'll to added more Jigsaw Pieces so sign up to receive updates.

We're looking for contributors and would love to hear from you. If you have an story, an itinerary or a top tip to share please drop us a line for our contributors' guidelines.

We need your help
As a traveller, we would love to know what you'd like to see on Expat Explorers?

• More advice?
• Expat information?
• Itineraries?
• Photos?
• Industry news?

We're trying to be as customer-focussed as possible. We're wearing our heart on our sleeves. Tell us what we can do to improve. Be nice ;-)

The Expat Explorers

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Buy the book!
​New in paperback

Insights and advice for expats struggling to find their identity abroad. Warning: will make you laugh, and cry...

We're on Facebook 

For the chance to win hotel stays, expat services, tours and travel gadgets, just sign up to our quarterly newsletter full of free travel ideas, insight and inspiration. Good luck! 

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Moving abroad?

Have a look at our Expat Suitcase packed with advice for expats. 
And what's life like as an expat? Here's an insight into ours:
The Telegraph: Globetrotting with kids in tow

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Newsletter giveaways

Join our free prize draw to win hotel stays, travel gifts and expat relocation services. Just sign up to our newsletter. It's full of holiday ideas and free information. Sign up now to avoid missing the fun. It's all about sharing information.

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Singapore: are you happy?

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Blogs we love...

Lucy, from London, moved to Singapore two years ago. She created the blog Lulabelle, which covers inspiring insights in the worlds of fashion, food, books and travel. 

Little Steps is a devoted to delivering the inside scoop on what to do, buy and discover in Sinagpore to keep the most hip and happening for parents and their kids up to date.

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The Daze of my Life is a day to day look at life in Dubai from the eyes of a young family. It's a soap opera about a small family taking on a big city.

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