Free to move anywhere...but where?! International schools crucial

[Cherubb]

DH and I have wanted to do a year either working but based abroad or travelling (not a full year) with the DC's for several years. We have waited until they were old enough but then Covid came along and destroyed those plans as we've both had long covid and it's been a shit year.

Anyway, we are better, we are free from the daily commute as we both work fully remotely. I work only a day a week currently so lots of flex to sort out a move/schooling etc.

DC's are going into year 5 and year 2 in September and we would ideally like to go somewhere this Autumn. We feel it is now or never as Ideally want to be back in the UK for eldest to start secondary (although this is not essential if we love where we end up).

We can rent our current house out no problem and will get a good income from that. I have no idea where we should go but I know the important things are:

• International schools
• Beach life ideally / not inner city
• Family friendly
• Decent healthcare available
• Friendly to non locals...

We have travelled a lot over the years, Asia, Oz etc and I loved it all but with the kids feel we perhaps need some caution due to Covid. Neither of is fluent in any other language but both have a reasonable level of french. As a child I lived in Greece and so have contemplated that too as an option as close to my heart but perhaps not so good with Covid and healthcare (unsure on this).

The only place we have several friends living is in Oz but that is nearly impossible to get into I think unless DH applies for a full time job, that may be possible due to his trade but it looks very difficult currently.

Has anyone done something similar to this? Would love to hear your stories and advice.

I would recommend SE Asia for good schools, medical care, friendly locals, and beaches! I live in Bangkok with 3 small children and love it. We are a couple of hours from the beach though, and the air pollution is bad sometimes. But there are international schools on Phuket and Koh Samui where you could have an island life with lots of amenities! Or Pattaya/Rayong, lots of schools there and only a couple of hours from BKK.

Look into fees carefully while considering locations, as they can be crazy. In Bangkok school fees at any half decent international school are around the same as many private schools in the UK, but it feels more here as the cost of most things is lower. Think around 15k a year in Bangkok as a very rough figure.

Vietnam also has great schools and lifestyle. In both places the language really isn't an issue. My children learn Thai at school and the locals love it if you try, but you can absolutely manage without.

Work permits are another issue... technically I don't think you're supposed to work remotely in Thailand but in reality it is very popular with digital nomads, especially in the north. Depending on your finances you could get an elite visa and just not declare that you are working. And you could definitely get education visas for your children and then be added as their parent, that wouldn't be expensive to do.

Covid is not great here right now, our third wave is our worst in terms of numbers. But vaccinations have finally begun so I'm hopeful that 6-12 months from now it will all just be a horrible memory (except I'm sure masks will never really go away here!)

If you want to be "free to move" don't come to Australia, we are prisoners in the country since March 2020 with borders closed and a ban on travel and arrivals in the country have been cut in half from already very low numbers.

It's probably not what you're looking for, but Dubai ticks all your boxes!

I'm not sure what budget you have but be aware that decent international schools don't come cheap anywhere.

I moved every three years growing up - from birth more or less. We lived on every continent bar Australia and Europe. Most countries have international schools tbh.

I'd vote SE Asia but I'm probably biased as my mum is from there, though not a countries take digital nomads. Unless you're travelling with a company (as my family did), you really need to check out the visa issues.

^not 'all' countries take digital nomads that should say.

Have you looked into international school fees?

Cyprus? Malta?

Not sure what the entey requirements are post Brexit but they would tick most of your boxes.

Thank you, currently looking into Portugal as I think we can easily obtain a visa for up to a year (as long as you have savings I think), primary school fees look to be more affordable in some areas (6000 Euro a year). I was assuming school would be circa 10k per child but if it's less than that would be good!

I'll start another thread about Portugal. DH is saying ideally if we can be in a similar time zone to UK or US at least that helps for work for him (and me although less relavent!).

In Dubai you can now get a remote working visa, so keep your current job if it is one that you can do remotely.

u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/types-of-visa/remote-work-visas

There are beautiful beaches, as long as you don't care that many are manmade, and a plethora of excellent British curriculum schools staffed by UK trained teachers.