Amira

Carrefour and Goodwill for Western groceries

Carrefour in Tbilisi Mall has the best selection of imported and Western products. Goodwill supermarket is well-stocked and cheaper. For fresh produce, the Deserter Bazaar near Didube metro is excellent and very cheap.

Telcel has the best coverage across Mexico

On Telcel 30GB plan for 200 MXN/month. Best coverage in Mexico City and across the country. Buy at any OXXO with just your passport. Recharge at OXXO, 7-Eleven, or via the Mi Telcel app.

Fertagus train to south bank is faster than driving

I commute to Almada — Fertagus from Entrecampos takes 25 minutes and costs €1.70 with Viva Viagem. Driving the 25 de Abril bridge in rush hour takes 45-60 minutes. Train wins every time.

NOS store for SIM on day 1 — quick and easy

Walked into NOS in Baixa-Chiado and had a working SIM in 15 minutes. 30GB for €15/month, just showed my passport. Activation was instant. MEO is also good — avoid small resellers.

Understand your visa and work permit renewal cycle — it comes up fast

A standard Non-Immigrant B visa gives 90 days. You then extend it year by year at the Bangkok Immigration Division. Both your visa extension and work permit renewal must be done — they are separate documents. Most companies have an HR person managing this but verify the dates yourself. Missing the visa extension date by even one day results in an overstay fine of 500 THB/day and potential deportation.

KBank K PLUS is essential for daily life in Thailand

Once you have a KBank account, the K PLUS app handles everything: PromptPay transfers to Thai bank numbers, QR code payments at markets and restaurants, bill payments, and international transfers. PromptPay is Thailand's instant payment system linked to your phone number or national ID — once registered, receiving money from any Thai bank account is instant and free.

Grab is the only reliable ride-hailing option — Bolt has limited coverage

Grab dominates Bangkok ride-hailing. Bolt launched in Bangkok in 2023 but has far fewer drivers and higher surge pricing. Grab's GrabCar is predictably priced and drivers use GPS reliably — much better than hailing street taxis which often refuse metres and quote flat rates to foreigners. GrabBike (motorcycle taxi) is fastest for short journeys under 5km — the green-jacketed drivers at BTS stations also work without the app.

Street food is your best meal value — 50–80 THB gets you a proper meal

A proper pad kra pao, khao man gai, or boat noodles from a street stall costs 50–80 THB. The same meal in an air-conditioned restaurant is 150–300 THB. Stalls near office buildings that have long queues of Thai workers at lunch are your quality benchmark. Don't default to tourist-area restaurants. Markets like Or Tor Kor (near MRT Chatuchak) and Ratchada Night Market have excellent variety at street prices.

Thai landlords expect 2 months deposit + 1 month advance — prepare for it

Standard Thai rental contracts require 2 months security deposit + 1 month advance rent — so 3 months upfront before you move in. On a 20,000 THB/month flat that's 60,000 THB you need liquid on signing day. Deposits are typically returned within 30 days of moving out — document any existing damage in photos before you move in, or you'll lose it to claimed 'repairs'.

Tourist SIMs expire in 30 days — upgrade to a non-tourist plan

Airport tourist SIMs are capped at 30 days. Once you have an address and are staying longer, go to any AIS or True Move shop with your passport and get a local subscriber SIM. The monthly plans are more flexible, often cheaper per GB, and can be renewed indefinitely. The switch takes 15 minutes in-store. Some operators require a Non-Immigrant visa for local subscriber registration — a tourist visa gives you tourist SIM only.

Get a Thai SIM card at the airport — it's the best deal you'll find

Unlike most cities, Bangkok airport SIM cards are genuinely good value. AIS, DTAC (now True Move after merger), and True Move all have counters in the arrivals halls at BKK (Suvarnabhumi) and DMK (Don Mueang). The tourist SIM with 30–50GB data for 30 days costs 300–500 THB — this is the same price as city stores. You only need your passport. No reason to delay — get it immediately on arrival.

SGK (social security) registration is your employer's legal obligation

Your employer must register you with SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu) from your first day of work. This gives you access to public healthcare via the e-nabız app and contributes to your pension entitlements. Check your registration on e-devlet.gov.tr within the first week. If you are not registered after 30 days, this is illegal and you should escalate — unregistered workers have no legal protection.

Wise is cheaper than Turkish banks for international transfers

Exchanging currency through Turkish banks costs 1.5–3% in spread plus fixed fees. Wise charges 0.4–0.7% and is available in Turkey for inbound and outbound transfers. For receiving USD or EUR salary, ask your employer to send to your Wise multi-currency account — you avoid Turkish bank conversion fees entirely. Note: some Turkish employers can only wire to Turkish IBAN — open Papara alongside Wise.

Ferries are the best way to cross the Bosphorus — avoid the bridges

Şehir Hatları ferries run from Eminönü and Karaköy on the European side to Kadıköy and Üsküdar on the Asian side, every 15–20 minutes during peak times. Journey is 20–25 minutes. Toll bridges using HGS/OGS tags cost 60–80 TL per crossing — ferries are 14 TL. For commuters living on the Asian side working in Europe, the ferry is faster, cheaper, and far more pleasant than sitting in bridge traffic.

The neighbourhood weekly market (pazar) is where you buy produce

Every Istanbul neighbourhood has a weekly open-air market. In Kadıköy it's Tuesday and Saturday; in Beşiktaş it's Saturday. Vegetables here are 40–60% cheaper than supermarkets and much fresher. Bring a tote bag and small bills (50–200 TL notes) — most stalls are cash only. Arrive by 09:00 for the best selection; by 11:00 the good produce is gone.

Always insist on a notarised rental contract — verbal agreements are worthless

Many landlords prefer informal arrangements to avoid taxes. This is dangerous for you — no notarised contract means no legal protection, no utility account setup, no address registration. I know two people who were evicted without notice because they had only WhatsApp agreements. Pay the ~300 TL notary fee, insist on a formal contract, and make sure it includes the rental amount in TL and any annual increase cap.

You must register a foreign phone IMEI within 120 days or it gets blocked

Turkey requires you to register your foreign phone's IMEI with the BTK (Information Technologies Authority) within 120 days of arrival, or it gets permanently blocked on Turkish networks. Cost is 500 TL. Do this at any operator store by showing passport + YKN. If you miss the window, you'll need a Turkish-purchased phone for local SIM use. Many expats miss this and get caught by the 120-day hard block.

Apply for your Foreigner ID (YKN) as soon as possible

The Yabancı Kimlik Numarası (YKN) is your 11-digit foreigner ID — you need it for SIM cards, bank accounts, tax registration, and health insurance. Apply at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (PDMM). Bring your passport, rental contract, address registration, and 2 photos. Appointments fill up weeks in advance — book online at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr on your first or second day.