Expat banking, offshore banking, expat taxes and finance are all daunting issues for new expats. Our new Expat Finance Guide is broken down into three sections: banking, tax & finance. Plus, the Finance Guide features an Ask the Expert Tool, which you may use to submit expat finance questions to our finance experts.

What is the best Ecuador visa to have? How do expats obtain a residency visa in Ecuador? Many expats obtain a retirement visa or investment visa, but there's another visa that will save you time and money. (Continue)

I had my baby in Polna hospital Poznan - this is a maternity hospital. I am Irish living in Poznan and I spent all my pregnancy in Poznan and delivered in this hospital. My gynacologist spoke english and was from a practice called Nereida - my doctors name was Krzysztof Hadas - As recommended by my doctor I paid to have my own midwife areound 80euro I was able to meet with her before the birth, look at the ward e.t.c and she was there for labour. Polna is a university hospital with many english students so language was not an issue with the staff, my midwife did not speak english. I found the facilities excellent modern intimate single labour rooms with toilet and shower, after the birth I was in a room with one other women, the food was basic but wholesome and the care was excellent. I was in hospital 3 days after the birth. I would advise for first babies some prenatal classes for breast feeding prep e.t.c with an english speaker, its available if you look. I felt very secure and was really made feel at ease and very well cared for. A very positive experience. Epidural is not widely used in this hospital but can be ordered in advance. I found the pain medication on offer very adequate. (Continue)

No doubt. Certainly Oman is wonderful place to spend life if you are nature lover and believe in family life. The best location to move in are Al Khuwair, Al -Athaibah, Al Seeb and Al Qurum. These are decent locations with shopping mall in close vicinity. (Continue)

***Ensure that whoever is working in Kuwait gets the company to pay for the kids schooling worked into the contract as well as a company car or you are SUNK.*** Schooling in Kuwait for us with 2 kids (6 & 9) is around 5,000KD a year and that doesn't include the overpriced Bangladesh made uniforms, over priced average bus service, and the fact you seem to pay through the nose for EVERYTHING when the school does something. But I hear thats the same at EVERY school here in Kuwait.

But, we found the teachers to be excellent (read: made them study and learn- in a nice way,) were confident in seeing the parents, handed out challenging homework, and we like the actual outlay of the school. All the classrooms, PE hall, auditorium, and library (which is pretty good,) are well air conditioned. It has a decent pool with wading area and a couple of cushioned basketball/tennis/soccer courts. -Did I mention they are having a school excursion to Lapland (Sweden) for a week this year? Apparently it's 780KD pp everything paid for. We were told well in advance so you can have time to save up. Sounds nice. (Continue)