The Roavi Blog
Stories from people who live there.
Travel tips, city guides, and local insights from the Roavi team.
1173 articles
Become a Local Friend
Part-Time and Weekend Jobs in Chicago With No Experience in 2026: Ten That Actually Hire (Students Too), What Each Pays Over the Legal Floor, Which Need a Car, Evening, Night and Weekend-Only Options, and the One You Can Start This Week at Your Own Rate
Part-time and weekend jobs in Chicago with no experience, for students and anyone with free hours: ten that actually hire, what each pays over the legal floor, which need a car, the evening and weekend options, and the one you can start this week at your own rate.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Moving to Chicago From NYC in 2026: the Paperwork or Visa New Yorkers Actually Need, Apartments and the Income Rule, the Car Question Answered Honestly, Money and Taxes, the Weather Nobody Is Ready For, the Culture Shocks, Where New Yorkers Settle, and How Not to Spend the First Month Alone
Moving to Chicago from NYC: the paperwork or visa New Yorkers actually need, apartments and the income rule, the car question, money and taxes, the weather, the culture shocks, where New Yorkers settle, and how not to spend the first month alone, including a local who shows you the city in an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Moving to Chicago From California in 2026: the Paperwork or Visa Californians Actually Need, Apartments and the Income Rule, the Car Question Answered Honestly, Money and Taxes, the Weather Nobody Is Ready For, the Culture Shocks, Where Californians Settle, and How Not to Spend the First Month Alone
Moving to Chicago from California: the paperwork or visa Californians actually need, apartments and the income rule, the car question, money and taxes, the weather, the culture shocks, where Californians settle, and how not to spend the first month alone, including a local who shows you the city in an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
How to Make Friends in Houston in 2026: Why It Is Hard Here, What Actually Works as an Adult, Post-Grad, in Your 20s and 30s or in the Suburbs (Recurring Rooms, Leagues, Run Clubs, Classes, Volunteering, the Neighbourhood Bar), the Seasons, the Apps and Their Real Speed, and the Shortcut of an Afternoon With a Local
How to make friends in Houston, honestly: why it is hard here, what works as an adult, post-grad or new in town (recurring rooms, leagues, run clubs, classes, volunteering, the neighbourhood bar), the seasons, the apps, and the shortcut of an afternoon with someone who lives here.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Moving to Houston Alone in 2026: the First 90 Days in Order, Where to Live (With or Without a Car), What It Really Costs and the Honest Answer to "How to Move to Houston With No Money", Apartments and the Income Rule, Doing It as a Woman, the Loneliness Curve, and How Not to Spend Month Three Alone
Moving to Houston alone: the first 90 days in order, where to live with or without a car, what it really costs and the honest answer to moving with no money, apartments and the income rule, doing it as a woman, why month three is the lonely one, and how to not spend it alone.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Things to Do in Houston Alone in 2026: During the Day, at Night, Free, Downtown and in the Neighbourhoods, on a Solo Trip, the Places Where Being Alone Is Normal, the Few Where It Is Not, and the Option of an Afternoon With a Local
Things to do in Houston alone, sorted the way people search it: day, night, free, downtown and the neighbourhoods, solo trip. The places where being alone is normal, the few where it is not, and the option of an afternoon with someone who lives here.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
How to Meet People in Houston in 2026: the Places and Clubs (Rec Leagues, Run Clubs, Classes, Volunteering, the Neighbourhood Bar), the Events, the Bars Where Talking to Strangers Is Normal, the Apps and Their Real Speed, What Works for a Visitor With Three Days Versus a Newcomer With Three Months, and Hiring a Local for an Afternoon
How to meet people in Houston, for visitors with three days and newcomers with three months: the places, clubs and events, the bars where talking to strangers is normal, the apps and their speed, and a local by the hour.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Houston Without a Car in 2026: Can You Live in Houston Without One, Can You Visit Without One, the Neighbourhoods Where It Works, the Transit That Matters, Bikes and Rideshare, Dating and Social Life Without a Car, the Honest Limits, and the Local Who Drives
Houston without a car: can you live or visit here without one, the neighbourhoods where it works, the transit that matters, bikes and rideshare, dating and social life without a car, the honest limits, and the option of a Local Friend who drives.
Oscar Garcia··2 min read
Become a Local Friend
First Time in Houston in 2026: What to Do and What to Skip, Where to Stay and Which Neighbourhood Fits You, Getting Around, a Three-Day Itinerary, the Mistakes Everyone Makes, and the Option of a Local for an Afternoon
First time in Houston: what to do and what to skip, where to stay, getting around, a three-day itinerary, the mistakes everyone makes, and the option of someone who lives here for an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
How to Become a Tour Guide in Houston in 2026: There Is No City or State Tour-Guide License (Unlike New York), the Voluntary Certification That Operators Respect, What You Do Need, Where the Jobs Are, What Guides Earn and When, and Getting Paid for Your Time Without a Tour
How to become a tour guide in Houston: no city or state license, unlike New York; the voluntary certification operators respect, what you do need, where the jobs are, what guides earn and when, and the alternative that pays for your time without a tour.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Part-Time and Weekend Jobs in Houston With No Experience in 2026: Ten That Actually Hire (Students Too), What Each Pays Over the Legal Floor, Which Need a Car, Evening, Night and Weekend-Only Options, and the One You Can Start This Week at Your Own Rate
Part-time and weekend jobs in Houston with no experience, for students and anyone with free hours: ten that actually hire, what each pays over the legal floor, which need a car, the evening and weekend options, and the one you can start this week at your own rate.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Moving to Houston From the UK in 2026: the Paperwork or Visa Brits Actually Need, Apartments and the Income Rule, the Car Question Answered Honestly, Money and Taxes, the Weather Nobody Is Ready For, the Culture Shocks, Where Brits Settle, and How Not to Spend the First Month Alone
Moving to Houston from the UK: the paperwork or visa Brits actually need, apartments and the income rule, the car question, money and taxes, the weather, the culture shocks, where Brits settle, and how not to spend the first month alone, including a local who shows you the city in an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read