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
Moving to Miami From the UK in 2026: the Routes Brits Actually Use, Apartments and the 3x Income Rule, the Car and Florida Insurance, Money and No State Income Tax, Hurricane Season, the Culture Shocks Nobody Warns You About, Where Brits Settle, and How Not to Spend the First Month Alone
Moving to Miami from the UK: the routes Brits actually use, apartments and the income rule, the car and Florida insurance, no state income tax, hurricane season, the culture shocks, where Brits settle, and how not to spend the first month alone, including a Miamian who shows you the city in an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
First Time in Miami in 2026: Where to Stay (South Beach, Mid-Beach, Brickell, Downtown, Coconut Grove, Wynwood) and Which Fits You, What to Do and What to Skip, Miami Beach Versus the Mainland, Getting Around With or Without a Car, a Three-Day Itinerary, the Mistakes Everyone Makes, and the Option of a Local for an Afternoon
First time in Miami: where to stay and which neighbourhood fits what you want, what to do and what to skip, Miami Beach versus the mainland, getting around with or without a car, a three-day itinerary, the mistakes everyone makes, and the option of a Miamian for an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
How to Become a Tour Guide in Miami in 2026: There Is No Tour-Guide License in Miami or Florida (Unlike New York), What You Do Need (County and City Business Tax Receipts if Self-Employed, a Captain's License if You Run Boat Tours, the Operators' Own Training), Where the Jobs Are (Cruise Port, Everglades, Boat Tours, Little Havana, Art Deco, Hop-On Buses), Spanish and Portuguese, What Guides Earn, and Getting Paid for Your Time Without a Tour
How to become a tour guide in Miami: no city or state tour-guide license, unlike New York. What you do need (county and city Business Tax Receipts if self-employed, a captain's license for boat tours, the operators' training), where the jobs are, why Spanish and Portuguese matter, what guides earn, 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 Miami With No Experience in 2026: Ten That Actually Hire (Students Too), What Each Pays Over Florida's $15.00 Minimum Wage, Which Need Spanish and Which Do Not, Weekend-Only and Evening Options, and the One You Can Start This Week at Your Own Rate
Part-time and weekend jobs in Miami with no experience, for students and anyone with free hours: ten that actually hire, what each pays over Florida's $15.00 minimum wage, which need Spanish, the weekend-only and evening options, and the one you can start this week at your own rate.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
How to Make Friends in Los Angeles in 2026: Why This City Is Hard (Distance, Cars, Flakiness), What Actually Works as an Adult (Recurring Rooms, Run Clubs, Climbing Gyms, Classes, Beach Volleyball, the Industry's Own Networks), the Apps and Their Real Speed, Making Friends in Your 20s and 30s, and the Shortcut of an Afternoon With an Angeleno
How to make friends in Los Angeles, honestly: why it is hard here (distance, cars, the flake), what works as an adult (recurring rooms near where you live, run clubs, climbing, classes, volleyball, industry networks), the apps and their real speed, your 20s and 30s, and the shortcut of an afternoon with an Angeleno who shows you where your people are.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Moving to LA Alone in 2026: the First 90 Days in Order, Where to Live if You Do Not Have a Car Yet, What It Really Costs (and the Honest Answer to "How to Move to LA With No Money"), Apartments and the 2.5x to 3x Income Rule, the Loneliness Curve in a City of Freeways, and How Not to Spend Month Three Alone
Moving to LA alone: the first 90 days in order, where to live if you do not have a car yet, what it really costs and the honest answer to moving with no money, apartments and the income rule, why month three is the lonely one in a city of freeways, and how to not spend it alone.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Things to Do in LA Alone in 2026: Free, at Night, Without a Car and on a Solo Trip, the Places Where Being Alone Is Normal (Most of Them), the Few Where It Is Not, What Each Costs, and the Option of an Afternoon With an Angeleno
Things to do in LA alone, sorted the way people search it: free, at night, without a car, on a solo trip. The places where being alone is normal here, the few where it is not, what each costs, and the option of hiring an Angeleno for an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
How to Meet People in Los Angeles in 2026: the Places (Run Clubs, Climbing Gyms, Beach Volleyball, Classes, Dog Parks, Farmers Markets), 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 an Angeleno for an Afternoon
How to meet people in Los Angeles, for visitors with three days and newcomers with three months: the places (run clubs, climbing, volleyball, classes, dog parks, farmers markets), the bars where talking to strangers is normal, the apps and their real speed, and the option of an Angeleno by the hour.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
LA Without a Car in 2026: Can You Live in Los Angeles Without One, Can You Visit Without One, the Neighbourhoods Where It Works (Downtown, Koreatown, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Culver City, Pasadena), the Metro Lines That Matter, Bikes and Rideshare, Dating and Social Life Without a Car, the Honest Limits, and the Local Who Drives
LA without a car: can you live or visit Los Angeles without one, the neighbourhoods where it works, the Metro lines that matter, bikes and rideshare, dating and social life without a car, the honest limits, and the option of a Local Friend who drives.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Moving to Los Angeles From NYC in 2026: the Routes New Yorkers Actually Use, Apartments and the 2.5x to 3x Income Rule, the Car Question Answered Honestly, Money and Banking, the Culture Shocks Nobody Warns You About, Where New Yorkers Settle, and How Not to Spend the First Month Alone
Moving to Los Angeles from NYC: the routes New Yorkers actually use, apartments and the income rule, the car question answered honestly, money, the culture shocks, where New Yorkers settle, and how not to spend the first month alone, including an Angeleno who shows you the city in an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Moving to Los Angeles From the UK in 2026: the Routes Brits Actually Use, Apartments and the 2.5x to 3x Income Rule, the Car Question Answered Honestly, Money and Banking, the Culture Shocks Nobody Warns You About, Where Brits Settle, and How Not to Spend the First Month Alone
Moving to Los Angeles from the UK: the routes Brits actually use, apartments and the income rule, the car question answered honestly, money, the culture shocks, where Brits settle, and how not to spend the first month alone, including an Angeleno who shows you the city in an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Moving to Los Angeles for Acting or Music in 2026: the Visa Performers Actually Use, Apartments and the 2.5x to 3x Income Rule, the Car Question Answered Honestly, Money and Banking, the Culture Shocks Nobody Warns You About, Where Performers Settle, and How Not to Spend the First Month Alone
Moving to Los Angeles for acting or music: the visa performers actually use, apartments and the income rule, the car question answered honestly, money, the culture shocks, where performers settle, and how not to spend the first month alone, including an Angeleno who shows you the city in an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read