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This put up was not paid for by Boundless Life, and all opinions are totally our personal. We paid full value, and that is our sincere Boundless Life evaluate.
A few years in the past, I texted Alyssa a hyperlink to an organization I’d discovered known as Boundless Life. Some associates of ours had just lately gone via their inaugural cohort, and the idea appeared attention-grabbing: Boundless supplies you and your loved ones a spot to stay, a coworking house, a Montessori-style college for the youngsters, and a neighborhood of like-minded households. On the time, Boundless Life had two places in Greece and Portugal. (They now have seven.)
It form of sounds just like the dream, proper?
As I checked out Instagram pictures and reels of individuals sipping wine in unique locations (whereas their children had been secure & pleased at school), I couldn’t assist however be jealous.
“I believe we should always do that when Eli is sufficiently old,” I informed Alyssa. He was just a few months previous on the time.
We’d all the time dreamed concerning the concept of a 12 months overseas with the youngsters, however the logistics felt daunting. The place would we keep? What about visas? Would the youngsters have the ability to make associates? How would we discover childcare? Boundless Life appeared to resolve these issues.
Since Eli was a child, we put it on the again burner. (With Boundless, education begins at age 18 months.) Nonetheless, the seed was planted.
Over the following 12 months, we adopted together with Boundless Life on Instagram and oohed and aahed over the experiences. With every put up, we obtained extra excited. They introduced new places, corresponding to Italy and Bali, within the meantime. They had been actively rising and it appeared like the actual deal.
Lastly, within the spring of 2023, I pulled the set off and arrange a name with their gross sales staff.
On a Zoom name with a Boundless Life worker—a mother with children in this system—we instantly related. She shared with us their experiences of elevating youngsters overseas and the way impactful this system had been for them. We informed her about our adventures with the youngsters throughout Europe, Japan, and New Zealand and the way we missed neighborhood whereas we traveled.
We obtained off the decision and knew we had to do that. We signed up instantly and made a considerable ($5,000+) deposit to safe our house.
We might be a part of their Portugal cohort within the fall 2023 semester.
We selected Portugal as a result of it was their first and most established location and what our Boundless gross sales particular person beneficial to us. Different places had been spun up extra just lately, so we appreciated the thought of dropping into a spot that ought to have extra established routines and processes. Whether or not or not this was true was TBD.
Why am I writing this text?
I haven’t seen a long-form Boundless Life evaluate (exterior of Instagram). My objective isn’t to advertise the corporate or put them on blast, however to share our sincere expertise with enrolling our youngsters in Boundless Life. The actual stuff, not the Instagram spotlight reel.
I’ll share what we paid for this system, what we appreciated about it, and what we didn’t like. I’ll additionally share my ideas on whether or not I’d suggest it to others and whether or not we’d do it once more.
And final thing to notice, we weren’t compensated in any means for this system or for sharing this evaluate. We paid full value. That is only a Boundless Life evaluate from a household who has gone via this system.
What’s Boundless Life?
Boundless Life is a venture-backed startup targeted on offering world education experiences for households. They presently have places in Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Montenegro, Uruguay, and Bali. They’ve three-month cohorts within the winter, spring, and fall that mimic a full college 12 months in addition to and shorter (4-week) summer time and vacation cohorts.
In change for the cohort charges, you obtain a family-friendly condominium, Montessori-style college program, coworking house, and neighborhood actions for households.
Boundless Life was catered in the direction of digital nomad households as a strategy to journey long-term with children (I say was as a result of they’ve modified up a few of their advertising, and our expertise was blended on whether or not “digital nomad” most precisely describes the goal buyer).
What I Favored About Our Boundless Life Expertise
We are going to begin with the great. 🙂
1. The flexibility to journey long-term with children.
Over the previous two years, we’ve traveled to over 12 nations with our youngsters (2,4). We’ve camped in rural Japan, hauled them on a long-distance flight from New Zealand to the US, and pushed an RV throughout Europe.
We’ve created unforgettable recollections collectively, however solely on short-term journeys. We might journey for a month or two after which return to our on a regular basis life in Colorado. The children could be in daycare the place they’d associates, and we’d work throughout our time stateside. After doing this for a few months, we’d get stressed and plan one other journey.
This life was extraordinary, however we wished to discover whether or not we may create a extra sustainable strategy to journey long-term with our youngsters. This manner, we may make a extra blended resolution. Some journey, work, and life all blended collectively.
For us, long-term journey would have a number of elements:
- The flexibility for Alyssa and me to work 20-30 hours per week
- Youngsters are in high quality childcare that feels secure and enjoyable
- A way of neighborhood for the youngsters and us
Enrolling in Boundless completed these objectives for us.
Not solely had been we capable of work whereas touring, however the children had been properly taken care of within the Boundless college. All of us made wonderful new associates (a few of whom we’ve met up with since leaving Boundless already) all whereas experiencing a brand new place.
2. We may go on infinite dates.
We’ve solely traveled in Europe since Ellie was born, and by no means had the posh of exploring with out the youngsters. Strolling round our city or coaching into Lisbon for the day as a pair was such an opulent feeling. We may discover simply the 2 of us whereas our youngsters had been secure at school.
That is simply the largest shock for us with Boundless and one in every of our favourite components. There are month-to-month film nights for the youngsters, so we’ve ready-made date nights. And in Portugal, we may simply prepare or seize an Uber to a close-by city or seashore for day dates.
3. The Boundless Residence
With every location, Boundless supplies absolutely kitted-out flats for households. This implies you’ll have loads of kid-friendly plates, cups, and bowls. Plus, the condominium feels very a lot catered to households.
Generally we e-book an Airbnb that claims to be family-friendly, however we’re instantly met with an enormous china cupboard. Boundless Life does an amazing job of constructing these areas really feel like dwelling for households.
(Observe: Boundless doesn’t personal these flats. They’ve secured long-term leases with constructing house owners after which hire them on to Boundless households.)
Our condominium was a 7-minute stroll to the training heart and a 15 minute stroll to the hub.
The precise house itself was up to date, trendy, and really good. Better of all, we had been proper beneath our associates Brooke and Tyler, who had children the identical age as ours. Being so near associates meant spontaneous hangouts, leaving snacks on one another’s doorsteps, and tossing up and down provides for one another. We liked this (and so did the youngsters).
Our unit was a 2-bedroom, but it surely’s potential to e-book something from a one-bedroom to a three-bedroom with Boundless.
Once you’re on the Boundless web site, you’ll discover they’ve commonplace areas after which one thing known as “dwelling plus”. Successfully, these are areas that Boundless has decided are nicer and value just a little extra. With a house plus, you would possibly obtain a much bigger balcony, a yard, or one thing further together with your house.
What we liked most about our Boundless lodging was the weekly home cleansing.
Not a luxurious we’re sometimes accustomed to, however shortly embraced. Home cleansing days had been like Easter and Christmas morning all rolled into one. No soiled dishes and contemporary sheets and we didn’t need to raise a finger? Sure, please (I’m being overdramatic, but it surely really was nice! We miss it).
In case you join Boundless House Plus, you’ll obtain twice-weekly home cleansing as a substitute of simply as soon as.
You don’t have to remain in a Boundless condominium, however most individuals do. (A number of individuals who had been in Portugal long run did have their very own flats.) After I say we liked our condominium, I imply we liked it. It was lovely, trendy, just lately transformed, and had every part we would have liked it.
And if it didn’t have one thing we would have liked, we may all the time put in a request with the Boundless employees.
4. The Every day Walks to College
Of all of the issues I loved about Boundless, I believe the walks to highschool had been one in every of my favorites. Every morning the youngsters would exit the door and instantly see their associates. They might be so excited to stroll subsequent to them or maintain palms. To not point out, there’s a giant fortress on the high of that mountain that we may see as quickly as we stepped out of our door each morning.
Such a expertise was the exact opposite of how we had been accustomed to dropping the youngsters off in school. Beforehand, we’d drive them for 10 minutes, drop them off at a door, and say goodbye. It might be uncommon for us to come across different dad and mom, not to mention have the chance to have interaction in a dialog with them.
With Boundless, we walked with different households on daily basis. We might congregate after drop off and speak about our plans for the day. Generally we’d spontaneously go get espresso or a meal or hop in a cab and go to the seashore.
That is the kind of neighborhood expertise we had hoped for with Boundless. The flexibility to spend our days with different folks in an analogous stage of life.
5. The Group
A giant purpose we wished to do Boundless was to make associates with different households who had related values.
For 5 years, we hosted a convention for RV Entrepreneurs. We’d spend a whole month camped subsequent to different nomads & entrepreneurs. We’d discover ourselves occurring random hikes or grabbing espresso with strangers. It was an accelerator for making associates with like-minded folks and one in every of our favourite issues we’ve ever performed.
Our hope was for Boundless to be related—and it was.
Day by day, there have been alternatives to attach and grasp with new associates.
On Wednesdays, we’d have pizza events at one of many homes whereas the youngsters performed within the yard. On Fridays, a bunch of us performed Padel (a racquet recreation I fell in love with and dearly miss).
One in every of my favourite recollections was going to a neighbor’s home for dinner. They’d ready dough for the youngsters to make pizzas and we spent the night laughing and having a good time. To have most of these neighborhood experiences whereas in a brand new nation was magic.
6. The Hikes*
Technically this could fall underneath the neighborhood part, however I’m making it its personal factor. Each different Thursday Boundless coordinates a hike with staff members, climate allowing. They had been an enormous spotlight for each Alyssa and me.
I made a decision to skip one of many hikes alongside the coast after which everybody got here again and stated it was the perfect hike of their lives (I didn’t miss any extra hikes after that).
*This doesn’t occur in each Boundless location, however most provide a minimum of some hikes.
7. The Boundless Instructing Workers
I’ve by no means felt nice about dropping Ellie off at daycare. Again in Colorado, it felt like her lecturers had been there for a paycheck. Turnover was always taking place in her college with employees. It was a job for folks, not one thing they genuinely wished to do, and the extent of care mirrored that. It was a nagging feeling for me on daily basis.
With Boundless, I didn’t have this sense in any respect.
As a substitute of somebody exhibiting up for a paycheck, their lecturers had been in it as a result of they liked what they did. Instructing was purposeful for them. You possibly can see how connecting with and educating these youngsters fully lit them up.
All through our Boundless cohort, we skilled some interpersonal points with different children (typical stuff you’d encounter at most faculties), however I felt nice concerning the Boundless educating employees.
8. The Location
Sintra was walkable and really hilly, however a wonderful setting. It has lots of historical past and exquisite palaces.
Earlier than arriving I didn’t notice simply how a lot of a vacationer hub it was. Day by day we’d watched tons of of individuals get off the prepare to discover the castles and palaces. The middle of city was bustling for nearly our complete cohort (it did settle down in November just a little bit, however we had been stunned at what a significant vacation spot it was). It’s one of the crucial in style day journeys from Lisbon.
Whereas the city of Sintra was fairly, what we liked most was entry to the coast. Particularly, we fell in love with a city known as Cascais. It was a 20-minute Uber trip for us every means, however price it.
Cascais is an expat hub with a shoreline that appears identical to the Pacific Coast Freeway (minus all of the site visitors). It has lots of nice eating places and top-of-the-line parks/playgrounds we’ve ever been to.
Towards the top of our journey, each Alyssa and I discussed how we may simply see ourselves long-term in a spot like Cascais. If Portugal hadn’t modified their golden visa necessities whereas we had been there, we’d’ve thought of shopping for a home there. We liked it that a lot!
Replace: Now that we’ve performed a number of extra Boundless places (spoiler alert, sorry!), we should write a put up sharing which of them had been our favourite! Sintra would possibly really are available in final place…and we nonetheless liked the realm.
9. The Boundless Management Group
One cofounder and two staff leaders visited Sintra throughout our cohort. They met with many particular person households to assemble suggestions and concepts on enhancing this system.
To me, this spoke volumes concerning the Boundless staff and their dedication to repeatedly enhancing and refining the enterprise imaginative and prescient.
What I Didn’t Like About Our Boundless Life Expertise
Earlier than diving into this half, I wish to share a disclaimer.
Every of this stuff I share beneath was first dropped at the Boundless staff whereas we had been on-site in Sintra. They had been all addressed and dropped at decision throughout our time there.
My method when giving vital suggestions is all the time to go on to the supply and, if needed, share it publicly (through a evaluate like this one). I intend to not knock Boundless down a peg however share my real expertise with this system. I consider it’s important to share each the optimistic and detrimental points for all households contemplating the numerous funding of money and time to take part in Boundless.
Additional, since our cohort ended, we’ve seen Boundless work to implement this suggestions throughout all places. And we’ve joined extra cohorts with Boundless Life since then, and seen enhancements because of this.
1. The Wifi at Coworking House
Boundless Life affords a number of core providers (not all listed right here): flats for households, an training heart, neighborhood actions, and a coworking house.
A vital part of a coworking house is usable web.
For the primary a number of weeks of our cohort, the web was spotty and intermittent on the coworking house. Most days it was fully unusable.
We skipped out on mountaineering as much as the coworking house for occasions like yoga as a result of we couldn’t stick round after and work within the house and we knew it will take a minimum of half-hour simply to hike there and again. (Oh sure, it was a HIKE to get to this Hub, straight uphill, numerous stairs, and crowds of vacationers in the best way.)
A number of days throughout this era, I watched different cohort members pack as much as depart as a result of they couldn’t work.
This was complicated as a result of we weren’t the primary cohort in Sintra. I’d have thought this could have been prioritized and found out in a earlier cohort.
I later discovered that they’ve cycled via varied web corporations, making an attempt to get higher Wi-Fi into the house, to no avail.
The coworking house itself is a wonderful constructing. Nonetheless, it’s older, and the partitions are dense. Native suppliers haven’t been capable of ship quick web constantly.
Some days the web labored okay, others it didn’t (it usually trusted how many individuals had been there). Throughout our cohort, Boundless modified suppliers and this did enhance the web. Nonetheless, because of the preliminary expertise, most individuals ended up figuring out of their flats.
This was a bummer as a result of a part of the Boundless expertise (we assumed) was working alongside different entrepreneurs and digital nomads. As a substitute, perhaps 2-4 folks used the house.
I spoke with a household within the Tuscany cohort (Italy) who reported having related points with the coworking house. He stated on days when there have been a bunch of individuals there, the web was extremely sluggish.
Our wifi at dwelling was nice and we by no means had any points with it, so we regularly labored from dwelling—me from the desk and Alyssa from the kitchen desk. On days when the climate was good, we’d arrange exterior.
However we felt like there was one thing we had been lacking out on for the reason that hub wasn’t the neighborhood workspace we had been relying on.
2. The Youngsters’ Extracurricular Actions
Earlier than arrival, Boundless sources a handful of extracurricular actions for the youngsters. If there are sufficient college students who enroll, they coordinate the exercise. A few of these actions included browsing, which was a giant hit amongst each adults and children inside our cohort.
One other exercise being supplied was soccer.
We’ve all the time felt unhealthy that our touring meant lacking out on group sports activities for Ellie. She’s so energetic, we knew she would love soccer. We had no concept that Boundless coordinated all of those extracurriculars, however we had been glad they did.
Excited to attempt one thing new, we signed up Ellie. Sadly, she was sick through the first day, so she missed this observe. We seen that a number of college students dropped out after the preliminary observe, as they had been both unimpressed or didn’t benefit from the top quality. However we opted to ship her anyway.
Since Ellie had by no means performed earlier than, I used to be excited to go and watch her study. Rising up, my dad went to each one in every of my practices and video games. It was all the time a enjoyable bonding expertise.
Nonetheless, Boundless discouraged dad and mom from attending. They didn’t explicitly say to not go, but it surely was extra like dad and mom shouldn’t go along with a glance that stated, “Why would you wish to go, you helicopter father or mother!” A number of dad and mom had been nonetheless going, not desirous to let their three and four-year-olds journey by automotive to a sports activities enviornment they’d by no means seen with coaches they’d by no means met out of the country.
I additionally discovered beforehand {that a} Boundless employees member or trainer was not using with them to observe. Boundless had contracted with a neighborhood transportation firm to drive the youngsters (10-15 minutes away).
This didn’t sit properly with us or different dad and mom.
A random particular person whom none of those children knew was going to load them up in a minivan and drive them someplace they’ve by no means been. Although this was a vetted and most well-liked journey companion, it made us really feel uneasy.
Nerves apart, we discovered our pal could be taking an Uber to the sector to observe the observe, so we opted to belief Boundless’ course of and let Ellie attend anyway. Nobody desires to be the helicopter father or mother. In spite of everything, we had been right here in Portugal as a result of we trusted Boundless and wished to push our consolation zone.
Then I obtained these texts from our pal.
“It feels very uncomfortable.”
“They only walked into two new coaches who didn’t introduce themselves and hardly communicate any English and the youngsters don’t know what they need to be doing.” (The teaching employees modified from the primary class to the second, so these coaches had been new to each child.)
“Ellie simply wanted to go to the potty and I’m so glad I used to be right here to assist.”
“It’s absurd that nobody from Boundless is right here.”
“Ellie just isn’t comfy taking part but. I’m making an attempt to assist her a minimum of play with the ball. The coaches are usually not partaking her in any respect. Zero %. No try to assist her be a part of them.”
Then we acquired this image.
Ellie is at one finish of the sector mendacity on a ball. The coaches on the opposite.
I instantly felt indignant, annoyed, and unhappy.
Unhappy for Ellie.
Pissed off at myself for letting this case occur.
Offended at Boundless for dropping the ball.
I instantly hopped in an Uber and went to the soccer discipline. I confirmed up because it ended. Then I rode again with the transportation firm and one different father or mother who attended. Within the automotive, she messaged me:
“I believe will probably be higher to discover a coach ourselves and produce him to our yard.”
In a while, I discovered that when Ellie wanted to enter the lavatory, our pal took her, and not one of the lights labored. She used her telephone as a flashlight. If she hadn’t been there with Ellie, would two unusual males whom she had simply met and couldn’t talk along with her have taken her right into a darkish toilet?
The entire scenario felt irritating.
I believe what damage most of all on this situation is the lack of belief we felt with Boundless. We’re right here out of the country and trusted them with crucial people in our lives.
The story in my head is that they didn’t do an excellent job vetting a soccer membership companion nor did they suppose via the expertise general. In what world wouldn’t it make sense for 3 and four-year-olds to trip in a van with a stranger, no dad and mom, and no Boundless employees members?
On our trip again to the training heart after the failed soccer observe, a three-year-old requested me to open her snack as a result of she couldn’t do it by herself. This is only one of many the explanation why there ought to have been a employees member with the youngsters.
After at the present time, each single remaining child dropped out of soccer. Boundless apologized and tried to supply one other soccer companion, but it surely by no means occurred.
To be honest, the enterprise Boundless Life has chosen has a LOT of logistics. Balls will inevitably get dropped.
However when the ball is your four-year-old baby, that isn’t acceptable.
I’ll reiterate that after this expertise, we sat down with the Boundless Operations supervisor and went via this expertise intimately. Apologies got, and steps had been taken to stop this case from taking place once more. It’s my understanding that, transferring ahead, Boundless employees members will accompany the youngsters to those actions.
3. The Native Boundless Group
To say we weren’t impressed with the native Boundless staff could be an understatement. There have been a number of conditions the place a communication ball was dropped, both with us or with different households. With out giving all the small print, we noticed this just a little too usually:
- Households needed to change flats at a second’s discover.
- A household went with out electrical energy and web (they didn’t have a fridge for per week!).
- A household needed to relocate and e-book (dearer) lodging in a close-by city on account of a black mould difficulty that was making the entire children sick
- A number of households had points with their wifi not working or going out ceaselessly
In every of those conditions, the circumstances weren’t the first difficulty (although mould is unhealthy). For my part, it was a scarcity of possession and responsiveness to deal with them in a well timed and useful method. The story in my head is that there wasn’t a pacesetter stepping in to actually personal these issues and produce them to resolutions shortly and successfully. We noticed it occur repeatedly.
The primary two weeks of faculty, everybody—children and fogeys—obtained an terrible abdomen bug. Everybody was collapsing like dominoes. To cease the bug, the staff determined to shut the varsity. This was performed abruptly through a WhatsApp message that caught all of the dad and mom off guard, particularly since virtually each child had been via the bug already. Between the bug and the closure, our youngsters spent sooner or later at school over the course of ten days.
This was partly a regular begin of faculty, par for the course expertise. Nonetheless, I’ve by no means seen a faculty shut abruptly on account of a abdomen bug. This didn’t sit properly with any of the dad and mom, notably these of us who had been working.
We had been informed the GM in Sintra left earlier than our cohort began. Somebody was promoted to fill that spot, and he or she give up (or was fired, we don’t know) earlier than the top of our cohort. We noticed her on the welcome social gathering after which noticed her as soon as after that earlier than she disappeared from occasions and group chats. I consider a number of the turnover doubtless led to communication gaps and dropped balls.
Boundless boasts its “concierge” service, however I don’t consider they lived as much as it.
We lucked out with solely minor issues that wanted to be addressed, such because the peephole in our door breaking and falling out. This was a five-minute repair that took practically a month and a few mild nagging to get it fastened! We had been informed it took so lengthy as a result of the one who handles upkeep was out of city. I’m wondering if this was additionally why somebody didn’t have electrical energy for per week?
For us, this was just a little factor, however maybe indicative of how all communication and incidents had been dealt with.
4. The Lack of Group Facilitation
*This level is extra subjective and extra so one thing I believe could be improved (versus one thing that went improper).
Boundless coordinates quite a few neighborhood occasions—like hikes, native experiences, cooking courses, potlucks, karaoke nights, and many others. These are a good way to attach with different households.
Nonetheless, it felt like a missed alternative for the native Boundless staff to have interaction extra with the neighborhood. Sometimes, a Boundless staff member would open the coworking house for the occasion, and we wouldn’t see them once more. It was like, “Right here’s the important thing, get pleasure from your meetup, bye.” Generally somebody from Boundless wouldn’t be there in any respect.
For these occasions, there was usually no introduction or context given for the night time; it was only a house supplied for the households to do their factor. Some video games had been sitting on a desk, and a TV was turned on to YouTube if folks wished to sing alongside to movies. (However no precise karaoke machine, a lot to everybody’s disappointment since karaoke was listed because the exercise for the night.)
There have been in all probability 5 potluck nights on the calendar throughout our cohort, which we, as dad and mom, shortly got here to see for what it was: a scarcity of effort to plan precise occasions.
Even the Halloween social gathering was labeled as a “pay $20 per particular person” occasion that stated, “Hey, it is a potluck, so make Halloween treats and hike for 20 minutes uphill, carrying the meals and your two-year-old.” (My spouse’s phrases, not Boundless’s.)
In the meantime, one of many mothers seen that different Boundless places had been internet hosting free Halloween events. She went to bat for the cohort and fought to get the occasion both catered or free as a potluck.
We paid $80 for our household of 4 to attend (which continues to be loopy to me, contemplating it was on the hub and with round 60 folks there, Boundless introduced in a reasonably penny in revenue). There have been different Boundless occasions that felt price it, just like the dad and mom cooking night time or wine tastings, however there have been undoubtedly a number of the place it felt just like the staff was simply phoning it in.
I believe Boundless staff members may have performed a greater job of partaking with these occasions. Kicking off the night time with a number of phrases, spending time with the cohort, and many others. We left the cohort feeling like we didn’t actually know or usually see the staff working the present.
Boundless did an amazing job at their opening and ending “connections” occasions. These had been the one occasions when the Boundless staff members actively participated and engaged with our cohort. However we had been underwhelmed with lots of the coordinated occasions in between.
5. What Shocked Me About Boundless Life
It feels bizarre to listing this as a detrimental from our Boundless expertise, because it was a giant shock for us.
Boundless actually markets itself as an answer for digital nomad households, so we anticipated to satisfy many households who had been skilled vacationers engaged on the highway or working a distant enterprise.
As a substitute, lots of the households in our cohort had been taking a depart of absence from work, had bought an organization, or had been on early retirement with their children. Of the few households who had been working, lots of them had by no means tried working remotely whereas touring.
In actual fact, most households handled this expertise much less like residing and dealing overseas and extra like an prolonged trip. Households had been off each weekend to close by spots in Portugal or jetting off to different locations throughout Europe and northern Africa.
This blew us away, and one thing I share maybe much less as a detrimental and extra about me desirous to hedge expectations for some other touring households who would possibly need to enroll in Boundless. There have been solely three households of the 21 in our cohort who had been full-time touring. The opposite 18 had been new to touring long-term, some had by no means been to Europe earlier than, and lots of had by no means tried one thing so unconventional.
For these causes, 5 households left throughout our cohort.
(Though one man’s purpose for leaving was “After they say concierge service, I count on to get a washcloth at 3 AM if I want a washcloth at 3 AM” so take that with a grain of salt.)
As I discussed early, a number of the core Boundless staff got here to Sintra to satisfy with households. This was why. The employees on the bottom was clearly overwhelmed and ill-equipped whereas some households had been very unimpressed and upset and dashing to go away.
General the group of individuals in attendance was only a bit completely different than we anticipated and we nonetheless made nice associates, however simply one other instance of how Boundless’s advertising didn’t fairly match up with what we skilled.
How A lot Does Boundless Life Value?
We paid $7,112.29 per thirty days for our three-month cohort. In complete, it was $21,336.87* for the Boundless program. The pricing is modified usually and can depend upon whether or not or not you join a number of cohorts (the place you’ll obtain a reduction). Additionally they cost costs in Euros, so that you’re topic to the change price on the time you pay.
What we paid included our two-bedroom condominium (with weekly housekeeping), coworking house, and training heart for each children. This value didn’t embody the extracurricular actions or further Boundless coordinated journeys, which incurred further charges.
At first look, Boundless appears expensive, and it’s. Nonetheless, after I added up our month-to-month bills to stay in Colorado I noticed it wasn’t too removed from what we had been spending within the US.
Within the US, I calculated we spend roughly $5,000 for a few of our “core life prices”, corresponding to our mortgage ($2,000), childcare ($2,000), automotive/insurance coverage/gasoline, and many others ($1,000).
We calculated that we’d be spending a few thousand extra per thirty days, but it surely wasn’t as unhealthy in comparison subsequent to one another. We wouldn’t be paying for gasoline, mortgage, or utilities whereas in Portugal as a result of we rented out our home.
Plus, I later realized that the prices of groceries and consuming out in Portugal are roughly half of these within the US (or much less).
On the whole, I really feel the worth of what Boundless supplied for the price was honest.
*These costs additionally change seasonally and fluctuate by location. Your costs could possibly be a lot larger or decrease.
Would I Do Boundless Once more?
It is a query associates and fellow cohort members have requested us.
The reply, regardless of a number of the missed expectations and setbacks, is sure.
Listed below are a number of the explanation why:
#1 It’s the one actual turn-key resolution for digital nomad households (a minimum of for now).
If Alyssa and I wish to journey to a brand new nation and keep for a number of months, we’ve quite a few logistics to determine. The place ought to we keep? How can we discover a family-friendly lodging? May we invite associates alongside for the journey so we aren’t alone? How can we accomplish some work whereas additionally exploring the brand new place?
Boundless takes care of all of this. Primarily, logistics is the first service that Boundless affords. They vet an space & then determine every part so that you don’t need to.
May we journey with out the education part and coworking and neighborhood?
Positive. And we do.
Whereas I write this we simply wrapped up a month close to Austin and plan to spend a number of extra months touring this 12 months.
Nonetheless, every new vacation spot we plan comes with lots of issues to determine (what neighborhood to remain, childcare, work, and many others).
Boundless solves a ache level for long-term household vacationers. It creates a viable choice to construct neighborhood AND work whilst you journey.
#2 I consider the Boundless Life expertise will hold getting higher.
Whereas I shared a few of our less-than-stellar experiences above, one factor I’ll reiterate is that Boundless actively listened and responded actively via all these eventualities. Not all the time as quick or clear as we’d’ve appreciated, however motion was all the time taken.
A number of leaders from the corporate visited Sintra throughout our cohort and actively met with as many households as they might. In listening to Boundless share their priorities and initiatives transferring ahead, I consider they’re prepared to deal with issues and get higher. We tuned into their latest discussion board and heard the employees speak about how a staff member will all the time transport and attend extracurricular actions, which was one of many greatest issues we confronted throughout our time in Portugal.
#3 The general expertise was optimistic.
Regardless of its ups and downs, the general expertise with Boundless Life was optimistic.
Our youngsters grew to become shut with different households from all around the US (and the world). A number of days in the past Ellie Facetimed along with her pal from Israel who she misses dearly. She tells me on a regular basis about her “greatest associates perpetually” from Boundless.
Eli (our two-year-old) went from saying a number of phrases to saying every part. He made a greatest buddy at school and so they spent all day taking part in automobiles subsequent to one another.
I discovered the best way to surf and obtained to discover Lisbon and the encircling space with Alyssa and new associates.
We obtained to journey to a brand new nation collectively as a household and study concerning the tradition, the meals, and the folks. Most of all, we obtained to do it alongside others in a brand new and exquisite setting.
My Takeaways About Boundless Life
Boundless has hit on a giant want. They don’t seem to be solely serving the rising neighborhood of distant working households trying to change it up but in addition the numerous Individuals trying to find different training choices. A spot the place they really feel secure sending their children.
The longer term cohorts are reserving up shortly, and demand is excessive. What the Boundless staff has constructed is spectacular given their quick time in existence.
After I take into consideration a number of the shortcomings we skilled, I don’t chalk them as much as Boundless being a foul firm. I believe they’re a startup with some rising pains, lots of logistics, and bold development plans. Alyssa and I are following alongside intently to contemplate reserving future cohorts with them (we’ve our eyes on Spain!).
In case you made it this far on this put up and have any extra questions on our expertise with Boundless, be happy to remark beneath. I’d be pleased to reply any of them that I can.
FAQs
What are the Boundless Life alternate options?
Whereas there are fairly a number of co-living varieties of corporations catered in the direction of singles or {couples}, I don’t know of one other one catered in the direction of households for the time being.
Is Boundless Life legit?
Sure, Boundless Life is a legit hospitality and academic firm. They supply lodging, a Montessori-style college program, and coworking for digital nomad households.
Is Boundless Life price it?
For us, Boundless Life was price it due to the general expertise and the folks we met. The prices are excessive, however honest and we’ve nice recollections of our expertise.
The place does Boundless Life have places?
Boundless Life has places in Greece, Bali, Portugal, and Italy. They’re presently increasing to Montenegro and Spain.
Is Boundless a superb first college for my toddler?
Many dad and mom in our cohort had by no means put their children in a daycare or college earlier than. Older children tailored fairly shortly, although there have been all the time the goodbye tears. Youthful children usually did half days or a few days per week to regulate.
As somebody who has had children in a number of daycares and childcare choices, I’d say Boundless will spoil you for taking your children to highschool. The lecturers are wonderful, meals and snacks are supplied(!), class sizes are small, and so they take the youngsters exterior usually. It shines in comparison with the entire locations we’ve had our youngsters.
Our son was practically two when our cohort began and he celebrated his birthday in school. (Everybody obtained cake and sang to him, so so candy!) We put him in a summer time daycare program main as much as Boundless so he would perceive the idea of faculty earlier than our time in Portugal. Personally, I believe this labored out amazingly and he adjusted to highschool in Sintra in a short time.
Is Boundless Life Too Good to be True?
Because you’ve heard from me lots, I additionally wished to incorporate a quick evaluate from my higher half. Alyssa additionally echoed most, if not all, of my sentiments above.
Earlier than attending Boundless, we by no means heard a foul phrase concerning the firm or something barely detrimental on-line. We felt it was too good to be true. Definitely, some issues weren’t so Instagram-worthy (which is why we wrote this Boundless Life evaluate!).
Like all experiences, there have been ups and downs. No wifi on the coworking house was irritating contemplating we had been paying for a coworking house we couldn’t use. Feeling like our daughter was put in a harmful scenario was horrifying (perpetually grateful for the mother who attended soccer observe and will fill us in on what was taking place). The best way the employees dealt with issues was simply okay, though we knew they’d lots on their plates.
There’s extra I may say, however I do know that though it wasn’t good (nothing is), we’d 100% enroll once more. We really did join cohorts for 2024, however we’ve obtained a household marriage ceremony that’s tying us stateside for a few months.
In case you’re contemplating Boundless, right here are some things to contemplate:
- Have you ever traveled exterior of your house nation earlier than? Will you have the ability to adapt to the cultural variations that include transferring to a overseas nation for 3 months?
- Do you wish to sluggish journey and stay overseas, or do you wish to hop round Europe? Boundless is constructed for sluggish vacationers, although many in our cohort used it as a house base for touring to neighboring nations. (If you wish to hop round extra, Italy could be the placement I’d select because it’s extra central to all of Europe.)
- Will you be working overseas? Is that this okay together with your employer and can you want to hold US hours? Nobody desires to take a ten PM assembly on a Friday night time in Portugal (shoutout to our pal Tyler although for taking these in stride and becoming a member of us for wine afterward).
- Do you will have a minimum of one baby to enroll in Boundless’s training heart? A minimum of one baby in your family should be enrolled. I like to recommend enrolling your whole children, if they’re sufficiently old.
For extra details about Boundless Life, together with present prices, dates, and places, take a look at their web site. There have been good and unhealthy components, however I’d do all of it once more.
Are You Contemplating Boundless Life?
In case you’re contemplating becoming a member of Boundless Life after listening to about each the optimistic and detrimental points from our preliminary expertise, I extremely suggest it.
I’m updating this put up right now in 2025 as I sit in essentially the most lovely condominium I’ve ever had in the midst of Tuscany having fun with our fourth Boundless cohort. We gave Boundless one other probability and let me simply say that our expertise in Sintra was the exception, not the norm.
Greece was unimaginable.
Montenegro was gorgeous.
Italy is scrumptious.
I’m reserving a cohort in Uruguay this week.
We had a really meh first expertise with the Boundless staff and it set us as much as be blown away by each expertise since.
In case you learn this weblog put up and resolve to e-book Boundless, all Boundless households now have a referral code. Our referral code is: ALYPAD32 Utilizing this code will get you (and me) a reduction in your upcoming reservation. We wrote this weblog lengthy earlier than Boundless rolled out their referral program, however have heard from so lots of you who booked after studying, so I hope this low cost might be significant for you!
When you have any particular questions earlier than committing (as a result of as I discussed, it’s not an inexpensive buy!), be happy to touch upon this put up or ship us an e mail.