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This publish was not paid for by Boundless Life, and all opinions are completely our personal. We paid full value, and that is our sincere Boundless Life assessment.
A few years in the past, I texted Alyssa a hyperlink to an organization I’d discovered referred to as Boundless Life. Some mates of ours had lately gone by means of their inaugural cohort, and the idea appeared attention-grabbing: Boundless supplies you and your loved ones a spot to dwell, a coworking area, a Montessori-style college for the youngsters, and a group of like-minded households. At the time, Boundless Life had two areas in Greece and Portugal. (They now have seven.)
It sort of sounds just like the dream, proper?
As I checked out Instagram images and reels of individuals sipping wine in unique locations (whereas their children had been protected & glad in class), I couldn’t assist however be jealous.
“I think we should try this when Eli is old enough,” I instructed Alyssa. He was only some months previous on the time.
We’d all the time dreamed in regards to the thought of a yr overseas with the youngsters, however the logistics felt daunting. Where would we keep? What about visas? Would the youngsters be capable of make mates? 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.) However, the seed was planted.
Over the following yr, we adopted together with Boundless Life on Instagram and oohed and aahed over the experiences. With every publish, we received extra excited. They introduced new areas, akin to Italy and Bali, within the meantime. They had been actively rising and it appeared like the actual deal.
Finally, within the spring of 2023, I pulled the set off and arrange a name with their gross sales crew.
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 kids overseas and the way impactful this system had been for them. We instructed her about our adventures with the youngsters throughout Europe, Japan, and New Zealand and the way we missed group whereas we traveled.
We received off the decision and knew we had to do that. We signed up instantly and made a considerable ($5,000+) deposit to safe our area.
We would 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 advisable to us. Other areas had been spun up extra lately, so we appreciated the thought of dropping into a spot that ought to have extra established routines and processes. Whether or not this was true was TBD.
Why am I writing this text?
I haven’t seen a long-form Boundless Life assessment (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 assessment. We paid full value. This is only a Boundless Life assessment from a household who has gone by means of this system.
What is Boundless Life?
Boundless Life is a venture-backed startup centered on offering world education experiences for households. They at the moment have areas in Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Montenegro, Uruguay, and Bali. They have three-month cohorts within the winter, spring, and fall that mimic a full college yr in addition to and shorter (4-week) summer time and vacation cohorts.
In trade for the cohort charges, you obtain a family-friendly residence, Montessori-style college program, coworking area, and group 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 Liked About Our Boundless Life Experience
We will begin with the nice. 🙂
1. The potential to journey long-term with children.
Over the previous two years, we’ve traveled to over 12 international locations 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 would journey for a month or two after which return to our on a regular basis life in Colorado. The children can be in daycare the place they’d mates, 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 needed to discover whether or not we might create a extra sustainable strategy to journey long-term with our youngsters. This means, we might make a extra blended answer. Some journey, work, and life all blended collectively.
For us, long-term journey would have just a few parts:
- The potential for Alyssa and me to work 20-30 hours per week
- Kids are in high quality childcare that feels protected and enjoyable
- A way of group for the youngsters and us
Enrolling in Boundless achieved these objectives for us.
Not solely had been we capable of work whereas touring, however the children had been nicely taken care of within the Boundless college. We all made superb new mates (a few of whom we’ve met up with since leaving Boundless already) all whereas experiencing a brand new place.
2. We might 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. Walking round our city or coaching into Lisbon for the day as a pair was such an expensive feeling. We might discover simply the 2 of us whereas our youngsters had been protected in class.
This is definitely the largest shock for us with Boundless and one in all our favourite components. There are month-to-month film nights for the youngsters, so we’ve got ready-made date nights. And in Portugal, we might simply prepare or seize an Uber to a close-by city or seashore for day dates.
3. The Boundless Apartment
With every location, Boundless supplies absolutely kitted-out residences for households. This means you’ll have loads of kid-friendly plates, cups, and bowls. Plus, the residence feels very a lot catered to households.
Sometimes we e-book an Airbnb that claims to be family-friendly, however we’re instantly met with an enormous china cupboard. Boundless Life does a terrific job of creating these areas really feel like dwelling for households.
(Note: Boundless doesn’t personal these residences. They have secured long-term leases with constructing house owners after which lease them on to Boundless households.)
Our residence was a 7-minute stroll to the training middle and a 15 minute stroll to the hub.
The precise area itself was up to date, trendy, and really good. Best of all, we had been proper beneath our mates Brooke and Tyler, who had children the identical age as ours. Being so near mates meant spontaneous hangouts, leaving snacks on one another’s doorsteps, and tossing up and down provides for one another. We beloved this (and so did the youngsters).
Our unit was a 2-bedroom, however it’s attainable to e-book something from a one-bedroom to a three-bedroom with Boundless.
When you’re on the Boundless web site, you’ll discover they’ve customary areas after which one thing referred to as “home plus”. Effectively, these are areas that Boundless has decided are nicer and value a bit of extra. With a house plus, you would possibly obtain a much bigger balcony, a yard, or one thing additional along with your area.
What we beloved most about our Boundless lodging was the weekly home cleansing.
Not a luxurious we’re sometimes accustomed to, however rapidly embraced. House cleansing days had been like Easter and Christmas morning all rolled into one. No soiled dishes and recent sheets and we didn’t should carry a finger? Yes, please (I’m being overdramatic, however it really was nice! We miss it).
If you join Boundless Home 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 residence, however most individuals do. (A couple of individuals who had been in Portugal long run did have their very own residences.) When I say we beloved our residence, I imply we beloved it. It was lovely, trendy, lately reworked, and had every thing we wanted it.
And if it didn’t have one thing we wanted, we might all the time put in a request with the Boundless employees.
4. The Daily Walks to School
Of all of the issues I loved about Boundless, I feel the walks to highschool had been one in all my favorites. Each morning the youngsters would exit the door and instantly see their mates. They can be so excited to stroll subsequent to them or maintain arms. Not to say, there’s a giant citadel on the high of that mountain that we might see as quickly as we stepped out of our door each morning.
This sort of expertise was the exact opposite of how we had been accustomed to dropping the youngsters off in school. Previously, we’d drive them for 10 minutes, drop them off at a door, and say goodbye. It can be uncommon for us to come across different dad and mom, not to mention have the chance to interact in a dialog with them.
With Boundless, we walked with different households on daily basis. We would congregate after drop off and discuss our plans for the day. Sometimes we’d spontaneously go get espresso or a meal or hop in a cab and go to the seashore.
This is the kind of group expertise we had hoped for with Boundless. The potential to spend our days with different individuals in an identical stage of life.
5. The Community
An enormous motive we needed to do Boundless was to make mates with different households who had related values.
For 5 years, we hosted a convention for RV Entrepreneurs. We’d spend a complete month camped subsequent to different nomads & entrepreneurs. We’d discover ourselves happening random hikes or grabbing espresso with strangers. It was an accelerator for making mates with like-minded individuals and one in all our favourite issues we’ve ever achieved.
Our hope was for Boundless to be related—and it was.
Every day, there have been alternatives to attach and dangle with new mates.
On Wednesdays, we’d have pizza events at one of many homes whereas the youngsters performed within the yard. On Fridays, a gaggle of us performed Padel (a racquet sport I fell in love with and dearly miss).
One 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 a majority of these group experiences whereas in a brand new nation was magic.
6. The Hikes*
Technically this could fall underneath the group part, however I’m making it its personal factor. Every different Thursday Boundless coordinates a hike with crew 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 very best hike of their lives (I didn’t miss any extra hikes after that).
*This doesn’t occur in each Boundless location, however most supply at the very least some hikes.
7. The Boundless Teaching Staff
I’ve by no means felt nice about dropping Ellie off at daycare. Back in Colorado, it felt like her lecturers had been there for a paycheck. Turnover was continuously taking place in her college with employees. It was a job for individuals, not one thing they genuinely needed 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.
Instead of somebody exhibiting up for a paycheck, their lecturers had been in it as a result of they beloved what they did. Teaching was purposeful for them. You might see how connecting with and instructing these kids utterly lit them up.
Throughout our Boundless cohort, we skilled some interpersonal points with different children (typical stuff you’d encounter at most faculties), however I felt nice in regards to the Boundless instructing employees.
8. The Location
Sintra was walkable and really hilly, however a ravishing setting. It has a number of historical past and delightful palaces.
Before arriving I didn’t understand simply how a lot of a vacationer hub it was. Every day we’d watched a whole lot of individuals get off the prepare to discover the castles and palaces. The middle of city was bustling for nearly our whole cohort (it did settle down in November a bit of bit, however we had been shocked at what a serious vacation spot it was). It’s one of the crucial widespread day journeys from Lisbon.
While the city of Sintra was fairly, what we beloved most was entry to the coast. Specifically, we fell in love with a city referred to as Cascais. It was a 20-minute Uber journey for us every means, however price it.
Cascais is an expat hub with a shoreline that appears identical to the Pacific Coast Highway (minus all of the site visitors). It has a number of nice eating places and among the finest parks/playgrounds we’ve ever been to.
Toward the tip of our journey, each Alyssa and I discussed how we might 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-about shopping for a home there. We beloved it that a lot!
Update: Now that we’ve achieved just a few extra Boundless areas (spoiler alert, sorry!), we should write a publish sharing which of them had been our favourite! Sintra would possibly really are available final place…and we nonetheless beloved the realm.
9. The Boundless Leadership Team
One cofounder and two crew leaders visited Sintra throughout our cohort. They met with many particular person households to collect suggestions and concepts on enhancing this system.
To me, this spoke volumes in regards to the Boundless crew and their dedication to repeatedly enhancing and refining the enterprise imaginative and prescient.
What I Didn’t Like About Our Boundless Life Experience
Before diving into this half, I need to share a disclaimer.
Each of this stuff I share under was first dropped at the Boundless crew 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 important suggestions is all the time to go on to the supply and, if needed, share it publicly (through a assessment 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.
Further, since our cohort ended, we’ve seen Boundless work to implement this suggestions throughout all areas. And we’ve joined extra cohorts with Boundless Life since then, and seen enhancements because of this.
1. The Wifi at Coworking Space
Boundless Life provides just a few core companies (not all listed right here): residences for households, an training middle, group actions, and a coworking area.
A important part of a coworking area is usable web.
For the primary a number of weeks of our cohort, the web was spotty and intermittent on the coworking area. Most days it was utterly unusable.
We skipped out on mountaineering as much as the coworking area for occasions like yoga as a result of we couldn’t stick round after and work within the area and we knew it could take at the very least half-hour simply to hike there and again. (Oh sure, it was a HIKE to get to this Hub, straight uphill, plenty of stairs, and crowds of vacationers in the best way.)
Several days throughout this era, I watched different cohort members pack as much as go away as a result of they couldn’t work.
This was complicated as a result of we weren’t the primary cohort in Sintra. I might have thought this could have been prioritized and discovered in a earlier cohort.
I later realized that they’ve cycled by means of numerous web corporations, attempting to get higher Wi-Fi into the area, to no avail.
The coworking area itself is a ravishing constructing. However, it’s older, and the partitions are dense. Local suppliers haven’t been capable of ship quick web persistently.
Some days the web labored okay, others it didn’t (it usually relied on how many individuals had been there). During our cohort, Boundless modified suppliers and this did enhance the web. However, because of the preliminary expertise, most individuals ended up figuring out of their residences.
This was a bummer as a result of a part of the Boundless expertise (we assumed) was working alongside different entrepreneurs and digital nomads. Instead, possibly 2-4 individuals used the area.
I spoke with a household within the Tuscany cohort (Italy) who reported having related points with the coworking area. 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.
But we felt like there was one thing we had been lacking out on because the hub wasn’t the group workspace we had been relying on.
2. The Kids’ Extracurricular Activities
Before arrival, Boundless sources a handful of extracurricular actions for the youngsters. If there are sufficient college students who enroll, they coordinate the exercise. Some of those actions included browsing, which was a giant hit amongst each adults and youngsters inside our cohort.
Another exercise being provided 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 strive one thing new, we signed up Ellie. Unfortunately, she was sick throughout the first day, so she missed this observe. We observed that a number of college students dropped out after the preliminary observe, as they had been both unimpressed or didn’t benefit from the first-class. But 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 be taught. Growing up, my dad went to each one in all my practices and video games. It was all the time a enjoyable bonding expertise.
However, Boundless discouraged dad and mom from attending. They didn’t explicitly say to not go, however it was extra like dad and mom shouldn’t go along with a glance that stated, “Why would you want to go, you helicopter parent!” A couple of dad and mom had been nonetheless going, not desirous to let their three and four-year-olds journey by automobile to a sports activities enviornment they’d by no means seen with coaches they’d by no means met abroad.
I additionally realized beforehand {that a} Boundless employees member or instructor was not using with them to observe. Boundless had contracted with an area transportation firm to drive the youngsters (10-15 minutes away).
This didn’t sit nicely 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. Even although this was a vetted and most well-liked journey associate, it made us really feel uneasy.
Nerves apart, we realized our pal can be taking an Uber to the sphere to look at the observe, so we opted to belief Boundless’ course of and let Ellie attend anyway. No one needs to be the helicopter mum or dad. After all, we had been right here in Portugal as a result of we trusted Boundless and needed to push our consolation zone.
Then I received these texts from our pal.
“It feels very uncomfortable.”
“They just walked into two new coaches who didn’t introduce themselves and hardly speak any English and the kids have no idea what they should be doing.” (The teaching employees modified from the primary class to the second, so these coaches had been new to each child.)
“Ellie just needed to go to the potty and I’m so glad I was here to help.”
“It’s absurd that no one from Boundless is here.”
“Ellie is not comfortable participating yet. I am trying to help her at least play with the ball. The coaches are not engaging her at all. Zero percent. No attempt to help her join them.”
Then we obtained this image.
Ellie is at one finish of the sphere mendacity on a ball. The coaches on the opposite.
I instantly felt offended, pissed off, and unhappy.
Sad for Ellie.
Frustrated at myself for letting this case occur.
Angry at Boundless for dropping the ball.
I instantly hopped in an Uber and went to the soccer subject. I confirmed up because it ended. Then I rode again with the transportation firm and one different mum or dad who attended. In the automobile, she messaged me:
“I think it will be better to find a coach ourselves and bring him to our yard.”
Later on, I realized 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 together with her have taken her right into a darkish toilet?
The complete scenario felt irritating.
I feel what damage most of all on this state of affairs is the lack of belief we felt with Boundless. We are right here abroad 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 associate nor did they suppose by means of the expertise total. In what world would it not make sense for 3 and four-year-olds to journey in a van with a stranger, no dad and mom, and no Boundless employees members?
On our journey again to the training middle 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 today, each single remaining child dropped out of soccer. Boundless apologized and tried to supply one other soccer associate, however it by no means occurred.
To be truthful, the enterprise Boundless Life has chosen has a LOT of logistics. Balls will inevitably get dropped.
But when the ball is your four-year-old little one, that’s not acceptable.
I’ll reiterate that after this expertise, we sat down with the Boundless Operations supervisor and went by means of this expertise intimately. Apologies got, and steps had been taken to forestall this case from taking place once more. It is my understanding that, shifting ahead, Boundless employees members will accompany the youngsters to those actions.
3. The Local Boundless Team
To say we weren’t impressed with the native Boundless crew can be an understatement. There had been a number of conditions the place a communication ball was dropped, both with us or with different households. Without giving all the main points, we noticed this a bit of too usually:
- Families needed to swap residences at a second’s discover.
- A household went with out electrical energy and web (they didn’t have a fridge for every week!).
- A household needed to relocate and e-book (dearer) lodging in a close-by city because of a black mildew situation that was making the entire children sick
- Multiple households had points with their wifi not working or going out continuously
In every of those conditions, the circumstances weren’t the first situation (although mildew is unhealthy). In my opinion, it was an absence of possession and responsiveness to handle them in a well timed and useful method. The story in my head is that there wasn’t a pacesetter stepping in to essentially personal these issues and convey them to resolutions rapidly and successfully. We noticed it occur many times.
The first two weeks of faculty, everybody—children and oldsters—received an terrible abdomen bug. Everyone was collapsing like dominoes. To cease the bug, the crew determined to shut the college. This was achieved all of a sudden through a WhatsApp message that caught all of the dad and mom off guard, particularly since virtually each child had been by means of the bug already. Between the bug and the closure, our youngsters spent sooner or later in class over the course of ten days.
This was partly a regular begin of faculty, par for the course expertise. However, I’ve by no means seen a college shut all of a sudden because of a abdomen bug. This didn’t sit nicely with any of the dad and mom, significantly these of us who had been working.
We had been instructed the GM in Sintra left earlier than our cohort began. Someone was promoted to fill that spot, and he or she give up (or was fired, we don’t know) earlier than the tip 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 few of the turnover seemingly 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 almost a month and a few mild nagging to get it fastened! We had been instructed 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 every week?
For us, this was a bit of factor, however maybe indicative of how all communication and incidents had been dealt with.
4. The Lack of Community Facilitation
*This level is extra subjective and extra so one thing I feel could be improved (versus one thing that went incorrect).
Boundless coordinates quite a few group occasions—like hikes, native experiences, cooking courses, potlucks, karaoke nights, and so forth. These are an effective way to attach with different households.
However, it felt like a missed alternative for the native Boundless crew to interact extra with the group. Typically, a Boundless crew member would open the coworking area for the occasion, and we wouldn’t see them once more. It was like, “Here’s the key, enjoy your meetup, bye.” Sometimes 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 area offered 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 individuals needed to sing alongside to movies. (But no precise karaoke machine, a lot to everybody’s disappointment since karaoke was listed because the exercise for the night.)
There had been most likely 5 potluck nights on the calendar throughout our cohort, which we, as dad and mom, rapidly got here to see for what it was: an absence of effort to plan precise occasions.
Even the Halloween social gathering was labeled as a “pay $20 per person” occasion that stated, “Hey, this is a potluck, so make Halloween treats and hike for 20 minutes uphill, carrying the food and your two-year-old.” (My spouse’s phrases, not Boundless’s.)
Meanwhile, one of many mothers observed that different Boundless areas 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 individuals there, Boundless introduced in a fairly penny in revenue). There had been different Boundless occasions that felt price it, just like the dad and mom cooking night time or wine tastings, however there have been positively just a few the place it felt just like the crew was simply phoning it in.
I feel Boundless crew members might have achieved a greater job of participating with these occasions. Kicking off the night time with just a few phrases, spending time with the cohort, and so forth. We left the cohort feeling like we didn’t actually know or usually see the crew operating the present.
Boundless did a terrific job at their opening and ending “connections” instances. These had been the one instances when the Boundless crew members actively participated and engaged with our cohort. But we had been underwhelmed with lots of the coordinated occasions in between.
5. What Surprised 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 fulfill many households who had been skilled vacationers engaged on the highway or operating a distant enterprise.
Instead, lots of the households in our cohort had been taking a go away 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, a lot of them had by no means tried working remotely whereas touring.
In reality, most households handled this expertise much less like residing and dealing overseas and extra like an prolonged trip. Families 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 another touring households who would possibly need to join Boundless. There had been solely three households of the 21 in our cohort who had been full-time touring. The different 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.
(Although one man’s motive for leaving was “When they say concierge service, I expect to get a washcloth at 3 AM if I need a washcloth at 3 AM” so take that with a grain of salt.)
As I discussed early, a few of the core Boundless crew got here to Sintra to fulfill 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 speeding to depart.
Overall the gang of individuals in attendance was only a bit completely different than we anticipated and we nonetheless made nice mates, however simply one other instance of how Boundless’s advertising didn’t fairly match up with what we skilled.
How Much Does Boundless Life Cost?
We paid $7,112.29 monthly 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). They additionally cost costs in Euros, so that you’re topic to the trade price on the time you pay.
What we paid included our two-bedroom residence (with weekly housekeeping), coworking area, and training middle for each children. This value didn’t embody the extracurricular actions or additional Boundless coordinated journeys, which incurred extra charges.
At first look, Boundless appears dear, and it’s. However, once I added up our month-to-month bills to dwell in Colorado I noticed it wasn’t too removed from what we had been spending within the US.
In the US, I calculated we spend roughly $5,000 for a few of our “core life costs”, akin to our mortgage ($2,000), childcare ($2,000), automobile/insurance coverage/gasoline, and so forth ($1,000).
We calculated that we’d be spending a few thousand extra monthly, however it wasn’t as unhealthy when put next 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).
In normal, I really feel the worth of what Boundless offered for the price was truthful.
*These costs additionally change seasonally and range by location. Your costs could possibly be a lot greater or decrease.
Would I Do Boundless Again?
This is a query mates and fellow cohort members have requested us.
The reply, regardless of a few of the missed expectations and setbacks, is sure.
Here are just a few the explanation why:
#1 It’s the one actual turn-key answer for digital nomad households (at the very least for now).
If Alyssa and I need to journey to a brand new nation and keep for just a few months, we’ve got quite a few logistics to determine. Where ought to we keep? How can we discover a family-friendly lodging? Could we invite mates 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. Essentially, logistics is the first service that Boundless provides. They vet an space & then work out every thing so that you don’t should.
Could we journey with out the education part and coworking and group?
Sure. And we do.
While I write this we simply wrapped up a month close to Austin and plan to spend a number of extra months touring this yr.
However, every new vacation spot we plan comes with a number of issues to determine (what neighborhood to remain, childcare, work, and so forth).
Boundless solves a ache level for long-term household vacationers. It creates a viable choice to construct group AND work whilst you journey.
#2 I consider the Boundless Life expertise will preserve getting higher.
While I shared a few of our less-than-stellar experiences above, one factor I’ll reiterate is that Boundless actively listened and responded actively by means of all these eventualities. Not all the time as quick or clear as we’d’ve appreciated, however motion was all the time taken.
Several 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 shifting ahead, I consider they’re keen to handle issues and get higher. We tuned into their latest discussion board and heard the employees discuss how a crew 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 total expertise was optimistic.
Despite its ups and downs, the general expertise with Boundless Life was optimistic.
Our children grew to become shut with different households from all around the US (and the world). A couple of days in the past Ellie Facetimed together with her pal from Israel who she misses dearly. She tells me on a regular basis about her “best friends forever” from Boundless.
Eli (our two-year-old) went from saying just a few phrases to saying every thing. He made a finest buddy in school and so they spent all day taking part in automobiles subsequent to one another.
I realized easy methods to surf and received to discover Lisbon and the encompassing space with Alyssa and new mates.
We received to journey to a brand new nation collectively as a household and be taught in regards to the tradition, the meals, and the individuals. Most of all, we received to do it alongside others in a brand new and delightful setting.
My Takeaways About Boundless Life
Boundless has hit on a giant want. They should not solely serving the rising group of distant working households trying to swap it up but in addition the various Americans trying to find various training choices. A spot the place they really feel protected sending their children.
The future cohorts are reserving up rapidly, and demand is excessive. What the Boundless crew has constructed is spectacular given their quick time in existence.
When I take into consideration a few of the shortcomings we skilled, I don’t chalk them as much as Boundless being a foul firm. I feel they’re a startup with some rising pains, a number of logistics, and impressive progress plans. Alyssa and I are following alongside intently to think about reserving future cohorts with them (we’ve got our eyes on Spain!).
If you made it this far on this publish and have any extra questions on our expertise with Boundless, be at liberty to remark under. I’d be glad to reply any of them that I can.
FAQs
What are the Boundless Life options?
While there are fairly just a few co-living sorts of corporations catered in the direction of singles or {couples}, I don’t know of one other one catered in the direction of households in the mean time.
Is Boundless Life legit?
Yes, Boundless Life is a official hospitality and academic firm. They present 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 individuals we met. The prices are excessive, however truthful and we’ve got nice recollections of our expertise.
Where does Boundless Life have areas?
Boundless Life has areas in Greece, Bali, Portugal, and Italy. They are at the moment 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 rapidly, although there have been all the time the goodbye tears. Younger children usually did half days or a few days every week to regulate.
As somebody who has had children in a number of daycares and childcare choices, I might say Boundless will spoil you for taking your children to highschool. The lecturers are superb, meals and snacks are offered(!), 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 almost two when our cohort began and he celebrated his birthday in school. (Everyone received 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 feel this labored out amazingly and he adjusted to highschool in Sintra in a short time.
Is Boundless Life Too Good to be True?
Since you’ve heard from me rather a lot, I additionally needed to incorporate a quick assessment from my higher half. Alyssa additionally echoed most, if not all, of my sentiments above.
Before attending Boundless, we by no means heard a foul phrase in regards to the firm or something barely detrimental on-line. We felt it was too good to be true. Certainly, some issues weren’t so Instagram-worthy (which is why we wrote this Boundless Life assessment!).
Like all experiences, there have been ups and downs. No wifi on the coworking area was irritating contemplating we had been paying for a coworking area we couldn’t use. Feeling like our daughter was put in a harmful scenario was horrifying (eternally grateful for the mother who attended soccer observe and will fill us in on what was taking place). The means the employees dealt with issues was simply okay, though we knew they’d rather a lot on their plates.
There’s extra I might say, however I do know that though it wasn’t excellent (nothing is), we’d 100% enroll once more. We really did join cohorts for 2024, however we’ve received a household marriage ceremony that’s tying us stateside for a few months.
If you’re contemplating Boundless, right here are some things to think about:
- Have you traveled exterior of your private home nation earlier than? Will you be capable of adapt to the cultural variations that include shifting to a international nation for 3 months?
- Do you need to sluggish journey and dwell overseas, or do you need 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 international locations. (If you need to hop round extra, Italy can be the placement I might select because it’s extra central to all of Europe.)
- Will you be working overseas? Is this okay along with your employer and can you might want to preserve US hours? No one needs 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 might have at the very least one little one to enroll in Boundless’s training middle? At least one little one in your family have to 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 areas, take a look at their web site. There had been good and unhealthy components, however I might do all of it once more.
Are You Considering Boundless Life?
If 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 publish right this moment in 2025 as I sit in probably the most lovely residence I’ve ever had in the course 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 unbelievable.
Montenegro was beautiful.
Italy is scrumptious.
I’m reserving a cohort in Uruguay this week.
We had a really meh first expertise with the Boundless crew and it set us as much as be blown away by each expertise since.
If you learn this weblog publish and resolve to e-book Boundless, all Boundless households now have a referral code. Our referral code is: ALYPAD32 Using 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 a lot of you who booked after studying, so I hope this low cost might be significant for you!
If you might have any particular questions earlier than committing (as a result of as I discussed, it’s not an inexpensive buy!), be at liberty to touch upon this publish or ship us an electronic mail.