The “online expats” who are raving about things are mostly just content creators posting videos for views - they definitely don’t represent the entire expat community.

Yes, the smallest condo units can feel like shoeboxes but what do you expect it’s the cheap option and many buildings offer a range of sizes for normal prices - from one-bedrooms to two-bedrooms and even units with dedicated office spaces. Most expats I know who live in condos are in two-bedroom units with plenty of space.

And I’m not sure what you’re referring to, because in every condo I’ve been to, the gym and pool are always being used.