I’ve been working remotely since 2011. At that time, digital nomads were few and far between, and there wasn’t a generic term attached to this lifestyle like there is today. For me, digital nomading in 2011 involved a lot of trial and error and working things out as I went along.
Nowadays, location independence and remote work are thriving, as many people desire greater freedom than their 9-5 permits, and are taking the plunge to total personal-autonomy.
And that’s probably why you’re here… right?
Well, if you are thinking about becoming a digital nomad, you’ve come to the right place!
When it comes to starting out as a digital nomad, picking your next destination and growing your online business, it’s likely you’ve got a lot of unanswered questions. In all my years of helping explorers transition to a nomadic lifestyle, these are the questions I hear most frequently:
How much money does a digital nomad really need?
What are the pros and cons of traveling full-time?
How does society react to digital nomads?
How can we become a nomad family?
Sound familiar?
Well, ponder no longer! We’ve collated years of experience and learnings and popped them on our website. Our digital nomad blog details the ins and outs of nomadic life: from where and how to work, to spending and travel hacks.
To help you navigate our site, we’ve divided our digital nomad tips into the following four sections.
Tools & Tips for Digital Nomads
Want to learn more about the best events, gadgets and tools to facilitate your journey as a digital nomad? Read our best digital nomad tips.
Here, you’ll find destination guides for those who are in need of travel inspiration. When choosing destinations, we’ve considered the most important factors for digital nomads, for example: having a strong internet connection, great community and cheap cost of living.
If you’re thinking of taking your family on the road, make sure you stop by and read our Family Tips section. Here, you’ll find some great insights into what it’s really like to travel as a family and how you can best transition to a modern nomadic lifestyle. Take a look at our family travel tips for more inspiration.
Alongside our blog posts, we use Jey Jetter as a platform to share our favorite digital nomad resources, where you can find our preferred tools that help the smooth-running of family and work-life on the road. And, if you’re looking to strengthen your social presence, you don’t want to miss out on our 1:1 social media consulting too!
Go out and find yourself. Most people see traveling as the ultimate way to self-reflection. In this post I want to share my most valuable insights from 10 years of traveling full-time as a digital nomad. I’ll also include some tips that might help you start traveling longer for less and stay connected with friends and family at home.
*This post may contain affiliate links, see here for full disclosure; it was first published in 2016 and updated in 2021
How to stay connected with your friends and family?
Many people ask me this: Don’t you miss your friends and family? And my answer is a clear yes! But there are wonderful ways to keep in touch and keep an intimate connection with those you love – even at a distance. We all experienced it during the pandemic, being seperated and not able to visit our loved ones can be tough. In my case, I am so used to hop on regular video calls and keep my peeps at home updated about my travels through social media. However, there is one favorite thing I love the most: my best friends and my family – and even my former colleagues, they all have a world map hung up in their living rooms where they can track my travels! It’s a beautiful map and comes with push pins to see exactly where I have traveled to.
Trip Map let’s you keep track of your own travels and those out there in the world!
My friend, Kathi, loves traveling through my adventures!
Proud mom! Never misses one pin for each new destination!
Raving fans: my former colleagues at the agency back home
Traveling as a form of learning:
When you travel, you are like a sponge, or perhaps more like a student. Suddenly, you start taking notes again and pay attention to the details that your history teacher would have told you in school. This time it interests you though. But what has changed? I believe that seeing the world ‘live’ makes your synapses function differently. Everything you learn about a destination and its people, food, and culture will be printed in your memory. No history class would have ever been able to do so. Traveling full-time leaves an impression on you. I always go away from somewhere with the feeling that I actually added a new puzzle piece to this big picture called ‘earth’.
Here, we all paid attention: during our city tour in Lisbon we learned that touching this guy’s ticket brings luck.
Do every day what truly makes you happy
If you are an explorer and love the idea of seeing all the places in the world, stop surfing the web and go see them for yourself. All those dreams we have, are often never realized because we are too busy with ‘quickly’ doing other things rather than actually dedicating our time to what we really want to do. Our dreams seem to be lived by other people, those people from the magazines or Instagram. We seem to like to say that before we can ‘play’ we have to take care of our duties and do something that is ‘really important’. Yet, I’ve learned that there is nothing more important than following your passion and doing what makes you truly happy RIGHT NOW. Otherwise, your life will always feel like a long sequence of duties.
Way better than on a postcard or in a magazine: live and in full color, these views are unbeatable!
Frankie was right!
For some it might sound selfish, but you shouldn’t care because those people most likely won’t care if you die with regrets. ‘I do it my way’ is a deliberating concept for happiness. Design your life with all the creativity you have and add the details to it which make you happy. I believe that this is the key to personal freedom, from which you will enter a new dimension of life. There is no right or wrong when it comes to your personal lifestyle design. What suits you might not suit me, but that’s fine.
So, being a wAnderful soul, it has dawned on me that traveling does not have to be reduced to the short periods of vacation time that your boss approves at the end of each year. For me, the most beneficial consequence after changing my life was to become self-determined and free to choose wherever and whenever I want to go.
After 10 years of living a nomadic lifestyle, first solo, then as a couple and now with my two beautiful sons, I have learned a lot and worked even more to maintain this way of living. And even if it was not always a clear vision that I followed and it also was not always easy, I don’t regret the drastic transformation that started in 2011. In fact, traveling full-time and becoming location independent sometimes is tough. It requires a lot of determination, discipline and creativity. But it is the most rewarding lifestyle you can imagine. Be careful though, it’s very easy to crawl back into the safety net of our society which sells pre-made lifestyles. Remembering your ‘why’ is crucial…
Dreams don’t have to be sand castles…!
Remember your ‘Why’
Living outside the system can be tough. So, the most important part for me is to remember why I chose to change my life. And perhaps you can relate to it: your 9-5-job bores you; the routine of work-eat-sleep-repeat makes you unhappy; life seems dull; your time feels wasted. If that sounds familiar, it will be easy to remember why you want to make a change.
Your motivation to find a way to make a travel-life happen is almost guaranteed. And with each new place you visit and new person you meet, you will realize that life can be so colourful and diverse. Your grey old you from the past seems to fade away. Like an old friend from the past, you get less and less emotionally attached to the past. Reality is what your life is now, and this is an important process to your personal freedom.
Once your new self is completely shaped, you feel more like a protagonist of a big adventure. You have completed the transition phase from your conventional life: welcome to your new you! As soon as you no longer feel like you are wasting your time with your daily tasks – you are living life to the fullest! Isn’t that what we are all here for?
Let life be colorful and diverse.
Travel longer for less:
If you are serious about traveling full-time and want to know how you can get to know the world without going bankrupt, check out my post on ‘How to travel without being rich’. My first advice is to switch from tourist mode to traveller. Here is how you can adjust a few travel habits that might help you save money and experience your destination differently than ‘the average’ tourist:
Become social, social and triple social:
Instead of reading your Lonely Planet, you can get personal advice from real travellers: I joined many digital nomad groups on Facebook and even created my own. That’s where I get location specific info on accommodation, activities or simply if I want to know how to get to a new place in the most efficient way. You save time browsing the web and you’ll get personalised answers to all your questions. Plus you can exchange and connect with like-minded people – priceless!
Worldpackers, HelpX, Workaway and Wwoofing are ways to get a more local experience while saving on accommodation costs. All four organisations require an average of three to six hours of your help per day, mostly five days per week. This gives you enough time to get involved in a local project, but also still leaves you time to explore the destination you are visiting. Conditions vary from host to host and can sometimes be individually negotiated. Here is a post that includes our experience with an organic farm in Hawaii.
Our little farm on Oahu…
Live Like a Local
If you don’t want to ‘work’ or be actively involved in some sort of local project couchsurfing or housesitting might be a better option for you. They are a little bit less predictable though because you have to apply for a couch/house sitting gig in advance and hope that the house owner will choose you. This tip is not good for last-minute travel plans. But it is our favourite option to stay away from hostels, or if we are tired of volunteer work. And if you manage to get a house sitting gig in one of your chosen destinations, it’s like winning the lottery – a home away from home for free!
Start a Travel Blog
Not everyone should do this. Maintaining a blog is a big commitment and requires a lot of dedication. But even if you don’t like writing and researching you can always think of alternatives such as a photo or video blog. Either way, I would highly recommend that you have at least one online platform on which you document your travels. Whichever option you choose, or if you decide to feed them all, rest assured that this will bring you a lot of benefits for your travels. If you are interested in starting a travel blog, check out my post on ‘How to become a successful travel blogger’.
Traveling Full-Time is Pure Fun?
It’s a big mistake to think that it’s all very easy. When you are traveling full-time, you’ll find yourself outside your comfort zone almost every day. And that can be a bit challenging for some. That’s why I created my coaching program for aspiring digital nomads! In 1-1 sessions via video call, I guide my clients through all the phases, map out a plan with them and answer all their questions. My most recent project, Life By Design, is an online course that helps especially couples and families to create a sustainable life full of travel. You can register here to get on the waitlist.
Conclusion
Traveling full-time or long-term is like a job – especially when you have kids! You spend a lot of time in front of your computer to organize your next flight, bus, hotel etc. Every day has to be newly created. Even if that scares you, I’d say try it out at least once in your life! I am pretty sure that you won’t regret it. For me, not knowing what I will do tomorrow is the beauty of a location-independent life. Not having a routine and living without material burdens lets me live more flexibly. As soon as I was able to appreciate the fact that I don’t have to know every single step in advance, it brought me personal freedom. Today, I live a very exciting life full of new adventures every day even with my family! Here’s to another decade of traveling!
Cheers to ten years of traveling!
Did you like this post? What are your experiences from traveling full-time? Or are you about to start a nomadic life yourself? Get in touch or comment, I’d really like to hear your thoughts on this topic!
There are several advantages and disadvantages to adopting the digital nomad lifestyle. This is especially true if you have a family with school-aged children. So let’s see what you can do to guarantee a great education for your children while having a good time on the road. We’ll focus on worldschooling since it’s an opportunity that digital nomad kids have that many others don’t.
Are you looking into worldschooling your kids? Here is how this can look like!
We’re going to start by examining what worldschooling is, how it differs from other forms of schooling, the major benefits and finally list a few worldschools and the top worldschooling projects that you may need to know about.
School-aged children might end up living the digital nomad lifestyle in a number of ways. They may be born to digital nomads and grow up in that environment, or a parent may opt to become a digital nomad and bring their children with them.
In contrast, some parents consciously select the digital nomad lifestyle when their children reach a particular age in order to intentionally provide their children with a different type of lifestyle and education. Some parents opt to do this for a year or two to enrich their children’s education, while others do it for the long term.
Click this image to learn more!
Worldschooling is an educational movement that understands that there is no better way for a student to learn than through experiencing and interacting with the world around them. Traveling together and using the experience to boost their child’s education is typically the case for families who are able to make it work.
While each worldschooling family is unique, some of the principles they frequently share include:
A strong desire to travel.
A desire to expose children to the larger world around them.
A multifaceted approach to education.
A tendency for hands-on learning to consolidate information.
A requirement for freedom in developing children’s skills that standard schooling cannot provide.
Showing different cultures and traditions to teach your child about the world.
It’s also vital to consider the different ways you can introduce your child to foreign cultures. Some families, for example, may go to another country and enrol their children in schools there with the purpose of exposing their children to a different culture and language. Others who have the time and finances may opt to travel to several nations with their children to get a broader perspective on the globe. Others may only be able to go across the world on occasion but will concentrate significantly on subjects such as geography, social studies, and of course, international culture.
Immerse yourself in different cultures
Looking for possibilities for your children is, in my opinion, the most enjoyable aspect of nomadic homeschooling or worldschooling. Forget about the school-style curriculum for a while and consider all the things your children could be doing if they were in the ideal situation to test them out, with free time unencumbered by the school or their parents’ work schedules. Our children have had the following opportunities.
Cooking classes in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Borneo, and Sri Lanka.
World champions teach high diving at Crystal Palace in London.
Learning to kayak in Thailand on calm, clean waters
Trekking through the Himalayas, discovering their inner and physical strength while map-reading and immersing themselves in physical geography.
Learning to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef and learning about the ecosystem and its conservation problems.
Volunteering. We volunteer to collect and categorize marine plastics. I’m confident you’ll discover something that suits you.
Practicing how to scuba dive. On top of marine biology, climate, and geography, there’s a lot of physics.
Stone carving instruction from an Indian master artisan.
Similarly, there must be an ideal location to study basket weaving, paper-making, ceramics, or painting. By traveling around the world, you may also find better, cheaper, more diversified, and entertaining things for them to attempt or master.
Follow their interests; what they want to explore, and what fresh experiences you can provide them. Don’t forget that by looking for these opportunities, they’ll be able to meet passionate people with incredible skills. Those people will act as mentors who will truly open your children’s eyes to the possibilities in life.
That is socialization in the actual world, as opposed to the institutionalised same-age socialization of public schools. Of course, you’ll need to create chances for them to socialize with other kids on a regular basis. We’ve found that taking them somewhere kids congregate is a good way to do this.
Here is a list of the top worldschooling projects you may find (sorted by continent)!
Founded in September 2017 in southern Spain to give a space for our children to connect, develop, discover, and experience, learn and play with similar-minded friends all over the globe. And for parents to exhale, rest, catch up on work and meet up with other like-minded families. They provide a variety of courses, classes, cultural excursions, and regular meet-ups around the region.
It’s a worldschool that is established to meet the unique requirements of homeschooled children and their families that live a nomadic lifestyle through roadschooling and worldschooling. It provides a nurturing environment for all youngsters who appreciate learning via travel. In fact, it’s a recreational studio featuring free internet, a library, basic gym equipment, musical instruments, an audiovisual lab, a tiny theater, and free bicycle rentals.
This great school offers Summer camp programs for free-thinking and radically compassionate youngsters in the Catskill Mountains west of Binghamton, New York. Through restorative practices, their concept of nonviolent communication not only resolves but also embraces conflict.
Manitoulin WorldschoolingCommunity
Located just outside of Toronto, Canada, it welcomes visitors and volunteers during the Summer. Over the last six years, they’ve developed a consistent core of regulars. The ad hoc community stresses harmony with nature and planet stewardship in a learning atmosphere that is welcoming to unschoolers. They also provide a wide range of outdoor sports and entertainment activities for the entire family.
ManitoulinWorldschooling@gmail.com is the email address to contact.
The monthly fee of $400 (as of the time of publication in July 2021) covers accommodation (tents and trailers) and shared dining. Volunteers that contribute to the community are paid on a sliding basis.
It’s a wonderful school located in San José Tzal, Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula, 12 miles from Mérida. Families from all over the world welcome other worldschoolers on the first day of their stay in Mexico to have companionship for their children and themselves. They are always actively seeking members and participants for the pilot program, which began in May 2019. It offers a variety of academic, cultural, and recreational activities.
Everybody should try exploring the world via a community-focused lens in Yucatan, Mexico. This school is always inviting families to become a part of their welcoming community that emphasizes purposeful living, cultural exchange, discovery, and adventure. From June to August, this is an excellent opportunity to study Spanish while immersing yourself in Mayan culture. In fact, living in Ek Balam for 1-3 months at a time allows the children to grow and nourish themselves with a slower pace and few contemporary distractions in this amazing, tiny and picturesque village.
In the Dominican Republic, you have another great place called ‘The Hive’. Whether you want to join their program for 6 weeks or an entire year, it’s up to you. The principle and vision are to provide education for living a wholehearted, purposeful life for worldschooling families who want to raise confident, competent, self-directed learners.
Since they allow young children, I am very inclined to go check them out someday soon!
The Green School, which has been in operation since 2008, has garnered international recognition for its unique techniques and curriculum. This is a full-time private school rather than a worldschool hub, although it is of considerable interest to many worldschool families.
The major objective of the school is to prepare future leaders for global citizenship. The curriculum emphasizes environmental science, entrepreneurship, the arts, and ethics. Students learn to appreciate the values of accountability, honesty, sustainability, equality, and community, which are equally essential in academics.
Lombok Studying Village is an innovative school concept created to meet the special requirements and desires of children, adolescents, and adults living and learning on a tiny tropical Indonesian island. They make sure to provide learners with a holistic education that places equal importance on academics, skills, values, and wisdom with a focus on developing a love of the environment and a respect for other beliefs, cultures, and faiths. It aims to provide a secure yet rigorous atmosphere in which students may explore, experiment, create, discover, practice, and reflect. They aspire towards living and learning excellence via positive involvement.
There are, of course, more schools and worldschooling projects around the world – please leave a comment below if you think that we should add your project/school to our list!
We get this question a lot: how much do digital nomads actually make? If you are wondering the same, then this post is for you! We’ve done some research and will pass it on to you. Today, we will talk about money and show you what an average digital nomad salary can look like.
In times like this, the nomadic part of your digital nomad journey will have to wait until who knows when. But it’s a great moment to spend some time working on your digital nomad skills. One day, we will all be roaming this planet again and then you can enjoy the freedom to choose to work from anywhere you’d like.
No matter where you work from, your digital nomad salary needs to be set.
Are you looking to connect with digital nomads and travel families? Expand your network, learn from others and discuss important topics in our Facebook group.
So, today, we are all about the question: How much is a digital nomad income on average? And what jobs are super-hot, especially at the moment, that you can start today. Yep, today. There are work-from-home options out there that don’t require long preparation AND they are legit!
Bonus: Being a digital nomad family ourselves, we will reveal in this post how we have managed to live the digital nomad lifestyle since 2011. Excited? Great, lets’ go!
First things first: Digital Nomad Meaning
Before we start and because you might be wondering what exactly is a digital nomad after all, here is the meaning of this term that we are using in this post and on this blog A LOT.
Funny side story, someone claimed in a discussion of a Facebook thread that they don’t consider X person a digital nomad because X person ‘only makes money from their travel blog’. I had to laugh out loud: OF COURSE, this person is also considered a digital nomad. You’ll see why:
When we split the term “digital nomad” into two and analyze the parts individually, we have the following fields of definition:
>digital<
A digital nomad makes money online, that’s why he or she is called a “digital” nomad. For this, all you need is a laptop and high-speed internet (and so much more, but that’s a whole different story).
>nomad<
The “nomad” part is my favorite element of the term: digital nomads roam the world hence why they are called “nomads”. This means, they get to choose where they want to work from. Of course, there are very different types of nomadic levels, some travel fast, some slow, some have several bases around the world and move only in between those. The point is, digital nomads CAN travel as much as they want to. It all depends on one’s taste and the phase of life you’re in.
We, as a digital nomad family, for example, prefer to stay in one place for at least six months before we move on. We have found that with kids, it’s nicer to roam slower because everything takes longer and it also helps with staying sane.
Now, without further ado, here comes the real talk:
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Let’s debunk making money online
When I first started traveling around the world, friends and family asked me on a constant basis how long I would be going on like this. Between the lines, they were asking: when will you ever return to live a ‘normal’ life and settle down. This question was usually followed by the worry that ‘this phase’ would not be sustainable and could fall back on me one day…
Well, lucky you, if you are looking into becoming a digital nomad today, you are one of many others and not an outcast like me back then. It has become a normal thing and now, especially during this worldwide pandemic, remote work and work from home jobs (aka what digital nomads have been doing like forever, duh), are now getting serious attention from people all around the world.
But the question is if you don’t sit in an office and work your hours in front of your boss’ eyes, how does that actually look like? And will they pay you as much as they would if you were physically present? Well, they should and in most cases they do. Think about it, you are saving them quite a bit of money by not using up office space! Digital nomad work is as legit as any other jobs and therefore deserve as much pay as you put in.
To talk about the salary a digital nomad receives, you will need to know what a digital nomad actually works to get money. And here is the thing: it is a bit like asking ‘how much do doctors make?’. Tricky, right!? It depends if you ask an allergist, a dermatologist, an obstetrician/gynaecologist, a cardiologist or a plastic surgeon. There is certainly a broader answer than just one number. And it’s similar to digital nomads.
So, here is a list of typical jobs digital nomads can do and that are also well-paid*:
Essentially, any job that you can do from your computer can become a remote job, which will then give you the freedom to choose your way of living – being it travelling or working from home. Therefore, my initial story of the travel blogger now should make sense to you, of course, a travel blogger who lives off his/her blog, is also considered a digital nomad. There are so many ways to make money online, you can choose yours too!
*All numbers are shown in USD and the majority is based on the compensation estimate of this source.
Not sure if the digital nomad lifestyle is your thing? Are you stuck and don’t know how to start? Perhaps you want to take your online journey to the next level? No worries, I got your back! In my 1:1 coaching sessions, you can ask all your burning questions and get help with specific problems you are dealing with. Get in touch to get your free 20-minute discovery call today! Digital Nomad Coaching
Classifications of Digital Nomads
Type A: The Freelancer
The majority of people will probably start their digital nomad journey as a freelancer. In this case, you offer your service/skill set on the market and work on projects for a certain amount of time. Some online gigs are one time contracts, some turn into returning customers. It’s always great to deliver high quality work and leave a very good impression. This way, you’ll be able to get recommendations for your work and also fill your pool of happy customers for future jobs.
Examples of freelancing jobs:
Copy writers, social media managers, graphic designers, translators.
Type B: The Remote Worker
If you can convince your current employer (or pitch a new employer) that you will be doing an equally good job – if not even a better one – from a tropical island, you can consider yourself a remote worker. The company you work for will keep paying your salary as before, the only difference is that you will have to join their regular meetings via Zoom or other remote project tools. This type of digital nomad job is a very comfortable one because it gives you the feeling of stability as you don’t have to constantly look for the new project offers as it is more common in the case of a freelancer.
Examples of remote work jobs:
Software engineer, digital marketing consultants, accountants, translators.
Type C: The Entrepreneur
I’d say, the ultimate goal for every digital nomad is to have their own business. Why? This makes this lifestyle more sustainable, it resonates more with the freedom lifestyle we are all after and it usually means a better pay than Type A and B can ever get. This being said, it is, of course, not mandatory to aim for this level of income or work ethic. It’s not for everyone to be your own boss. It requires a lot of discipline and other organisational tasks as discussed in the following video
You can even make a full-time income from podcasting!
Examples of entrepreneur jobs:
Coaches, sellers of products on Amazon, owner of a blog/website for own brand/influencer, affiliate marketing business, running a SEO or social media marketing or digital marketing agency.
Do you consider a coaching business where you can share your passion and help others by teaching them a skill/tool that you are really good at? Our mini-workshop COACH UP will help you get started as a coach:
Helping others as a coach is one great way to increase your digital nomad salary!
Digital Nomad Income Types
Now that you know what a digital nomad is by definition and what job models are out there to work remotely, here comes the numbers part that you are all here for today:
Income Type 1)
Between 10-20$ USD is the average entry level. But perhaps you are asking: how to be a digital nomad with no skills? And that is a good question, because your digital nomad salary will depend on your skills and the places your clients are coming from. So, let’s say, you have no skills whatsoever, you might need to start offering free sample jobs to friends or your family in order to build your portfolio. As soon as you can show five successful jobs you’ve done, you can start pitching paid gigs.
Income Type 2)
Most of us have skills that can be translated to the web. Think about it, you know how to write emails, so you could manage someone else’s emails as their virtual assistant. We all know our way around on social media, so why not learn more about this field and become a social media manager?!
If you have a skill (either from before or because you mastered one in preparation for your nomad journey), then you are in a position to charge an average medium hourly wage anything between $20-30. Again, it also depends on where your client or employer is from on how much you can make per hour.
Income Type 3)
Anywhere above 30$ USD, you can consider yourself in the top-notch area of digital nomad salary. There is one out of five digital nomads who earns more than 100.000 USD per year as of this article. 22% of the digital nomads who participated in this survey said that they make between $50,000 and $99,999. This is higher than the average American employee earns.
Skills that allow you to work from anywhere
No matter what digital nomad salary you are aiming for or currently receiving, let’s have a look at the skills that will help you on your transition to a remote job or work-from home job.
Computer savvy
Having a good level of English (knowing more than one language is a plus, for sure!)
Creative skills like photography, design, writing
Basic knowledge of business matters (for the entrepreneurs)
Good level of communication skills
These are good qualities that are great to have in order to succeed with your online career, no matter if you are a nomad entrepreneur or if you perceive any other of the above mentioned digital nomad careers.
Additionally, it helps a lot if you are versatile in any of the following areas:
Curious to know how much do we earn as a digital nomad family? Read on!
Last but not least, here is what our digital nomad salary looks like – spoiler alert: there is no short answer to this.
Looking back onto our journey since 2011, there have been good years and bad years and in the beginning, we did not even know that we were considered ‘digital nomads’. Our mind was still focused on getting ‘normal’ jobs, so we took on backpacking jobs of all sorts, amongst them bartending, waiting, we worked as receptionists in hotels, tour guides, chef cook in a small restaurant, and so on.
During those two first years, from 2012 to roughly the end of 2013, we made many great experiences and earned on average 20.000 Euro per year each.
But, of course, we knew that this is not the way we wanted to live like forever. So, by 2014, we were searching for more options – digital ones. And it happened that former clients and from my network reached out asking for help with some marketing and social media projects. Claudio transitioned to graphic and web design at the same time and so we were able to take on remote client work together.
Our digital nomad income has ever since been anywhere between 25.000 Euro to 45.000 Euro.
Additionally, Jey Jetter was born, and with the help of this digital nomad and travel brand, we have been able to work together with brands and companies on various different projects. Check out our portfolio here.
Since 2016, Claudio and I have scaled our social media and digital marketing business so that we can comfortably live and work from everywhere. No year looks the same and 2020 was affected by the Coronavirus crisis but we spent the entire year in Thailand, so the cost of living was considerably low.
Check out our video series about life in Thailand during Covid-19.
What does 2021 look like so far?
In 2021, we’ve noticed a shift in people’s mindset, which has our coaching business boom. We are super excited and grateful to be able to help so many ambitious and thriving entrepreneurs to start and scale their online businesses! Are you one of them? You’ll want to join our free Facebook group to hang out and learn from like-minded people like us!
If you are itching to travel again, we have the perfect destination for you and your family! Portugal for digital nomad families is a great choice – as it is an up and coming destination for nomad families. With lush green, clear water, and rich history, it has something for the whole family. Plus, it is home to The Family Workation retreat, a great escape and working holiday for you and your family.
The last year has been challenging for people for many different reasons. Extended time at home, not seeing loved ones, adapting to a new routine, and so much more. As we look forward to the future, we can only hope things go back to normal soon – whatever that may look like.
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Central Portugal For Digital Nomad Families
Portugal is known for its laid-back lifestyle and fantastic nature. Many families tend to stick to the more popular stops, like Lisbon and Porto, but there is so much more to discover in this scenic country. Central Portugal is quickly becoming a travel hotspot for digital nomad families as it is an excellent destination known for its quality of life, affordability, and natural beauty. Central Portugal can be described as the interior area roughly between Lisbon and Portugal. This area is calmer and less crowded than its more traditional tourist destinations.
Not an unusual sight: an old wooden door in the picturesque town of Tomar.
Just about an hour’s drive north of Lisbon is the town of Tomar. Tomar makes a great home base for your trip and will easily allow you to access the surrounding areas. Tomar is a picturesque town with a rich culture and history. The city is home to the Polytechnic Institute, which brings a young, lively spirit to the medieval city.
9 Reasons to Visit Tomar
Castle and Convent of the Order of Christ
The Castle and Convent of the Order of Christ is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It serves as the main monument in the city and an essential statue in Portugal. The convent is situated high up on a hill and is magnificent inside and out. You can explore the halls of the buildings – wandering and exploring the different rooms and corridors. There is a beautiful garden outside, setting the scene for this picture-perfect castle.
Welcome history lovers!
Aqueduct of Pegões
The Aqueduct of Pegões is an amazing monument spanning 6 kilometers. It was built in the 16th – 17th century to bring water to the Convent of Christ in Tomar. In some places, it reaches a height of 30 meters! If you feel adventurous, you can walk along the aqueduct to take in the beautiful surrounding views. You can also take the small “train tour bus” in the city center that takes you to the highest point of the monument.
One of the popular activities in Tomar: a visit of the Convent.
Synagogue of Tomar
Tomar has the best-preserved medieval synagogue of Portugal. It was built in the mid-15th century and has an exciting interior with Gothic vaulting and columns with classic capitals. Since 1939, it has housed the small Jewish Museum Abraão Zacuto, which holds interesting pieces related to Jewish history in Portugal.
Museums
Museu de Arte Moderna – Excellent modern art museum home to drawings, sculptures, and paintings of the 20th century
Casa Museu Fernando Lopes Graça – This museum is dedicated to the life of artist and composer Fernando Lopes-Graça as well as other local and Portuguese music.
Casa dos Cubos – An art gallery with a beautiful photography exhibit. The gallery is hosted in a lovely space, with gorgeous views surrounding it.
Even outside the many museums you can discover art in every corner!
Festa dos Tabuleiros
Festa dos Tabuleiros (Trays Festival) is a lively festival that takes place in July, once every four years. The next one will be held in July 2023. It is the most important festival celebrated in the city and is an ancient tradition in Tomar. The locals parade in pairs with the girls carrying tabuleiros on their heads. The tabuleiro is made of 30 stacked pieces of bread in rows and decorated with flowers. It attracts people from all over the world and is truly a unique experience.
Praias Fluviais – River Beaches
The area around Tomar is another reason to visit. It has a diverse landscape featuring mountains, lakes, rivers, and eucalyptus forests. Praias Fluviais translates to lake or river beaches and is a fun and family-friendly activity. These natural waters have been modified to make them more family-friendly and accessible. There are artificial river beds, sand, guardrails, and more! They are free to visit and usually have a cafe on-site so you can relax and enjoy the day without a worry in the world.
A couple Praias Fluviais to visit:
Praia Fluvial do Mosteiro
About a 45-minute drive from Tomar, you will find a perfect day trip for the whole family. A gorgeous river beach surrounded by fields of green. The water is clear and crisp, perfect for the kids to swim in. You can bring a picnic and enjoy the picnic facilities, or purchase food from the cafe. There are numerous places to sit or lay with the family, allowing you to spend a full relaxing day here.
Praia Fluvial de Cardigos
This river beach is about a 1-hour drive from Tomar. It is another excellent day trip for the whole family. There is a swimming pool to enjoy, surrounded by sand and green. There are barbecues and picnic areas to enjoy a family lunch and have a chilled day.
Hiking
Serra da Lousã (and the Schist villages) is only an hour away from Tomar. It is a super beautiful historical and natural place. The landscape is incredible, and you can spend an entire day exploring – stopping for lunch or coffee along the way. This scenery is different from what you may find in the rest of the country and feels like you have stepped into a medieval forest – a magical experience.
The historical setting of the Schist Village.
Food
Portuguese food is delicious! One of the Portuguese favorites is the famous pastel de Natas pastries which are a must-try. Throughout the country, you will find delightful seafood stews, as well as tasty meats, cheeses, and of course, wine.
A few dishes special to Central Portugal that you must try include:
Cozida Portugesa – A hearty stew with traditional Portuguese boiled meat, cabbage, and potatoes
Bacalhau – Bacalhau is the Portuguese word for Codfish, which can be enjoyed in many different ways – the Portuguese say there are over 1,000 ways to prepare this! A few methods are salted codfish cakes, roasted codfish, codfish with cream, baked codfish, and so many more!
Bifanas – Traditional Portuguese sandwiches made with thin slices of pork cooked in a delicious sauce. The secret is the marinated sauce – it is simple but delicious. This pairs perfectly with a local beer – Sagres or Super Bock. The perfect refreshing meal on a hot day.
Another favorite: Pastel de nata – so yummy!
If you need restaurant inspiration, here are some recommendations to try in Tomar:
If you are a full-time location independent parent and want to relax and have someone else take care of logistics for once there is the perfect escape for you! It is a lot of work to plan a fun trip for the family and find the time to work.
The Family Workation is a working retreat where you get the chance to live, play and work with your family and other like-minded people. You get to explore a new destination while also taking advantage of activities and coworking. Situated in Tomar, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and rich history, it is the perfect setting to get inspiration and focus on your work.
Beautiful scenery to unplug after some productive hours…
With licensed childcare providers on-site, you can focus on your work and relax, knowing your children are being looked after in the best way.
It is an extraordinary experience as you get to share this with similar families from all over the world. There are group activities such as wine tasting, surfing, day trips, and cooking classes to partake in.
Loads of opportunities to enjoy play time – for everyone!
Conclusion: Is Portugal a good choice for Digital Nomad Families?
Portugal is accessible, adventurous, and a beautiful country – the perfect place to discover with your nomad family. Now that you know more about Central Portugal, will you add it to your travel list?
Tomar offers culture, history, exciting experiences and is home to The Family Workation. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore a new city with your family while allowing time to focus on your work.
The digital nomad lifestyle comes with its ups and downs. One aspect many people struggle with, even before they start on their adventure, is how to make a living. You want to earn enough money to fund the lifestyle you want and begin saving cash down the road. You might have already researched ‘top paying digital nomad jobs’ but have yet to take the leap into the digital nomad life.
As a digital nomad, you have the chance to experience new places, cultures, food, etc., so you don’t want to be working around the clock. You want a job that gives you freedom but can also support you financially. We’ve compiled a list of the best digital nomad jobs that will allow you to earn what you deserve and make the most of your experience.
Note – Most of these digital nomad careers take time and hard work to start earning the big buck. If you are working as a contractor and start in an entry-level position, you can increase your rates after six months, and it will only go up from there!
Spoiler alert: top paying digital nomad jobs can be done from anywhere… even from your hammock 😉
We’ve gathered eight digital nomad job ideas to help you find the best career for your nomadic journey.
*Prices are estimates of what to charge at an entry-level position. If you already have experience in the area, charge more!
Website Developer
Website development is a highly sought after skill. As a Website Developer, you can charge high rates because clients will pay for their perfect website. A website is the face of a company online and can impact a business, so companies are willing to spend what they need to get their dream site. As a Website Developer, you can work with a range of clients in different industries and work from anywhere!
But what about the free sites you can make a website on? There are free website builders, where anyone can build a website, but you’re not able to specialize the site to the company’s preferences – you’re limited with what the builder gives you.
How much can I charge as a Website Developer?* $30 – 40/hour
Virtual Assistant
Virtual Assistants (VA) are becoming more common, and it’s one of the best digital nomad jobs because it can involve such a variety of work. Virtual Assistants can offer a range of tasks from project management, content creation, or social media management to all the tasks a regular personal assistant would do in an office, such as email and calendar management, but online. A Virtual Assistant can make a business owner’s life easier by providing services in fields that they don’t have a lot of knowledge of or don’t have time for.
Many business owners don’t realize they need a Virtual Assistant, so it’s up to you to sell your services and show how you can help a company! Once a company realizes how much time and money they can save with a VA, word spreads quickly, and you will be able to expand your client list easily!
How much can I charge as a Virtual Assistant? $20 – 30/hour
Writer
There is a wide variety of writing skills needed in the online world. Writing jobs can range from writing blogs, social media posts, landing pages, and ebooks to writing resumes, curriculums, product documentation, and even ghostwriting books! These are just a few of many items a writer can do as a digital nomad.
A great way to narrow down the available writing jobs is to find a topic you enjoy and then look for writing jobs in that area. For example, if you love to travel, you can find a travel blogger who needs blogs written for them. Or if you enjoy writing books, there are genres to pick from that are looking for writers to make the book come to life.
A writer is one of the best remote jobs because you can do it on your own schedule. You will have deadlines to meet, but you can choose when and how you work!
How much can I charge as a Writer? $20 – 30/hour
As a writer, you can also charge per word – this usually starts at $0.10/word.
Online Business Manager
An Online Business Manager, also known as OBM, is responsible for a company or person’s online presence – they handle everything related to the digital world. For example, if a business hired a Virtual Assistant and a Graphic Designer, these two roles will report to the OBM and the OBM to the Business Owner. They ensure everything gets done correctly and on time – they keep the show rolling. If you like to keep organized in all aspects of your life and career, this could be an excellent career for you.
Since an OBM has so much responsibility and has to keep track of multiple moving parts, you can charge higher rates than a Virtual Assistant. An Online Business Manager is an investment to a company, as you will free up a business owner’s time and help move the company forward.
How much can I charge as an Online Business Manager? $40 – 50/hour
Graphic Designer
Everyone needs to use the power of design at some point in their business, but not everyone is graced with the artistic ability to do so. In the online world, anything that a potential customer might come in contact with needs to look good!
Graphic Designers can be in charge of a company’s branding and logo or design a website or social media content. They could also create promotional flyers for upcoming events or design ebooks that will be available online. The best way to get clients as a Graphic Designer is to have a portfolio to show what you can do. It’s easy to create something on Canva, but to create something unique is another skill to have.
How much can I charge as a Graphic Designer? $30 – 40/hour
SEO Specialist
SEO is a skill that many people struggle to wrap their heads around, and it is so vital if you have a website or a blog. What’s the point in writing and creating online if no one sees your content? That is where you come in!
As an SEO Specialist, you have the solutions to get the website to display on Google’s first page. SEO takes time to learn, and there are things constantly changing, so it’s essential to keep up with the trends. It is too time-consuming for a business owner to keep up with SEO as it evolves. However, if you can stay on top of SEO and see results from your work, you could significantly impact a business!
How much can I charge as an SEO Specialist? $30 – 40/hour
Social Media Manager
Most companies and businesses have a social media presence and will want to reach more people through the power of social media. As a Social Media Manager, you have control of a company’s online presence through social media. You can plan out a month or more of social media by creating the content and scheduling it. After the content goes live, it’s also up to you to engage with users and track how the posts are doing. You can specialize in one social media platform, such as a Pinterest Manager, or you take over all things social!
Many people think being a Social Media Manager is easy – you just post on Instagram, right? However, the research and planning that goes into creating the perfect social media strategy take time and SKILL! Not all Instagram feeds are born pretty.
How much can I charge as a Social Media Manager? $20 – 30/hour
Interested in becoming a Social Media Manager, but not sure where to start? My book, Kickin’ It on Social Media, is a great place to start. Understanding which social media channels can be used for what purpose is key to attracting and maintaining the right audience. You can learn more here.
Computer Programmer
Programming is a job that will earn you a high salary in the office and also working remotely. Programming is a difficult skill to learn and takes a lot of time and practice to master. If you are interested in becoming a programmer, you can learn one of the more popular languages, like Python or Javascript, and focus your job search on that.
Programming is hard work and takes a lot of time, but if you put in the hours, you will definitely see the rewards!
How much can I charge as a Computer Programmer? $40 – 50+/hour
BONUS: 9. Coach
We added this profession because it has become high in demand and makes so much sense for digital nomads to look into this great online career option. If you are a people person and have a skill that you want to share with others, guide them in your coaching sessions to help them learn what you already know!
We all have to start somewhere, so if you are currently charging lower than you want, don’t worry! Give it six months and revisit your rates because as you continue to work, your experience and portfolio will grow, and that is priceless.
When you are young, you like to think about what you want to be when you grow up. Not many people think of becoming a digital nomad. However, when you recognize what the digital nomad life entails, it seems too good to be true. You are able to travel, explore new places, meet new people, and all while earning an income – it seems like a dream.
But how do people do it? Everyone has a skillset of sorts, but how do you narrow it down? Is it possible to be a digital nomad with no skills?
In this article, we will talk about how to be a digital nomad with no experience.
What does it mean to get a job as a digital nomad?
The traditional 9-5 job is becoming less expected of the younger generations. More and more companies allow their employees to work from home, while some companies are going completely remote.
No matter your degree, or even if you have a degree, you can still be a digital nomad with no skills, or rather with skills you have but have not recognized yet.
Getting a job as a digital nomad allows you to set your own schedule and work when you want. Many nomads use this freedom to travel around and work from anywhere and everywhere!
As a digital nomad, you can work from a cafe, your home, a co-working space, or even the beach!
Jobs | How to be a Digital Nomad without experience
Online Teaching
Teaching English online is becoming more and more popular. Many companies do not require you to have a Bachelor’s degree; however, some will require it. If you are a native English speaker, you already have one of the most critical skills you need.
If you have a TEFL, you may have a few more options, but it is not necessary for teaching online.
Some popular online companies to work for are
VIPKID
PalFish
DaDaABC
And so many more!
Companies prefer teachers to teach around 15 hours a week, but you can always work more to earn extra cash. If you live or travel in a cheap country, you can live very comfortably with your salary.
Online teaching is excellent because you set your hours and earn between $15 – $25 / hour.
Online teaching classes can range from one-on-one tutoring to classes of 4 students at the same time.
Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant involves helping a person or a business with all things administrative. These tasks can include basic data entry, answering emails, taking notes in meetings, maintaining contact lists, etc.
These are all tasks you have probably done once in your life and may seem ordinary, but by freeing up jobs like these for a company, you are making their lives much easier. You free up someone’s time to focus on other parts of their business.
Copywriting
Copywriting is a great way to make cash as a digital nomad! Copywriting can include many forms of writing, such as writing copy for emails, marketing, landing pages for websites, and many more mediums.
There are blogging websites that you can sign up for and apply to write articles on various topics. Some websites will pay you per word or pay a flat fee for the article.
Social Media Manager
If you are obsessed with social media (like most of us), why not make some money from it?
Engagement is vital on social media, so many of your tasks as a social media manager will be activities you are already doing. Projects can include commenting and engaging with followers and following relevant accounts on Instagram. The position can also include managing a Facebook group by accepting member requests and engaging with the community. These are just a couple of basic examples, but there is so much for a social media manager to do.
Social media platforms are user friendly, so if you use the platform from the consumer side, you will be able to manage one from the business side.
The impression a user’s Instagram feed gives is essential to the brand – what does your Instagram say about you?
If you want to get more in-depth with social media management, you can take over managing the client’s accounts. This includes creating content for their social media channels, engaging in hashtag research to reach the right audience, scheduling the content, and helping them grow their business overall. These are all skills you can learn with practice, from a mentor, or easily learn from online courses or videos.
Get our Social Media Guide KICKIN’ IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA if you want to get a headstart as a social media manager:
The only guide you need for your online success!
Customer Support
Customer support jobs are some of the most common remote positions and always seem to be hiring. If you are good with people, companies will hire remote customer service workers to deal with customer questions or issues.
Communication skills are essential for a role like this, along with general people skills. Communication is usually done through chat functions, email, or phone. This is an excellent job as a digital nomad, as your time zone could work ideally for covering all hours at a company that provides 24/7 support.
Virtual Tutoring
If you have a skill that you excel at, teach others! You can teach a range of skills through Skype or other online video platforms.
Some ideas of skills you could teach are playing an instrument, singing, drawing, even cooking!
Another great skill is to teach another language! English is the more common example to teach online, but if English is not your native language, there is most likely demand for people wanting to learn your mother tongue! You can teach anyone, anywhere in the world, and you are already an expert at it!
Virtual Assistant
Virtual Assistants are becoming more popular and an excellent option for people starting out as a digital nomad. You can do so many tasks as a Virtual Assistant, many with skills you already have!
As mentioned before, administrative tasks and social media management are popular and can both be included in Virtual Assistant work.
Other everyday tasks of a Virtual Assistant include but are not limited to
Email management
Website maintenance
Project management
Calendar management
Podcast management
Video editing
A great way to find Virtual Assistant clients is by joining Facebook groups dedicated to Virtual Assistants or Digital Nomads, as people will post projects and jobs that they are hiring for.
Often, a company doesn’t know they need a Virtual Assistant, so it is up to you to sell yourself and let them know how you can make their work and life more manageable.
Canva is a popular graphic design tool used by Virtual Assistants. Hint – if you need to make a resume, they have great resume templates!
Transcriptionist
Transcriptionist jobs are also another great role for new digital nomads. They might not be the most exciting online work, but there are plenty of positions available, and with time they pay well. The job includes transcribing audio and video into text. All you need is a reliable internet connection and a computer to get started. You can work from the comfort of your own home and set your own work hours. This can also be done in multiple languages.
Graphic Design
Are you good at drawing or painting? Do you consider yourself to be artistic? Why not turn this passion into a business!
Graphic designers are in high demand for online businesses. If you have an eye for aesthetics and design, you can help create branding for a company, including the logo, icons, website, colors, etc.
There is a high demand for graphic designers, and there are numerous projects posted daily in Facebook groups.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing has been around for a while, and it is an easy way to make money. You earn a commission for promoting products and getting users to purchase them. If you already have a following through a blog or social media, such as Pinterest or Instagram, this is a great way to earn extra income.
So, how to be a digital nomad with no skills? If none of the jobs listed in this article could work for you, you can develop your skills for the job you want! There are so many free or low-costing resources online to build your skills. Some great sites to check out are Udemy and Coursera, among plenty of others.
There is so much you can learn and teach yourself from the comfort of your own home. So, if you want to be a digital nomad, there is really nothing stopping you! You either have the skill set and did not know it (until you read this article) or take the leap and teach yourself the skills you need.
One media that is becoming increasingly popular, especially among digital nomads, is podcasts. You can find podcasts on almost any subject – really, have a look! As a digital nomad, whether you are just starting out or have been doing it for years, there always seems to be new questions or challenges that come up. A digital nomad podcast is a great way to keep learning on your journey, find new inspiration, and listen to fellow nomads and travelers’ stories.
So, what are the best digital nomad podcasts you need to listen to?
What digital nomad podcast are you listening to?
11 Best Digital Nomad Podcasts
Nomad on FIRE
The founder of Nomad on FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), Eric Richard, believes that there is more to life than working in a 9-5 job to save up for retirement. He believes that becoming a digital nomad can mean becoming financially independent, allowing us to retire early. This is the key to creating a life you love and living a happy one.
Eric interviews digital nomads, entrepreneurs, world travelers, early retirees, and many more to gain insight and tips into living a financially independent lifestyle on the podcast.
The Nomadic Spirit Podcast focuses on the digital nomad lifestyle and everything that comes with it. The podcast covers everything from packing, to digital nomad fashion to creating connections while traveling, and personal development. Hosted by Omar Mo, he helps you create that life that you want as a digital nomad (or aspiring ones). Omar works online to fund his travels, and shares tips on marketing, working online, living from a backpack, and so much more. On his show, he interviews other digital nomads about how they manage their nomadic life.
The Kevin Shee Show is a learning journey for the host and for its listeners! Kevin aims to learn new topics from a variety of people. He talks with experts from fields such as health, business, technology, and investing. If you want to continue your learning journey, this digital nomad podcast allows you to learn with Kevin as he navigates these popular topics.
Debbie, the founder of The Offbeat Life, has an amazing story and has been on a fantastic journey to get where she is. Growing up, she was encouraged to follow a more traditional path and degree, but instead, she followed her passions and found a love for the arts. Her love of photography led her to travel the world. Now, Debbie helps others who have felt lost, as she did once, and encourages them to follow a path that will challenge them and bring them joy.
Mel is a digital nomad who helps others achieve the lifestyle she has. She went from working a 9-5 job to starting a consulting business and living the life she wanted. She is now able to work and travel freely. Originally from France, she is currently based in Bali.
Mel shares tips about business, marketing, and the digital nomad lifestyle.
Many podcasts are from the perspective of solo digital nomads or couples. Welcome to Nomad Together, which is the making of Paul and Becky, Kortman, and their four children. Paul and Becky have lived the nomadic lifestyle as a couple, and starting a family has not slowed them down. The podcast gives you insight into living as a nomadic family and helps you achieve the same.
Tim Ferriss is known for his book and idea of the 4-hour workweek. Tim supports a lifestyle that allows us to leave the corporate world and start your own business, to fund your lifestyle. The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts and widely praised. Tim talks with a range of people, from athletes to business owners, to find out what makes them tick and succeed.
Nomadtopia shares with us digital nomad stories to keep us inspired and entertained. Amy talks to a range of digital nomads, living all over the world and doing a variety of jobs – from owning their own business to house-sitting around the world, each nomad has a unique story to share. They talk about daily life, the struggles digital nomads face, and how you can get started and make it happen.
The Location Indie podcast gives you a behind the scenes look at being a digital nomad and location independent. Sometimes, all we see are the exciting parts of being a digital nomad and traveling the world. However, there will be struggles or issues you may face, and the Location Indie podcast addresses and shares this with us. It’s refreshing to get a full look at what it means to be a digital nomad.
Jenna Kutcher talks about business, marketing, branding, and inspiration. She answers your questions about leaving your 9-5, working online, and how to turn your passion into a career. Jenna is a self-made millionaire and shares her tips on how she got to where she is today. Jenna is relatable, and her podcast helps you get into the mindset you need to succeed. She also interviews other successful entrepreneurs who share their business and lifestyle secrets.
Last but not least, we would like to mention our own podcast for (aspiring) digital nomads and especially digital nomad families (to be). The Digital Nomad Mom podcast focuses on family-specific topics and everything related to helping the listeners to get inspired and finding their way into a location-independent lifestyle.
If you have an inspiring story to share, please get in touch to become one of our future guests on the show!
The digital nomad lifestyle lets us pursue our passions and live the lifestyle we want. However, you probably don’t have it all figured out (just yet). And things can change so quickly, both in the world and in the online space. So, once you find the perfect digital nomad podcast for you, it will help you keep up to date with how to navigate your digital nomad journey and how to stay current and informed while working online.
What digital nomad podcasts do you recommend?
Not done reading yet? Here a list of digital nomad podcasts where I got interviewed on: Check them here!
Packing for a trip can be a stressful experience for a lot of people. You have an idea of what you want to bring, but when it gets down to actually packing, you question everything. You either have too much or not enough stuff or have no idea where to begin.
If you’re a digital nomad, it can be even more stressful – you are carrying your whole life around with you.
So what do you put on your digital nomad packing list? It may seem like a daunting task, but don’t worry!
In this article, we will tell you what to pack as a digital nomad to ensure you have all the essentials and make your packing experience stress-free.
Pin this and save this post to Pinterest for later!
Where to begin
You’ve scored an online job, bought your plane ticket, and are almost ready to go, but you don’t have any digital nomad gear!
A great item to put on your digital nomad packing list – lightweight and super handy!
This ebook covers all the topics needed when starting out on social media or when you’re feeling stuck with your current strategy.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a small commission but come at no extra cost to you. This helps with the costs of running our blog so we can keep our content free for you. Thanks as always for your support! See the full disclosure here.
Backpack vs. Carry on Suitcase
There is a great debate between using a backpack or a suitcase for travel. Depending on what kind of traveler you are, one will better suit your traveling style. However, if you’re unsure where your travels might take you, a backpack is a more comfortable option to travel with.
Having a digital nomad backpack makes it easier to travel from place to place, without the worry of lugging your suitcase along. Especially in countries where sidewalks are non-existent, and traffic is crazy, it’s easier to navigate the streets with a backpack.
When traveling with a suitcase, you usually want to get to your destination right away to drop it off, so you can start exploring, hands-free. With a backpack, you’re able to take your time getting to your destination and not worry about your baggage – literally.
One of the best brands for a digital nomad backpack is Osprey. This is the best carry-on backpack for digital nomads, as it is the perfect size to fit everything you need for your trip, while also meeting the carry-on restrictions for most airlines. This bag is excellent for city breaks or exploring the countryside. It’s water-resistant, comfortable, and you can fit up to 40L.
Great, so you have your backpack (or suitcase), but now for the hard part, what do you need to bring?
Digital Nomad Packing List – Everyday Items
Clothes
One of the hardest parts of packing is thinking of what clothes to bring. Traveling light is always the way to go, so how can you keep to being a minimalist digital nomad while carrying everything you need?
If you stick with the basics, you can’t go wrong! It can seem challenging to pack for different countries and climates, but one of the best tips I’ve received is you can always layer clothes! It’s recommended that you pack enough clothes for a week. You’re sure to pick up some new clothes on your travels!
Digital nomad fashion is what you want it to be. One great part about being a digital nomad is that you don’t have to go into an office every day, but instead, you get to choose where your office is for the day. Your outfits can range from loungewear to a bathing suit, or if you want to get dressed up, you can – it’s up to you!
Whether you plan on walking a lot or not, most likely you will end up walking a lot. One of the best ways to explore a city is by foot, so make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes so your feet can keep up!
Flip Flop Sandals
If you’re planning to visit multiple climates and destinations, having a pair of flip flop sandals for warmer weather will make your life much easier! Flip flops are great for the beach, or if you are staying in hostels, having a pair of flip flops for showers is a necessity.
Day Bag
You might find yourself in an adventurous destination and need a bag to bring along for the day. This foldable day backpack is light to carry around and compact so that it won’t take up too much room. It folds into a zipped inner pocket that you can easily pack for your trip. You can unfold it from the pocket, into a backpack in seconds. The backpack has mesh shoulder straps with plenty of padding to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the day.
It’s lightweight, water-resistant, and comfortable – what more do you need!
Quick-dry towel
A quick-drying or microfiber towel is an excellent thing to have on your travels! First, it doesn’t take up much room – you can fold it down, so it takes up as much space as a t-shirt. Second, it really is quick-drying – you won’t have to worry about it getting the rest of your clothes wet.
Combination Lock
A combination lock is essential to keep everything safe. We recommend a combination lock (vs. a key lock), so it is one less thing to lose! Most hostels will have lockers, but it’s up to you to bring the lock.
Toiletries
You should pack the essential toiletries for your travels such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, a brush, and anything else you will need!
Keep in mind that you can purchase most toiletries on your travels, so don’t worry about bringing enough for your whole trip.
However, you should pack anything special you use, such as hair products or makeup, as you might not be able to find the same ones abroad!
What to Pack – Technology
As a digital nomad, you will be carrying some tech with you, but what is essential to bring? Of course, you will need your laptop and phone but outside of those, let’s look at what digital nomad gadgets and accessories to bring along.
World Travel Adapter
Wherever your travels might take you, you always need to be plugged in! With this world travel adapter, you will be ready to work from anywhere. This travel adapter accepts plugs from more than 150 countries. It also contains USB ports so you can charge more than one device at once.
Noise-canceling Headphones
As a digital nomad, you will be working from different places on your journey. Some will definitely be noisier than others, so it’s essential to have all the tools to be as productive as possible! Whether you are working from the airport, a coffee shop, or a coworking space, all the new noises will get distracting.
Noise-cancelling headphones will keep you focused and in the zone. Over the ear, headphones take up more space than traditional headphones, but it’s worth it to keep you productive!
Portable Battery Charger
As a digital nomad, you need to make sure you can work to keep living your lifestyle. Having a portable battery charger on hand will help ensure this. It’s light and compact, so you won’t even notice it’s there, and you will always be prepared and able to use your devices.
Electronic Organizer
Between all your gadgets, your electronics can get tangled or damaged if they are free in your bag. An electronic organizer will keep all your devices in place and safe! This organizer is waterproof, secure, and easy to access.
What to pack – Extra room
If you have extra room in your bag, here are some additional items that will make your digital nomad journey easier.
Kindle
It can be hard to find time to sit down with a good book between work and life. Traveling is a great time to indulge in all those books on your booklist. A Kindle is a great way to have your choice of books on the go.
It’s great to unwind on the beach or to keep you entertained during your flights.
Classic Notebook
A writing notebook is always handy when working online. You can use it to document your trip or to make a digital nomad checklist for your work or travels. It’s a great way to keep track of everything that happens during your digital nomad journey.
Reusable Water Bottle
A reusable water bottle keeps you hydrated and is an excellent alternative to buying plastic water bottles (the environment will thank you). Not every place you visit will have drinkable tap water, but when you do refill it, the insulated bottle will keep your water fresh and cool.
Leave It At Home
External Hard Drive
While having a physical backup of your work can feel safer, you are able to back up your work in so many different ways these days – iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. An external hard drive is just another thing to lose, and most likely, you’re already backing up your work online, so it’s just added space!
Guidebooks
It’s always fun and exciting to buy a guidebook about your next destination but leave those bulky books at home! Everything is at the tip of your fingertips on the internet so you can research your destination as you go (and document everything in your new notebook).
Packing Tips
If you run out of space while packing, bring items that would be expensive to replace on your trip
Make a copy of your passport and any other important travel documents and keep them in a different location to the real ones
Don’t carry a lot of cash at once. You will be able to take out money from your destination
You can download a map of a city in Google Maps, and use it when you are offline, without data or internet
What else is on your digital nomad packing list?
Are you interested in becoming a digital nomad, but not sure where to begin?
Check out the ultimate guide for online success, Kickin’ It On Social Media, to help you start your digital nomad journey.
Would you like to connect with other digital nomad and travel families? Get inspired and learn from those who are living the lifestyle you might still be dreaming of! Join our Facebook group to make the first step towards your dream life. Get access here.
This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. For more info: Disclaimer.
It might sound like a contradiction: digital nomad equals freedom. Right? Digital Nomad with family sounds like all the other things but freedom. If you are laughing now, you most likely have kids yourself. Even if I am exaggerating here, I think you get my point…
The laptop lifestyle initially attracted the 20somethings single freelancer dudes. But time has changed and so have we, the digital nomad generation that started this lifestyle has matured.
Many of us are still on the road and have designed their nomadic life WITH kids. We know a lot of families living alternative lifestyles and it’s always refreshing to see that we are not the only ones.
So, if you have doubts that the digital nomad lifestyle is feasible or not, even when you tag your spouse and kids along, then read on! This article will help you see why you can be a digital nomad with a family – and that it’s actually a lot of fun.
Being a digital nomad with family means being able to share more special moments with your children.
Most people who are new to this way of living ask me how we manage to focus on our job. I get it, usually you are in beautiful places, like Koh Phangan in Thailand, for example, where the beach is calling you every day. But then again this is the key to it: we are in these settings on a daily basis. That’s why we can also easily stay away from the beach or skip sight seeing as we have time to do so on the long run. We don’t have the urge to tick off as many activities as possible in a short amount of time as most tourists or traveling families have.
The perks of being a digital nomad with family
I will state the obvious first: When you have kids AND a career, it sometimes can become overwhelming to give your best in all areas of your life. Keeping up with your daily chores plus your job, travel planning AND raising kids – the plate is really full.
And this is when the digital nomad lifestyle comes in very handy. You are in charge to create your work schedule and organise your playtime. For me, that’s what I love love love about our lifestyle, as exhausting as it might sound, at least we have the freedom to work our job around our kids’ needs.
I always put my children first. Sometimes this means that I have to add a night shift to get work done. But it doesn’t bother me, because I prefer it this way. At least I know that I was there for my children during the day when they needed me.
Watch this video to get insights into a life as a digital nomad with a family.
Quick facts about being a digital nomad with a family
Claudio and I both have a steady income and still spend as much time as we want to with our children.
No day looks the same, no matter how structured we are – WHICH WE LIKE.
Our children are in the privileged position to have their mommy and daddy around them to an equal amount of time during the day. That’s, of course, wonderful for bonding.
We work as much or even more as we used to in our ‘normal’ jobs.
We slowed down as soon as we got kids and now choose to stay in one place for around six months.
At the moment, our nomad life with a baby describes the following daily routine: we rotate watching the kids on a half day basis. When I play with the kids in the morning, Claudio will take care of them in the afternoon and the following morning too, before it’s my turn again. This way, each of us gets to work a full day cut into half. Get it? It helps a lot when you are working on a project and want to focus on something longer than just half a day.
Yet, there is a lot more to keeping sanity as a digital nomad family. We already shared our tips in this article. But here are briefly our tips to juggle this travelling life with kids:
Tips on how to live and work remotely as a digital nomad with a baby
Having a set schedule or a routine, really helps everyone in our family to make this lifestyle of remote work and travelling with kids work.
Communicate EVERY need and problem that is arising – it’s key to avoid major crises!
Regularly remember your ‘why’ and you will stay motivated and dedicated to pursue your new dream life.
Zoom out and laugh about life more often – humor really helps when you’re finding yourself in challenging situations or when you’re miserable. Try to not take everything so serious – life is good!
Your children will thank you later – so, all you are doing today, they will remember as they remember a happy childhood and experiences, not toys!
Do you have a nomad personality? Download our free checklist to see if you have what it takes to become a digital nomad with a family! GET THE CHECKLIST
Challenges of being a digital nomad with a toddler
Life seems to stop when you have children. Not really but yes, it changes a lot.
As digital nomad parents, you will slow down for sure. You adjust and transform your daily life according to the new little human’s needs. You know, I think it’s a lot of fun to be able to do so in a surrounding where others go on holiday.
So, I don’t mind slowing down or stopping even for a while. Claudio and I have done our travels before, individually and together. So, we don’t feel that we are missing out on something.
Now, it’s all about the kids. And we believe in the saying “Happy parents have happy children.” I just made this one up but it does resonate with our motto. What good does it do to live in a city where the kids have all the toys in the world and their own room but their parents are miserable?!
I cannot speak for families with older children as both my kids are very young still. In their cases, I can definitely say that it is the best decision we have made to take them to places where we find our ideal surroundings. For us, this is pleasant weather, other families, affordable prices and friendly people. Thailand is one of these places, we’ve found.
Finally, here are some of the most frequently asked questions that we get asked and that we have heard other families living alternative lifestyles get asked very often:
Nomad family meaning: A family that travels around the world and makes money from remote work or an online business. They usually home-school their kids or have found their ideal way of alternative education.
What does the nomad life with a baby look like? As mentioned above, it’s a lot of fun, it’s a lot slower than before and it is also challenging at times. But we prefer to rock our baby to sleep with the sound of the ocean waves and let him learn how to crawl and walk on a sandy beach.
Is there a remote year for families too? Yes, there is! We highly recommend checking out Remote Year if you want to test out the waters and travel with other families for one year.
What travel insurance do you have? We recommend SafetyWing, their medical travel insurance is made by nomads for nomads, which is why it fits best for our needs. We love it because they are affordable, flexible and all we need. You can book instantly online and cancel any day. Check them out here.
Have you found any digital nomad jobs in Thailand? We have, in a sense. We don’t have a work permit for Thailand but whenever we meet new people, they are interested in our story and in how we make money. Sometimes it turns out that they are in need of our services and so we start a new online gig.
Do I need to start a travel family blog in order to become a digital nomad with family? You definitely don’t have to start a blog, if you don’t feel like this is something you will be enjoying. Blogging is tough and requires dedication. So, don’t start if it’s not something you really want to be doing for the next five to ten years. But I can say that it really helps for connecting with brands, other bloggers, creating an online presence and so much more. I wrote about it in this article in a more detailed manner.
Are there any other families who travel? Absolutely! We are not the only ones. 🙂 As described above, there are more and more digital nomad parents and many events around the world to connect people with a similar mindset. Check this list for events in 2020.
Final thoughts
No matter if you are single, in a relationship or have a family, becoming a digital nomad and changing your lifestyle is a big step. Take your time to think about all the things you have to organise first and make sure that you have your finances in order before you start travelling. Once you’ve decided to choose this way, you can congratulate yourself, as every new experience will bring benefits to you and your family.
Plus, you can always try it out for a while and if you don’t like it, simply go back to your old life. But I warn you, most people we know who have started living location-independently and world-travelled the world on a full-time basis, find it hard to imagine to go back to the life they led before. If you are in doubts and want to get help, please check out our digital nomad coaching services here.
Did we miss anything? Do you have more questions? Leave a comment below, we’d love to know!
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Looking to connect and network with other digital nomad families? Join our Facebook group for digital nomad and travel families here.
When you start your journey as a digital nomad, your main worry might be: “How do I meet other digital nomads?”. The world seems big and to be honest, this lifestyle can become lonely, if you don’t know how to find like-minded people.
But the good news is, there are plenty of digital nomad communities around the world – even for families! You have the option to choose from online and offline communities!
But first of all, let’s see why you join digital nomad communities in the first place!
Why you should join a digital nomad community
Together we are stronger. That’s a common rule to live by. Especially when you cut yourself from society in the traditional way, you might feel a little lost out there in the world, all by yourself. But it doesn’t have to feel this way!
Affirmation: When I first started my solo backpacking travels around the world, I felt alone and like an outcast. Only when I met other people who did the same as me – on a daily basis – I realised that I wasn’t all too crazy. The same goes for digital nomads; if you meet (virtually or personally) with others who understand exactly what you are doing because they are doing it too, your universe will expand. Mindset is key for this lifestyle!
Network: While being social is necessary and fun, you should always keep in mind, that you could find your next online gig or clients when mingling in a digital nomad community. So, keep your eyes and ears open plus, always have your elevator pitch ready to make a quick and good first impression.
Mental Health: As described briefly above, we humans need other humans to feel good. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense for you to take advantage of the many offers of online/ offline communities that are out there. There is no point in spending your days alone in front of the computer building your online presence and feeling lonely in real life.
Promote: The more digital nomads connect with like-minded people, the more we will spread the word and promote this lifestyle. So, joining a community helps increase the perception of others that this is not just a temporary thing but a new chapter in human history.
So, let’s have a look at the right digital nomad community for you!
Join an online digital nomad community today!
One of the perks of being a digital nomad is clearly the freedom to roam the world. Yet, for some, this might also be one of the challenges as it puts you constantly into the position of leaving your new friends and of having to find new ones in your next destination. However, there are ways to connect with fellow nomads even before you get to your next destination.
Our favourite online digital nomad communities:
Digital Nomad and Travel Families – This is our new group and we are on a mission to grow it big! Here, we discuss family travel and nomad lifestyle questions. So, if you are a travel family or want to become one, then this group is for you!
Digital Nomad Families – another one for travel families and those who are constantly on the road. Here, you can connect and ask all your burning questions when it comes to travelling and working remotely as a family.
Digital Nomads Life: Remote Work & Travel – This is a group with zero tolerance for advertisement or spamming. It’s meant to be a place for digital nomads to share advice and tips related to living the digital nomad lifestyle.
NomadX Support Community for Remote Workers – Here you have another great example of a growing and vibrant digital nomad community. These guys rock and help you get excited for this nomadic lifestyle!
Global Digital Nomads – one of the biggest one out there and yet, it feels like a group of family members. Check it out and connect with others!
What is the best offline digital nomad community?
And now you are wondering how to connect with digital nomads in real life!? Don’t you worry, there are equally as many options as there are online. You have the option to choose from get togethers, weekend-conferences or long-term retreats. Read our full article about these great conferences and events for digital nomads here.
These are our favourite offline communities for digital nomads:
Nomad Summit – In January 2020, we went to mingle with more than 300 digital nomads in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I was one of the seven speakers there and talked about social media marketing. We love Nomad Summit because it’s a down-to-earth event with great breakout sessions and loads of fun activities. You can find long-term relationships, new projects and make friends for life.
Nomad Cruise – Equally fun and informative, this was our first nomad event that we participated in. Once you have joined one of their cruises or get-togethers on land, you are in a community digital nomad style forever.
7 in 7 – this stands for seven continents in seven years. You have to be quick, they have already gathered together on five continents, so only two more left for you to join. What you’ll get: fantastic locations, fun people to be around and loads of fuel for your digital nomad journey.
Koh Phangan Wintercamp – For digital nomad families, this is the place to be from December to March. Each year, many travel families from all over the world, but mainly from Germany, to be honest, are coming to this beautiful island in Thailand, in order to escape the winter on the Northern Hemisphere.
No worries. Sometimes, big crowds or organised events can be intimidating. We get it. If that’s the case, then try to connect with other digital nomads while working in a coworking space or popular cafe in town. Mostly, Starbucks or big coffee chains like this, offer good wifi and attracked remote workers…you’ll see!
Simply, start a conversation with one of the people in their hiding behind their laptops – they might be happy to connect and as lonely as you are. 😉
Do you have more tips on how to find a good digital nomad community? What is your favourite one? Tell us in the comments below!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn us a small commission but come at no extra cost to you. This helps with the costs of running our blog so we can keep our content free for you. Thanks as always for your support! See the full disclosure here.
Everyone has their own style of traveling. Maybe you prepare a detailed itinerary for your trip, or perhaps you are more of a go with the flow type of traveler. Your travel style can include everything from where you stay, what you eat, and even includes your packing methods. If you’re frequently moving around like us, you most likely have a digital nomad backpack of your own or are looking to invest in one.
Traveling with a suitcase is not the only way to travel anymore. Backpacks are becoming a popular way to travel. Backpacks are a great carry-on option to pack everything you need, while also not having to worry about lugging around a suitcase.
Many travelers try to spend the least amount of time at the airport – there are only so many airport drinks you can have before a flight. Just kidding! Once you land at your destination, it seems everyone is in a rush to get off of the plane, and out of the airport asap. One way to make a smooth exit is to travel with a backpack.
Since our trip to the Philippines, we have switched to hand luggage only. It saves us time and money on flights, especially when in Asia!
Pin this to decide later which digital nomad backpack is right for you!
Best backpacks for digital nomads
Being a digital nomad has many benefits. One perk is having the option to always be on the go. This can be in the form of traveling from city to city, country to country or even working from different coffee shops and coworking spaces.
Of course, you always need to bring with you your essential items for your work and your day. When choosing a backpack, there are so many options online; it can be overwhelming to pick one!
Which digital nomad backpack will you choose?
No matter what kind of traveler you are, there is a backpack to support you on your journey.
Let’s have a look at the best backpacks for digital nomads to fit your traveling style.
Best Carry-On Digital Nomad Backpack
If you’ve researched travel backpacks before, you most likely have come across the Osprey brand. This is the best carry-on backpack for digital nomads, as it is the perfect size to fit everything you need for your trip, while also meeting the carry-on restrictions for most airlines. Whether you are taking a city break or exploring the countryside, this bag is excellent for both. It’s resistant, comfortable, and you can fit 40L.
There is a lockable padded laptop compartment to keep your laptop safe.
The backpack has a sleek design, with front compression straps to fit anything extra. This Osprey is a traveling backpack classic.
Carrying a backpack can get tiring when you have a lot of stuff. This bag is great because it’s versatile to carry. You can wear this convertible backpack in a few different ways to give your shoulders a break.
You can opt for the classic backpack, a shoulder bag, or a hand carry bag. It’s excellent to use as a work bag or a gym bag on your travels – or both! The bag holds up to 60L, so there is room for all your day to day needs.
The bag is great for any trip – it is water-resistant, durable, holds all your items, and easy to carry.
If you travel with a lot of electronics, this is an excellent backpack for you. There are storage compartments for all your devices – a phone, a tablet, a keyboard, a mouse, a laptop – all your electronic goodies. The backpack can hold up to a 15.6-inch laptop.
The backpack has a port for your headphones, so you can listen to your music or talk on your phone, hands-free.
There is a built-in USB charger on the outside, with a charging cable on the inside, so you can conveniently charge your phone on the go.
The backpack has a sleek design, and looks like an expensive buy, but is available at an affordable price.
If you’re a digital nomad family, you need to be prepared for yourself and your family.
This backpack is convenient, versatile, and cute! It’s a stylish diaper bag that stores all the necessities for your baby, including diapers, bottles, and toys. You are able to smartly organize all your items. On top of that, the backpack includes a waterproof changing pad and insulated bottle pockets to keep drinks cold. There is even a parent proof pocket, where you can conveniently access your valuables.
Lastly, there is a padded laptop pocket to keep your laptop safe. The backpack comes in a neutral style and colors, so it’s suitable for mom or dad to carry around.
What else could you want as a digital nomad parent?
Giving your children the gift of travel from a young age, will educate and stick with them forever, and hopefully influence them to continue traveling as they grow.
Safety is usually something on most traveler’s minds as they venture to new places. You should always be aware of your surroundings, especially when navigating new and unknown streets. Unfortunately, petty theft, such as pickpocketing, is becoming more common around the world. One thing that can instantly ruin your trip is having something of yours stolen.
If you’re a digital nomad, you know just how important your laptop is to you – it’s what allows you to keep living your nomadic lifestyle.
This backpack is the perfect day bag, as it’s an anti-theft backpack. The backpack is made from anti-scratch and cut fabric. There are hidden zippers to the main pocket and a secret pocket in the back, so your stuff is not easily accessible while you are carrying it. There are tons of pockets inside the backpack to keep you organized and safe.
There is also a built-in charging cable inside, with the USB charging port on the outside, so you can charge your device anywhere and everywhere.
The backpack has a modern design and holds all your digital nomad accessories, and all for a great price!
There is enough to worry about when you travel, and this backpack helps to minimize some of those worries!
Exploring nature is one way to really get to know a place. This can be through walks, hikes, camping – whatever you enjoy!
However, you probably won’t want to bring your usual work bag out into the countryside. This backpack is the perfect adventure companion for your travels. It folds into a zipped inner pocket that you can easily pack for your trip. You can unfold it from the pocket, into a backpack in seconds.
The backpack has mesh shoulder straps with plenty of padding to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the day. There is also a chest strap to help you lock your backpack in place securely, and take some strain off your back.
This backpack is perfect for the outdoors, as it is lightweight, yet durable, water-resistant, and comfortable. It also holds up to 35 L.
It comes in a range of fun prints and colors, all at an affordable price! It’s a great packing companion, as it won’t take up a lot of space, and you will always be ready for your next adventure.
For the fashion-forward digital nomad, this backpack won’t clash with your look. It’s cute and stylish while also holding everything you need. You can carry the bag from the top handles as a tote bag, or wear it as a traditional backpack.
The backpack has a wide opening, and stands up on its own, making it easy to pack for the day. There is a zip pocket in the back to hold your phone, keys or cards, so you don’t have to worry about anyone being able to access them.
The backpack also has side pockets big enough to hold your water bottle or coffee.
The backpack comes in a few prints, but black is a good way to go, as it goes with everything.
As a digital nomad, you’re regularly carrying around your essentials. From your passport to your laptop, all of these items are necessary for your digital nomad journey. The backpacks mentioned in this article offer all the qualities of a great digital nomad backpack.
One of the most essential things you carry around is your laptop. All of the backpacks in this article offer a secure space for you to transport your laptop.
Most of the backpacks are waterproof, which you don’t realize how important that is until you get caught in the rain. There are several compartments to keep you organized, and even secret compartments to keep your stuff safe.
After that, it’s up to you. How do you like to travel? Are you a digital nomad family? Do you love adventure? Or are you always traveling and on the go?
All of these backpacks come with great reviews, and at an affordable price. So which one will you choose?
Are you after more resources or gadgets for digital nomads? We’ve got you covered. Check out these posts here and here to get more digital nomad accessories inspo.
When attending one of the many digital nomad conferences in 2020, make sure to take your notepad with you - never stop learning!
2020 seems to be the year of the digital nomad conferences and events. There are more and more options out there for anyone who wants to learn about this popular laptop lifestyle and connect with like-minded nomads. And it makes sense while working remotely means location-independence, digital nomad gatherings adds the people aspect to this alternative way of living.
So, whether you’ve been like me, a digital nomad for years, or you are thinking about making the leap, check your calendar and make sure to socialise at least once this year on one of these epic digital nomad conferences in 2020.
>>>UPDATE: DUE TO THE CURRENT COVID-19 ALERT, SOME OF THE BELOW CONFERENCES AND EVENTS WERE CANCELLED. I WILL CONSTANTLY UPDATE THIS LIST TO KEEP THIS POST RELEVANT!<<<
NOMAD EVENTS YOU’LL SEE ME ON STAGE:
Nomad Summit
If you are on my mailing list (why wouldn’t you be!?), you might know by now that I gave a talk in Chiang Mai, Thailand in January 2020. For me, as a social media marketing coach, it was a no-brainer to help the attendees of the Nomad Summit with questions related to online business and social media.
Watch my entire speech here:
However, many people approached me after my talk and asked me about how I actually live the digital nomad lifestyle with kids! Therefore, Johnny FD and his team invited me again as a speaker to talk about our life as a digital nomad family at the upcoming Nomad Summit in Tbilisi, Georgia. UPDATE: The event will take place in from August 14th to 17th.
Will I see you there?
>>Book your ticket with my promo code to get 10% off any ticket using JEYJETTER when making your booking!<<<
Bansko Nomad Fest
After Nomad Summit in May, you can see me on stage at Bansko Nomad Fest in Bulgaria, from 29th of June – 5th of July 2020. I have never been to this digital nomad event before, but it is supposed to one of the biggest nomad gatherings during which the nomadic lifestyle is being celebrated. With 500+ participants and over 70 speakers, I am imagining it to be a very intense week for us!
My speech for this nomad conference will also be about life as a digital nomad mom of two. It’s really great to see, how this topic around nomadic families has become of interest to so many digital nomads out there.
Before we dive into the list of amazing remote retreats and nomad events that you can be part of in 2020, let us take a look at the benefits of attending such events.
Boost your digital nomad career Digital nomad conferences are great to network and learn about others’ projects that they might need help with. In the session breaks, it’s best to mingle amongst the other attendees and chat to as many people as possible. You never know, you could meet your next business partner or remote work employer.
Make new friends While your main focus should lie on business when attending such events, there is no harm in combining work with pleasure. So, perhaps a bonus take-away from your next nomad retreat will be that you meet a bunch of cool people who you can now call best pals and visit all over the planet.
Promote your project or brand It’s no secret that those kinds of occasions will include a big amount of time talking to other people. So, use every conversation (if possible) to drop the name of your brand or project that you are working on and want people to know of. It’s not everyone’s favourite but the good old-fashioned business card sometimes comes in handy too!
Learn from others Now, this is a no-brainer! Of course, you will learn a lot while attending events that include workshops and breakout sessions that aim to keep the attendees up-to-date on new trends and topics of the industry. So, even as a seasoned digital nomad, it’s always good to take a look at current topics and also listen to how others create/sustain their laptop lifestyle.
Break your routine and socialise Last but not least, it’s important to get out there and meet other people every now and then. If you are one of the lonesome work desk warriors who enjoy a fancy view from your desk but works from morning till night, then you already know what I mean: social life can sometimes fall short – despite the commonly promoted image of a party/beach bum lifestyle. In fact, there is a whole new niche that addresses the topic of loneliness that some digital nomads might experience when working and travelling alone. Events are a great way to change this.
Now, let’s see which of the many great options out there are there for you to put on your event calendar list:
1. Nomad Cruise (cancelled!)
I put Nomad Cruise here first because I think if you want to join just one nomad network then it should be this one. As a travelling nomad, you’ll like the fact that transportation and accommodation are already included. Chances are that you already know about this cool networking event on a cruise ship as it has become one of the most popular nomad conferences out there.
>>>UPDATE: As of today (April 2020), we know that one of the two planned events are cancelled. You can no longer join Nomad Cruise 10 as they announced to not go ahead with the event due to the current Coronavirus alert!
Also, the first alumni reunion on land in Mallorca got cancelled!
There are many cool things about this program: you get to travel with 30 like-minded digital nomads while crossing all Russia on the Trans-Siberian railway. You will make six stopovers in key cities like Moscow and Novosibirsk and enjoy fun activities while on the train. Plus, train rides are not only fun but also leave much less of a carbon footprint.
Enjoy your ride with a 50 Euro discount on your tickets! Simply use JEYJETTER when you make your reservation here! Or click this link: https://www.nomadtrain.co/reservation
As the name implies, this is one of the biggest nomad networking events out there. It’s a mixture of networking events and workshops, each time in a beautiful setting. So, make sure to book a few days extra before and after the conference, to enjoy the location’s attractions – their next event is going to be in Tbilisi, Georgia!
You will be able to sign up for the optional workshops to learn more and get small group training on topics you’re interested in!
Use JEYJETTER as a discount code to get 10% for ANY ticket including the early bird specials!
Check out the last Nomad Summit in Chiang Mai, Thailand!
4. Coworking Safari
I love the idea of going on a safari while doing business – it is definitely a unique setting for your next networking event!
With Coworking Safari you have the choice to join them for 4, 10 and 14 nights. Together with other entrepreneurs and digital nomads, you will enjoy daily tours to enjoy the beauty of the South African scenery. And the best part, you can even get some work done as they are trying to work around your schedule!
For those who can afford to switch off their phones for more than one day: They even offer a ‘detox weekend’ – as the name suggests, you will be without WIFI for the whole weekend. Can you imagine???
Most digital nomads that I know and have met on my journey not only work remotely for a company or for different clients, but they also have a travel blog. So, if you are one of them, check out this great event where travel bloggers and digital content creators meet the travel and tourism industry. You will most likely find new business contacts, friends and hopefully new sponsors for your brand.
If you want to know how such a travel blogger event looks like, then go ahead and check out my Instagram Stories (in the Highlights section) to get an idea of how much fun it is! Or read our workation guide for the Philippines where we attended TBEX Asia in 2016.
In 2018, I was even invited to speak on stage about social media marketing, this really took my career as a social media coach to the next level.
>>>UPDATE:
This year, TBEX Europe got hit hard by the Covid 19 news, thanks to the virus, the event in Italy was cancelled. As of the time of writing (March 2020), the organisers declared to postpone the event to a later point during the year. Currently, they are planning to have it in September.
But don’t worry, there is still one more option for you: TBEX North America will take place in Billings, Montana. So, if this is an option, click the link below for more details. Ticket prices start at $297 USD: – September 11-13: Billings, Montana
Julia speaking at TBEX Ostrava on social media marketing.
The Philippines have some great spots to get the most out of your workation lifestyle!
6. WIFI Tribe
Now, this is something that takes co-working retreats to the next level: with WIFI Tribe you can travel the world together with 12-25 other nomads while working online. Every 4 weeks, the so-called ‘tribe’ goes to a different country and you can join them if you are part of the community.
You can choose between different lengths of membership options, depending on how long you would like to join the community on their group slow-travel journey.
This is a great event to network and be inspired. You will be with a like-minded community, allowing you to share ideas and build new connections, and friendships. There are both business and spiritual topics you can explore.
This year, the festival will take place in Ubud, Bali! There will be 4 stages will a full program for 5 days. This event was online!
The 7in7 Digital Nomad Conference aims to have 7 conferences on 7 continents in seven years. This is the fifth year, after Asia, Europe, South America, and Oceania in the first four years. This conference is exclusively for digital nomads who have been location independent for at least one year. Only 100 attendees are accepted, in order to keep the sessions intimate and engaging.
In 2020, you will get to enjoy the beauty of South Africa, as their fifth conference takes place in Cape Town. Following a week of speakers, panels, workshops, breakout sessions, parties attendees you will have the opportunity to volunteer and give back to the community by doing something completely offline.
Sometimes even a nomad is tied to his/her location for whatever reason. For those who can’t travel but still want to learn even more about remote work, this five-day virtual event makes it possible for you to attend, no matter where you are!
During the Virtual Working Summit, you have access to recorded interviews from expert speakers on remote work. They will provide tools and techniques for you to enhance your relationships and efficiency with your remote clients, customers or co-workers.
Not everyone is a fan of organised tours or set schedules. If this is you, then you should check out these guys! ‘Unsettled’ organizes group travel experiences but not like the conventional ones. There are no itineraries or set sights to be ticked off. All they do is connect people who want to explore, network, and visit a new location at their own pace.
Ticket prices start at $1200 USD
There are many dates and locations you can choose from, here are a few upcoming ones:
– March 30th – April 27th: Bali – May 23rd – May 30th: Costa Rica – June 27th – July 25th: Barcelona
11. Nomad City
Last year, we discovered that there are many other digital nomad families in Gran Canary! No wonder that Nomad City chose Gran Canary as their conference location!
So, if you are around in November (escaping the cold!), you should check out this amazing nomad get-together! Experienced speakers and hundreds of attendees from all over the world, will discuss the future of work during this weekend.
This is another great project by founder Stella Airoldi, who I personally met during our cruise from Colombia to Portugal a few years ago. She gave a speech on her social business, the 22StarsFoundation, that helps children and their families in Africa rise out of poverty.
Knowing her grounds, she is now offering trips for digital nomads in Uganda. You will get to explore the area and the community she supports with her foundation while enjoying the company of other nomads who want to make an impact while travelling.
This is the right nomad coworkation for you if you’ve ever wanted to explore Uganda with a local, network with other digital nomads and learn about how you can make a social impact while getting some work done.
Another one in Africa – so high on my bucket list: Cape Town, have you been? This could be your next workation spot if you join the Work Wanderers program! They will be in Camps Bay, Cape Town where you will live in a villa close to the beach. Of course, you won’t be alone! This program is for like-minded other digital nomads, remote workers, and entrepreneurs.
Use the discount code JEYJETTER10 for 10% off all tickets!
Perhaps you are still learning a new skill in order to start your digital nomad lifestyle? Or you want to add one to spice up your skillset!? Then this program might be of interest to you! With Edumadic you can travel and focus on your educational course, creative project, or entrepreneurial idea at the same time! Plus, you will be in great company. The groups spend 6 to 12 weeks together while polishing their education and travel at the same time!
This is an online conference where you’ll learn from over 40 entrepreneurs over 7 days. So, as much as you might love travelling, for this event, you’ll have to stay put to learn and listen. But the list of great and successful digital nomads is promising! They will share their knowledge and expertise on topics like how to make a full-time income with a lifestyle business or how to even get started. You will also learn about the newest trends in online business/ marketing – and much more!
Sorry, guys but this is an exclusive Girls only safari! Here you’ll have the opportunity to spend one week discovering Malawi, taking part in community mentoring work, visiting the beautiful rolling tea estates, a 2-night safari, including a riverboat safari, and ending on the idyllic Mumbo Island. If you want to travel with a purpose and take part in inspiring community initiatives, this safari trip is for you. Join the ladies and discover one of the off-the-beaten tracks of Africa.
Nomad Planet is for those who want to be part of a community of professionals working remotely and experiencing the world together. You can join the program in different cities around the world, and it gives the option of choosing to stay for as short as 1.5 weeks up to a year.
The great thing about this is that you don’t have to do much more than getting there! Nomad Planet takes care of all the arrangements (accommodations, travels plus activities with the group). You will have enough time to keep working on your own existing projects, and afterwards, you can explore the locations you will be living in together with your digital nomad group in your free time.
Just another digital nomad event in Bali, you might think! But don’t jump too quickly to your conclusion… The “Digital Marketing Skill Share”, short DMSS, happens to be one of those conferences for digital nomads that include huge brands like Google or Hootsuite amongst their speakers but also promise to bring you down-to-earth networking fun with like-minded nomads. Their focus lies on “inspiration, creativity, and joy”.
So, if you happen to be in Asia this fall, make sure you grab one of their tickets to be part of an epic event in beautiful Seminyak, on Bali’s popular West Coast.
Last but not least…We all know it: the business world is changing towards more flexible work relations aka remote work. Many digital nomad friends I have, enjoy the fact that they are location independent and so many companies have come to understand the benefits of employing remote workers or simply out-source their tasks.
During the Freedom Business Summit, you will learn from and listen to those who have already created their laptop lifestyle. So, don’t miss out on this cool conference, the line-up is promising and for sure you will learn a lot!
You need to register to get their tickets and currently there is an early bird special.
Invest Like a Boss Summit – Live Event in Vegas! (September)
Running Remote, Bali, Indonesia (June)
DNX Festival 2019, Berlin, Germany (June)
Travelcon, Boston, Massachusetts, USA (June)
Nomad Misfit Month, Berlin, Germany (June)
Nomad Cruise (April)
The Remote Work Summit, Online (April)
Remote Working Summit, Dallas, USA (March)
The Coworking Unconference, Goa, India (February)
Nomad Summit, Chiang Mai, Thailand (January)
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Have we missed an event that you think that HAS to be on this list? Please let me know in the comments below, and we’ll update this post! Thanks!
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This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. For more info: Disclaimer.
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NOT DONE READING YET?
Check out these great tips for digital nomads – all you need about your travel planning skills or how to set yourself up as a remote worker!
Is your event calendar already full enough with digital nomad conferences but you still have some spare time to travel? Then make sure you bring along the right tools and gadgets for your trip.
Being exposed to new situations, living in unfamiliar places and meeting strangers on a daily basis can be a challenge at first. But it can also be one of the most rewarding things about travelling solo. You are not only constantly pushing yourself to step out of your comfort zone but you also adjust more easily to new situations and build a strong foundation. This can help you at work, in your relationship and in many more situations in life.
Travel proof: our kids love the digital nomad family life.
Whoever has eaten out alone once in their life knows what I am talking about. Or have you ever attended a day trip with a group of people you didn’t know? Does starting a conversation with the person next to you on a plane make you feel uncomfortable? Well, these are all examples that can happen to you when you go out to see the world by yourself.
Sometimes you’ll end up feeling uncomfortable but once you’re through it, you will realize that it was a necessary process to grow even a little more.
Hang on! While this might already be a constant learning process for yourself, how on earth is this working when there is more than you involved? I am talking about your family. Well, when there is not only your own concerns, fears and worries to be taken care of, this task of stepping out of the comfort zone is yet a whole different story.
In this post, I want to dive into the struggles, challenges and opportunities you are facing when globetrotting as a family.
Your takeaways from this post:
Communication is key
Listen: Everyone in the family needs to be heard
Why you should always remember your WHY
How to create a space of love
Relax: You don’t have to be perfect (all the time)!
Why you should (re-)watch Monty Python
When will you ever stop searching?
The other day, we went to have lunch in a restaurant, here on Koh Phangan. The woman next to me started asking questions after Vincent walked over to her to show her his toy cars. She noticed his strong little character and the confidence he has when talking to strangers – he is only two years and 9 months old at the moment of writing this. In fact, when we go to eat out, he usually sits with other people, as he likes to get to know them. And since he is a friendly little feller, there has not once been an occasion that a person sent him away or was annoyed.
In this particular situation, the woman was especially fond of him right from the start of their conversation. After she had heard that we are homeless by choice and have been wandering the globe since 2011, she asked me: “But don’t you feel exhausted by constantly moving around? When will you finally arrive at one destination and stop looking?”.
It’s not the first time that I have heard this question. It seems that people think that we are lost and on a quest to find our purpose in life or at least a destination to settle down.
While I am not saying that we will never settle down, it is clearly not what we are after right now. I responded as I usually would:
“We have already arrived. This is our life. This is what we do because we love it.”
She nodded and seemed to process the information. We kept talking for a while and I had the impression that she realized we are not some sort of hipsters who are following a popular trend. In fact, my reasons for still being on the road, even as a family, made perfect sense to her: we design our life the way we want to. No limitations, other than visa and money, of course.
All this being said, it is not always easy. Here is what we do to not go crazy when being together as a travelling family 24/7 for 365 days.
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1. Communication is key when you travel as a family
First and foremost I recommend to never forget about the importance of talking about EVERYTHING. I mean literally every single thing. Even if it seems to be only a tiny little problem, spit it out immediately. Never carry it along with you. Because if you do this, it will most likely transform itself into a big fat elephant-like problem. And then, it’s a lot harder to resolve it.
Being together and most often not able to shut a door or leave the house to go for work, means that you don’t have these 8-10 hours per day apart from each other during which both parties can process the other one’s words and eventually calm down or even forget about the argument.
When you are never separate, or at least not for long, you’ll want to constantly be transparent with your thoughts and feelings. Trust me, this helps big time. I had to learn this, I was never good at it but now, I even feel comfortable when sharing something that might cause trouble. 🙂
2. Remember your WHY
While it might look like the perfect lifestyle (and to us, it certainly is), I would be lying if I’d say that we are happy all the time. There are moments when I worry and wonder if this is the right thing to do – especially since we have kids.
We human beings are designed to imitate and follow the masses. It’s so much easier too. Doing what everyone else does can’t be wrong, can it? And when you are swimming in the opposite direction, everyone else’s opinions and fears will always swim into your face. I learned to dive deeper and not let myself be affected by the current. I am, of course, not talking about swimming here, but I am trying to explain with this allegory that you can or cannot let other people’s opinions influence you in your process of making decisions in life.
Hey, it’s your life. What good does it do if everyone else is happy but you?
So, the best way of going strong into your direction and keep walking your way, is, in my opinion, when you constantly remember why you are choosing this as your life. In my case, I only have to think about my life back in Germany before I left in 2011: I seemed to have had it all, a well-paying job, a nice apartment and a full bank account. But I felt empty inside and I was not happy.
You, as a family, can do this together as well! Just try to look at all the positive aspects of living location-independently and living like a digital nomad family. And then ask yourselves, would you be happier where you were before and with what you did back there and then? Most likely, it would not even be easier, just different. But trying out something new – even just for a little while – can be so rewarding.
3. Everyone needs to be heard
Before we decided to have kids, we talked a lot about how this would affect our current life. There were times when we were not so sure if we really wanted to change something. And yet, we plunged into the adventure and this unknown road of being parents. No one can prepare you for this, it’s the most challenging and at the same time most fun ‘job’ I’ve ever had. A journey, I wouldn’t want to have missed, so I am very glad we decided to go this way.
At the same time, we loved the way things were and knew it would never be the same. Again, there were these voices from other people who made it even harder to focus on our own voices. They kept telling us that when we will have kids, we would have to stop and settle down. Kids need structure, and a home, they need familiar places and faces and what happens when they need to go to school?
With all these questions and statements, it was – again – not easy to break out the norm and choose the uncommon way. But, as with my initial decision to quit my job back in 2011 and start travelling the world, having children and keep travelling is again, the best decision we could have made.
We made it our mission to listen to our children’s needs all the time and as they grow, it becomes a priority to choose the routes that THEY want. Even if that means that we might end up staying somewhere for longer or forever. This all only makes sense if everyone in our family is happy. If not, it’s like driving a car with a missing tyre, you will still be able to move but it won’t get you far and not as smoothly as before.
I came to learn that children are little ‘wonderers’, they always want to know what’s going on. If one of us leaves the room or walks away, Vincent’s first question is where we go and what’s happening. He is absolutely fine with this change of situation if we are in a good mood. If there is a tense atmosphere because we are running late to catch a bus, for example, or if we want to quickly fit in an hour of work before dinner etc., he can’t handle it. He will stop you and demand to stay or take him with you.
The key to this is always to stay calm and reassure him that he is in the best place possible. If you make it sound fun and add something really interesting to him, he immediately let’s go of the thought of following you or wanting you to stay.
That made me realise that he is ok whenever he has the feeling of being loved. It’s such a logical thing to say, I know. But when you’re in a situation like the ones above, it’s not always possible to see these things. Sometimes it seems to be the exact opposite you had in mind. All you wanted was to quickly do XYZ. But if you remember that your kids always have first priority and that this thing that you wanted to tick off your to-do list actually can wait, you will take off the pressure.
Your children will thank you by not making a scene. It’s not always easy but if you keep responding with love, you will make everyone’s life so much easier.
5. Keep up with a routine
Speaking of easy – while keeping a routine might seem to be the exact opposite of what you are looking for after having left your former life, it will bring you and your family towards a much healthier state of mind. Even little things like brushing teeth and reading a story before we go to bed, no matter where and when can help big time.
Not only for my children, but it’s also important for me and Claudio to have a routine. For example, we always (try our best) to start the day with some sort of exercise. Here in Thailand, we rotate in the mornings and attend the yoga classes in the studio next to our resort. Or sometimes we simply swim or go for a run at the beach.
And when it comes to working hours, we also try to be as consistent as possible: most mornings are for who is involved in a bigger/more urgent project. Lunch is family time and depending on the workload, sometimes even the afternoons we get to spend time together as a family. When the kids are in bed, after 7 or 8 PM, we tend to work both on our laptops until the energy lasts…
Why is having a routine so important? Because everyone in our family knows what comes when and time slots can be used much more effectively when they are planned out. It’s my German genes that like efficiency a lot! lol
6. Don’t worry about being perfect!
I have long let go of the feeling of being an uber-human. No, seriously, in the beginning, after giving birth to our first child, Vincent, I tried to go back to ‘normal’ as soon as possible – I even started working again only 6 weeks after he was born and we made our first road trip to Italy when he was not even 3 months old…
Sometimes I think, it’s a mommy-syndrome to always wanting to be perfect. But I have learned with the time and especially after having our second child, that self-care is equally important to taking care of others. It’s not always on top of the list, of course, but whenever I can, I try to remind myself to ignore all the necessary things to do (like cleaning, taking care of the laundry or paying bills) and carve out time to recharge my batteries. After one hour of yoga or talking to a friend, I feel that my energy level is up again and then, I am a much happier mum than before.
How do you do it when you are alone with the kids? Great question, I am glad you asked! It’s, of course, my big fat luxury that Claudio is there too. He does have work to do but is flexible enough to work around our family schedule. So, our children enjoy the rare case of having their mom and dad around them all the time. And I can sometimes simply say: “It’s your turn!”.
When he can’t take the kids and I need a break, I usually bank on nap times. Or I ask a random stranger to watch them for a while. Just kidding! Many times, I just wait and see what fun things we can do together that are not as exhausting as others, like for example reading a book together, painting or playing with playdoh. And then, afterwards, the show can go on. 🙂
7. Zoom out and look at the bigger picture
This tip is good for anyone, I think, who has sometimes the feeling of being overwhelmed with a situation: whenever this happens to me, I try to remind myself that all your feelings are self-made. You are the one who reacts to the situation, the situation is not responsible for your feelings and thoughts. Plus, ask yourself: does the moment that you are experiencing right now affect your entire life or just this very instant. If it’s the latter, you might want to take a deep breath and relax because you are most likely overreacting.
What I mean by that most situations are not as big or bad as they seem when we are in the middle of them. I ask myself in these situations if it’s really worth spending all this energy on something that is not important, or if I should just let go. Usually, it’s a lot better to let go. It takes a lot of practice – that’s why I love yoga so much, it helps you to focus more on the important things in life and readjust your inner balance.
But I am no master, by all means! The other day, Vincent was playing with his ball right before bedtime. Most days, he is full of energy right before he falls asleep. This is especially challenging if the rest of us is tired too and simply wants to have it peaceful and quiet. So, when he started kicking the ball right towards the face of his 9 month-old brother who was laying on the floor on a cushion, I first told him not to do so, but when he still continued with his game, I took his ball away and threw it outside.
I totally overreacted, I admit. But in the situation, I was so angry and I didn’t see any other solution. Later, I felt stupid because there are a million ways to react better than this. I could have moved his little brother or distracted him with some other toy.
You see, if I had taken my own advice that I am sharing with you today, then I would have totally said that the situation is not affecting my life as a whole and that I should not spend any negative energy on it. Zoom out and look at those kinds of moments as often as you can. It’s so helpful!
8. Make every day a fun day
Travelling and working remotely can result in a blur of endless days of sunshine. It’s very easy to forget which weekday or date it is. And because we humans always get bored with everything after a while, it might happen so that we sometimes feel bored by yet another beautiful sunset or yummy tropical fruit juice. Even if you are not travelling like us, you can probably relate to that. Your life might be really good and still, sometimes you forget to appreciate all the positive aspects of it.
What helps me the most when I get a feeling of boredom or when I notice that my three boys fall into a low mood, then I pull the silly card. Laughing and fooling around is like waking everyone up and reminding ourselves that life is good. Making fun or doing something completely different helps a lot with staying connected as a family. So, if you can, you might want to try humming (just for yourself or with sound) Monty Python’s version of ‘Always look at the bright side of life…’. And I am sure you’ll instantly feel a little better!
Conclusion:
I consider my family as some sort of company or community: we all have our roles to play and every character contributes to our well-being. While it is not always easy to be together every single day, we have found that living the digital nomad lifestyle as a family is such a fun way. As long as you remember the reason why you initially chose to start this journey and if you always keep in mind that most situations are not as bad as they seem, you can make this work and be a much happier family than you used to be.
Please let us know what you think about these tips in the comments below. Did we miss something? What is your best advice for someone starting out as a digital nomad family?
It’s no secret, Thailand is a magnet for travelers and digital nomads alike. We found that Koh Phangan for digital nomad families is just perfect!During my eight years of roaming the world, I was lucky enough to visit this beautiful spot of the world several times. But the last time was different. It wasn’t old backpacker-me ticking off tourist attractions this land of smiles has on offer. Nope. This time, I brought my little nomadic family along.
Read on if you want to know where are the best places for digital nomads and how living on Koh Phangan as a digital nomad family looks like.
Swinging life away on Koh Phangan for digital nomad families… at one of our favorite beaches in the south of the island.
Note: This is a collaboration post, partially from people we personally know and have met on my travels, and partially from my blogger network. It aims to give you a not single-minded perspective on the island’s potential! You’re welcome! 😉
For us, the question of ‘where to next?’ pops up as soon as the days of our current visa come to an end. It’s mostly a challenge and it requires a lot of patience and travel planning skills if you want to slow travel as budget-friendly as possible. But there are a few things that can help you make a decision: One big factor is the weather. Yes, it’s that simple. Don’t visit Europe, for example, in the cold and grey months of November and January (December is fine if you like Christmas, then it’s actually lovely there!).
So, in 2018, during our stay in Portugal’s scenic Algarve, we met so many families who travel and work remotely just like us. After a while, it happened so that we connected and exchanged travel plans. Most of the other families already booked their flights to Asia. And since we now focus on what is best for our kids (back then, we were still with our first son only and me being pregnant again), we decided to follow along and meet with our and his playmates on Koh Phangan, Thailand. Such a great decision!
Koh Phangan for digital nomad families has it all! The (still!) laid-back island vibe you are looking for when thinking of an island escape. GORGEOUS beaches and lush green jungle spots! Oh, and boy, do I love Thai food – take me back, please, yum!
One of the best views you’ll have up at the 360 Bar.
Koh Phangan for digital nomad families: best places to eat on
Orion Healing Center
This place alone gives me a reason to go back to Koh Phangan. Seriously, I wanted to stay there as soon as we walked in the first time (and we came back many more times during our stay on the island). How can I describe it best to do it justice: you walk into the outside sitting area when you come from the parking lot and feel already peaceful and calm. It’s actually a healing center where people practice yoga and enjoy detox treatments. But you can (and should!) also eat in their fabulous restaurant and cafe.
Take me back… Yummy food and a peaceful vibe!
When you have the time, then you should come several times as it is impossible to try all their food at once – which I really recommend – you can tell, I am absolutely in love with this place (and this is no paid advertisement, it’s my genuine opinion LOL). You can choose from Yogi breakfast bowls to yummy vegan dishes and, of course, sip your way through their healthy smoothies and freshly squeezed juices.
Seed to Feed
We love the idea of this place: they grow their own salads, herbs and green leaves right next to the restaurant. Besides this awesome fact, everything is nicely presented to the visitor and there is simply a relaxed atmosphere. Oh, and of course, the food is delish too! Try one of their yummy salads and you’ll see what I mean. It is a nice change when you want to eat something fresh instead of the evergreen Pad Thai dish. But, of course, you can also get traditional Thai food in case you’re wondering…
Eat.Co
Vegan restaurants are on the upcoming as it is no secret that many travelers come to this beautiful island with a mission to heal, relax and exercise. That’s why you also see many yoga places and organic shops around. Eat.Co makes it a priority to serve creative dishes in a very laid-back and artsy ambience. You can even shop some organic clothes and hand-made jewellery as well as soaps, oils, incenses and non-chemical insect repellent.
Tip: The portions are rather small so if you’re hungry you will have to order two dishes each if you don’t want to leave hungry… But then again, I was there when I was pregnant, so perhaps you will be fine! LOL
Pantip Market
As a digital nomad in Koh Phangan, you can’t eat out in restaurants all the time. Even in Thailand that can get pricey. One of the best solutions, other than cooking yourself, is to go eat at the Pantip Market.
Koh Phangan’s Pantip Market, also known as Pantip Night Food Market, is an all-day food market in Thong Sala, the largest town on the island.
Whichever time of day you come there, you’ll be able to choose from a wide array of reasonably priced meals. Ranging from the smallest snacks such as pancakes, doughnuts or meat/tofu skewers, to full-on meals such as Pad Thai and of course you can find also the beloved mango & sticky rice dessert. Many of the stalls have started using paper plates and banana leaves instead of the omnipresent plastic.
The market becomes the liveliest in the evenings. Around the Full moon dates, even stalls selling souvenirs pop up in Pantip and it can become quite difficult to find a free seat in the common seating area.
This tip comes from my friend Veronica from Travel Geekery. Check her also out on Instagram:
One of the greatest things to do on Koh Phangan is clearly to enjoy the countless beautiful beaches and explore the many hidden bays. See below for a full list of best beaches on the island. But one highlight you simply can’t miss is going snorkeling in the little bay of the so-called Secret Beach.
Snorkeling at Koh Raham – Secret Beach
Pass through the jungle-like resort and restaurant entrance from which you will get to the very far back of the sitting area. Once you’ve reached the end of the pathway, you will see people jumping off the little rock. You can also simply put on your snorkeling gear and climb down the stone stairs to submerge into the crystal clear waters.
Immediately you will be surrounded by plenty of fish that hang out there and get attracted by the food people through into the water… (not my favorite part, as I don’t think humans should feed wild fish, but the kids loved to see them and swim with the little fishes…)!
When we travel, we always try to look outside the box and find activities that are not so common or done while in a destination. Our idea is, in this way, to generate content that is not very common and can help more travelers to plan their trip, and to us to increase traffic to our blog.
During our trip to Thailand, we went, of course, to Koh Phangan, an extremely popular island that almost every traveler to the country visits. But here we found a tour to a national park called Angthong National Marine Park which, despite widely publicized everywhere, very few people really did take. Everyone prefers to party at night and rest in the day…
So, we decided to go on a tour that left at 07:00 am and returned around 19:00 in the afternoon. We were surprised and loved it. We saw several nearby islands, hidden lagoons between mountains and paradisiacal beaches with practically no people. Without doubt, one of our favorite activities in the area, and for which to this day many travelers ask us about.
This tip is from Alejandra from Universo Viajero, you can find her also on Instagram:
No article about traveling to Koh Phangan should be without a short mention of the legendary Full Moon Party. It might not be for everyone and is clearly not for (anymore). But this Koh Phangan travel guide wouldn’t be complete without it. So, here is my honest opinion on this rather special event.
When I visited Koh Phangan the first time, back in 2011, I also went to see what it’s all about the Full Moon Party. The hype is huge, people who want to be part of this massive party at the beach, travel from other parts of Thailand (and even outside the country), just to be there when Koh Phangan goes wild. Prices go up, hotels fill up and alcoholic beverages get scarce. Everyone buys colorful (or white) shirts and those neon colors that reflect at night.
When you are in your mid-twenties celebrating with your friends, you might have the time of your life dancing the night away right at one of Koh Phangan beautiful beaches. But if you have kids and get a little older, like us, a wild party event like this just doesn’t do the trick any longer. I’d rather stay at home or sit by the bonfire at Zen Beach.
Should you go? Yes, sure. It’s one of those things you can tick off your bucket list. But no harm is done if you miss out. But that’s just my humble opinion… Please leave a comment at the end of this article if you agree/disagree. Thanks!
Check for more activities and tours on Koh Phangan here:
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Where to stay on Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan, one of Thailand’s fairest island getaways, is known for its beauty but, too often, it’s party culture. The home of the infamous Full Moon Party, it can be a little tricky to find places to suit travelers who aren’t on their gap year.
Bluerama
That’s why Bluerama, a small hilltop resort about ten minutes from the port offers the best of all worlds. Situated at the top of a (very) steep hill, this small boutique outfit only has ten bungalows on stilts, each offering incredible views of the bay before them. The bungalows are tastefully decorated, beautifully air-conditioned and offer privacy from other guests.
However, because of the location, the hotel also has one of the world’s most stunning swimming pool views, as you are almost suspended above the ocean. And this poolside setting usually attracts a cool clientele with trendy music and a laid back cocktail vibe around sunset.
Photo credit: Bluerama
Bluerama is also ideal for digital nomads as it offers some of the strongest WiFi signals we’ve seen over South East Asia. Working by day at the pool and streaming Netflix at night means you’re easily connected, albeit in some beautiful surroundings.
NOTE: This is not an ideal hotel for families, in fact, it is an adult-only spot. However, we wanted to include it in this post anyway as it can be interesting for couples and solo travelers who might stop by and read this post too.
Buritara
What can I say – would I recommend it? Hm, not to everybody, I think. But here I am telling you that we had a wonderful time there. Why? Despite the somewhat rundown facilities and the not so ideal location, we can definitely say that it is worth to stay at Buritara if you are a digital nomad family.
Every year, during European winter, many German-speaking families have made it their habit to reunite on Koh Phangan to escape the cold. In fact, there is this one famous German travel family, the Horlachers, who started the so-called ‘Koh Phangan Winter Camp’ back in 2017.
Getting ready for our bonfire night…
The reason this is such a great resort to choose when visiting Koh Phangan as a digital nomad family is because you will be surrounded by not the ordinary hotel guest but with people who think and breathe exactly like you: travel, location-independence and anything that is related to an alternative lifestyle.
If you are interested to be part of such a community during your workation on Koh Phangan, check out this (German) Facebook group, or simply speak to anyone at one of the many beaches who looks German and for sure they can tell you where the next get-together will take place. Your best place to connect is clearly the god ol’ Buritara.
Song Pi Nongand Longtail Beach Resort
The reason I am listing these two hotels here together is that I cannot really speak from personal experience as we did not stay there. But from all the families we met on the island, who stayed at either of the two places, they highly recommended them. In fact, if you want to have a little more European standard and cleanliness, then you are better off at one of these places. Like I explained above, we didn’t mind the lower standard that Buritara had on offer because the people made it an overall positive experience, but as a travel blogger who recommends hotels and restaurants, I honestly have to say that I wouldn’t stay there under ‘normal’ circumstances.
Tip: Check for availability at Longtail Beach Resort and Song Pi Nong way ahead of time, these are popular places and sell out fast during December till March!
These are perfect beaches on Koh Phangan for digital nomad families!
Often we are asked which beaches we find the most beautiful. To answer this question is not so easy, because one beach is more beautiful than the other, that’s how we feel. But here are our two most favorite beaches:
1.) Srithanu Beach (Nice Beach)
Our house beach in Srithanu. We have consciously decided to stay only a few minutes by motorbike from Srithanu Beach. This is where we are most frequently found. We like the clear, calm water, the small bay, the white powder sand and the Nice Beach Restaurant with the delicious Thai cuisine. This beach is particularly suitable for families with children of all ages.
One can walk very far into the water, as the beach doesn’t drop much towards the sea. Since there is very little current in this bay, the water is clear and calm. Here you will find the ideal bathing fun for the whole family but be aware that there are only a few shady places…
From approx. 6 pm you can enjoy here also daily beautiful sunsets. For us, the Srithanu Beach (Nice Beach) is the number one beach on Koh Phangan.
Always worth a visit: Happy Beach or Nice Beach, as they call it.
2.) Malibu Beach
Malibu Beach lives up to its name. If you didn’t know you were in Thailand, you might think you were in Florida. It has the finest, whitest beach in the north of the island. From afternoon (approx. 2 pm) more and more shade falls into the bay and thus also on the beautiful beach. Therefore we recommend a visit in the morning. Like at Srithanu Beach you can walk far into the sea. So you can relax on the beach while the kids play in the water.
There is only one restaurant on the beach and it is highly overpriced – on top of that bringing food is not allowed. However, as far as we know, the beaches in Thailand are mostly public, so we decided to bring small snacks, fruits and drinks with us. Tip: Just don’t sit directly in front of the restaurant.
3.) Bottle Beach
This beach in the northeast of the island is very difficult to reach by land, so the best way to get there is by taxi boat. You can book the trip directly at the port in Chaloklum and it should not cost you more than about 300 BAHT for both ways. For children up to 11 years of age, there is usually no need to pay. The travel time is approx. 20 – 30 minutes. It is best to start in the morning at the harbor in Chaloklum. If you are traveling with a larger group, you can certainly negotiate a group discount.
At Bottle Beach, you will find a handful of hotels and restaurants, so there is plenty to eat and drink. Best time to visit: Avoid the weekend! Then, you might be lucky to find the beach all to yourself!
4.) Haad Khom / Coconut Beach
Coral Bay Beach, as it is called by most people, is well known for its pet: a huge and friendly pig. In the spacious bay, you will find many cozy places in the shade. Children will love the swings that are hanging down from the palm trees. The restaurants offer good Thai food and the beach pig is, of course, an attraction. As the name „Coral Bay” already suggests, the sand is not the finest and in the water are sometimes some stones and corals. This makes a good snorkel spot though, so don’t forget to bring your goggles.
5.) Zen Beach
Zen Beach is not very suitable for swimming, especially for families with children. Apart from its strong current and the fairly deep entrance right after a few steps into the water, there is a high chance of being stung by a sea urchin. It happens quite frequently that people come out of the water with one of the long spines in their feet.
Nevertheless, this beach has an absolute special vibe. At sunset many alternative free spirits, musicians and acrobats meet here to make music, dance and enjoy a huge fire show. It is a special experience to soak up the colorful hustle and bustle with music, acrobatics and dance around the campfire. Many practice yoga or simply enjoy a coconut and watch the beautiful sunset.
More beaches on Koh Phangan
These were our top five beaches on Koh Phangan. As you can imagine, there are many more beaches. Here are more beautiful beaches we recommend to visit:
Thong Nai Pan
Thong Nai Pan is located in the east of the island. With a scooter, it takes about 30-45 minutes to get around.
Cocohut Beach
Famous for its legendary swing, this beach is worth a visit. Make sure to enjoy some delicious food at the Cocohut Resort.
Haad Yao
The bay at Haad Yao is relatively large and offers plenty of space for families with children.
Haad Salad
The bay is very, very beautiful. However, you can always find sea cucumbers (harmless) or sea urchins when snorkeling further out.
Although we have already spent 7 months on Koh Phangan, there is always something new to discover. We can recommend the „Koh Phangan Travel Guide” from „Home is where your Bag is”. We were surprised ourselves about what we discovered in this pointed travel guide.
These tips for Koh Phangan for digital nomad families are from our lovely friends Sabrina and Holger at Worldsafari Family. Check them also out on Instagram.
Conclusion
Koh Phangan for digital nomad families is a very special place – either if you are after the colorful Full Moon Party or if you simply want to stay for a few months and use it as your nomad base. Especially for digital nomad families, this Thai island has a lot on offer: calm and beautiful beaches, friendly and relaxed people which is probably the reason why there is a healthy mix of both travel families and solo travelers.
If you liked this post, please share it with your family and friends. Also, leave a comment to let us know what part of Koh Phangan you like best or if you are still planning to visit this gorgeous island. Stay tuned for more Thai content as we will be back there from January-March 2020!
Have you ever wondered how life on the road really looks like? It’s a complex form of living and then again it’s the simplest way you’ve ever dreamed of. It includes living out of a suitcase, travelling to anywhere you want (and where there’s WIFI) and so much more. But it also means that you have to take care of a few things that common life doesn’t require. Want to know which are these things? Here is your ultimate guide to a digital nomad’s life!
This post contains affiliate links. See affiliate disclaimer here.
Life on the Road: All You Need to Know About How to Become a Digital Nomad
The Eiffel Tower, Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal. What does each of these spectacular world landmarks have in common? Well, for some of us, each of these locations could be an office with a million dollar view. Remote work offers the best of both worlds to the tech-savvy and adventurous among us. Sightseeing while you work can be a dream, and you don’t need much to get started. Oftentimes all you need is a functional computer, a good internet connection, and an entrepreneurial spirit to become a modern-day digital nomad!
For today’s digital nomads, the possibilities are just emerging as increasingly more companies offer remote contracts or the ability to work from home. With a bit of planning and determination, you can join the ranks of other global nomads making a living on the road.
1. Establish Your Goals
For digital nomads, the end goal is generally to travel while working and create some kind of sustainable income. Although the popular image may be one of whipping out your laptop poolside, enjoying a cocktail — it’s not that simple (or practical!) to do.
The digital nomad is often envisioned as a 20 or 30-something Millennial having the right profession to combine travel and work, but you can hit the road at any age.
The life of a nomad is a balance between working on-the-go and enjoying new culture and sightseeing. It doesn’t always mean you have to leave the country — plenty of nomads spend their time exploring the diversity of culture in their own backyard without ever setting foot on the tarmac. A simple camper van and a sense of adventure can easily satisfy your urge to get out of town for a while.
Check out how one day CAN look like in the life of a digital nomad family!
The video is in German – English subtitles are coming soon!!!
2. Identify Your Skill Set and Income Sources
The most common question asked by nomadic wannabes is how they can get started. It’s not that hard if you already have the right skill set. If you aren’t lucky enough to have that perfect work-abroad job offer, develop your talent and create a situation where you can work digitally. Create sources of passive and active income as you embark on your journey.
Active Income:
Have a journalism degree? Establish a freelance practice before you set out.
Are you an educator? Many tutoring programs have moved online.
Have some other tech-savvy skill? Try blogging, web design, or creating a podcast.
Passive Income:
Rent your permanent home while you travel.
Create an online store to generate income.
Write and promote a book and publish it online.
Whatever your talent, you can move it abroad under the right conditions. Develop your income before you set off. Have a plan in place and create a timeline. It’s not a bad idea to have more than one source of income just in case.
Many a global nomad enjoys the good life for several years, only to find that things get… complicated. Marriage, changes in health, babies, ageing parents, long-term plans and retirement plans all begin to emerge as potential hurdles. You may miss the boat on buying your first home or begin to see cracks in your social circle as you travel. Just like in any job, being a digital nomad means accepting that:
Loneliness is to be expected.
One day, you can return home, wherever that may be.
It’s never too early to plan for retirement.
Just as in the typical “day-to-day” grind, you will find yourself with items to take care of on your personal agenda. Health insurance, paying the bills, and taking care of family do not disappear when you venture on the path of global nomadism.
4. Complete a Trial Run
If you find yourself questioning whether or not life on the road is for you, it’s not a bad idea to complete a trial run before you throw in the towel on your 9 to 5. Take a break or a holiday first, and see if you can make it work.
Before putting in your notice, book a ticket to your location of choice with the intention to work as you go. Your aim here is work/life integration, not a vacation. This will allow you to work out the kinks before the real departure.
5. Choose Your Location … Wisely
The global nomad can live anywhere, but that doesn’t mean they should. Choosing your locale to suit a budget is not only smart but it saves you the headache of relocating when things go south. Choose your location based on your income and don’t overstretch your budget. The same rules apply anywhere. Here are some tips:
Try affordable locations first. Southeast Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe are all great budget starting points. It’s like finding a starter home — once you know you can make it there, move on to pricier areas if you feel ready!
Stay long-term first. It takes several months to establish yourself in a location. Before bouncing off to the next country or city, plan to stay in each location for several months or a couple of years at a stretch. This helps you get to know the ins and outs before moving on.
Save before you go. Never start your nomadic experience in debt or without a financial plan. It’s a recipe for Couchsurfing disaster! Pay your debts before you go or at least know that you have enough saved to pay the bills for the next six months before setting off.
Remember, if you have financial or personal problems, they won’t go away just because you did. Whatever baggage you travel with (be it emotional or financial) will follow you wherever you go. Deal with your reality before departure to make sure you plan is successful.
6. Say Goodbye to Tradition
As a digital nomad, your life may diverge quite drastically from others in your social circle. This adventure comes with a trade-off. There will be no white-picket fence in your nomadic future, and you may find yourself cutting ties more frequently.
Be prepared for a moment when you question your decisions and be prepared to adjust accordingly.
Check in with yourself from time to time. Are you okay missing out on milestones and trading that for the travel experience?
Surround yourself with other nomads who “get it.” Don’t be afraid to let go of friendships temporarily as you experience this new lifestyle.
The quiet life, working at the same place for your entire life and settling down just don’t always work well when you’re spending more of your time on the road. Be prepared to hunker down wherever it works in the moment and move on when opportunities have been exhausted.
7. Don’t Brush Off Visas or Taxes
If there’s one piece of smart advice we can offer, it’s this: taxes and visas are a given. Neglecting these two areas can leave you in some pretty serious trouble. Many an adventurer sets out without obtaining appropriate financial advice regarding taxes. Or perhaps, it seems adventurous to “just go” and “see what happens.” We strongly advise against doing this. You still need to have a plan!
Depending on your country of residence, not filing taxes can come with swift penalties.
As a global nomad, you are likely self-employed. Seek out advice on filing taxes before you go.
Never enter a country without the appropriate visa or travel document and always register at the embassy if you go abroad.
In the case of a natural disaster or other unforeseen event (it happens more often than you think), be prepared to have an escape plan. Make sure you copy all your documents and have a close friend or family member guard them back home just in case. Or, keep copies of important financial information including taxes close to you at all times.
8. Protect Your Most Important Companion
Speaking of cutting corners, this is one you don’t want to mess with! We’ve heard it all. Journalists who go abroad only to lose entire interviews and data on the road. Designers left with no editing equipment. Videographers with no tape.
Protect your gear and guard it with your life! Insure it, hide it when not in use, and back it up.
It’s likely most of your work while on-the-go is done via your laptop or even your phone or iPad, so don’t leave your gadgets unprotected. Invest in cases or other protective gear that functions as a barrier against drops and damage.
Invest in luggage and gear that doesn’t impede transit through customs. Keep things moving along with a suitcase that is versatile and modern.
Get your travel and tec gear before you start your digital nomad life:
Pick a few simple tricks of the trade if you plan to venture abroad on your nomadic journey. Take it from us, time saved equals money earned while you wait for your flight!
Get Started Today
Being a digital nomad does involve a lot of forethought and work, but the payoff is worth it. With the right attitude and willingness to plan, your business could be up and running within a few short months. In search of more advice? Many digital communities are thriving on social media, so do a quick search and connect with other nomads in your area of choice. Happy travels!
About the Author:
Katie Tejada (McDaniel) is a writer, editor, and travel enthusiast. With a love for adventure and the great outdoors, she spends much of her time writing outside.
After spending half a year in the sunny region of New Caledonia, the idea of heading somewhere colder did not appeal to my inner warmth-loving self. However, I promised myself I’d expand my bucket list a bit further to include some of those northern lands that are famous for their vast natural landscapes and untamed wildlife. Or, in the case of Alaska, for their very specific manner of treating moose, so just in case you were planning to offer some beer to a moos – don’t, the law forbids it.
All jokes aside, Alaska, also known as the Last Frontier, deserves the unparalleled pride its inhabitants feel for their homeland, and as soon as you build up the courage to head to this remote destination, you’ll understand why we all need at least one trip to Alaska in our lifetime.
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In an attempt to warm up to the idea of cold, I’ve done my fair share of research, and I suggest you do the same in case you decide to head to this majestic country. Add to that this first-hand experience, and you’ll know if this should be your next nomadic experience or if you’d rather stick to island-hopping and sunny coastlines of tropical lands. Without further ado, here’s my take on Alaska, and I hope it will help you fall in love with its breathtaking wilderness, inside and out, as much as I did.
Timing does matter when visiting Alaska
If you’re anything like me, and you’d prefer to skip the swarming tourist crowds, then summer is out of the question when visiting Alaska. However, there are many perks of the lovely June-September period, from the mild and warm weather, easy access to some of the most remote parts of the country, all the way to the flora in full bloom. For those who can enjoy the somewhat bustling streets of the few cities in Alaska, then, by all means, go in summer, you’ll also learn what it means to experience never-ending sunlight, as the sun never sets in Fairbanks (and further north) for approximately 70 days per year!
Winter, on the other hand, is not for the faint of heart and those who easily get cold feet – literally. As the country of many extremes, Alaskan winter means you’ll be deprived of too much sunlight, especially if you stay in the north, although the main perk and the key reason so many still venture to Alaska in this time of year is Aurora Borealis – the inexplicably stunning northern lights, only visible during the colder months of the year.
I myself chose to go there in the transitional period of early spring, and it seems that the forecast will be similar for 2019. The Spring Equinox of this year will happen around March the 20th, which means perfectly dark skies for Aurora-spotting, and not such harsh weather as in the dead of winter.
Brace yourself for the vast coast
Alaska takes beach beauty to a whole new level of magnificent and unique. To put things in perspective, Alaska’s coastline spans across staggering 49,000 miles, which is an area that would engulf all of the USA’s coastline and then some. Most of it is uninhabited and some of it unreachable from land, but even a single cruise would get you near some of the world’s most enchanting cliffs and meandering sediments.
In fact, taking an Alaska cruise means you’ll get a glimpse of native wildlife in its natural habitat, onshore and offshore alike, absorb the views of glaciers, and admire the rugged terrain that dramatically changes from one region to another. You haven’t seen true Alaska unless you’ve seen its fjords, charming towns, and National Parks that span across the entire country. My personal favorite was the cruise into the Inside Passage, where snow-capped mountains and iridescent waves compete for your utmost admiration.
The unreachable capital of Alaska
While we’re on the subject of shore, did you know that Juneau cannot be reached by traditional means, that is, by land? Unlike any other capital of the world, this one requires some extra effort if you wish to stay there longer, work, or spend a few weeks exploring the surrounding areas. You’ll need to either fly directly to the city, take a ferry through the Alaska Marine Highway, or alternatively, visit through a cruise, since any single one of them exploring the Inside Passage will take you to the capital as well.
Although it doesn’t boast an endless list of quirky activities tourists normally enjoy, if you’re headed to Alaska, you should expect nature in all of its pristine glory, and a local experience if there ever was one. My advice? Mix and match between wildlife-spotting (whale-watching is extremely popular here) and tasting local delicacies. A trip to Alaska Brewing Company will warm you up in a matter of sips.
The nomadic challenges when visiting Alaska
Now, whether you’re staying in Juneau, Anchorage, or Fairbanks, this is no typical digital nomad spot you’ve ventured into. Of course, you’ll find that local coffee shops are indeed tantalizingly warm and comfortable, but you’ll rarely encounter too many locals at their laptops typing away. However, the recently-opened Juneau Coworking is a promising space for digital nomads who are eager to enjoy the local life of Alaska without taking a long, unpaid vacation.
This coworking space has only recently started operating, and it’s located in the Senate Mall, so if you’re planning a longer stay, it’s definitely worth looking into. On a more mood-related note, winter travelers will often find it difficult to focus, since little sunshine and plenty of snow can make you crave for yet another tropical escape.
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I personally do not decide on my destinations based on the local menu, but I have to admit I do take interest in what the new country of travel has to offer each time I book my ticket. After all, it falls directly under my task of budgeting, so that I know what I’m getting myself into in case I’m planning to buy my own sustenance for the duration of my stay.
Alaska is a rather peculiar little gem when it comes to food. It’s a foodie paradise so to speak, but a very specific one for the curious souls who don’t mind trying reindeer hot dogs or anything and everything with smoked salmon. Pretty high on the “quirky foods list” is their Eskimo Ice Cream, a local delicacy made of snow, Alaskan berries, seal oil, and reindeer fat. It’s fifty-fifty in terms of the disgusting-vs-delicious ratio, but you won’t be disappointed if you give it a go.
To wrap up
If I had to summarize visiting Alaska in mere words, I’d say it’s fascinating in every way. Depicting its local vibe, the annual festivities, and the many wonderful encounters I’ve had would take a novel, not a blog post several thousand words long. Alternatively, I’d love for you to use this guide to inspire your own adventures and help others envision Alaska for what it truly is – the epitome of freedom.
About the author
Marie Nieves is a lifestyle blogger who loves unusual trips, gadgets and creative ideas. On her travels, she likes to read poetry and prose and surf the Internet. Her favourite writer is Tracy Chevalier and she always carries one of her books in her bag. She spends most of her free time at home walking her Labrador Retriever named Max.She is an avid lover of photography and a regular author at AdventureFit Travel. You can find Marie onFacebookor follow her onTwitterand Pinterest.
As a digital nomad, gadgets and devices can make your life so much easier. Of course, you’re also limited to space, so you need to pick digital gadgets carefully and cleverly.
I’ve tried many different gadgets and devices over my nine years of travel and location independence, and it’s hard to keep up with the seemingly never-ending stream of new things. So I’ve listed some of the best digital nomad gadgets I personally use and recommend and have for quite some time now.
This is a list of gadgets and devices that help me stay organised and be more efficient while working remotely. As well as making my travels easier and safer!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission but come at no extra cost to you. This helps with the costs of running my blog so I can keep my content free for you. Thanks as always for your support! See the full disclosure here.
Digital Nomad Gear to Improve Your Work Productivity
First, some best gadgets for work. You should have all of these in your nomad gear pack if you’d like to work and travel with ease. These digital nomad must-haves are all gadgets that I can’t live without!
It all starts with your laptop. There are for sure many great brands that offer travel laptops but my choice is a MacBook Air Laptop.
I bought it years ago when I lived in Perth, Western Australia, and I’ve not regretted this buy. In fact, I would get the exact same one again only with a bigger screen, as I think it makes a difference between 11″ and 13″ (mine is the smaller one).
Other than that, I think it’s the best choice for people who work remotely and travel a lot.
It wouldn’t be possible for me to work remotely without my external hard disk. I use one from Toshiba that has 1TB of memory, but you’ll find a huge pool of different brands if you search for external hard drives.
Make sure to backup your files to an online platform too, in case your hard drive breaks or gets lost. For this, I use iCloud and Google Photos and try to save as many of my texts in Google drive.
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When you live out of your suitcase, you appreciate little things that help you stay organised and control the mess. An external hard drive organizer comes in really handy to protect your external hard drive and keep your cables and USB sticks all in one place.
Before I got mine, I used an old first aid kit bag to store my disk. People would make jokes about how I was always prepared for an emergency when they saw me sitting in a cafe with my laptop and the fire-red first aid kit next to me! LOL
Working while on the road can bring quite a few challenges. Finding good WIFI or a plug to recharge your devices are probably the two most common worries for digital nomads.
So, if you want to stay on top of things you should get yourself a travel power bankto be able to recharge your phone, camera and laptop wherever and whenever you want. Power banks definitely fall into the must-have electronics category for digital nomads.
There are plenty of optionsto choose from but not all power banks are actually suitable for travelling due to their weight or size. I chosethis portable chargerbecause it allows me to charge both your laptop and phone/camera.
If you are looking for a smaller and less pricey option, I recommend the Anker PowerCore 10000, which doesn’t let you charge your laptop but is a great power bank for smartphones and tablets!
Every digital nomad and remote worker should keep up to date with new technologies and work on his personal growth. That’s why we LOVE and recommend mindvalley – the only online learning platform you can really transform your life with!
Digital NomadLaptop StandFor When You Feel Like Working With a View
Working wherever you want is one of the best parts of being a digital nomad and I enjoy it every single day. However, I am guilty of not always choosing the smartest option for replacing a proper desk or table. Of course, you could stay in your apartment or hotel room but hammocks sometimes sound too tempting… 🙂
I suggest you opt for a healthier and more productive place to work though, in order to prevent neck or back pain! Whichever choice you make, with a small laptop like my tiny MacBook Air, a laptop stand helps big time to sit up straight.
Trust me, I’ve worked in all sorts of different places all over the world, such as hotel lobbies, airports, bus stations, in cafes right by the beach or even in bed. But getting older (and wiser!?), I am now choosing co-working spaces over the above options whenever possible, and bringing my folding aluminium Macbook stand!
Working at the beach: great for the soul, but not so great for your back… 😉
Also very high on my list of digital nomad must-haves, and something that has been in use for quite a while: my world adapter! Wherever I go, I can put my plugs in any socket in the world and don’t have to get an adapter in every new country/continent! Really great!
Even though you can get very cheap travel adapters in supermarkets or your next door kiosk, I wouldn’t go too cheap; those ones break easily. And who wants to go shopping for a travel adapter the first thing after arriving at your new destination!? Boring!
As mentioned above: good and reliable Internet is always a hot topic amongst digital nomads. For me, this was the number one pain in the arm before I got my mobile hotspot!
I remember that on our trip from Cancun, through Central and South America, I spent hours waiting to upload pictures to my blog. And sometimes this wasn’t even possible due to a slow connection like for example on the Galapagos Islands.
Finding good WiFi gadgets is the mission of most people working remotely. For a digital nomad, WiFi is essential to get work done.
This portable hotspot is SIM-card free and even comes with 1GB initial data. I think it’s a big lifesaver or actually, a huge time saver!
Oh, this one is one of my favourite little gadgets (perhaps the least necessary one, but I still love it!)! My backpack organizer:
This little helperI find equally useful like the above mentioned external hard drive organizer, but this one lets you literally fix everything small to the straps: from a lip balm, pens, cables to USB sticks or even a small camera. Goodbye, long searches for your stuff or messy carry-on luggage!
Again, you’ll appreciate those type of things, even more, when you have lived out of your bag for quite a while.
Working anywhere other than an office (or perhaps your home) can mean a lot of noise and thus a lot of distraction. So, I recommend creating your own personal creative space by using thisnoise-cancelling gadget.
Of course, headphones use up more space than earphones but I find it’s so worth it: my noise-cancelling headphones help me stay focused every time I work from a busy cafe, airport, hotel lobby etc. This is something every digital nomad should get!
If you prefer earphones instead, then you’ll find plenty of different typesand it comes down to your personal taste which ones you like best. For me, I prefer the actual headphones over earphones. For some reason, the latter never stay in my ear and fall out as soon as I move...
Are you an (aspiring) digital nomad with a (travel) blog? Then you are the perfect fit for my Facebook group where we discuss social media marketing and how it can be strategically used to drive traffic to your site! Request to join:
2. Digital Nomad Essentials for Travel
There are so many helpful things you could get to make your trips safer and more comfortable. Perhaps I’ll write another post for nomad travel gear one day. But today, I share just a few great travel gadgets that I think are useful and necessary when travelling long-term.
Add these items to your digital nomad packing list for a smoother, stress-free travel experience.
This is the newest amongst my digital nomad gadgets and I am really excited to have thisbaby on board! For the past six years, I had been eying other people with their wide-angle zoom cameras. It’s become a gadget I can’t live without.
I wanted one too, but I always decided against one. Simply because I thought they are too big, too heavy and too nerve-wracking to carry along (considering their value!).
But… now, since we have our little nomad baby in our lives, who is determining our pace and travel style, I thought it was time to upgrade our travel gear.
Before that, we would use a Nikon 1 J5 Mirrorless Digital Camera which is a great camera, especially for videos. In fact, according to the sales guy I remember, it is one of the best 4k cameras of that size!
I’d say, get a small camera at first and see if you like photography at all. And then, you can always get a bigger and more professional one later. It’s definitely a lot easier to travel with a small camera, for sure, the pictures’ quality increase a lot though! Ah, your call!
Luggage Scale So There Won’t Be Any Surprises at the Airport
Honestly, get yourself a luggage weigher! It’s possibly the best travel gadget. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to unpack and re-organise my luggage at the airport before I got one of these! Seriously, it’s a small tool that can save you a lot of time (and money!).
In the Philippines, for example, did we fly a lot between the different islands and were travelling with only a carry-on bag! For some reason, I managed to get to the airport always with more stuff in my suitcase.
Air Asia is very strict and lets you only take 7kg, which is NOT a lot, considering the weight of your beach towel alone! So each time, I had to get out some clothes to meet the 7kg (and then board the plane with 10 layers of extra clothes looking like a complete fool!) Get a luggage weigher, seriously!
When you go on vacation, the last thing you think about is getting up early, I know. But as soon as travelling becomes part of your lifestyle, you’re back to ‘normal’ things like getting up early. True story!
So, I’d say, get yourself a travel alarm clock to never miss a plane or train and which is also great if you need to save battery on your phone.
And to be honest, sleeping in when you’re in paradise spots like this one, would be a waste of time anyways!
What are your must-have digital nomad gadgets? I am sure, there are many more that are not on this list! Leave a comment and share your thoughts, thanks and happy travels!
When it comes to working remotely, picking the right place is crucial. Finding somewhere that offers a great working environment as well as new experiences and adventures is what we all aim for. Which is why I’m sharing why everyone should spend some time in the Philippines, digital nomads especially.
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To be fair, you have to be careful about choosing the right island, because Internet connectivity varies a lot. But don’t worry, there are places that have it all! Read on if you want to find out how to combine the perfect island escape, with some efficient work hours!
Being A Digital Nomad In The Philippines: Work, Play And Enjoy
Let’s be honest, the whole digital nomad lifestyle only makes sense if you fully embrace the fact that you are location-independent. So, why spend your days in a noisy city if natural beauty is your thing?
At least for my taste, I can get so much more out of it, if I’m in a relaxing and beautiful environment. Surrounded by palm trees and the sound of ocean waves, I just simply seem to function better.
That’s why I loved our one month trip to the Philippines in October. It was the perfect mixture of getting some serious workload off my chest, while successfully improving my suntan. Almost every day, we enjoyed a swim in the ocean and a long walk at the beach, while also being productive a few hours each day. That is my definition of a perfect life-work-balance.
Plus, we got to spend three days with 400 fellow travel bloggers in Manila, networking with companies from the travel industry at TBEX, “The World’s Largest Gathering Of Travel Bloggers, Writers, New Media Content Creators, And Social Media Savvy Travel Industry Professionals.” A perfect wrap-up of what it is like to be a TBEX newbie is coming soon. So stay tuned!
Back to our reasons why it’s so much more fun in the Philippines! Let’s start with my favorite part, the beach:
1) 7641 Philippines Islands For Digital Nomads To Choose From!
If yIf you have been following my blog then you might know by now that I am an absolute beach bum and sun follower. Recently, I got 20 of my travel blogger friends to tell me their top 5 beaches from around the world, in order to get more inspiration and extend my bucket list. But that’s a whole other story.
Our Favorite Island
In the Philippines, we visited many places but if I had to pick one favorite, it would be Kalanggaman Island, a small island an hour from Leyte Island.
It’s a hidden gem and I’d say it’s an absolute insider tip that you should keep to yourself for now or only share it with your best friends. So, yes, you are now part of the inner circle and if you still hesitate, let me show you why you should go to Kalanggaman Island at least once in your life.
What I love about traveling is when I discover places that are not yet overrun by tourists. To be honest, I’d rather be on a deserted island than sipping a cocktail on a beach chair next to hundreds of others. Perhaps that’s why I loved it so much on the Galapagos Islands this year in March.
On Kalanggaman Island you (still) don’t have to elbow your way through to the water, it actually gives you the feeling that Robinson Crusoe must have had.
Things To Do On Kalanggaman Island
There are no restaurants, sleeping facilities, or any running water on the island. Ok, so you will have to forget about WIFI and your work for a day or two! But if you hire a tent or bring your own, you can play castaway for a night! And if you stay only for the day and get bored of lying on your beach towel all day, you can go snorkelling, rent a stand-up paddleboard or even go scuba diving.
For advice and help, the friendly staff at Leyte Gulf Travel and Tour are happy to assist you. It’s totally doable to organize everything on your own though, but they are there to makes things easier during your time in Leyte, not just at Kalanggaman!
How To Get To Kalanggaman Island:
On the Island of Leyte, you take a bus from Tacloban City to Palompon (3 hours). Then hop on a boat (1 hour). Done!
Hire a van from one of the well-known companies, Grandtours or Havens, in Tacloban City for about P300 round trip.
Make a reservation for your boat at the Eco-Tourism office a day or two in advance. They monitor the number of people and limit it to 500 per day. So, especially in high season be prepared and book in advance.
The price for the boat (for a maximum of 15 people) is P3000, so be sure to make friends beforehand and split the cost!
Where To Stay And What To Do On Kalanggaman Island:
We stayed in Tacloban City at XYZ Hotel, which is not a budget accommodation but includes a yummy breakfast buffet and pool on the rooftop. Check out their availability for your travel dates.
If you prefer to stay in Palompon, there is Pacci Hotel – a local’s recommendation, check the reviews and prices here.
If I go back one day to visit the island, I’d prefer to stay in Palompon. This saves you the long bus ride in the morning. You simply hop onto a boat after you wake up and enjoy the beauty of the island for a whole day.
On second thought, I’ll be bringing my tent and sleep on the island – a unique experience for sure!
2) Friendly; Friendlier; The Philippines!
Beautiful landscape and dreamy beaches are only half of your travel experience. It’s mostly the people around you who can turn a trip into an unforgettable memory.
At least, this was my experience in the Philippines. Asia-lovers already know that there is some sort of special kindness and friendliness towards travellers in countries like Thailand and Indonesia.
Yet, I got the feeling that it is almost a tad more genuine or intense in the Philippines than anywhere I’ve been in Asia.
3.) Food Heaven – Delicious Taste Will Make Your Senses Go Wild!
Now, there could be a whole blog post about this topic, but I will keep it short and simple: O-M-G! Think delicious spices, mixed with fresh vegetables and seafood, plus a portion of love. The food in the Philippines is absolutely delicious.
And if coconuts, mangos, curries and seafood are your thing, welcome to paradise! So, while you are working hard on your digital nomad projects, rest assured that your nutrition will be well balanced!
One of my favorite food experiences was the so-called “Boodle Fight.” Everyone stands in front of a table that is covered with big banana leaves. On top of the leaves, you’ll find fresh seafood, a mixture of vegetables and fruits, delicious sauces and plenty of rice.
Now, the best part is that you get to eat with your hands! Perhaps that is where the name comes from… although we didn’t end up fighting with each other. Fighting with ourselves to learn how to elegantly shuffle rice with sauce into our mouths, on the other hand, was a different story!
4) Great WiFi For Working Nomads On Philippine’s Best Beaches
Let’s go once again back to this topic: the beach. I know, I’ve said it before, but it’s so hard to pick one favourite in a place of almost countless islands. Living nomadic in the Philippines means you’ll need to fit some work into your visit.
So, I thought I would give you a few more examples, in case you decided to try to combine your work with a vacation hotspot.
4 Good Places To Combine Relaxation With Work
Of course, you need to get some work done (hence the ‘workation’), but you can’t miss out on the relaxing and enjoying either. Here are the best places to visit for both working and relaxing.
Manila:
While this is not the beach escape I mentioned earlier, I want to start with the country’s capital as an exception.
Manila lies right at the ocean, but it’s not recommended to take a dip there. It used to have the cleanest waterfront in Asia but that was a long time ago.
Yet, if you want to get into vacation mode (perhaps you don’t ever get out of it as you are continuously travelling like me) then the Belmont Hotel gives you an introduction to Filipino diversity.
It’s a five-star hotel close to the airport where we were hosted a couple of nights during TBEX. The rooftop pool and great WiFi made me want to stay longer…Check for availability here.
Bohol:
Of course, I was glad to leave the city in order to fully immerse in the more natural side of the Philippines! Bohol is an island south of Manila.
We flew into Cebu and took a short ferry ride to neighboring Bohol. This green island is famous for its funky little mountains that are known as the “Chocolate Hills”. Due to a current project, we skipped the tour to the mountains and stayed at our accommodation by the beach.
TIP: Skip Alona Beach! It’s plastered with hotels, boats, and vendors. The West coast around Momo Beach is almost deserted and has nice waters to swim in!
Bantayan Island:
An odyssey later, we arrived on an island Northwest of Cebu Island. Bantayan Island seems to be slowly moving its way into the radar of travellers.
The people on the island seem to be preparing for the big tourist rush, with many new hotels and beach bungalows under construction during our stay. The ones that are already up and running are mostly spread out along the beach.
We stayed a few days at Marlin Beach Resort and enjoyed a good WiFi connection right at the beach. Check their availability for your travel dates here.
TIP: Break up your journey or start as early as possible in the morning! The traffic in Cebu city is horrendous! It took us almost two hours to get from the ferry dock (coming from Bohol) out of Cebu city. The bus ride up to the North also was longer than the expected 3 hours. In the end, we missed the last ferry (at 5 PM) and had to stay in a little harbour town to wait for the next ferry in the morning.
Leyte Island:
Sad but true, this island was put into the center of the world’s attention only after it got struck by typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Three years later, the terrible disaster that took many lives is almost invisible, and the optimism of the people who survived and still live there is incredible.
If you want to experience genuine happiness shown to you by welcoming locals and watch a flourishing variety of tourist activities, then you should pay a visit to Leyte. Small cafes, with a great work-space atmosphere in Tacloban and good WiFi, lush nature and crystal clear water are at your doorstep.
Quirky Facts about the Philippines that will blow your mind!
Travelling is about widening your horizon, right?
For me, it is the most entertaining way to learn new things. Like I said before; the number of islands you find in the Philippines seems infinite.
If you wanted to spend one day on each of the 7641 islands (including the 534 recently discovered,) it would take you over 20 years! Wouldn’t that be a great nomad challenge!?
This huge amount of islands naturally creates a vast cultural diversity and many firsts. You will be able to say without a blink: the Philippines are unique and one of a kind.
Some facts about the Philippines you didn’t know:
There are 170 different languages spoken and only two official ones: Filipino and English.
Nowhere else in the world will you find so many different dialects in one nation: more than 500.
Some Filipinos don’t even understand each other when they speak in their home dialect.
From June to December is typhoon season – the Filipinos name those heavy winds from A-Z. Each year they get through the whole the alphabet.
The Philippines have one of the world’s largest population (over 100 millions), but you can still find deserted islands and beaches because in total the area is big enough to not make it feel crowded.
So, who is up for a workation in the Philippines? Hopefully this post got you into the mood… Let me know how your workation goes!
[clear-line]
NOT DONE READING YET?
Check out A 13-Day Workation on the Atlantic where you can read about a cool cruise from Columbia to Portugal with 200 fellow digital nomads.
Or perhaps you’re still deciding if the digital nomad lifestyle is for you, read here how Five years of full-time travelling have changed my life.
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Thank you TPB Philippines for this great trip to Leyte Island.
Like always, all opinion are MY OWN. So, to everyone else, no worries on biases or BS, you won’t find that here. I keep this real. Thanks for the support!
Generally speaking, I’d say that remote work is the most exciting career path anyone can take, but I would be lying to myself if I didn’t say that the level of excitement will oftentimes depend on the destination you’re about to call your home for the next few months. I would also be caught with my pants on fire if I didn’t say that I was a bit apprehensive about taking such a long trip to a completely unknown location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
After all, who knows how good the Wi-Fi connection is on a small island paradise in the Southern Hemisphere – arguably a digital nomad’s most relevant concern. Little did I know that this would be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences of my life, culturally, spiritually, gastronomically (dear god, I can still taste that delicious Bougna) and of course, professionally. Here is my take on New Caledonia as a destination for digital nomads, and how you can have a blast living, working, and partying in this little piece of heaven in the Pacific.
Noumea: a place to live, laugh, and work
Check it, I’m not just a traveller, I also have to make a living, and that requires a stable Wi-Fi connection and a relatively peaceful place to focus and get things done. So, if you were to think that I was staying anywhere else on the island except the capital itself, you would be mistaken. Generally, I heard the internet connection here is not that great, averaging at about 3mbps, so I didn’t want to take any chances.
As for accommodation, the city is full of mainstream hotel brands just dying for you to experience their version of the local culture, which is why I stayed clear of them from the get-go and I advise you to do the same.
Once you settle into a nice Airbnb or a local’s apartment, you can move on to the exploration of this charming urban gem. As for the livability part, the people are friendly, the Wi-Fi is stable, and the city streets are teeming with life at every corner.
Get €25 in travel credit towards your next trip when you sign up for Airbnb using my referral link: www.airbnb.com/c/jjerg or
If you’re a foodie traveller, you’re bound to feel right at home here. The fusion of French and traditional Melanesian cuisine is simply bewildering, to say the least, and if nothing else, it’s bound to tease your taste buds in new, exciting ways. Here are some of the culinary treats I learned to cook during my stay, but you can find them at any restaurant:
Bougna. Remember how at the beginning I said that I can still taste the Bougna in my mouth when I think of New Caledonia? Yeah, I wasn’t kidding. This traditional dish belongs to the Kanak people if I’m not mistaken, and it’s made out of chicken or lobster (although other variations exist) sprinkled with coconut milk and stewed in banana leaves. Yum!
Snails from the Isle of Pines. More on the enchanting islet later on, but for now let’s just stop to acknowledge just how amazing this culinary masterpiece actually is! Honestly, I wasn’t too big on the whole eating-a-snail thing at first, but hubby over here made sure I tried the dish at least once. I wasn’t disappointed, that’s for sure, and the large snails simmered in French wine and garlic really offer something different to your taste buds.
Bat stew. Yes, bat stew. Just forget you’ve read that for a moment and focus on the tender marinated meat roasting on the fire, offering quite a punch in terms of flavour and aroma. It’s amazing, to say the least. One little side note: tribespeople eat the meat with the fur still on, but you don’t have to.
Poe. Pronounced “poe-ay”, this is a traditional dessert made with pumpkins or bananas enriched with coconut cream. Delish.
Revelling in the beauty of Isle of Pines
If you come to New Caledonia to live and work, you mustn’t skip a day-long excursion to the neighbouring Isle of Pines, arguably the most enchanting place I’ve ever laid eyes on. This place is heaven on Earth, and you can discover the intricate beauty of the Isle of Pinesin a myriad of ways. One of the most mesmerizing natural settings I had the pleasure of visiting here is, of course, La Piscine Naturelle (Natural Pool), a small saltwater lake residing on the eastern fringe of the island.
I dare you to resist the urge to dive right into the crystal-clear, shallow waters surrounded by lines of pine trees casting a beautiful shade on the surface – it’s impossible! The entire islet is so breathtakingly beautiful, that if there was a chance to live and work there, I’m not sure I would have gone back to the main island at all. While there, don’t forget to visit the Statue of St. Maurice, and even explore the island by air if you’re not terribly afraid of heights like me.
It wouldn’t have been an exotic remote work escapade if I hadn’t taken my time exploring the honey-hued beaches of the main island, ranging from the port in Noumea itself, all the way to the never-ending stretches of sand overlooking the expansive ocean on either side of the island.
If I could recommend a beach you should definitely visit, one which is close, convenient, and long enough to help you avoid the crowds even during those incessant peak tourist months of the year, it would have to be Poe Beach to the north of Noumea. This ten-kilometre stretch of pearly-white sand is bound to steal your heart, and the view from here is just mesmerizing – not to mention that the water is warm, crystal-clear, and full of friendly critters.
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Exploring the cultural heritage of the region
Last but not least, I should note that experiencing the culture here can be tricky business. I guess it depends who you tag along with really, as there are many different ways to get your taste of Caledonian heritage. On one hand, you have the unmistakable French cultural influence that permeates the region (after all, this is their colony), and on the other, you can witness the struggle of the indigenous Kanak people to preserve their cultural identity.
Luckily, the Kanaks are being increasingly represented in recent years, as I’ve heard, because they attract tourists. Whether the reasons for preserving their cultural heritage are honourable or not, you will still have the chance to experience their traditional song, dance, and rituals.
In retrospect
Thinking back on my time spent in New Caledonia, I can safely say that it was one of the most exciting experiences of my life. If you’re looking for a mix of adventure, exploration, pure hedonism, AND want to get some work done in the process, well, this is the place to be.
So, what do you think about a New Caledonian adventure? Are you up for an exotic challenge? Don’t be shy and share your opinions down below!
About the author
Marie Nieves is a lifestyle blogger who loves unusual trips, gadgets and creative ideas. On her travels, she likes to read poetry and prose and surf the Internet. Her favourite writer is Tracy Chevalier and she always carries one of her books in her bag. She spends most of her free time at home walking her Labrador Retriever named Max.She is an avid lover of photography and a regular author at AdventureFit Travel. You can find Marie onFacebookor follow her onTwitterand Pinterest.
-This post was last updated on the 18th of April 2020-
When you are constantly on the move, it is hard to connect with a digital nomad network, right?
Wrong!
There are plenty of ways to connect with other people and grow your business network even if you are a remotely working nomad. This post is about how you can use live events and social platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook to network and grow your brand awareness.
First, let’s start with what a professional business network is, for those who aren’t sure.
What Is A Professional Network
What is networking, and how does it work?
Great question!
A professional network is a group of people you are connected to – for professional business reasons. Your network would include anyone who is like-minded and can help you move forward in your profession as a digital nomad.
This digital nomad network should be more than just a collection of names: it should be a collective of other professionals that you have formed a relationship with. There should be mutual respect and trust built in a business environment with everyone in your business network.
Your network, if done properly, will be a goldmine of referrals and work leads, as well as advise and knowledge shared.
How To Network Professionally
While everyone has their own networking technique, here are some pointers if you aren’t sure how to start:
Use all available options – you’ll read more about networking opportunities below, use all of these to their full potential and you’ll find yourself with a full and resourceful network.
Connect on a personal level – as we said above, you need to create relationships with your network. Don’t expect someone to be a connection simply because you send them an email or two.
Keep in contact – on that note, make sure you stay in contact with your connections as well. You don’t need to message them every day, but be sure to make contact once in a while to ensure you don’t become strangers.
Give as much (or more) than you take – your network works best when you have value to offer to your connections as much as they have to offer you.
Why Professional Networking Is Important
A professional network can help you in so many areas. When you’re a digital nomad, your network is most likely what will help you gain more work. Finding clients through recommendations and referrals is a great way to get work.
Expand Your Network As Working Nomad
Ok, so we know WHY you need a business network, but HOW do you expand your professional network? Read on to learn more…
Building A Network At Live Events
I will state the obvious now: meeting with someone in person is simply the best way of building your business network. As much as I am a digital gal’, you’ll leave a deeper impression and get a real feel for the other person when you get to talk to someone face to face.
This year, I was invited to one of the featured speakers in Chiang Mai, Thailand, at the Nomad Summit, one of the largest conferences for digital nomads. And you know what? It’s such a game-changer to meet people in real life.
During the three-day conference, I had so many great and inspiring conversations, met potential business partners, got invitations to press trips, made friends and learned from the many informative workshops.
It was my third time attending such an event – and for the second time, I was part of the speaker crew like at TBEX Ostrava. I wrote a full article about our experience during this one travel blogger event in the Philippines.
Last year’s speech was about ‘How to drive traffic to your blog with social media’.
And this year in Chiang Mai, I talked about how you can use social media to create and boost your online presence. Check out this video to see my full presentation in Chiang Mai:
Networking Methods While at a Conference Like TBEX or Nomad Summit
Make your time count:
Come to such an event with a business mindset. Ask yourself before the event who are the people I want to talk to? What session do I want to attend?
Practice your elevator pitch:
There are many small talk situation where you will casually have to answer questions like who you are, what you do and why you are here. So, make the most out of these situations and include all the details that make your brand unique. You never know if the person you just met at the lunch buffet might be the DMO of your next travel destination.
Dress professionally and wear comfy shoes:
You’ll walk a lot during these types of events, so choose some shoes that won’t bother you after a while. Also, your first impression counts and the people you meet might make their decision to work with you, or not, based on your professional appearance. So, even if the overall topic of a conference like TBEX is travel, leave your tank tops and board shorts at home!
Don’t be shy:
I know it might be a bit frightening to talk to random strangers. But if you get there with a mindset to go back home with new and valuable contacts, there is no way around it: you’ll have to talk to other people. News flash: Everyone else is in the same situation, and most people don’t bite. So, relax and enjoy meeting many inspiring people!
Live Events Summary:
‘Surround yourself with quality people.’
–Tony Robbins
This quote by Tony Robbins stresses a core ability that successful people master when building their business network. It applies to real life but also online platforms, choosing the ‘right’ contacts to connect with is crucial as a digital nomad to build a tribe around yourself. Not only can they potentially lead to future paid projects, but you will also be able to rely on a strong foundation.
Most of my clients and many collaborations come to life because of the connections I’ve made. Vitamin B is key. So, try to look at Facebook and LinkedIn as your online bazaar for new business connections and focus on those who will benefit you as a brand.
Are we connected yet?
There are many other great conferences for digital nomads throughout the year. Click here to see a list of events in 2020 to get inspired and make a wishlist for next year.
A great way to grow your business network – or make new friends – is actually AFTER the conference is over! This picture was taken in a hat factory during our FAM trip after TBEX. Aren’t we crazy hats, I mean, cats?
Professional Networking Online – Using Social Platforms to Network Yourself
There is a clear go-to platform when it comes to building a professional network and that is LinkedIn.
Social media expert Andrew Chow says, ‘LinkedIn is like your virtual CV, you need to showcase what you have on offer and why people should work with you.’
With a few simple but effective strategies you can make your LinkedIn profile work for you and attract the right people. Check out my LinkedIn profile to get inspired.
Building Your Professional Network on LinkedIn:
To use LinkedIn in your favour, you’ll want to be active on the platform. Andrew suggests posting once a day before 9 am and providing valuable statements along with industry insights to your audience.
Always behave professionally and showcase your expertise.
Remember to think about the bigger picture before you post: will this statement/ article that I am going to share help to solve a problem/inspire or motivate my audience?
In my case, as a travel blogger, Andrew suggests showcasing my 20 best travel articles in order to attract the right brands and tourism boards. This way, it becomes immediately clear what Jey Jetter stands for and this way they’ll know what standard of writing/work they can expect from me when they collaborate with me.
Additionally, it is useful to list specific keywords in the skills sections. So, again, for me, that means to mention long-term travel, nomadic life, digital nomad tips as opposed to a generic keyword like ‘travel’.
Your goal on LinkedIn is to present yourself as a ‘thought leader’ in your niche. So, be sure to share new industry insights and add your own comments to it. This way your business network will perceive you as the expert in your field.
Action steps for growing your business network on LinkedIn
-> Connect with people in your niche but also think outside your niche. Ask yourself: who can profit from my service?
-> Re-post your existing articles from your blog on your LinkedIn profile (BUT keep them to a maximum of 600 words; if the original article is longer than that, make part 1, part 2, part 3). At the end of your post, add “The existing article was published on yoururl.com”. This helps you with building link juice too!
-> Post once per day (or more). Motivate on Monday, inspire on Friday. Always ask the right questions or add a call-to-action at the end.
-> Go through your old business cards and contacts from former jobs and invite them to connect on LinkedIn!
Linkedin Summary:
LinkedIn is great to showcase your expertise, make every word count
Post regularly and with the intention of presenting yourself as a ‘thought leader’
Use specific keywords in the skills section (NOT: ‘travel’ but ‘long-term travel’)
Expand your business network with Facebook:
Facebook has turned into much more than ‘just a social platform’.
Yes, it’s great that you can connect with long lost friends, but if you are after the real deal, change your mindset and use it for your biz. There are experts who claim that there is no money to be made on Facebook. But if you are smart about it, you can still use it as a tool to connect with the ‘right’ people AND eventually make money off of it.
And that’s why you need to look at Facebook groups as the gold nuggets of the platform. They are a powerful tool for growing your business network and building up your reputation as an expert.
It is crucial to be active in groups that are relevant to your niche. Again, for me as a travel blogger, there are great groups to connect with other digital nomads and travel bloggers, get advice and help others out who seek help with their lifestyle and blogging tasks.
But when it comes to my actual profession, (I am a social media manager, did you know?), I also dedicate some time to showcase my knowledge on social media.
Additionally, I created a Facebook group to help other travel bloggers and digital nomads to become more successful on social media. Through this, I generate a lot of valuable direct contacts who are not ‘only’ group members, instead, I count them into my business network.
Action Steps For Growing Your Business Network On Facebook:
-> Find 5-10 Facebook groups that you find useful to your brand. Engage with the group members, ask the right questions, answer other people’s questions and offer your advice on topics you’re knowledgeable about.
-> Dedicate 15-20 min per day to comment on other people’s posts and try to answer questions that show your expertise.
-> Share industry insights but add a comment to establish a reputation as a thought leader
-> Check the competition and see how they are running their ads. If you want to know why they are doing great, you can use this tooland adopt their ads’ strategy.
Facebook Summary:
When you spend time on Facebook, use it wisely and share only articles that contribute to your overall mission: in my case, it is travel tips, digital nomad topics, and advice for social media marketing. My audience can follow my business page for digital nomad advice and travel inspiration. In my Facebook group, I share social media tips and network with like-minded people.
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So, What’s the Best Way to Expand Your Business Network
I think a healthy mix of in-person and online networking is best.
Obviously, you can’t attend every possible network event that’s out there; but I suggest that you pick a few each year. Use them to build your brand and make deeper connections with people that you perhaps already know from social media.
Then, of course, update your LinkedIn profile today, get active on this platform and use it to showcase your expertise. I hope I’ve convinced you, in this post, that Facebook is not only about socialising and finding new friends.
As stated above, Facebook groups have such great potential for you to make business contacts too!
If you want to know more about how social media marketing can benefit your brand/blog, watch my free webinar – I’ll show you a few hacks to improve your performance online. Or contact me to get a 1:1 coaching session with me.
What are your favourite and most effective ways to grow your business network as a digital nomad?
Do you have any other tips?
Share your thoughts below, we’d love to know!
NOT DONE READING YET?
Perhaps you need some inspiration to get your digital nomad life set up? Here are some resources that help me a lot.
For When You Feel Like Working With a View
to Capture Your Adventures
So There Won’t Be Any Surprises at the Airport
