Seeing the world while holding down a full-time job might sound too good to be true, but with the right planning and support, it can be done.
Before we dive in, let’s get started with the obvious — what exactly is a digital nomad? It’s a descriptor for different types of location independent working professionals. The goal of a digital nomad? To see and experience the world and all that it has to offer.
Sound like you? Or someone you would like to become? Perfect. You’ve landed in the right spot. We’re going to take you through all the essential details you need to become a digital nomad and start living a lifestyle YOU design. Let’s start with Step 1:
Secure a remote job or some form of passive income to fuel your travels.
Here’s a list of common jobs for digital nomads to get your wheels spinning:
Copywriter, digital marketer, customer service specialist, freelance writer, freelance photographer, graphic designer, web designer, UI/UX designer, developer, software engineer, online language teacher, and the list goes on…
Next, you’ll want to learn how to balance work with long-term travel.
Scout a digital nomad friendly coworking space in your desired travel destination.
You might be thinking— I don’t need a coworking space, I can just work from a local café or from my home. Sure you can; those are both viable options. BUT beware of weak wifi connections. If you’ve got an important call with your boss or meeting with coworkers, it’s frustrating times 100 when your internet goes wonky on you. Working from a coworking space pretty much guarantees a steady connection. Plus it’s a great hub for meeting other kindred spirits like yourself and making professional connections with smart people from around the world.
Here’s five of the best coworking destinations we’ve found around the world, from Bali to Barcelona.
Disclaimer: Digital nomads have a tendency to flaunt their lifestyle with images of fancy drinks in hand and laptops on beaches. In reality, the sun makes your laptop screen nearly impossible to read and you run the risk of overheating your digital devices. But by all means, keep ogling over the #officeanywhere shots and take one yourself if you want to hook your friends to join the remote movement with you.
Choose where you want to live.
The place you choose to live will greatly affect your experience as you become a digital nomad. Sure, you won’t be spending the majority of time in your apartment or hostel, but you do want to be comfortable and feel safe when you end your busy days of work and exploration.
Get your files in order.
If you plan to become a digital nomad, you’ll want to make sure your passport is up to date. Most countries require your passport to be valid within 6 months of your last travel date. There are also some countries that you’ll need a visa (but don’t stress; most places don’t require one unless you plan on staying for longer than 90 days). Be sure to check the State Department’s website for detailed information on the countries you plan on traveling to.
If your business requires a physical address to send bills and other important business materials to, most expats keep a physical address (a family or friend’s home, or PO Box) and then you can use either of these services (Traveling Mailbox or Earth Class Mail) to have your mail forwarded to wherever you are in the world. We highly recommend you try to go digital with your bill set up! Most bills and documents can be handled electronically. Try setting up online access for bank accounts and bills before you go.
Decide on your destinations.
Now for the fun part – start dreaming and scheming of where you want to work remotely from. Start with looking at the top 23 destinations for any digital nomad, according to our community!
This is where we can best serve you! AirTreks has been the leader in multi-stop around the world flight travel for over 30 years.
Our customers search for flights with our Trip Planner Tool over 10,000,000 times per year. With each search, our algorithm gets smarter and stronger, connecting you to the most convenient and affordable flights to suit your specific travel needs. Can you book as you go? Certainly. But we recommend you commit to your digital nomad journey upfront. This will save you money and give you peace of mind for your adventures ahead. If you need to make changes along the way, our customer support team is available for you 24/7 and is happy to help you make any switch!
