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Planning your next trips as a digital nomad can be tricky. But if you do it well, you’ll get the most out of each city you’re – temporarily – living in! Here are some insights that might help you plan better your future trips as a digital nomad.
Choose the right duration for each destination
As a digital nomad, it is very tempting to explore lots of destinations as soon as possible. However, there is no need to hurry up! Digital nomads have time (years) to explore the destinations they want to live in as they are financially independent. They should, in theory, carefully choose 1 city/country at a time and move to the next one once they got the most out of the previous city. Not before.
The duration of your stay can vary. Some digital nomads will stay a few weeks in a new destination, others will stay a few months or… a few years. You will have to find your own pace and there is no good or bad answer regarding the duration of your stay. Make sure you have all the paperwork you need for the duration of your stay, this includes visa and insurance. Some providers, like SafetyWing, offer medical and travel insurance for digital nomads.
Nevertheless, a digital nomad is not a backpacker. A digital nomad needs more time to enjoy/explore the city and discover a new culture as he is working full/part-time while traveling. That is one of the reasons I’d recommend never to stay for a few days in a new city as it will be much more exhausting to work/travel at this pace. It can work for a few times, but it is not a sustainable option on the long run.
Feeling of freedom as a digital nomad: how to make it happen?
Digital nomads also have the advantage of freedom. They don’t have to stick to the plan. Instead, they have the opportunity to take spontaneous decisions regarding their location and their stay. They can easily prolong their journey in a city they want to discover or enjoy more. They can do so as they are free to work from wherever they want.
To make this freedom happen: you should avoid booking your future flights & accommodation too early, otherwise you’ll have to pay fee cancellations. In some cases, you might not be able to get any refund at all. As a result, you’ll be confronted to a dilemma: move to your next destination “too early” or loose money by missing your next flight.
Most of the cases (except during some rushes like summer holidays and Christmas), it is possible to find stunning accommodation on really short notice on websites like Airbnb. So, don’t be in a rush to book your next destination in order to fully enjoy your digital nomad experience.
There is no ideal deadline to book your next trip. Based on my experience, it may vary from 2 months in advance to… a few days in advance. Booking your next trip as a digital nomad should be, according to me, ideally done 3-4 weeks in advance.
Picking your next accommodation? Check the WiFi speed, think “comfort” and be sure you have access to everything you daily need!
A digital nomad should really take time to set a check-list to book their next accommodation. Several important factors are important to verify.
The most obvious parameter that comes in mind: the WIFI! Always double check the WiFi speed with the host. Ask for some details if any doubt. If they don’t know what to answer, ask they to run a speedtest and send the results.
Bear in mind though that your accommodation is not your workplace. Digital nomads work from coworking, cafes and other nomad-friendly places in their city. It allows them to easily meet locals, foreigners, friends, business (and life) partners.
Your temporary accommodation should provide privacy, comfort and relaxing vibes. Always choose the most comfortable accommodation. Your sleep – as a digital nomad – is crucial and will determine your productivity on your way. Never neglect this aspect. As a digital nomad, you are earning money. Cheapest options might seem a good deal (financially) but troubles may follow (noisy place, bad internet).
Last but not least, choose an accommodation in an area where you can easily go shopping (e.g. main supermarket 10 min walking), go to your workplace and do your regular activities (e.g. running or fitness).
And you, how do you plan your next trips and how do you think you can improve it?
