What to Look Into?
So you finally decided to take your chances on traveling solo to live the digital nomad lifestyle, but where do you start when choosing digital nomad destinations?
What to research? What to consider when choosing which destination is best not only for a digital nomad but also for a digital nomad traveling solo?
If you’re just starting out on the whole digital nomad lifestyle, it can be hard deciding on a destination. You might find yourself a bit indecisive during the initial planning stages of solo travel, especially when it comes to the digital nomad lifestyle, which is normal and expected.
So to help beginner solo travelers struggling to choose a digital nomad destination, below is a checklist of what to consider when determining which destination would be best for you personally as a digital nomad new to solo travel.
1. Cost of Living
- Affordability: Analyze expenses like rent, utilities, food, transportation, and entertainment.
- Currency Strength: Ensure the exchange rate is favorable and manageable for your budget.
- Hidden Costs: Consider extra expenses, such as import taxes or unexpected fees for digital services.
2. Internet Connectivity
- Reliability and Speed: A stable, fast internet connection is essential for work.
- Access Points: availability of coworking spaces, cafés with Wi-Fi, or portable internet solutions.
3. Visa and Legal Requirements
- Digital Nomad Visas: Check if the country offers visas tailored for remote workers.
- Duration and Extensions: Understand how long you can legally stay and the process for extensions.
- Tax Implications: Research whether your income will be taxed locally and how it affects your home country obligations.
4. Safety and Stability
- Personal Safety: Assess crime rates and safety for solo travelers.
- Political Stability: Avoid destinations with ongoing political unrest or uncertainty.
- Natural Disasters: Consider risks like hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods in certain regions.
5. Community and Networking Opportunities
- Digital Nomad Hubs: Popular spots often have established communities, coworking spaces, and events.
- Cultural Fit: Look for communities that align with your lifestyle, interests, and language preferences.
- Social Life: Opportunities to meet other nomads, expats, or locals for networking and camaraderie.
6. Quality of Life
- Climate and Environment: Favorable weather and appealing surroundings can improve your experience.
- Health and Wellness: Access to quality healthcare, gyms, and healthy food options.
- Culture: traditions, cultural nuances, and how compatible a culture is with your own personal beliefs and personality.
7. Accessibility
- Transportation: Availability and cost of local and international travel options.
- Time Zone Compatibility: If you collaborate with clients or teams, ensure the time difference is manageable.
8. Language and Communication
- Language Barriers: Ease of communication in English or another familiar language.
- Learning Resources: Availability of language classes or apps to help adapt.
9. Work-Life Balance
- Work-Friendly Spaces: An abundance of coworking spaces or private office setups.
- Recreation: Access to outdoor activities, nightlife, or wellness options to relax after work.
10. Sustainability
- Eco-Friendly Practices: Support for sustainable living and travel.
- Local Impact: Opportunities to contribute positively to the community or environment.
Choosing Digital Nomad Destinations as a Beginner
The planning stages of solo travel can be a hard decision for beginner solo travelers, especially when it comes to choosing the right destination.
Looking into the different aspects of a country using the categories above is a good way to get an idea of whether or not a destination would be something that fits what you’re looking for as a digital nomad traveling solo.
Although it’s important to note that doing too much research can leave some travelers even more conflicted, as it’s easy to lose yourself when researching certain information. Causing you to compare countries and become set on only choosing the perfect digital nomad destination.
If you find yourself in this situation, just remember that part of solo travel and travel in general is discovering something new and unexpected.
So if you feel a bit conflicted when thinking about solo travel, just know that you, or anyone else for that matter, won’t be able to know everything from just online research.
Knowing if solo travel and living as a digital nomad is the lifestyle meant for you is a combination of being prepared and being bold enough to take a chance on that unknown factor that comes from traveling to a new destination.
If you want to read more on solo travel and other advice for newcomers to the digital nomad lifestyle, head over to the main page at www.traksandpaks.com.
