Picking a Destination
Maybe you've already got a long list of locations in mind. If not, you're probably wondering how to pick just one spot to go to first on this planet.
If you're just getting started with working from other countries, you might want to consider some of the options on our list of most popular Nomad destinations. By choosing one of these as a first stop, you'll be able to meet other nomads right from the start. That will make it easy to exchange tips, make friends, and get into the swing of things more easily. These places also tend to have all the travel infrastructure you need to work and live comfortably.
Activities and Environment: Beyond some of the most obvious choices, you might start by thinking about how you want to spend your free time. Do you want to walk around and explore a city all day, or relax in a small beachside town? Are you envisioning gorging on street food or shopping at farmer's markets and cooking big meals at home with local ingredients? What about activities? Is nightlife important to you? Do you want to spend time in museums or out hiking in nature? No one place has everything, and you'll move around to another spot soon enough, so think about what appeals right now.
Cost of Living: On the practical side, one of the most important things you'll want to keep in mind when choosing a destination is the cost of living. While it sounds obvious, sometimes it's hard to imagine until you experience it quite how different basic expenses are from one place to the next. The cost of living in some parts of Western Europe or the US can be as much as 10x higher than some places in Southeast Asia! If you're on a budget, and most of us are, your money will stretch a lot farther if you spend most of your time in less expensive areas. You can use websites like Numbeo to compare living expenses to your hometown to get an idea which things might cost more or less than what you're used to.
Internet Access: Another important factor is access to internet for working. Of course, even within a given area, internet speeds can be highly variable. Depending on where you plan to do most of your work, this might be more or less of a factor.
Seasonality & Climate: You'll also want to consider the time of year, in terms of both weather and travel seasonality trends. Some nomads choose to move around in a way that allows spending all year in moderate climate. This can be convenient for reducing the amount of luggage, since it means you won't need jackets and winter boots. On the other hand, some nomads love to embrace winter and may even seek out skiing or other cold weather activities. For some destinations, the difference between high and low season can also be dramatic when it comes to crowds, traffic, and prices.
Local Insights
Before finalizing a place, consider:
Transportation: Is it well-connected? Would you need a car?
Cultural nuances
Local attitudes towards gender, LGBTQ, and ethnicities
Safety standards
Nearby excursion opportunities
Predominant language(s)
Lastly, if you're a member of NomadSphere, you can join some of the destination-specific channels in our Slack group. There, you can chat with others on the ground and ask any detailed questions.
Do you have other tips for how to find a next digital nomad destination? Send us your suggestions here.
