Digital nomads are no strangers to the neverending search for a perfect temporary home. For the mid-tempo nomads, we pack ourselves up every month or three, change location, and search for a new accommodation we can call home begins. But finding a suitable space for you can be a daunting task as it’s time-consuming, stressful, and could have a huge impact on the quality of your stay. It becomes more challenging when looking for a place for two people, each with its own list of conditions and different priorities.
Using all of our experience (and mistakes) traveling around the globe, we created a guide to finding the right home for you and your partner. We hope that this guide makes your next transition as easy and as smooth as possible. So let’s get started!
Research before arriving (you will learn a lot from it)
Whenever you’re thinking of moving to a new destination, doing the research before your arrival can go a long way. First, by making sure that the destination works for you, and secondly, by helping you find your new accommodation quickly.
For example, my partner and I are thinking of spending the summer in Europe and debating where our base should be. We made a list of cities we would like to visit and then researched them answering questions like:
How expensive is a month of living over there?
How fast is the wi-fi?
What is the weather during summer, and do they have options for vegans?
This research helped us narrow our list from 10 optional destinations to 3. You can also check this article for more things to consider when choosing a destination.
But the insider information we find comes from locals, expats, and other digital nomads that live in that destination. We asked via social media what areas are the best to stay in, how we can find a good apartment, and what we should know before getting a place. Using expats and digital nomad groups on Facebook, we found out that in Sarande, you find good apartments by using an agent. In Thailand, you need to look for places with a bike, and in Sri Lanka, you must make sure the place has a fiber connection and a backup generator.
You can also find other options for accommodation on social media that might be cheaper than third-party websites. We found a few apartments using Facebook groups. Other traveling couples use Reddit and Instagram as well. Take advantage of the social media you already use to find the information you need.
Create a base to continue researching your home
You researched and found a few options for places you think can be your new temporary home. Should you book one of them for your stay? Well, yes and no.
Even if you found a place you love online, the things you see on the internet might not be the same in reality. Things like water pressure or the comfort of the bed cannot be assured with just online research. So if you’re planning on staying in a place for more than two weeks, you should see the place you’re considering with your own eyes before committing.
We usually like to book a place as a base to go apartment hunting for four to seven days. This gives us enough time to check all the options for a new temporary home while also not worrying about where we will stay the next day. It also helped us avoid a house with a major leaking problem, an apartment too small, and rent a space off-platform for a much lower price.
Know what you need and understand each other’s priorities
The most effective way to make your search for an apartment effective is to know what you need from your accommodation.
When we started looking for houses in Thailand, we weren’t sure if we would even need a kitchen because food is so cheap. But I learned from living in a space with no kitchen for a week that I lose a big part of my autonomy by not being able to do things at my own pace in the morning. We also found out that we need a place that feels like a home with a living area separated from the bed and comfortable working areas for the both of us.
If you are a new nomad couple and struggle with finding accommodations quickly and aren’t sure what you are looking for, make a list! This is something that helped us when we just started. We created a list of the things that are a “must-have” for you, a “makes me feel good” list and a “would be nice” list. Share what you wrote with each other to understand what you’re looking for as a couple.
The must-have items from both lists will be your priority while searching for a place. For example, the first question we ask an optional accommodation is if they have rooms with a kitchen. If they don’t, we don’t even look at the rooms, even if the place is beautiful and within our price range.
Now the “makes you feel happy” list and “would be nice” list are the ones that help you decide on a place between a few good options. For instance, Orr, my partner, loves to live in a space with a beautiful view. It is not a “must-have” for him, but it does make him feel really good when it happens. In Thailand, we were looking for places near the ocean, but those apartments tended to be more expensive. We started looking in different areas, but not having a view bumped Orr. So even though it wasn’t a “must-have” item, we put more effort into finding other options that met all of our requirements next to the ocean because it made Orr happy.
Of course, the items you have can move from one list to another, new items could be added or could be subtracted entirely. The important thing is for you to communicate with your partner when changes like this happen so the hunt for your next home will be as productive as possible.
Tips and tricks for digital nomad couples
Every digital nomad have a way they like to do things. This is our shorthand on how to find a midterm accommodation for a couple:
Research before arriving at the location you would like to stay at to ensure it fits your needs.
Figure out from locals, expats, and other digital nomads on social media how to find a good place and where it should be.
Book a place for 4-7 days to be used as a base to see apartments with your own eyes.
Like a couple, know what you are looking for: make a list of the must-have things to quickly know if an apartment fits your needs. Use the things that make you feel good and are nice to have as a way to decide between good options.
Also good to know:
You can book a place you are interested in from a website for a few days and then negotiate a price for a month directly with the owner and usually get a better deal.
Checking a space’s utilities before commenting can save you a lot of trouble: What is the wi-fi speed? Is the bed comfy? What is the water pressure? Is there an a.c/heating? Is there a washing machine\lunderry service? Is the apartment well equipped (bed sheets, towels, kitchen equipment, cleaning tools…), etc.
It is always an option to extend a stay at your temporary base to find a space you love. Staying at a place you don’t like for a month only because you felt pressured for time just sucks.
Do you have tips and tricks of your own to find a temporary home? Any best practices that we missed? Let us hear about it in the comments!
15: The Life of a Remote Social Media Manager with Tiff
We interviewed digital nomad and remote social media manager Tiff. Her mission is to empower people to tell their stories in meaningful ways. Tiff fulfills her mission with her agency, The Social Story, and works with purpose-driven brands to share their impact. Her digital nomad journey started four years ago in Bali. She noticed people working remotely while on holiday and figured she could do the same. In this episode, Tiff shares her digital nomad journey and how she remotely builds her social media agency. Tune in if you want to learn tips about working remotely and building a successful online business.
“One of the biggest challenges is burnout. It’s really hard to turn off social media entirely and stop being a business owner.”
Tiff has been nomadding for over four years and started her journey in the largest digital nomad hub, Bali. She learned about this lifestyle during her holiday on the island and decided to pursue this lifestyle after meeting other digital nomads. In the beginning, she mostly searched for jobs and projects that would match her skill set and was working on various projects.
During this time, Tiff also worked towards building her social media agency, which aligned with her personal values. It’s called The Social Story and in this article, we share Tiff’s story about how she built her business. We also cover the skillset she believes is essential for remote social media managers and her day-to-day life. .
What Tiff loves about being a social media manager
There are many things to like about managing brands’ social media channels. Tiff explains that for her, it’s not just advertising but more about creating conversations with the brand’s audience. By having conversations online, you engage and receive feedback. So the social media profiles are not about just selling products but storytelling and a positive appearance online.
Tiff also talks about the constant challenges she faces as a social media manager. Since the platforms are changing algorithms, it forces her to be adaptable and critical about her work and how to keep improving it.
The skills of remote social media managers
We asked Tiff the top skills remote social media managers need to be successful. She shares that “Critical thinking” is one of the most critical skills. Adapting to the current landscape and its changes is crucial. Tiff must keep a close eye on the ongoing opportunities and be aware of what content to put into the world. Especially when situations are becoming more delicate, this skill set is necessary.
Aside from this, Tiff shares that, especially when it comes to soft skills, nowadays, you can learn everything online. This means that also you can become a social media manager. Having a passion for social media and keeping up to date on the latest trends is crucial. It’s also essential to understand how you are telling the story of your clients and be constantly improving. Lastly, Tiff finds it important to be motivated by purpose and this is what she will be looking for when she is looking for new hires.
Commonly used tools for digital nomad social media managers
Tiff’s team is 100% remote, which means that all communications happen online. Some of the most needed tools in her business are:
Slack and Zoom for communication.
Trello to manage project management as it’s very collaborative and visual.
Canva is used the most as other tools around content creation.
Scheduling tools: this depends on which tools her clients are using as the tool needs to answer the clients’ needs.
Tips for finding more clients
Finding clients has become easier, but this wasn’t the case at the beginning of her journey. At first, she found projects in different places like Facebook Groups and remote job platforms. What really helped her find more clients was having a crystal clear idea of the type of clients or companies she wanted to work with. Differentiating herself from the rest was key because the field of remote social media managers is pretty competitive. So she started building a portfolio, activity networking in co-working spaces, and LinkedIn and focused on attracting dream clients. Because of her hard work, she created a name for herself, and today many clients come through referrals.
Challenge of remote social media managers
Tiff talks about two significant challenges she encounters as a remote social media manager. The first challenge is burnout, as she finds it difficult to let go of her work completely. Many small business owners face this, and since social media is part of our daily lives, it’s extra hard for Tiff. She explains on the podcast that she finds herself constantly thinking about social even in her free time. Such as new ways to create content differently, which trends to follow, and how to connect better with the audiences.
The second challenge is that often people don’t know how to use social media. When communicating with brands, especially when customers are unhappy, people often don’t realize that they are still talking to a human even though they are on a screen. Because social media managers represent a brand, you have to distance yourself from nasty comments and toxic follower interactions.
How much money do social media managers make?
The money question is what everyone always wants to know. Tiff shares that as a freelancer, a low month would be around USD 750 and a good month around USD 3550 (explained in AUD on the podcast and converted to US dollars). Tiff recommends that you lock at least 3-6 month contracts when you are freelancing so you have more predictable work and better forecast your income streams.
Know your “Why”
She gives one piece of advice to know your why and understand what motivates you. The work of a remote social media manager isn’t always easy. So understanding your purpose is what’s filling your happiness cup.
Helping purpose-driven brands to use their social media for good is Tiffs why. Her personal values connect with her clients and even though the work can be challenging, she sees the bigger picture. A big thank you to Tiff for sharing her story and you can follow her journey on Instagram @thesocialstoryco for more information about her company, go to www.thesocial story.co
14: Building A One Stop Shop Of World-Class Online Mentors with Kenny
Digital nomad and entrepreneur Kenny Hanson shares his story on the Digital Nomads Daily Podcast this week. During his teenage years, Kenny wasn’t performing well. However, through years of mentorship from various online mentors, he was able to get his life back on track. He landed a job at Accenture and today, Kenny is the founder and CEO of Mentorpass. A thriving business he founded when nomadding in Bali. Tune in for the full story!
“Mentorship is such a broad term in my mind. I tend to think that almost every educational experience is some form of mentorship”
Meet Kenny and his entrepreneurship story
The digital nomad journey of Kenny started in Bali, Canggu, also known as the nomad capital. Before he stepped into the entrepreneurial space, he had built his career in consulting. Throughout his early twenties, mentorship played a huge role in his life and he was able to land a job at Accenture. To him, it was not one mentor, though but various people who’ve guided him.
Introducing MentorPass
Even though Kenny’s career was promising, he wasn’t getting true fulfillment out of his corporate career. A trip to Bali changed the course of his life. Today Kenny is the co-founder and CEO of MentorPass, the one-stop-shop to work with the best mentors in the world. On the podcast, he shares how he built his company from idea to product to a successful business. Mentorpass helps entrepreneurs to get smart on anything. With only one subscription, you get access to virtual sessions with an unlimited number of online mentors.
This episode is helpful for anyone who is building a business and either could use some inspiration or needs mentorship. Kenny shares the definition of a mentor versus getting a coach on the Digital Nomads Daily Podcast. To him, mentorship is an experience by a trusted advisor and that mentorship itself can be found anywhere. The common misconception around online mentorship is that people think a mentor is someone that helps solve all your problems in your life. In reality, that is rarely the case and you still need to do the work. Helping others by providing online mentorship that they need to thrive in both personal and professional paths is what Kenny’s startup is all about.
MentorPass Giveaway!
We hope you enjoyed this episode! And we have a little giveaway as well. MentorPass gives all our listeners $100 in credits when you sign up. See the links below.
13: How To Pivot Your Passion Into An Online Business With Andrae
This week, solopreneur and digital nomad Andrae is joining us on the podcast. She started her entrepreneur journey with her travel company Work Wanderers. Due to the pandemic, travel and in-person events weren’t allowed. This forced a pause in her business for 2 years. In this episode, she shares her story and how to pivot into an online business. Today she is helping others to build an online business with purpose and passion and combine this with a travel lifestyle. If you are stuck in your career or ready to embark on a new journey, tune in because this is your episode!
“I have fallen in love with the digital nomad lifestyle after working remotely for 3 months from overseas. That’s when I got the idea of building a business centered around this lifestyle and living it myself.”
How Andrae began her journey as an entrepreneur digital nomad
Andrae was working in marketing at a startup and became a digital nomad four years ago after quitting her 9 to 5 job. She launched a travel company, ‘ Work Wanderers’ and organized 1-month retreats in various locations. Her business is centered around the digital nomad lifestyle and travel. When the pandemic became an unexpected reality, everyone who was on one of her trips decided to go back home within a day. Before she knew it, Andrae had to cancel everything.
These times were not only horrible but very overwhelming. At this time, no one knew how long this would last, and she was left entirely in the dark, like many other entrepreneurs. For about three months, she felt completely stuck. Working with a business coach helped her see the light at the end of the tunnel and this is where she turned her business into an online business.
Travel the world with Work Wanderers
Work Wanderers is her first business and she gathers digital nomads to travel in a group while working online. Travel groups are a great way to dip your toes into the digital nomad lifestyle. It offers a safety net for newbie digital nomads. At the same time, it’s excellent for nomads who are already on the road.
At Work Wanderers, you’ll find a balance between travel, working online in a comfortable place, community and learning. A trip is usually 3-4 weeks, and you are guaranteed to be surrounded by fellow digital nomads. Now that travel is opening up again, Andrae is busy organizing new trips and we are pumped for her!
Become a Digital Nomad during the VIP weekend
What we love about this episode is the honesty and willpower Andrae shows. As Work Wanderers started as a “physical” business, she is now running an online business as well.
Finding her purpose again and turning it into a profitable business was challenging, she explains on the podcast. Some of her followers asked her about becoming a digital nomad during her break. Others asked how to build an online business or make money online. She started helping people and created a coaching program. Her focus is not on taking the leap and start traveling the world. Andrae is passionate about travel but about business strategy and turning your passion/skills/purpose into a profitable business.
At the end of this month, on May 28th and 29th, Andrae is launching a Successful Digital Nomad VIP Masterclass Weekend. This is a virtual event where Andrae will help you step-by-step to build a freelance business while traveling the world. Through these sessions, you will learn how to build a business online and create a travel plan. Andrae divides this into 3 steps:
Step 1: Align – gain clarity and find your purpose.
Step 2: Design – creating an online business and a financial plan
Step 3: Sustain – how to sustain your travel life and plan your next steps
At Digital Nomads Daily, we love to support fellow nomads and entrepreneurs like Andrae. We love to see entrepreneurs thrive and inspire people to pursue this lifestyle. We teamed up with Andrea and she offered a special discount for our listeners. You now get $100 off on her VIP Weekend!
Click THIS LINK and use the discount code DNDAILY to claim your spot with $100 off!
Align, Design, and Sustain with digital nomad coach Andrae
Meet digital nomad and solopreneur Andrae. She quit her job to embark on a new journey and started her travel company Work Wanderers in 2018. It’s a growing travel community for digital nomads founded in Cape Town. Due to the pandemic she had to pause her travel company. Still, she pivoted into a new online venture, a digital nomad coach to help her community plan their digital nomad lifestyle.
From a travel company to a digital nomad coach
With retreats to Bali and Europe, Andrae was living her dream life. Unfortunately, travel and any in-person community events were paused for almost two years during the pandemic, which also meant that Work Wanderers was put on hold. Even though she couldn’t continue running her business, her entrepreneurial soul found a new way to sustain herself while helping others and pursuing her dreams.
On the Digital Nomads Daily Podcast, she shares her story and what she is working on these days. She refers to the first months of the pandemic as a dark moment as she felt completely stuck and wasn’t sure about her next steps.
Andrae shares how she felt lacking clarity and had to develop a new idea to make money. Working closely with a business coach helped her pivot into her new business. Today she is helping others gain clarity and build on online business while traveling the world. As a digital nomad coach she offers online training and a special weekend program. This month, she is organizing a special Successful Digital Nomad VIP Masterclass Weekend from May 28-29.
Before launching her program, Andrae started working with people who reached out to her personally via DM. She shared her story through Facebook Live Events. She touched on the business and strategic decisions she had to make throughout her career. This information was helpful for her community, and slowly, her online program became a reality.
Plan your solopreneur journey with digital nomad coach Andrae
This month she is introducing a special come a Successful Digital Nomad VIP Masterclass Weekend from May 28-29. It’s virtual events where she helps you set up a successful freelance business and how you can travel the world. Through interactive sessions, you’ll learn how to reach your digital nomad goals.
Align your motivation with your career
The first step in her digital nomad coaching program is about gaining clarity and finding purpose. Without this, it’s hard to understand what career path is the best fit. The exercises in the workbook that come with the program help participants understand what motivates someone and makes them get up on a Monday.
A career is a long-term path and Andrea connects this to your personal intentions. She also looks at the current skill set, previous experience and what participants could do to improve this.
Designing an online business for digital nomads
Next, participants will map out how they will make money and design their online business. Andrae walks them through different stages like creating an irresistible offer, how to attract clients and developing your one-line sales pitch. She also shares how to create a monthly 10k income planning and build passive income streams.
Sustain your travel life
Her experience as a digital nomad and entrepreneur while running a travel business has taught her a lot about travel planning. With a new online business in the pocket, participants are almost ready to start their digital nomad journey. Andrae shows her tricks on how to create a realistic travel budget. And she will give travel hacks, especially handy for newbie nomads.
Join Andrae’s program and get $100 off!
We love Andrae’s program because it shows you how to sustain yourself. The digital nomad lifestyle is so much more than just traveling around and living out of savings. Often it’s hard work and a balance between hustling hard and enjoying your temporary home. As a digital nomad coach she helps you build a sustainable lifestyle. Andrae experienced beautiful moments but also went through a hard time when she had to stop her business. With the right mindset and through coaching, she was able to get back on track.
The nomad community is thriving. At Digital Nomads Daily, we love to support fellow nomads and entrepreneurs like Andrae. If you are looking for an interested in joining her program you can sign up here and use the code DNDAILY
And, we have a special promo and you now get $100 off! Get ready for a weekend of nomad wisdom and join the global community.
