I've been nomading properly for about 5 years and then slow-mading (the only way to do it long term really) for another 10! I’ve done the co-living circuits in the Americas and Europe as a guest and a host, did the big-city hustle in Asia, and I'm writing this from Madeira, nursing a post-hike beer before I head back to Thailand next month.

I love this life, but lately, I’ve been feeling a bit disconnected from it. I used to think it was just me getting older while the scene was getting younger. But here in Madeira, something clicked. I met a crew of people aged 20 to 60, all drawn here by hikes, nature, surf and rumours of a solid community. And the rumours were true, thanks to Madeira Friends! I didn’t have to wade through the repetitive nomad where you from, how long you here chat - we somehow cut straight to projects, ambitions, and favourite hikes/sci-fi. I love it here, but after 4 months I’m ready to bounce. 

Two things dawned on me, nomadism went mainstream and with such a variety of options it’s easy to plug into a shoe that doesn’t quite fit anymore. I’ve visited places I loved a decade ago, to find them wildly saturated - probably still cool if it’s your first rodeo, but I’m a little past that. 

Second, and this came up in almost every conversation, this lifestyle isn't built for lasting bonds because … nomads, right! We leave by design. I don’t think it’s necessarily true because you do bond with people if you’re fairly sociable and I do tend to bump into folks in other parts of the world but in general people do drop off the circuit to settle down and so loneliness is a thing. I did notice however, that people who did things like Remote Year stuff or longer stints in ‘specialist co-living’ often travelled as a pack way beyond their trip and seemed to have built stronger bonds in general. Chatting with people here and in other groups confirmed it further. The price tag might be wild for someone on an EU salary (or a bootstrapped founder like me), but the curation model works! 

I’m tired of sifting through meetups to find my people. I want to travel, but I also want to build enduring friendships. I want to be around grown-ups who are actively building things - an app, a film, a freelance career, their knowledge, something! I want a crew to hike or surf with in the morning, bounce ideas off of during the day and share a family-style dinner together at night… a travelling community curated by shared values, not by a hefty price tag!

So, I'm trying an experiment.

I’ve found a perfect, relatively undiscovered spot on the Andaman Coast of Thailand. It feels like Chiang Mai did 15 years ago, but it’s on the beach, with zero crowds or pollution. This October, I'm bringing a small group of friends and friends-of-friends together, and I want to open it to the wider community here.

Think of this as a longer term meetup for independent people who want to land in a new place with a solid crew from day one without paying through the nose for the privilege.

• What: A low-cost, no-fluff community for independent people who want to get some shit done and have a great time doing it.
• Where: A beginner-friendly longboard spot on the Andaman coast (Phang Nga, Thailand). 1.5h from Phuket airport. Think pristine national parks, zero crowds, and world-class food.
• When: October & November 2025. We’re calling it the "secret season"—the best surf, lush green landscapes, and no tourists.
• Vibe: Productive, social, and independent. Think collaborative work sessions, spontaneous surf trips, communal meal times and opt-in organised fun.
• Cost: Two options.
  • $250 / month (Community Only): Sort your own housing. You get access to the group, curated events, group dinners, local support, and group discounts.
  • $650-$850 / month (All-In): Includes the community fee plus your own private work-ready, air-conditioned jungle bungalow a 5-minute scooter ride from the beach. 

The crew so far includes a YC alum, a filmmaker, an art director, developers, designers, a tattoo artist, a game designer, a marketer and a student.

If this rings some bells (or alarms), I'd love to hear your thoughts. Drop a comment or shoot me a DM. 

Hey folks! I'm in the planning stages of becoming a full time digital nomad and trying to figure out what remote income options are actually sustainable while traveling

There are so many YouTube videos and blog posts about making money online but it’s hard to know what really works in practice. I'm not expecting instant success but I’d love to hear from people who’ve been doing this for a while

What type of work do you do on the road? Freelancing, remote jobs, eCommerce, blogging? Any lessons learned or things you wish you knew earlier? Appreciate any advice or honest stories!

I run a small content agency based in Eastern Europe. Most of my clients are in the US agencies, SaaS companies, coaches, that kind of thing. The work is steady, the demand is strong, and the time zone difference actually helps, but getting paid is a mess, always.
Stripe wanted a US account. PayPal held my funds with no real explanation. Wise worked for a while, until it didn’t. One day I logged in and my payout was delayed because they needed “more information.” No warning, no timeline. Just stuck.

Looking into US business accounts felt like a maze. Every option wanted a US address, a phone number, or a Social Security Number. I’d get halfway through the process, hit a wall, and start over with another provider. It was exhausting. All while clients were ready to pay. I was wasting time managing payouts, hopping between platforms, and stressing about getting locked out of my money. Not to mention all the fees just to move USD around.I just want to run a legit business from where I live. Finally went with Adro banking and haven't had any problem but man it is a time consuming endevour just to try and find something that works when there's thousands and thousands of options out there.

You’d think that would be easier in 2025.Anyone else run into this? What worked for you?

Hey everyone

I know that for many of you I might sound enviable, since I’m incredibly lucky to have been traveling with my partner for almost a year now. Of course, I do think it’s a much easier way of being a digital nomad. However, lately both of us have been experiencing a lot of loneliness when it comes to making friends.

We’re currently in Brazil, and we both have lives outside of the relationship: I play beach tennis and my partner surfs and goes to the gym, so we do have opportunities to meet people. Still, we don’t really manage to connect with anyone. We feel that maybe it has to do with the fact that, being a couple, people don’t really feel like spending time with us.

For those of you who are traveling as a couple, have you had similar experiences? And if you’re single, do you feel reluctant to hang out with couples?

I’ve been bouncing around a lot, and it got me thinking about how some of the best work setups aren’t the ones you plan. Sometimes it’s not the fancy coworking space, but that random café or a hidden park bench with a view.

For me, it was the stunning rooftop terrace of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) in New York City. Great vibes, amazing views of Midtown, and somehow still a solid place to focus. And free to enter!

Hello! I am planning to visit Sri Lanka and Laos. Can anyone recommend cities to visit? Also, any issues with internet while working online?

Anyone DM in Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania?

Visited these nations many times but never lived as a DN. Anyone done it and what are your thoughts for doing it in any of them for a few months at a time? Any issues?

For me I would like to focus on work 65 hours a week then enjoy a nice life meeting people and creating a group of friends if possible and being able to fly out to other countries for a few days then back to an office or co-working situation.

Heya!

I'm looking at Zanzibar as a potential place to stay for a month or two, but one of the fears is the Wifi. I only do a few calls a week but I need to have solid connections then. Otherwise my work just requires googling.

Has anyone been there recently, and if so how did it go?

Being from the US, I have successfully used Schwab Checking and Capital One when I travel abroad. However, I am curious to hear what other people have been using that are friendly to their Nomadic lifestyles.

Dm if so!

I’ll be doing season in South America and Europe, and there is a nice coworker in verbier

Looking forward to meet people in the same vibe!

Hello, Nomads, rentiers, international entrepreneurs, we are all in the same boat.

Which professional account do you use for your international business?

The posts of freezes in all directions are a bit scary (even if I think that there are a lot of "entrepreneurs" who do not use pro accounts correctly which can explain the possible freezes..)

So, wise pro, revolut, mercury, other? I am thinking of going to wise pro to draw up a diagram: wise pro for capital contribution to my llc and invoicing of my clients outside us --> ibkr (investment on us markets)

Share your experiences (good or bad)

So I’ve been doing the standard SEA thing for a while which has been easy .. show up get a stamp, use onward ticket often times they never even asked go in and either get a visa or just leave on exit day.

My recent exit to go elsewhere was my first time the new digital application thing has been implemented seems to be everywhere .. so I felt uncomfortable using onward ticket and I had bought a ticket I planned to use but the date didn’t align with the exit date I ended up with after I submitted the application. So I’m losing that flight.

Questions are .. am I over thinking this being the “easy” SEA traveling show is over type of situation and I’m going to have to plan everything way in advance buy multiple plane tickets I potentially won’t use? Which isn’t ideal and tack on the potential situation which I haven’t dealt personally but people being denied entry.

I know AA has cancellation and change policy’s but that’s for a flight back the US which is where I’m headed soon but I’m not seeing that option on the Asian airlines so where do you guys actually get tickets you can cancel or change? If there is any.

Appreciate any personal experiences as of late also and what you’re doing if anything has changed for you.

Hate to add to the “how do I become a DN” question pile. Trying to adjust to changing life circumstances. Even a suggested Google search or two would be helpful, not sure where to begin. Thanks for the help.

Hi everyone,

I’ll be in Lisbon from August 28 to September 15. I’m a digital nomad (currently living in Munich, originally from Turkey) and my goal is both to see the city in a touristic way and also to get a feel for what daily life would be like if I stayed longer.

I’ll be staying near Bairro Alto. I have a mid-range budget, don’t drink or eat pork (but no problem attending social events with those), and I have a WeWork membership but also enjoy working in cafés as long as the infrastructure is good.

What I’d love advice on:

• Meeting people: Where do digital nomads, grad students, or locals usually hang out? Are there events, meetups, or casual ways to connect with people?
• Food: Best local/traditional spots (non-touristy if possible). I’d love to dive into Portuguese cuisine beyond the basics.
• Music & nightlife: I like techno but am open to other scenes/events.
• Lifestyle checks: What do you think about Lisbon for living as a digital nomad? Any pros/cons I should be aware of (cost of living, weather, pace of life, bureaucracy, etc.)?

I want to get as much of a feel as possible for both Lisbon as a city to explore and Lisbon as a place to live. Any tips or personal experiences would be super appreciated!

I am working online from Christmas through the end of March next year. Obviously I need to make the most of this! My wife and I love Europe, I am very willing to try other locations. She does not want to rough it but is otherwise open. We love history and culture, food, and the outdoors--the usual stuff. We probably do not want to be abroad the whole 3 months. We are located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Suggestions? Thanks.

Hey everyone,

I’m a German citizen working for a company that allows me to work remotely from almost anywhere in the world. Right now, I’m based in Germany, but I want to move to the UAE soon.

Here’s my situation:

• My gross salary is above $3,500/month.
• But after German income tax, health insurance, and social security contributions, my net salary drops below $3,500/month.

I’ve been looking into the UAE virtual work visa, but I’m unsure whether the authorities check the gross or net income threshold for eligibility. As they ask for bank statements of the last 6 months, is it okay to send them the salary slips that shows gross monthly income more than $3500?

Has anyone here applied or gone through this process with a similar situation? Would love to hear your experiences or advice 🙏

I am working on getting my therapist license, but it will take another year and a half to complete the coursework. What are some online jobs available to pre-licensed therapists?

Hola todos!

I’m looking for recommendations for a good/ somewhat affordable Spanish immigration attorney as I am looking to begin applying for the digital nomad visa. Thank you in advance! ♥️

Based in the UK and work 3 week on/ off meaning I have 3 week periods to go full time on something but could only give an hour a day for the other 3 weeks. Looking at something long term with little start up costs. Hit me up with ideas.

Hi peoples, i'm looking at Airbnbs for Tulum in November and seen a few for around £500-£800 for a months stay that look really nice. This feels a lot cheaper than i'm used to and I expected Tulum to be expensive... Is there a catch here? Does anyone have any experience here?

hey, digital nomads!
most remote job boards i find seem either us-only or want a degree i don't have.

i'm from europe and i'd love to hear from people here who actually managed to get hired for remote roles without higher education. things like:

• customer support / reservations,
• virtual assistant / office assistant,
• any other “entry-level” type roles that are truly remote-friendly.

👉🏽 where did you apply? which site/company worked? did they hire you from europe?
i'm not after get-rich-quick schemes, just real legit opportunities and platforms.

would love to hear your stories. thanks!

Hi everyone, this year, I finally got a stable remote income- but honestly, it hasn’t been easy. Working alone was tough. Staying motivated, figuring everything out, juggling tasks… sometimes it felt like I was trying to herd cats… by myself. Some days I just wanted to throw my laptop out the window. Then I found a team. A real, supportive team. And wow, everything changed. Suddenly, I had guidance, people to ask questions, and shared experience. Work became easier, and honestly, a lot more fun. I could finally focus on learning and improving, instead of stressing over every tiny thing. If you’ve been struggling solo, finding the right people can make a huge difference. It did for me. For those who started solo, what helped you finally find a team or community that actually made a difference? And hey, if you’re still in that “figuring things out” stage and feel stuck or unsure, feel free to reach out. I remember how scary that first step felt, and a little advice or someone sharing their story can really help

Hi everybody! I'm heading to Sri Lanka for almost 3 months and I am wondering which bag you'd recommend I take with me (checked-in).

I usually travel my trusty old Samsonite (102L), but i'll be moving around Sri Lanka (Colombo-Dickwella-Ahangama-Welligama-Colombo), and so I think a duffle bag might be more practical on scooters/tuktuk.

I've been eyeing the North Face Duffel Base Camp in Large (95L) as a replacement and would love your opinions:

- Suitcase vs Duffel

- What you think of the NF Duffel

I'm not the lightest packer, so I want to keep some space to be able to have my things with me.
Thanks a lot!

EDIT: This would be the replacement for my suitcase, I want to bring clothes/wetsuit/shoes etc (not a light packer by any means), i wouldn’t use it everyday, hust to go from airport to the house, and move in between houses but never as a day bag, i have a backpack for that, which i will use as a carry-on for all my electronics)

Hey, I was wondering if there is an app that helps with digital nomad life in general? With stuff like: - Cafe spots with good WiFi - Good cities - Community - Map with laundromats

I know that there are different sites for all that stuff, but is there an app that hast all that integrated? Haven’t found one yet :/

HI All,

Do most of you have a gig setup prior to arriving at your destination country or is it secured upon arrival? Thanks