March's worst travellers | Hainan moves | Alicante | Issue #0031

The headline this week should be that the Brits won a food contest.

Yes, that’s right - The Full English won the poll for breakfast food last week! Ok, they were joint winners with Huevos Rancheros, but the Brits can dine out (sorry!!) on this until the next poll.

This week:

🛫 The worst travellers in the world
🇪🇸 A top value nomad summit debuts next week
🥺 Who doesn’t love a pet story…just not this one. You can help!
🎒 Insider packing tips
💰 Find deals at local businesses, wherever you are

Have you been forwarded The Digital Nomad by a friend? If so, don’t miss out on future issues by getting it every Tuesday.

Plenty of the usual resources, coffee break reads and links, as well as how to get your name or business up in lights. Happy reading.

NEWS
Slow news means good news, no?

It’s what’s known as a slow news day this week in the digital nomad world, so at the least let’s entertain you somewhat.

CNN Travel summed up some entertaining - and in some cases disturbing - behaviour from travellers this month, including:

• a man carrying a sea-faring animal through customs

• the now infamous wombat story

• what not to do in a Chinese restaurant - or any for that fact

• fights. There are always fights on planes, though not on any we’ve been on…

Check out their list of the Worst Travelers This Month here.

WHAT ELSE…

🇨🇳 New digital nomad communities popping up China are embracing digital nomadism, and creatives and entrepreneurs are embracing it.

🚕 Taxi! Dodge the traffic Next steps are being taken for the Back To The Future II taxis we’ve been waiting for, since before a lot of you were born.

📋 The new Nomadlist? Not a lot is getting updated on Nomadlist these days, so check out a new entrant in the nomad locations resource space.

🇮🇩 Cracking down The re-elected, Governor of Bali is talking tough on tourist behaviour. Bali high season is coming, so stay under the radar.

🐶 Do a good deed Talking of Bali, this lady needs your help if you are there.

GET CONNECTED

Find WhatsApp & FB groups in your current or next nomad destinations here:

If you are in a nomad hotspot then help another nomad out and share any communities you are in or know of with this quick form.

STAY PROTECTED

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*Checking out sponsors helps fund your weekly Digital Nomad fix. Want your business to appear from $50? Click here.

CONNECTING NOMADS
Do you have 100 nomad groups on your phone??

Maria and Jean-Baptiste are busy, very busy. Next week is the inaugural Alicante Nomad Summit which they founded and are organizing with three other passionate digital nomads. They are also running a growing nomad community platform, as well as doing what most of you do - working online.

Luckily we managed to steal thirty minutes with them as we love to see a new nomad event on the scene and wanted to hear about it!

You seem to be the perfect people to be running Alicante Nomad Summit…
We have been based here for 5 years, so we know the city really well. Originally I (Maria) was in Valencia - where there is a big nomad community, which I loved - but when we moved here it wasn’t so big. We missed the Valencia vibe, so decided to do something about it.

So, this is simply a story of filling a gap you found?
Yes, we started a few small events and things grew from there. At the same time we found it difficult to find the right groups when we were traveling. Every location had lots of WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook and Meetup groups - one woman we met had more than 100 groups on her phone! We thought there must be a better way.

Ah, so ANOTHER gap to fill. And so Nomadway was born. Who is it for?
It’s a great soft landing for places like Valencia and Alicante as there are several events a week there on the app. Its spreading, with events in 20 locations and 1500 nomads already active.

We are careful to assess everyone who joins. We were in a coworking WhatsApp group in one city, but as soon as our membership ended we were removed from the community and lost that connection. Since then we are very conscious to avoid any interference from businesses - it is strictly for digital nomads to connect with each other.

So, back to the summit. How did that come about?
We went to an event for remote working in Alicante last year. In fact, I (J-B) was invited as a speaker mainly because we have this digital nomad community. It was mostly locals attending and they had no idea there was a big nomad community in the city! That started the idea of a summit to bring more attention to the city and benefit the local community.

The tickets are exceptionally well priced for a full weekend of events…
We are operating as non-profit, and yes all keynote speakers and workshops covering a lot of areas important to nomads are included. Also, lunch on both days, a flamenco show and a closing party too. All weekend there will be chances to network with attendees and the speakers too. This is the first one, so we want the more than 100 nomads coming to get a lot from the summit, and enjoy Alicante!

Ok, so what are digital nomads missing out on by not visiting Alicante?
It sounds like a cliché, but the weather! The micro-climate here in the south means we get sun around the year. Also the city is right on the beach. Alicante is still affordable compared to the three main cities in Spain.

If you’re in or near Spain in the next couple of weeks, grab yourself one of the best value tickets in town here. If you’re not - but especially if you are - then download the Nomadway app and find nomads and events near you.

In fact, if you run or want to run a meetup - or there just aren’t many where you are - you can add it onto Nomadway for free.

We love to feature nomads and what you do that can help the rest of us. Fill out this form to show us your thing!

TRAVEL HACKS
You won’t know them all, we promise

Most of you probably have your packing routine down already, and maybe it works (though we know plenty who still just stuff everything into bags a couple of hours before leaving for the airport!).

Jack’s Flight Club are a staple for a lot of travellers for cheap flights, but they also know a thing or two about efficient packing. Their team of travellers brain-dumped their experience into this article, but here are 5 that really stood out to us:

• Don’t be precious about outfits. Go big with gym/active wear that drys fast!

• Stuff the neck pillow (though who uses them any more!) with clothing.

• Collapsible water bottle and tupperware - avoid buying this stuff wherever you land, or carrying bulky versions.

• Get a Turkish Towel.

• Functional, not pretty, when it comes to carry-on bags.

If you’ve any really “out there” things you do to pack efficiently drop them here for a future community feature on travel tips.

POLL

BRAIN FOOD

Writing - Struggling with the dreaded writers block? Read this.

App - Split the bill easily with other nomads at your next dinner meetup.

Listen - Simon Sinek’s TedTalk on why got 60 million views. Here’s an up-to-date conversation with him and a practical way to find yours.

Read - How to meet locals at your next destination.

If you have any recommendations we can share here, let us know.

MAKE DIGITAL NOMAD LIFE EASIER
Resources that are actually helpful

Check out our new resources page for the longer list and a range of discounts across useful digital nomad products, services and events. Here are a few notable deals for retreats or getaways coming up:

• Turkiye Nomad Fest 2025 kicks off on 28 April, the first time it’s appeared on the nomad calendar.

• Bansko NomadFest is in June and tickets are now available. €25 off with code TDNBANSKO.

• Kaya Connections’ April retreat in Siargao - for entrepreneurs and business owners - that we featured recently is filling up fast. Mention The Digital Nomad for $50 off!

Other popular products or services right now:

• Global Nomad Pass - get deals around the world and support local businesses while you’re at it.

• Press Pulse are the modern HARO for content writers or journos needing content.

• SafetyWing are now their own provider of digital nomad insurance, streamlining their claim processes.

Check out new resources page, which includes resources for finding cafes to work from, VPN deals, Nomad insurance and tools and services for your business.

THE LIST
Are you picky over who you fly the world with?

While what your experience with an airline will likely stick with you if it’s one extreme or the other, there is a ranking for airlines. In fact there are several, and often reliant on average reviews, but if you’ve ever read reviews most are from aspiring writers or people who are having a bad day.

Airline Ratings have put together what feels like the most well-constructed one.

Here are the top ten:

See the whole list here - including a “hybrid” list and the top-rated budget airlines.

SPONSOR THE DIGITAL NOMAD

We would love to hear from you if you have a products or service that would benefit digital nomads around the world. Get more eyes on your thing for as little as $50!

Fill in this form if you want to show support for the nomad movement, and be front and centre in The Digital Nomad.

TRIVIA
Spot the slang

Which country are each of these slang words associated with?

1. Who says “it’s grand” if something is fine or ok?

2. If you hear someone say “just now” when they plan to meet you in a few hours…maybe.

3. You’re their friend if you’re called “cara” here.

4. It’s time to leave if someone from here says “let’s dip”.

5. You’re off to a discount store if these guys say let’s go to the “loonie bin”.

6. To emphasise emotion, if you’re here people will add “lah” at the end of a sentence.

Answers below.

COFFEE BREAK

🍕 History - This week it’s the story of the iconic Doc Martens.

🎮 Game - LinkedIn have a new game that takes about 30 seconds to play.

📺 Watch - Is this going to be a hole-in-one, after nearly 30 years of waiting?

WHAT DID YOU MISS?

If you are new to The Digital Nomad - or just want to go back and read a previous issue - then you can find them all here.

ANSWERS

1. Ireland. 2. South Africa. 3. Brazil. 4. US. 5. Canada. 6. Singapore