Socialtel rebrand | Rio | Global Nomad Pass | Issue #0033

Only a handful of you fell for the April Fools visa launch last week, or at least felt compelled to tell us so!

Back to more serious - and fun - stuff this week though (including a way to save money on the road)…

🏨 Will this rebrand be a revitalising moment?
🇹🇭 Don’t forget this new regulation for entering the elephant kingdom
🏖️ It’s not all about carnival in Rio
🛍️ Shop local AND get rewarded for it
💰 Save on a range of nomad-useful stuff in our resources section and page

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

In fact, if you have friends who are digital nomads, please help this little independent publication reach a few more and forward this to them in case it might help them out too. Thanks!

NEWS
A rebrand & investment into Coliving/working

A lot of you will be familiar with Selina, the popular chain of accommodation and coworking places. Plenty of you will have stayed at one of their properties. After their acquisition by Collective Hospitality they’ve been rebranded though, and are now known as Socialtel.

Selina had properties in 20 countries, though Socialtel only list 11 at the moment as 60 properties are closing. There is, though, a promised $50 million investment into the remaining 40.

This could be a compelling reason to seek them out in future after many nomads felt Selina lost their community focus and they’d faced financial problems, perhaps as a result of the former. Will they reestablish themselves?

WHAT ELSE…

🇸🇻 Smaller countries are jumping in El Salvador is the latest lesser-visited nation to bring in a digital nomad visa, as announced last week.

🇹🇭 A big change to entering Thailand next month As reported, the new digital arrival card (dtac) will come into force from 1st May. Don’t forget!

🛥️ A life at sea Could you do this? You’d avoid the laborious AirBnB search if you have the budget.

📑 Another faddy work defined If you’re looking for a new role, or pitching to potential clients, this could be useful.

🛳️ Nomad Cruise need YOU 🫵 They’re recruiting for someone remote to manage their affiliate and referall program.

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.

SPONSOR THE DIGITAL NOMAD

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Fill in this form if you want to be seen by an engaged base of subscribers to the The Digital Nomad.

REWARDS
Are you supporting local when you travel?

One of the pleasures of being a digital nomad is discovering local coffee spots, tucked away restaurants, and hangouts you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Plus, it contributes to the local economy.

Well, Safir Jamal subscribed to both of these so decided to find a way to connect nomads better with local businesses everywhere. Global Nomad Pass lists local businesses (so, no more Starbucks or Subway!) that have been locally recommended, but you also an exclusive offer for supporting them…

So, what is the Global Nomad Pass?
We love to discover hidden gems, right? But it’s often really hard to do. I travel a lot, but I don’t know the best hidden gems in one city, let alone in other cities. I built a way to make it easy. The pass is a membership that rewards you for supporting local businesses. You get an exclusive discount that could be 20-50% off your bill.

Who’s it for?
It’s for anyone who travels internationally, so perfect for digital nomads. On average, our members tell us that the pass paid for itself within the first one or two months, but mostly it helps them find hidden gems they wouldn’t have otherwise.

What motivated you to start it?
When we spend money at local businesses, that is the most foolproof way of knowing we’re having a positive impact because that money stays in the local economy. If I spend money at a Starbucks in Buenos Aires, most of it goes back to Seattle. I help a local cafe owner feed their family and circulate that money locally if I buy coffee from them.

So it is helping nomads make more of an impact for locals…
When I became aware of the impact it totally shaped how I think about my everyday purchases and consumption patterns, and more travelers need to understand this. The fundamental priority for us was to make it as easy as possible for travelers to support local businesses around the world.

How do you find these hidden gems in so many cities?
We work directly with local teams who recommend places that locals actually like and go to. We’re talking cafes, restaurants, coworking, accommodations, fitness studios, barber shops and salons. Then we directly contact the owners of these businesses.

Did this idea come from being a nomad yourself?
I grew up in Canada, but I often say I was born into privilege because my mother worked for an airline, so as a kid got to travel around the world. I actually found my identity through travel - my ethnicity is quite international, with Indo-African ancestry, my first language is French, but confusingly I’m from the English-speaking part of Canada. Travelling is how I found my place in the world.

What’s the best deal you’ve had, and where has the best offers?
We have new businesses added every day, and owners can change their offer any time, so there is no way of knowing day-by-day where is best. Mexico City has a lot of businesses on board, so definitely visit there. Last year there was a hotel in Japan that offered 50% uncapped on a stay. It was a high quality hotel, and a two or three night stay would have paid for a year’s membership!

Global Nomad Pass shares offers in more than 25 destinations worldwide - more get added every time we look - and it sits in your phone ready to use at local businesses. They are partnering with tourism boards in many of these destinations which will mean more and more hidden gems get added.

If you haven’t picked up a pass yet then you can get a free 30-day trial using this exclusive link for this issue of The Digital Nomad.

Check out their Insta for where they are finding those hidden gems or, if you already know you want to sign up and support local businesses, get 10% off now with this link.

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

POLL

DESTINATIONS
Nomads are being received with open arms

After the recent edition of The Nomad World in Rio de Janeiro, a new narrative is being written for the city that is a staple for tourism, but not traditionally for digital nomads.

It did rank top of this list of cities earlier in the year and it appears that efforts being made to open more coworking spaces is making it more attractive for nomads. With little in the way of cafe culture, working remotely has usually meant working in your accommodation when in town.

The reports from those who regularly visit - and attendees at The Nomad World event - are that the city is making good moves to be an attractive destination for you guys.

BRAIN FOOD

Read - As nomads, you are probably hoping to make friends when you hit a new location. How you personally do that might be useful to know.

Coffee - Get the best out of your coffee (and 5% off with code TIM5) with an Avensi Wave coffee cup. Honestly, a game-changer.

Gear - Tumi have improved an already elite hardshell suitcase.

Watch - The last episode of The White Lotus just dropped.

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:

• The legendary Nomad Cruise has only a few tickets for the June cruise left... or go big with the US-Australia cruise later this year!

• The next The Nomad World event is in the Algarve at the end of May.

• For something with a deeper intention if you’re in Portugal, Future Days is later this month in Lisbon.

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

Other popular products or services right now:

• Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

• Global Nomad Pass - get deals around the world and support local businesses while you’re at it. 10% OFF with this link.

• Blotato - social media AI designed by one of AI’s big thinkers.

• 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.

We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

THE LIST
High on the list of essentials, as voted by you

Our recent poll told us that your headphones are one of the top 3 items you couldn’t go without as a digital nomad. Well, in the case that yours might be due an upgrade, or you want to brag about having the best, here are Techradar’s top 6 travel headphones:

1. Sony WH-1000XM4

2. Earfun Wave Pro

3. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

4. Cambridge Audio Melomania P100

5. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

6. Apple AirPods Pro 2

See the list and why they ranked so high here.

TRIVIA
Internet speed challenge

Which country - according to Speedtest.net - has the fastest median internet speed in each continent?

1. Asia

2. Europe

3. North America

4. South America

5. Africa

6. Australia

Answers below.

COFFEE BREAK

📧 History - 55 years ago this week the biggest band in the world split.

🏀  Website - The original Space Jam website is still live

📺 Watch - Live TV channels from every country.

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. Singapore. 2. Iceland. 3. USA. 4. Chile. 5. Egypt. 6. New Zealand.