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- Cyprus back in the fold | Coliving GOAT | Songkran | Issue #0032
Cyprus back in the fold | Coliving GOAT | Songkran | Issue #0032
There’s only one place to start this month…
The surprise announcement of the main digital nomad destination countries in Asia, Europe and Central America have collaborated for a universal digital nomad visa - that will allow a minimum 6 month stays in any of them with no restriction - should be dominating your chats.
Elsewhere this week:
🏡 If you don’t fancy coliving after this chat, then it’s not for you
🥺 The return of a very compelling dn visa destination
🔫 If the heat doesn’t get you then a 90-year-old with a watergun will
🚂 Steam through Europe
❓ A test of destination knowledge only Gen Z will solve
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!
Btw….happy April 1st, nomads! 😉
NEWS
An old ally rejoins the digital nomad scene
After a pause once the original limited number of visas were snapped up, Cyprus has reopened applications to their digital nomad visa.
If up to a couple of years in the Mediterranean sun (thought you can ski in the mountains in winter!) appeals, then Cyprus offers a lot. Plenty of flights in and out, a split of cultures, beaches, nightlife, great food of course, and an all-year-round outdoor lifestyle.
Fairly routine requirements apply, such as working for non-Cypriot companies, a minimum income, and potential for tax residency. You can bring along spouses and dependents too.
Read more here.
WHAT ELSE…
🇩🇪 Is this going to stop you? Berlin has a cult following amongst nomads and travellers, but is this going to diminish the appeal?
🇱🇹 The latest wellness hotspot We all know Thailand, India, and Turkey are wellness go-tos. But there’s an unexpected winner for 2025 best for wellness.
⏩ Slow travel? No chance Most of you embrace what you could call slomadding. There always an opposite, of course.
💰 This didn’t need an economist Barcelona residents and business owners set out their stall last year. A bit short-sighted perhaps.
GET CONNECTED
Find WhatsApp & FB groups in your current or next nomad destinations here:
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STAY CONNECTED
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COMMUNITY LIFE
“Coliving spaces are like Tequila…”
John Ho hosting one of the regular talks and events at Alt_
…and if you’ve experienced GREAT tequila, then it’ll make perfect sense.
It’s not an understatement to say that John Ho is a leading thought-leader in the coliving scene. He speaks regularly at nomad conferences, people listen when he talks, and frequently those planning to start up a coliving or coworking places consult with him.
Without any hard data to back this up, we suspect most of you HAVEN’T stayed at a coliving space. And if you have, it likely won’t have been like either of John’s Alt_ locations in Chiang Mai. Let’s see if we can convince you to give it a go…
So, let’s start with that. Why should digital nomads should try coliving?
If you want to be less lonely, then you should give it a try. Most already have their modality of travel - hostels or 5* hotels, AirBnB - and their default is usually; why change it? Coliving spaces are intended to foster community, to solve the problem of loneliness which is exactly the biggest problem for most digital nomads.
Who typically stays at Alt_Chiang Mai and Alt_PingRIver?
Most of the people who give this a try haven’t because they saw an advert, it’s often friends who have told them about us and said that the experience is great. That said, if you ask them what’s great about Alt_ they can stumble on explaining it. Simply put, we get people who want to meet other people, that’s the main commonality.
Can you explain it? What’s great about Alt_?
It’s a sense of feeling. Yeah, they can say the chairs and table are great, the mattresses are great, and sure…we do that. That’s only part of it. The best part is you don’t feel lonely when you are here. When you travel long enough, you will have that sense. If you want to find a solution for that then give a coliving space a try.
Ok, so what are misplaced barriers nomads might have to coliving.
People say it’s overpriced. A lot of people say that. I would say “how much value you put on community?”. If you don’t care about it, then it is overpriced. It’s like tequila - you go to a bar and try tequila for the first time to get drunk, and probably don’t like it, but they’re likely not drinking a good quality one.
A lot of people don’t understand the value of things in general and so then label it as overpriced. For coliving spaces, it depends on your understanding of what community means, how important it is, and whether you experienced a good coliving.
How did Alt_ start?
When I first came to Chiang Mai 7 years ago, I was working for a startup helping them build community. I worked out of a coworking space which is where I first came across the term digital nomad. The idea came about when I saw an article about coliving spaces and them addressing the problem of loneliness. So I thought, ok…Chiang Mai has coworking spaces, but where are the coliving spaces? That brought about the idea of having one here.
What do nomads get when they stay or work at Alt_, and how did you decide what would work?
The community decided what Alt_ would be. We hired an architect and designer, but our ideas needed validation so we put up design concept photos in digital nomad and coliving groups and asked for feedback. Everyone was super enthusiastic to respond. Not all ideas are good ones, but there were a lot of common answers…like chairs, so many said the chairs had to be right. Some of the feedback we read midway through the build and actually made changes to the structure mid-build.
Alt_ChiangMai and Alt_PingRiver are fixtures in the Chiang Mai coliving and coworking scene, and John is rolling out pop-ups too (there is one in Japan as we speak!). They host regular events that anyone can attend, from coffee-tasting to ice baths to Friday Founders talks with industry leaders.
Join their newsletter and follow their IG to see what events and popups are coming up - or to get some deeper insight from John into the changing coliving scene. Or just pin their website to book your stay next time you are in Chiang Mai.
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POLL
Have you stayed at a coliving space? |
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DESTINATIONS
Don’t carry a laptop if you value its contents…
Look, there is no getting past the fact that Thailand in April is hot - really hot. Not to mention that in some parts the air quality is far from ideal.
But then, there is Songkran!
Our most lasting memory of this celebration is being drenched by a 90-year-old taking child-like glee in being the first person to soak us on the first day of Songkran. The Thai New Year is unique, and always memorable.
It’s also now a reason for nomads and travellers to hit Thailand - especially Bangkok or Chiang Mai. It is steeped in meaning and can signify the start of the rainy season (more a hope than reality these days!), but let’s be honest…really it’s all about watergun fights and throwing buckets of water at anyone you see.
We’ll leave serial traveller Nomadic Matt to give you a basic rundown, but if you’re in Asia now, we recommend seriously considering a detour to experience Songkran.
BRAIN FOOD
Read - Why are Chinese buildings different from many in the west?
Health - These guys will help you get rid of desk-bod.
You - Do you know who you are? Try doing a free personality test.
Read - Sleep like the best athletes do.
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 discounts on the remaining 30% of tickets for the June cruise. Or go big with US-Australia later this year.
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.
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.
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
Five of the best choo-choos in Europe
Europe is back in season and the ease of travelling around it is one of the biggest draws for a lot of you. The rail network is well-celebrated, and here are 5 of the lesser-known, but spectacular routes you should check out on your European summer:
Eurocity Transalpin, Austria. Zurich to Graz - book the panorama car if you don’t mind getting no work done.
Treno Gottardo, Switzerland. Basal or Zurich to Locarno - take in the Gotthard tunnel, snowy peaks and Lake Maggiore.
Intercity Notte to Sicily, Italy. Milan or Rome to Sicily - take in most of Italy’s landscapes, and take the train ferry!
West Highland Line, Scotland. Glasgow - Malllaig - think Skyfall for scenery, much of which you can explore at various stops on the way.
Train de la Côte Bleue, France. Marseille - Miramas - hop on and off at coastal towns and views of the Med.
Check out more details on them all here.
TRIVIA
A test of nomad hotspot knowledge…and emojis!
Can you pick the popular digital nomad hotspots from these emojis?
🏔️🚡☕💻🌿🎶
🏖️⛵🥘💻🏛️🍷
🏙️🥩💃💻⚽🎨
🏝️🌺📶🍹🌮🎶
🌿🏯⛰️💻☕🐘
🌊🏄♂️🌴💻🍜🛵
Do you like the look of The Digital Nomad? You can easily build a great-looking newsletter of your own with beehiiv, even on their free plan.
COFFEE BREAK
If you clicked here from the top, then Happy April Fool’s Day 😉. Now, scroll back up to get the real latest on visas, travel and stuff that might be useful!
📧 History - 21 years ago today, Gmail was launched to beta testers.
☕️ Read - This is what your coffee should look like.
🖼️ Watch - Tour your favorite gallery on your laptop.
WHAT DID YOU MISS?
ANSWERS
Medellin. 2. Barcelona. 3. Buenos Aires. 4. Playa del Carmen. 5. Chiang Mai. 6. Canggu.