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I feel I have come across different types or tiers of nomads, eg: you have your backpacker nomad and then maybe a more successful nomad that is travelling without worrying so much about budget, the two seem to resonate more within their own groups. What different tiers do you think exist, if any? How do you differentiate the different groups, and do they play well together?
Iโm curious to hear your opinions, and please describe what kind of โnomadโ you are when responding. Thanks.
I think there are definitely different stages of digital nomads. We start as backpackers that want to travel long term. After a while for many of us that gets a little old and we become complacent with that lifestyle. I for one found a city that makes me not want to leaveโฆBarcelona. Being there fits all my needs as a digital nomad/online entrepreneur. George Millo wrote up an excellent post on this just recently. Check it outโฆ
http://georgemillo.com/travel-bug/
@marcob I know a handful of nomad families, they are definitely on the rise!
Nice. Barcelona is our next destination. Iโm getting the visa, schooling, etc together โ maybe we wonโt want to leave either. 
Thereโs also a growing number of nomadic families now. Some road-school, others find a good international school and establish a base to travel out of, and some even go with a public school. Not sure thereโs enough of us yet to establish our own โgroupโโฆ but certainly a different set of needs and wants.
I run into varying degrees of income levels amongst fellow family nomads, as well.
@harrisfellman very interesting, havenโt given much thought to nomad families. Is it difficult being a nomad with a family? How well does the family adapt? I know I moved every 4 years with my family, it was challenging but rewarding.
This was our first โmoveโ. We tested a couple of month-long trips first. We thought of a few different ways of doing it - but ultimately settled on one-year minimum in Costa Rica. Weโre going on our 3rd year here. Wouldโve left after two, but really love the community and kidโs school weโre a part of.
Anyway โ I donโt think I look at it as difficult or not - just a different set of challenges for this lifestyle choice. We hope itโs making our children more โworld citizensโ rather than just Americans who travel.
I wouldnโt say there are tiers but that people have different priorities. Some are happy to do the minimum work to support their beach lifestyle in SE Asia, other people want to live a cheaper lifestyle to finance a startup.
Personally, I like having the freedom to live where I want and not be tied down. Iโm lucky that I make enough money that my destinations arenโt determined by having a low cost of living.
I canโt really say much about interaction between groups because Iโm a bit of a loner but if you look at the motivations and priorities of people, I think just being a digital nomad isnโt enough of a bond. If Iโm working my guts out to establish myself then Iโm not going to have much in common with someone who works a few hours a day then hangs out on the beach.
@kathrynoh do you choose to travel alone? And I agree with your second point, that kind of encompasses the basis of what I was asking โ there are those that are driven by very clear goals and those that are still kind of โexploringโ what they should do, which is totally fine. I just know from experience that when Iโm around those that are determine, I feel an extra sense of determination myself, if Iโm with those that are taking it a bit more โeasyโ then I tend to do the sameโฆ
Yes, I choose to travel alone. I am a total loner + introvert so rarely feel the need to be around other people. Plus, I make my living writing so being alone. Iโd stay in an apartment over a hotel or hostel any day.
I donโt think itโs just clear goals vs exploring. Deciding to spend 2-3 hours a day working and the rest of the time on the beach, for example, is a pretty clear goal. Itโs just not a work focussed one.
If you were going to look at tiers or groups, Iโd say that the focus or motivation would be the prime difference. Leisure based goals, business goals, travel goals etc.
@kathrynoh I think you are exactly right - โfocus or motivation would be the prime differenceโ. This definitely helps shed more light on the differences, and the intrinsic motivation behind their (travelers/nomads/remote workers) needs, goals and expectations.
very well said Kathryn. Im at the working my guts out phase atm but at the same time if I was to take a job to facillitate being a nomad lately Iโve been thinking it would not be as a dev and more in the line of something like PM or support so that I wont be working my guts out. Roles like that are ones where essentially youโre open to the world coming in to do the job vs shutting it out to get stuff done and whatโs the point of being a nomad if youโre doing that?
Btw where are you yourself at right now? startup grind or well paid travelling contractor lol
yeah I think so. Someone whoโs just gonna be renting and โlivingโ in the places that theyโre being a nomad in, seeing the sights etc is going to be different from someone else whoโs staying in the best hotels, eating in all the best restaurants and generally living the dream. Money is going to be a problem in what you guys can do together. Easy fix for the moneybags, help out their friends if they really want the company!
someone else whoโs staying in the best hotels, eating in all the best restaurants and generally living the dream
Canโt help but respond to this as โstaying in the best hotelsโ etc is so far from my own dream. Iโm living my dream by
renting and โlivingโ in the places that theyโre being a nomad in
I guess that just goes to show how different we all are!
agreed. ugh. hotels are so boring. all you meet are old people, business travelers, and families. and for me the best restaurants are usually holes in the wall where the owners donโt speak english and all the locals go. Give me an apartment over a hotel and a kitchen or street food over the โbest restaurantsโ any day of the week.
i dont want to live in hotels either. Iโd prefer hostelling it or homebasing myself but just goes to show there are different groups and wants etc.
@Munly_Leong yes, I completely agree. Hah, yes, the โmoneybagsโ can always help out a friend, but then they can also become their crutch. I just know that you are a reciprocal, in many cases, of the 6 closest people you spend time with. So if we surround ourselves by driven, ambitious, humble and yet successful entrepreneurs - chances are youโll take after them.
Iโm a software developer. Southern Europe is usually pretty good. I anticipate Iโll be spending a lot of time in the Balkans going forward.
@wanderingdev Where in SE, because I am looking to start a co-living/co-working retreat space in the south of Italy! Itโs much more affordable than up north and has the best food and beautiful beaches, although spoken english is much more scarce.
Iโm generally in spain if iโm somewhere long-term since I speak Spanish but I love Italy and want to explore the south more.
@wanderingdev Are you worried about language issues that may come up when/if you start spending more time in the Balkans?
no. iโve spent cumulative years in countries where I donโt speak the language and itโs not been an issue. I found an amazing number of people in the balkans spoke english.
The problem with a term like โtiersโ is that it implies that some are better than others when that is not true. It also implies that people canโt be in multiple tiers or are only in a tier because of their finances. There was a thread yesterday on a FB group from a nomad looking for others who spend $20k USD/month or more. Most people thought he was nuts.
Personally, my travel varies. I am definitely a budget conscious person, but I live very comfortably on little money by getting creative. I occasionally stay in hostels, though it is usually for the social aspect, not the financial one, and theyโre also generally top of the line. Sometimes I splash out on a nice hotel. Usually though I am house sitting or renting an apartment. I generally donโt have to worry too much about my budget and I could spend more than I do without worrying about it, but I choose not to (aside from occasional treats) because I have bigger goals for the future. So, I think assuming that people make certain choices, like whether or not to stay in a hostel, solely based on finances would be making a pretty big leap.
My style of travel has also changed as I got older. When I was in my 20s I was much more interested in cost than comfort. Now that Iโm in my 40s, Iโll pay the extra $5 a night to get a queen bed in a private cubby vs a twin bunk bed in an open room.
@wanderingdev thanks for the input. If I may ask, what do you do? and of the places youโve visited which did you appreciate the most in terms of relax/comfort to price ration?
โTiersโ sounds a bit hierarchical (to me, anyway), and Iโm not very comfortable with that, but leaving that aside, I think there are all kinds of nomads. For instance, I donโt fit either category - Iโm very budget conscious but do not backpack, am interested in very nice accommodation with the smallest possible price tag, and tend to stay in one place for months at a time. I think Iโve stayed in a hostel once over the past 3-4 years, and itโs not something I want to repeat anytime soon. Rather than tiers, I imagine something more along the lines of overlapping circlesโฆ
@ani I agree with you in part, although โtiersโ does sound hierarchical isnโt that what really is - unfortunately, we are subject to these categories because of money, status, society etc - but I believe they can, and should, be broken within the circle of people that travel, explore and are seeking meaningful expereinces. The reason those circles overlap is because they share many similarities, but there doesnโt seem to be a lot of overlap between young successful entrepreneurs and those that are still โup and comingโ. Why is that?
I donโt even know what characterises a young successful entrepreneur or someone who is still โup and comingโ, as I am neither - there are nomads of all types. Iโm a freelance translator, editor and proofreader, and Iโm never, ever going to have a big income, but Iโm almost fifty and Iโm going to find a way to live well. Thatโs part of the appeal of being a nomad. As a poor person whose work is location independent, I can leverage my mobility to make my small income go further, while also enjoying travel, living in beautiful places and working on my languages, among other things.
So perhaps the two sets you suggest would be more meaningful if limited to nomad entrepreneursโฆ I guess Iโm just speaking out for those who arenโt!
@ani I completely agree, I guess what Iโm looking at is a bit more specific - whereas the term โNomadโ is broad enough to include a bigger universe of people. Thanks so much for your input. Iโve done some translating work in the past, it can be hard work at times - but the location independency is so worth it 
Hi everyone,
I would love to hear what you'd like me to build next on Nomad List, or any other product/feature feedback ideas you have.
It's been 6+ years now but I'm in this for the long term and with the boost remote work got last year it's even more exciting to work on Nomad List than ever.
Current roadmap is here: twitter.com/levelsio/status/1363204985488572417?s=20 and pbs.twimg.com/media/EusS9PKXEAUR8xp?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
The next products/features I have planned:
- ๐ Rebase: visa, residency and immigration services for remote workers
- ๐Courses: learn the steps how to go remote and travel/relocate
- ๐ Gov liaison: diplomacy services to the governments to help us lobby for nomads and for them to attract remote workers
Thanks a lot!
Hi guys,
After the Netherlands, the Bay Area, Colorado and being on the van life for 8 months, I am now in Sedona, AZ with a few other digital nomads. We are sharing a home here and are wondering if there are more like minded people in the area.
We do a bunch of hikes and campouts in the northern of Arizona. If you would like to connect with us, please do so :)
Val
Does anyone ever travel to any Islands like Bermuda, Barbados, Barbuda and St. Kitts & Nevis?
Hi there, title says it all. Canadian nomad hoping to find the city/town in Portugal with great, consistent surfing, a solid coworking spot, and a fun group of young nomads. Please recommend!
I'm in need of a tax advisor who understands "our" typical situation. I'm all good on being legal on taxes at this point, but as I'm doing more investing and there's more compliance and KYC and such, it's getting more complicated to deal with this topic. Not living in my country of citizenship, company in another country, resident in yet another country, banking in a different country ... you know how it is, a pile of red flags.
Would be great to find a good tax advisor to sort things in a way that makes my situation as "explainable" and easily dealt with as possible. Any leads?
Hi, I've got a question to anyone who had experience with the digital nomad lifestyle. I'm 24, I'm in my last year of university doing computer science, got 3 years of experience mostly doing web development.
I never liked the idea of staying in one place, getting a job and growing roots - hence the will to take the opportunity and travel the world. My main question is โ how do I go about it? Are there any useful resources I could look into?
How do I go about insurance and such once I decide to move. I currently live in Switzerland and do freelance work for one company. It's not a lot, since my studies don't allow me to pick up a full time job, but it allows me to cover simple expenses.
I'd be happy to get some insight into how things work and also happy to network with anyone interested.
Hi guys ! hope you are doing well.
I would love to get your feedback regarding the best insurance for digital nomads. i'm traveling around Asia since 1 year and for next 4 or 5 years. Would love to buy an insurance to cover especially :
- health
- laptop, phone ...
- Flights
Hoping to see all the cool stuff people are working on while they live an extraordinary life.
Anyone know of any groups or resources for Ph.D. students working on dissertation while living as a digital nomad? I know there are several virtual writing groups around, but wondered if there were any specifically for digital nomads, particularly those who are dissertating.
Thanks!
Hey Nomads!
Iโm looking for an international health insurance (no travel insurance) for my nomadic life. It should cover the basic services and at least be accepted in the EU (itโs ok if itโs not accepted in the US as Iโm aware they rarely are). Nice to have: enter into a contract online. Anyone got a good experience or a recommendation?
Thanks in advance!
I have finally saved enough money to start investing. What company gives good, diversified access to stock, ETFs and mutual funds? Does it make sense to use company like Vanguard or Fidelity for that? Iโm a EU/Poland citizen, how would I transfer my money back and forth without incurring significant fees?
Hello digital nomad!
I dream of being an independent digital nomad. But it feels very elusive & unattainable with my success rate. In full disclosure, whilst I have dreamed about making money online since high school; I have not earned a single cent making money online. $0, nada, zilch!! On the contrary, I have spent a lot of time & money on books, podcasts. Even though I have spent a lot of time reading/listening to others, I do not have anything to show for it!
I have made attempts in the past to start an online business, but these fizzle out quite quickly when I do not see traction especially when the goal I have set myself is too high.
Instead of reaching for the ultimate nomadic lifestyle goal, I want to start much smaller. Really small! I am simply looking to make $50 profit per month from a new online business. Thatโs it.
I need some advice from you please!
Is $50 profit too low? How long did it take you to earn $50 profit per month?
What is a good way of achieving this goal?
Thanks
Mark
aka the $0 online business entrepreneur
Will be in Osaka this April/May and was curious to discover interesting groups/events.
I had a look at FB + Meetup but there doesnโt seem to be much. Any advice on where to look?
Hello everyone! Iโm new here and probably this is a very newbie question, but it doesnโt leave my head.
How do you, nomads, pay your taxes? I mean, if youโre constantly traveling, how are you going to pay taxes for a certain country if you are going to stay there a short period of time?
Or do you return to your โoriginal countryโ and then pay them?
By the way, this forum has very nice cool formatting features! 
All members of my family has different needs and hobbies so how do you pick the perfect places?
Hey everyone,
Iโm a freelance + nomad newbie, off for my 1st proper trip in May. Iโm wanting to spend a month somewhere and go from there.
I just came back from Slovenia/Ljubljana and loved it there (just a week). I donโt mind โsleepierโ places par-say, as long as theyโre close to a beach or nature of some kind. In fact, I kinda like places less-busy and a bit smaller/cosier.
Iโm been swaying towards Porto, but have been impressed by the rave reviews Iโve seen for Valencia.
-> Have you every nomad-ed in a Spanish/Portuguese city? Iโd love to know where and what you liked/disliked 
Thanks!
Hey, is there currently a way to save filter settings? I feel like it would be helpful for planning the trip as I have several ideas on what to target and would like to cycle between them
Hey guys, this was my first year as a Canadian nomad.
As far as I know of, Canadians donโt pay taxes if they do not live in the country for 6 months.
But Iโd like to talk to an accountant or someone who does Canadian taxes specifically for expats and nomads to get clear on the rules and for help on my return coming up.
Does anyone know someone who specializes in Canada who can help? Iโve seen plenty of US recommendations but none for us canucks.
Thanks guys!
Hi!
I am planning to move to Latin America for 3-4 months (Oct-January). Iโve narrowed down 6 different places that I want to visit before committing to settling down, but Iโd love to get some community input.
Here are the cities Iโm considering:
The most important things Iโm looking for:
Anyone have any experience with these places and can give some insight? Iโm also completely open to other recommendations.
Thanks!
Rose
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