What's the best portable scanner?

After being told it's unworkable in Puerto Escondido, looking for alternatives :)

Hey, hope everyone is well!

We're leaving in a month to go travelling. Our first destination is still to be confirmed, but will likely be Poland or Slovakia. We will be moving around every month or two to different destinations.

The question we have is: what do people do with phones/ phone numbers when hopping from country to country? Ideally we'd just like one number for the whole trip (even better, the number we already have) wherever we go, rather than getting new SIMs with different numbers.

This is just so it's easier to keep in contact with family/ clients/ etc.

Hi! I want to relocate to Spain and I was wondering if someone can recommend a SIM card with a good data package.

Thanks

Currently in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico and heading to Santa Teressa, Costa Rica next week.
Then Aruba in the Caribbean Sea for Christmas and New Year.

However I feel I want to head back to Central America to bring living costs down, rather than staying in the Caribbean Sea among the expensive Islands.

This means I have around 2 - 2,5 month of unplanned travelling.
Any digital nomads who have ideas about where to head in that timeframe?

Hi everyone and nice to e-meet you!
finally, after so long I found a job that allows me to work remotely.
But now? Do you have any practical advice that I can use to approach this new world?
In particular, I have to put my tax situation in order, do you know a good tax advisor from whom I can ask for advice? (I’m Italian but I live in France…I don’t know how long it will be…) )
Beyond that, any advice is welcome.
Thank you!
Maria

I’m currently doing some work through Upwork, but it’s sporadic and I’m keen to get more active on other platforms like Freelancer, Toptal, CodeMentor, Fiverr etc

Currently I’m managing leads in a Google sheet. Basically it’s just a list of projects I pitched for, how much I bid, what I did differently from the last pitch/bid, how much time went by before I got a offered a job etc.

I’m not actively following up anybody, and I’ve in fact ‘lost’ a few jobs where the client was keen, but then disappeared without a trace. I guess I need to keep in touch with those people to ensure that they remain focussed on our agreement…

I’m also keen to take on more small projects concurrently, without dropping the ball on any of them.

I’ve done a quick Google and turned up a few names including Salesforce, Zoho, Nutshell, HighRise, Base, Nimble, etc etc. But testing out all these products isn’t all that appealing, so I thought I’d ask here first

Ideally I’d like something that integrates with remote job boards in some way.

Feature list

I’ve done some research and currently have this feature list:

Proposal building & tracking

• Compile proposals from snippets - technologies, past projects
• Quickly pull together a realistic/client friendly quote
• Test and measure different approaches
• Beat proposal deadlines while maintaining quality
• Fine tune pitch material to bid more quickly and win more work – templates
• Store history about past projects involving common needs and technological solutions
• Learn which proposal content is working, and which is not

Lead generation and client management (CRM)

• store info about regular clients
• track remote projects which I’ve pitched for
• Remote Job Board integration
• search multiple job sites for keywords
• track projects across multiple remote platforms – API integration / message alert/response

Project Management & Scheduling

• Break projects down into granular tasks
• Gantt chart to visualise overlapping jobs
• Calendar to schedule daily work, deadlines, R&D
• follow up, plan and schedule future work now, rather than once current work has dried up
• offline reminders via a dedicated Android app
• time tracking – to get an idea of true cost, to flag issues to client
• BitBucket integration

Billing

• Integration with Xero
• tracking status of payments, actual payment date vs expected payment clearance date

Marketing

• Get repeat business
• Build Word Of Mouth
• Proactive lead generation
• Publish proposals as case studies

Cheers,
Dan

Hi All! I’ve heard Spark and Vodafone are the best. I plan to move around, so I care mostly about having good coverage, and all I’ll need is around 1 GB of data or so.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I’ve got myself a DDJ 400 DJ controller, and the compact size makes it ideal to throw into my suitcase while I go travelling next year.

It made me wonder if there was a decent portable speaker system that’s loud (and clear) enough for light bedroom DJing I could pack alongside the 400 to practice new tracks and record mixes.

I currently have a Bose Soundlink Mini II which was surprisingly good for the job. Although I feel it’ll probably damage if I keep pumping at full pelt, and it’s not quite loud enough for what I wanted but not far off at all.

I ordered a pair of iLoud Micro Monitors, and although seriously impressed with the sound quality, I ended up returning them for KRK Rokit 5 G3’s as they were too heavy for permanent (Digital Nomad) travelling so thought I’d get some solid DJ speakers in the meantime.

I’m a South African about to become a Nomad next year. I will still be employed by a South African company and receive a salary into my FNB bank account monthly.

I will be mostly based in Serbia but plan on travelling a lot. Does anyone have any advice on the best bank account to have? Is there a way to not get charged a small fortune in ATM charges and avoid getting my account frozen for using it in lots of countries?

I’m unsure of the best way to handle things. Should I try get another bank account outside of SA (Can I even do that)? I also have a British Passport if that makes a difference.

If any of you have any experienced advice I would be very grateful, Thanks in advance!

I’m going to travel to Mexico by the end of february and i would like to know which place do you recommend to stay at for a month or so. Which one would fit better for a digital nomad? Pros and Cons for each place are welcomed

thanks!

Hi all,

What do you guys use for call and sms forwarding?

Currently I have a Skype US number that forwards to my local phone number. However, it can’t receive SMS’es so that’s a huge dealbreaker.

There’s RingCentral - but that starts at $29/month which is rather pricey.

Any suggestions? I’d just like to be able to call and text like I’m still in the US (when I’m not). Thanks in advance!

Sarah

I landed a remote job that is fully remote with only one team skype meeting a week. I’m looking to leave around March 13th and stay 1 - 3 months in each place. The first place I want somewhere that is warm with good surf. For the group video chat I need at least 5/2 down/up reliable internet. Any recommendations for a place that meets that end of March - April?

I’ve read through the forums / nomads list. I’ve already done Costa Rica and Indo and would like to try somewhere new. Currently looking at Sayuliata Mexico, Canary Islands, and Morocco though I think I’ll wait on the second two since they sound like they are better in the fall.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I was wondering what the annual base salary for a full time junior to mid designer would be in either Frankfurt(Main) or Hamburg, Germany.

Thanks,
Natalia!

Thailand - Krabi vs. Koh Lanta in March

Hey Nomads -
So I’m looking to leave my current base in Chiang Mai, Thailand to head back down south in March to escape burning season.
I’m looking at staying for a month in either Krabi or Koh Lanta. I already spent a month on Koh Samui which was ok but I’m looking to explore the other side now and it seems this will be a good time of year seasonally to be on those islands.

Here are my main considerations and would love any thoughts:

1. Housing - As the islands are much more expensive, I think it would be the most sensible to get an apartment or rental for a month. I got a good deal in Samui when I stayed for a month.
   -A/C is a must

• Strong, Hi-speed wifi where I’m staying as I need to do video calls from home

2. More walkable (or as much as possible) areas are preferred as I don’t use a motorbike and transportation back and forth to restaurants, etc. can get expensive
   Walking distance to the beach would be great but price is a big more important factor

I don’t necessarily care about being near a co-working space as much of my work on video calls requires me to work from home anyway for privacy.

Anyone stayed on Krabi or Koh Lanta & have any suggestions?
TIA!!

We’re setting off on our first venture for new digital nomad life in 20 days!

• starting in Chiang Mai as our home base
• 1 year ED visa
• planning to bounce around all over

Right now, I’m utterly baffled and confused by trying to figure out how we’re going to be able to get more cash or transfer money from our bank accounts in Canada. Either at all or without getting charged insane fees.

I’ve looked through the forum and a lot of solutions put forth with no real luck. Hoping that some Canadians may chime in with solutions, experience or advice.

Thanks!