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- Wordwide internet speeds & T-islands | Issue #0010
Wordwide internet speeds & T-islands | Issue #0010
We made it to double figures! This is our 10th issue, so it’s only a small landmark, but every little one is worth celebrating. At least we will be! 🎉
The primary motivation behind The Digital Nomad, other than sharing news and stories that might have passed you by, was to give you a platform if you have a service, products or knowledge that will benefit other DNs.
If you want to feature or contribute in some form to a future issue and reach a new audience then hit us up at [email protected].
Anyway, on with Issue 10…
⏩ Picking your destination by internet speed
🏝️ T-island time is upon us
🎒 Carry-on perfection?
🌭 The hotdog debate
💰 Digital nomad finance can be a minefield, so make it simple
Go well this week!
NEWS
The FASTEST countries in the world
Perhaps the most important consideration for where you stay, work and travel to is how good the internet will be.
Cable released the results of their worldwide study of internet speeds for 2024, and these are the top ten countries, according to their average speed:
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Now, be honest…not many of these ride high on your next location list. There is less correlation between the speed of the internet and the popularity of countries for digital nomads than you’d think.
Thailand, for example, ranks 57th - and only 8th in Asia - despite having a reputation for an excellent internet infrastructure. Malaysia are in 45th, Colombia 72nd, Vietnam 84th and Mexico down in 89th.
These are average speeds (though Iceland’s average of 280Mbps is still pretty incredible!), so cities are likely to be better than the numbers in the report. These 5 countries are likely to have very slow internet speeds and reliability out in the rural areas and on islands.
It’s worth noting that South Korea and the US - countries you’d expect to see ride high - only just missed out on the top 10.
Internet speed is not always the TOP consideration when choosing a destination of course, but it features high for a lot of digital nomads. Many of you rely on it for coding, teaching online, or if you regularly take online meetings.
The average has increased across the board, so even countries as low as 100 have perfectly acceptable internet for most use cases.
See the whole list and breakdown here.
WHAT ELSE…
💺 Where should you sit?: Flying is love/hate for many of you. It enables your lifestyle, but as turbulence seemingly increases does it matter where you sit to avoid it ruining your flight?
🚚 An interesting take from a man in the know: RTO mandates are making news on a weekly basis. A former Amazon VP had this interesting perspective on what the future SHOULD hold.
👩💼 Getting your next remote role: Whether you are in the office or working remotely from the beach, sometimes it is time to move on. Here are some tips from the inside on how to give yourself the best chance of staying on the road.
🇲🇽 The next undiscovered destination?: Ok, so this is not the next big digital nomad city, at least not yet, but unbelievably there are STILL new ancient cities being discovered in the world. A student discovered a whole new city - that was practically hidden in plain sight - almost by accident.
DIGITAL NOMAD FINANCE
How do you manage your wealth as a digital nomad?
Thailand is proving more and more popular as a country for digital nomads to plant some tentative roots (we say tentative as roots sounds far too permanent for many of you!).
How you navigate that will always come back to wealth and tax one way or another, and how to best manage it.
We had coffee with a digital nomad who set up some roots in Thailand and has built a service specialising in this. Lamar Ellis is a regular at Yellow Coworking and the Director of Wealth & Tax at HH Premium.
These are some of the common scenarios and solutions he handles with digital nomad and expat finance:
If you leave your country for more than 180 days - for most countries - you will no longer be a tax resident.
In some cases, the type of visa you are on will make a difference to what you can do with your money.
Staying in Thailand, and many other countries, for more than 180 days makes you a tax resident there.
There are a range of offshore opportunities that are likely to benefit you.
Crypto has added to the complexity of wealth management but also opened a lot of doors.
Talk of digital nomads being taxed in Thailand is still just talk.
If you are considering moving to Thailand then get some advice on how to best look after your money - it is complicated and bureaucratic!
Buying property here isn’t as difficult as it is often portrayed, but doing it usually requires local contacts and knowledge.
HH Premium offers visa services as well as wealth and tax advice, and help navigating bank accounts, estate planning, and residency and tax documentation.
Even if you are only at the ideation stage of Thailand being the place for you, contact Lamar for a free chat. He’s been in your shoes so there won’t be many better to hear your story!
SPREAD THE WORD
Do you have friends who are digital nomads roaming the world? If you think they could use a quick weekly fix of what’s happening in their world, then share this link so they can get The Digital Nomad each week too.
Or, share it on your socials with the links at the top of this newsletter.
TH-ISLAND TIME
Dry season means Thailand is firmly on the map
Is it island time yet?
Thailand is into dry season which means it is back on top of the digital nomad rotation list.
The downside is that it also means high season, making the islands in particular higher in cost and, in places, limited on accommodation choice if you haven’t already booked.
In terms of climate though, now is the best time to find yourself on one of those islands - at least for a week or two. But which is best for digital nomads?
These are the leading options and at least one will fit what kind of lifestyle you are looking for!
Koh Phangan
Formerly a hipster island with top-drawer beaches, it’s now known more for its party scene and yoga retreats. Quite the dichotomy. It means you can enjoy a relaxing day as you destress, then head on to the clubs at night. There are a growing number of cowork-style spots to work from as well, though is increasingly the victim of its success as accommodation prices have risen significantly.
Koh Samui
More tourist and expat destination than digital nomad mecca - and expect prices to reflect this - but it does means you’ll find plenty of cafes and restaurants to work from. There are some smaller coworking options, but there is plenty to do at night and of course a range of beaches to relax on. You won’t quickly run out of things to do on your time off with as many day trips, activities and nature trails as you could want.
Phuket
Similarly to Koh Samui, it is more targeted to tourism these days, but it’s Thailand’s largest island so there is a wide range of areas to choose from for different lifestyles. More coworking options than Samui, and a younger crowd of digital nomads to be found - especially around the gyms! The drive to increase higher-spending tourism has been focussed on here more than other islands too.
Koh Lanta
Look, all the islands on this list are holiday destinations, but Koh Lanta is one of the quieter ones. However, there is a good coworking space on the island and the low-key nightlife means it is a great place to set up camp and get some work done near or on the beach. It has a more Thai feel than the other islands, a Muslim influence on some of the food, and an unexpectedly large community of Scandinavians! It is only a boat ride to Phuket or Ao Nang if you need a bit more life for a day or two.
Koh Chang
A bit out of the way for many, and more low-key than even Koh Lanta but if you want the quiet life, slower beach vibes, and incredible nature then it’s a great alternative. Find a resort and a cafe you like and you’ll be closer to what Thai islands felt like 20 years ago than any of the previous islands. There are also some terrific smaller islands a boat ride away for a day or weekend getaway. Not for the really social DNs, but for some chilled island living with enough basic facilities to survive, it’s a great choice.
Alternatives to consider, albeit a bit out there…
Aside from these five, most islands will not have the reliable infrastructure you might need as a digital nomad. However, Koh Tao (more backpacker and diver focused), Koh Lipe (not easy to get to, and no digital nomad footprint, but for those IG shots working on the beach it can’t be beat!), and the Koh Yao islands (these will be the next on the tourism boom for sure, but rural, chilled and Thai, though sketchy internet!) might tick your boxes too.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? |
POLL RESULTS
Carry-on only digital nomads rule the roost
After our poll last week which focused on how light you really travel, there was a resounding victory for carry-on only. We question how realistic this really is, and how many live that way, but the data says what it says!
After a bit of digging and chatting to a couple of nomads who raved about it, the Tumi International Dual Access Carry-On appears to be a winner in most traveller’s eyes.
It’s as much an investment as it is a convenience at around the US$1000 mark, but those of you who are serial carry-on travellers will know that luggage you can rely on and does the job without fuss is invaluable.
The name says it all, as what we were told was that the ability to open it from the front or the sides is a game-changer. The quality of the spinning wheels and materials also stood out (wheels that don’t get stuck or break are the curse of cheaper rolling bags!).
Get the specs here, but it does include:
a removable suit bag
USB port
Tumi’s “ballistic” nylon
External pockets
Bottom handle (highly underrated feature for luggage!)
If you have any other suggestions of travel kit that digital nomads would benefit from, let us know at [email protected].
TELL US A STORY
You all have stories to tell. This week, we want to hear about your coworking horror stories.
Have you sat beside someone who snored, had particularly smelly feet pointed in your direction, a drunken midday outburst, or just space invaders? Don’t worry, we can keep them anonymous, but here’s your chance to send a message to those less considerate than you!
Drop them at [email protected].
BRAIN FOOD
What we’ve been recommended this week
Book - Building a Story Brand, Donald Miller. Another oldie (well, not that old) but goldie. If you are creating a product or putting yourself out there in one way or another, this is essential reading/listening.
TV - Anthony Bourdain; Parts Unknown. In the same spirit - but a little older - it is still astonishing how many travellers haven’t watched any of this. The late Anthony Bourdain made a street food stall here in Chiang Mai world famous from one episode, but it is still a must-watch for anyone travelling to new countries.
Movie - The Nightmare Before Christmas. Yeah, yeah. It’s not even November yet, so why a Christmas movie? We think we can all agree that this is just as much a Halloween movie and as we’re talking old-school this is a must-rewatch this week.
Halloween - The top 100 scary movies, according to Variety, might give you some inspiration for viewing this Thursday night.
Podcast - Something that might inspire you entrepreneurs or prospective business owners is this interview with the founder of Athletic Greens, her unlikely start in work, and why and how asking the right questions will change your fortunes.
Drop us an email at [email protected] if you have any recommendations we should share!
QUIZ
What’s your airline knowledge like?
Which is the oldest existing airline still operating under its original name? KLM, BA, Qantas, or Lufthansa.
This popular US airline was originally a crop-dusting company in the 1920s.
In 2008, this airline became the first to introduce fully enclosed 1st Class seats.
Which low-cost carrier many of you will have flown with has the tagline “Now everyone can fly”?
This innovative carrier introduced both the first commercial jetliner and in-flight entertainment system in 1958. TWA, Pan-Am, Qantas, or Lufthansa.
In 2021, this airline was ranked the safest for the 8th consecutive year. Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, or KLM.
CONNECT TO CHIANG MAI
Fill your social calendar in Chiang Mai
Steve’s Email: A weekly resource and email for events around the city. Steve’s away for a couple of weeks, but bookmark it for next week!
Digital Nomad WhatsApp: A long-standing group that spawned a range of sub-groups for almost any niche and interest in the city.
For up-to-date events in the city - including Halloween events this week - join the Activities/Events WhatsApp group.
ChiangMai Fit WhatsApp: If you want to do something active (trust us, being fit isn’t a prerequisite!) then wholesome activities throughout the week in here.
Yellow Coworking Telegram: For more about what is happening at Yellow, and to be part of their conversation, join here.
COWORKING IN CHIANG MAI
If you are in the city, or heading over soon, then check out the current packages - from day passes to monthly or annual memberships - here.
Or, just get in touch with Mickey or the team at Yellow Coworking at [email protected].
THE DIGITAL RESOURCE
We’ve shared some useful resources over the first few weeks, and while you can access back issues here, several have asked us to share them again. So, to save lots of email back-and-forths, or searching through previous newsletters, here are the most asked for resources:
Safety Wing, who also offer digital nomad insurance, have started running community events in various locations around the world. A few participants in a Chiang Mai one even won a meal out at a top restaurant in the city!
Genki also do worldwide digital nomad insurance.
Healthy Junk is the go-to for healthy food near Yellow. Dine in, out or get it delivered.
Get your meal prep from Chef Fuji. Healthy, macro-focussed food delivered in Chiang Mai.
Contact Liselle for a LinkedIn or resume revamp.
If decision-making is not your forte, get in touch with Hannah Wang - a decision-making coach for entrepreneurs, business owners and big corporates.
Stay safe online - and get TV from any country! - using NordVPN. They’ve got a Black Friday sale on now too.
Airalo - a marketplace for eSIM data packs for more than 200 countries. Get 15% off if you are new and use this link and the code NEWTOAIRALO15, or 10% off if you are an existing user using AIRALOESIM10.
COMMUNITY
Get seen by digital nomads everywhere
We would love to hear from you if you have some valuable knowledge, products or services, information, or just a fun or crazy digital nomad story.
This is an opportunity to get some extra eyes on your thing, or if you just like to write or provide information to other nomads.
Drop us an email at [email protected] if you:
have a product or service that could help other digital nomads
have a travel blog, channel or platform that we can spotlight
took a photo worthy we could feature along with your portfolio or IG
know a great event or place in Chiang Mai we might have missed
…just have a great digital nomad story!
WHAT DID YOU MISS?
NEXT WEEK
🏮 The lantern festival is around the corner, so do it like a local
🛬 Air travel of the future?
🇪🇺 Europe is cracking down on some visitors
…and news and events we spot for digital nomads near and far.
See you then.
ANSWERS
KLM. 2. Delta. 3. Emirates. 4. AirAsia. 5. Pan-Am. 6. Qantas.
How did you do? |