Gift Guide

Looking for the perfect holiday present for someone who works from home? These are the best work from home gift ideas for remote workers, no matter what your budget.

What a mess this year has turned out to be! While I’m a huge fan of working from home, I never thought so many other people would be forced to do the same this year — suddenly and without warning.

There is certainly a learning curve to working from home, but it gets easier over time.

These popular gifts for people who work from home can help make any home office a more comfortable and productive environment.

Working remotely as a blogger for the past 10-years, I’ve become especially careful about how I set up my personal workspace.

I enjoy working in a clean and clutter-free environment, with office accessories that are ergonomically functional. Along with art that gives off a peaceful vibe!

So here are some of my best work from home gift ideas for remote workers that are guaranteed to put a smile on the recipient’s face!

Why listen to me? Experience! I’ve been working remotely for ten years as a professional travel photographer & blogger.

Matthew KarstenThe Expert Vagabond

Work From Home Gift Guide For 2022

1. Magnetic Smartphone Charger

Want easy viewing access to your smartphone on your desk while it’s charging? Check out the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger. It comes in multiple colors, and looks really elegant sitting on your desk, while also being practical. You can keep an eye on notifications, quick-charge your phone, and free up your pockets while working from home. It will also charge your wireless headphones at the same time!

2. Timed Water Bottles

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! If you’re not drinking enough water during the work day like most people, this is an easy way to help fix that. Fill it up, and keep track of how much water you’re drinking throughout the day. Remember to re-fill the bottle at noon! Don’t let working from home hinder your health goals.

Two liters of water a day keeps the doctor away… or something like that.

3. Ergonofis Standing Desk

Ok, this is more of a luxury work-from-home gift, or maybe just a gift you can give yourself! I absolutely love my Ergonofis Standing Desk. The 1 3/4 inch thick slab of solid wood, paired with a powerful motorized base and an elegantly designed control makes it the highlight of my home office for sure.

Standing at my desk just for an hour or two each day somehow keeps me more energized and comfortable, I don’t know how to explain it, but you can learn why endocrinologists recommend it here.

4. Noise Canceling Headphones

Not only do they work great as a gift for travelers who fly a lot, these Sony Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones are also perfect for drowning out the sound of screaming toddlers, garbage trucks, barking dogs, and any other random noise making its way into your home office. With the onboard microphone, they’re also wonderful during video conference calls!

5. Foot Hammock

Yes, it’s a mini hammock for your feet! Feeling the need to kick back and get comfortable in your ergonomic office chair? Let your hair down, and put your feet up, on this wonderfully fun office invention that hangs under your desk. Perfect for taking a work break to watch some cat videos… or for your own cat to take a nap.

6. Ergonomic Office Chair

Speaking of ergonomic office chairs, a really good one can make working from home all day a lot more comfortable and bearable. I own the amazing Herman Miller Aeron, basically the king of all office chairs.

Want a comfortable and stylish office chair that’s a bit more affordable, and comes in more colors? The Steelcase Series 1 is a great option.

Even tighter budget? Try the XUER Mesh Computer Chair. Your back & neck will thank you for it!

7. Convertible Desk Riser

Don’t want to buy a complete standing desk? You can convert your existing desk into a standing one with this innovative Vivo Convertible Desk Riser. It can support two desktop monitors and a keyboard, allowing you to raise them up to 17 inches higher than your traditional desk to allow working while standing.

8. Portable Bluetooth Speaker

When you don’t want to wear headphones, but are still in the mood to work to your favorite music, blast those tunes in your home office with this Sony Portable Bluetooth Speaker. Take it with you around the house, and enjoy up to 24-hours of wireless battery life on a single charge.

9. LED Color Changing Lights

If you’re waking up before sunrise, or working late into the night, setting the ambience of your office with some colorful led lighting is a wonderful way to enjoy working from home a bit more. My office is equipped with a Philips Hue Color Ambiance LED Starter Kit but you can also get something like this table lamp too.

10. Handmade Coffee Mug

Nothing makes an office feel extra special like a handmade coffee mug! Mine is from this Etsy Shop based in Ukraine, and they only make a limited number of each design. A beautiful ceramic mug created with love for nature and the mountains! Check out the other designs they have available too.

11. Mechanical Bluetooth Keyboard

I have a thing for old-school mechanical keyboards. There’s just something special about the “THWACK!” of each keystroke. Well you can get that magic back with the Keychron K2 Bluetooth Keyboard which works with both PC and Macs. It has color LEDs under the keys too, which is super fun at night. The battery lasts about a week of regular use before it needs to be recharged.

12. Anti-Fatigue Office Mat

A must-have office accessory to go with your standing desk setup. This super cushy floor mat from Gorilla Grip helps reduce foot and leg fatigue when standing at your desk for a few hours.

13. House Plants

Liven up your home office environment with some potted plants from TheSill.com! Choose from easy-to-care for live plants, or fake ones — either will help give your workspace a bit more color & life.

Potted plants have really taken off during the pandemic, as more people try to spruce up their living spaces and home offices due to all the time we’ve been forced to spend at home.

14. Fine Art Photography Prints!

Ok, I’m going to get a bit self-promotional here, but all the photography I have hanging around my office are images I’ve shot during the course of my adventures around the world.

From Antarctica to Afghanistan, I’ve put together a gallery of my favorite images if you’d like to purchase some interesting new artwork to spruce up the walls of someone’s home office (or your own!)

These photography prints come in a few different sizes and mounting options. My favorite are the metal prints with a floating wall mount. 10% of all my print sales are donated to the National Park Foundation — an organization who works tirelessly to preserve our wild places.

15. Office Cat

Everyone needs an official office cat to improve their work-from-home experience. A furry ball of fluff to squeeze when stress levels start increasing.

No, you can’t have this one. This one is mine.

Happy Holidays This Season!

Well, that’s it for the best work from home gifts for 2022. I hope you found some unique gift ideas for the remote worker in your life who likes to stay productive.

Whether you’re shopping for a birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwansa, or even Festivus — you can’t go wrong with these fun gifts for people who work from home! ★

My Amazon Shop

Check out my full Amazon Shop to see all my favorite travel, photography, and outdoor gear.

Visit My Amazon Shop

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Nomadic Living

Want to live & work from a Caribbean island or a historic European city? Special international freelance visas for digital nomads and remote workers are finally here!

Traveling the world while working online from your laptop has been a dream for millions of self-proclaimed digital nomads — including me.

However working from foreign countries while traveling on a tourist visa is technically illegal in most places.

Tourist visas also usually expire after 30-90 days, and it’s not always easy to renew them. What if you want to stay longer?

That doesn’t stop digital nomads from working while traveling, but it can make things complicated, and with travel restrictions due to COVID-19, it’s much more difficult to work & travel internationally.

Visa laws in most countries are not set up to deal with this new class of modern nomads who are living and working remotely around the world.

But that’s finally starting to change, as some countries have recognized the need for so-called “digital nomad visas”, “remote work visas”, or “freelancer visas” specifically to entice foreigners to come work & contribute to their economies.

Many of these destinations are hoping the remote work visas will generate income to help make-up for lost tourism revenue due to the pandemic.

Hi, I’m Matthew Karsten

I’ve been traveling the world for 10+ years as a professional photographer & writer. I hope you enjoy my nomadic living tips! If you find them useful, using my affiliate links to book something will give me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

About The Author

Digital Nomads vs Freelancers

Digital nomads are basically remote workers who travel to different locations on a regular basis. They use modern technology to work from coffee shops, hotels, co-working spaces, or libraries with a WiFi connected laptop or smartphone from anywhere in the world.

Freelancers are self-employed, working for themselves or other companies as independent contractors. Freelancers can travel while they work, or just work from home while living in one place on a long-term basis.

The two are similar, but not exactly the same. The visas listed below can be obtained by both kinds of workers, digital nomads and freelancers.

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Best Countries With Visas For Digital Nomads

1. Antigua & Barbuda

The Caribbean island nation of Antigua & Barbuda has announced a digital nomad visa called the Nomad Digital Residence (NDR). It’s for remote workers who can show the means to support themselves and any family members joining them.

This visa is good for 2-years, and visitors will be required to maintain their own health insurance plan while staying within the country and enjoying its 365 different beaches.

Basic Conditions

• You own a location independent business (and/or)
• You work remotely for a company based outside of Antigua & Barbuda
• You earn at least $50,000 per year
• You have your own travel/health insurance plan

How To Apply

• Fill out the online application form
• Provide proof of employment and a police background check.
• Pay the visa fee: $1,500 for one person, $2,000 for a couple, $3000 for a family of 3 or more.

2. Bali

The beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia has long been a popular location for remote workers to base themselves. And while there are no formal details just yet, Bali has just announced they are looking to implement a brand new digital nomad visa sometime later this year.

The Bali remote work visa would be good for up to 5-years, and holders of the visa would NOT have to pay taxes on any income earned outside Bali.

This is big news! I’ll make sure to post any updates on details of Bali’s digital nomad visa as they become available. I’m sure many nomadic types would love to take advantage of such a visa, and work from Bali legally.

3. Barbados

Barbados has also opened its borders to digital nomads and remote workers who are looking to escape the pandemic while basing themselves in a beautiful island destination.

The “Barbados Welcome Stamp” is a special 12-month visa for remote workers, which can also be renewed for even longer. Why not live next to the beach and work from home in Barbados!

Basic Conditions

• You own a location independent business (and/or)
• You work remotely for a company based outside of Barbados
• You earn at least $50,000 per year
• You must undergo mandatory COVID-19 test and 48-hour quarantine

How To Apply

• Fill out the online application form
• Submit all required paperwork and pay the $2000 visa fee.

4. Bermuda

Bermuda joined the remote work visa club! Their recently released “Work From Bermuda” digital nomad visa is just an expansion of an older residency program, which allows digital nomads and remote workers to stay in the country for up to a year.

Aimed at professionals who normally work from home, they hope the new visa will attract long-term travelers who want to base themselves from an island destination.

Basic Conditions

• You own a location independent business (and/or)
• You work remotely for a company based outside of Bermuda
• No minimum income requirement!
• You must undergo mandatory COVID-19 test
• Show proof of travel insurance

How To Apply

• Fill out the online application form
• Submit any required paperwork and pay the $263 visa fee.

5. Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands launched a special visa for digital nomads called the Global Citizen Certificate (GCC). It allows travelers to stay in the islands for up to 2 years.

The income requirements are much steeper than other countries in this list though: individuals must provide proof of an annual salary of at least $100,000, or $150,000 for couples.

Basic Conditions

• You must be employed by an entity outside of the Cayman Islands.
• A notarized bank reference letter.
• Applicants are subject to background checks.
• Show proof of health insurance coverage.

How To Apply

• Fill out the online application form
• Submit required paperwork and pay the application fee of $1,469.

6. Costa Rica

There are many digital nomads who choose to base themselves in Costa Rica due to the relaxed lifestyle, great surfing, nice beaches, and diverse landscape of volcanoes, waterfalls, and jungle.

Costa Rica has a freelancer visa called the Rentista, allowing foreigners to stay for up to 2-years, with the ability to extend it. Often used by retirees with a fixed income and some entrepreneurs — because you can’t be an employee for another company on the Rentista.

Basic Conditions

• Show an average income of $3000 USD per month.
• Obtain travel medical insurance that will cover them in Costa Rica.

How To Apply

• The application process for Costa Rica’s new Digital Nomad Visa is still being worked on at this time. Applying for the Rentista Visa can be done on Costa Rica’s Migracion Website, but hiring an immigration lawyer is recommended.
• All your documents must be translated into Spanish, as well as authenticated in your home country.
• Pay the visa fee (unknown yet for the Digital Nomad Visa, and $250 USD for the Rentista Visa).

7. Croatia

As of January 2021, Croatia has started issuing digital nomad visas. The visa is available for different lengths of time, with a maximum of 12-months. From what I’ve read, it seems you need to physically be in Croatia to apply for this long-term residence permit, you can’t apply from overseas.

basic conditions

• Provide proof of self-employment or ability to work remotely (written statement, employment agreement, client contracts, etc)
• Minimum of €2500 EURO per month in income or savings
• Pass a criminal background check from your home country
• Proof of accommodation/rental agreement
• Obtain travel/health insurance valid for length of stay

How To Apply

• Obtain an OIB identification number
• Fill out the application form found here
• (2) Passport photos
• Pay the application fee of 590 kuna plus 35 kuna in tax stamps

8. Czech Republic

Spend your weekends exploring the historical towns and mountains of this Central European country, and work remotely during the week using their fast internet connection! The Czech Republic offers a freelancer visa called the Zivno. It’s valid for one year, and can be extended too. It’s a bit more complicated than other visas in this list, but it’s doable.

Basic Conditions

• You have a trade license for one of the trades listed here
• Proof of accommodation for at least a year
• Proof of at least €5,587 in your bank account (per person)
• Pay about 1,800 Kč ($80 USD) per month in local taxes

How To Apply

• It’s probably wise to hire an agency like this one to help you.
• Gather this list of required documents
• Make appointment at a Czech embassy for the long-stay visa
• Pay the visa fee of €100

9. Dubai (UAE)

The city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has just launched their own one-year virtual working program in October allowing digital nomads and remote workers to live and work by the beach from their famous desert oasis mega-city. Dubai was awarded a ‘Safe Travels’ stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), recognising their work to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The new remote work visa gives you the freedom to come to Dubai, bring your family, work remotely all while remaining employed in your home country. Dubai does not levy income tax on individuals. You also get access to all required services, including telecoms, utilities, and schooling options.

Basic Conditions

• Proof of Employment from current employer with a one-year contract, or proof of ownership of company.
• Minimum of $5,000 USD per month salary, last months’ payslip and 3 preceding months’ bank statements.
• Health insurance with UAE coverage validity.

How To Apply

• Fill out the request for application section here.
• Pay the visa fee of $287 USD visa fee

10. Estonia

Estonia became the first country to create an e-residency program that allows foreign entrepreneurs to license an EU-based online business. Then, in June 2020, they also opened up a one-year digital nomad and freelancer visa that allows foreigners to live in the country while working remotely.

Basic Conditions

• You own a location independent business (and/or)
• You work remotely for a company based outside of Estonia
• You earn at least €3504 per month for the last 6-months

How To Apply

• Fill out the online application form, sign it, and make an appointment at your nearest Estonian Embassy/Consulate to submit it in person.
• There are two types of digital nomad visas: Type C (short stay) costs €80, and Type D (long stay) costs €100.

11. Georgia

Partly due to the dramatic drop in tourism because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the country of Georgia is one of the latest to offer a digital nomad visa called “Remotely from Georgia” to help stimulate their economy. If you’re a remote worker, why not wait out the pandemic and work from a country known for its low-cost of living, colorful cities, and epic mountain landscapes?

Basic Conditions

• You own a location independent business (and/or)
• You work remotely for a company based outside of Georgia
• You must prove financial ability to pay taxes while staying in Georgia
• You earn at least $2000 per month
• You must undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine
• Obtain travel insurance valid for six months

How To Apply

• Fill out the online application form

12. Germany

Germany has its own special freelance visa called the Aufenthaltserlaubnis für selbständige Tätigkeit (good luck saying that!). It’s a residence permit that allows foreign freelancers and self-employed people live in Germany for 6-months up to 3-years. One downside is that it can take 3-4 months to get approved for this visa. Plus speaking German, or knowing someone who does, will help a lot.

Basic Conditions

• You need an address in Germany.
• Proof of health insurance.
• Proof of financial self-sustainability.
• Work clients based in Germany. They want to see that you are providing services that will help the local economy.

How To Apply

• Gather all documents required here.
• Secure a residence in Germany
• Book a visa appointment at the immigration office here.
• Pay the visa fee of €100

13. Hungary

The nation of Hungary has long been a favorite stop for digital nomads, especially the capital city of Budapest. Well now they’ve made it even easier to stay long-term, with their new “White Card” – a special 1-year long digital nomad residency program.

Basic Conditions

• Not for EU nationals, only 3rd country nationals can apply.
• You can not work for a Hungarian company.
• Financial self-sustainability. Must show income equivalent to at least €2000 per month.
• The white card is valid for one year, with the ability to renew for another year.
• The White Card does not give family members automatic residency.

How To Apply

• As of February 2022, details on how to apply for a White Card haven’t been released by the government yet.

14: Iceland

Yes, you read that right. Iceland has its own long-term visa for remote workers and digital nomads! Iceland is one of my favorite countries in the world, there is sooooo much cool stuff to see there. Landscapes that look like they were crafted from your wildest dreams.

Iceland’s long-term visa is good for only 6-months though, so it’s one of the shortest digital nomad visas available. If you apply while you’re already in the European Schengen Area, then it’s only good for 90-days.

So that means you can’t spend 3-months vacationing in Europe, then try to get this special visa to stay another 6-months on top of that.

Basic Conditions

• You must own your own location independent business or work remotely for a company located outside of Iceland
• Provide proof of your (self)employment
• Show a minimum monthly income of 1,000,000 ISK (about $7,763 USD) or 1,300,000 ISK for a couple
• Proof of travel/health insurance coverage for Iceland

How To Apply

• Complete the application form found here
• Pay the 7800 ISK processing fee

15: Malta

Malta has created its own Digital Nomad Residence Permit specifically targeting remote workers from outside the EU. The Mediterranean island of Malta has been attractive to digital nomads for years now, due to its sunny island lifestyle, widely spoken English, and strong internet infrastructure (including nationwide 5G service).

It’s also located close to mainland Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East — which means there are many opportunities for travel addicts to get out and explore nearby.

To qualify for Malta’s one year long Nomad Residence Permit, applicants must prove they can work remotely via the internet. A permit holder may renew their Nomad Residence in Malta for a maximum of up to 3 years.

Basic Conditions

• You must work for an employer registered in a foreign country, conduct business for a company registered in a foreign country as a shareholder or partner, or offer freelance or consulting services to clients whose permanent establishments are in a foreign country.
• Applicants must reach a gross monthly income threshold of €2,700 EURO.
• Proof of travel/health insurance coverage for your stay in Malta
• Hold a valid property rental or purchase agreement in Malta
• Pass a background verification check

How To Apply

• Complete the Application Form
• Pay the €300 EURO administrative fee

16: Mauritius

Mauritius is another island nation that has just launched their own special visa for remote workers. It’s a stunningly beautiful country, with crystal clear water, thick jungle, and epic mountain peaks to climb.

To qualify for their one year long (and completely FREE) Premium Visa, you need to produce proof of your long stay plans and sufficient travel and health insurance during your stay.

Basic Conditions

• You must own your own location independent business or work remotely for a company located outside of Mauritius
• Proof of plans to stay in Mauritius – they may ask for details about the purpose of your visit and intended accommodation
• Proof of travel/health insurance coverage for your stay in Mauritius

How To Apply

• Complete the application form
• There is no visa fee, it’s free!

17. Mexico

Mexico is a favorite hot-spot for digital nomads, partly due to their long 6-month tourist visa, however they also offer a Temporary Resident Visa that’s good for one year with the ability to renew for another 3 years.

You will need to provide documents proving that you had a monthly income of at least $1,620 USD over the last 6-months or a bank account balance of $27,000. Mexico is open to offering temporary residency to remote workers that are financially self-sufficient.

Basic Conditions

• You own a location independent business (and/or)
• You work remotely for a company based outside of Mexico
• You earn at least $1,620 USD per month or have a bank balance of $27,000.

How To Apply

• Gather required documents and complete the application form.
• Make an appointment at the nearest Mexican consulate.

18. Norway

Norway has been in the news a lot lately, touted as a Scandinavian paradise with its strong social democratic system, wealth, natural beauty, and progressive population.

Lots of foreign digital nomads and remote workers would jump at the chance to move to Norway. And they can, for up to 2-years, with Norway’s Independent Contractor visa.

Basic Conditions

• You must be self-employed with a contract to work on a project for a business in Norway.
• You must have relevant qualifications to work in your profession.
• Proof of accommodation in Norway
• Show an income of at least €35,719 per year before tax

How To Apply

• Gather the required documents listed on Norway’s Directorate of Immigration website.
• Fill out the application, and bring it to the nearest Norwegian Embassy.
• Pay the visa application fee of about €600

19. Portugal

Portugal offers both a temporary resident visa (D7 passive income visa) and residence permit for independent workers and entrepreneurs for one year, with the ability to renew for up to 5 years. After 5 years you can apply for permanent residency.

As a foreign visa holder and resident, you will be given a residence card, the Título de Residência. This is your official ID in Portugal. The beautiful Portuguese island of Madeira in particular has become a remote worker hub, especially with the launch of their Digital Nomads Village.

Basic Conditions

• Proof of income from property, proof of business ownership, or proof of financial means.
• You earn at least €600 EURO per month.
• Proof of private travel/health insurance.
• Submit to a criminal background check.

How To Apply

• Gather the required documents, print out and complete the application form.
• Make an appointment at the nearest Portuguese consulate.
• Pay the €83 EUR visa fee and €72 EUR resident permit fee.

20. Spain

Spain has a Non-Lucrative Visa which allows foreigners to stay in Spain for at least a year, with the ability to renew. With it’s low-cost of living and mix of beaches, mountains, and relaxed lifestyle, it’s a favorite with many location independent people. However technically you are not allowed to “work” on this visa — they’re looking for people who are “retired” and self-sufficient.

Basic Conditions

• Show that you can support yourself financially through investments or retirement income of at least €2151 per month or hold €25,816 in savings.
• Proof of private Spanish health insurance
• Get a police/FBI background check
• Get a Medical Certificate of Good Health

How To Apply

• You need to apply in person at the closest Spanish Consulate or Embassy.
• All your documents must be translated into Spanish, as well as authenticated in your home country.
• Sign a sworn statement before a Notary that you agree not to work while living in Spain.
• Pay the visa application fee of $140 USD

21. Anguilla (UK Territory)

Finally, the British territory of Anguilla has just launched their own special visa for digital nomads who would like to “work from home” on a beautiful Caribbean island destination. With only 3 confirmed COVID cases on the island and no fatalities, Anguilla was designated COVID-19 free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 2020.

There is an additional fee to pay, $2000 per individual or $3000 per family which covers two (2) tests per person, surveillance and costs associated with the additional public health presence, the cost of extended immigration time/entry and a digital work permit.

How To Apply

• To apply for the year-long stay, click here.
• Pay the visa fee of $2000 USD per individual, or $3000 per family.

Living A Nomadic Life Overseas

This relatively new phenomenon of countries launching digital nomad visas to attract remote workers was predicted over 20-years ago by Japanese technologist Tsugio Makimoto who wrote that remote working would force nations “to compete for citizens”, and that digital nomad-ism would prompt “declines in materialism and nationalism”.

His prophecy is coming true, and I fully expect to see many more nations opening up their borders to these “citizens of the world” who are able to work remotely from their laptops in the years to come.

The future of remote work is going to be interesting, that’s for sure! ★

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READ MORE DIGITAL NOMAD TIPS

I hope you enjoyed my guide to countries with digital nomad & remote work visas! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

• How To Make Extra Money On The Side
• Useful Tips For Digital Nomads
• The Best Jobs That Let You Travel
• How To Work From Home
• Becoming A Freelance Photographer

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Have any questions about remote work visas? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Nomadic Living

I’m a digital nomad. This means I can work from anywhere in the world. Here are some tips for how to become a digital nomad and travel long-term if you’d like to give it a try.

After 10-years working remotely as a digital nomad, living in foreign countries and traveling around the world while earning income online — I’ve learned a lot about nomadic living.

I’ve based myself in places like Mexico, Thailand, Nicaragua, Italy, Spain, and South Africa over the course of my travels. I’ve also visited over 50 different countries while working from my laptop.

In fact, I’m currently writing this article from a Greek island overlooking the sea. That’s my son above fact-checking my work!

Living as a digital nomad, you’re able to see incredible places, learn from different cultures, and work when or where you want to — true freedom.

As the reality of a worldwide recession sets in, location independence and remote work opportunities have become increasingly sought after. Lately I’ve been getting questions about how to become a digital nomad.

So I thought it was about time I put together a free guide sharing some of my best tips and advice for others who want to give it a shot in 2023!

Why listen to me? Experience! I’ve been traveling around the world for ten years as a digital nomad, while visiting over 50 countries.

Matthew Karsten

Here’s everything we’re going to cover (if you want to skip around).

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What Is A Digital Nomad?

Digital nomads are remote workers who travel to different locations on a regular basis. They use modern technology to work from coffee shops, hotels, co-working spaces, or libraries with a WiFi connected laptop or smartphone from anywhere in the world.

There are many types of digital nomads out there. Some people travel around their own country by campervan or RV. Some live on sailboats, working from different ports of call.

Others stay in backpacker hostels or rent Airbnb apartments while flying from country to country.

Complete freedom of movement while working online is the general idea.

Pros & Cons Of Location Independence

The Benefits

There are many upsides to the location independence that digital nomads enjoy. Who wouldn’t want to check off their ultimate bucket list while working from a laptop anywhere in the world?

• Save money living in a low cost-of-living area
• The flexibility to live where you want
• Ditch the toxic environment of office politics
• Experience new cultures & make new friends
• Learn new skills or languages
• Broaden your mind through travel experiences
• Set your own schedule and take time off when you want to
• Spend winters on the beach, and summers in the mountains!

The Downsides

Working from anywhere is a dream for many people. But like all life choices, there are both pros and cons to a nomadic lifestyle. Here are some of the downsides:

• Moving constantly is exhausting
• Your productivity can suffer
• Digital nomads often battle loneliness
• Finding stability is difficult
• A general lack of private space
• Travel loses its luster & wow factor

After 10-years exploring the world, these downsides finally caught up with me, and I moved back to the United States with my wife and kid and bought a home.

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy my nomadic life for all those years! Just for me, living out of bags for so long eventually lost its charm. I was ready to start a family, settle down, work from home, and travel less.

Yet because I’ve been around the block, I’m happy to share my experiences with those who are just getting started with the digital nomad lifestyle!

Tips For Becoming A Digital Nomad

STEP 1: How Digital Nomads Make Money

So, you’re ready to give nomadic life a shot. Well before you can quit your job and travel as a digital nomad, you need to figure out how to make money online.

Luckily there are many options out there, which continue to grow each year as businesses downsize and hire remote workers to reduce physical costs like office space.

The global pandemic has only accelerated this transformation.

You can work for other companies remotely, or become an entrepreneur and start your own online based business.

Digital Nomad Job Examples

It would be impossible to list all jobs that can be done remotely, but these are some frequent examples I’ve come across during my travels. For an even larger list of jobs that allow you to travel, click here.

Personally, I run a travel blog. It’s just what I’m good at, and what I enjoy. There are many types of blogging options out there — food blogging, DIY blogging, personal finance blogs, gear blogs, hiking blogs, photography blogging, etc.

If you’re interested in starting a blog to make money writing about something you love, I recommend you start here.

Remote Work & Entrepreneurship Resources

Figuring out how you’re going to earn money as a digital nomad is one of the biggest hurdles to location independence.

Unfortunately I can’t tell you exactly what to do — everyone has their own skill set, experience, and preferences. You’ll need to figure it out for yourself.

What I CAN do is point you in the right direction with the following books and websites that I’ve found super helpful over the years!

They helped me get to where I am today, so I’m sure they’ll help you too.

BOOKS

• Remote: No Office Required by Jason Fried aims to help you convince your boss why it makes sense to allow you to work remotely.
• The 100 Dollar Startup by Chris Guillebeau interviews 50 different people who started successful businesses for as little as $100.
• The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss gives tips for working less and earning more by starting a business and hiring others to run it.
• Job Escape Plan by Jyotsna Ramachandran explains the steps of building a location independent business on the side before quitting your job.
• Rework by Jason Fried shows you how succeed with starting a business as quickly and easily as possible in the modern world.

WEBSITES

• Flexjobs has an updated job board for remote work opportunities.
• Remote.co is dedicated to resources for remote workers.
• How To Become A Freelancer shares the basics of a freelance career.
• Power To Fly lists dream jobs around the world.
• We Work Remotely is the largest remote work community online.
• Working Traveller is a place where employers can hire digital nomads.

STEP 2: The Logistics Of Nomadic Life

Ok, so you’ve found a way to earn income remotely. But there’s much more to becoming a digital nomad.

Things you may not have considered like wifi availability, registering your business, banking, communication, physical mail, insurance, health considerations, where to stay, and much more.

So let’s dive in!

Starting A Business

If you’re starting a new business in the United States, it needs to be set up properly. Generally I recommend that people start as a sole-proprietor to make things simple.

Once you begin earning regular income, you can change it over to an LLC for some tax & legal benefits. Legal Zoom is a good site for registering your business in your state. It’s what I used and they make it easy to do online.

Taxes For Digital Nomads

How do you pay taxes as a digital nomad? Basically, Americans need to file taxes even if they are living overseas. This is not true for most countries.

There are some exceptions, for example if you spend most of the year outside the United States, and pay taxes to the foreign country you’re living in, you can claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, which allows you to avoid paying US taxes on up to $100,000 worth of income.

Some people set up companies based from digital nomad friendly countries like Singapore to reduce their tax bill.

If you’re serious about becoming a digital nomad, you should eventually hire a good accountant who specializes in working with people who live overseas.

Banking For Digital Nomads

Managing your money while traveling can have its own set of challenges. For example, cards getting canceled when they’re used from foreign countries, and how to get paid while living overseas.

I highly recommend picking up a Wise Account (their fees are cheaper than PayPal, but you should have a PayPal account too).

If you’re not from the US or UK, Payoneer is also a good option.

Having a good travel credit card is also very helpful, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It has no foreign transaction fees, includes car rental insurance, boasts a low annual fee, and will ultimately help you score free flights the more you use it through collecting points & miles.

Staying Connected

What’s the first question every digital nomad asks a hotel, coffee shop, or Airbnb owner? How fast is the WiFi!

Digital nomads can only work when they have a fast & reliable internet connection, so good WiFi is incredibly important. Luckily you can find decent internet connections in many places around the world now.

I recommend downloading the SpeedTest App to help you determine connection speeds, and make sure to read my guide on the best international cell phone plans for travelers and nomads.

Virtual phone numbers are also very handy — like from Google Voice, Skype, or MySudo. They allow you to have a US number for things like 2 Factor Authentication (2FA).

Signal is a wonderful secure messaging app that’s far safer than Facebook or WhatsApp.

Picking A VPN To Stay Secure

The internet is censored in many parts of the world, so to ensure you can access the websites you want (plus an extra level of privacy), it’s important to download a good VPN (virtual private network) before you leave.

I personally use Proton VPN, they have an iPhone app too. Love it!

How To Receive Mail & Packages

Receiving mail when you’re moving around all the time used to be a problem, but it’s not anymore. Signing up for a virtual mail service like Earth Class Mail gives you a physical address to send important mail, with the ability to read your mail online and get it forwarded anywhere you want.

Insurance For Digital Nomads

Accidents happen. And without insurance, depending on the country you’re in, you could be screwed. Luckily there are some good health insurance options specifically for digital nomads. The two most popular are SafetyWing and World Nomads. I’ve used them both!

You can learn more about insurance for nomads here.

Getting Around

Once you fly to your destination, there are a few ways to get around. Unlike the United States, many countries have much better public transportation systems in place. Buses, trains, and taxi service are all viable options.

In other countries, its possible (and not too expensive) to rent a motorbike or small car for months at a time. In Thailand and the Philippines I rented scooters, in Mexico, Spain and Italy I used public transportation and simply rented a car when needed.

Finding Accommodation

• Booking.com is the best hotel & hostel search engine I’ve found for locating short-term accommodation. It’s really easy to use.
• Airbnb.com is where most digital nomads go if they want to rent a local apartment for a month or two. More convenient than local classified ads.
• Coliving.com is a site that specializes in sharing long-term accommodation with other digital nomads around the world.

Making Friends

Isn’t it lonely being a digital nomad? Sure, but there are ways to mitigate that feeling. Backpacker hostels are a fun way to meet other travelers, but it can be tough to get work done in a party atmosphere like that.

Working from cafes or co-working spaces is one way to put yourself in a position to meet like-minded people no matter where you are.

There are expat communities in virtually every country, and you’ll be able to find other foreigners who are looking to meet new people. There are also some good digital nomad Facebook Groups like Global Digital Nomad Network and Digital Nomads Around The World.

You can go to local events, festivals, take a language class, search for local meetup groups through MeetUp.com or Couchsurfing.com

Of course, there’s always Tinder too!

Emergency Backup Plans

When you’re traveling by yourself overseas, it’s always wise to have an emergency fund set aside for, well, emergencies. A death in the family, a car accident, getting robbed, running out of money, political unrest, natural disasters, a worldwide pandemic, alien invasion, etc.

You want to be able to fly home quickly, and have enough money for accommodation if needed, and maybe to ride out a few months without any income. You never know! Make sure to read my guide to travel safety too.

I’d recommend setting aside $3000 – $5000 in a separate checking or savings account that you won’t be tempted to touch while you’re traveling.

STEP 3: Where To Go?

Working On Tourist Visas

Most digital nomads travel on tourist visas, which is kind of a legal grey-area. You are not technically supposed to “work” on a tourist visa.

Unfortunately digital nomads are not well understood in many parts of the world, and the laws are not set up kindly for us. While we are technically working, we’re not taking jobs away from locals — which is what work visas try to prevent.

When immigration asks what you’re doing in their country, most digital nomads say “tourist”.

When officials ask what I do for a living, I say I work in marketing, and I’m traveling on vacation. Keep it simple. Complicated explanations will get you pulled aside for more questioning, and possibly denied entry if they don’t like or understand your answer.

Digital Nomad Work Visas

There are a few progressive-thinking governments out there that have been trying to attract digital nomads to come live and work in their countries. They’ve created special remote work visas that you can apply for. Some examples:

• Estonia
• Georgia
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Croatia

Popular Digital Nomad Destinations

Many digital nomads seem to congregate in certain “hub” countries due to a combination of low-cost living, decent internet access, and the ability to renew tourist visas over and over again.

I’ve lived in a few of these locations over the years, like Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Below are some of the most common ones, but you can do even more research on this website.

• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Mexico
• Portugal
• Hungary
• Spain
• Colombia

But you don’t need to live in a foreign country to be a digital nomad.

There are many remote workers who live in their own country — for example I lived temporarily in Colorado, California, Texas and now Utah over the past few years.

Many digital nomads buy RVs or convert vans into homes too.

The key is location independence — freedom to move without many obstacles.

STEP 4: Making The Digital Nomad Leap

Saving Money

While it’s certainly possible to travel very cheaply, it’s not free, and you’ll need to save some money before starting your adventure around the world.

If you currently have a day job, you’ll need to try and downsize your lifestyle, spend less, maybe find a way to earn some side income, or take on a second part-time job on nights and weekends.

I DO NOT recommend quitting your day job until you either have a very healthy savings account that will pay for your travel, or you’ve already built up a side-hustle that is making regular income.

It’s not fun running out of money in a foreign country!

Build your online business first, or find a job that allows you to work remotely before leaving to travel as a digital nomad. Here are some articles to help:

• How To Save Money Before Traveling
• How To Make Extra Money On The Side

Getting Rid Of Your Things

There was something magical about selling or donating most of my worldly possessions back before I left the country. I swear it was therapeutic.

Embrace minimalism, and start listing your crap on Craigslist, Ebay, and Facebook Marketplace. It will be hard to part with things at first, but it eventually becomes addicting.

You can keep sentimental stuff like photos, important papers, or special heirlooms with family members or rent a small storage unit.

Optimizing your life to fit inside a backpack, you’ll soon realize just how little we really need to survive.

Dealing With Criticism

Trying to explain to family and friends that you want to quit your job and travel around the world is often a difficult task. Many people won’t understand or support your choice.

Choosing to ignore the critics and try anyway can be tough, for myself included.

If everyone you know and love is telling you it sounds like a bad idea, you’ll start second-guessing yourself.

Just know that there are currently millions of digital nomads out there doing this, so you’re not alone.

Tell them you’re taking a Gap Year or Sabbatical, just as an experiment. Send them some books or articles to read — like this one.

If your digital nomad experiment doesn’t work out, you can simply come back and get a “real job” again. It’s not the end of the world!

A Little Dose Of Reality…

In our heavily marketed online world, it seems everyone and their grandmother is trying to sell you a course or workshop touting the miracles of making money online and/or traveling the world.

Unfortunately there’s lots of smoke & mirrors out there, and it can be daunting trying to figure out who is legit, and who’s just full of sh*t.

After 10-years working online, I’ve seen everything. The reality is that people CAN make money online and travel as digital nomads — but not everyone is successful. Some people just aren’t cut out for the lifestyle or running the business side of things.

But the same is true for any new endeavor, whether it’s opening a restaurant or going to medical school. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it!

It’s not easy. Becoming a digital nomad takes time, sacrifice, and hard work.

STILL WITH ME? GREAT! I know that was a long post. We’re just scratching the surface too — I’m writing a lot more on this topic soon, so make sure to sign up for my free monthly newsletter to get all my latest updates!

History & Future Of Digital Nomads

Now before I lose your attention to something else on the internet today, I wanted to share some fun digital nomad history with you.

The very first digital nomad was a guy named Steve Roberts who biked across America in 1984 while working from his Radio Shack Model 100 personal computer!

Writing articles from the road, then uploading them to his assistant in Ohio via a pay phone and a CompuServe account.

Then, in 1997, Japanese technologist Tsugio Makimoto predicted the rise of digital nomads in a book. He believed remote working would force nations “to compete for citizens”, and that digital nomad-ism would prompt “declines in materialism and nationalism”.

All of this was revolutionary back then, but look at us now…

These days I can post social media updates from a remote backpacking trip in the mountains of Afghanistan via satellite!

Remote work is only going to get easier in the future, as more companies realize they don’t need a physical office space anymore and new technologies like Elon Musk’s high-speed satellite internet service Starlink go online.

The future is looking bright for digital nomads and remote workers! ★

FAQ: Top Digital Nomad Questions

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READ MORE NOMADIC TRAVEL TIPS

I hope you enjoyed my guide to becoming a digital nomad! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

• What’s In My Travel Backpack?
• Useful Travel Photography Tips
• How To Become A Freelance Photographer
• Travel Scams You Need To Avoid
• This Is How I Get Paid To Travel

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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Best Tips For Working From Home

Work From Home

Working from home is not as easy as it sounds, and many people are suddenly learning this the hard way. Here are some tips that I hope will make it easier for you!

With the Coronavirus pandemic taking an economic, physical, and emotional toll around the world, millions of professionals have unexpectedly been forced to work from home and telecommute for the first time.

I’ve been working remotely (from home or in foreign countries) for the last 10 years while running my travel blogging business, and my wife Anna also works from home. We have a 1 year old son to look after too.

So I know from personal experience that it can be stressful & takes practice!

Working from home can be tricky when you have no coworkers or bosses nearby to keep you on track. It’s easy to get distracted, feel lonely, become overwhelmed, or stay unproductive!

So here are my best tips for working from home to help you tackle this new normal — who knows, you may never want to return to the office again!

My Best Working From Home Tips

My Home Office in Italy

1. Create A Home Office Or Workspace

Working from home doesn’t mean typing on your laptop from a beach hammock. Photos like that are usually staged and it just isn’t practical. Have you ever tried to read your laptop outside in the glaring sun?

One of the biggest challenges to working from home according to Stanford economics professor Nicholas Bloom is keeping work separate from the rest of your life. Building a dedicated workspace helps.

I highly recommend investing in things like a standing desk, ergonomic office chair, an external monitor for your laptop, hanging artwork on the walls, placing potted plants around (real or fake), and creating a workspace that helps YOU feel calm and productive. Whatever that may look like.

While working from your couch or the kitchen counter is possible, in my experience it’s much easier to get distracted if you don’t use a dedicated room or corner that you’ve designed specifically as a workspace. Here are some gift ideas for people who work from home too.

Anna’s Home Workspace

2. Stick To A Work Schedule

When I first started working from home many years ago, I would just work whenever I felt like it. Why not sleep until noon and work after that? Well, after a few months of this, I realized I wasn’t really getting much done. I kept putting off work because I could — there was no boss breathing down my neck.

Eventually you realize you’ll need a regular routine, much like when you were working from the office. A dedicated start time, an end time, and maybe even some kind of “commute” to act as a transition between your work day and home time.

Pick any hours you’d like of course, but then stick with them. Some people, like myself, work best in the mornings. Others, like my wife, prefer evenings.

Normally my morning “commute” consists of driving our son Dylan to daycare, then grabbing a coffee. Returning home to sit at my desk officially starts my workday.

3. Put Some Pants On!

I’ve certainly worked from home in my underwear on more than one occasion — with a glass of wine in one hand and a bag of cookies in the other. It can be fun, but generally the day ends up being pretty unproductive.

So now I tend to get dressed up for “work” just like when I had a typical 9 to 5 job, even while working from home.

You can definitely dress more relaxed, but working from your home computer without pants is probably best saved for causal Fridays.

Plus, with all the video conferencing going on these days, you probably want to appear presentable on camera. That also means taking a shower, shaving, hair, makeup, etc. Whatever your routine used to be — keep most of it.

Noise Canceling Headphones are Key…

4. Avoid Common Distractions

It’s so very easy to get distracted these days — in fact companies are making billions trying to figure out new ways to fight for your limited attention. These challenges are especially difficult for people who work from home.

I recommend completely logging out of social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter when you don’t need to access them for work purposes. Turn off certain notifications on your smartphone too.

If that’s still not enough, you can use software like Apple’s Screen Time that limits when you can even access these programs.

To keep from getting distracted by other things going on in your home, try picking up a pair of noise canceling headphones and listen to your favorite tunes.

You need to step it up and police yourself! Otherwise you’ll suddenly look at the clock realizing the day is over — with nothing to show for it.

5. Communicate With Loved Ones

When you start working from home, other people may not understand what it means. Family and friends may assume you have nothing to do all day, or can just postpone your work indefinitely to help them with random chores and errands.

That’s not how this works. Kindly explain that working from home doesn’t actually change too much — you still need to be strict with when work-time starts and ends. Don’t let them take advantage of the fact that you’re home.

Set boundaries and let people know there will be blocks of time when you need to focus on work and nothing else. Because if you’re not working, you’re not earning money! Working from home is not an extended vacation.

6. Get Some Exercise

Don’t neglect your body while working from home. Even if you sit at a desk all day, there are ways to exercise and stay healthy. Remember that in a normal office environment you’re moving around the building — so do the same at home.

Take a break and go for a walk down the street. Experiment with using a standing desk so you’re not sitting in a chair all day. Practice office stretching routines every few hours.

Maybe hit the gym or go for a run before/after work. Exercising on a regular basis will help you feel healthy and stay focused on the work at hand. You’ll be more productive.

7. Remember To Socialize

Working in a home office 5 days a week can be lonely. In a regular office setting you have coworkers to joke with or catch up on the latest gossip at the water cooler. Try to keep up with these types of social interactions — and find new ones.

Connect with other people through messaging programs like Slack or video calls like Zoom. Even text messaging works. Check up on coworkers, see how they’re doing, get book recommendations, or ask what they’ve been watching lately (I’m loving Hunters on Amazon Prime right now!)

You can also join online communities made up of others who work from home like you do. Because I’m a blogger, I’m part of some Facebook mastermind groups with others in the same field. We often share tips, struggles, and funny anecdotes that we can all relate to.

Relaxing in the Mountains

8. Find Time To Decompress

While the introverts among us (like me!) will thrive working from home, others might experience strong feelings of loneliness and depression without the normal office setting they’re used to.

This is one reason why it’s so important to decompress after work.

Go for a walk. Take a hike (if pandemic restrictions allow). Play with your pets or kids in the backyard. Do some yoga or meditation. Listen to music or a podcast. Jump on a video call with friends.

Whatever you need to relax and “turn off” work mode for the day, do it.

9. Take Sick Days

Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you should work if you’re feeling sick. If you work for yourself, it can be tempting to work in bed from your laptop. Don’t do this — it’s better to rest and get healthy again as soon as possible.

If you’re employed by another company, do they offer paid sick leave while you’re working remotely? What kinds of guidelines are in place for this scenario? Ask questions and talk to human resources to find out.

No one should be forced to work while sick, whether they’re working in a typical office setting or telecommuting from home. Get answers now so there are no misunderstandings. With so many people forced to work remotely for the first time — there are bound to be some problems.

Joking with my Coworker!

10. Working From Home With Kids

One benefit to working from home is the ability to spend more time with your family. But this can also be a headache, as I’m sure many are experiencing with schools shut down during the pandemic.

Trying to juggle parenting while working from home is difficult.

When we have to work at home with Dylan around, my wife and I try to take turns watching him while the other one works. Luckily he still takes afternoon naps, so we both get a 2 hour break in the afternoon.

Sometimes I’ll get up extra early to work while he’s sleeping, and Anna works late in the evening after he’s gone to bed. It can be tough — but manageable with good communication and planning.

Obviously this becomes much more difficult if there’s no one else to help you watch them. Sending your kids to daycare makes things easier, but it’s not an option for everyone.

Try to stock up on books, games, and puzzles to keep them entertained. Don’t be afraid to fire up Netflix Kids and let them watch shows or movies too. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!

Work From Home Tools & Resources

Great Software For Working From Home

• Asana
• Slack
• Dropbox
• Zoom
• Evernote
• Sanebox

Useful Work From Home Products

• Noise Canceling Headphones
• Adjustable Standing Desk
• Ergonomic Office Chair
• Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

Happy Remote Working!

So there you go, a few of my best tips for working from home after 10 years as a professional remote worker.

It can be a jarring experience in the beginning, but eventually you’ll become a pro. Good luck, stay safe out there, and don’t forget your pants!

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Have any questions about working from home? Do you have other suggestions to add? Let me know in the comments below!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Nomadic Living

How do long-term travelers and online businesses receive mail & packages while traveling? I use a virtual mailbox service that can scan and forward my mail anywhere.

I’ve been working as a digital nomad for the past 10-years, basing myself in multiple countries or simply living out of my backpack while traveling.

I’ve lived as an expat in Italy, France, Thailand, Mexico, and Spain.

Yet I have a virtual mailbox with a physical address in San Antonio, Texas.

Using this mailbox forwarding service, any incoming mail or packages are scanned, which I can then view through a dashboard to read my business or personal mail online.

From there, I can decide to scan the contents (letters), forward the mail/packages from my virtual PO box somewhere else, or have it shredded/recycled. I can even deposit checks from my computer!

My virtual mailbox service is incredibly helpful for running my online business and getting paid to travel around the world!

I use this virtual address to receive payments from clients, for business & personal bills, bank & credit card statements, legal documents, packages, and more.

Hi, I’m Matthew Karsten

I’ve been traveling the world for 10+ years as a professional photographer, writer, and digital nomad.

About The Author

Guide To Virtual Mail Forwarding In 2023

What Is A Virtual Mailbox?

A virtual mailbox is a special service that gives you an actual physical mailing address or virtual PO box that you can use as your permanent address for sending physical mail or packages, even if you’re traveling overseas.

Typical Virtual Mailbox Services Include:

• Online mail notification
• Online viewing of envelopes & packages
• Open and scan contents of your mail
• Mail forwarding service
• Shred, dispose or recycling of mail
• Package storage and shipping
• Check deposit service
• Signature upon delivery

Different online travel mailbox services offer different features. Some are more advanced than others.

There’s usually a base price with additional fees depending on which extra’s you want (like check deposit) or how much mail you receive.

Some virtual mailboxes offer a PO box address, while others offer a real physical street address — which is often required for many banks and official government correspondence.

Best Virtual Mailbox Services For Travel

1. Anytime Mailbox

COST: Starts at $5.99 USD per month

Anytime Mailbox is an international online postal mailbox service that can scan your mail, offers recycling and shredding, and mail forwarding. They have over 1200 address locations available worldwide in the US, Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania.

Plus they have their own iOS and Android apps to access your mail from your smartphone.

Anytime Mailbox is the cheapest virtual mailbox in this list, depending on what level of service you choose and where the address is. They also have physical locations that allow you to pick up your mail in person.

2. Earth Class Mail

COST: $69-$179 USD per month

Earth Class Mail is the virtual mailbox service that I personally use. Their suite of features is the most advanced, especially if you’re running an online business.

They have the largest number of US-based addresses for different states of all the services mentioned here. Their online software, features, speed, and sorting facilities are top-notch, but you’ll also pay a premium for it.

While expensive, I can’t imagine running my travel blog without virtual mailbox forwarding. It’s one business expense that’s totally worth it. I use it to receive client checks, important packages, business & personal banking correspondence, tax documents, everything!

The digital mailbox service integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, Bill.com, Dropbox, Google Drive, and more.

They also offer a fully-automated CheckStream Deposit Service if your business receives a lot of physical checks.

3. Traveling Mailbox

COST: $15-$159 USD per month

Traveling Mailbox is another decent mail forwarding service with 5 plans to choose depending on your needs. Like Earth Class Mail, all accounts include basic envelope scans, junk mail filtering, unlimited cloud storage and free mail shredding.

They have over 30 addresses around the US. Premium features like check deposits cost extra. There are additional fees if you go over your monthly limits. The service integrates with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox.

4. US Global Mail

COST: $10-$20 USD per month

US Global Mail has been around since 1998, and they offer individual and family plans for short-term (monthly) or long-term (1-2 year) periods.

They offer free letter storage for 180 days, and free package storage for 30 days. Mail forwarding rates are quite affordable. One major downside is that they only offer one address location in Houston, Texas. This isn’t ideal if you need your address to match your state of residence.

5. Post Scan Mail

COST: $10-$35 USD per month

Post Scan Mail is another virtual mailing service that allows you to open mail virtually, scan it, forward it, store it, or have it destroyed.

They offer unlimited shredding and recycling, so you don’t have to pay extra for getting rid of junk mail sent to your virtual address.

Post Scan Mail gives you free online storage for all your scans, whether they are scans of the documents of the envelopes. Their folders make organizing your mail easier too.

Who Should Consider A Virtual Mailbox?

Long-Term Travelers

You’ve saved money for years, and are now planning your dream trip around the world. Or maybe you snagged one of those new remote work visas. But who will take care of your mail? If you don’t want to burden family or friends with sorting your mail, a virtual mailbox is a perfect option.

Online Businesses

Are you running your online business from a home office? A virtual mailing address can help prevent extra junk mail, and give you a more prestigious address located in a big city. It will also give you an anonymous mailbox to keep your home address safe from prying eyes.

Digital Nomads

Are you one of the 4.8 million Americans who now call themselves digital nomads? Technology has made the digital office and nomadic living a reality for many, and now you don’t have to be tied down by physical mail either.

RVers & Vanlifers

Living out of a vehicle like an RV or campervan poses a challenge to receiving your mail & packages, especially if you’re on the road. Forward your mail to the next RV campground you plan to stop at, no matter what state you’re driving through.

Expats

Are you living overseas in a foreign country with a travel-friendly job, but want to keep a physical mailing address in the US for billing, voting, and tax purposes? Sign up for a virtual mailing address in your former home state.

How To Set Up Mail Forwarding

To officially authorize your virtual mail service to receive mail on your behalf, you need to complete USPS Form 1583 and have it notarized.

Unless you’re signing up for Earth Class Mail, who offers free complimentary notarized online activation, you’ll need to get the form notarized in person.

Or if you’re already outside the United States — through an online notary service like NotaryCam (which only costs $25).

Where To Pick Up Your Mail

So, now that you have your virtual mailbox set up, where do you actually forward your mail if you’re living out of an RV or backpacking overseas?

Hotels

Many nicer hotels will let you forward mail and packages to them if you have a reservation there. The problem is timing your stay with when the mail will arrive. I’ve done this a few times. It’s safer to book a room for a least a few days.

Coworking Spaces

Many co-working spaces allow members to receive mail at the office. Again, you may need to sign up to become a member for a week, a month, etc.

Local Post Offices

Some post offices in foreign countries allow you to forward your mail to them, to be picked up later.

FedEx, UPS, DHL

It’s also possible to send packages to the local office of these popular shipping companies, where you can then pick it up when you arrive. You’ll need to ship it via their particular service though. I’d call ahead to let them know what you want to do, and ask how long they’ll hold your package for you.

Virtual Mailbox Tips & Advice

• Reduce the amount of physical mail you generate by signing up for paperless billing and online statements. Opt out of credit card & insurance offers using https://www.optoutprescreen.com/
• Many financial institutions require a physical mailing address and don’t allow PO boxes. Make sure to choose a plan accordingly.
• When picking a virtual mailbox service, pay attention to the plan limits and figure out how much mail you think you’ll receive.
• You might be able to reduce your state taxes by setting up residency in a state with no income tax. Pick a virtual address in that same state.

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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Travel Jobs

Are you good with computers, following instructions, and social media? You might be the perfect fit to work as a virtual assistant making money online remotely.

Today, my friend (and my own VA) Jess shares her experience becoming a virtual assistant, along with tips for how to find jobs while traveling. Here’s Jess:

Hi guys! My name is Jess, and I work as Matt’s virtual assistant for this blog.

After traveling around the world full time for 9-months, my savings were starting to run out, and I was determined to find a travel job that would allow me to earn an income on the road.

I was already “living the dream”, now I just needed to figure out how to afford that dream!

After many trials and errors, I finally figured out how to make extra money traveling the world while working as a virtual assistant (VA).

In this article, I’m going to share how to start working as a virtual assistant, where to find virtual assistant jobs online, what skills are important to know, and tips for working & living remotely.

Virtual Assistant Job Guide 2022

My Search For A Travel-Friendly Job

I remember the moment I decided to become a virtual assistant. I thought to myself “If other people are doing this, why can’t I?”.

It all started when I wrote out a list of all the skills I had picked up from studying and working in digital marketing, photography & video throughout the years prior to my gap year.

I knew what I was good at, but I had no idea how I was going to find someone who needed my skills.

Somewhere along the way, I figured it all out – and now it’s time for me to pass this wisdom onto you my young Padawan. ;-)

What Is A Virtual Assistant?

This will change from client to client, but essentially a Virtual Assistant can do any digital task you need them to!

Most virtual assistants provide support to their clients by answering customer emails, updating websites, organizing files, bookkeeping, coordinating schedules, social media management, research, or even photo & video editing.

Basically, any small task that your client doesn’t want to do or doesn’t have time for. Freeing up valuable time that can be used on his or her primary business objectives.

In modern times, the need for an executive assistant to work in the same physical office space as their clients has reduced dramatically with the power of the internet, online tools, and new software.

Virtual Assistant Duties & Tasks

Virtual assistants can work as executive assistants, administrative assistants, or personal assistants depending on the client. Tasks may include things like:

Email Management

Answering customer support emails, highlighting promising business opportunities for the client to follow up on, declining unattractive offers, clearing out spam messages, or putting together a monthly newsletter.

Social Media Management

Scheduling posts on social media accounts like Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube. Designing graphics to use. Crafting descriptions. Researching hashtags. Maybe even responding to comments, updating profiles, and more.

Website Management

Formatting, editing, drafting, and scheduling blog posts on WordPress or another CMS (Content Management System) for the client’s website. Moderating the comments section. Fixing broken links and other general website maintenance tasks.

Administrative Tasks

Managing a client’s calendar, setting schedules, booking travel arrangements, creating spreadsheets, answering phone calls, etc.

Computer skills are also very important, as is knowledge of certain common software programs like:

• Word Processors (Microsoft Word, Google Documents)
• Spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets)
• Blogging Platforms (WordPress)
• Image Editors (Adobe Photoshop, Canva)
• Social Media Tools (Tailwind, Buffer)

Become A Virtual Assistant

Want to start your own business working as a virtual assistant? Learn the skills needed and how to land new clients.

Start Your VA Business Today

My Typical Day Working As Matt’s VA

While I’m going to share what my day looks like, there are all kinds of variations to this. Because virtual assistants can do all sorts of different tasks.

• 9 AM: Email Management
  Rise and shine! Time to check in on Slack (our team collaboration tool for organizing tasks, sending files and chatting about projects) to see if there’s anything to add to my to-do list for the week.
  
  

  Next, I respond to and organize emails as well as approve blog comments — which can start to pile up overnight. Matt receives a lot of similar questions & comments via email, so we have some standard replies for saving time. I save them as drafts and Matt adds his own personalizations before hitting “send”.

• 10 AM: Content Research & Blog Post Formatting
  I review Matt’s upcoming blog content, maybe do some extra research, or format unfinished blog posts so they’re ready to publish.

  We are constantly working to improve Expert Vagabond content, updating older blog posts with more relevant information, plus adding maps or additional imagery to enhance the reader experience.

• 12 PM: Social Media Management
  Over the past few months, I’ve worked on creating Matt’s Pinterest ‘brand’, to ensure that there is a consistent look and feel between all of his pins. Creating some eye-catching pins using his images.
  
  

  Once the Pinterest images are ready to go, it’s time to open up Tailwind to schedule the pins to go out for the next week. I create, source and schedule 15 – 20 pins per day. Matt recently decided to try out Flipboard as another platform for sourcing and sharing content, so I usually spend 30-minutes updating our online Flipboard ‘magazines’ for the week.

Looking For Travel Jobs?

There are many different jobs that allow you to travel the world while earning a living. Here are more examples:

Click Here For Free Guide

Benefits Of Working As A Virtual Assistant

1. Work From Anywhere In The World

For me, this cancels out ALL of the disadvantages of VA work. I found out about this position when I was traveling through Asia earlier this year.

My bank account was telling me it was time to go home, but I wasn’t ready to stop traveling yet.

Having the opportunity to work from anywhere gave me the freedom to live life on my own terms. I can work from home, from a coffee shop, from a different city, or even a foreign country!

2. Cut Costs On Your Commute

When I worked in a typical office in Dublin, I would spend €11 and 2.5 hours on my commute every day.

Working from home allows me to save €220 every month – that’s €2,640 every year. That’s the price of a new camera or an incredible holiday abroad. I’ll take that over commuting any day!

3. Set Your Own Hours

If working the 9 – 5 grind works for you, stick at it! But if not, how about finding a job that allows you to work at a time that suits you.

Not much a morning person? Do the late shift. Not much of a night owl either? Not a problem, working from 11am to 7pm solves that problem. This is the kind of flexibility you just don’t find in a typical office environment.

4. Spend More Time With Your Family

What would you do if someone gave you an extra 2.5 hours in your day? I spend mine with the people I love, doing the things I used to have to save for the weekends.

The Downside Of Virtual Assistant Jobs

1. Loneliness

If you are thinking of getting into the digital nomad world, you’re going to have to get used to the idea of being alone.

There’s no one sitting beside you to support you or even just have a little chat with over lunch. If this doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you should look into co-working spaces or networking events that you can go to in the evenings to get some human interaction in your day.

2. Distractions

I’m learning how to master this slowly but surely…

When there is no one looking over your shoulder all day, making sure you are focused on the task at hand, it is easy to become distracted by anything and everything!

You have to remember that you will only get paid for the hours you actually complete, not the 40 minutes you spend daydreaming out the window.

3. Self Discipline

Tying in nicely with the last point, self-discipline is a skill. Technically, you are your own boss now, so you have to make sure that you get the task done on time.

If you lack in self-discipline, you will lag in productivity. Set yourself boundaries, time frames and rules – then stick to them.

How Much Money Can You Earn?

Virtual assistants can usually make between $10 to $35 an hour with a median hourly rate of about $16. It will really depend on your skills, qualifications, and experience level.

If you’re just doing data entry, the pay might not be that great.

But if you’ve built up some basic graphic design skills, understand WordPress, know how to edit videos and photography, have in-depth experience with social media platforms, or other specialized knowledge, you can earn more.

Where To Find Virtual Assistant Jobs

If you’re ready to start making extra money on the side with a virtual assistant business, here are a few places to get started.

Freelancer Websites

• FlexJobs
• Upwork
• People Per Hour

Social Media

Let your family and friends know you’re looking for a virtual assistant job by posting it on social media. Networking is a powerful tool. You may be surprised who knows someone that may be able to help you up with a job.

In fact, this is how I got my job! By posting on social media that I was looking for VA work.

Reach Out To Potential Clients

I’m sure you follow some professional bloggers, YouTube video creators, or social media influencers who you’d love to work with. It doesn’t hurt to send them all a quick message via email offering your services.

Be friendly, don’t be pushy, and if they aren’t hiring — maybe they know someone who is?

Tips For Landing Your First VA Position

Step 1: Work On Your Skills

The first step is to define the skills that you can use as a Virtual Assistant. Not sure if you have the right skills for the job? No problem!

Put some hours aside every week to learn skills and within a few months, you will be ready to put your new knowledge to the test.

There are millions of Youtube videos you can watch that will teach you how to run a successful social media campaign, manage calendar appointments, edit video on Final Cut Pro, create social media images using Adobe Photoshop and more.

You can also sign up to Skillshare (2 months free with that link!) to get unlimited access to over 23,000 classes.

This is exactly what I did to improve my organizational skills, digital marketing, video editing and photography before I started to look for jobs online.

Step 2: Find The Right Industry

For me, I knew that I wanted to work in the travel industry so that immediately narrowed down my options.

A lot of people go straight to the internet to search for a job. I decided to start my job search using the “networking” route by telling everyone I knew what I wanted to do.

I told my family and friends “I’m looking for a Virtual Assisting role in the travel industry. If you know someone who might be able to help me, could you give them my details?”

Then I put the message out to my connections on Facebook and Instagram.

Within a week, a friend of mine posted that Matt from expertvagabond.com was looking for a virtual assistant! Moral of the story – put it out into the world, and the world will often support you.

Step 3: Create A CV & Cover Letter

Throw away that boring Microsoft Word CV that you created when you were 16 in computer class! It’s time for a modern upgrade.

My go-to tool for CV creation is Canva.com. Not only does it have a tonne of templates for you to use, but you can also customize them to really showcase your top skills and highlight the many reasons why someone should hire you.

Don’t be afraid to add a little bit of personality to your CV. Keep in mind that your potential employer is probably sifting through a hundred CV’s, so you want them to open yours and say “Ooooh, what’s this?”. Leave them feeling intrigued.

Please remember that your CV should only be 1 – 2 pages long and your cover letter should be 2 – 3 paragraphs maximum. Employers usually don’t have a lot of time to look at them, so you need to present the information as concisely as possible.

Step 4: Interview Prep

Now that you have nailed the CV & Cover Letter, it’s time to prepare for the interview stage.

It is almost 100% guaranteed that they are going to ask you to tell them more about yourself, so make sure to have a little elevator speech worked out in advance.

Remember you don’t have to solely focus on the business side of life. Give them an insight into your hobbies, where you get inspiration from and how your life has lead you to this new role.

This is your moment to show them exactly why you are perfect for their virtual assistant position, so take the time to discuss your skills, your experience, your education (even if it is just from Youtube and Skillshare!).

They will love to hear that you are constantly learning and improving your knowledge of the key skills needed for the role.

ALWAYS have 2 – 3 questions prepared to ask them at the end of the interview. If you don’t, it can look like you are not interested in finding out more about them or their business.

If they have already answered all of your questions throughout the interview, you can tell them the question you wanted to ask, and thank them for already answering it in so much detail.

Step 5: Go Above & Beyond

If you want to really knock their socks off, why not create an example of the work you will create for them.

Show them your social media image designs, or write out a sample travel blog post to show them how serious you are about taking these tasks off their hands.

Not only will you stand out from the crowd, but it will instantly build trust that you can get the job done.

In the past, I’ve created video CV’s for clients who have a background in Youtube and have even created a brand new CV in the style of my favorite book for a position to work with the book’s author.

You have to do whatever it takes to stand out from the hundreds of other candidates.

The truth is there are many advantages and disadvantages to this type of job, but if you can master the art of virtual assisting, the world is your oyster!

It takes dedication, drive and an enormous amount of self-discipline, but it is definitely a dream job that will give you the freedom to live life on your own terms (and travel if you want to).

If you are attempting to find a VA job at the moment, just remember that the first client is the hardest. If you can land that first client, the next 50 clients should be no problem.

So keep on trying, keep improving your skills, and don’t stop learning until you’re living it up swinging from a hammock somewhere with your laptop in one hand and a cocktail in the other! ★

BIO

Jess Glynn is the author of The Gap Year Guru and has worked in digital marketing for over 5 years, specializing in Social Media and Content Creation. In 2017, she decided to quit her job and write about her travels through Brazil, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines for 9 months. Follow her on Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter!

Virtual Assistant Job Resources

Remote Job Listing Websites

• FlexJobs.com
• Guavabean Facebook Group
• Remote.co
• Freelancer.com

Useful Tools & Software For VAs

• Canva
• Slack
• Trello
• WordPress

Become A Virtual Assistant

Want to start your own business working as a virtual assistant? Learn the skills needed and how to land new clients.

Start Your VA Business Today

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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Travel Blogging Tips

Want to become a successful travel blogger? Learn how to grow & improve your travel blog with the best tips I’ve learned after ten years of professional full-time blogging.

Continuing from my previous article about how to start a travel blog, it’s time to step it up a notch and share my best secrets for how to become a professional, successful travel blogger.

The word professional meaning you earn a good living from blogging.

I’ve been running a successful adventure travel blog for 10-years now. For the first year it was mainly for fun, but then I began to take it more seriously.

These days blogging is my sole source of income — and I earn six figures a year.

There’s nothing wrong with blogging as a hobby. In fact, that’s as far as most people get. But if my overflowing email inbox is any indication, many of you are dreaming of turning travel blogging into a job.

While it’s more difficult than most people think, this article is for those who are ready to attempt it anyway, regardless of the work involved.

Successful Travel Blogging In 2022

What Is A Professional Travel Blogger?

What does it mean to be a professional travel blogger? Well anyone can start a blog and become a “blogger”. The barrier to entry for blogging is small, which has both benefits and disadvantages.

For example, there are currently thousands of personal travel blogs online — so standing out from the crowd is tough.

However, my definition is those who earn a good portion (or all) of their income from travel blogging are considered professionals. This list is MUCH smaller. If I had to guess, I’d say only a couple hundred people make decent money ($2000+ per month) directly from their travel blogs.

Fortunately, I happen to be one of them after years of trial & error attempting to turn my passion for travel into a business. Which is why I’ve decided to share some of my best secrets with you today.

My suggestions here are certainly not the only roadmap to building a successful travel blog, they just happen to work for me.

Building An Audience Is Key!

While I could go into the different ways travel bloggers make money, that’s not what this particular post is about.

Everyone and their grandmother asks me how I make money from my travel blog, but the question they SHOULD be asking is how did I build an audience.

Because the hard truth is you’ll only earn income with your blog once you have a decent audience. Readers come first, money comes later.

So today we’ll cover a few different techniques for building an engaged audience on your travel blog, as well as unique tactics for getting yourself noticed by companies looking to work with bloggers.

Tips For Building A Successful Travel Blog

1: Create Useful Travel Content

Writing a diary of your travels for family & friends is easy, but other than them, no one else cares. If you want strangers to read your travel blog, you’ll need to provide something more useful.

Budget travel tips, food recommendations, details on what to do or where to stay, photography inspiration, video entertainment, beautiful flowing narrative, humor, etc.

Yes, you should always “follow your passion.” Otherwise, you won’t enjoy what you’re doing. The key is to follow your passion while also providing something of value to your readers.

What are people searching for? It’s time to do some research.

What questions related to travel are being asked in online forums, Reddit, and Quora?

If you already have readers, what are they asking in comments & emails? Give people what they’re asking for!

I received a bunch of questions about what GoPro accessories I travel with. So rather than waste time explaining it to each person individually, I wrote a huge article showcasing the best GoPro accessories for traveling.

Turns out lots of people were looking for this information. The article gets shared a lot and continues to receive steady search traffic from Google.

Why? Because it’s useful! It’s answering a frequently asked question.

Even if you’re sharing an entertaining travel story, including useful tips about how readers can enjoy a similar experience will keep them coming back for more.

2: Do Interesting Stuff!

At face value, it seems pretty basic. But when I say do interesting stuff, I mean do REALLY interesting stuff.

Sensational, fascinating, or challenging stuff. The kind of stuff that gets noticed.

Writing about your drunken full moon party experience in Thailand? Maybe a 1 on the 0-10 awesomeness scale. Kayaking in Greenland? Walking across India? Camping in Antarctica? Vacationing in Yemen? Sailing the coast of Africa?

These activities are MUCH higher on the awesome scale, the topics are unique, and as a result, they’re more likely to be shared with a larger audience.

Your whole blog doesn’t have to read like Buzzfeed, but make it a point to include some truly epic, original stories from time to time.

3: Guest Posting On Other Blogs

When you first start your travel blog, no one will know you exist. A good way to change that is to write guest posts on other popular blogs with large audiences, and siphon some of their readers over to you.

Not only will you reach a targeted audience this way, it also helps with your branding and credibility as an authority on travel.

However, before you go pitching other blogs for guest posts, first check to make sure they even allow them. It helps to have some kind of relationship with the blogger too.

Cold pitches to someone you’ve never spoken with are less likely to work.

You can see examples of my own guest posts here, here, and here. All these articles sent me traffic I probably wouldn’t have had otherwise, introducing my adventure travel blog to new readers.

There’s also SEO power in backlinks from popular sites to yours.

My advice is to be picky, and guest post on blogs that you think will provide the best return on your investment in time. Because time is limited when you’re trying to become a professional blogger!

4: Keep Active On Social Media

Staying active on social media is important if you want to earn your living from blogging. But it can be a huge time suck too. My advice is to be efficient with social media, don’t waste hours and hours there.

I generally jump on once in the morning to schedule posts for the day, then once more in the evening to respond to comments.

It also pays to research the best times to post for each social network. You can find this info in your “insights” or “analytics” areas, or use third party tools.

For example, I’ve found that posting to Facebook at 5am & 8pm EST gives me the best results, while on Instagram, 9pm – 11pm works better. What works for me may not work for you though, and it can change. Always be testing.

Remember to be social on social media too. That means actively responding to comments, and sharing other people’s content if you think your followers will enjoy it.

Here are specific tips for each network based on my experience.

Facebook

1-2 posts per day, postcard type photos with short captions work well. So does uploading 10 different images as an album. Video and Facebook Live has been doing well. Remember to tag yourself in photos you post on your fan page, and your friends will see it too, increasing engagement. Facebook doesn’t like 3rd party sharing apps, so don’t use them.

Follow Me On Facebook!

Twitter

4-5 posts or updates per day, links shared along with a few photos will get better engagement. One hashtag only, or none. Schedule new blog posts to share 3-4 times each spread throughout the month. Occasionally tag relevant companies/tourism boards where appropriate, they may re-tweet it. Buffer Pro is my scheduling & tracking app of choice.

Follow Me On Twitter!

Instagram

I’ve found cutting back to posting every other day is increasing my engagement per photo. Tag the location so others nearby can find your shots. I like using 2-3 hashtags in the caption, with another 20-25 targeted hashtags in the first comment. Longer descriptions seem to work well on Instagram — tell a story. Ask a question at the end to encourage engagement. For faster browsing & commenting on Instagram, I use Iconosquare Pro from my laptop.

Follow Me On Instagram!

Others…

There are other important social media platforms like Pinterest and YouTube. However I’m still learning how to best utilize them, and don’t feel qualified to comment just yet. Which just goes to show you that becoming a professional travel blogger is a never-ending learning process.

5: Get Yourself Some Free Press

Yup, it’s time to become your own PR agent and market yourself to the masses by securing features in major media outlets. If you think popular travel blogs have large audiences, it’s nothing compared to what major media outlets have.

You can actively pitch your story rather than wait around for someone to notice you.

This is what I do to get featured on all sorts of large websites and TV shows over the years.

Here’s my secret formula, so you can do the same!

• Spend time researching media outlets that sometimes publish travel features. Especially those featuring bloggers. Pay attention to the authors of those articles.
• Connect with the authors on Twitter or LinkedIn. Follow them. Add them to a public list. Share their articles with a mention. Ask a question. Send a compliment. But don’t be annoying.
• Put together a polished project/article/idea with mass appeal. Something that many people will find fascinating, as I discussed earlier (do interesting stuff).
• Finally, pitch them your great idea a few months later. I sometimes sweeten the deal by explaining that I’ll be sending out a press-release soon but wanted to give them the opportunity to cover it first.

Now that you’ve dedicated time developing a relationship with the writer, your chances are much higher that they’ll be interested in your pitch, landing you a feature on a major media website!

6: SEO Tips For Blogging

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is when you tweak your content to optimize it for search engines like Google. It seems to get a bad rap these days. Like it’s some kind of mysterious voodoo cheat tactic.

Here’s my take on SEO. If you write for traditional magazines, the writers who can master pitching to editors will get the best results. It’s not voodoo, it’s a relevant skill some people learn to get ahead.

Travel blogging and SEO are, and always will be linked.

Don’t be scared of what you don’t understand. Instead, spend time learning how to master it for yourself. Or hire a professional to help out.

Because like it or not, ensuring Google (and the world in general) can find your amazing travel content is a necessary part of building a successful travel blog website.

A Useful SEO Example

As an example of how I use SEO, let’s take a look at this particular article. The keyword I want to rank for is “professional travel blogger”.

You’ll find that term in a few places here, like the URL, the title, the meta description, the first paragraph, a sub-heading, and at least 5 different times within the content.

I’ve named the lead photo using that keyword, along with its “alt” tag and caption. I’ve also linked back to this post from other pages on my travel blog using the main keyword.

When you search for “professional travel blogger” (or whatever you want to rank for), Google shows related searches at the bottom of the page. Try to incorporate a few of these terms within your article as well.

The result? Google “professional travel blogger” right now & go see what shows up! :-)

Along with on-page SEO, building the authority of your travel blog is also incredibly important. That means acquiring backlinks from other sites to yours through guest posting, major media features, high-profile mentions, writing useful guides that naturally get linked to, etc.

SEO is a huge topic, but if you want to read more about it, I highly recommend studying everything you can find on the Moz.com SEO Bible. Clicking through it quickly doesn’t count, spend a few hours (days?) reading everything!

Also, check out Brian Dean’s SEO blog to stay up to date on what’s new.

7: Build An Email List

Building an email subscriber list is one of the most important things you can do for your travel blog. Possibly even more important than social media. The people who subscribe to your email list are your true fans & dedicated readers.

Why? Email is a much more personal experience. It also performs better than most social media at driving quality traffic to your site.

While someone might receive thousands of social media updates in their feed each day, they may see less than 50 emails a day.

When you send subscribers something via email, they’re more likely to see it.

How do you build your mailing list? There are 2 key ingredients. Offer something of value, and make it easy.

At the moment I offer a free travel photography ebook filled with my favorite images from around the world.

To make it easy, I use BirdSend email newsletter software. It’s affordable and effective.

Another tactic that’s been working well is offering great giveaways on the blog in exchange for readers signing up to my email newsletter through a service like Vyper.io.

8: Advertising Your Blog

I spend money advertising my travel blog on Facebook. I sometimes spend money advertising on Twitter. In fact, I’ll do both for this article you are reading right now. I also pay for advertisements on other blogs.

By doing so, I’m not attracting “fake” readers. I’m paying to reach a large yet targeted audience. A percentage of them will discover my blog for the first time and become regular readers. Or if you sell products, become customers.

Magazines do it. Book publishers do it. Photographers do it. Hell, even nonprofit organizations have an advertising/marketing budget. Of course, if you’re just starting, you may not have the money now, but keep it in mind for the future. Targeted advertising exists for a reason — it works.

Treat your blog like a business if you want to make a living with it.

9: Professional Networking

To make a name for yourself in travel blogging, networking with others in person at conferences is pretty powerful. It’s an investment in time & money, but a worthwhile one.

When you meet potential business partners, colleagues, and clients in person, you’ll be at an advantage over those who don’t have that relationship. They’ll think of you over someone they’ve never met before.

Travel conferences I’ve attended or spoken at:

• TravelCon
• Social Travel Summit
• Travel Blog Exchange
• World Domination Summit
• ITB Berlin

Online networking also has its benefits. Stay active in blogging Facebook groups and social media conversations. If you contribute in a meaningful way or ask good questions, other people in the industry will take notice.

Collaborations with other travel bloggers can expand your reach too. For example, I teamed up with Kiersten from The Blonde Abroad for projects in Iceland & Canada. This exposed my audience to her blog, and her audience to my blog, benefiting us both.

10: Hire Others To Help

Running a successful travel blog is like running your own magazine but without any staff. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, let’s pretend you’re the owner & CEO of a publishing company.

Now imagine that you must also take on the roles of photographer, writer, editor, accountant, marketing team, graphic design, public relations, web development, videographer, finance, secretary, coffee intern, etc.

Get the picture yet? People go to school for years to master each of these jobs (ok, maybe not a coffee intern) but you’re attempting to do them all!

As a professional travel blogger, you are responsible for everything — while also dealing with the stress & challenges of traveling to foreign countries. So when you start earning income, hire others to help you run your business.

A virtual assistant to help with research, pitching, public relations, social media, and tracking campaigns. An accountant. A video editor. A writing editor. A graphic designer.

Hiring others allows you to focus on the stuff you’re good at while leaving the rest to those who are probably better than you anyway. To learn more about hiring a virtual assistant, read “Virtual Freedom” by Chris Ducker.

11: Personal Branding

An important key to success as a travel blogger, or any kind of blogger for that matter, is standing out from the crowd. Branding is how you manage the way you’re presented to others.

Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, it’s better to focus on one or two areas of expertise.

What are you passionate about? What drives you?

When planning a new article/project, ask yourself, does it align with your brand? My own branding is based around adventure travel, so a majority of my articles are about this theme.

Branding has differentiated me from other travel blogs, so when someone is looking to read or work with an adventure travel blogger, they are more likely to find me.

Maintaining a consistent identity across all your online channels and marketing helps drive your brand. Your logo, photography, social media accounts, and blog content should all reflect the values & mission of your brand.

When done right, you can own your demographic. Here are some examples of travel bloggers who’ve done an excellent job with their branding:

• Everything Everywhere: UNESCO World Heritage
• Legal Nomads: Food Travel
• The Planet D: Adventure Travel for Couples
• Adventurous Kate: Solo Female Travel
• Nomadic Matt: Budget Travel
• Wandering Earl: Long-Term Travel
• YTravel Blog: Family Travel

Effective branding leads to a steady stream of readers searching for information on the topic you cover, recognition & influence, plus rewarding partnerships with companies wanting to tap into your demographic.

12: Making Money With Your Blog

Now to the good stuff. How do you actually make money with your travel blog, now that you have all this traffic and readership? The largest sources of income for my blog are: Display advertising via Mediavine, and Affiliate Marketing.

Basically, affiliate marketing programs allow you to recommend things like clothing, travel gear, photography equipment, tours, or even hotels you stay at within your blog posts. You then earn a small commission whenever someone clicks on one of these tracking links and buys something.

Some of my favorite affiliate programs to earn good money on my travel blog include: Discover Cars, Get Your Guide Tours, Amazon.com, and Booking.com. There are many more too.

The Reality Of Travel Blogging

Successful travel blogging is hard work. If you think this job is just an extended vacation, you will be very disappointed. I hope this article helped showcase just how much work is actually involved.

Most travel blogs will be lucky if they last longer than a year.

Those who are in it for the long haul, and are ready to take it seriously as a profession, have the best chance for success. Never mind that the advice listed here is just the tip of the iceberg!

That said, travel blogging is still the best job I’ve ever had. ★

Ready To Start A Travel Blog?

Make sure to read my detailed guide on how to create a travel blog & make money.

Click Here For Free Guide

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This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Paid To Travel

After 10-years traveling the world, my most common question is: “how do you make money traveling?” or “how do you get paid to travel?” So here’s my detailed answer.

Working as a professional travel blogger and photographer has been a dream come true after many years of hard work.

But I completely understand your curiosity. How am I getting paid to travel around the world so much?

It always seems like I’m on a perpetual vacation, going on wild adventures to places like Costa Rica, Morocco, Antarctica, Iceland, and Afghanistan — but there’s a lot more to it behind the scenes. Somehow I need to make a living!

How exactly do I make money? How do I fund my travels? Do I have sponsors? Who is paying me to travel the world?

I know it doesn’t seem possible, but it is. And I’m about to show you how.

Getting Paid To Travel In 2023

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How Do I Fund My Adventures?

There are many different ways to get paid to travel the world. For me, I make money from this travel blog you’re reading now, which I started ten years ago.

However, I’ll share other travel-friendly jobs at the end of this article too.

My own income sources can change from year to year, and some are more complicated than others. Attempting to explain how I get paid to travel in casual conversation usually takes a while.

Often times I’ll just throw out “travel writer” or “photographer” to avoid a lengthy discussion. Basically a full-time digital nomad.

But because this is the big question everyone wants an answer to, I’ll finally try to clarify the details for you today.

You’ll learn exactly how I’ve funded my travels for the past 10 years — and how I’m able to use my blog to get paid for traveling around the world.

Paid To Travel The World

It was 2009 when I first began planning to quit my job and travel. I was inspired by two friends. Both were traveling very cheaply, on a backpacker’s budget, living on less than it takes to live in the United States.

I was completely enthralled with their photos and stories from exotic destinations around the world. They had me reading inspiring books and quotes about travel, and I was hooked!

At the time, I didn’t realize you could travel long-term for less than $1000 a month! Budget travel was an entirely new concept for me.

My buddy Ferenc was backpacking through Southeast Asia, making money advertising with Google Adsense on his photography website.

My friend Katie was working on private yachts as a chef, island hopping around the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

I thought if they could make money traveling like this, so could I!

Saving Money To Travel

My family isn’t wealthy (by American standards), and I’ve never had a trust fund. According to US statistics I was lower-middle class, a single dude living in South Florida working 2 jobs earning about $30k per year.

How could I possibly save money to travel the world for a year living on that?

The answer is I downsized my lifestyle to live on even less.

I’d just finished paying off my car, so I decided to sell it. I canceled my car insurance, gym membership, and Netflix subscription. I purchased a used commuter bicycle, a rain poncho, and a bus pass to get around.

I sold off almost everything of any value that I owned. Goodbye DJ turntables, goodbye stereo, goodbye sports equipment.

I stopped going out to bars, restaurants, and nightclubs too. I cooked a lot of pasta & rice at home. Made my own cheap sandwiches for lunch.

I rented a small room for $400 in a small 2 bedroom house I shared with 2 other people in the suburbs.

These simple (but boring) actions allowed me to save about $7000 over the course of a year. It required discipline, and it wasn’t exactly “fun”.

Making Money While Traveling

While I spent a year saving money for (what would initially be) a 12-month journey through Central America, I was also dedicating my free time to developing a side-hustle to make extra money that would help pay the bills as I traveled.

I worked countless coffee-fueled nights and weekends doing hundreds of hours of research to learn about and build a small online business writing and selling digital guides (aka ebooks). My social life kind of fell apart because I wasn’t going out much… only working on my side business.

But chasing my travel dreams was more important to me at the time.

When I finally left for Guatemala in November of 2010, in addition to my savings, I was also earning $1000-$2000 a month selling three different how-to guides on various topics related to the nightlife industry.

After a few years, my ebook side-income business slowed down, as much of my success was from advertising with Google Adwords, a platform that shows ads in your search results. Google made changes that hurt my business a lot.

Luckily by then I’d begun to diversify my income streams, and was earning money from my travel blog. And have continued to ever since.

Current Blog Income Sources

1. Influencer Marketing

Companies pay me to travel by advertising on this blog and my social media accounts. It takes many forms, like sponsored blog posts, Instagram features, brand ambassadorship programs, or newsletter mentions.

I’ve built up a large loyal audience of people who are interested in travel, and these companies want access to that audience.

Examples include deals with respected companies like American Express, Momondo, Citizen Watches, or Backcountry.

I always include a disclaimer if I’m partnering with a brand and only work with companies that I admire and trust.

2. Affiliate Marketing

Whenever I share my favorite travel gear, photography equipment, books, or online courses with you, I include special affiliate tracking links to those products.

This means if you decide to click through and buy something, I’ll receive a small commission. The price remains the same whether you use my special link or not.

Examples include Discover Cars, Get Your Guide Tours, Amazon, Backcountry, Booking, Airbnb, Adorama Photo, and many more.

There are also dedicated affiliate networks like Share A Sale and Commission Junction who represent all kinds of different products.

To see my affiliate links in action, check out my Travel Gear Guide.

While individual commissions might be pretty small, this site receives 500,000+ pageviews per month. Many people are clicking on those links and buying things, which allows me to get paid to travel.

3. Freelance Travel Photography

I earn money licensing my travel photography for use in commercial marketing campaigns, or for editorial use by media outlets. Tour companies, national tourism boards, outdoor brands, magazines, book publishers and others buy my images from time to time.

I’ve even sold travel photography to National Geographic!

Selling travel photography prints is not a huge income source for me. Most photography income comes from working with brands/destinations/media outlets who find me online.

Another source of income is when I go after people using my images without permission, and force them to buy a license. Copyright theft is rampant online, and as the owner of these images, I’m legally entitled to compensation. I’m able to do this through a service called Ryde One.

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4. Destination Marketing

Occasionally a country’s tourism board will invite me to visit and write about my experiences traveling through their country.

In the past these were unpaid; but flights, accommodation, and activities were covered like a traditional media press trip.

Well, now I’m getting paid to travel on these destination marketing projects. Usually, they reach out to me, but sometimes I’ll pitch a project to them too.

A campaign usually produces a mix of blog posts, social media content, photography, and video footage.

5. Display Advertising

Google has an advertising platform called Adsense. By placing some special code on your blog, they display relevant ads within the content of your site.

You earn income each time a reader clicks on one of these ads. They can also integrate into your YouTube videos, which is how vloggers make money.

If your blog receives enough traffic, premium advertising networks like Mediavine pay more than Adsense. Rates vary between $2 – $40 per 1000 views depending on your topic.

6. Paid Public Speaking

As a blogger, you can also get paid to travel by speaking at conferences and events around the world related to your topic. So in my case, I’ve spoken about travel photography and led some photography workshops.

Teaching others with a practical and inspirational speech is a skill that many companies will pay for. If you can build up your online brand, companies will start to seek you out for these kinds of speaking jobs.

Other Ways To Earn Money Traveling

There are other ways to make money from a travel blog which I currently don’t take advantage of. Here are some additional examples.

Freelance Travel Writing

I used to write travel articles for other websites. They needed content, and I had stories and experiences to share. TravelChannel.com was once one of my clients.

It can be a decent source of income for some people, for me it was sporadic. These days I’m able to earn more working on my own site rather than writing for others, so I generally don’t chase this type of income anymore.

Link Building

In the past, I also engaged in something called text-link advertising. Companies would pay just for a backlink to their website in my older posts, or provide a full pre-written “guest post” full of links for me to publish.

Why? Because it helps those companies increase their search engine results, sending more people to their website and growing their business.

The practice is frowned upon though, because it’s against Google’s guidelines.

If you’re caught by Google, it can backfire, so I don’t recommend it. Yet many bloggers still make money this way — so I thought I’d mention it.

Leading Tours Or Workshops

Some travel bloggers and photographers run their own group tours or photography workshops to exotic destinations around the world.

Some focus on budget travel, others focus on food, writing retreats, or improving photography techniques. Basically, you’re showing strangers around an area you know well, and hopefully teaching them something in the process.

Organizing a tour is a lot of work, but it can pay well too. I’ve run one adventure travel & photography tour to Russia, and while it was fun, I’m not sure I’ll do many of these in the future. I’m not a natural tour-guide! LOL.

Selling Ebooks Or Courses

Selling digital products is another way some travel bloggers earn income traveling. Either travel guides about a particular destination, or books about how to travel on a budget, how to make money from a travel blog, improving your photography, becoming a better travel writer, etc.

I find it kind of funny that I was able to fund my first year of traveling in part by selling ebooks, yet don’t sell any now. That may change in the future, as I have a lot of tips to share after doing this for so long!

How Much Do I Make Overall?

I know, I know. You want details. How much do I get paid to travel?

Asking someone exactly how much money they make is a very personal question, and it’s not something I’m entirely comfortable posting, but I’ll give you an idea.

This travel blog earns a healthy 6-figures of income each year.

I’m not a millionaire, but I’m not living in a cardboard box either.

While I started with humble roots, and still prefer to travel the world on a budget, I’m also able to save money these days. My wife & I recently bought a house in Utah. And we can splurge on expensive experiences from time to time.

Of course, there are also many expenses with running my business. Website hosting, photography equipment, travel expenses, etc.

No one paid me to travel to Greenland or Antarctica for example, but independent travel like this is also part of running my travel blog.

And the reality is that even now, I actually have no idea how much I’ll make each month because it can fluctuate from month to month. It’s one downside to working for yourself. In exchange for freedom, you often lose some security.

But I’ll choose freedom over security any day!

There have been a few occasions over the past ten years, earlier in my travel blogging journey, when my bank account was drained to its last $300…

Embracing uncertainty and risk on a quest to do what you love can be scary sometimes. Really scary!

Hey, I know what it’s like to live in a cave if it ever came down to that. :-)

I love what I do, and continue to learn new skills and work towards making this travel lifestyle sustainable, or at least until I no longer enjoy it.

I strongly believe that anything is possible with hard work, patience, and dedication.

You also can’t be afraid to take some risks or fail along the way.

Resources To Get Paid For Travel

I’m not going to sugar-coat this and tell you that making money while traveling has been easy. Quite the opposite actually. I work a lot more now than I did when I first started.

This income didn’t just appear overnight either, it’s taken me ten long years to get to this point.

I know these big numbers can be shocking for people who don’t understand how to blog for a living. Yes, blogging can be more than a hobby. It can be a viable business if you treat it like one.

Like all businesses though, it takes time to grow.

For the first 2 years, there’s no way I could’ve survived on my travel blog income alone.

However, if you’re determined to get paid to travel, here are some more resources I highly recommend:

• How To Start A Travel Blog: My step-by-step guide to starting your first travel blog. Or any blog for that matter (food, hiking, fashion, etc.)
• The Best Travel Jobs: Blogging not for you? Luckily there are many different ways to earn income while traveling.
• Ways To Make Extra Money: Not ready to quit your day job? Here are some ideas to earn extra money on the side.
• Vagabonding: This book by Rolf Potts convinced me to save money and travel the world as a budget backpacker.
• The 4-Hour Workweek: This book by Tim Ferriss is full of useful tips for building a location independent business.

I hope my article answered your questions about how I can afford to travel so much (it’s because I’m also getting paid to travel!).

It’s been a long and wild journey so far, and I’m thankful every day for the incredible life I’m living. ★

Want To Get Paid To Travel?

What started as a hobby is now my full-time job. Interested in starting a blog to make money while traveling?

Click Here For Free Guide

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.