Have you dreamed of becoming a digital nomad but don’t know where to start? I’ve compiled this checklist to help you prepare for your new nomadic adventure! Please note that as I’m from the U.S., some recommendations from this blog are specifically geared toward U.S. Citizens/Residents.
Doing Initial Research
Research potential destinations: Consider factors like cost of living, safety, visa requirements, internet connectivity, and visa requirements.
- Cost of living –
- Safety –
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/ (for U.S. Citizens)
- https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories (for Canadian Citizens)
- https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice (for U.K. Citizens)
- Visa requirements –
- Internet speeds –
- General research –
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: City-specific expat/digital nomad Facebook groups are great for research. You’ll get the most up-to-date information from people living in or traveling through your target destination. Search “Expat ins…” or “Digital nomads in….” or “Backpackers in …”
- Create a budget: Calculate your anticipated monthly expenses, including accommodation, transportation, meals, and other necessities.
- You can use resources from the ‘Initial Research’ section above to do so. Your biggest expenses will usually be accommodation and transportation.
- Create a travel itinerary: Plan your destinations, routes, and approximate timeframes for each location.
- https://wanderlog.com/ – I use this app to organize my travel plans. You can pull in your flight and lodging information directly to the app. I also like that it offers suggestions for places to visit.
- https://www.tripit.com/web – This is another great travel app for organizing all your plans into one place.
Finding Accommodations
Book accommodations: Make reservations for your first few weeks or the first month, and research long-term housing options once you’re there.
- https://www.airbnb.com/ – I recommend using Airbnb to find something short-term for the first month and then using Facebook groups to find cheaper, long-term accommodation.
- https://colivingcompass.com/ – If you’re solo traveling, co-living is a good option to live and work with other nomads.
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: Hosts on Airbnb usually offer weekly and monthly discounts. However, even with the weekly and monthly deals, finding an option off of Airbnb is typically cheaper for long-term stays.
Downsizing Your Belongings
Downsize your life: Streamline your belongings as much as possible before leaving by donating or selling anything you don’t need.
- Donate – Every time I go back home, I always donate bags of stuff to my local thrift stores after realizing I didn’t miss most of the things I stored at home.
- Sell – I’ve had the most luck with selling used items on https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/. If you don’t use Facebook, another popular option is https://offerup.com/unavailable/geo.
- Storage – I recommend avoiding paying for storage whenever possible, as more often than not, you’ll end up spending more money on storage than expected. Ask to see if you can store things at your family’s or close friend’s house. If not, get rid of as much as you can and just get a small storage locker for the essentials.
Setting Up a Virtual Mailbox
Set up a virtual mailbox: Consider setting up a virtual mailbox if you don’t have an address that you can receive mail at. With a virtual mailbox, you can view and manage your postal mail from anywhere in the world.
Setting Up Communication Methods
Unlock your phone: If needed, unlock your phone so that you use a local SIM card or eSIM.
⚠️ Note: You’ll need to have your phone paid off to unlock it. Cellphone carriers usually will not unlock your phone if you’re on an installment payment plan.
International SIM card: Consider getting a local SIM card when you arrive at your destination. Most airports will have a stall that sells SIM cards. A local SIM card is typically the most affordable option for cell service abroad. Many new phones now have an option for eSIM, which is more convenient as you can purchase an eSIM directly from your phone. However, eSIM packages are usually more expensive than regular SIM card packages. If you have a cellphone plan with one of the major U.S. phone carriers, you can also get an international package on your current cellphone plan.
- eSIM
- International plans with a U.S. phone carrier
- https://www.att.com/international/
- https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/international-roaming-plans/unlimited-calling-data-pass
- https://www.verizon.com/plans/international/international-travel/
- https://fi.google.com/about/plans(You can only be outside the US for a consecutive 90-day period with Google Fi.)
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: If you spend a lot of time in Latin America, I recommend the AT&T unlimited premium plan. It includes unlimited data, calling & texting in Latin America. I love it because I instantly have data when I land and don’t have to deal with SIM cards.
Get an online phone number: If you need a phone number from your home country but don’t want to keep your current phone plan, you can get an online number.
- https://skype.com/ – I don’t have an online number through Skype, but I do purchase Skype credits to make international calls.
- https://voice.google.com/ – You’ll need to be in the U.S. to be able to set up a virtual U.S. number on Google Voice.
⚠️ Note: With some virtual phone numbers, you may not be able to receive 2FA codes. I recommend using an authenticator app to avoid needing 2FA codes.
Get a cheaper cellphone plan: If you still want to have a cellphone plan from your home country to receive 2FA codes and to use when you’re back home, you can downgrade to a cheaper phone plan.
Download messaging apps: Install a messaging app for communication, like WhatsApp.
- https://www.whatsapp.com/ – WhatsApp is probably the most popular international messaging app. It’s widely used outside of the US. You can use it to communicate with local businesses and new friends you meet abroad. Almost every traveler you meet will have WhatsApp.
- Country-specific messaging apps – Some countries may have their own messaging app that is most widely used.
- Facebook/Instagram – In the US, most people communicate directly over text or through social media apps. I use Facebook Messenger to keep in contact with my family back home.
- Kakao – For Korea, Kakao is the messaging app that everyone uses to communicate.
- Line – For Japan, Line is the most popular messaging app there.
- WeChat – In China, most people use WeChat.
Planning Your Finances
Set up online banking: Consider opening an online bank account that offers international transactions and low fees.
- https://www.schwab.com/ – If you’re from the U.S., I recommend getting a Charles Schwab checking account because Charles Schwab offers unlimited ATM fee reimbursements worldwide for cash withdrawals made with their debit card.
- If you don’t have one yet, get a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. The Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve, Capital One Venture X card, and AMEX Platinum Card are popular travel credit card options.
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: Carry at least 2 different credit cards and 2 different debit cards with you. I typically carry around one set and leave the other set at my accommodation. That way, if I lose my wallet, I’ll still have access to another credit card and debit card. You don’t want to risk losing access to all your money.
Monitor exchange rates: Stay informed about currency fluctuations that might impact your finances.
- https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
- Set up automatic bill payments: Ensure bills are paid on time while you’re away. Traveling can make it difficult to keep track of bills, so always automate when you can.
Planning Your Healthcare
Health checkups and vaccinations: Visit a healthcare provider for general health checkups and any necessary vaccinations for the countries you’re going to.
- https://www.who.int/travel-advice/vaccines
- https://www.traveldocs.com/travel-services/by-country-vaccination-requirements
Health insurance: Check with your health insurance provider to see if they cover any medical expenses abroad.
Travel insurance: Purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, travel disruptions, and belongings.
- https://safetywing.com/
- https://www.insurednomads.com/
- https://www.worldnomads.com/
- https://genki.world/
⚠️ Note: If you’re traveling to a country where healthcare is cheaper, it may make more sense to forgo travel insurance and pay out of pocket if a medical issue arises.
Prescription medications: Check to see if your medications are allowed in the country you’re going to. If so, ensure you have an ample supply and necessary prescriptions.
- https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/travel-abroad-with-medicine
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/your-health-abroad.html
- https://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips/can-you-pack-your-meds-pill-case-and-more-questions-answered
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: In many countries, it’s easier to get medications over the counter at a pharmacy compared to the U.S. For example, birth control is sold without a prescription in a lot of countries. You can also get contact lenses without a prescription in many countries as well.
Researching Networking Opportunities
Connect with other digital nomads: Join social media groups and co-working spaces to connect with like-minded individuals.
- I’m a big fan of Facebook groups for connecting with other digital nomads and travelers. Here are some of the international groups I recommend:
- As mentioned in the ‘Research & Planning’ section, I also join local Facebook digital nomad and expat groups in the destinations I travel to. This is a great way to learn about local events and to connect with others.
Attend local events: Participate in meetups, networking events, or workshops to meet locals and other travelers.
- https://www.meetup.com/ – This is a great platform to find local events. I enjoy attending language exchange meetups to practice my foreign language skills and to make new friends. There’s usually a good mix of both locals and travelers at these events.
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: If you enjoy dancing, I find that Latin dance socials are also a great way to meet locals and other travelers.
Learning Language & Cultural Norms
Learn basic local phrases: Familiarize yourself with greetings, common phrases, and polite expressions in the local language.
- Translate apps
- https://translate.google.com/ – This is the translator app I typically use.
- https://www.deepl.com/en/mobile-apps
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: For Google Translate, I recommend downloading languages to use offline so that you can still translate without an internet connection. You can also use the camera feature on
- Google Translate to translate the text you see without having to type it all in.
- Language learning apps
- https://mangolanguages.com/ – This is my favorite language-learning app. If you have a U.S. library card, you can use this for free.
- https://www.babbel.com/
- https://www.duolingo.com/
- Language learning apps
Respect local customs: Research and adhere to cultural norms and practices in each destination.
- Start with a Google search for “local customs in (country)”. A few years ago, I got yelled at by an old lady in Japan for eating and walking down the street, which could have been avoided if I had done some prior research about Japanese customs.
Packing for your Adventure
Pack light: Choose versatile clothing and minimize items to avoid overpacking.
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: Stick to places with similar climates. Avoid traveling to both hot and cold places, as it’ll be more difficult to pack light. I typically stay in warm climates but pack a few layering pieces for chilly days.
Travel documents: Ensure you have all required documents such as your passport and visa.
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: Use an item tracker, like an AirTag, to keep track of your belongings. I have several AirTags that I attach to all of my important belongings (passport, luggage, backpack, wallet, camera, etc.).
Pack necessary tech: Bring your laptop, chargers, adapters, headphones, and any other essential devices for remote work.
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: Check out my Digital Nomad Essentials on Amazon. These are all recommended products that I’ve bought and used on my travels.
Planning for Remote Work
Consider co-working spaces: Research and locate co-working spaces that provide a conducive work environment and networking opportunities.
- https://www.selina.com/cowork/ – This is a popular international hostel chain that typically has a co-working space on site. Even if you don’t stay at the hostel, you can often get a day pass for the co-working space.
- https://www.wework.com/es-LA – This is an international co-working space company with locations worldwide.
- Most big cities have local co-working spaces that you can find by searching Google Maps.
Backup important files: Use cloud storage or external drives to store important work files and documents.
- https://www.google.com/drive/ – This is what I primarily use for my Cloud storage. I also use external drives as a secondary backup.
- https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive
Research time zones: Consider time zone differences for communication and scheduling work-related activities.
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: I always keep my laptop in the timezone I work in (PT) so I don’t have to convert meeting times. Once I start my work day, I pretend it’s the time that is on my laptop until the work day is over.
Planning Leisure Time
Plan leisure activities: Research and plan activities to explore each destination’s attractions, culture, and natural beauty.
- Tour-booking Apps – These are the main apps that I use for researching and booking tours.
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: If you’re staying in a hostel, you can often find cheaper tours organized directly through the hostel.
Taking Safety & Security Precautions
Register with your embassy: Enroll in your home country’s embassy or consulate for travel alerts and assistance.
- https://step.state.gov/ – for U.S. Citizens
- https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration – for Canadian Citizens
Backup important documents: Scan and save copies of your passport, ID, and important documents in secure cloud storage.
- https://1password.com/ – This is the one I recommend for storing passwords and important documents.
- https://www.lastpass.com/
Use a VPN: Protect your online privacy and security by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
- https://nordvpn.com/ – This is one of the most popular VPNs and the one I use while traveling abroad.
- https://surfshark.com/
- https://www.expressvpn.com/
- https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/
Stay vigilant: Research local safety conditions and be cautious of scams or unsafe areas in each destination. A Google search for “Safest neighborhoods in…” can get you started.
- https://www.insuremytrip.com/travel-advice/travel-safety/common-travel-scams-to-avoid/
- https://hoodmaps.com/new-york-city-neighborhood-map – This is a fun site to get a sense of the neighborhoods in a city.
Pack safety gear: For extra peace of mind, you can bring along safety gear like a personal safety alarm, door lock for hotel rooms, and door stop alarm.
Other Considerations
Get an international driving permit: Sign up for an international driving permit if you plan on driving abroad. This isn’t needed everywhere, but it’s fairly cheap to get, and better to have it than not if you end up needing it.
Apply for Global Entry: For U.S. Citizens, I recommend signing up for Global Entry as it’ll make it so much faster to get back into the U.S. Your Global Entry membership also includes TSA Pre-check, so you will also get all of the benefits of having TSA Pre-check. Many travel credit cards will reimburse the cost of either Global Entry or TSA Pre-check.
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: It can be really hard to schedule an interview for Global Entry. I had to wait a few months for mine. However, if you have an international trip coming up soon, you can do the interview when coming back to the U.S. at the international terminal you land at.
Download the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) App: The MPC app is a free alternative to Global Entry that can streamline your entry back into the U.S. It allows you to submit your travel document, photo, and customs declaration information directly through the app. However, it doesn’t include any TSA Pre-check benefits.
My Recommended Travel Apps
- Booking Flights
- https://skyscanner.com/
- https://www.google.com/travel/flights
- https://hopper.com/travel/flights
- https://momondo.com/
- https://trip.tp.st/kL31Iyb1 (affiliate link)
- Airline-specific apps (United Airlines, American Airlines, etc.)
- Booking Accommodations
- Getting Local Transportation / Car Rental
- Getting Around
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: Download the map area you need for offline use in case you don’t have internet.
- Finding Airport Lounges
✨ Jasmine’s Tip: If you have a premium travel credit card, it may include a Priority Pass membership as one of the benefits. The Chase Sapphire Reserved and Capitol One Venture X cards include this.
- Storing Luggage – I recommend storing your luggage if you arrive at your destination before your accommodation check-in time or have a few hours between your accommodation check-out time and flight. This will allow you to safely store your luggage somewhere so that you can explore without lugging it around.
- Managing Expenses
- https://travel-spend.com/ – I’ve tried several travel spending apps, and this one is my favorite for its ease of use. I love that it converts the different currencies you put in.
- https://www.splitwise.com/ – This is a popular app for splitting expenses. Unfortunately, you need the premium version for converting currencies and for adding more than 5 expenses a day.
- Journaling
If this list was helpful for you, please leave a comment and let me know! 🙂
