I quit my 9-5! I am following my dreams! I have my own business! I am ready to create the life I want! I am going to travel the world! I’m booking a flight off impulse – don’t try and stop me!

Wow, I thought so many of you remote working travel people were full of it, but this really is the best decision I have ever made for myself.

A few things that had crossed my mind whilst scrolling “travel influencer” type content on social media:

• “That is so impractical.”
• “This is the epitome of do it for the gram.”
• “You did not sleep there!” (please check out @youdidnotsleepthere on IG.)

Excuses I repeatedly used to not take the leap to independent work/travel (even though I wanted it with all my heart):

• “I’m building a 401K!  I should really not give this up!” (I legitimately still don’t know what this is or why I need one).
• “I have a consistent salary and company health insurance. Stability is key. I better stay.”
• “This job is preparing me for the next job… when I get that one I’ll make more money, be able to save, and travel/go on vacation when I really deserve it.”

But the thought that crossed my mind most often was:

• “I wish I could do that.”

Oof, those six words:

“I. WISH. I. COULD. DO. THAT.”

Wishing sucks. Those words don’t feel good to think, let alone say out loud and admit to yourself. Envy is a gross feeling. Especially when you’re unhappy or wanting a change that doesn’t seem feasible. But then again, you’re also fully aware that… YOU AND YOU ALONE ARE IN THE DRIVER SEAT OF YOUR OWN LIFE. YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN IF YOU REALLY WANT IT. YOU HAVE FACED CHALLENGES AND TAKEN THEM HEAD ON. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT!

Sometimes practicality is just a straight up dream killer. That free spirit inside of you is urging you to do something scary, take a bigger risk, fight for whatever it is that makes you feel ALIVE. You know when people say, “I feel excited to wake up every morning and do work that matters to me”. Or, “When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.” Okay, now that second one is really cliché – but there is definitely some truth to it. Many can attest.

I’ve grown to be a practical person in order to protect myself. I’ve taken “smart risks” only. I feel like I completely smashed any free spirited nature of mine in order to survive. To have a good job, make money, eventually make more money, and be happy.

OKAY, OKAY YOU WERE ALL RIGHT, MONEY/TITLES DO NOT BUY HAPPINESS. Geez, a woman has to figure that out on her own, alright?

Plus, its kind of tough out here for a single, nearly 30 year old woman to try and discover her own greatness, true potential, and success all while society is constantly telling her to “consume, consume, consume! Work harder than men! But look good while doing it. But like… not too good. Seize and say yes to every opportunity even if you’re not being compensated appropriately or equally! If you’re not overworked, you’re not doing it right! Juggle life, but act like you’re not even trying. You can have it all! Be confident and direct… but like… don’t come off too pushy…”

Okay, I know you’re not here for my feminist rant. Back to the travel bit.

So I did it! I quit my desk job and I took the leap to freelance work and gained this incredible new sense of independence. It’s an entirely new set of challenges and fears, but I wake up every morning excited to begin my day. Along with that, I am starting with a journey home. The place I was born but don’t really know. The place where my roots reside. I am kicking off this new way of life with 6-8 weeks in the beautiful country of the Philippines. It’s not quite country hopping, but with over 7,100 islands it sure can feel like it. Someone once told me, if you want to find yourself, and know yourself better, always start with your mother.

It’s been over a decade since I have spent a significant amount of time with my mom. I am ready to get to know her; you know, as a person. Ask her questions. Understand her worldview. Understand her life as a farmer, entrepreneur, and all around boss lady. As one of the youngest of 16, a former housekeeper for the President of the Philippines, and owner of a coconut plantation… I am preparing myself for some solid gold storytelling.

After that? Well, sir or ma’am, thank you for asking. Stay tuned for my dream round the world AirTrek coming up later this week! In the meantime, if you’re dreaming and wishing to travel the world, and battling excuses not to do it, why not map a dream trip of your own? Try playing around with the AirTreks Trip Planner Tool. See what happens.

Wow, you made it to the end? Can we be friends now!? Follow me here: @jesssbarnard

The post Quit Your Desk Job And Travel The World appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.

“Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.” – David McCullough

I recently returned from a 19-month international travel assignment for work and came across this quote. It spoke so honestly to me about our social media society. I often wonder what traveling was like before Instagram? A time when you actually had to discover new places by exploring, getting lost and by word-of-mouth. A time when you stood at the base of a waterfall in Bali just to feel the mist, basked in the majestic shadows of Machu Picchu’s towering peak and pondered its history or hiked up a mountain just to experience what the birds see when they look down on us. What was it like before the screen became wedged between us and the world?

This paradigm shift has changed the way we see the world. After visiting one destination after another overrun with selfie-stick carrying tourists, endless line-ups of people waiting to get a shot of themselves in front of a monument or view, I couldn’t help but wonder, are we driven by a quest for a unique cultural experience or by the opportunity to show everyone elsewhere we’ve been?  As the saying goes, “Instagram it or it didn’t happen.”

A travel company called Unsettled recently came out with a #TravelUnfiltered series uncovering those places that are meant to be special and sacred but have become wall-to-wall tourist-traps of people trying to get their quintessential IG shot; a true exposé about the realities of these once-precious destinations.

As the Instagram-generation takes over, making anyone with a smartphone and Instagram account an aspiring NatGeo photographer, we see the same photos, the same views, the same stories shared by everyone, diluting the idea of one’s own unique and personal travel experience. Through the thousands of #travel photos that appear on my feed, it almost feels like I’ve already been everywhere, but through the lenses of other people, not my own.

It got me thinking about the role I play in all of this. As a photographer and digital creator myself, I’m far from innocent; my job is to capture and tell a story through visual imagery and films. But if the Wonders of the World have become overrun with selfie sticks and ubiquitous on Instagram, how can I change the way I experience the world and what I share with others?

Lately, I’ve tried to trade in the most gram’d spots in the world for the quieter, less-traveled corners in order to learn about and experience these outposts for their inherent uniqueness instead of striving for the best angle for the shot. I talk to locals more than other tourists and try to savor my food instead of photographing it. I try to live in the moment I’m in instead of trying to create a moment for someone else.

In this new age of global travel and digital connection, it can be liberating to unplug from your device and truly connect with your surroundings. How does it make you feel? What does it smell and taste like? What did you learn? Who did you meet? Can you discover something that someone has yet to post? 

The real question to ask yourself is, ‘What is your intention?. Is it to be present in the moment or just to share this moment with your followers? Challenge yourself with the former.  It is not the images, likes and follows that will stay with you forever, but the life-changing moments, encounters and experiences you discover when you remove the device between you and the world.

The post Take A Photo Or It Didn’t Happen appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.

Reading the book Happier Than A Billionaire; about a couple who quits their successful business careers to pursue a low-stress life abroad, was a pivotal turning point for AirTreks travel planner Aaron Meir and his wife Rachael who were both climbing “the ladder to success”.

Rachael had just received her doctorate in psychology from the PGSP- Stanford consortium and was a director in the health and wellness department at Denver Health. She was a prestigious professional at a prestigious hospital. Aaron was high up in the wholesale wine industry, working for the largest wholesaler in Colorado. He managed the business side of one of the wine portfolios for the company.

“I was living The American Dream. I was paid very well, I had some of the most amazing wines from all over the world. The company sent me to wine country in South America, Napa, Sonoma, Washington, and Oregon to visit vineyards. There were a lot of positives to the job, but at the end of the day, The American Dream comes with a price. Expectations and stakes were very high. My wife and I had a check-in with ourselves, and that’s when we realized that our health issues and overall unhappiness were due to stress and burnout. Our life was completely out of balance.” -Aaron

When they took the time to evaluate the life they were living and society’s skewed view of “success”, they came to realize that the conveyor belt wasn’t for them and little by little they began to step off it.

First step; in their late 20s, Aaron and Rachael made the decision not to have children. This would be a hard pill to swallow for their parents. Knowing this and the struggles that others like them would face in breaking the news to their families, Rachael wrote to a message board about it. It just so happened that a producer from the Dr. Phil show was on the same message board looking for guests for their show about the topic and contacted them. Aaron and Rachael accepted the invite and appeared as guests on Dr. Phil.

“The whole experience was completely surreal. The fact that making the decision not to have kids at a young age was so radical to millions of people, demonstrates how much power The American Dream has over our society.” -Aaron Modern Family: No Kids Dr. Phil Show Article

The news of no kids came as a shock to their families. They were in complete disbelief. No kids? What was wrong with them?

Just as everyone got adjusted to Aaron and Rachael’s big announcement, they hit their families with another big one. They decided to quit their jobs and move to Mexico to explore a new way of life.

Aaron and Rachael’s decision to live abroad was not made in haste. Rachael, being a big dreamer, would have excitedly jumped at the opportunity to move abroad straight after reading Happier Than A Billionaire. Aaron, the logistics guy, needed time to assemble spreadsheets, crunch numbers, and research what life would be like for them in Mexico.

Between the dreamer and the logical thinker, they finally made it happen. They got to a comfortable place where they could go and do everything on their own terms, feeling financially and emotionally secure.

“Our demanding careers were the real impetus that made us both want to move. We were both severely stressed, we had health issues, and so we quit our successful jobs and said enough is enough. And then we continued to figure it out as we went.” -Aaron

The great philosopher Alan Watts summarizes the mythical dream best:

“So often we think that happiness is a destination, when I make a million dollars or when I buy a new car I will be happy. Rather we need to be happy with what we have, and not postpone our happiness thinking we will get the time to focus on joy later…Too many people take it for granted that purpose of our life is what is handed down to us, that is school, college, work, or family. Life has to be balanced – it’s not just about making a living, but actually living.

The worst outcome is if we aim only at building “success”. We’ll get all the way down the line and realize we’ve missed the point the whole way along; life was a musical thing and you were supposed to sing or dance while the music was being played.”

And sing and dance they did. What started as a trial run, has turned into years of living abroad in Mexico, currently in Puerto Vallarta. Looking back on their 20s and where they are now, success has a whole new definition for them.

“Success, for us, is living the life that you want to live on your terms and also doing it with a sense of responsibility of looking to the future as well. It’s one thing to say, I’m going to get up and buy everything I want to buy and eat everything I want to eat. You’re always going to have ramifications down the road if you’re not careful. I think finding a balance is the key to living a long happy ‘successful’ life. One you can really feel good about.” -Aaron

Aaron will be the first to tell you that life abroad is not a simple guarantee of happiness. It comes with its own set of struggles, like navigating a new language, assimilating with a culture different from their own. Aaron is a punctual person and he’s had to adjust to the slow-moving nature of Puerto Vallarta.

There has been a big learning curve to feeling at home abroad. But the struggles themselves have been hard-earned joy. Their life is now one they wouldn’t trade for anything.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

“Everyone thinks that you have to go to college, you get a job, you wear a suit to work every day, you work your way up, and then you try to get promoted as much as you can, and then you realize that you’ve joined the rat race and it’s hard to imagine any other way of doing life.” -Aaron

Maybe this article will be a pivotal point to consider a different way of doing life. Or maybe it will take stress and health issues, like it did for Aaron and Rachel to reevaluate and hit reset. Whatever and whenever it hits you, Aaron is an AirTreks champion in travel and is available to help anyone navigate their own happy success story in life.

Set up a time to chat with Aaron, or start your travel dreaming and scheming with his wine around the world trip idea.

The post Don’t Let “The American Dream” Hold You Back From Living Your Dream appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.

My 19-year-old son and I had recently achieved our bucket list goal of visiting all seven continents with a memorable cruise to Antarctica. My husband passed on the trip and the prospect of wearing long underwear morning, noon and night. His travel goal was simpler and considerably closer: play the best golf courses on the Irish Isle. I set about developing an itinerary where he could golf and my son and I could play tourist. I headed to AirTreks to price tickets from Portland, Oregon to Dublin and discovered that the least expensive fare was on Icelandair. And get this, the AirTreks price was $450 cheaper per ticket than the airline’s own website!

Then my wheels really started turning. I knew that Icelandair offered a free stopover in Reykjavik. Why not extend our trip and visit another polar region? So that’s exactly what we did.

Granted, our 10-day road trip around Ireland and Northern Ireland was a wee bit ambitious, but we were determined to see as much as possible. Blurry-eyed from a long trans-Atlantic flight, we fought our jet lag by keeping busy. Over the next 36 hours in Dublin, we took a bike tour of the city, saw the famed Book of Kells, and met the Trinity University rowing team. (My son is a collegiate rower.) My son also experienced some “firsts” (at least as far as his parents were concerned!): his first shot of Irish whiskey on the Irish Whiskey Museum tour and his first pint of Guinness on a musical pub crawl of the city.

But the Ireland that we’d really come to see – the jagged, cliff-topped coastline, the emerald green pastures spotted with flocks of wooly sheep, the picturesque villages with their colorful doors and neighborhood pubs – that Ireland lives outside of Dublin. We headed south to my husband’s first round at Old Head Golf Links in County Cork, dramatically situated on diamond-shaped headland that rises 300 feet from the crashing waves below. While he fought 60+mph winds, my son and I biked the coast under beautiful blue skies. The following day, he’d play Waterville Golf Links in County Kerry while we braved the high seas on a boat trip to Skellig Michael, home to a well-preserved 6th century monastic settlement and more recently, the secret outpost of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Taking a break from the links, we’d make our way around the Ring of Kerry and then north to Dromoland Castle in County Clare. As if we were living in a scene from Downton Abbey, we went shooting (clay pigeons), horseback riding, and “dressed” for dinner in chandelier-hung rooms with silver cloches that simultaneously were lifted by the wait staff to great effect. As much as we’d have liked to move into our turret room, my husband had more golf to play – Lahinch and Sligo County Golf Clubs – and my son and I had more sights to see – the Cliffs of Mohr, Burren National Park and Knocknarea. Our last days were spent along Northern Ireland’s glorious Causeway Coast with stops at Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and numerous Game of Thrones shooting locations.

Of course, our adventure was about to continue just a short flight away in Iceland. Sadly, my husband – short of vacation time – had to make his way home, but my son and I pushed on, landing in Reykjavik. We traveled the obligatory Golden Circle, stopping to soak in a natural spring, eat lunch in a tomato greenhouse and feel the mist of the thunderous Gullfoss waterfall.  We rode Icelandic horses, a rare breed in the horse world because of its unique gaits. However, the highlight of our time in Iceland was a 2-day tour of the southern coast with a company called Hidden Iceland. The beauty of this region – from its cascading waterfalls to its countless glaciers to its black sand beaches that double as iceberg graveyards – is really unsurpassed. The tour culminated in a glacier hike in Vatnajökull National Park, complete with crampons and pick axes. Of course, the accomplishment was even more satisfying because it was shared with my son.

That brings me to the real point of travel. It’s not about bucket list destinations or frequent flyer status. Travel is about shared experiences that become shared memories. With my son now in college, our time together is limited. Travel gives my husband and I an excuse to monopolize my son’s time – if only for a few weeks. It’s moments like these – sipping a pint in a pub, fighting back seasickness on our way to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and climbing a glacier in Iceland – where memories are made that tide us over until our next shared adventure.

If you’re interested in exploring a multi-stop adventure of your own, I highly recommend planning your trip with AirTreks. You can start exploring with their Trip Planner tool here.

The post A Family’s Free Stopover In Iceland appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.

There is a great sort of therapy and personal transformation that happens when people hop a flight and touch down in places unknown to see, hear, smell, and taste the beautiful culture of a place that is unfamiliar to them.

Life has a way of moving at a rapid pace. As humans, our minds are wired to obsessively flip flop between the past and the future, more often than not, skipping right over the present. But when you find yourself in navigating a foreign country using unfamiliar language, you are forced to live in the present moment. When you experience the beauty of nature, a world wonder, an intricate historical monument, a winding cobblestoned alley, or any sight or scene that stops you in your tracks, you are living right now.

Living in “The Present Moment” is something you hear everywhere nowadays. It’s almost becoming an easy-to-skip-over modern cliché. But there is so much power in it and here’s why we think so: the future is not here yet and the past is already over. We have to deal with things and experience things that are happening right now. It is the only tangible slice of time that we have. Transformation, healing, and growing are possible when we accept this and commit to trying it on for size.

If you’ve arrived to this blog, then maybe we’re speaking directly to you. Maybe you’re considering a life change, a transformation, a mix up with the monotony of your normal day-to-day. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one, or you’ve recently gone through a break up or separation of sorts. Maybe you’re looking for a way to better connect with yourself and the people around you. Whatever your reason, if you feel the need to hit reset with your life, then we encourage you to follow your heart and spend a little time following the steps below. This will be the start to your journey.

1. Write it down. What changes do you wish to see in yourself? Why would travel help bridge the gap to making these changes?
It’s human nature to get stuck in our own stories. Our life is shaped by a series of stories that we tell ourselves. This exercise is an opportunity to disrupt our plot lines and ask ourselves some hard questions. Here are some writing prompts to get you started.

– What is your reason for waking up in the morning?
– What do you love about yourself?
– What don’t you love about yourself?
– If you had one year to live, what would you do with that year?
– What’s something you think about often, but never say out loud?
– What change do you want most for yourself?
– What are your greatest strengths?
– What strengths do you wish to build upon?
– What stories do you hope to tell after traveling around the world?
– What is holding you back from casting off into the world?

2. Plot your route. Here are some questions to help you decide on your destinations:
Which places in the world have always peaked your interest?

Which destinations would help you accomplish your goals for change? (Maybe India for example, because you’ve always wanted to practice meditation there. Or maybe Peru is high on your list because you want to learn to surf and Lima is where surfing originated).

How much time do you have to travel? (Consider how much time you would need in each destination to accomplish your goals.)

Once you have your list, you can play around with our Trip Planner Tool and submit your ideal route. Our expert travel planners can work with you to create a trip that satisfies your budget and the time you’re able to allot to traveling. They’re all travelers themselves, so they’ll have tips on top spots to satisfy your travel goals and they can move around dates to help you find a price that’s right for you.

3. Keep an open mind and say yes to opportunities along the way.
Once you’ve committed to your fight path. You’re on your way towards your adventure! It’s easy to get into planning mode, but remember to keep an open mind. There will be many opportunities that pop up along your journey that you hadn’t pre-planned. Go forward with an open mind and you’ll be amazed at what might unfold for you.

4. Take your changes home with you. The most important, and often overlooked, piece of the puzzle. Once you return home, it’s important to integrate your travels into your regular life. Here are a few things you can do:
Make time to reflect. Whether it’s 15-20 minutes at the beginning of end of your day. Take this time to journal. The goal is to continue your self-discovery practice. It’s amazing what will surface when you have a little time and space from your trip.

Share your new discoveries and learnings with your family and friends. Saying these changes out loud has great power and will help you stick to your new values.

Edit the look and feel of your home base. Having visual reminders of your transformative journey will help you stay on track. 

5. BONUS! Use your experiences and changes to influence the world around you.
Help others to have their own transformative experience. Whether you share this blog, or write your own; there is great power in passing on this idea.

If you’ve had an around the world travel experience already, or you plan on having one, reach out to us (heather at airtreks dot com). We’d love to hear what you’ve learned and maybe even share your story on the AirTreks blog!

The post Reinvent Your Life Through Travel appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.

Anthony Bourdain said it best— “Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you… If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food, it’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.”

At AirTreks we believe wholeheartedly in the transformational power of travel. In fact, we’ve made it our mission to increase accessibility to round the world travel for people everywhere.

What we’ve found to be the greatest road block in taking the leap and booking a ticket is: cash money.

Is travel only for the wealthy? Swoon-worthy Instagram shots of travelers delighting in an infinity pool at the Four Seasons in Thailand might make you believe that travel is only for those with the big bucks, but we (the experts in all things travel) are here to tell you that it’s possible to see the world without winning the lotto, and even better without breaking your bank.

We did the research on some top destinations where you can experience it all for under $30/day. Check out the line up and submit your information here if you’re interested in taking a trip to all of these destinations!

Bangkok, Thailand

Beyond being one of the most popular destinations for wanderlusters, it’s pretty easy to live on less than $30 (USD) per day. Budget rooms range from $7-$10 per night, and you can eat well on under $4 per day, cocktails and other beverages are about $2, and sightseeing activities cost around $10.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali can be even more affordable than Bangkok! You can stay in comfortable accommodations for around $10  per night. Fresh, local meals run around $2, for the next tier up you’ll pay $5. Snorkeling and surfing activities aren’t usually more than $10 and you can rent a moped for around $2 per day to explore all of Bali.

Athens, Greece 

Athens and the *most* of the islands in Greece are quite inexpensive to live luxuriously. Fresh fish or lamb with grilled vegetables runs around $10, a Greek salad or gyro is typically $4 or less. Drinks are $5 and under. If you’re looking for the bare bones accommodation, expect to pay $20. For a very nice upgrade, and during peak season, expect to pay $40-$50.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is beautiful city steeped with history. And what’s more? It’s inexpensive to visit! Hotels and hostels in Budapest start at $9 per night. If you’re looking for a private accommodation, prices start as low as $18/ night. Street food and market food are around $3-$4. Getting around the city on a dime is easy to do. Staying under Budapest and getting the whole experience of the city is easy to do for under $30!

Lima, Peru

Peru is home to the world wonder Machu Picchu. While making the trek out to Cusco and then to Machu Picchu isn’t the cheapest, you can really live it up in Lima and the city of Cusco while there. Hostels can be found for around $2 per night, street food is as low as $5. Activities including parasailing and surfing can cost as little as $20.

If you’re interested in learning more about round the world ticket costs, check out this article: How Much Do Around The World Tickets Cost.

The post Travel On A Budget Of Under $30/ Day appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.

Our friend in travel, Blaine Omega, traveled the world for two years and along her way she curated golden city guides with information every digital nomad is dying to get their hands on. Explore these 5 digital nomad cities she picked as her favorites!

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is a metropolitan city known for its wine, tango and passion! Often fondly referred to as “The Paris Of South America”, porteños (people living in Buenos Aires) pride their city on its European roots and feel. You will find locals sitting at sidewalk cafés, chatting and enjoying one another’s company until late into the evening.

Where digital nomads love to work from in Buenos Aires:
Area Tres
Access to professional events and workshops. A large, beautiful space with indoor and outdoor working areas. Café with quality coffee located in the building.

La Maquinita
Multiple locations allow you to book the most convenient one for you. Fun community events. Multiple call booths and small meeting rooms for booking.

Barcelona, Spain
World-renowned for its architectural beauty, its cultural character, and the way it blends tradition with innovation, those traveling to Barcelona will find themselves in one of the finest destinations in Europe. A city in constant flux, Barcelona is defined by Spanish and Catalan influences, and the push and pull between modern and old.

Where digital nomads love to work from in Barcelona:
Cloud Coworking
Frequent community events available to members. Well lit comfortable office with a beautiful terrace and views (Sagrada Familia location). Flexible and fixed desks, private offices, and meeting rooms available.

Attico Coworking
Multiple locations to choose from. A variety of membership options to fit your needs. Modern and aesthetically pleasing spaces to inspire your work.

Berlin, Germany
Known for its truly cosmopolitan nature, Berlin is an ever evolving, vibrant city that is taking over as the start-up center of Europe. Its central location in Europe also increases its diverse make up! It has a complicated history (the city has stellar museums and memorials that should not be missed), but has managed to maintain the reputation of a wild child, with world famous nightclubs.

Where digital nomads love to work from in Berlin:
One Coworking
One Coworking is a relatively new platform that allows members to work from multiple coworking spaces in Berlin. They offer 4 day, 9 day, and 22 day memberships. It’s a great way to see the city and try out different spaces. They also organize meet up events so you can get to know locals and other digital nomads in Berlin.

St. Oberholz
Hosts internal and external meetup events for networking opportunities. Very centrally located in Mitte. Access to both locations and their large coworking café with excellent food and coffee.

Ahoy
Beautiful aesthetics, comfortable, and well designed. A variety of desk and membership options. Well organized community events.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Known  as the northern capital, Chiang Mai is a laid back oasis compared to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. The city is overflowing with temples and quaint narrow streets that are perfect for exploring. Nearby outdoor excursions abound, including elephant sanctuaries and hiking trails. Be sure not to miss the Chiang Mai weekend night market, a street foodie heaven! This is a great place to land if you’re looking to integrate with an expansive expat and digital nomad community.

Where digital nomads love to work from in Chiang Mai:
Punspace Tha Phae Gate
Multiple locations to suit your needs. Great community of digital nomads and expats with lots of events to meet and connect with others. Offers flexible and fixed desks. Meeting rooms, private offices, and small call rooms are also available.

Bali, Indonesia
Bali is an Indonesian island known for its forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches and coral reefs. It’s a digital nomad hub, so finding reliable wifi – with a view – isn’t a problem! Whether you are looking to work with your toes in the sand and have access to world class surf at lunch, or be in a mountainous jungle with wildlife galore, there is a place in Bali for everyone.

Where digital nomads love to work from in Bali:
Outpost Canggu
It’s a brand new space with beautiful design by an award-winning architect. There is a swimming pool on site and it’s walking distance to the beach. State of the art technology and appliances.

Dojo Bali Coworking
They have a lot of seating options both in it’s open air sections and outdoors. There is a pool is the backyard and it is a ~5 minute walk to the beach. Tons of community events and opportunities to meet other digital nomads. A delicious cafe for coworkers only.

Want to travel to all five of these destinations? Check out this around the world flight offer starting in Buenos Aires and ending in Bali: AirTreks Work & Travel Trip

The post 5 of The Best Coworking Spaces In The World appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.

Before we dive in, let’s get started with the obvious — what exactly is a digital nomad? It’s a descriptor for different types of location independent working professionals. The goal of a digital nomad? To see and experience the world and all that it has to offer.

Sound like you? Or someone you would like to become? Perfect. You’ve landed in the right spot. We’re going to take you through all the essential details you need to get started on living a digital nomad lifestyle.

1. Secure a remote job or some form of passive income to fuel your travels. Here’s a list of common jobs for digital nomads to get your wheels spinning: copywriter, digital marketer, customer service specialist, freelance writer, freelance photographer, graphic designer, web designer, UI/UX designer, developer, software engineer, online language teacher, and the list goes on…

2. Scout a coworking space in your desired travel destination. You might be thinking—  I don’t need a coworking space, I can just work from a local café or from my home. Sure you can; those are both viable options. BUT beware of weak wifi connections. If you’ve got an important call with your boss or meeting with coworkers, it’s frustrating times 100 when your internet goes wonky on you. Working from a coworking space pretty much guarantees a steady connection. Plus it’s a great hub for meeting other kindred spirits like yourself and making professional connections with smart people from around the world.
   Disclaimer: digital nomads have a tendency to flaunt their lifestyle with images of fancy drinks in hand and laptops on beaches. In reality, the sun makes your laptop screen nearly impossible to read and you run the risk of overheating your digital devices. But by all means, keep ogling over the #officeanywhere shots and take one yourself if you want to hook your friends to join the remote movement with you.

3. Choose where you want to live. The place you choose to live will greatly affect your experience. Sure, you won’t be spending the majority of time in your apartment or hostel, but you do want to be comfortable and feel safe when you end your busy days of work and exploration.

4. Get your files in order. If you plan to travel abroad, you’ll want to make sure your passport is up to date. Most countries require your passport to be valid within 6 months of your last travel date. There are also some countries that you’ll need a visa (but don’t stress; most places don’t require one unless you plan on staying for longer than 90 days). Be sure to check the State Department’s website for detailed information on the countries you plan on traveling to. If your business requires a physical address to send bills and other important business materials to, most expats keep a physical address (a family or friend’s home, or PO Box) and then you can use either of these services (Traveling Mailbox or Earth Class Mail) to have your mail forwarded to wherever you are in the world.We highly recommend you try to go digital with your bill set up! Most bills and documents can be handled electronically. Try setting up online access for bank accounts and bills before you go.

5. Decide on your destinations. Now for the fun part, start dreaming and scheming of where you want to work remotely from. This is where we can best serve you! AirTreks has been the leader in multi-stop around the world flight travel for over 30 years. Our customers search for flights with our Trip Planner Tool over 10,000,000 times per year. With each search, our algorithm gets smarter and stronger; connecting you to the most convenient and affordable flights to suit your specific travel needs. Can you book as you go? Certainly. But we recommend you commit to your digital nomad journey upfront. This will save you money and give you peace of mind for your adventures ahead. If you need to make changes along the way, our customer support team is available for you 24/7 and is happy to help you make any switch! Curate your adventure here!

The post How To Become A Digital Nomad appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.

Sean and Rolf are not only long time business partners, but also good friends and kindred travel spirits. We hope you enjoy their chat.

Some Highlights From The Podcast

While smartphone apps can make travel easier in many ways, they can also get in the way of an organic travel experience.
“I’ve often said that three big gifts of travel are the opportunities it offers a person to be lost, lonely, and bored – and smartphones have made these counterintuitive travel-blessings easier and easier to avoid.

I can remember the first time I noticed this. It was 2007, I was sitting in a hostel lounge and nobody really wanted to talk like they used to. Everybody was on their device and it was so weird that for a decade I had been using hostel lounges as a resource to communicate with other travelers and now technology has taken that organic connection away.

Travel is about engaging your immediate environment; it’s about living in the moment rather than compulsively pulling up a screen every time you feel uncomfortable. Smartphones – and smartphone apps – have literally been engineered to make us think we need them. The key, on the road, is to find ways to use them without letting them distract us from what is right in front of our eyes.” – Rolf

The rise of influencer travel has taken away from the beauty of experiencing the world in an authentic way.
“In the mid-90s I met a lot of travelers that touted a badge of honor associated with the number of places they had traveled to and the length of time they had been traveling. I didn’t really care about it myself, but I could sense people were attracted and/or not attracted to others by that. Today, with the rise of technology, there are so many Instagramers out there wearing their badge of honor via their posts and stories. Their success is measured by the number of followers they have — and they’re using this to bargain for a travel discount or they’re trying to stay places for free. It just seems to be taking away from the beauty of real life experiences.” – Sean

There’s greater diversity in the types of people who are setting off on around the world travel adventures.
“There’s so many more people taking round the world trips from a numbers standpoint, and from a diversity standpoint. In the mid 90s there weren’t a ton of Eastern Europeans, but now today, they’re traveling all over the world; joining the vagabond group. For a long time there was a population of mostly white males traveling, and now there’s a lot more diversity and people of color and people in the middle class traveling the world.” – Sean

“Twenty years ago the average multi-destination traveler was typically someone considered ‘sophisticated’. Maybe they went to Middlebury College or they were from Oregon, or they were from a place where it was already fairly normal to travel internationally. Whereas now you get more working class or near working class people people from places like Kansas, where I’m from. There are alot of people beyond white dudes taking to the road; including women and people of color. Odds are, you can look for blogs or social media and find people who are pretty similar to you, and you can follow their footsteps or advice and make travel happen for yourself. It’s been cool and progressive shift to see.” – Rolf

Travel is more affordable and more possible than people think.
“The cost of multi-destination travel is a lot cheaper than people think. You can do a full year of vagabonding or independent travel for anywhere between $16k-$20k per year. With technology, it’s possible to work along the way, so you can travel and keep your income coming in. There is so much more infrastructure in popular routes around the world than there was 20 years ago. There are so many inexpensive and safe places to stay while traveling.

And these places are not just low-end places, there’s lots of comfortable middle level places you can stay. In Indonesia, for example, you can find somewhere quite nice for only $10-$15 dollars a night.

It’s almost unbelievable when you think about the prices in many of the modern big cities of the world like London, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.” – Sean

Listen to their full podcast here!

The post How Travel Has Changed Over The Past 20 Years appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.

With that, their radical sabbatical began in June of 2018 and the rest is history. Or rather, currently in motion! We had the chance to catch up with Laurie to hear all the details and delights of their world tour thus far.

When did the idea of taking a round the world trip first come up for you and your family?
We knew that we had a sabbatical from my job on the horizon before we had kids. We always said we wanted to do an around the world trip, but with two kids, we weren’t sure it could be a reality. We worked on the plan for about 2.5 years but really focused on it about 18 months before our departure. We booked the first half of our trip in March before our July departure.

Why did you decide to go?
We married and had children “late” in life and both of our lives were deeply entrenched in travel opportunities prior to coming together as a family. I led global education trips with my students (mostly to east Africa) and traveled as a solo women whenever I could. My husband worked for Cirque du Soleil for 10 years which put him all over the country and the globe. If we hadn’t been tied to our school (we’re both teachers) we would have opted to raise our kids on the road from birth, but we love our jobs so much and the educational community we live in, that we could not give it up. Also, rearing kids is harder than we thought. So, this was our opportunity to make that dream a reality. Our wanderlust is strong.

What are the destinations of your trip?
Cross country USA (Boston to LA including exploring the west coast and Burning Man), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, tropical Far North Queensland), Tokyo, Chiang Mai, Hanoi/Halong Bay, Bali, Arusha (actually the village of Monduli) Tanzania, Cape Town, Tankwa Town (AfrikaBurn), France (Paris, Gourdes) and other parts of Europe TBD- we know we will get to Umbria. Hoping to do some of Spain, Croatia as well, and possibly Iceland!

Why did you decide on this route?
Honestly, it all had to do with school for the kids. Our children are 3 and 5, and unlike most global traveling families, we feel passionate about putting our kids in local schools. We wanted them to have the benefit of different approaches to classroom learning, to learning new languages and making new friends from other cultures. So, we had a recommendation for a preschool in Ubud, Bali that would take the kids for a three month term. We committed to that right away, (we chose January – March so that we could be in Bali for Nyepi) and built the rest of our trip around it. Also, my parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and always wanted to go to Australia. We decided it would be great to start our overseas adventure with help from our family so we made that our first international destination. The rest just fell (or is still falling) into place.

What has been your favorite destination thus far and why? (Or which destination are you looking forward to most?)
How can anyone answer this? ! My first answer is always the last place we were. Right now I say Monduli because we went there to volunteer teach with an amazing secondary school for poor Masaai kids in a rural area. The work was intense and inspiring and the community so very different from our lives. It was the farthest we will be from the comforts of home and the most challenged our kids have been in terms of cultural comfort, so to watch them move through that; to watch them process being white for the first time; it was all very moving and powerful and important. It’s why we took this trip to begin with.

Aside from that, we loved Chiang Mai because the Buddhist way of life just spoke to us and our kids. We had a great preschool we found there and the people were incredibly warm and welcoming. The food was amazing. There were so many great sites and places to explore. We took weekend trips to Pai and Chiang Rai and the Myanmar border. It was a magical place for us. Learn more in this blog post!

Our time in Bali was also so magical. I found the expat community a bit overwhelming but we all adored the Balinese friends we made and their way of life.

Has there been a travel moment—big or small—that changed you and the way you and your family see the world?
Every day we’re at this, is a step in a new direction. Perhaps that’s why we left home and set off on this adventure in the first place, to keep our souls in motion. To give ourselves the opportunity to forge undiscovered paths of growth as a family.

Tanzania was on our list, off our list, on and off, again and again. Including Africa in our travel itinerary added significant cost. It didn’t seem feasible. It didn’t make sense.

But we are here now, and I have loved this part of the world and the Masaai people since I first set foot in African soil back in 2008. The sound of the African dove, the mesmerizing song of Masaai children singing under a thick African sky, the call of my Masaai name, Namelok… all these have been my siren song, calling me to return.

It has not been easy to be here with our children. This is the first time I have seen them react to the unfamiliar with fear. This is the first time I have seen them reject fellow humans or push away a hand offered to them in friendship.

But the students at Orkeeswa and the village children here have not given up on Sam and Toby. They continue to model trust and faith and kindness for our little humans.

Today that kindness cracked something open in our boys. And through that crack, a little light shined through.

Sam greeted me after my first class with elation that he had joined a game with kids next door, kids who don’t speak English, kids from whom he had run just a week ago.

Tobias jumped head first into the arms of his new friend Saidi and told me to go away so he could have his new companion all to himself.

It may seem small, but these are major changes that indicate the melting away of fear. Fear that I have to face in my children, even though I wish it didn’t exist.

There is no way to ignore the power of race while we are here. We are 4 of maybe 10 white people in all of Monduli. I feel intensely proud and honored to be welcomed here. I feel even more proud to be invited to teach and collaborate with this community. I am blessed and overwhelmed with gratitude.

Today I finally got to share that pride and gratitude with my boys. Today we were all, at last, back on the same page.

Here’s to growth and a process of getting to know ourselves better every day. Here’s to believing that good will conquer fear in our little family and in our desperately conflicted world. As they say in our children’s meditation practice, Peace begins with me.

Anything is possible.

Why do you believe that experiencing the world is important for your family?
Our life at home is very comfortable. I wanted to stretch my kids and build new avenues for connection with my family and as a family with others. It has totally worked! I love when our kids teach us about local customs and language- they learn so much at their local schools and activities. We’ve grown so much as a family and we’ve become aware of some of the problems in the world that we want to address when we get home. There is no better way to raise awareness about climate change than to live in a place where there is real drought. No better way to learn about refusing single use plastics than living in a place where trash washes up on the beach. These images are real for us now and they help us to be the global citizens we want to be.

Most of all, we made friends with people from other cultures. That has mattered most for all of us. Our kids have a real appreciation for the community values of the Balinese, the sense of cultivating inner peace from the Thai and the connection that so many cultures have with nature. This comes from real connections with real people that they would not meet in our life at home.

What would your advice be to another family that’s considering taking off to travel the world?
DO IT! And if you want more specifics on why, I’ve written several posts on my website. Check it out here!

The post Taking On The World | Family Travel appeared first on AirTreks Travel News.