Firsthand: this is what the life of a digital nomad is really like

You see them typing away on their laptops in trendy coffee shops in New York, they are popping up in Bali at random times and seem to never work (or always). They call themselves digital nomads. People who have no fixed residence but see the world as their playground and can work anywhere there is a WiFi connection. A life to be envious of if you ask me. I spoke to digital nomad Dana (41 years old) from the blissful villa in southern Spain where she is staying with her husband Charley for a few months.

‘Charley and I had it perfect. Good jobs, a detached house, consciously no children, luxury vacations, and our hobby was dining in Michelin-starred restaurants. Yet we often had that feeling of: is this all? A lot changed when I lost my job as a travel advisor because the agency was nearly bankrupt and Charley realized he wasn't actually happy at work. We talked more and more about stepping out of the rat race and one day we said: ‘Let’s just do it.’ From that moment on, everything seemed to fall into place. Acquaintances called saying they had heard we wanted to rent out our house. I arranged a work trip to the Costa Brava to visit locations. After that, we got a work stay through Workaway, again in Spain. We stored our belongings at Charley’s attic and left.’

How do you earn your income?

‘Our house is rented out, so that already provides a nice base. Furthermore, I started my own business as a freelance travel agent. Clients tell me what kind of trip they want to make, and I outline the entire plan for them and book the tickets and accommodations. That saves them a lot of hours searching and comparing prices; I take care of everything for them. That happens online and via phone, so I can work anywhere in the world. Charley loves to cook and do handy work. So when we are somewhere, I am busy booking trips and Charley is the one taking care of everything around the accommodation where we stay.’

Is it difficult to find places to stay?

‘So far, that has been smooth. The villa we are currently staying in is a bed & breakfast in the summer. The owners are always in Belgium during the winter. In exchange for our stay, we take care of their two cats, do the garden maintenance, and Charley does a different task every day, like painting a wall or refurbishing the garden furniture. We have already planned two and a half months in Atlanta for this year and we are going back there in November. If we have nothing in between, we can stay with Charley’s brother. He is alone, has plenty of space, and finds it just cozy. Charley can cook wonderfully, so we are welcome everywhere, haha.’

How do you like this life?

‘We have less money to spend than before, but we have gained so much freedom in return. Everything we need fits in three suitcases. The funny thing is that with the setup we have now, we can skip the money. Who doesn’t dream of wintering in Spain? Instead of waiting until we are old and have saved up the money for a house, we are already there!’

How do you ensure that you feel at home when you are constantly in a different place?

‘I have discovered that I don’t need much. As long as we are together, I feel at home. I do need a good workspace and a WiFi connection. I also want to feel safe. In terms of belongings from home, we take our own pillows, the blender, and the espresso machine. I love good coffee and am known for my cappuccinos. I really can’t do without that.’

Book travel for the best price and don’t feel like dealing with choice stress? Dana knows exactly where you need to be and arranges it.