Do you say to yourself that you’d take off to live as a digital nomad in a heartbeat if only it wasn’t so difficult to do?
The problem is that there are many myths about being a digital nomad that make people think that is a lifestyle that’s not for them.
What you might not realize is that it isn’t as difficult to live as a digital nomad as you might think.
If you’ve decided not to travel because of stories you’ve heard, read on, and we’ll tell you about the biggest digital nomad myths that exist today.
Myth: I Can’t Afford to Travel as a Digital Nomad
If you choose business class flights and refuse to stay at any hotel that is less than four stars, then travel can be expensive. But it doesn’t need to be this way.
Even if you’d like to travel somewhere to the Caribbean but don’t have the resources to live as Paris Hilton does, you can still make the trip a reality.
Experienced travelers know that some of the most expensive parts of travel are flights, insurance, hotels, and food. To save money, many digital nomads also make a point of only eating at restaurants that are popular with locals because they know the food is usually cheaper.
Booking flights doesn’t have to be expensive if you make use of airlines miles or if you use credit cards that you’ve accumulated travel points on.
And even though it is important to have travel insurance, you can find cost-effective plans that offer great coverage. For example, there are various websites you can visit, such as www.travelinsurance.com.au, which offers great coverage for Australians.
Myth: Hostels Are Gross and Are Only for Young People Who Party
Contrary to what most people think, digital nomads have no problem finding hostels for every budget level and for every level of comfort. You might be surprised to know that some of the most luxurious sleeping accommodations on the planet are actually hostels. For example, the five-star hostel chain Selena has locations all over the world.
Digital nomads often use the website Hostel World to search for quality hostels to stay in. A trick that savvy travelers do is to make use of the website’s filter options to only search for hostels that have a rating of eighty percent or higher.
Many travelers also don’t understand that staying at a hostel doesn’t mean that you’ll have to sleep on bunk beds with noisy strangers. Most hostels offer private rooms for rent in addition to dormitories.
Myth: It’s Dangerous to Travel Alone as a Single Woman
It can be dangerous to travel as a single woman, but it doesn’t need to be. It all comes down to the concept of smart travel.
Experienced digital nomads know to do their research before setting out to a new place. They post on social media to find out from friends and contacts what places are safe for single women to travel to. They are also frequent readers of travel guides that offer readers detailed information about how to travel safely.
Single women can also travel by choosing to follow a few simple guidelines: keep an eye on your belongings, verify your driver’s identity when using ride-sharing apps, and don’t walk alone at night.
Myth: The Best Place for Exchanging Money Is at Airports
This is the most costly myth for nomads because it’s often the case that exchanging money at airports is the most expensive way to change between currencies.
Businesses often set up shop inside airports while offering astronomical exchange rates in order to take advantage of travelers on a vacation getaway who don’t realize what their options are for exchanging money.
Exchanging money at airports is generally not a good idea. The best way for digital nomads to exchange money is by simply withdrawing money out of an ATM. Regardless of where you are on the planet, you shouldn’t have trouble with finding one because they are almost everywhere.
If you do find yourself at an airport without an ATM, don’t worry. It is not the end of the world if you have to change your money at the airport. Just remember to exchange as little money as you need. Then find the nearest ATM to withdraw the rest cash you plan to spend.
Myth: It’s Too Difficult to Travel With Kids
Don’t believe what you hear about the difficulties of going on a family vacation with kids. Parents with children travel the world all of the time.
One of the biggest objections that people have about traveling with children is that it’s not fair to take your kids out of school. The problem with this objection is that it’s based on the belief that traditional education is kids’ only option.
Travelers educate their children while on the road by doing things such as homeschooling and enrolling them in online programs. Many parents also choose to enroll their children at schools located within areas they are traveling through.
Forget About the Myths You’ve Heard and Start Traveling
It’s easy to think that becoming a digital nomad is not for you because of what you’ve heard. News headlines tell about when bad things happen in the world, but not when good things happen.
Keep in mind that every story you hear about being a digital nomad is not true. There are many myths, and you should educate yourself about the destinations you visit before setting out onto the road.
Even if you’re on a budget you can still travel without having to worry about going broke. Consider using your airline miles to buy cheap flights and or purchase travel insurance from established agencies that offer competitive plans.
If you feel that becoming a digital nomad is for you, don’t hesitate. Do your research and recognize what the biggest myths are about being a digital nomad.
Want to learn more travel tips? Don’t hesitate to check out the rest of our blog!