Life As A Traveling Nomad

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Life As A Traveling Nomad

Are you interested in being a traveling nomad? They are people who move around from place to place, sometimes for work and sometimes for adventure. In general, they don’t stay in one city for long before moving on to the next, and it can be a very exciting way to live. If you want to see the world and don’t have anything tying you to one city, then this could absolutely be the life for you.

Thanks to traveling visas, this lifestyle has become more widely available and cities like Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, are the perfect place to try it out. If you think that you want to be a nomadic traveler, even just for a short while, then there are some things that you should know.

We’ll let you in on some tips that can help make the transition as smooth as possible. Our first tip is to take advantage of resources like Bounce luggage storage in Lisbon; these suitcase lockers can be very useful for keeping your things safe while you are out exploring the city.

What to know before becoming a traveling nomad

Before packing up your entire life for a new city you should know what it’s like to be a traveling nomad. It is a big lifestyle change and it isn’t for everyone, but hopefully, after reading these tips you can make an informed decision.

Do Your Research

Before going to any city, it is very important to learn as much as you can about the new place that you are going to be living in. Research the local customs and traditions, the layout of the city, how the public transit works, how expensive it is, and where the safe and unsafe areas are. The more that you know about your new destination the easier it’ll be for you to start your new life there.

Find Work Beforehand

Although it would be amazing to move somewhere new and just explore it without any responsibilities, it’s just unrealistic and you have to have a way to pay for your accommodations. Many traveling nomads work remotely which makes it easy to keep the same job no matter where you go, but it is also important to understand how traveling around can affect your productivity and you will need to have discipline in order to make it work.

Get Your Documents Ready

When living in a new place you will need to have all of the necessary documents with you. This includes an ID and driving license (in some cases an international license is necessary), a passport, debit and credit cards, and any other paperwork that might be particular to the country that you are visiting. It is also vital to check the expiration dates of all of these documents before taking off to make sure that you are covered for the whole trip.

Pack Light

As someone who will be traveling around a lot, you may need to master the art of packing lightly and leaving many of your possessions behind. You will have to learn to fit all of the essentials into your luggage which can be quite challenging, and you will have to give up some luxuries and leave unnecessary trinkets behind. This can take some getting used to and might be one of the biggest changes that you will face.

Where to stay as a traveling nomad in Lisbon

There are a couple of things that you will need to consider when deciding where to stay in Lisbon as a traveling nomad. Listed below are a few places that might work for you.

Alfama

As Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood, Alfama has a certain charm and personality to it that you just can’t deny. You will definitely never get tired of its lively buzz.

Cais do Sodre

Cais do Sodre is a neighborhood found right in the heart of the city meaning that you will be close to almost everything. When you have free time, check out the Time Out Market or go for a walk by the port.

Bairro Alto

This is a trendy part of town and, with many bars and fantastic restaurants, it is also a great place to socialize and meet new people. This will definitely come in handy for finding friends so you don’t get too lonely.

What to Do in Lisbon

Being a traveling nomad gives you the incredible opportunity to visit different places around the world and you should take full advantage of that by seeing all of the top sights in Lisbon. Here are some things that you won’t want to miss out on.

Palacio Nacional da Ajuda

The Palacio Nacional da Ajuda dates back to 1802, although construction was technically never finished. Despite only being half complete, the royal family still lived here during the 19th century. Today the building is used as the Ministry of Culture as well as a museum.

Torre de Belem

The Torre de Belem was used as a guard tower for the mouth of the Lisbon harbor back sometime in the late 1400s. It is still standing today and also features some incredible stone motifs that represent the city’s time during the Discoveries era.

Monsteiro dos Jeronimos

This monastery was put on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list back in 1983. Even now it is still considered to be one of the top landmarks in this part of the city, so you will definitely want to visit it at least once during your stay here.

Being a traveling nomad in Lisbon

There are plenty of benefits to becoming a digital nomad; you can see new places, learn about new cultures and traditions, and understand the differences between people and places around the world. Although you will have to give up possessions and close proximity to your loved ones, you will get to have new experiences and meet some pretty incredible people from all over. Now that you know a bit more about what this kind of way of life entails you will be able to decide if it is the right style of living for you.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.