For Travelers (and Digital Nomads) Not Tourists

For Travelers (and Digital Nomads) Not Tourists: A Guide on How to Connect With a Destination for a More Fulfilling Travel Experience, Daniel Vroman Rusteen, 2019, Optimizemybnb.com

You have suddenly decided that you want to try living, and working, in another country for a month or two at a time. Now what do you do? This short book attempts to give the answer.

Start with Google searches for, for instance, "popular neighborhoods Singapore" or "party neighborhoods Rio." Do you want to be downtown, or in the local equivalent of the suburbs? Make sure that the neighborhood has things like a food store, gym, park, library, etc. You will be doing a lot of walking, or using public transportation, so you don't want to be in an isolated area.

When you reach your destination, visit the local tourist office. If there is a bus tour of the city, take it. The tour will be a good introduction to the city, and show the touristy areas to be avoided. Staying in a traveler's hostel is good for your first few days, but you will find that the sooner you can find an airbnb or other accommodation, the better.

Make an attempt to learn some of the local language. The locals might appreciate the effort, no matter how badly you mangle it. When you are at the gym or food store, talk to people. They might know of an inexpensive room for rent, or show you places the tourists don't know about. At minimum, you have someone to visit the next time you are in town. It's important to connect with the locals, if only to get out of your comfort zone. On the other hand, it's acceptable to hang out with other expats, or expatriates, who are living in the area.

For anyone planning to live overseas, even if only for a couple of weeks, this book belongs in your suitcase. It is very short, less than 100 pages, and is full of information. It is a gem of a book.