Easier Thailand Entry/Minimalist Packing/Virtual Sim Cards
Easier Thailand Entry
Thailand has been a favorite of long-term travelers for decades, but probably no country changed its entry requirements more often during the pandemic than this country did. From July 1 it gets a lot easier though. Vaccinated travelers will be able to enter freely and go anywhere in the country, no testing required. In a related note, they also just became the first Asian nation to decriminalize marijuana.
Travel Insurance for Nomads
We've recently seen an unprecedented rash of flight cancellations, long delays, and luggage pile-ups. Combine that with the need to show proof of medical coverage in some countries and travel insurance has gone from "nice to have" to must-have. Most policies cover both sides of this equation: flight/luggage compensation and medical coverage. I've long had an annual policy from Allianz but the most nomad-focused company these days is SafetyWing. See their details and get a quote at that link.
Super-light Packing Tips
When Kevin Kelly sent me these minimalist packing tips from Vitalik Buterin, co-creator/founder of Ethereum, I wasn't sure how much I'd learn from a crypto billionaire. It's an interesting take on the concept though, looking at the whole 40-liter pack exercise as "like frugality, but for cm3 instead of dollars." This experienced traveler picked up a few new tricks.
Virtual Sim Cards
Several readers of last week's newsletter responded with tales of being cut off by GoogleFi after roaming in international countries constantly. Another option for smartphone service abroad is a "virtual sim card" that you can download without inserting anything into your phone or removing your existing card. They are priced by country and duration/data, but some offer plans that are for a whole continent, such as Europe. Check airalo and KnowRoaming for details and pricing.
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