Nomad Visas/No-Fee ATMs/Argentina's "Blue Rate"
The Rise of Digital Nomad Visas
Governments around the world are warming up to the idea of offering short-term residency to working travelers. Some of these digital nomad visas are in pricey Caribbean island destinations or expensive countries like Iceland, but they’re also coming out of cheaper nations too. Some of the best combos of reasonable price and high quality of life include Portugal, Georgia, Croatia, and Panama, while Thailand and Ecuador have announced (but not launched) programs. See a full breakdown here.
Insatiable Travel Appetites
Some of the most extreme travelers aren't content to just visit every country, but also every territory, island, and disputed war zone that normal people can’t get to. Check out the new book Mad Travelers by Dave Seminara for a peek into their world—and a well-mannered Englishmen who scammed quite a few of them.
ATM Fee Reimbursements Abroad
In most countries you travel to or live in temporarily, you’ll be pulling cash out of an ATM on a regular basis. The fees can add up fast unless you have a debit card that doesn’t charge you anything, such as the Capital One 360 debit card. The best go a step further, however, reimbursing the local bank charge as well. You can get one from Fidelity, Schwab, Everbank, and many local credit unions if you maintain a minimum balance. See this rundown from Lifehacker for details.
Bring Real Cash to Argentina
I recently returned from Argentina, where prices are at a historic low for good wine, steak dinners, groceries, and a taxi across Buenos Aires. There’s a catch though: you need to bring lots of crisp U.S. dollars or euros—preferably 100s—to get the market “blue rate” (currently 204 to $1) instead of the official government rate (currently 117). Flying in the face of the usual travel advice, here you’ll pay far more for everything if you use your credit or debit card instead of cash. Check the official rate and the real rate you’ll receive on the street here: https://bluedollar.net/
Written and Edited by Tim Leffel. We are open to reader recommendations. Send your suggestions by replying to this email.
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