The Freelance Blueprint

  • Travel Essentials I can’t live without as a digital nomad

    Travel Essentials I can’t live without as a digital nomad

    Leaving my flat in London and becoming a digital nomad has been one of the easiest decisions to make. What of my belongings to get rid of and what to take for those travels, not so much.

    Trying to choose what to travel the world with and make sure it fits into one suitcase and a backpack was tricky. I put my favourite clothes and basics into my suitcase to see what would fit and soon realised I had to get rid of more than I wanted to.

    Judge my messy suitcase in my messy room. This is the very moment I realised becoming a digital nomad won’t be that simple.

    How to get rid of your stuff

    I took the items I couldn’t take with me - like small furniture, home decor, bedding, plants -  and organised a little “Everything must go” house party. My friends could take any of the items. Whatever was left at the end of the day I brought to a charity shop.

    Once I arrived at the airport to check in my luggage, the stewardess told me that my suitcase is 4kg overweight and each kilo costs £11, which would’ve been £44 in total. For that money, I could’ve booked another suitcase on that flight.

    How to get rid of even more stuff

    So my nomad journey started with a decision: Do I want to pay overweight luggage for every flight I’m going to take? Or do I just get rid of things now? I chose the latter and while the air hostess checked in other passengers on the flight, I hid around the corner to decide once more what to keep and what to get rid of.

    This time I went through a different filtering system: it was about weight. I got rid of heavy items like shampoo bottles, sun lotion and big warm jumpers. I wasn’t going to need them in Spain anyway. Oh, how little did this younger version of me know about life and weather.

    I managed to reduce the weight to 21kg. She was happy with that and didn’t charge for the 1kg overweight. When you feel like you already got rid of so much stuff, the things you have left gain more value, so having to get rid of more was a bit sad. But I also knew this was part of what I was getting myself into.

    When I then arrived in Alicante, it was much colder than I expected. It was early November and gosh, those jumpers would’ve been so useful! I also realised that there’ll be more domestic flights and airlines that only allow up to 20kg instead of 23kg. So I had to ensure not to travel above 20kg.

    Digital Nomad Must Haves

    So, based on that first flight experience as a digital nomad and all the trips thereafter, here are the items that I take with me to any trip, no matter the weather. For ease of reading, I grouped them into following categories:

    • Travel essentials
    • Storage
    • Tech
    • Health
    • The important but boring stuff
    • Anything multi-purpose

    Some of these links are affiliate links. I’ve not been paid to advertise them and if you make a purchase through one of these links you won’t pay more, some of them even offer a discount. But I get a couple cents for any items purchased so who knows, maybe in the future I can make a living out of this. (I’m just laughing to myself as I’m writing this but hey, wishful thinking is powerful) But also, from a digital nomad perspective who tries to squeeze everything in one suitcase: only purchase what you need. Okay, let’s get to the main content.

    Travel essentials

    Here’s a list of items that I need just to make it easier to get from A to B.

    Suitcase scale

    I didn’t even know how much my suitcase weighed before taking that first flight. I just assumed it wasn’t too heavy. Investing in a suitcase scale - which felt like such a useless thing for me in the past - is probably the most anxiety reducing item I own now.

    I don’t often buy new items when I travel, but sometimes you need to buy that jumper or you want to bring a bottle of wine to the next place when you’re visiting friends. So the weight can vary. Having a suitcase scale gives me that piece of mind I need before a flight.

    Compression packing cubes

    I only bought those recently, but they’re a life changer! Especially if you’re planning weekend trips from your new short-term home.

    While I was in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, I took the ferry to visit a friend in Tenerife. Even though it was a short trip from Friday to Sunday, we were planning on hiking, swimming and partying, so I had to pack not just the clothes I’d wear during the day but also for all those occasions. But I didn’t want to bring tons of bags.

    Instead, I managed to fit everything into my backpack, thanks to compression cubes.

    Tote bags

    You get them for free almost anywhere but I love them. They’re lightweight, foldable and can carry almost anything. Sometimes, when I don’t have enough space to bring a handbag, I just grab a tote bag. I normally just have a tiny hand bag where I can just about carry my phone, wallet, tissues, keys and earplugs (yes, I’m old). So I stuff my tote bag in there too if I might have to do some grocery shopping after. Multipurpose is always good!

    Travel backpack

    The backpack I’m using is mainly to travel from one location to the other. I don’t actually use it much day to day because as mentioned above, I’d use a tote bag. Again, it’s light, doesn’t use much space and you can use it for anything!

    The one I’m using has a pocket to carry all my essentials. There’s a special space for my laptop, my charger, my passport, my sunglasses, my water bottle and everything else. It also has a hidden pocket for high valuable items.

    I bought the travel backpack a couple years ago. It was a Lululemon item, but they probably no longer sell it, as I couldn’t find it online. But there’s plenty of good multipurpose backpacks out there, like this one.

    Storage

    Toothbrush holder

    This one might be a little bit random to categorise as a travel essential. But it’s one of the first things I bought as a digital nomad. I stayed in an accommodation that had a tiny sink and not even a shelf in the bathroom. I don’t like having my toiletries kept in a bag but the sink couldn’t even fit a glass for the toothbrush. So I was looking EVERYWHERE for a tiny, lightweight toothbrush holder. There’s definitely a gap in the market!

    Always opt for the lighter option!

    So I got myself this little toothbrush holder. It’s made of bamboo, and it’s light as well. You can get some ceramic ones which are easier to clean but also heavier. And if you’ve read the intro of this article you now know the importance of weight. Always opt for the lighter option!

    Storage bag

    If you’d ask me a year ago, I would’ve said that those things are useless. But now that I’ve travelled a couple of times, I wouldn’t want to travel without them. A box like this allows me to just fill it with my Mari Kondo style folded clothes, put it in the suitcase (make sure it’s the right size before you purchase them) and put them straight into the wardrobe when I arrive at my new short-term home.It just saves me so much time!

    Tech

    Of course, there’s several tech items that I need to be able to do my job. But also to continue communicating with friends all over the world.

    Laptop

    Surprise! Yes, I’m travelling with a laptop. I’m a freelance UX Designer and recently invested in a 14 Inch MacBook Pro. I absolutely love it! I also got myself this laptop cover to make sure I don’t scratch it.

    Universal travel adaptor

    One of my friends from Austria once came to visit me while I was living in London. She had this travel adaptor and I’ve never seen one like this before. You can plug all types of plugs into the front and put it into any type of socket! I was blown away!

    And it has USB sockets. How did I not hear about these little miracles before? So I quickly got myself my own.

    Power bank

    I have a confession to make. I know UX Designers need to always be on top of technology but I had my little iPhone 6S until 2 months ago. I just don’t like to replace things while they’re still working. Yes, I’m one of those people.

    But the problem with my previous phone was that the battery would only last up to 4 hours. So I purchased a power bank. It was about time, but I finally got myself a new phone! Now that I no longer need it as much for my phone, it still comes in handy. Because I often forget to recharge my headphones or my kindle and the time I realise that is usually when I’m about to use it. So it still comes in handy.

    External Hard drive

    Yes, you can store things in the cloud. But Google photos and others reduce some of the photo quality. I also don’t want to store client work in the cloud because some projects I had to sign NDAs for and it just doesn’t feel right.

    I try to back up my work files every two weeks on an external hard drive, because only then my business insurance will cover for potential data losses.

    Kindle

    When weight is of the essence and you love books then you have to get a kindle. Yes, it’s not the same as a proper book. One thing I miss is that you can add scribbles and notes to your pages or fold the corner to get back to a page. You also know how far into the book you are, compared to the percentage bar shown on a kindle. But all those downsides are made up by the light weight. And you can get a new book any time you are online, you don’t have to find a bookstore that might sell books in your native language.

    I’m currently reading The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel A. van der Kolk.

    Health

    Reusable water bottle

    Okay, I have to admit, I lost a bunch of reusable water bottles at friends’ places and gyms and airports and busses and anywhere else you can lose them. But it’s essential for me. Also, the amount of plastic bottles you save from ending up in the ocean! Although, I probably counteracted on that by the amount of water bottles that end up in landfill. But I’m trying to be better, my current bottle has been with me for 6+ months.

    Travelling with a reusable water bottle is good for your wallet and good for the planet. Just try not to forget them all over the world, I heard some people are like that.. If I wouldn’t keep losing them, I’d definitely opt for the green Chilly one.

    Ear plugs

    When I was younger, I used to play the drums and I didn’t wear headphones while doing so for quite a long time. So now I’m trying to maintain as much of my hearing as possible. The other day I was joining a pub crawl with some friends. The last venue was extremely loud and I just put on my earplugs. People started to ask me about them, because they’ve not seen anyone before who just carries them with them all the time.

    Ear plugs are not the sexiest item but I came across Loop earplugs. Hey, considering they’re earplugs, I do actually think they’re quite pretty. When I purchased them, they gave me a discount code, so click here if you want 15% off.

    I actually have 2 of them (two pairs, not two ear plugs, of course) - one for sleeping and one for when I’m at concerts or out and about. I have it on my key chain so I don’t forget to take it with me.

    Travel towels

    Most accommodations provide towels, but sometimes when you sublet you have to bring your own. Again, weight is of the essence, and space too! So I always travel with a big and small quick drying and absorbent towel. I ordered these ones years ago and they’re still doing a good job. One of them also has a small zipper so if you’re at the beach and worry about someone stealing your stuff and how to get home after, I usually hide £10–20 in that zipper in case I need to get a cab back. But luckily, this has never happened.

    Soap

    Let’s not forget about hygiene. Again, some accommodation provide it, some don’t. I’m using this lush shampoo bar because travelling with liquid can be tricky. They’re light and you on top of that they reduce plastic. Win-win!

    Pens, notebooks and diaries

    Maybe this isn’t the right category but health isn’t just physical health. It’s also about mental health. And what’s the point of making all those amazing memories travelling when we don’t capture them somehow.

    I have one of those 5 year diaries. This is the one I’m using now. I ordered it online and it’s bigger than I thought (A5, my previous one was A6) but it also gives me more space to write. I actually finished one of those 5 year diaries before and it’s quite satisfying to read what your day was like 3 or 4 years ago as you write today’s entry.

    The boring but important stuff nobody talks about

    Monzo card

    Okay, Monzo aren’t actually boring. If you’re from the UK, you’ve probably heard about Monzo. They have a little referral scheme going on so here’s a link if you want a free £5.

    I love Monzo so much! It’s a bank account with no fees when paying contactless abroad. They also have some fun UX. And when you see someone else pulling out their coral card there’s a sense of connection and awkward eye contact and nodding at each other. I use Monzo for my £ English Pound and I also travel with an N26 bank card when I’m in Europe as it’s a € Euro account. A lot of people have also recommended Revolut. But I have so many bank cards that I don’t want to add another one.

    Insurance

    When you’re European and travel in the EU, you might not need to worry too much about this. What a privilege we have to be able to get health cover just because we’re born in a country that made this great agreement with other countries. But if you’re travelling in Asia or especially America, please get health insurance. I use Safetywing but recently came across the Passport Card. That one seems a bit pricey so I’ve not signed up with them but I would consider it for when I go to America

    Some people argue that you don’t really need travel insurance because you have to cover costs up until a certain amount anyway, which is correct. Every time I had to go to the doctors abroad (once for having a fish bone stuck in my throat. I survived, but I avoided fish for quite a while…) I just paid for it myself, because it wasn’t expensive enough for the insurance to cover. But it also gives you piece of mind when you travel to know you’re covered in case you need a helicopter to transport you to a hospital.

    Anything multi-purpose

    Smart clothes

    I don’t mean smart clothes as in ‘looking smart’ but as in ‘smart designs’. When I was still living in London, I felt a bit bored of the clothes I was wearing day in and day out and decided to try one of those clothes subscription boxes. You don’t have to subscribe, you can just order a one-off box, which is what I did. So I ordered a box with Stitch and Fix.

    I soon started to fall in love with a dress. It’s actually a 2 piece. What I love about it is that you can wear the skirt separate to the T-shirt but you can also combine it as a dress. So that’s 3 outfits in one!

    Conclusion

    When you travel, you’re better off travelling with less and just buy what you need. Then you know for sure you don’t overpack. Also, consider the weight of the items you purchase and go for multi-purpose items.

    I hope you found this article useful. Let me know in the via email if there is any essential item that I missed. Also, if you liked this article and want to hear more about my random brain dumps, feel free to sign up to my newsletter here.

    If you found this useful, follow for more content on instagram @elisabethmayr or buy me a coffee.

  • Best coffeeshops and restaurants to work from in Siargao, Philippines

    Best coffeeshops and restaurants to work from in Siargao, Philippines

    After having been a digital nomad for over a year, I started to pick my travel destinations based on surfing opportunities. So I asked a few people I met while surfing which places they recommend and one place got a lot of mentions: Siargao.After having been a digital nomad for over a year, I started to pick my travel destinations based on surfing opportunities. So I asked a few people I met while surfing which places they recommend and one place got a lot of mentions: Siargao.

    Siargao is one of the 7100+ islands in the Philippines with great surfing spots, but unfortunately, since it’s a bit of a remote island, the wifi isn’t as great.

    Wifi issues

    One of my worries before going there was about how good the wifi will be in Siargao. It’s quite touristy but at the same time, it’s a remote island. So I only booked for 3 weeks, just in case the wifi quality was bad. And to no surprise, it was.

    Thanks to regular blackouts — and there were a lot, especially during holy week while many people travelled to the island and increased demand in electricity — it was quite tricky to find stable wifi.

    But here’s a list of places to work from in Siargao where the Wifi was (somewhat) stable.

    Coffee Stroll

    This place was recommended to me first by a Japanese barista and competitive surfer who stayed in the same accommodation as me. Since he’s a barista, I trusted his recommendation. I initially went there for the coffee but saw a few people working on their laptops.

    So I went there again the next day to try it out and it was a good place to work from. Even though there is no air condition, the temperature is bearable because of the open space design.

    Their banana bread is decent and the coffee is great! It might take some time for your order to arrive as they put a lot of effort into every single cup they serve.

    Lamari

    I loved working from Lamari. Going through the entrance, past the tropical plants and past the little gold fish puts you in a good mood before you even arrive on your “desk”. The design of the building is very pleasing to the eye and because of the space and how things are set up, there is always a gentle and welcomed breeze. And no, it’s not like a draft, it’s actually pleasant in this heat.

    Unlike many other places in Siargao, you can pay by card without the 3% extra charge. The only other place where that was possible was Las Palmas (see below).

    This was one of the first places I worked from and the staff is very friendly. On my second visit I was already greeted by name and felt like a VIP, which was a bit uncomfortable but nice at the same time.

    There’s also a small pool if you want to cool down. Depending on the time of day it can get busy sometimes, but so far, we’ve always gotten a spot when we visited.

    There are a few plugs but only at the bar. So if you run out of juice quickly, make sure to grab a spot there.

    If you’re ending up grabbing your lunch there as well, I highly recommend ordering the burger.

    Las Palmas

    This was one of the main places I worked from, mainly because the food is so amazing here! They also serve items from the Spotted Pig (see below) so you can get Spotted Pig coffee but I recommend ordering food from the Las Palmas kitchen, it won’t disappoint!

    Their breakfast, lunch and dinner menus vary and there’s a lot of great options. My favourite were the rice bowls for lunch. The pumpkin soup was incredible. Their desserts aren’t that amazing though.

    When working from there, you have to ask for a voucher code. That one lasts for 2 hours and 2 people can use the same code at the same time (or you use the same code for 2 devices, either way).

    This get s a little annoying though if you don’t keep track of the 2 hours and the wifi ends abprubtly during a call.

    There’s only one socket, which is located at the first long table on the right. So if you’re running out of battery quickly, make sure to grab that table.

    Tatea cafe

    I came across this one by accident as I was on my way to Cantangnan Bridge for sunset. They have coffees, teas and a few sandwiches, nothing crazy.

    The quality of the Wifi surprised me because it’s a place a bit away from General Luna and Cloud 9 but maybe that’s why the wifi was good. The music was quite loud though, so I don’t recommend this place if you’re having meetings.

    There was a plug at the corner where I sat. You can only pay with cash or Gcash.

    The Spotted Pig

    When I did my research on places to work from in Siargao, this place was mentioned in every single blog, so I gave it a visit.

    Procrastinating…
    Success! You're on the list.

    It was very busy when I arrived around 11am, and I was told by the staff that I can work from Las Palmas instead, they serve the same menu.The next day, I still wanted to check out the Spotted Pig, so I arrived early, got a table and started work. It almost has a library feel because 90% of the people there are working. Just as in Las Palmas, you get a voucher code to access the wifi for a limited time.

    The place is air conditioned, so it’s comfortable to work from. Their coffee choices are decent and people are very much in the work zone.

    Greenhouse Cafe

    Greenhouse became one of our go to spots. Unlike the Spotted Pig or Las Palmas, the wifi doesn’t have a time-cap, so you can surf online as long as you like — or until the next power cut.

    I don’t usually like working right next to the beach. The sun just gets too strong and the glare is too much and I realise I frown the whole time trying to figure out what’s on my screen. But here, the garden is quite a big size, so the sun doesn’t reflect on you too much.

    It can get quite hot during the day, as there’s no air condition and even though it’s an outside space, it’s not as airy, so you’re eager for a breeze.

    If, like me, you have many calls around 5pm Filipino time but you want to see the sunset (even though you won’t be able to see the sun itself, as it’s going down on the other end of the island) this is the spot to be.

    Definitely try the Calamansi juice, it’s very refreshing. And the food options are good too, especially the banana fritters.

    There are 2 Green House restaurants right next to one another. So if you’re looking for the ocean, you’re at the wrong one.

    Shaka Cafe

    This place was only a 2 minute walk from where I stayed, so I found it by accident. I went there for the smoothie bowls and stayed for the view. You can see the famous Cloud 9 walkway from here and can observe the surfers 😍

    They also had wifi, and even though I don’t usually like working from the beach directly (as I mentioned before) I quite enjoyed working from here.

    It can get quite busy in the morning when people come for breakfast, so if you’re like me and get a bit conscious when you feel like you’re occupying a table with just your laptop while people are waiting, there’s one “lonely” high table in the corner facing the ocean where you cannot really place more than 1 person. So I didn’t feel too guilty occupying that spot.

    Their coffee was alright but their smoothie bowls are better. I didn’t work there for long as it got quite hot but definitely worth to check out for brunch too.

    Other mentions

    Here’s a few places that I’ve not managed to check out in my time in Siargao but are on my list to visit.

    Goodies

    This one is next to Green house. I saw it on Google maps while browsing for places and it had great reviews. Definitely want to try it next time I’m in Siargao. If you’ve been there or happen to go, let me know if it’s worth a visit.

    Bake

    This one wasn’t actually recommended to me in person but popped up in every single blog post I found about places to work from in Siargao. Unfortunately, it was closed every time I drove past.

    White beard

    This one was recommended to me by several people but it was quite far away from where I stayed. My accommodation was around Cloud 9 and this place is quite in the center of General Luna. I heard it gets very busy for brunch time because the food is amazing. Not sure if you can work from there as well.

    Ocean 101

    I’ve only been here briefly and didn’t end up using my laptop because I got caught up in a conversation with a friend. But supposedly the wifi here is good. It’s actually a resort. I met a guy who stayed there who said the wifi from the rooms is great too.

    Is it worth visiting Siargao as a Digital Nomad?

    Personally, I think it definitely is. But set your expectations about the wifi: If you have any important meetings, then maybe this is not the place for you. If you can work a lot in your own time, it’s definitely manageble.

    But also, I heard that Starlink just started providing internet when I was leaving. So there’s hope for more stable wifi in the future.

    If you found this article useful, please give it a clap so I know what to write more about. For more things about digital nomading and travelling, feel free to sign up to my newsletter or follow me on my instagram.

  • Travel Essentials I can’t Live without as a Digital Nomad

    Travel Essentials I can’t Live without as a Digital Nomad

    Leaving my flat in London and becoming a digital nomad has been one of the easiest decisions to make. What of my belongings to get rid of and what to take for those travels, not so much.

    Trying to choose what to travel the world with and make sure it fits into one suitcase and a backpack was tricky. I put my favourite clothes and basics into my suitcase to see what would fit and soon realised I had to get rid of more than I wanted to.

    Judge my messy suitcase in my messy room. This is the very moment I realised becoming a digital nomad won’t be that simple.

    How to get rid of your stuff

    I took the items I couldn’t take with me - like small furniture, home decor, bedding, plants -  and organised a little “Everything must go” house party. My friends could take any of the items. Whatever was left at the end of the day I brought to a charity shop.

    Once I arrived at the airport to check in my luggage, the stewardess told me that my suitcase is 4kg overweight and each kilo costs £11, which would’ve been £44 in total. For that money, I could’ve booked another suitcase on that flight.

    How to get rid of even more stuff

    So my nomad journey started with a decision: Do I want to pay overweight luggage for every flight I’m going to take? Or do I just get rid of things now? I chose the latter and while the air hostess checked in other passengers on the flight, I hid around the corner to decide once more what to keep and what to get rid of.

    This time I went through a different filtering system: it was about weight. I got rid of heavy items like shampoo bottles, sun lotion and big warm jumpers. I wasn’t going to need them in Spain anyway. Oh, how little did this younger version of me know about life and weather.

    I managed to reduce the weight to 21kg. She was happy with that and didn’t charge for the 1kg overweight. When you feel like you already got rid of so much stuff, the things you have left gain more value, so having to get rid of more was a bit sad. But I also knew this was part of what I was getting myself into.

    When I then arrived in Alicante, it was much colder than I expected. It was early November and gosh, those jumpers would’ve been so useful! I also realised that there’ll be more domestic flights and airlines that only allow up to 20kg instead of 23kg. So I had to ensure not to travel above 20kg.

    Digital Nomad Must Haves

    So, based on that first flight experience as a digital nomad and all the trips thereafter, here are the items that I take with me to any trip, no matter the weather. For ease of reading, I grouped them into following categories:

    • Travel essentials
    • Storage
    • Tech
    • Health
    • The important but boring stuff
    • Anything multi-purpose

    Some of these links are affiliate links. I’ve not been paid to advertise them and if you make a purchase through one of these links you won’t pay more, some of them even offer a discount. But I get a couple cents for any items purchased so who knows, maybe in the future I can make a living out of this. (I’m just laughing to myself as I’m writing this but hey, wishful thinking is powerful) But also, from a digital nomad perspective who tries to squeeze everything in one suitcase: only purchase what you need. Okay, let’s get to the main content.

    Travel essentials

    Here’s a list of items that I need just to make it easier to get from A to B.

    Suitcase scale

    I didn’t even know how much my suitcase weighed before taking that first flight. I just assumed it wasn’t too heavy. Investing in a suitcase scale - which felt like such a useless thing for me in the past - is probably the most anxiety reducing item I own now.

    I don’t often buy new items when I travel, but sometimes you need to buy that jumper or you want to bring a bottle of wine to the next place when you’re visiting friends. So the weight can vary. Having a suitcase scale gives me that piece of mind I need before a flight.

    Compression packing cubes

    I only bought those recently, but they’re a life changer! Especially if you’re planning weekend trips from your new short-term home.

    While I was in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, I took the ferry to visit a friend in Tenerife. Even though it was a short trip from Friday to Sunday, we were planning on hiking, swimming and partying, so I had to pack not just the clothes I’d wear during the day but also for all those occasions. But I didn’t want to bring tons of bags.

    Instead, I managed to fit everything into my backpack, thanks to compression cubes.

    Tote bags

    You get them for free almost anywhere but I love them. They’re lightweight, foldable and can carry almost anything. Sometimes, when I don’t have enough space to bring a handbag, I just grab a tote bag. I normally just have a tiny hand bag where I can just about carry my phone, wallet, tissues, keys and earplugs (yes, I’m old). So I stuff my tote bag in there too if I might have to do some grocery shopping after. Multipurpose is always good!

    Travel backpack

    The backpack I’m using is mainly to travel from one location to the other. I don’t actually use it much day to day because as mentioned above, I’d use a tote bag. Again, it’s light, doesn’t use much space and you can use it for anything!

    The one I’m using has a pocket to carry all my essentials. There’s a special space for my laptop, my charger, my passport, my sunglasses, my water bottle and everything else. It also has a hidden pocket for high valuable items.

    I bought the travel backpack a couple years ago. It was a Lululemon item, but they probably no longer sell it, as I couldn’t find it online. But there’s plenty of good multipurpose backpacks out there, like this one.

    Storage

    Toothbrush holder

    This one might be a little bit random to categorise as a travel essential. But it’s one of the first things I bought as a digital nomad. I stayed in an accommodation that had a tiny sink and not even a shelf in the bathroom. I don’t like having my toiletries kept in a bag but the sink couldn’t even fit a glass for the toothbrush. So I was looking EVERYWHERE for a tiny, lightweight toothbrush holder. There’s definitely a gap in the market!

    Always opt for the lighter option!

    So I got myself this little toothbrush holder. It’s made of bamboo, and it’s light as well. You can get some ceramic ones which are easier to clean but also heavier. And if you’ve read the intro of this article you now know the importance of weight. Always opt for the lighter option!

    Storage bag

    If you’d ask me a year ago, I would’ve said that those things are useless. But now that I’ve travelled a couple of times, I wouldn’t want to travel without them. A box like this allows me to just fill it with my Mari Kondo style folded clothes, put it in the suitcase (make sure it’s the right size before you purchase them) and put them straight into the wardrobe when I arrive at my new short-term home.It just saves me so much time!

    Tech

    Of course, there’s several tech items that I need to be able to do my job. But also to continue communicating with friends all over the world.

    Laptop

    Surprise! Yes, I’m travelling with a laptop. I’m a freelance UX Designer and recently invested in a 14 Inch MacBook Pro. I absolutely love it! I also got myself this laptop cover to make sure I don’t scratch it.

    Universal travel adaptor

    One of my friends from Austria once came to visit me while I was living in London. She had this travel adaptor and I’ve never seen one like this before. You can plug all types of plugs into the front and put it into any type of socket! I was blown away!

    And it has USB sockets. How did I not hear about these little miracles before? So I quickly got myself my own.

    Power bank

    I have a confession to make. I know UX Designers need to always be on top of technology but I had my little iPhone 6S until 2 months ago. I just don’t like to replace things while they’re still working. Yes, I’m one of those people.

    But the problem with my previous phone was that the battery would only last up to 4 hours. So I purchased a power bank. It was about time, but I finally got myself a new phone! Now that I no longer need it as much for my phone, it still comes in handy. Because I often forget to recharge my headphones or my kindle and the time I realise that is usually when I’m about to use it. So it still comes in handy.

    External Hard drive

    Yes, you can store things in the cloud. But Google photos and others reduce some of the photo quality. I also don’t want to store client work in the cloud because some projects I had to sign NDAs for and it just doesn’t feel right.

    I try to back up my work files every two weeks on an external hard drive, because only then my business insurance will cover for potential data losses.

    Kindle

    When weight is of the essence and you love books then you have to get a kindle. Yes, it’s not the same as a proper book. One thing I miss is that you can add scribbles and notes to your pages or fold the corner to get back to a page. You also know how far into the book you are, compared to the percentage bar shown on a kindle. But all those downsides are made up by the light weight. And you can get a new book any time you are online, you don’t have to find a bookstore that might sell books in your native language.

    I’m currently reading The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel A. van der Kolk.

    Health

    Reusable water bottle

    Okay, I have to admit, I lost a bunch of reusable water bottles at friends’ places and gyms and airports and busses and anywhere else you can lose them. But it’s essential for me. Also, the amount of plastic bottles you save from ending up in the ocean! Although, I probably counteracted on that by the amount of water bottles that end up in landfill. But I’m trying to be better, my current bottle has been with me for 6+ months.

    Travelling with a reusable water bottle is good for your wallet and good for the planet. Just try not to forget them all over the world, I heard some people are like that.. If I wouldn’t keep losing them, I’d definitely opt for the green Chilly one.

    Ear plugs

    When I was younger, I used to play the drums and I didn’t wear headphones while doing so for quite a long time. So now I’m trying to maintain as much of my hearing as possible. The other day I was joining a pub crawl with some friends. The last venue was extremely loud and I just put on my earplugs. People started to ask me about them, because they’ve not seen anyone before who just carries them with them all the time.

    Ear plugs are not the sexiest item but I came across Loop earplugs. Hey, considering they’re earplugs, I do actually think they’re quite pretty. When I purchased them, they gave me a discount code, so click here if you want 15% off.

    I actually have 2 of them (two pairs, not two ear plugs, of course) - one for sleeping and one for when I’m at concerts or out and about. I have it on my key chain so I don’t forget to take it with me.

    Travel towels

    Most accommodations provide towels, but sometimes when you sublet you have to bring your own. Again, weight is of the essence, and space too! So I always travel with a big and small quick drying and absorbent towel. I ordered these ones years ago and they’re still doing a good job. One of them also has a small zipper so if you’re at the beach and worry about someone stealing your stuff and how to get home after, I usually hide £10–20 in that zipper in case I need to get a cab back. But luckily, this has never happened.

    Soap

    Let’s not forget about hygiene. Again, some accommodation provide it, some don’t. I’m using this lush shampoo bar because travelling with liquid can be tricky. They’re light and you on top of that they reduce plastic. Win-win!

    Pens, notebooks and diaries

    Maybe this isn’t the right category but health isn’t just physical health. It’s also about mental health. And what’s the point of making all those amazing memories travelling when we don’t capture them somehow.

    I have one of those 5 year diaries. This is the one I’m using now. I ordered it online and it’s bigger than I thought (A5, my previous one was A6) but it also gives me more space to write. I actually finished one of those 5 year diaries before and it’s quite satisfying to read what your day was like 3 or 4 years ago as you write today’s entry.

    The boring but important stuff nobody talks about

    Monzo card

    Okay, Monzo aren’t actually boring. If you’re from the UK, you’ve probably heard about Monzo. They have a little referral scheme going on so here’s a link if you want a free £5.

    I love Monzo so much! It’s a bank account with no fees when paying contactless abroad. They also have some fun UX. And when you see someone else pulling out their coral card there’s a sense of connection and awkward eye contact and nodding at each other. I use Monzo for my £ English Pound and I also travel with an N26 bank card when I’m in Europe as it’s a € Euro account. And after a ton of people have been raving about Revolut, I finally got one of those too.

    Insurance

    When you’re European and travel in the EU, you might not need to worry too much about this. What a privilege we have to be able to get health cover just because we’re born in a country that made this great agreement with other countries. But if you’re travelling in Asia or especially America, please get health insurance. I use Safetywing but recently came across the Passport Card. That one seems a bit pricey so I’ve not signed up with them but I would consider it for when I go to America

    Some people argue that you don’t really need travel insurance because you have to cover costs up until a certain amount anyway, which is correct. Every time I had to go to the doctors abroad (once for having a fish bone stuck in my throat. I survived, but I avoided fish for quite a while…) I just paid for it myself, because it wasn’t expensive enough for the insurance to cover. But it also gives you piece of mind when you travel to know you’re covered in case you need a helicopter to transport you to a hospital.

    Anything multi-purpose

    Smart clothes

    I don’t mean smart clothes as in ‘looking smart’ but as in ‘smart designs’. When I was still living in London, I felt a bit bored of the clothes I was wearing day in and day out and decided to try one of those clothes subscription boxes. You don’t have to subscribe, you can just order a one-off box, which is what I did. So I ordered a box with Stitch and Fix.

    I soon started to fall in love with a dress. It’s actually a 2 piece. What I love about it is that you can wear the skirt separate to the T-shirt but you can also combine it as a dress. So that’s 3 outfits in one!

    Conclusion

    When you travel, you’re better off travelling with less and just buy what you need. Then you know for sure you don’t overpack. Also, consider the weight of the items you purchase and go for multi-purpose items.

    I hope you found this article useful. Let me know in the via email if there is any essential item that I missed. Also, if you liked this article and want to hear more about my random brain dumps, feel free to sign up to my newsletter here.

  • Digital Nomad friendly Coffeeshops to work from in Osaka, Japan

    Digital Nomad friendly Coffeeshops to work from in Osaka, Japan

    Working remotely in Osaka wasn’t on our to do list. But when visiting Japan, you’ll soon realise how amazing their rail network is. You’ll quickly happen to go from one city to another. You can even travel from Kyoto to Osaka for only 390 Yen (This was the ticket price for Spring 2024) which is around £2.

    But be careful when you get comfortable in the train, because my friend and I planned a work day from our favourite coffeeshop in Kyoto (link) and while chatting on the train, we realised we hopped on the wrong one and were on our way to Osaka.

    We had the option to spent another half hour to get back to Kyoto or just continue on the train and work from Osaka instead. We opted for the latter and were browsing for places to work from while on the train. These are the places we came across and also checked out while there:

    Seattle coffee

    This coffee shop is situated in the ground floor of a huge office building. If you go there during Sakura season, you also get a very nice view of cherry blossoms.

    There are plugs on the larger tables and plenty of people also working on their laptop. And you don’t feel forced to keep ordering a new drink. However, the wifi logs you out after every hour. You won’t have to consume more items, but you’ll still need to log back in, which is annoying when you’re half way through a task. And you get a maximum of 4 hours per day.

    I ordered an oat cappuccino, my friend ordered the roasted tea latte (which he wasn’t a fan of) and a chicken sandwich which wasn’t impressive. But food aside, for getting stuff done, it was a nice and quiet work environment.

    Wifi Speed at Seattle Coffee in Osaka — 140 Kbps

    Once we reached the 4 hours, we grabbed some lunch (link) and went to find the next place to work from.

    Heys cafe and CUE cafe

    After lunch, we walked to this place. There are 2 pins on google maps with different reviews, but they’re both technically the same place. One of them is an actual co-working space, the other one a coffee shop that’s part of the co-working space.

    It looked very nice and quiet, the co-working itself was nicely designed. However, there was a 1,000 Yen fee per 2 hours of work. Which wasn’t worth it for us, we would’ve rather had coffee for that price and after working from Seattle coffee, we knew that it was possible to get wifi and a decent place for less than that. Also, we’re in one of the biggest cities in Japan, we knew there were alternatives.

    But if I would’ve stayed in Osaka, it’s definitely a place I would’ve considered if they offer a weekly or monthly pass for their co-working. So if you’re in the area, go check it out.

    CUE Workspace · 4.3★(21) · Coworking space

    heys · 4.6★(66) · Coffee shop

    Side note

    If you find this article helpful, I’d really appreciate if you signed up to my newsletter where you’ll receive links to articles like this one: info on places to work from, tips for freelancers and digital nomads. Or if you feel generous and this article saved you some time to find a good place that you enjoyed working from, you can also buy me a coffee {link}. This will help me support my side hustle of exploring more work-friendly coffeeshops.

    Streamer Cafe

    This place showed up on google maps and it looked very promising. But when we arrived, it was extremely busy and there were no spare seats. And even if there was, I don’t think we would’ve stayed for long because of the noise.

    There were plenty of people working, the background music was mixed with the sound of people that came for a coffee chat, not just a work session.

    Personally, I prefer places where there is a higher ratio of guests with laptops than guests without laptops. I know, that’s not the purpose of coffeeshops, but I feel guilty if I stay for hours, occupying a seat, when it’s busy and people would benefit from having a seat, chatting with their friends.

    If you’re in the area, I think it’d be a great place to work from on quiet days. If you don’t mind background noise and got good noise cancelling headphones, you might like working from here. The coffee looked great and the fact that it was busy probably means the wifi is good too.

    Streamer Coffee Company Shinsaibashi · 4.3★(658) · Cafe

    We got there around 2pm, so maybe it was just the time of day. So if you come early (or late) you might be able to have a good work session from here.

    Rocks Cafe

    This place had a very quiet atmosphere, friendly staff and great coffee. To our surprise, it wasn’t very busy. The wifi wasn’t the fastest but fast enough for what we had to do.

    We ordered some Iced Americano which was decent but the cookie cake we ordered with it was absolutely delicious! Make sure you order that when you get there.

    Rocks Cafe Osaka — Wifi speed 64Kbps

    Rocks cafe was quiet, both in the footfall but also in background noise. There were plug sockets too.

    It was raining heavily when we left and when asking the staff, they gave us an umbrella which we took all the way back to our accommodation in Kyoto. We felt a bit bad for not returning it but later found out that it’s a thing in Japan: People are very helpful. Someone even told me that you can take any of those black umbrellas and return them elsewhere. Not sure how common and accepted that behaviour is, but there were occassional places where we saw notes for people to help themselves to umbrellas if needed.

    Only one day

    We’ve only spent a day in Osaka. There are most likely a ton of more coffeeshops to work from. But if I’d go back, I’d work again from Seattle coffeeshop and Rocks Cafe. And return the umbrella.

    If you found this blog article useful, you can sign up to my newsletter where I post more about the places I work from as a digital nomad. Or if you feel generous, you can also buy me a coffee to sponsor my caffeine addiction and help me create more blog posts like this in the future.