Hey, PrideNomad!

Quick question: Which nomad destination are YOU dreaming about? Hit reply and let us know—your dream just might inspire our next story.

👉Was this forwarded to you? Be sure to receive our next issue. Sign up here. It’s Free!

Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In Today’s Email:

Destinations: The PrideNomad Pre-Departure Blueprint

Nomad Hacks: For Shoe Fetishists…

DESTINATIONS:

🌍 The PrideNomad Pre-Departure Blueprint

How to plan your next trip without overwhelm, confusion, or “oh shit” moments.

If you’re new here, you should know something about me:

I will impulsively jump on a plane without thinking about what happens after landing.

Maybe you’re like me.

Maybe you’re nothing like me.

Maybe you prefer your “I’s dotted” and your “T’s crossed,” and you break into a cold sweat if you don’t know where the airport bathrooms are.

And here’s the thing:

Most PrideNomad readers aren’t digital nomads yet — but you want to explore the world.

You just want to do it without stress.

So today, instead of a destination guide, I’m giving you something far more useful:

👉 The PrideNomad Pre-Departure Blueprint (Condensed Edition)

Everything you should check, confirm, and think about before you ever step on a plane.

This is the system I wish someone had handed me years ago — before I landed in Colombia with zero plan and learned what to do in the immigration line.

Let’s make sure your next trip is joyful, confident, and drama-free. Here you go!

1. Documents, Visas & Legal Stuff

• Make sure your passport has 6 months of validity past your return date.

• Check whether your destination requires:

  • A visa in advance

  • A visa on arrival

  • An eTA (like Australia)

  • Proof of onward travel

• Screenshot ALL your confirmations (hotels, trains, museums, tours).

2. Cultural Norms (So You Don’t Accidentally Offend Anyone)

Every country has its quirks.

Examples:

• Thailand: Don’t point your feet at people.

• Japan/Taiwan: Don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice.

• USVI: Walking around shirtless? Not cool.

• Many Buddhist countries: Don’t touch anyone’s head.

• Some regions: PDA is fine. Others? Not so much.

Rule of thumb: Watch, mirror, ask.

3. Money: Cash, ATMs & Cards

• Always use ATMs at local banks, not random machines.

• ALWAYS choose “bill in local currency” and decline conversions.

• Carry one backup debit/credit card.

• Know whether the country is primarily:

  • Cash

  • Card

  • Or a weird hybrid (hello, Japan and Thailand)

4. Where to Stay (Neighborhood Strategy)

Choosing the right neighborhood makes or breaks your trip.

Use this filter:

• Close to public transit

• Safe and lively, but not nightclub-loud

• Local restaurants nearby

• LGBTQ+ friendly vibes

• Grocery store within walking distance

And never book a month before you see the place.

1–3 nights first, then adjust.

5. Transit: How You’ll Actually Get Around

• Learn the metro map.

• Know if you need a transit card (Suica, Pasmo, EasyCard, Oyster, JR Pass, etc.)

• Install local rideshare apps (Grab, Bolt, Uber, Gojek).

• Avoid rush hour until you understand the vibe.

• If traveling with parents or mobility needs: check accessibility (elevators, ramps, sidewalks, cable cars, etc.)

6. Reservations: What Needs Advance Booking

Avoid heartbreak by pre-booking:

• Popular museums

• Major attractions (Vatican, Louvre, Gaudí sites)

• Michelin or popular restaurants

• Certain train routes (Japan, Europe)

You don’t need to plan everything — just the things that sell out.

7. Language Basics

Learn these in the local language:

• Hello

• Thank you

• Excuse me

• Where is the bathroom?

• This is delicious

• I’m allergic to ___

• How much?

You’re not aiming for fluency — you’re aiming for charm.

8. Local Norms & Delightful Quirks

This is where travel becomes fun.

Learn:

• Tipping rules

• How people queue

• Whether people speak softly or loudly

• Night market etiquette

• Public transit behavior

• Local communication style

• LGBTQ+ friendliness

This is the difference between being a tourist and feeling at home.

9. Safety Essentials (Not Fear. Just Smart.)

• Screenshot passport, cards, reservation numbers.

• Keep a digital + physical backup.

• Avoid political demonstrations.

• Use dating apps with common sense.

• Know the local emergency number.

• Don’t overthink it — the world is kinder than the news suggests.

10. Pre-Departure Packing Logic

(Not a list — a strategy.)

Bring:

• Power bank

• Universal adapter

• Offline maps downloaded

• Transit apps installed

• Medications for the whole trip

• Sunscreen

• One warm layer

• A reusable bag

• A “go bag” for long flights

• eSIM or data plan ready to activate

Think of this as your “travel OS.”

⭐Want the Full Expanded Guide?

Hit reply and tell me:

“Send me the checklist.”

I’ll send you the full Google Doc with every detail.

I’m not posting the link publicly — I want to actually hear from you.

It helps me understand what you need most as we grow the PrideNomad community.

Let Love Explode: Win a Free 2-Night Stay at Axel Valencia

Valencia combines everything we love about Spain and throws it together to create something as deliciously fresh as its signature paella dish. Oranges, cathedrals, a sci-fi-looking museum complex, horchata, gay-friendly bars, authentically Spanish cuisine, gorgeous beaches, and even more gorgeous men — that’s Valencia. This is why Axel Hotels — the very first gay hotel chain in the world — is adding a brand-new venue in Valencia to their already extensive repertoire. What’s more, you can win a 2-night stay for two absolutely FREE!  

Axel Hotel Valencia is right in the heart of the action, in a majestic 17th-century building that was once a dance club in the ’70s. Inside, you’ll find a baroque-style café, a luxurious wellness club, and rooms that blend crisp elegance with homely comfort. “Let Love Explode” is the hotel’s slogan — and you’ll definitely feel the love and passion put into the brand-new hotel from the moment you enter.

Enter now to throw your hat in the ring and your beach towel in your suitcase!

NOMAD HACK:

The Shower Cap Shoe Trick

Put your shoes inside the free hotel shower cap.

It keeps dirt off your clothes, weighs nothing, and saves your suitcase from smelling like a gym after Pride Weekend. If you’re not staying at a hotel, simply use the free plastic bags from your grocery store—unfortunately much of the USA hasn’t banned these bags yet.

Zero-cost. Maximum payoff.

The Passport Photo Backup

Email yourself a photo of:

• Your passport

• Your ID

• Your vaccination cards

• Your travel insurance

• Your flight itinerary

If anything goes sideways, you can pull it up in seconds anywhere.

It’s the #1 “why didn’t anyone tell me this sooner” hack.

P.S. If today’s issue hit you in a good way, hit reply and just say ‘yes’ — I love knowing you’re out there

Answer to Today’s Quiz

NOTE: Some of the links we provide may be affiliate links, which may potentially generate a referral fee to us. That’s one way we’re able to keep PrideNomad available to you at no cost. Rest assured that we only recommend providers who we feel can deliver great value to you.