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Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In Today’s Email:

Heart of Travel: The Small Moments

Nomad Hacks: Eat better

Destinations: Traveling well for less (Part 3)

HEART OF TRAVEL:

🌍 The Small Moments That Change Everything

One of the great surprises of travel isn’t the places.

It’s the people.

And more specifically—it’s the unexpected kindness that shows up when you’re tired, jet-lagged, stressed… or just done with humanity for the day.

I was recently on a United flight to Taipei.
I have status. I was upgraded. All very nice.

But that’s not the part that stayed with me.

What stayed with me was a small card.

It was the captain’s business card.
On the back, a handwritten note:

My name.
The date.
The flight number.
My seat number.

And one simple line:

“Thank you for being a loyal United customer.”

That’s it.

No marketing copy. No QR code. No “please rate your experience.”

Just a human moment.

The captain, Captain Wendy Newton, had clearly made this part of her system. These weren’t corporate-issued cards. They were personal. Thoughtful. Intentional.

And yes, I’ll say it: in my experience, female captains often bring a different kind of presence. A bit more warmth. A bit more personality. A bit more human.

It reminded me of another moment I’ll never forget. 

Years ago, I stayed at the Marriott in Manila. When I returned to my room, there was a handwritten note waiting for me—thanking me for being there, welcoming me, wishing me a good stay. It was signed by the gentleman who cared for the room.

I still remember that note.

I still tell that story.

Because here’s the thing:

In a world full of automation, shortcuts, and exhausted service workers getting beaten up all day long… these moments matter more than ever.

So what’s the real lesson here?

Three things.

First:

Let’s remember the good moments—especially on the hard days. Travel will test you. Systems will break. People will be stressed. But kindness still shows up if you let yourself notice it.

Second:

If you can add even one moment of kindness or gratitude to your day, you are actively making the world better. Not metaphorically. Literally.

Third (and this one’s for the business owners, leaders, and creators):

If you build kindness into how you operate—into your system—it comes back to you in ways no ad ever could.

People talk about it.
They remember it.
They tell stories.

And right now, as AI strips out more and more of the human touch, the businesses—and people—who double down on humanity will stand out effortlessly.

That’s why we brought back something I created many years ago: The ThankYouGram.

It’s simple. It’s free. And it takes about a minute.

You go to:

👉 DailyHug.com/ThankYouGram

You enter the name and email of someone you want to acknowledge.
You say why.
You can even send it anonymously if you want.

And that’s it. We send it for you. No cost. No catch. Totally confidential.

I started doing this manually over 45 years ago. And I’ve watched—over and over again—how one small act of appreciation can shift someone’s entire day… sometimes their entire outlook.

If enough of us did this consistently?

The ripple effect would be massive.

So today’s quiet invitation is simple:

Notice the kindness.
Remember it.
And pass it on.

Because living your best queer life isn’t just about where you travel or what you build.

It’s about how you show up.

With love, pride, and presence—

Ken 🌈

NOMAD HACK:

Use this to make your travel life a bit easier.

The “2 Blocks Rule” for Restaurants

Never eat right next to a major attraction.

Walk two blocks away and look for places where locals are eating.

Your wallet and your stomach will both thank you.

DESTINATIONS:

Living Well on Less: 9 Places Where Your Money (and Life) Go Further—

Where $50–$75 a Day Still Buys a Damn Good Life

Part 3: Beauty With Weight

The Philippines · Guatemala · Colombia

If Parts 1 and 2 were about ease, this final chapter is about impact.

These are places that don’t just look beautiful —

they change you.

They reward humility.
They punish entitlement.
And they make it very clear that living well isn’t the same thing as living comfortably.

For PrideNomads, that distinction matters.

🇵🇭 Philippines

Joy-forward, human-scale island life

Why It’s Affordable

The Philippines is one of the few places left where paradise hasn’t been completely monetized.

• Private rooms: $25–$35

• Scooters: ~$8/day

• Island-hopping tours that still feel personal

You’re not paying for polish here — you’re paying for access.

LGBTQ+ Reality Check

This is where the Philippines quietly shines.

• Social tolerance is high

• English fluency removes friction fast

• Queerness isn’t politicized — it’s normalized

You may not see rainbow flags everywhere, but you also won’t feel like you’re making a statement just by existing.

That matters.

Nomad / Lifestyle Reality

Let’s be honest:

• Wi-Fi can be unreliable

• Infrastructure varies wildly by island

This is not a grind-from-the-beach destination.

It’s a reconnection destination.

Best For

✔️ People who need joy back
✔️ Social, open-hearted travelers
✔️ Short-to-medium stays with light work
✖️ Anyone needing control and predictability

🇬🇹 Guatemala

Beauty that asks something of you

Why It’s Affordable

Guatemala doesn’t sell luxury — it offers depth.

• Local meals: $4–$5

• Transport: inexpensive, if not always comfortable

• Long stays around Lake Atitlán remain accessible

You’re not buying convenience.
You’re buying proximity to something ancient.

LGBTQ+ Reality Check

This is where discernment comes in.

• Antigua and some Lake Atitlán towns are quietly accepting

• Queer life exists — but it’s understated

• Visibility should be intentional, not performative

Guatemala isn’t hostile — but it expects respect.

Nomad / Lifestyle Reality

• Reliable Wi-Fi in Antigua and select lake towns

• Excellent for writers, creatives, therapists, coaches

• Not ideal for heavy corporate schedules

This is a place that mirrors you back to yourself.

Best For

✔️ Reflective travelers
✔️ Creatives and seekers
✔️ People open to inner shifts
✖️ Anyone wanting nightlife or ease

🇨🇴 Colombia

Colorful, affordable, and unapologetically queer-visible

Why It’s Affordable

Colombia still delivers an excellent quality-of-life-to-cost ratio, especially outside luxury bubbles.

• Comfortable apartments: reasonable monthly rates

• Local food: inexpensive and filling

• Transport: affordable and widely available

Medellín, Bogotá, and even Cartagena (if you avoid the most touristy pockets) let you live well without constant budget vigilance.

This is affordability with texture, not austerity.

LGBTQ+ Reality Check

Colombia is one of the strongest LGBTQ+ countries in Latin America.

• Same-sex marriage is legal

• Strong constitutional protections

• Visible, active queer communities

Medellín and Bogotá, in particular, have:

• Gay neighborhoods

• Pride events

• Nightlife and normal daily-life visibility

You don’t have to code-switch here.

You can just exist.

Nomad / Lifestyle Reality

Colombia works for real life — not just travel.

• Solid internet in major cities

• Established remote-worker communities

• Cafés, coworking, gyms, routine-friendly living

This is a place where people accidentally stay longer than planned — not because it’s cheap, but because it’s livable.

Best For

✔️ Solo travelers
✔️ Queer professionals and creatives
✔️ Long-stay curious folks
✔️ Anyone who wants culture and community

Colombia doesn’t ask you to shrink yourself to belong.

That’s why it earns its spot.

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

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