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Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In today’s email:

Italy Says Welcome: Their New Digital Nomad Visa is Worth Looking At

Fastest Way to Meet a New City: Consider Free Walking Tours

The Opposite of North America Summer: New Zealand’s Winter Pride Awaits!

NomadHack: Packing Tips from one of our own

UP FRONT:

Italy Launches Digital Nomad Visa: Eligibility and Application Guide

Dreaming of living in Italy full-time? Thanks to the newly launched digital nomad visa, that dream can now become a reality.

With this new visa, effective April 4, 2024, you can now legally reside and work in Italy for an extended period (ie longer than the 90 days that tourists can stay).

Who Can Apply?

Italy’s digital nomad visa targets highly skilled workers. If you're a non-EU citizen engaged in highly qualified work that can be performed remotely using technological tools, this is for you. This includes self-employed individuals, employees, or collaborators with companies outside of Italy.

To qualify, you need an annual income of at least €28,000, health insurance valid for your entire stay, and proof of suitable accommodation. Additionally, you must have been a digital nomad or remote worker for at least six months prior to applying. Note that individuals with a criminal conviction in the past five years are ineligible.

Application Process

To apply, book an appointment at an Italian consulate in your country of residence. You'll need a valid passport, proof of employment, proof of income, health insurance, accommodation details, and a criminal record certificate. Once approved, you have eight days from your arrival in Italy to apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno).

Visa Duration and Renewal

The digital nomad visa is valid for one year and can be renewed annually, provided the original conditions are still met. The visa label reads: "digital nomad - remote worker." You can also bring family members, subject to approval by Italian police headquarters.

You can get more details here.

Other Countries with Digital Nomad Visas

Italy joins a growing list of countries offering digital nomad visas, including Portugal, Croatia, and Costa Rica. Each program has unique requirements and benefits, catering to the increasing number of professionals seeking flexible work arrangements in beautiful, culturally rich locations.

We’ll be updating you on some of the latest changes in upcoming issues of the PrideNomad letter.

THE FAST TRACK TO “CITY-CONFIDENCE”:

Hoof It & Get Fast Local Wisdom

Free Walking Tours for PrideNomads

As PrideNomads, we thrive on the thrill of discovering new places. But how do we truly connect with a city's essence without breaking the bank?

The answer is simple: free walking tours. These gems offer an authentic, immersive experience, allowing you to dive into the heart of a city with ease and affordability.

To be clear—these are NOT the consumery big bus tours that scream “TOURIST” all over them (not that there’s anything wrong with them—the jump on/jump off tour buses can offer you a great, economical way of quickly seeing the major sites).

This is different.

The Magic of Free Walking Tours

Imagine strolling through the cobblestone streets of an ancient city, guided by a passionate local who breathes life into every corner you turn. Free walking tours are not just tours—they're storytelling sessions that unravel the history, culture, and secrets of a city.

The guides, often locals who love their hometown, provide insights and anecdotes that you won’t find in any guidebook. What’s even more important is that if you’re planning to stay more than a few days, the tour guides can be an invaluable resource about where to shop, where to work and even where to get your laundry done.

Strategizing Your Tour

As soon as you land in a new city, make it a priority to find a reputable free walking tour. Websites like GuruWalk and Sandemans New Europe are great resources (PrideNomad Mom recommends Sandemans—she’s walked with them for years).

Most tours require a reservation, so book your spot as early as possible. They typically leave at 11am from a central location.

Scheduling your tour on the first day helps you get your bearings. You’ll gain an overview of major landmarks, learn about the city's public transport, and your guide may also help you discover local LGBTQ+-friendly spots as well. These tips will make your entry into the new city so much easier, and will give you more confidence in your ability to get around.

Tours Can Be a Drag

While we’ve used the big tour companies in the past, we recently discovered a new type of walking tour: The Drag Tour.

Imagine getting the royal treatment from a local drag queen (or king) as you’re given the inside scoop on the LGBTQ+ community in your new city.

That’s exactly what Wonder Mama does in Sydney, for instance. She’s been giving tours of the gayborhood for years. And she’s not alone. Drag tours are also available in London (and possibly other cities) as well.

We’d suggest that you do a Google search before you arrive and make arrangements for a tour. Note that most of the Drag tours aren’t free (but then again, the “free” tours really aren’t, either).

Understanding the "Free" in Free Tours

The concept of "free" can be a bit misleading. Guides depend on your tips to make a living. While the tour itself has no upfront cost, it's customary to tip your guide at the end.

A good benchmark is $10 to $20, depending on your experience and financial situation. This is a small price to pay for an insightful and entertaining tour that can significantly enhance your stay.

A Personal Connection

Free walking tours are more than just a means to see the sights—they're an intimate introduction to your destination. For PrideNomads, they offer a safe, informative, and engaging way to kickstart your exploration. Slip into your most comfortable walking shoes, join a tour, and start the transformation from tourist to “neo-local”.

SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

Skiing in August? YES!

We’ve always loved gay ski weeks, with Whistler’s week being our editor’s favorite.

This year, we’re going south…to New Zealand, and Queenstown’s Winter Pride Festival.

The organizers call it a “festival in a small town with a bold heart, celebrating love, community, diversity, visibility, safety and inclusion.”

What began as a modest gathering in the snow in 2003 has transformed into a grand celebration running from August 22 to September 1, and we’ll be there!

Check out their website and consider making plans now.

Now to be fair, we’ve heard that this is a great time, but unless we actually go and review it ourselves, we can only report rumors. So as part of our selfless dedication to you, our valued reader, we’ll be there to give you a full report.

Want to join us? Reply back and let us know. Perhaps we can arrange some subscriber discounts or incentives.

Keep this in mind:

Having the ability to choose where we want to spend our time and how we want to spend our time is the massive benefit of being a PrideNomad. For those of us that live this lifestyle every day, it may seem rather obvious.

But let’s not forget that so many others don’t have our level of freedom…and if that’s you, Dear Reader, we’re here to support your transition to “nomad-dom”.

NOMAD HACK: FROM A PRIDENOMAD READER!

4 Favorite Packing Tips

If you’ve ever packed for a trip, you know it’s a daunting task that you probably wait till the last minute to do. Follow these simple tips and you’ll be able to pack faster and more efficiently. Better yet, you’ll be able to worry less about your luggage when you travel and spend more time enjoying your trip!

1.     Roll, Don’t Fold.

Finding it hard to fit everything in your suitcase before your trip? Or do you find it impossible to pack for your return trip once you’ve purchased goodies from your travels? Let me help you out. Don’t fold your clothes—roll them up. While this may cause some wrinkles, it will save you a ton of space. Also pack toiletries, socks and other smaller items inside your shoes. This is a great space-saving technique.

2.     The 2-to-1 Rule.

No one wants to lug an over-packed suitcase around with them while traveling. Follow the 2-to-1 rule: pack two tops for every bottom (get your mind out of the gutter). This will force you to limit what you pack and lets you mix and match tops and bottoms so you have more outfits to assemble while you travel.

Tip: Pack neutral, solid colors because they’re easier to mix and match.

3.     Keep your jewelry safe.

If you wear jewelry, it can be hard to pack and also manage when you’re travelling. To help you out, pack your jewelry into a weekly pill organizer. This will prevent chains from getting tangled and keeps everything in one place. You might feel like an old fart doing this, but you’ll thank me later.

4.     Stay fresh.

If your journey lasts more than a few days, pretty soon your suitcase will begin to smell like a locker room. Prevent this by placing dryer sheets throughout your suitcase’s dirty laundry. This will not only make your clothes and suitcase smell fresher, but you can reuse the dryer sheets when you get home and do your laundry!

Thanks to Justin Ayars and Jesse LaVancher for the tips.

What tips can YOU share with us? If we publish yours, you’ll score your very own PrideNomad Contributor T-Shirt!

Quiz Answer:

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