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Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In today’s email:

Up Front: Bye, Bye BCN…We’ll Miss Ya…

Consider This: Germany Rolls Out the Welcome Mat!

Nomad Hack: Be a Global Shopper!

UP FRONT:

Is This the End of Barcelona?

It’s ranked 4th on our Top 10 list…and now our easy access to Barcelona may be coming to an end.

CNN reported today that Barcelona has announced plans to bar apartment rentals to tourists by 2028.

Whoaaaa????

This decision, aimed at addressing the city's housing crisis, will have far-reaching implications for our PrideNomad community, as we often rely on platforms like Airbnb for affordable accommodation.

Mayor Jaume Collboni's announcement to revoke licenses for over 10,000 short-term rental apartments is sending shockwaves through the digital nomad community.

The ban comes in response to a 68% increase in rent prices over the past decade, which has disproportionately affected marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals.

While the move aims to make housing more affordable for residents (which is a very real problem that needs a long-term solution), it poses challenges for our community of digital nomads who contribute to the city's diverse cultural landscape.

LGBTQ+ travel experts are concerned about the potential loss of safe, welcoming spaces. Many short-term rentals in Barcelona cater specifically to LGBTQ+ travelers, offering a level of comfort and acceptance that may not be universally available in traditional accommodations.

It’s a controversial move for sure, and given the current housing crisis in Barcelona, it’s no surprise.

With the cost of buying a house rising by 38% over the past 10 years, many residents are being priced-out.

Unfortunately, this isn’t unique—long-term rentals in other popular cities such as Lisbon have skyrocketed in recent years.

So what do we do if we don’t have AirBnB’s or MisterBnB’s to go to?

Certainly we can go elsewhere. There are many other attractive destinations that we can adapt to.

That said, we suspect that there will be some sort of compromise.  Spain ranks among the top-three most visited countries in the world, and the removal of over 10,000 tourist options could have an unintended negative effect on the economy as a whole.

Some suggestions for compromise might include:

Designated Nomad Zones: The city could establish specific areas where short-term rentals remain permitted, potentially in less residential neighborhoods.

LGBTQ+-Friendly Co-living Spaces: Encourage the development of long-term co-living spaces catering to digital nomads, offering flexible lease terms.

Community Integration Programs: Implement initiatives connecting digital nomads with local LGBTQ+ residents, fostering cultural exchange and economic opportunities.

Seasonal Rental Allowances: Consider permitting short-term rentals during off-peak seasons to balance tourism and housing needs.

Digital Nomad Visas: Collaborate with national government to create special visas for long-term digital nomads, allowing access to traditional rental markets.

Public-Private Partnerships: Work with LGBTQ+-friendly businesses to create affordable housing solutions that benefit both nomads and locals.

These approaches could help preserve Barcelona's appeal to LGBTQ+ nomads while addressing residents' concerns, maintaining the city's diversity and economic vitality.

The proposed ban is supposed to happen in 4 years…so…our recommendation? Go now!

CONSIDER THIS:

G’bye Barcelona, Hello Germany!

If you’ve ever dreamed of living in Germany, now might be the perfect time to make that dream come true. Germany just rolled out the Chancenkarte, or “Opportunity Card,” a new work visa that’s designed for non-EU nationals (like you?) to immigrate and work in the country.

The Chancenkarte became available on June 1st, and it uses a points-based system to evaluate applicants. Points are awarded based on criteria like academic qualifications, language skills, and professional experience.

Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Federal Minister of the Interior and Community, explained, “The Opportunity Card will make it easier and quicker for people with experience and potential to find a suitable job and get started.”

What’s really exciting about the Opportunity Card is that it allows you to live in Germany for up to a year while searching for work, without needing an employer to sponsor you beforehand. 

Plus, you can legally work part-time during this job hunt. This new approach is aimed at attracting professionals in fields like medicine, education, manufacturing, and engineering, helping to address Germany’s labor shortages.

This isn’t just another digital nomad visa. The Chancenkarte streamlines the German immigration process, letting you search for work on the ground. Of course, there’s some debate, especially among conservatives, who worry it might allow previously rejected asylum seekers to find work. But for PrideNomads, it’s a golden opportunity.

To get the Opportunity Card, you need to meet certain criteria. You must either have a professional qualification or an academic degree recognized in Germany, or score six or more points based on factors like professional experience, age, and language skills.

You also need to show proof of sufficient funds to cover living expenses during the job search, which is at least €1,027 (USD $1,115) per month.

Since EU citizens can already live and work in Germany, the new visa is specifically for those outside the EU and Switzerland. The Chancenkarte gives extra points if you have German language skills or if you’ve studied at a German school.

Alex Masurovsky, who was a Master’s student at the Berlin School of Mind and Brain and now lives in New York, shared his excitement about possibly returning to Berlin with the Chancenkarte. “For me, Germany had just enough of those European sensibilities, like sitting down for coffee and staying out late, to enjoy without it feeling pretentious,” he said. “It also has a great appreciation for music, mostly electronic, but small and sincere pockets of jazz, blues, and punk rock, too. I’d recommend it to anyone.”

While Germany’s culture and nightlife are definite draws, the main aim of this new visa is to address the nation’s labor shortages. As Faeser put it, “We are making sure that we can attract the skilled workers our economy has urgently needed for years. This is vital for our country’s future.”

If you’re considering making the move, you can visit the Make It In Germany website for more information. They have a “self-check” tool to help you determine your eligibility for the Chancenkarte. Official applications can be submitted at a German Diplomatic Mission or directly on the Chancenkarte website.

For PrideNomads, the Chancenkarte is a fantastic opportunity to live and work in a country known for its progressive attitudes and vibrant community. Whether you’re drawn by Germany’s rich cultural scene, its welcoming atmosphere, or its professional opportunities, now is the perfect time to explore making Germany your new home.

We’d welcome YOUR contribution to the PrideNomad Letter! Just reply to the newsletter with your content idea and you could score your own PrideNomad Contributor T-Shirt!

SPONSORED MESSAGE

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NOMAD HACK :

Consider Being a Currency Traveler, too!

One of the great things about being a citizen of the world is that we can also shop in different currencies…and save BIG!

Case in point:

I’m planning to visit the Winter Pride event in Queenstown, NZ in August. It’s a fabulous event that I’ve always wanted to attend (skiing in August is a dream for someone from North America!). FYI, PrideNomad is proud to be a sponsor of Winter Pride!

Having just returned to the slopes after a 20ish year hiatius, I needed to purchase some ski gear, notably a ski helmet.

My strategy was to get my helmet at the end of the ski season, when clearance deals are usually pretty terrific.

I did a detailed search and the nearly unanimous “best helmet overall” award went to the Smith Vantage MIPS. So now all I had to do was shop.

First stop was Sydney, since I was spending some time in Australia. I found a great price (or so I thought), with a 20% off sale. Then I thought to myself, “Why not check the prices in the USA?—I’ll be there for meetings in a few weeks, perhaps I can score a better deal”.

There were no better deals in the USA.

But…there WERE some pretty terrific deals in Canada!

I was going to be spending a day in Vancouver, and I figured that I could easily pick up a great deal in my travels. So I spent some time in the land of Google, and after a bit of trial and error (finding amazing prices, only to discover they were for the wrong size or color), I finally found a great deal on Amazon.ca (yes, Amazon Canada).

The only problem was that the helmet wouldn’t meet me in Vancouver in time.

So…what do you do?

I went to the Amazon seller’s website and actually found it a little bit less expensive, with FREE shipping to the USA (where logistics would work perfectly)!

Bottom line is that I saved $106 by shopping around globally.

And you can, too! As PrideNomads, we have the flexibility to buy things with various currencies and benefit from excellent conversion rates as well as local and regional sales.

I’ve found great deals on computer equipment in countries that charge GST and then refund it when you leave. This can be quite a bonus for you.

If you love to score great deals, this can be just another big plus for you as a world traveler and entrepreneurial vagabond! Remember—as a PrideNomad, you’re now a citizen of the world. As such, you can shop that way, too!

Quiz Answer

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