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Is Greece the next Portugal?

Plus: foods to remember, pre-digital nomads, how to pack right, Sri Lanka

Author

Charles Bohannan
November 10, 2023

In today’s issue

  • Calling all nomads, remote workers, expats: Greece wants you

  • Palmtree poll: favorite global foods + where to eat them 🍜

  • Nomad history: learn about our analog past

  • Travel tip 101: here’s how to pack light and right 🩳

  • Headlines: Sri Lanka tops this list, what is Bankso?, this Italian island welcomed its first rent-free visitor

🇬🇷 Greece: the next European frontier?

You can’t deny the sensuality of Greece

About 10 years ago, Portugal was an under-the-radar destination in Europe: mild climate, rich culture, friendly locals, great food, and super affordable. Now it’s the hottest go-to spots for nomads, remote workers, and expats.

We may be at a similar “early adopter” crossroads with Greece, which shares similar lifestyle perks of Portugal. After struggling through a long economic crisis, Greece is now popping up in articles, blogs, and travel influencer feeds talking up its nomad-friendly climate:

  • Digital nomad visas are available for non-EU citizens who are freelancing or employed outside of Greece.

  • The visa is valid for 1 year, and extendable for another year. After 2 years, you have to wait 2 more years to reapply.

  • No local income tax for your first 183 days, then just 50% of normal income tax.

  • The visa grants you access to all 27 countries in the European Union.

  • It’s pretty cheap, too: €225 per applicant

Poll results: what to eat and where to eat it

Laksa is a magic food

Palmtree surveyed some Reddit users on the following: What's [one of your favorite dishes], at [what eatery], in [what town/city/country]?

  • “Sushi, anywhere, Japan. Croissants, anywhere, France.”

  • “Raw herring on bread with pickles and onions. A stall on a bridge not far on the right side of Amsterdam Centraal station.”

  • “Laska in the Marina Bay Sands Mall food court in Singapore”

  • “地三鲜 (disanxian) (three treasures of the earth) on the canteen street in 城阳区，青岛市，山东省 Cheng Yang district, Qing Dao City, China”

  • “Literally any food truck or depanneur selling poutine anywhere in Quebec.”

  • “Lamb Vindaloo, Curry King, Tam Coc, Ninh Binh, Viet Nam. I know that is it weird to pick an Indian restaurant in a tier two city in a country with so little Indian diaspora and so many other amazing food options, but... this place is fucking amazing.”

What and where is your favorite food in the world?

Nomad history: the book that started it all

Long before the internet and “digital nomad” were a thing, there was Work Your Way Around the World. First published in 1983, this book inspired new graduates to see the world showed them how to get paid doing it.

Here’s a nugget of encouragement from the book:

It is extremely difficult for anyone whose mother tongue is English to starve in an inhabited place, since there are always people who will pay good money to watch you display a talent as basic as talking.

—Susan Griffin, author of Work Your Way Around the World

Cheers to the nomads who pioneered the way 🤜🏼 🤛🏼

Traveling 101: key tips for performance packing

Nothing screams “I’m new to traveling” than a huge, oversized suitcase tumbling off the baggage claim conveyor belt, smashing the small, expertly-packed suitcases beneath it.

If this is you, we have zero judgement: all travel newbies pack way more than they need.

For optimal packing, here are a few keys tips to get you started:

  • roll, don’t fold, your clothes

  • bring half of what you think you need, then buy what you actually need as you go (and throw things away, too)

  • skip the check in all together — having just a carry-on + backpack buys you precious time and flexibility in transit

Get more optimal packing tips at The Wirecutter (NY Times)

Recent headlines

Stay shaded,
—the Palmtree Editorial Team

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