Welcome to Palmtree

Palmtree is your new newsletter that celebrates remote work and digital nomad life. Enjoy this quick read on the latest work and lifestyle trends, hacks, and travel hotspots that give you a competitive edge from anywhere in the world.

In today’s maiden issue

  • The return to office lobster trap: one way in ➡ no way out 🛑

  • Remote worker vs. digital nomad: let’s quickly sort this out

  • Travel tip: the safest way to get cash in your pocket

  • Same place, separate realities: Bali, Indonesia (see for yourself 😳)

  • Headlines: remote friendly spots, top digital nomad jobs, visas you’ll want

🦞 Is “Return to Office” a lobster trap?

It was inevitable: the pandemic made working from home a thing, but now companies are changing their tune and asking making workers return to office.

For many, Return To Office (RTO) mandates feel unreasonable and restrictive, akin to a lobster trap. Employers argue it’s good for productivity. Skeptics say companies don’t want to lose big money on commercial real estate leases. Lots going on here:

  • Remote worker Jay took a $35k paycut to continue working from home so he could care for his ailing father.

  • Once remote-friendly companies are now amping up RTO mandates, including Amazon, Meta, Zoom, Salesforce, and Google.

  • Dropbox operates on the Virtual First model, which founder Drew Houston sums up as, “Virtual First does not mean remote-only.”

Remote worker vs. digital nomad: 5 key differences

Remote worker

  • Home base

  • Employee

  • Likes to travel

  • Dedicated office

  • Stable income

Digital nomad

  • Location independent

  • Freelancer

  • Lives to travel

  • Cafes and coworking

  • Fluctuating income

Travel tip

🤑 Get cash from ATMs instead of currency exchanges.

  • You’re likely to get a better bank rate and there’s less chance of getting scammed.

  • At the ATM, don’t select “convert from your home currency.” Always select “local currency.”

  • Get out the maximum cash limit to avoid future ATM fees.

  • Not all ATMs charge a fee, you just have to try a few out.

Reality vs. reality: Bali, Indonesia 🇮🇩

Same place, different realities. What do you think?

Ah, here’s a nice beach in Canggu, Bali

…and here’s how you get to that beach 😬

Latest headlines

Stay shaded,
—the Palmtree Editorial Team

🦞

P.S. Reply with anything you want to say.