Touring full time for six years as a digital nomad

So, we hit the highway as digital nomads as an alternative of taking a spot yr. And we rapidly fell in love with the liberty and suppleness of the life-style. I admire experiencing completely different cultures, landscapes, experiences and cuisines day by day. And I’ve discovered that steadily visiting new locations evokes me.

I additionally get pleasure from utilizing the subjects I write about — factors, miles, bank cards and elite standing — every day. We make award redemptions most weeks (and sometimes a number of instances per week), and we’re always touring. So, I do know most of the airline, resort and bank card packages I write about from private expertise. And I am personally invested when these packages change or devalue their rewards.

Factors and miles actually gasoline a few of our journey. However we additionally e book paid flights and nights when it is sensible. In any case, we solely have a finite quantity of factors and miles, and we have discovered that paid partner-operated premium-cabin flights are sometimes the easiest way to earn airline elite standing.

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1,121,959 miles on 575 flights

Over the past six years, I’ve taken 575 flights on 62 airways to 180 airports in 58 international locations. I’ve taken so many flights within the final six years that my flight map is tough to learn.

I flew 1,121,959 direct flight miles within the final six years, with a mean flight distance of 1,951 miles (concerning the distance from Atlanta to Los Angeles). My longest flight was 9,532 miles, from New York to Singapore. And my shortest flight was simply 11 miles from Tahiti to Moorea in French Polynesia.

However my most memorable flight was on Sri Lanka’s Cinnamon Air from Polgolla Reservoir Aerodrome (KDZ) to Koggala Airport (KCT) on a Cessna 208 amphibious caravan.

I steadily fly American Airways and sometimes use Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL) when visiting household. So, it isn’t shocking that my three most frequent routes by flight segments are between American Airways’ hubs and Atlanta. This is a have a look at my high 10 most frequent flight segments during the last six years:

And my loyalty to American Airways AAdvantage and its Oneworld companions exhibits whenever you have a look at the airways I flew most by flight segments:

• American Airways: 224 flights, together with critiques of American’s A321T enterprise class, 787-9 enterprise class, 777-200 enterprise class with B/E Aerospace Tremendous Diamond seats, 787-8 Fundamental Cabin Additional, 757-200 Fundamental Cabin Additional and 757-200 enterprise class
• United Airways: 31 flights, together with critiques of United’s 787-8 economic system class and 757-200 economic system class
• Southwest Airways: 29 flights, together with a overview of Southwest’s 737-800 from Oakland, California, to Newark
• Malaysia Airways: 26 flights
• Qatar Airways: 23 flights, together with critiques of Qatar Qsuite on a 777-300ER and Qatar Qsuite on an A350-1000
• Delta Air Strains: 22 flights, together with after I was one of many first American vacationers to fly to Italy on a COVID-19-tested flight
• British Airways: 20 flights, together with a overview of British Airways’ A380 economic system class
• Cathay Pacific: 17 flights
• Japan Airways: 14 flights, together with a overview of Japan Airways’ 777-300ER premium economic system
• Qantas: 12 flights

Nonetheless, for those who have a look at the airways on which I flew probably the most mileage, the rating is a bit completely different on account of some mileage runs:

• American Airways: 404,296 miles
• Cathay Pacific: 104,481 miles
• Qatar Airways: 89,630 miles
• British Airways: 53,357 miles
• Delta Air Strains: 49,603 miles
• United Airways: 42,237 miles
• Singapore Airways: 36,176 miles, together with a overview of Singapore Airways’ A350-900ULR premium economic system
• Japan Airways: 33,756 miles
• Air Canada: 30,792 miles
• All Nippon Airways: 28,938 miles

I monitor all my flights in OpenFlights. So, though it is comparatively simple for me to collect statistics on my flights, I haven’t got a easy option to decide the quantity I paid in factors and money for my 575 flights over the past six years.

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1,103 nights in inns

I’ve spent over half of the final six years residing out of resort rooms. Particularly, I’ve spent 894 nights at 75 main resort manufacturers throughout the final six years. And I’ve spent 209 nights at different manufacturers and unbiased inns.

This is the breakdown of my stays by loyalty program and model during the last six years, together with notes about my favourite packages.

390 nights at 15 IHG manufacturers

Over the past six years, I’ve stayed 161 paid nights at IHG properties for a mean of $152 per night time. The least I paid was $48 per night time on the Vacation Inn Specific Berlin — Alexanderplatz in Germany. And probably the most I paid was $1,564 per night time throughout a overview of the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort within the Maldives.

In the meantime, we redeemed IHG factors for 209 nights during the last six years, together with 36 fourth-night-free rewards. On common, we redeemed 15,591 IHG factors per night time. We additionally redeemed 20 anniversary nights during the last six years, together with on the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa in French Polynesia and the Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam within the Netherlands.

You may surprise how we earned so many IHG factors and anniversary nights. We maximize IHG promotions to earn factors on stays. And we regularly purchase factors throughout IHG factors gross sales with a 100% bonus after we can achieve this for 0.5 cents per level. As for the anniversary night time certificates, we each have a number of IHG bank cards, so we have every earned two anniversary nights for many of the final six years.

We steadily keep at IHG One Rewards inns and resorts because of the excessive worth we regularly get when redeeming IHG factors. However, with the launch of the brand new IHG One Rewards program final yr, we’re additionally getting good worth from the annual lounge membership you may choose by way of IHG’s Milestone Rewards program after staying 40 nights in a yr.

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209 nights at different manufacturers and unbiased inns

Lately, we normally keep at main resort manufacturers to earn and use elite standing perks and profit from the consistency supplied by these manufacturers. However we regularly stayed at unbiased inns after we first hit the highway as digital nomads in 2017. And even now, we typically discover ourselves in a vacation spot with out main resort manufacturers or the place staying at a property exterior our model loyalties makes probably the most sense.

For instance, we could not go up staying in a twin cell at YHA Fremantle Jail in Australia and a robotic resort in Japan. Likewise, staying inside Addo Elephant and Kruger nationwide parks in South Africa allow us to maximize our time seeing wildlife in these parks.

We regularly e book these stays by way of on-line journey companies since we do not have to fret about lacking out on elite standing advantages and earnings whereas staying at properties exterior our main manufacturers. For instance, we’ll typically e book by way of bank card portals to make use of credit, just like the $50 resort credit score every account anniversary yr on the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card. And we’ll sometimes e book by way of American Specific Tremendous Inns + Resorts to snag further perks and use the pay as you go resort credit score we get every calendar yr as a perk of The Platinum Card® from American Specific. We’ll additionally typically use Rocketmiles to earn American Airways miles and Loyalty Factors on our stays.

On common, I paid $83 per night time on these stays. However, my least costly night time was $18 per night time for a personal room with a shared lavatory at Stella Di Notte in Belgrade, Serbia. And my costliest night time was $235 per night time on the RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas in Liberia throughout PeaceJam.

203 nights at 21 Marriott manufacturers

Over the past six years, I’ve stayed 140 paid nights at Marriott properties for a mean of $121 per night time. The least I paid was $44 per night time on the 4 Factors by Sheraton Bogota in Colombia. And probably the most I paid was $350 per night time throughout a overview of the Waikoloa Seaside Marriott Resort & Spa in Hawaii.

In the meantime, we redeemed Marriott factors for 49 nights during the last six years, together with six fifth-night-free advantages. On common, we redeemed 16,167 factors per night time on Marriott award stays. We additionally redeemed 14 free night time awards we earned by way of Marriott bank cards and promotions during the last six years.

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115 nights at 6 Alternative manufacturers

• Ascend Resort Assortment: 54 nights, together with 28 nights at Feelings All Inclusive Puerto Plata within the Dominican Republic, 9 nights at Gowanus Inn & Yard in New York (not bookable by way of Alternative Inns) and three nights at Bluegreen Holidays Fountains in Florida
• Consolation: 37 nights, together with 19 nights in Japan
• High quality Inn: 13 nights
• Cambria Inns: 4 nights
• Rodeway Inn: 4 nights
• Clarion: Three nights

Over the past six years, I’ve stayed 34 paid nights at Alternative Privileges properties for a mean of $93 per night time. The least I paid was $54 per night time on the Consolation Resort Airport CDG in France. And probably the most I paid was $239 per night time at Cambria Resort New York — Instances Sq. in New York.

In the meantime, we redeemed Alternative factors for 81 nights during the last six years. On common, we redeemed 9,531 Alternative factors per night time. I’ve discovered I can get glorious worth when redeeming Alternative factors for distinctive redemptions and for stays in Japan, Europe and locations that usually function excessive paid resort charges. So, as with IHG, we regularly purchase Alternative factors throughout gross sales or by way of Every day Getaways promotions.

87 nights at 11 Hyatt manufacturers and companions

I did not keep a lot with World of Hyatt till this system provided decreased qualification necessities and double elite night time credit in early 2021. I earned Globalist standing in 2021 for much fewer nights than is normally required, however I’ve prioritized sustaining it because of the on-site perks it gives.

I’ve stayed 53 paid nights at Hyatt properties for a mean of $139 per night time during the last six years. The least I paid was $24 per night time on the Excalibur Resort & On line casino in Las Vegas. And probably the most I paid was $353 per night time at Hyatt Home New York/Chelsea in New York.

In the meantime, I redeemed Hyatt factors for 27 free nights during the last six years. I’ve discovered some glorious Class 1 Hyatt inns that present fantastic worth on award stays. So, it is not shocking that I’ve redeemed 5,563 factors per night time on common and simply 3,500 factors per night time for 9 nights. Moreover, I redeemed seven free night time certificates that I earned by way of Hyatt bank cards, Hyatt Milestone Rewards and the Hyatt Model Explorer promotion during the last six years.

40 nights at 10 Wyndham manufacturers

• Days Inn: 10 nights
• Ramada: 9 nights
• Ramada Encore: 5 nights
• Microtel: 5 nights
• Membership Wyndham: Three nights
• Tremendous 8: Three nights
• Viva Wyndham: Two nights at Viva Wyndham Azteca — All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico
• Baymont: One night time
• Howard Johnson: One night time
• Travelodge: One night time

Over the past six years, I’ve stayed 29 paid nights at Wyndham properties for a mean of $103 per night time. The least I paid was $48 per night time on the Days Inn Guam-Tamuning in Guam. And probably the most I paid was $200 per night time throughout a overview of the Viva Wyndham Azteca — All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico.

In the meantime, we redeemed Wyndham factors for 11 nights during the last six years. On common, we redeemed 9,068 factors per night time on Wyndham award stays. And we love getting a ten% redemption low cost after we redeem Wyndham factors as a advantage of our Wyndham Rewards bank card, as this brings an award night time that may usually price 7,500 factors down to only 6,750 factors.

32 nights at 6 Hilton manufacturers

Over the past six years, I’ve stayed 18 paid nights at Hilton properties for a mean of $130 per night time. The least I’ve paid was $58 per night time on the Hilton Jaipur in India. And probably the most I paid was $168 per night time on the Hilton Niseko Village in Japan.

In the meantime, we redeemed Hilton factors for eight nights during the last six years, together with one fifth-night-free profit. On common, we redeemed 46,250 factors per night time on Hilton award stays. We additionally redeemed six Hilton free night time certificates that we earned by way of Hilton bank cards during the last six years for glorious worth on the Conrad New York Midtown, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and the Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa.

The common quantity we redeemed per night time with Hilton Honors is considerably larger than with different resort loyalty packages. This, mixed with my wrestle to get greater than TPG’s valuation (0.6 cents per level) when redeeming Hilton factors, is why I do not steadily keep at Hilton manufacturers regardless of having Hilton Diamond standing by way of a Hilton bank card.

19 nights at 4 Accor manufacturers

• Ibis: 12 nights
• Mercure: 4 nights
• Grand Mercure: Two nights
• Ibis Price range: One night time

Over the past six years, I’ve stayed 19 nights at Accor properties for a mean of $56 per night time. The least I paid was $36 per night time on the Ibis Muenchen Metropolis Nord in Germany. And probably the most I paid was $84 per night time on the Ibis Madrid Alcobendas in Spain.

8 nights at 2 Greatest Western manufacturers

• Greatest Western: Six nights
• Greatest Western Plus: Two nights

Over the past six years, I’ve stayed eight nights at Greatest Western properties for a mean of $78 per night time. The least I paid was $57 per night time on the Greatest Western Amsterdam Airport Resort within the Netherlands. And probably the most I paid was $147 per night time on the Greatest Western Plus Mountain View Auburn Inn in Washington.

452 nights tenting

However, because it turned obvious the coronavirus pandemic would have an effect on worldwide journey for greater than only a few months, my husband and I attempted out a six-night RV relocation rental in July 2020. Then in August 2020, we determined to purchase the identical RV mannequin we might relocated.

Once we purchased our Class C RV, we anticipated we might promote it as quickly as worldwide journey to most locations turned comparatively easy once more. However, we found we get pleasure from working remotely from our RV whereas within the U.S. We have now spent 440 nights tenting in our RV since shopping for it — 97 nights in 2020, 234 nights in 2021, 80 nights in 2022 and 29 nights to date in 2023.

Nineteen nights in our RV have been free at places (like choose Walmarts, choose Cracker Barrels and companies that take part in Harvest Hosts) that enable RVers to remain in a single day upon asking permission. We have additionally spent 37 nights sleeping within the driveways of family and friends whereas visiting them.

However we normally discover paid RV campsites with energy and water. We have paid for campsites on 393 nights as follows:

• 171 nights at metropolis and county campgrounds ($32 per night time on common)
• 133 nights at U.S. Military Corps of Engineers campgrounds ($27 per night time on common)
• 66 nights at state park campgrounds ($34 per night time on common)
• 37 nights at personal campgrounds ($52 per night time on common)
• 4 nights at nationwide park campgrounds ($48 per night time on common)

On common, we have paid $33 per night time for our RV campsites. The best we paid was $104 per night time at Orlando / Kissimmee KOA Vacation in Florida. And the least we paid was $17 per night time at Shady Grove Campground in Cumming, Georgia, throughout a half-off promotion.

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443 nights with household and buddies

One side my husband and I admire about being digital nomads is seeing our household greater than after we lived in a single place. This is a breakdown of our nights with family and friends during the last six years:

• July 2 to the top of 2017: 32 nights
• 2018: 90 nights
• 2019: 83 nights
• 2020: 167 nights
• 2021: 29 nights
• 2022: 27 nights
• Up to now in 2023: 15 nights

We spent vital time with every of our dad and mom in March by way of August of 2020 as a lot of the world locked down. Nonetheless, the nights since August 2020 are decrease than pre-pandemic since we now keep in our RV (both within the driveway or a close-by campground) whereas visiting most family and friends members.

104 nights in transit

If I’ve an in a single day layover at an airport, I am going to e book a resort if the layover is lengthy sufficient and I can discover a modestly priced resort on-site or with a free shuttle. However typically the layover is just too quick, or it simply would not make sense to get a resort. In these circumstances, I am going to normally sleep in a lounge — ideally one with a sleeping space or a minimum of lounge chairs — or in a Minute Suites (or an analogous kind of area) that participates in Precedence Go.

I’ve additionally spent three nights on trains, together with two on the Amtrak Empire Builder from Portland, Oregon, to Chicago and one on a Trans-Mongolian prepare from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to Hohhot, China. I completely loved each experiences, so it is shocking that I have never taken another in a single day trains within the final six years. Nonetheless, low-cost flights on many routes served by in a single day trains typically make flying a extra handy and cheaper different.

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90 nights in trip leases

Trip leases are the lodging of alternative for a lot of digital nomads, particularly those that keep in every location for a minimum of a month and admire having their very own kitchen. And I spent 39 nights in trip leases in 2017 after turning into nomadic July 2.

On common, I paid $53 per night time for trip leases throughout my six years as a digital nomad. My least costly trip rental was $17 per night time for a personal studio house in Da Nang, Vietnam, that I booked by way of Airbnb. And my costliest trip rental was $129 per night time for a waterfront house in Auckland, New Zealand, by way of Inns.com.

I am going to nonetheless keep in trip leases after they’re my most suitable choice. However I usually favor to remain at inns for consistency and to earn and use my elite standing perks.

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259 cities in 52 international locations and territories

Lastly, let’s speak about locations. Over the past six years, I’ve visited 259 cities in 52 international locations and territories. This is a have a look at the variety of nights I stayed in every:

• 1,253 nights: United States of America (together with 318 nights in inns or trip leases)
• 88 nights: Germany
• 69 nights: Japan
• 56 nights: Australia
• 54 nights: South Africa (together with 32 nights in or close to South African nationwide parks)
• 36 nights: Dominican Republic
• 27 nights: Maldives, Thailand
• 24 nights: Spain
• 22 nights: Hong Kong, Malaysia
• 21 nights: New Zealand, Serbia, Vietnam
• 20 nights: Canada, Colombia, Italy
• 19 nights: India
• 18 nights: Netherlands, United Arab Emirates
• 16 nights: Singapore
• 14 nights: Bahamas, French Polynesia, Indonesia
• 13 nights: Fiji, South Korea
• 11 nights: Brazil, Mongolia
• 10 nights: China
• 9 nights: Bulgaria, England, France, Pakistan
• Eight nights: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Liberia, Mexico, Sri Lanka
• Seven nights: Greece, Guam
• Six nights: Turkey
• 5 nights: Belgium, Marshall Islands
• 4 nights: Sweden
• Three nights: Argentina, Chile
• Two nights: Panama
• One night time: Ethiopia, Finland, Eire, Northern Mariana Islands, Taiwan

As you may see, I might have spent probably the most time within the U.S. even when the coronavirus pandemic hadn’t saved me within the nation for a lot of 2020 and 2021. And apparently, even my most visited nation exterior the U.S. (Germany) accounted for simply 88 nights throughout the final six years.

I additionally visited 14 different international locations and territories earlier than turning into a digital nomad. So, though I am not striving to go to each nation on this planet, I’ve visited 66 completely different international locations and territories to date. My husband and I try to go to just a few new-to-us international locations annually whereas additionally returning to a few of our favourite locations like Germany, Japan, South Africa, Australia and Hong Kong.

Backside line

I really feel extremely grateful for the final six years I’ve spent as a digital nomad. I’ve grown considerably as an individual and content material creator whereas touring full-time.

However it’s not these epic experiences that hold me on the highway. In any case, I might get pleasure from many of those experiences on trip. As a substitute, the day by day issues like being surrounded by languages I do not know, having fun with scrumptious native meals and exploring new cities and neighborhoods on foot hold me hooked up to the digital nomad life-style.