Hey, Gnomies!

You're receiving this email because you downloaded or signed up for one of our resources. Perhaps the Digital Nomad Roadmap, the Digital Nomad Income Blueprint course, How to Travel the World as an Online English Teacher ebook, the Phish Summer Tour Guide, or the Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta guide. Or you found us through the Kit Creator Network.

Greetings from Prague!

We've been in this gorgeous city for almost two weeks after spending seven weeks in Poland.

Poland is a fascinating country, and we had some incredible experiences there, but none left a mark quite like our visit to Auschwitz.

Visiting Auschwitz was unlike anything we’ve experienced, even after seeing sites of war and tragedy across Asia. Nothing compares to the weight of Auschwitz - the systematic cruelty, the remnants of lives shattered, and the reminder of what can happen when hate and divisive rhetoric go unchecked.

I've spent a lot of time reflecting on how something like this could have happened. How did it get this extreme that millions of people – mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, friends – were slaughtered as though they never mattered?

The Holocaust didn’t start with camps or gas chambers - it began with divisive words that dehumanized entire groups of people.

Many of those who supported Hitler were frustrated, humiliated by their country’s defeat, and desperate for hope - and he exploited those feelings to gain power. These people, too, became victims of a system that preyed on their pain, leading them to follow an ideology that ultimately betrayed them.

That same kind of rhetoric still surfaces today, and we can’t afford to ignore it. Like those who followed Hitler, people today risk becoming victims of a similar system if they give in to divisive language that targets certain groups.

Auschwitz stands as a powerful reminder: we all have a duty to remember and to resist the language that divides.

I felt so strongly about this experience that I’ve dedicated a new blog post to it, exploring the lasting importance of standing against hateful rhetoric. It’s not a light read, but it’s one I believe everyone should know about.

If this message resonates with you, I’d be grateful if you would read and share it - it’s a story that holds lessons for us all.

You’ll still find our usual updates, travel stories, and resources below, but I hope you’ll take a moment to visit the blog post Visiting Auschwitz and Why We Must Stand Against Divisive Rhetoric Today and help spread this vital message.

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Where we worked in October: Zakopane and Krakow, Poland; Prague, Czech Republic

Digital Nomad Tip of the Month: Planning for long-term travel can be stressful and can easily stop you in your tracks. If you’ve been dreaming of long-term travel but feel overwhelmed by all the logistics, The Ultimate Checklist for Long-Term Travel and Living Abroad is exactly what you need.

It’s a step-by-step guide designed to take the stress out of planning your adventure. This checklist helps you organize everything - from visas and packing to managing your money and finding the perfect places to stay - so you can focus on what really matters: enjoying the journey.

With actionable tips and insider advice, you’ll be fully prepared to travel light, stay connected, and meet like-minded people along the way. It’s more than just a checklist - it’s your blueprint for living the nomad life with confidence and ease.

This checklist is saved in Google Drive. You can easily copy it to your Google Drive or download it to your device by going to File > Make a Copy or File > Download > PDF Document. Click here to check it out.

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A Recap of Poland

I highly recommend visiting Poland if you get the chance. There is so much history to learn - they've been through a lot. Despite all of that, it's a beautiful country with delicious food and welcoming people.

I was reminded about the importance of being adaptable on this trip. We originally booked an Airbnb in Krakow for 4 weeks but we arrived to find that the entire neighborhood was a construction site. It didn't make for a pleasant experience and the noise that started at 6:30 am made it hard to get enough sleep.

Sasha's job requires him to work 9 am - 5 pm ET which is 3 pm - 11 pm here. It's difficult to go straight to sleep afterward so we stay up late to unwind and being woken up by construction at 6:30 am was quite miserable, to be frank.

The host didn't tell us about the construction and even tried to invalidate our unpleasant experience. This falls under Airbnb's Inaccuracy Policy so we were able to get a refund for the days we didn't stay and went to Zakopane, a beautiful little town in the mountains near the southern border with Slovakia, famous for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.

This was our itinerary for Poland in the end:

• 11 nights in Warsaw
• 4 nights in Gdansk
• 7 nights in Krakow
• 8 nights in Zakopane
• 12 more nights in Krakow

Another cool place we visited from Krakow was the Salt Mines. I'll share more about it in a later email. We're happy to answer any questions! Hit reply and ask away :)

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Awesome Travel Hacking Deals

We often get asked how we can afford to travel so much. We don’t have a trust fund, nor do we have 6-figure jobs. Truth be told, the main reason we are able to do what we do is travel hacking.

Many of you long-time subscribers are familiar with this concept but if you’re not familiar with the term, travel hacking refers to taking advantage of credit card sign-up bonuses to earn miles that can be used for flights or hotel stays. We have a blog post and a YouTube video called Travel Hacking 101 that we recommend checking out if you haven’t already.

While we generally get a new card or two every year, one card has remained in our wallet for many years - the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. The annual fee is only $95 and you get a $50 hotel credit every year. With 3x points per dollar on dining and 2x on travel, we rack up a ton of points every year just using this card for Airbnb stays, restaurants, breweries, etc.

At the moment, they have one of the best sign-up bonuses we’ve ever seen. You can get 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, which is worth $750 in travel when booking through Chase. In addition, they are giving you a $300 travel credit that you can use throughout the year. They usually only give this travel credit when signing up for the much more expensive Reserve card, which runs you $550 per year.

So if you think about it… the bank is giving you free money! A $50 hotel credit + a $300 travel credit, all on a card that only costs $95 a year. When you hit the sign-up bonus (which will be easy with the holidays approaching), you will have $1,100 to spend on that next great trip!

You should definitely jump on this offer now because it won't last long.

If you sign up through our link, we will get a referral bonus. This helps keep us on the road so we can keep creating content for you, and you’ll still get the same amazing offer. Thanks so much!

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That's it for this newsletter. Thanks for opening and reading it to the end! We appreciate it more than you know.

Feel free to write back! We love hearing from you :-D

Cheers,
Rachel (& Sasha) | gratefulgnomads.com

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Resources for Digital Nomads:

Ready to start your location-independent lifestyle but overwhelmed by it all? Looking for advice for your specific situation? Rachel can coach you through the prep and mindset to get you started on your journey. Get more info here.

Need help planning a trip? That's Sasha's superpower. Hit him up for more info here.

​Teacherpreneur Academy - Ready to take the leap into independence and build a robust English teaching portfolio? This program introduces the 3 ways to teach English online and culminates in the creation of your Preliminary Business Outline so you have the plan to start building your business. Take 10% off with the code grateful10.

​SafetyWing - Travel insurance for digital nomads. Make sure you're covered! Sign up for just $56 for 4 weeks.

​Teachable - Easily create and sell your online course.

​BridgeTEFL - Get certified to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) and continue your professional development as an ESL teacher.

​TrustedHousesitters - save money on accommodation by caring for someone's home and fur babies or find someone to take care of yours while you travel!

​Xero Shoes - the best shoes for travelers! They're lightweight and fit very nicely into your bag. They have lots of different styles from casual, every-day shoes to hiking boots. Click the link to check them out!

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Some links may be affiliate links, earning us a commission if you purchase at no extra cost to you! We're super grateful for the support as it helps us keep the lights on ;)

In case you missed it, our latest blog posts and videos...

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Visiting Auschwitz and Why We Must Stand Against Divisive Rhetoric Today Reflecting on our visit to Auschwitz, we explore the dangers of divisive rhetoric and the importance of remembering history's darkest lessons. Click here to read it

9 Must-Know Safety Tips for Digital Nomads and Adventurous Travelers In this post, we share 9 essential safety tips to help you stay secure while exploring the world. Perfect for digital nomads and adventurous travelers alike! ​ Click here to read it!

How to Feel Ready for a Big Trip There’s nothing quite like the thrill of having a big trip on the horizon. If you love to travel, you know that rush of excitement well – it’s one of the best feelings in the world! But as the departure date gets closer, it’s natural to wonder if you’re truly ready to dive into the adventure. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to make sure you’re fully prepared and can soak up every moment of the journey ahead. Click here to read it

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