[MM]: Move over, Portugal—this EU country is the new nomad haven
Published 1 day ago • 6 min read
Hello Reader,
Heya Fit Travel Tribe!
For this week’s Monday Momentum, let’s chat digital nomad visas...because 👀
🌍 BULGARIA just entered its main character visa era🌍
If you’ve ever Googled “digital nomad visas Europe,” you’ve probably seen the same recycled list: Portugal, Croatia, Spain...
But here’s the tea:
Have you been sleeping on Bulgaria? You're not alone.
For the longest time, Bulgaria was the "not yet" little sibling in the Balkans while Romania—its Schengen-adjacent bestie—had a digital nomad visa. The two have always been seemingly treated like a “packaged deal” for EU/Schengen entry...but when it came to visas?
Oh wow. F*ckin finally.
Because as of just a few weeks ago: 📣 Bulgaria now officially has a digital nomad visa. Want to experience the capital of Sofia?
➡ Here’s what folks are LOVING so far about living in Bulgaria:
📶 Fast Wi-Fi and a growing expat scene → Zoom calls don’t glitch, and new friends are just a coffee away.
⛰️ Mountains and Black Sea beaches → Ski, hike, swim, relax...who says you have to pick?
💰 EU location without the price tag of its neighbors → Euro perks, Balkan prices. Your wallet says thank you.
🚌 Border-hop your way through the Balkans → Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece & beyond -- weekend trips = elite.
📌 Direct access to underrated spots like Plovdiv & Veliko Tarnovo → Culture, charm, and cobblestones without the tourist stampede.
💻 Digital nomad hubs from booming Bansko to rising Semkovo → Whether you want built-in cowork vibes or to be early to the scene.
And guess who just made it their new home base? 👋 Ahem...this girl right here. Though I'm still finalizing visa paperwork, I'm living there at minimum half of the year. So, come on through for a visit!
So, are you already "late" to the game?
NOPE!!! My Bulgarian lawyer says the country is still working out the deets, so you can't even file paperwork just yet. (Classic).
👋 Hello from Albania! Just a few more days left in beautiful Shkodër before heading to… the “most boring European capital” 😅 (any guesses before you click the link?)
My 6-week Balkans trip is flying by!
Here are some quick highlights since last time:
🎥 Finished Squid Game 3 (because #Netflix + long bus rides = survival). What did y'all think of season 3?
🚫 Got “kicked out” of a hostel -- showed up with a reservation, but they were fully booked?!
🤯 Couchsurfing host also cancelledthe same day (love that for me)
☕ Reunited with a friend in Skopje I met 2 years ago at a café!
🌈 Shared the Genderbread Person with some people at a hostel and they were instant fans
💆♀️ Had the perfect massage in Tirana
🏰 Climbed the largest castle in Albania... 3 times in 48 hours (my calves are still mad)
🤫 Not so legally stepped into Greece(!) A Couchsurfing coffee hangout in Bitola, Macedonia led to a mini 25 min road trip to....a large stone indicating the border! And the grassy field was wide open and inviting, I kinda just had to step over and back haha
I always need to say "hi" to the local street cats. This is the famous amphitheater in Durrës, Albania.
Sunset in one of my favorite cities of all time: Ohrid, Macedonia.
OMG TMI TIME! It is blazing HOTT in the Balkans. This is the back of my skirt showing a white mark around the bottom of my daypack. Yikes!
Y'all gotta zoom in for this one. Can you spot me in 4 locations? This is the site of Heraclea Lyncestis in Bitola, Macedonia and I taught my tour guide how to do a fun panorama haha
I also celebrated a BIG anniversary!
July 10th, 2025 marks 2 years after I de-employed myself from my full-time job.
CHEERS to living life, traveling, and pursuing passion....okay, okay, I mean just figuring it the heck out on the go haha
One of the nicest, most unexpected compliments I’ve gotten recently:
Two years ago in Vancouver, my Couchsurfing host wanted to work out with me. I asked what he was up for, and he said, “Let’s do leg day.” Cue my evil trainer laugh 😈 (We did 5 minutes of Bodypump...bodyweight-only, but brutal).
Well… he texted me two years later saying he still thinks about that workout. 😂
Always exercising...morning hostel workout before my 7:30am bus!
“
Heidi, when I do squats....I think of you now
— Former Couchsurfing Host
🎉Featured Expedition
I have a secret to share with you all...
I mentioned in my last edition that I have a new project. And it's a actually BIG one!
TRAVEL + WALKING + EDUCATION ✈ 👣 📚
I'm going ALL in on developing audio walking tours!
Honestly, It is a PERFECT fit for me!
Here's my SECOND tour, fully published for the beautiful, coastal city of Antalya, Turkiye
⬇ ⬇ ⬇
Want a sneak peek? Hit the “Preview Tour” button on the right to hear the intro audio.
📍 Boston, MA — world’s most iconic finish line 🏁🏃♀️ So, you wanna qualify for Boston? Heads up: new rules dropped as of June 16. If you’re racing on a net downhill course, your time now gets adjusted — because gravity shouldn’t be your coach. 😅 Why the change? Boston officials say runners on steep courses had a major edge over those on flatter ones — and it wasn’t fair game.
👉 So what does this mean? If you’re chasing that Boston Qualifier (BQ) time, the course profile matters more than ever. Downhill darlings like Revel or St. George might still get you there — but not without a penalty.
Ready to pick your race?
⬇ ⬇ ⬇
Here are the big ones where qualifying times count: 🌍 World Marathon Majors 🏃♂️ Tokyo 🇬🇧 London 🇩🇪 Berlin 🇺🇸 Chicago 🇺🇸 Boston (obviously) 🇺🇸 NYC Choosing your dream race… and earning your bib the hard way.
💸 Digital SIM, Real Savings: Budget eSIM Tips for Travelers 📱💡
Let’s talk eSIMs, because they’ve been on my mind—and saving me money.
First, what is an eSIM? It’s a digital SIM card that connects you to local data networks—no physical card needed. Many newer iPhones don’t even have a SIM slot anymore (except mine, lol—European iPhone 16 Pro still came with one 🤷♀️).
Just always check to ensure your phone is compatible with eSIMS before your purchase!
Here’s how to save big when using eSIMs abroad:
Set “Low Data Mode” right away ✅ Your phone defaults to “Standard,” and trust me, I learned the hard way—my first Saily plan disappeared faster than a free café seat. Switching to Low Data Mode saved my gigabytes (and my wallet). 🧪 eSIMs I’ve tested: 📶 Airalo 📶 Saily 📶 Gjirafa (yep—bought it alongside a bus ticket from Ohrid to Tirana for a discount!)
Price check (for 3 GB / 30 days) 💰 Quality across eSIMs is getting super competitive—but prices still vary a lot. Here’s what I evaluated for my 10 days in Albania (looking at 3 GB for 30 days):
Gjirafa : $4.66 (when purchased with a bus ticket)
➡️ Gjirafa wins for Albania—solid coverage still going strong on day 7! Glad I gave them a try!
Save a few $$'s with a referral code ✅Found your match? Before you check out, punch in a referral code to cut a few extra bucks off. Reddit has tons, but here are mine:
Bonus travel hack: 📉 Low Power Mode = Less Background Drain 🔋 Don’t forget your portable charger - like THIS OPTION HERE
Bottom line: Since we are on our phone where we go, eSIMs are the quiet MVP of thrifty travel. Cheap, fast to activate, and no sketchy SIM booths required.
Always on my mind: More money for more travel! It's often worth a little homework for those savings 💸
⚡Biweekly Boost: Quote of the Week
Skanderberg Square in Skopje, Macedonia
“
You will never be able to escape from your heart.
So it's better to listen to what it has to say.
— Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
🙏A Friendly Favor...
If you've found this content helpful, please consider sharing this email with a friend & using these affiliate links in the future.
Please note that I never make referrals unless I truly believe this product or service is actually helpful 💗
If you use my affiliate links included in the email, it is at no additional cost to YOU, but it does benefit me. It's a small "thank you" and continuous motivation for me to keep sharing this helpful content.
Feel free to always respond back to this email with any thoughts and questions you might have or content you'd love to see in the future.