Ever wonder where you can comfortably settle for an extended stay? Sometimes we like to travel a little slower and take our time to fully immerse ourselves in a country and the culture it embodies. Obviously the question of “where are the best countries for nomads to stay for more than a month?” is very subjective and depends on your personal needs and preferences, however, here are (some of) the best countries (and places) to stay in for more than a month from the perspective of a professional nomads with a passion for nature, culture, and sauerkraut 🙂 in our (humble (but professional)) opinion.
1. Ecuador
Ecuador is a country that most people tend to overlook when they travel in South America unless they are traveling to The Galapagos, in which case they still usually bypass the rest of the country. It is a small country with so much diversity; with volcanoes breaching the 5000m above sea level mark, parts of the Amazon rainforest and vast coastal stretches. Regarding nature, it has everything you could ever desire. It is also dripping in indigenous culture from a number of different tribes, and tribal and colonial history that will leave you in awe and feeling somewhat small. The infrastructure in the cities is strong, and for those weekends you just don’t want to check your emails, you can disappear high into the Andes or deep into the Amazon Rainforest where nobody will hear you scream and you will have no connection to the outside world. It does help if you can speak Spanish to some extent if you want to venture outside of the main tourist areas as not many many locals speak English.
2. New Zealand
New Zealand is actually a real country and IS NOT PART OF AUSTRALIA. It may be so far away that it has fallen over the waterfall at the end of the world, but the remoteness and isolation add to the quirky charm of the country. What makes this a fantastic location is the plethora of natural settings and the prodigious diversity of landscapes on offer. It is one of the few places in the world where you can break your leg snowboarding in the morning and break your other leg while surfing in the afternoon. Traveling distances are diminished (if on somewhat dodgy roads), and you are never far away from nature, Māori culture and sheep, yet it is very cozy and homely to settle down for a little bit. It has an excellent infrastructure to support travelers as so much of the economy relies on tourism, so you know you will be in safe hands. The downside to spending elongated periods of time in New Zealand is often WiFi is hard to acquire, or very expensive, which may or may not be a problem for you depending on your profession and/or need for porn.
3. Canada
To be honest, 30 days is probably not nearly enough time to even breach the surface of Canada. In the West of the country, in Alberta and British Columbia, there are some massive and iconic national parks which offer everything from skiing and hiking to small villages that party long into the night. You are never too far away from overpriced beer and an internet connection, but also never too far away from escaping everything and everyone. Larger cities, like Vancouver, are pleasant and friendly places to be, even if a little expensive. For those who want to go hiking, Banff in Alberta offers hundreds of walks right out of the town, let alone all over the rest of the park. For those looking for something a little more relaxed, Tofino on Vancouver Island is where you’ll find all the surfer hippies and some of Canada’s best cuisine.
4. Germany
The best thing about Germany is that when you finally get bored of beer, perfectly cooked pork and cute historic villages, it only takes a few hours to cross a few borders and to submerge yourself into a brand new culture and language, even if only for a short weekend break before returning to reality. Craving even cheaper beer? Cross the Czech border. Need some pointier mountains? The Alps lie across the Swiss and Austrian borders. Searching for a space cookie or a midnight canal skinny dip? The Netherlands is right there. And for all of the time that you’re not piling your plate and stuffing your pockets with at the Euro-culture buffet, Germany is rich with history, nature, and sauerkraut. Each region offers something a little different, so even staying within the country should ensure that you don’t find yourself at a loose end.
5. Australia
Much like Canada, Australia is a little bit on the massive side, and while most of the country is arid desert, as it is so huge there is also everything else in between. Believe it or not, Australia actually has ski fields. Surviving thirty days against all the spiders, snakes, dingos, jellyfish, sharks, cassowaries, sandflies, bad drivers and drop bears is not as difficult as one might think, and if you follow the advice and rules set by the park rangers, you shouldn’t lose your leg to a crocodile. It harbors a prosperous, westernized society with bustling city life, and yet it is still easy to lose cell phone reception and to escape into the wilderness for a few days. There are also good flight connections to South East Asia, Fiji, Singapore and New Zealand, should you feel the need to escape the chilled out, thongs (flip-flops) on, BBQ on the beach lifestyle. Melbourne is a particularly good city for those who wish to sell their soul for a gourmet pizza, and all over the country, you will find mind-blowing natural reserves to fill your spare time exploring. Hiking enthusiasts should leave the crowds behind and check out Tasmania which is arguably one of the more untouched states of Australia.
6. Turkey
A lot of people are currently avoiding Turkey due to some political unrest and the somewhat exaggerated threat of terrorism; however, the country has a lot to offer besides Istanbul, starting with the most important aspect, the food. A kebap (or kebab for all the English speakers) is not a post-midnight drunken regret but instead a staple food that varies drastically between different regions. Sometimes they are served in a clay pot, other times on a skewer, and even occasionally sometimes they come in a pita bread wrap, but besides this, it is definitely possible to have three meals every day and to eat something different for each of these meals for over two weeks. You will leave testing the elastic on your pants, but you will not regret it. The cities offer a lot of historical sites, palaces and mosques to explore, and keep you well connected with the outside world, whereas you can also escape into the surreal mountainous areas such as Cappadocia to jump on a hot air balloon or down to the coast for some island hopping when the crowded streets of Istanbul become too much. Furthermore, almost everybody has some grasp of the English language.
7. Italy
Italy is a small country dripping in Catholic history and is a great place to augment your dimensions with pizza. Between sitting in a canal in Venice and speaking German in the Dolomite mountain ranges, it is only two or three hours on a bus. The difference between the North and South of the country is very evident, and there is something to please everybody, from world-famous cuisine and historic towns to stunning nature and crystal clear oceans. If you happen to find yourself bored of Italy, the rest of Europe is just a cheap Ryanair flight away. Inside the adorable old cities, you shouldn’t be far away from a WiFi connection, an English speaker, or a perfect espresso.
8. South East Asia
When you travel outside of the touristic areas, South East Asia becomes very affordable, and as tourism brings so much revenue to the country, the infrastructure is rapidly improving. Here is an excellent part of the world for westernized minds to alienate themselves in a genuinely foreign culture, where temples dominate the history and health and safety standards seem to be in a league of their own. Every country offers something a little different, and switching between them is usually relatively easy to navigate, so if you find yourself restless in Thailand, you can switch it up and move to Vietnam. WiFi hotspots are abundant in popular areas, and there are plenty of tour companies operating right out of these places that will take you anywhere your heart desires. As long as you don’t venture too far from the beaten path, language barriers shouldn’t be a problem.
9. Fiji
For those of you who want to slowly roast on an island, and to complete your work from a laptop while sitting on a recliner on a perfect white beach within shouting distance of the cocktail bar, Fiji might be a good bet. Nothing happens quickly in Fiji, which can be both a curse and a blessing depending on how desperately you require coffee to function in the morning. In between spending time on your recliner-turned-office, there are plenty of pristine snorkeling and diving spots, some gentle to moderate hiking trails, and 333 islands to explore. While it may not offer much diversity, it is very easy to lose track of time and to really relax. While most islands don’t have excellent infrastructure, the hotels and resorts will be able to provide everything you could want.
These are just a few examples, and you could argue that any country is a perfect place to settle down for a short amount of time, based on your parameters. When trying to decide where to go next, think about what is important to you, and do your research beforehand, but hopefully, these examples will provide you with a little inspiration.