WiFi with a view

The writer remembers talking to bloggers Savi Munjal and Vidit Taneja back in 2008 They were just starting out travelling with backpacks and lofty dreams Today they have 12 million followers on Instagram and have crossed through 96 countries ldquoLife has come a full circlerdquo laughs Savi The couplersquos first book Bruised Passports Travelling the World as Digital Nomads HarperCollins India released recently and is aimed at helping wannabe adventurers travel the world on a budgetNow that the world is opening up again they recommend six top places you can head to without burning a hole in your pocketKrabiItrsquos Thailand but itrsquos not Bangkok Once again very affordable and unlike Lake Atitlaacuten here you are literally by the beach You can experience a beautiful mix of islands but also a lot of hustle and bustle the fastest possible WiFi and the most affordable food in the world There are a lot of people in the city but you can take a longtail boat or a yacht to take off to the islands where nobody is to be seen For someone who doesnrsquot want to live in a villa in the fields and find a gecko in their bed Krabi has comfortable condos right on the beach Oh and the nightlife is rockingBaliWe have spent the largest chunk of our time in Bali especially Ubud Itrsquos not just affordable for Indians but there is also something beautiful to see every day You can walk to a waterfall or hike to a volcanomdashyou never run out of things that can be turned into content for social media The food is affordable nutritious and not junk There are little stalls on the roadside that serve Nasi Goreng or Mie Goreng soups sate grilled tofu soya bean stewmdashitrsquos truly farm to fork The vegetarian and vegan options are almost as many as nonvegetarian Try and find a cheap villa that will cost around Rs 4000 a night The one we stayed at overlooked expansive paddy fieldsGuatemalaBali almost feels like Asia so you are in your comfort zone If you want to challenge yourself go to Lake Atitlaacuten in Gautemala Most people speak Spanish there so you may face a slight linguistic challenge But to be there is other worldlymdashthey are different villages on the banks of the lake with distinct cultures WiFi is super fast but there are no supermarkets Instead there are local markets which sell the freshest avocado and other produce We found an apartment that overlooks the lake for R4000 a night You can spend your days strolling through different villages some of which are busy but some scattered with ruins of Mayan temples and churches Itrsquos like an onionmdashthe layers reveal as you keep peelingMunnarIn India Munnar easily has some of the most breathtaking scenery you wouldrsquove seen We stayed there for two weeks and there was so much to explore the green landscape doesnrsquot endmdashtea plantations and waterfalls There are beautiful service apartments to live in But unlike Krabi itrsquos dead after 6 pm unless your idea of a good time is reading a book and listening to cicadas MontenegroBut if you want to make it a cheaper vacation than you would in Portugal go to Montenegro The panoramas are great the food is a mish mash of flavours of Italian and seafood and the supermarkets have lots of wines and cheeses to make picnic baskets of And all for half the European rates of PortugalPortugalThe coastline in Portugal is called The Algarve and is known for its Atlantic beaches It has small towns and villages that dot the coast and few of the common ones see a lot of tourist traffic The accommodation is affordable at Rs 3000Rs 3500 a night The WiFi is fast the cars are cheap to rent and there is a lot of fresh seafood to try There are also many supermarkets where one can buy affordable meals and cookathome ingredients The tavernas also do cheap and fresh meals The clubbing scene is good tooWho is a digital nomadFor Savi a digital nomad is someone who needs uberfast WiFi affordable housing that can be rented for months and cheap eating options They also look out for connectivitymdashif the place is easy to fly in and out ofmdashand if there are cars and bikes to rent Also itrsquos imperative that gyms yoga classes and parlours are affordable enough to avail ofWant to hear from youWe are looking to visit and write about interesting places of stay and travel near and far If you wish to host us for a fair engaging experience review write to us at smdmailmiddaycom