Remote Roundup: True Costs of Long-Term Travel, Taxes & Borderless Living, an Underrated Productivity Habit, + More (October 2025)

Oct 30, 2025

Discover the secrets to thriving as a remote worker! Explore the tradeoffs of minimalist living on the road and hear insights on borderless tax strategies. The hosts dive into the little comforts that boost productivity, like eye masks and silk pillowcases. Plus, uncover the hidden costs of nomadic life and how cultural differences can surprise travelers. Tune in for practical tips and thoughtful discussions on making remote life sustainable while navigating new normals!

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

House-Sitting Unlocked Unexpected Access

Janessa house-sat in Victoria, British Columbia, with her retired mom and used the homeowner's vehicle to explore the island.
The stay showed house-sitting and personal connections can unlock affordable local travel and access to a car.

ADVICE

Pack An Effective Eye Mask

Try packing a quality eye mask to block morning light and protect sleep across varied accommodations.
Improve sleep consistency by pairing an eye mask with familiar bedding items when you move between places.

ADVICE

Bring Earplugs And A Silk Pillowcase

Use earplugs and a silk pillowcase to recreate small comforts and signal sleep in unfamiliar rooms.
These lightweight items improve rest and provide a portable sense of home on the road.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

What tools and routines make the biggest difference for nomads? What really drives down your cost of living abroad, and what are you giving up to get there?

On this month’s episode, Caitlin and Janessa swap stories on budgeting, daily tradeoffs, and what it takes to feel comfortable in constant motion. You'll hear their thoughts on shifting priorities, overlooked productivity habits, tax residency trends, and why your “normal” might not be so normal elsewhere.

Remote Roundup is a new monthly series hosted by Zero To Travel’s associate producer, Caitlin Sunderland, and partnerships manager, Janessa Klatt. Explore what's new in remote work and travel, including helpful tools and resources, need‑to‑know trends, destinations, and insight into what it really means to live and work around the world.

What’s something you’ve either given up (or refused to give up) to make remote work and travel sustainable for you? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

Janessa’s experience traveling and working on Vancouver Island
A simple travel item that can seriously improve your remote work (that we often ignore), and how small comforts can make or break your productivity
What to consider before making borderless tax or residency moves
The hidden tradeoffs behind minimalist living on the road
Why your priorities might shift the longer you live as a nomad
What remote workers are getting wrong about cost-of-living savings abroad
The unexpected mindset shift that happens when you stop “vacationing” and start living
Which everyday habits feel surprisingly hard (or freeing) to give up
Cultural quirks that can challenge what you thought was “normal”
One playful question that reveals way more about someone than you’d expect (steal this!)
And so much more

Resources:

Want More?

Thanks To Our Sponsors

Moon Travel Guides: USA National Parks Hiking - Use code ‘ZERO’ for 20% off your order of Moon’s latest book and other guides.
Holafly - Get 10% off your annual Holafly eSIM with code “ZEROTOTRAVEL”
Turkish Airlines Series - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices