The scooter dilemma

I honestly didn’t expect learning how to drive again to become part of my digital nomad journey.

I had my license for almost ten years before I ever touched a scooter in Thailand. On paper, I knew how to drive. But reality humbled me in about three minutes.

I was at my first intersection in Chiang Mai with scooters and cars everywhere, trying to squeeze through impossible gaps. I started confident, but at one point, right in front of me, a bad accident happened. Everything stopped for a moment, and from that day, I didn’t just drive but started to pay attention for real.

Of course, knowing I had proper travel health insurance gave me just enough peace of mind to keep going instead of abandoning the scooter right there.

But beyond the safety side, something interesting happens when you start driving in foreign places as a digital nomad: you stop being just a visitor.

You begin to understand the rhythm of a place. The unwritten rules. The way people move, negotiate space, and coexist in what might look like pure chaos from the outside.

And yet, not driving has taught me just as much.

More recently, in Tamraght, Morocco, I didn’t rent anything. I walked everywhere, and adapted my life to slowness. I started noticing the small things, saying hi to the same cafe owner on my way to the beach, and giving myself a few extra minutes instead of rushing through the day.

I guess what I’m trying to say is driving (or not) shapes your freedom in different ways.

Driving gives you range. You reach places most nomads never see. Empty beaches. Hidden corners. You design your own movement.

Not driving gives you presence. You slow down. You notice more. You interact more. You let the place lead instead of trying to optimize every move.

So, these days, I don’t ask myself, Should I drive here?

I ask: What kind of experience do I want in this place?

Now I’m curious about you: Are you the nomad who rents the scooter on day one or the one who never does?

• Scooter accident in Thailand = instant reminder why insurance isn’t optional. We just updated our Genki Insurance review with the real-world breakdown.

Genki Insurance: In-Depth Review for Nomads

Genki Insurance is explored in-depth in this review: coverage, costs, and user experiences. Discover if it's the ideal choice for your travels.

Freaking Nomads

Who is hiring this week? Here are some top roles to check out:

• Business Partnership Manager

• Global Account Manager

• QA Engineer

• Senior Software Development Engineer

As we test a ton of eSIMs, we noticed many of them lock you in with data plans that need to be used in a specific timeframe, which of course is sometimes pretty annoying. After thorough research, we came across BNESIM, one of the few providers offering data that doesn’t expire, so we had to test it.

That's what we like about it:

• Of course, their non-expiring data, so you can keep leftover GB for future trips

• Their setup is fast and simple through their iOS & Android app

• Works in 200+ countries (great when moving between destinations)

• Useful extras like built-in VPN and virtual phone numbers

• Automatic top-ups that help you avoid suddenly running out of data

• Flexible plans whether you travel occasionally or full-time

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We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads 👋