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Best City Tournament Is Back: Enter To Win $1000!

by Anil Polat | Feb 9, 2023 | Contests, Money, Site News | 28

The Best City To Visit Travel Tournament is back this year after a pandemic hiatus! All you have to do is comment below with your favorite city, which will then be matched up into a tournament of 64. The person who nominated the winning city after a month of voting wins $1000.

How To Enter

Leave a comment down below with your favorite city.
You have until 12pm US Eastern February 14th to enter.
One city per person.
There are 32 spots open.

Tournament Rules

Cities are first come first serve and several cities have already been chosen by my newsletter subscribers (who got the first picks). The Best City To Visit Travel Tournament is a round robin style competition, with voting every week during the month of March.

Cities Already Taken: Tuscon, Singapore, Hilo, Sapporo, London, Paris, Sydney, New York City, Mexico City, Montevideo, Medellin, Antigua, Madrid, Calgary, New Delhi, Paramaribo, Cape Town, Cairo, Beijing, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Tbilisi, Helsinki, Sofia, Dublin, Valletta, Naples, Kansas City, Toronto, Bishkek, Oslo, Edinburgh

Voting Days

Once you enter a city, there’s nothing you have to do… but remember, voting for yourself isn’t a bad idea. These are the (Tues)days in the coming weeks to make note of:

Feb 23, 2023: Round of 64
March 2, 2023: Round of 32
March 9, 2023: Sweet 16
March 16, 2023: Elite 8
March 23, 2023: Final Four
March 30, 2023: Championship

We’ll also be having a series of discussions on the foXnoMad Podcast, with predictions and trends as well as weekly live streams on YouTube all leading up to the winner, which will be announced on April 7th, 2023. The person who nominated that city will get $1000, delivered electronically by June 30th, 2023.

Winning Tips

In previous years, the winners have all generally used these tactics to their success which I recommend you read to advance far in the contest. Also, since there are quite a few dates to keep up with – the best way not to miss anything is to get my posts sent directly to your inbox, join my newsletter, and subscribe on YouTube.

Remember, your email address you use when you leave the comment is where prize money will be sent, and cannot be transferred, combined, or otherwise altered. Best of luck to everyone and please let me know if you have any questions!

Duolingo Is A Good Start To Learning Language But Not The Final Step

by Anil Polat | Feb 2, 2023 | Culture, Tech | 0

Duolingo is a popular language learning site and app that comes with the very good price of free, unless you don’t count time. You might be thinking of learning a new language in the new year or want to learn a few words before an international trip. There are a lot of good reasons to learn a new language and Duolingo is a good start for some of them in some ways.

Back To Basics

Duolingo has a really low barrier to entry, all you have to do is hop on their website or download the free Duolingo app, answer a few questions about the language you want to learn, your current skill level. You can start anywhere from a complete novice to advanced and also specify your language lesson concentration – it could be cultural, for travel, or just because you want to learn something new.

It’s a very easy, quick set of questions before you’re off to learning. Duolingo is based on what they call XP points. XP points are basically a weighted point system for various language lessons and you can set a daily goal, with 30 XP being roughly equivalent to about 15 minutes per day.

Gamifying Language Learning

You get notifications daily to make sure you’re practicing everyday and Duolingo keeps track of your daily streak. Expect an automated reminder email if it looks like you might miss a day. To keep track of all those stats you have to create a free account. Then you can track your daily progress and see where you’re ranked against other language learners in the same language. Even if you’re not particularly competitive, it does work to motivate you not to miss lessons.

The layout of Duolingo’s language lessons itself are like a game. There are bright colors, buttons, and all you have to do is hit start to being. Depending on the language level your entered in the beginning, you’ll go through lessons which use a few different methods to teach.

How Duolingo Teaches

One obvious focus is vocabulary. You’re shown some words then click what they mean with audio prompts throughout. As you advance will have to pick out the correct word among a few others. The words are also read out to you, which is helpful so you’re exposed to pronunciation and accents. Duolingo doesn’t prompt you to repeat back what you’re hearing but I’ve found for me personally, repeating back those words is very effective with memorization. The way Duolingo is set up is it’s as easy or as difficult as you want to make it but that part isn’t gamified and really takes self motivation.

When you’re given a lesson where a sentence is read to you and you have to write it back, Duolingo defaults to letting you click the words you’ve heard. It will correct any mistakes and if you keep fumbling on a certain set of words or parts of a sentence like pronouns, it will focus on those for you.

To Be Free Or Not To Be

Duolingo’s free version shows ads in between lessons and prevents you from going back to see specific mistakes you may have made. Basically if you miss a day your streak starts over. But with Duolingo’s paid plan, called Super Duolingo, you can maintain your streak if you miss a day (in exchange for “Lingots”, which are points you accumulate with each completed lesson. Super Duolingo also lets you review past mistakes and get lessons focused on strengthening your weakest areas in a given language.

Duolingo is a good start or supplement but isn’t your one stop shop to learning a new language or even getting down some quick conversational lingo. I would suggest you pair Duolingo with some other online language service or classes because it’s short lessons are ideal for mental exercise to keep that new language fresh in your mind. Duolingo is the beginning of the journey to fluency but won’t take you all the way there.

The Best Photos Of Caye Caulker Belize

by Anil Polat | Jan 26, 2023 | Food, Green, Pictures and Video, Travel | 2

The small island a few kilometers off the coast of Belize, Caye Caulker has many reputations. One for backpackers, divers, and slow travelers. In other words, there’s a little bit of something for everyone on this tiny tropical island. Although it’s only 8 kilometers long and an eighth that wide, Caye Caulker provides variety for those who come to visit.

Similarly, throughout the day Caye Caulker shines in all sorts of light. These are some of the best photos of Caye Caulker, Belize.

The view from a hammock at sunrise. Life on Caye Caulker tends to get a late start but if you’re up early, the orange skies are worth it.

A short plane ride away, views of the Great Blue Hole. Here’s how you can visit the Great Blue Hole too.

Some ceviche to start the day at one of the best places to eat on Caye Caulker.

Getting to Caye Caulker from Belize City isn’t difficult but knowing the process beforehand makes it much easier.

Breakfast on Caye Caulker.

So many sunsets on Caye Caulker.

As well as sunrises.

Perhaps you’re interested in buying your own private island nearby or just want to hang out on Caye Caulker. It’s there for you, all hours, for any type of traveler.

How Americans Can Visit Cuba (And Why You Should!)

by Anil Polat | Jan 12, 2023 | Advice, Culture, Guest Post, Security, Travel | 0

This is a guest post by Hege Jacobsen, a Norwegian Army officer, social scientist, and traveler who writes about Cuba on her travel blog, Epic Nomad Life.

Many people are unaware Cuba is still open for travelers and is still destination you can visit legally – including Americans – despite recent tightening of sanctions. It’s not always the most straightforward travel plan but well worth considering Cuba as your next destination. Here is everything you need to know about visiting Cuba now, and why you should.

What you need to know about visiting Cuba now

The most important thing you need to do to travel to Cuba is to buy a ticket. Then, you buy your Cuban tourist card, book your hotel or casa particular, and that’s it. There are no complicated extra steps to it unless you are American, then you need to check out just a couple of more things (listed below).

Here is a simple checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything!

Not all search engines provide flights to Cuba due to ongoing sanctions. This does not mean you can not travel to Cuba, just that you need to find another search engine to book your flight. (Upon arrival, make sure you follow this advice at the airport.)
Buy your Cuban tourist card (also called a tourist visa) from the Cuban embassy, from selected airlines, or from an online provider. You buy it, you do not apply for for a Cuban tourist visa, it is a formality.
There are two versions of the tourist card, green and pink. For most travelers, what you need is a green tourist card. If you are a U.S. citizen or your flight has the last stopover at a U.S. airport before arriving in Cuba, you need the pink tourist card.
When you book your accommodation in Cuba, a great option is to stay at a casa particular. This is a private rental holiday home, where your rental fee will go to the Cuban owner. This way you will put your money somewhere helpful, have the opportunity to connect with locals, and learn a bit about Cuban culture and life. There are casa particulares all over Cuba, some modest and some luxurious, in all shapes and sizes.
Note: if you are a foreigner with an ESTA visa for the U.S., you need to know after President Trump put Cuba on the “list of countries that support terrorism”, visiting Cuba might create problems for your ESTA.

How can Americans travel to Cuba?

As a U.S. citizen, you absolutely can travel to Cuba despite the rocky relationship between the two countries. You just need to follow the regulations set by the U.S. government, and they are not as difficult as you might think.

Here is how Americans can travel to Cuba hassle-free, within the current rules and regulations.

Remember to buy the pink version of the Cuban tourist card.
As Americans can not travel to Cuba as regular tourists, you need to choose one of the 11 U.S. pre-approved reasons for visiting. There is no paperwork connected to this, you just state your reason if anyone asks. The most common reason used by Americans visiting Cuba is “helping the Cuban people”. You can find the official list here.
Make a simple itinerary for your journey, showing that your planned activities are not in opposition to the U.S. regulations for travel in Cuba (if anyone asks).
Book your stay in a hotel or casa particular that is not on the U.S. restricted list (most are not). You can check what accommodation is on the U.S. restricted list here to avoid any mistakes.
If you book any organized tours and activities, make sure the company you choose is not on the restricted list.
Note: U.S. credit cards are not accepted in Cuba. Bring enough cash in euros or Canadian dollars to pay for your planned activities, and change it to Cuban currency when needed in Cuba.

Amazing destinations to explore when visiting Cuba

The largest island nation in the Caribbean, Cuba is an archipelago with 4000 islands, endless beaches, and intriguing history. There is quite a distance between the east part of the island where you find Santiago de Cuba and Holguin, and the west, where you find Havana, Vinales, Varadero, and Trinidad. So if your holiday schedule is not unlimited, you probably need to prioritize your time.

Here are the highlights of the most popular destinations visiting Cuba.

Havana

The Cuban capital Havana is a fascinating city, with around two million inhabitants, 500 years of motley history, and a complicated current situation. The city was founded in the 16^th Century by Spanish colonialists, stayed a colony until 1898, and has remnants of five centuries worth of more or less planned incidents.

You will notice this in architecture, old fortifications, and a vast variety of regional influences in the tiniest details. The revolutionary ambiance is also very present, although more in the social space and art, than city architecture. This makes for an amazing melting pot of people, cultures, and a mix of religions that you meet today.

Havana will feel different now from only a few years ago. Wifi in Havana is easily available and people are online. There are lots of interesting things to do, great restaurants, bars, and clubs, and you can get most things you need apart from pharmacy items. You will also find many modern casa particulares, some even with wifi. But rest assured, there is still a myriad of Classic Old American cars, run-down colonial mansions, rum, and salsa around.

The nearest airport to Havana is Jose Marti International Airport.

Varadero

A few hours east of Havana is the famous Varadero, a thin peninsula of beaches with high-end all-inclusive hotels, casa particulares, bars, and restaurants. Varadero is the biggest resort area in the Caribbean, with infinite water activities, and Varadero Beach was voted the world’s second most beautiful beach on TripAdvisor in 2019.

You can book flights to Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport.

Vinales Valley

Around three hours west of Havana is Vinales Valley, one of the most fertile and lush green places in Cuba and home to the production of the famous Cuban cigars. What you might not know, is that you can also go rock climbing here, swim in underground cave waters, horseback riding, and even take a day trip to the beach a couple of hours away.

Trinidad

On the southern shores of Cuba, you find the colonial city of Trinidad, where the historic center is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Trinidad was once the wealthiest town in Cuba due to its sugar production (and slavery), but as it fell off the hype it was collectively forgotten. Because of this, Trinidad’s old city is almost the same as centuries ago.

Ten minutes outside Trinidad is a paradisaical beach called Playa Ancon, and close by you find the national park Topes de Collantes. Go here for hiking and swimming in incredible freshwater pools under little waterfalls, and a few hours away is also the infamous Bay of Pigs.

The Cuban Keys

Visiting the Cuban Keys you will spend time in truly paradisiacal surroundings and pampered luxury, but there is no ounce of “the real Cuba” here. The most popular keys are Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Coco on the northern side, and off the southern coast is Cayo Largo.

Go here to relax completely for a beach holiday (it is amazing), but just remember you have not really been visiting Cuba.

Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city in Cuba and an 18-20 hours bus trip from Havana, with a more relaxed ambiance. The city was the capital of Cuba at one point, and also where Fidel Castro stayed during the decisive battle of the revolution in 1958.

The highest-rated Cuban rum is produced in Santiago, the Extra Añejo 25 Años, coveted across the world by rum lovers. A few hours outside Santiago, you also find the vast Sierra Nevada mountain range where you can visit the old revolutionary headquarters of Fidel Castro.

Commercial flights fly to Antonio Maceo Airport.

Holguin

Lastly, Holguin is a small northeastern city known as the cradle of Cuban music and is a great destination if you love dancing, art, and history. It is around two and a half hours from Santiago, and one of the places Pope Frances visited in Cuba in 2015.

If you do the one-hour drive from Holguin town up to the coast and Guardalavaca or Playa Blanca, you will find a myriad of resorts and crispy white beaches. It is said that when Christopher Columbus first laid eyes on these parts, he said “The goodliest land that eye ever saw, the sweetest thing in the world.” Maybe you will feel the same?

Holguin has a small international airport called Frank Pais.

3 Smart travel tips for Cuba

Pack a water bottle with a filter. Water can be hard to find, and this way, you can drink water from anywhere.
Bring the amount of cash you plan to spend in euro or Canadian dollars, and change it in Cuba.
Download an offline Google map, a Spanish app, and a VPN before you go, to keep you connected on all levels.

Thank you Hege for sharing why and how to visit Cuba! You can follow Hege on her site, Epic Nomad Life and on Facebook, Instagram, and Pintrest. All photos in this post are courtesy Hege Jacobsen.

Happy New Year, I’m Giving Away $1000!

by Anil Polat | Jan 5, 2023 | Site News | 0

A very Happy New Year to you, my dear reader, viewer, and listener who helped make last year such a successful one for foXnoMad, both the site and the person behind it: me, Anil Polat. To kick off 2023 with even bigger travel goals, I wanted to say thanks and put together a $1,000 giveaway over the next 12 months.

All of the details are in the video above so make sure you’re subscribed to the foXnoMad YouTube channel and newsletter before January 31st, 2023, to enter. Best of luck to you and cheers on our way to hitting new milestones over the coming 52 weeks.

A.I. Wrote This Blog Post

by Anil Polat | Dec 15, 2022 | Site News, Tech | 0

Note from me, the human foXnoMad. As someone who’s produced a lot of content on the Internet for over a decade both written and in video, my digital footprint is larger than average. I’ve written over 2,800 blog posts on this site, close to 400 videos on YouTube, and wanted to see what A.I. tools could generate from that content, to write a foXnoMad post. Here’s what it came up with. Also, the images – A.I. generated as well.

Title: The Joy of Wandering

As a digital nomad, I often find myself on the move, exploring new places and experiencing different cultures. And while the nomadic lifestyle has its challenges, there is also a certain joy that comes from wandering.

For me, the joy of wandering lies in the excitement of the unknown. When I set out on a new adventure, I never quite know what to expect. Will I meet interesting people? Will I discover hidden gems in the cities I visit? Will I have to navigate unexpected challenges along the way?

The unknown can be daunting, but it is also exhilarating. It reminds me that life is full of possibilities, and that there is always something new to discover.

Another aspect of the joy of wandering is the opportunity to disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with myself. As a digital nomad, I am constantly connected to the internet and my work. But when I am on the road, I have the opportunity to disconnect and focus on my own personal growth and well-being.

I find that the act of wandering allows me to tap into my creativity and find inspiration in my surroundings. Whether I am hiking through a beautiful landscape or exploring a bustling city, I am constantly finding new ideas and insights that I can incorporate into my work and my life.

But perhaps the greatest joy of wandering is the sense of freedom and autonomy that it brings. As a digital nomad, I am able to choose where I want to go and how I want to live. I am not tied down to any one place or any one way of life. I can be spontaneous and follow my passions, wherever they may lead.

In short, the joy of wandering is the joy of living a life of adventure and discovery. It is the joy of being able to explore the world and experience all that it has to offer. And as a digital nomad, I am grateful to be able to live this kind of life every day.

Honestly, though this lacks a lot of character, it’s not the worst written travel blog post ever.

About Anil Polat

Hi, I'm Anil. foXnoMad is where I combine travel and tech to help you travel smarter. I'm on a journey to every country in the world and you're invited to join the adventure! Read More