Going by the solo travelers who book free walking tours, the most popular cities in the world for people going it alone include Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Sao Paulo, and Belgrade. Along with some oddball places that are head-scratchers. That’s because it was compiled by the walking tour company GuruWalk and sorted by the percentage of solo travelers booking tours, regardless of sheer numbers. That’s how a small city in El Salvador made the top 5. Still, if you’re traveling solo, this list might be a good starting point on where to meet others like you, especially if you’ll join a free walking tour. See the details here.

Where You Won’t Pay Local Income Taxes

The question of taxes trips up a lot of expatriates, as well as nomads who spend more than six months in one place. In some countries you owe nothing if you’re earning income abroad, in some you only pay if their rate is higher than where you’re filing, and in others you may need a really good accountant to sort out filings in two different nations. This article lays out the countries where you don’t have to worry about it unless you’re getting paid within the country. Latin America has more in this column than not, but in Europe there are only two and in Asia your best bet is The Philippines.

Canada Tightens Nomad Rules

If your remote working travels are taking you through Canada, you’d better not be doing any work for Canadian clients. A new ruling posted in May says that digital nomads now “must provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate that their income is earned entirely outside Canada and that they will be working remotely for a foreign employer or, if self‑employed, that they will be providing services exclusively to clients outside Canada.” That seems difficult to track down and sort out for an immigration officer looking at freelancer receipts from Wise, Paypal, and a bank account, but best to figure out (and reroute) any red flags before you land in Toronto.

Solar Energy Passes Coal in the USA

I reported in a 2024 issue that the UK has closed its last coal-powered electricity plant. We’re not there in the USA, but there was a big milestone this month: clean solar energy surpassed coal and became the #3 energy source nationwide. With 90% of new installations being solar, the lead will keep widening. Buried way down in the story: “States won by President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election accounted for 74% of all solar capacity installed in the first quarter, according to the SEIA report.” Take a deeper breath this month.

A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.