More details are emerging on the new digital nomad visa for Bulgaria, a country that is one of the best values in the world, and for Croatia, which is not a bargain but is beautiful and on the sea. You’ll find a great rundown on the Bulgaria nomad visa here at SofiaExpats.com and sign up for her great Sofia newsletter if you’ll spend any time there. Here’s an article on changes in the Croatia one, including a longer timeline of 18 months if you’ve can show high enough income or savings.

Electric Travel Toothbrush, Take 2

Back in July of 2024 I highlighted the slim Philips One by Sonicare electric travel toothbrush that I’d bought. I made a mistake and got the battery powered one instead of the rechargeable one but amazingly, the battery hasn’t been replaced since. I’ve been carrying a charged-up rechargeable AAA spare through two months in Europe, six weeks in the USA and Canada, and multiple other trips but still haven’t needed it!

Southwest Airlines Changes in January

If you were a fan of the previously unique Southwest Airlines, you’d better fly them before January 27. Free bag checks are already gone and in January they’ll become just like the other hated airlines, with complicated tiers of paid seat assignments and a dramatically slower cabin load time thanks to eight boarding groups. You get a break if you have their Chase credit card though, with a checked bag included and standard seat assignments for you and your travel companions so you can sit together. ($99 annual fee, but 100K points sign-up bonus after spending $4K.)

Temperate Climate Cities

This list of cities that are around 75F degrees/24C has some nice places to target if you prefer “eternal spring” climates that never get super hot or super cold, like the one I live in. You could create a whole list like this just with the central Mexico highlands and it is missing a few popular spots (like Boquete and El Valle de Anton in Panama). Plus Viña del Mar in Chile rarely tops 70F. But it highlights a few temperate places I hadn’t thought of before. Eat outside all year in Addis Ababa, Windhoek, Da Lat, or Arequipa.

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.