As the number of digital nomads rises globally, some are choosing to spend some of their time in Croatia. A new TCN series meeting international digital nomads calling Croatia their temporary home. Meet Nicole Pruess from New York.
As recently featured on TCN, the world is projected to have a billion digital nomads by 2035, people from all over the world doing all manner of jobs and business with one thing in common – a flexible, mobile workplace connected to the Internet. If even a fracture of that number becomes a reality, the economic opportunity for countries which can attract these wealth-generating individuals has the potential to dwarf Croatia’s current tourism revenues. And there are few countries better placed than Croatia to take advantage. Safe, beautiful, great gourmet scene, top tourist destination, English widely spoken, well connected to other destinations, and a superb lifestyle.
In order to look at the issue in more detail, we have decided to look at some of the digital nomads who have Croatia in their lifestyle plan, and to find out why Croatia, what Croatia offers, and what are the things that countries should be looking out for to take advantage of this economic opportunity. I am very grateful to Tanja Polegubic from Split’s waterfront co-working space, Saltwater in Split (see location below) for her help in connecting me to various digital nomads using her space.
Our second digital nomad in Croatia is Nicole Pruess, who enjoyed Dalmatian sunshine after arriving from New York.
You are one of a growing number of digital nomads. Tell us briefly who you are and what you do.
I’m American by birth, European (British) by choice. I have worked in digital advertising for 20+ years and currently work for a French ad-tech company. I’m fortunate that, while I’m a full-time employee, I’m able to work remotely much of the time.
Working from your laptop rather than in an office seems like the dream lifestyle. What are the main pros and cons?
I have the best of both worlds as I often spend time in our offices around the world and get the interaction and camaraderie that comes with office work. Mixing that with remote working is great, where I can set my own daily priorities and keep a schedule that suits my preferred lifestyle. It can be hard to stay disciplined and not get distracted when remote working, but the payoff is worth it.
Laptop living gives you the freedom to travel and choose your place to live. Where are the global hot spots currently for digital nomads?
I’m too focused on Split to know!
You chose Croatia and specifically Split – why?
I fell in love with Split on my first visit to Croatia four years ago. I found myself wanting to go back again and again for the great cycling and “pomalo” vibe. Once I had more flexibility to work remotely, spending more time in Split was a top priority. By fate, I found Saltwater and was hooked! Having co-working spaces like Saltwater, that build community and promote connection, make Split a great place to be a part-time or full-time digital nomad. Split ex-pats also have an active digital presence that supports those who are looking to get deeper connected to the city and surrounds.
What are the most important things a destination should offer to be most compatible for the digital nomad lifestyle, apart from that all-important good WiFi?
It very much depends on your specific job, but having a community of people open to supporting newcomers is very important. Learning from the experience of those who have already found the best coffee, know where to find products you miss from home, can point you to the best secret beaches, etc. is invaluable.
What are the competitive advantages that Croatia has to attract more digital nomads?
Croatia is an especially great option for people in Europe with the easy access to most major cities, while also feeling worlds apart. On a more global scale, there’s an active and growing tech scene with lots of opportunity for digital nomads to connect and explore. You feel like your next big idea could come unexpectedly from a having a chat over a beer, or a day at the beach!
To learn more about Croatia for the digital nomad, check out the Total Croatia Digital Nomad guide.
Are you a digital nomad in Croatia who would like to be featured in this series? Please contact us on [email protected]
