This is an op-ed by HodlingCarla, an avid traveler and Bitcoin advocate.
Few things get me as excited as visiting a new corner of the world, and my passport can attest to that. I’ve been to 45 countries, lived in nine and covered all continents except Antarctica.
After years of traveling the world, I thought part of my life was going to end now. But just when I was starting to feel like settling down and putting down roots, something happened: I discovered Bitcoin. Then my life changed radically. Not only did it change my worldview, but it also ignited a fire in me to keep moving and looking out for people who went through the same awakening.
Combining my passion for adventure and hard money, I recently started focusing on visiting emerging Bitcoin circular economies around the world. From helping me save time and money to making me feel more protected and connected to the people I meet along the way, using Bitcoin has been a game changer for my travel experiences.
In this article, I discuss how Bitcoin has helped me fix common money issues known to travelers everywhere and how it has made my travels more personal in multiple ways.
Bitcoin helps travelers save time
If I had sat down every time I had to deal with payment-related issues in a foreign country, I’d have a collection large enough to make Michael Saylor jealous. Whether it was finding a decently priced currency exchange, finding a store that would accept my cards or contacting my bank for credit card issues, I wasted so much precious time on these issues that the mere thought of them frustrated me.
In some scenarios, this has led to a disruption to my itinerary and a heavy dose of anxiety, like during a trip to a remote island in the Philippines in 2015. Although I had a great time, it wasn’t long before I found myself running out of cash, There are no ATMs or exchange offices in the area. In the end, the only Western Union office in town saved me—when it finally opened two days after the crisis began.
Had the locals and I known about Bitcoin at that time, my trip would have gone as planned, and my stress levels would have remained stable the entire time.
After eight years, I came back to the Philippines, but this time around, my experience with finances was much better. Why? Because I chose Boracay Island, Also known as “Bitcoin Island”,as my destination.
Thanks to the many merchants now accepting Philippine Pesos via the Bitcoin Lightning Network, I was able to handle all payments digitally. This kept me from wasting time dealing with cash, ATMs and currency exchange offices and allowed me to do more of what I wanted to do: enjoy the island.
Bitcoin helped me save time.
Bitcoin helps travelers save money
As a backpacker, I’ve always been aware of my budget. Street food, motels, and overnight bus rides have been my bread and butter, but one thing I can never avoid is those unwanted and often unexpected expenses that come with the area.
Think of credit card fees, which, in Guatemala, can cost up to 10%and ATM fees that, in Thailand, It can be up to $6 per withdrawal For foreign bank cards in addition to your bank charges. Even the currency exchange rates are quite expensive, as I found they generally charge 10% for their services. These small numbers may not seem like much, but they add up quickly, which means a lot to someone traveling on a budget.
But this has never been an issue when visiting Bitcoin communities. That’s because the only fees involved with bitcoin payments are transaction costs, which are often minimal or non-existent. And I’ve also enjoyed the benefits beyond these hotspots, as many companies nowadays offer a discount if you pay in bitcoin. If you’ve ever bought tickets to a Bitcoin conference, you might know what I’m talking about.
Bitcoin helped me save money.
Bitcoin enhances the safety of travelers
Whenever I share tales of my solo adventures, the topic of safety always comes up. While my street smarts and wise decisions helped me avoid real danger, I had to deal with a different kind of hate a few times: fraud.
In Vietnam, a taxi driver cheated me with fake Vietnamese dong notes. In Bali, my travel card was cloned, and I only became aware when the perpetrators tried to withdraw the money in the middle of the night. To this day, I have no idea how they did it. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve felt my heart race while using an ATM in a questionable location or at odd hours of the day or night and walk away with three days’ worth of cash in my bag.
Navigating exclusively on Bitcoin eliminates all of these concerns for me. And this is quite logical. When you’re not handling cash, ATMs, or credit cards, risks are minimized, and your peace of mind increased.
My only goal is to keep my phone safe, though even if I lose it I can still access my funds by redeeming my wallet on a new device. This is why it’s important to back up your seed phrase, folks!
Bitcoin has enhanced my safety.
Bitcoin makes travel more rewarding
Poverty, weak currencies, and countless unbanked individuals are some of the greatest afflictions that developing countries face today. Call it selfish or over-the-top, but paying locals for their goods and services in bitcoin sounds way more rewarding than giving them pieces of paper that are guaranteed to lose their value.
While visiting Bitcoin Lake in Guatemala, for example, it was great to see how many merchants accepted bitcoins in the local market. It has allowed them to attract more customers, generate more sales, and drive more conversations about the significant changes they have gone through since Bitcoin was used as money.
Being able to pay the people who work hard in Bitcoin feels more authentic and makes for a more memorable exchange and bonding experience. It makes tourism more rewarding and worth all the time and effort that goes into planning a trip to these unique places around the world.
Bitcoin has made my travels more rewarding.
Needless to say, my travel experience has not been the same since I discovered Bitcoin. Understanding money and its profound effects on every aspect of our lives has changed the way I look at the world and walk through life wherever I go.
As an avid surfer, I want to see more places adopting Bitcoin in the future. It will help empower communities, boost economies and catch the attention of Bitcoiners like myself, who want to encourage and support them in any way they can.
This is a guest post by HodlingCarla. The opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
