Tools Every Traveler Needs đ
Youâve probably heard of many an app, tool, or website thatâs super helpful for travelers.
The basics like these bad boys come to mind:
Airbnb
Booking.com
Instagram
Tinder
TripAdvisor
Yelp
Every digital nomad and they mama uses these tools to make moving around the world, especially in LatAm, much easier.
ButâŚ
These tools are just scratching the surface of what could be. Thereâs dozens of other incredible tools, apps, and websites that make living abroad easier than ever before.
We is living in âThe Golden Age of Travelâ
So with that in mind, here are a few tingsâ every traveler should be using when traveling around LatAm.
Ya tu sabes.
What You Need to Succeed
Enough of the fluff hereâŚ
Letâs dig in:
#1. Wise
This is HUGE!
Wise is by far the easiest way to deposit money in a foreign bank account from a USA or European bank.
Why it matters?
Itâs a massive pain in the ass to take out $1500+ USD from an ATM in LatAm.
Wise allows you to send larger transfers in LatAm to landlords when renting outside Airbnb.
So instead of taking $300 bucks out of the ATM 5+ times to pay for rent each month, you just use Wise to transfer the money to your landlords bank.
#2. Charles Schwab Debit Card
This is the best debit card for Americans traveling abroad.
By far, bar none.
Let me break it downâŚ
Why it matters?
The Charles Schwab debit card allows you to get cash out of ATMs worldwide.
But they donât charge any fees for using other banks ATMs...
And they actually refund you all the ATM fees at the end of the month charged by other banks.
So you have fee-free access to almost every ATM in the world with only one debit card!
#3. âPointsâ Credit Card
Free flights are insanely easy to come by if you have a âpointsâ credit card or three.
Personally, I have over 600K in points right now. Which equals about $7,500-ish in âfreeâ flights.
On money I would have spent anyways.
Why it matters?
I havenât paid for an international flight in years and I donât plan to start any time soon.
Most good âpointsâ cards come with a 50-100K bonus points too.
Stick with Chase or AMEX when getting started, as they have the most valuable points in the industry and offer great bonuses.
"Business" cards tend to have the best bonuses... Often close to 100K or more.
This is my current card, which features 100K points for biz owners.
For the best info Iâve found on hacking the âpointsâ game, check out:
#4. Flights From
Dunno how people travel without thisâŚ
You put the name of the city youâre in or thinking about going to in the search bar, then the website populates all the cities in the world that have direct flights from there.
Why it matters?
Connecting flights blow.
This site helps you avoid connecting flights as best as possible â Direct only!
Here's an example...
P.S: Yes, you should visit Cali, Colombia ;)
#5. Learn Spanish with Language Blend
By far the easiest and most economical way to learn SpanishâŚ
Language Blend offers unlimited 1-on-1 classes with a professional Spanish teacher online â for $150 USD a month.
Unlimited Spanish lessons on the cheap.
Why it matters?
Learning the local language, which in most of LatAm, is Spanish â makes your traveling and living down south much more enjoyable.
Language Blend is the easiest way to actually learn.
Far better than Duolingo or Rosetta Stone, sers.
P.S: I detail how to learn Spanish here.
#6. Workout Bands
If you're moving around often, getting to the gym can be problematicâŚ
Gym is closed â common on Sundays and/or holidays
Shithole locale youâre in doesn't have gym
You want to workout outside at the beach
Workout bands solve these issues and allow you to get a damn good pump in your hotel room.
Or at the beach.
Or in the mountains.
You can get a nice pump in anywhere with a solid set of workout bands.
Why it matters?
Being jacked and tan is mucho necessary in LatAm. These bands ensure you never, ever miss a workout.
Make sure to grab a door attachment so you can hit back properly + one-armed chest flies.
Oh, and for workout ideasâŚ
#7. Global Entry
This is a must for USA brosâŚ
Global Entry allows you to come into USA without waiting in immigration + use TSA-Pre lines when going through security.
Massive time saver.
Why it matters?
Easiest way to save time when traveling to and from the USA.
10/10 Recommended.
Plus, itâs super cheap.
Just beware... I has been banned from program and I do NOT know why ;(
#8. Cigna Global
Health insurance abroad is something most nomads and expats don't worry too much about.
Plus, most still pay for their insurance in the USA or back home anyway.
However, there is a better solution...
Cigna Global offers outpatient plans for travelers anywhere in the world.
You can add the USA-module too Comes out to like $175 USD a month all in. This will keep you covered for emergencies and surgeries worldwide.
And they actually cover you and pay!
My buddy had a neck surgery in Panama to the tune of $47K USDâŚfully covered by Cigna Global.
He pays $175 bucks a month for his coverage.
Why it matters?
For day-to-day medical expenses in LatAm, insurance is worthlessâŚ
A doctor visit is $5-75 USD depending on your location and prescription drugs are WAYYYY cheaper than back home. But having insurance for emergency room visits and surgeries is nice to have in the back-pocket.
Plus, with a Cigna Global plan... you can ditch all forms of USA health insurance.
#9. Facebook Marketplace
In LatAm..
Facebook Marketplace is like eBay, Craigslist, etc. all combined into one. This is where locals buy and sell second-hand shit.
The only place to do second-hand stuffâŚpunto.
Why it matters?
From personal experience...
You find a perfect Airbnb apartment in the perfect location, but there's no washer/dryer in the unit.
You get on Facebook Marketplace and find a washer/dryer unit for dirt cheaper close by.
Negotiate the price with delivery and installation
Sinple đĽ
#10. International Sim Card
Having the same number anywhere in the world is a massive benefit â especially when dealing with lawyers in the USA, crypto, etc.
Luckily, keeping the same number from country to country is easy with an international sim card.
Google Fi used to be the absolute best for this. Now, they now ban you after 6+ months outside the USA â which sucks.
The services was unbeatable at one point.
AT&T now works well for Mexico, where đ˛đ˝ coverage is actually included in your USA plan.
Plus, for short trips in LatAm, AT&T offers a â$10 bucks a dayâ unlimited data package in most countries down here.
So while itâs not as good of a deal as Google Fi once was, it does work down here.
LastlyâŚ
You can also get an "e-Sim" that can be installed remotely. This works decently in all of Latin America, although itâs not as reliable as the other providers mentioned above.
Why it matters?
Being able to take international calls with a USA number from anywhere in the world is super helpful.
AlsoâŚ2FA ;(
#11. Rappi Turbo
This might blow your mindâŚ
But for $2-4 USD depending on the country and the time of day, you can legitimately get ANYTHING delivered right to your door in Latin America.
Food? Yes.
Cleaning supplies? Yes.
Pharmaceuticals? Yes.
Testosterone enanthate? Yes.
PlusâŚ
When using Rappi Turbo, the items show up in under 15 minutes! Direct to your apartment building in the wonderful third-world shithole of your choosing.
Rappi isnât everywhere, but works incredibly well in Mexico đ˛đ˝ and Colombia đ¨đ´ for sure. 100% confirmed.
You can use the app in these spots:
Colombia
Mexico
Costa Rica
Peru
Ecuador
Chile
Argentina
Uruguay
Brazil
Why it matters?
The ability to NOT need to run errands at the last-minute is an insane value add.
Forgot one ingredient that the Latina cooking for you needs to complete her dish?
Rappi Turbo!
#12. Ride-Share Options
Everyone and they mama knows about and uses Uber â even in LatAm.
This is not news to anyone reading this.
However, you do have multiple ride-share options when living in LatAmâŚ
While this might not matter in some locales, there are spots in Latin America where Uber sucks.
Aka itâs damn near impossible to get a driver to show up within 10-15 minutes. Or they cancel. Or they demand you pay in cash before canceling.
For example, in MexicoâŚ
I always call both an Uber and a Didi.
Generally one will have a 5-10 minute wait and the other will be a few minutes away.
I cancel the one that is further away.
Why it matters?
Not a huge dealâŚ
Until youâre standing outside waiting for an Uber to take you to BJJ class at night and you keep getting canceled on.
Having options is far more efficient.
#13. Priority Pass
Lounge access while traveling matters.
Especially during post-Covid travels, when delays and cancellations are commonplace.
The easiest way to enjoy your time in the airport?
Have âfreeâ access to a lounge.
While there are many options here, Iâm a Priority Pass member and itâs been incredibly useful throughout the years.
I just show my app at the reception and have access to comfortable seating, decent WiFi, and free food.
Priority Pass lounge access is also included with many credit cards these days, including offerings from:
Why it matters?
Not a huge deal, if weâre being honest.
But itâs nice to have access to an airport lounge when flights get fucked up, which they always do in LatAm.
Plus, itâs generally free when you get a âpointsâ credit card.
#14. DocuSign App
I do NOT travel with a printer.
You do NOT travel with a printer.
But sometimes when we are filling out forms for permanent residencies, second passports, and the likeâŚ
We need to sign something.
Just download the app and digitally sign documents. Itâs free to use the signature service.
Unless something needs to be certified or apostille, most places now accept digital signatures.
Sinple đĽ
Why it matters?
So you donât need to find the local print shop, bring a thumb driver, and go print things in-person to sign.
While it wonât work all the time, it often makes tingsâ way easier.
P.S: Combine with the app belowâŚ
#15. HP Smart App
I do NOT travel with a scanner.
You do NOT travel with a scanner.
But sometimes we need to print out documents and physically sign them like Neanderthals.
In these cases, an app that allows you to professionally scan documents from your phone is needed.
Enter the:
This app takes a photo of any document you want and then optimizes it as a professional-quality scan.
Again, super helpful when issuing âpower-of-attorneyâ and working through permanent residency processes in LatAm.
Why it matters?
No need for a print shop.
No need for a physical scanner.
Te Lo JuroâŚ
Above, youâll find 15 of the best tools, apps, and websites for the broski living and traveling around Latin America.
After nearly a decade down here, Iâm confident these are all a MUST while living in LatAm.
They will make your life wayyyyy easier.
Ya tu sabes,
Jake Nomada
