Remote Roundup: Intentional Travel, Nomadding Berlin, Work Setups, Co-Living Trends, Overhyped Destinations (September 2025)

Sep 25, 2025

Discover how intentional travel can transform your journey as a digital nomad. The hosts share their evolving views on Berlin, revealing its hidden charms. Learn about essential remote work tools that enhance comfort and productivity on the road. Explore the rise of pop-up co-living spaces and the importance of community. They dive into popular destinations that often fail to meet Instagram's standards. Plus, tune in for playful travel dilemmas and insightful takeaways on blending purpose with adventure.

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ANECDOTE

Returning For A Deeper Cultural Experience

Janessa returns to Oaxaca for Dia de los Muertos and stays weeks to learn customs and build community.
She prefers longer stays that immerse her respectfully in local culture rather than quick visits.

INSIGHT

Photos Can Mislead Destination Reality

Instagram and AI can distort destination expectations by editing crowds and enhancing colors.
Photos can mislead travelers about scale, access, and real tourist conditions.

ANECDOTE

Santorini Looks Great From Above, Not Below

Janessa found Santorini underwhelming from the water because the picturesque parts sit high above steep terrain.
She suggests other Greek islands may offer equally beautiful but less hyped experiences.

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What if every choice as a digital nomad, from where you live, to how you work, to the people you surround yourself with, was made with more intention?

Remote Roundup is a new monthly series hosted by Zero To Travel’s associate producer, Caitlin Sunderland, and partnerships manager, Janessa Klatt. Explore what's new in remote work and travel, including helpful tools and resources, need‑to‑know trends, destinations, and insight into what it really means to live and work around the world.

In this episode, we talk about how adding intentionality to your travels can completely reshape your experience as a digital nomad, and how the right tools, communities, and mindsets can turn a place from “just okay” to somewhere you thrive.

We reflect on how our experiences of a popular European city have shifted over time, share the realities of finding remote work setups that actually support this lifestyle, and unpack the growing trend of pop-up co-livings. You’ll get our honest take on destinations that look perfect on Instagram but don’t always hold up in real life, and how to think differently about where (and why) you go next.

What’s one experience, community, or personal goal that could guide your next destination? We’d love to hear about it, and hope you’ll share by sending an audio message.

Tune In To Learn:

How Berlin won Caitlin over on her second visit, and what makes it a compelling nomad base
The gear and simple upgrades that can make remote work more comfortable and sustainable on the road
Why pop-up and self-organized co-livings are on the rise and how they’re creating more organic, affordable, and aligned ways to live and work together
How choosing a purpose or focus for your travels can lead to deeper connections, routines, and a more memorable time
Which popular destinations are overhyped, and how expectations shape our experience
A fun round of Would You Rather” that can help you reflect on your own travel values and priorities
And so much more

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