April 30, 2022 - One of the first recipients of the Croatian digital nomad permit, Steve Tsentserensky, is back in the States and reflecting on an incredible 15 months in Paradise. A really heartwarming read for lovers of Croatia. 

Croatia: a year in the life/life in a year (and more)

Waiting in the cold outside a restaurant on Tomićeva in Zagreb, a server approaches, “sorry for the wait, here’s a couple shots of rakija to warm you up”.

In Bol, on Brac off the coast of Split, I off-handedly mention I love ljuti ajvar in the morning. The next morning, a knock on the door and a delivery of freshly baked bread and a jar of ajvar.

In Zagreb, a quick stop at a wine shop on Vlaška while waiting for (excellent) Thai takeaway turns into a complimentary full-blown tasting.

There are more moments, endlessly occurring over 15 sensational months spent in Croatia. From candid, pleasant morning conversations in Rovinj about how tourism has changed over the decades to moving memories, distant yet viscerally present, recounted in Vukovar about what’s changed and what hasn’t to charity dinners in Zagreb that change the landscape for those in Africa.

If a country’s riches lie in its people, Croatia is among the wealthiest nations I know.

People who are equal parts generous, welcoming and hospitable with a certain tenacity and stubbornness all the same. Salt of the earth with a brand of often bone dry humor that’s well appreciated and always well-timed.

The impossibility of paying for a coffee when meeting someone for the first time or when visiting a friend in their town was frustratingly endearing.

A country that’s famed for its tourism is nothing without its people. The finest coast is just where the sea meets the shore without the warmth of the people who share it with you and regale you with its stories.

Oh is the seaside breathlessly beautiful though.

And I managed to pack in a lot of coast.

From the truffle and wine-soaked decadence of Istria down to the dramatic and rugged (and also wine-soaked) Dalmatian coast with the towering Dinaric Alps (well, towering by Croatian standards anyway) as the backdrop.

If Dubrovnik is the Pearl of the Adriatic, Rovinj is undoubtedly one of its brightest gems. Pula’s truly stunning Roman amphitheater – among the best preserved on earth – defied all expectations. In a world of “must-sees”, Pula Arena is truly one of them.

Opatija to Rijeka is a mere 13 km drive yet they felt like entirely separate worlds.

Driving any stretch of the coast – though infinitely more time-consuming – was a treat with infinite islands melting into the horizon on one side and a steady stream of roadside cheese and honey stands on the other.

Discovering the coast’s “lesser” treasures was a joy too. If Zadar or Sibenik felt too packed, a short drive to Sukosan or Zaton gave you breathing room and almost a vacation from the vacationers.

Split, somewhere I first visited by cruise ship in 2014 became home for 4 months, something I still pinch myself about. After a month or so and the return of cruise ships, I lamented their arrival as much as the next person but took solace in the fact that they were there largely during fjaka hours. The bad of over-tourism was outweighed by the joy of early morning strolls in an empty, magnificently preserved Diocletian’s Palace. A quiet dip on the backside of Marjan was always a welcome respite from the masses at Bacvice.

I discovered sand beaches were for amateurs and that Hvar is so much more than Hvar Town.

The shower of beer at a brimming Zvončac park as Croatia took Spain to extra time in the Euros to the euphoria and pandemonium of a packed house at Poljud Stadium to watch Vatreni qualify for the World Cup are permanently etched in my mind.

And finally, Dubrovnik, what is there to write about it that hasn’t been written before? No matter what I muster, I’ll never manage the brevity of George Bernard Shaw who said, “those who seek paradise on Earth should come and see Dubrovnik”. Nailed it.

I occasionally came across folks up and down the Adriatic that clamored for the Caribbean and while on the one hand, I get it, the grass is always greener and all of that, on the other, there’s simply no competition. The Adriatic is superior in every way to the Caribbean.

Natural beauty clearly knows no bounds in this country; Telašćica, Kornati, Plitvice Lakes, Krka, Kopački Rit and Medvednica just to name a handful of the nature parks and national parks strewn about the land that I had the chance to see.

Gotta say I really loved the guy selling rakija and kuhano vino 3/4ths of the way up Sljeme.

The place that made me fall for Croatia though has nothing to do with those crystal clear, shimmering waters or natural wonders though. It was Zagreb. Formerly renowned as the place you have to fly to in order to get to the coast…Zagreb is now a destination in its own right with digital nomads, expats and tourists alike discovering the charms and beauty of the underappreciated capital.

After 60-odd countries and hundreds of cities, Zagreb easily lands in my top 5 favorite places. The view from the lookout point atop Strossmayerovo šetalište remains the lock screen image on my phone, something I happily see a dozen or so times a day.

The lost in translation back and forths at the markets that dot the town, the scores of quality bars – the funky to the Swanky to the traditional – to lose yourself in conversation in, the seemingly perpetual events that bring a dozen people to the pub, thousands out to a nighttime race or hundreds of thousands out for Advent and the Festival of Lights. It’s a city for all seasons I found.

Will everyone agree? No. And that’s fine, that’s part of the charm in fact, but like a fine wine, Zagreb only gets better with time.

North, south, east and west, all corners of Croatia surprised me, none more so than what lies east of Zagreb. Not because it’s “better” but because it’s largely undiscovered.

Perhaps forgotten is a more appropriate way to describe Slavonia though.

People flock to the sea like moths to the flame but getting anyone out to the unexplored east seems akin to pulling teeth.

And that’s a shame because it’s a wholly different country. Forgotten yet resilient. History that's ever-present while also stretching back 3,000 BCE to early Indo-European civilization and home to, without a doubt, the nicest people in the country. A high bar in a country chock full of wonderful people, hordes of whom show their support for far-flung Vukovar yearly, in a somber, yet somehow uplifting procession.

There’s a quiet allure to the rolling hills and the patchwork of vineyards and farms out east. A certain beauty in the calm along the rivers that traverse Slavonia and Baranja. Awe at the unexpected cathedrals in Djakovo and Aljmas.

Complement that with rich, hearty cuisine to match the rich, hearty people in places like Baranjska kuća in Karanac or Etno kuća Stari Dud in Erdut and you’ve got a real experience.

No matter how many times I tried to order water at a lunch in Djakovo (three), I got wine.

Do I really need to mention the wine again? From Belje to Zmajevac to Ilok, the wines were nothing short of exceptional. The pairing with poderane gaće and cheese at Ilocki Podrumi being particularly special.

That said, it’s not all roses.

There’s a distinct sadness that you felt passing through the decaying towns outside of still vibrant Osijek and Vinkovci. The difficult to shake pall that continues to shroud Vukovar despite its gorgeous location on the Danube and passionate citizens.

Zagreb remains under construction from an earthquake that happened over 2 years ago. The “iconic” building on the corner Đorđićeva and Petrinjska street only being torn down days before I left and exactly 1 year and 363 days after it was rendered unlivable.

Petrinja remains essentially in ruins.

The infamous bureaucracy can turn the most basic of tasks into a multi-day ordeal.

Continued emigration means the country has shrunk by nearly 10% in the last decade. While the brain drain is real, the brains that stayed – and the brains that have immigrated – are at the forefront of creating something special.

Despite the difficulties, stubborn progress is progress no less and the entrepreneurs, creatives and forward-thinking people I had the pleasure of meeting over my time in Croatia, both homegrown and from abroad, were working miracles showing what’s possible in a country that doesn’t necessarily make it easy right now. From coffee roasters to gin distillers, drone equipment makers to email marketers, ideas are flourishing and success stories aren’t quite so rare. All of them, plus a unicorn in Vodnjan and a supercar maker in Sveta Nedelja, hopefully inspiring some in the next generation to stay and build at home.

In terms of the pandemic-induced turmoil of the last couple of years, I don’t think there was a better place on earth to be than Croatia. Reading news from the States and elsewhere, I felt like I was on another planet entirely over in Hrvatska. By comparison, life was…normal.

15 months of it.

Nearly 40 cities and towns.

Countless people along the way.

If life is meant to be truly lived, I found that Croatia is among the very best places to live it.

Looking forward to coming back and having a proper coffee. And a spot of travarica.

Join Steve on a tour of eastern Croatia in the video below.

How many places do you recognise?

For more news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

February 23, 2022 - His one-year digital nomad permit is about to expire, but the phenomenal Steve Tsentserensky promotion of Croatia continues. 

"Can you believe it? Someone is actually moving to Croatia after that article about me on CNBC."

And that someone is not alone. 

One of the early reactions to Croatia introducing a digital nomad visa last year was what benefits it would actually bring Croatia. One of the biggest side benefits, I replied, is a new army of enthusiastic promoters of their adopted country. 

That was before I met Ohian Steve Tsentserenky, who Jan de Jong suggested I interview him as one of the early digital nomad permit recipients. Rather than interview Steve, he wrote his own story - Journey to Get the Croatian Digital Nomad Permit.

I first came across Steve's video work when I saw this amazing video of Zagreb, the city he has come to love like no other. 

And after almost a year of great promotion, it was nice that Zagreb said thank you in a meaningful way by making Steve the Zagreb Digital Nomad Special Guest Ambassador.

For Steve's promotion has been multi-faceted and global. 

The star of a series of articles about living abroad on CNBC, all three of Steve's articles have been trending on the American news portal, and the videos have received sizable views and even more impressive engagement. 

More than 320,000 views so far, and over 1,000 comments on the first video. I have been with Steve on the streets of Zagreb when strangers approach and ask if he is the $47 guy. Locals and nomads. You can see his CNBC articles here. 

With a great eye for a good shot and a trusty drone to boot, I asked  Steve back in November if he would be interested in discovering eastern Croatia on a 6-day trip. 

He was. And this is how he saw it. How many places in this video can you name?  You can read about the tip in Time to Tell the Truth about Slavonia Full of Life.

The footage he took was extraordinary, and it is safely in the CROMADS archives and will be put to very good use. 

Steve also offered to make the official CROMADS video, which is always a pleasure to watch. 

Away from the camera, however, Steve has also been busy. One of the other great benefits that nomads will bring to the next generation in Croatia is mindset. As Croatia's youth talks of emigration, here is an American talking to 7th graders in schools about why Croatia and not America. It is a drip drip feed, but the more it happens, the more young minds will be positively influenced. 

And of course, there is no digital nomad conference in the region without Steve as a panelist or speaker. I think he has spoken at about 10 conferences in the last year, including internationally (in person in Montenegro, and remotely in Bali), with more international appearances scheduled. 

As he prepares to reluctantly leave as Croatia's bureaucracy demands it, a huge thanks to Steve for all he has done for Croatia - and will continue to do. And one hopes the bureaucracy will become easier for promoting champions such as him - I know of foreigners who have done a lot less who have received Croatian citizenship. 

For more news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

December 28, 2021 - Zagreb Digital Nomad Special Guest Ambassador Steve Tsentserensky reflects on life in the Croatian capital in December.

If there is a bigger fan of Zagreb, I have yet to meet that person. 

Of all the digital nomads who have spent time in the Croatian capital this year (and there have been many), few have been as visible as Steve Tsentserensky from Cleveland, Ohio. One of the first recipients of the Croatian digital nomad permit back in March, Steve has been very active travelling around the country, but all roads ultimately lead back to his true Croatian love, Zagreb. 

One of the most effective and active ambassadors of Croatia to the global digital nomad community, I was delighted for Steve when he was named Zagreb Digital Nomad Special Guest Ambassador 2021 in recognition of his efforts so far. 

And the new title had a very positive effect, as Steve had arguably his most active month so far, both in the media and public speaking, as well as covering as much of the city and many events as was humanly possible. 

TCN caught up with Steve just before Christmas at the location where Zagreb's digital nomad journey began - Canopy by Hilton - to reflect on life in Zagreb in December, and to learn how nomads spend this traditional family time. I was not surprised to learn that Steve's Christmas was a lot more active than mine. 

The Zagreb Digital Nomad Week and Ambassador Project is a collaboration between Saltwater Nomads,,Total Croatia News, and Zagreb Tourist Board, and it will run until December 31. Six ambassadors plus Steve each spent a calendar month in the city starting on July 1. 

Stay tuned for more information about Zagreb Digital Nomad Week 2022 - more details will be announced shortly. 

For more news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

December 1, 2021 - A great finish to the November ambassadorship of Rax Suen, as his Zagreb Nomad Panel brought 3 nomad ambassadors together, as well as providing plenty of food for thought at BIZkosnica last night. 

It was a very engaging audience of locals, expats and nomads - the youngest of whom was just 13 - to attend the final night of the ambassadorship of Singaporean digital nomad, Rax Suen. 

Rax chose the popular coworking space at BIZkoshnica on Ilica as his venue, with a very lively afterparty at Swanky Mint Hostel. HIs Nomad Table concept proved to be a hit, with some excellent panelists and a very engaged audience. The panel more than succeeded in its aim of providing insights and tips on building remote careers and travel lifestyle under the title 'How to Become a Digital Nomad'.

The panelists:

Steve Tsentserensky  - United States | Writer, Videomaker

Alyssa Houseknecht  - United States | Branding and Design
Nate Cronk - United States | Sales Copywriter
Anna Maria Kochanska - Poland | Business Development, Cross Cultural Consultant

Two of the panelists were also introduced as Zagreb Digital Nomad Ambassadors for December. Anna Maria Kochanska from Poland only arrived in the Croatian capital 4 hours before the panel started, but quickly assumed her role as the December ambassadorship with some great contributions. 

She also found time to give TCN an interview at Swanky late in the evening, as the party started to die down. 

Anna Maria is the sixth and final ambassador in the program, which has seen ambassadors and their partners from USA, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Israel, Singapore and now Poland. She will be joined in December by a Zagreb Special Guest Digital Nomad Ambassador. Ohian Steve Tsentserensky has Zagreb in his blood, and he has been a fantastic promoter of Zagreb and Croatia since arriving almost a year ago. I am delighted that Steve got this recognition, thoroughly deserved. 

Rax also sat down with TCN to give his thoughts on a month in Zagreb, finally producing his trademark yellow glasses for the occasion. 

A wonderful evening all round. The community it getting stronger. 

The Zagreb Nomad Panel video will be posted on the TCN YouTube channel shortly. 

For more news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

November 30, 2021 - Month 5 of the Zagreb Digital Nomad Ambassador project is coming to an end, with no less than 3 ambassadors taking part in tonight's Nomad Table hosted by Rax Suen.  

I was not quite sure what to expect when Rax Suen from Singapore was selected as the Zagreb Digital Nomad Ambassador for November, but I knew it would take this excellent project into a new direction. And so it has proved. Rax is the first Asian ambassador, and his perspectives on the potential of both Zagreb and Croatia regarding the digital nomad community have been particularly insightful.

And I think this young man from Singapore has had a little fun along the way, despite the fact that November is perhaps not the most attractive month to visit. One highlight was certainly the outstanding Michelin Starry Nights in Dubrava, raising money to dig wells in Uganda, above. 

Rax is holding his final event this evening at BIZkoshnica coworking space at Ilica 71 at 18:00 (all welcome), when he will be handing over ambassadorial duties to our final ambassador, Anna Maria Kochanska from Poland.

We will have a lot more from Anna Maria soon, but here is her application vdeo below.

Anna Maria is arriving this afternoon and will be put straight to work at Rax's final event and Nomad Panel and after party at BIZkoshnica.

Actually, Anna Maria is not quite the final ambassador of the project. The project organisers - Saltwater Nomads, TCN, Doma Zagreb and Zagreb Tourist Board also wanted to recognise the efforts of a young American whose blood has been infected with a love of Zagreb, and whose pro bono promotional efforts of Zagreb and Croatia in general have been among the most effective of any this year. 

Having spent 6 days with Steve Tsentserensky in the car in eastern Croatia recently, his passion for Zagreb is unbridled, and we are delighted to welcome him to the project as the Zagreb Special Guest Digital Nomad Ambassador 2021. Below is the first video of Steve's I ever saw: Subject Zagreb.

Rax has put together a very strong panel for tonight's event:

The event panel brings together a diverse group of digital nomads to share more about their remote work journey, from travel to business and lifestyle. Discussion will include tips and insights to take your lifestyle remote, as well as real world challenges that can arise in a nomadic life.

Panel:
Steve Tsentserensky  - United States | Writer, Videomaker

Alyssa Houseknecht  - United States | Branding and Design
Nate Cronk - United States | Sales Copywriter
Anna Maria Kochanska - Poland | Business Development, Cross Cultural Consultant

See you there!

For more news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

September 6, 2021 - Digital nomads give back to communities in various ways. The sixth in a new series on TCN, following the lens of Steve Tsentserensky, one of the early recipients of the Croatian digital nomad permit. Where better to continue than gorgeous Stari Grad on Hvar?

One of the discussions in Croatia these days surrounds digital nomads. What EXACTLY does Croatia get from digital nomads, especially if they do not have to pay income tax locally with the 12-month permit?

It is a classic Croatian tourism short-term mindset, which has become sadly familiar over the decade I have been writing about the subject. 

For me, there are three key wins for Croatia - and they all cost nothing.

1. Permit holders may not pay tax, but they are spending on rent, food, drink, entertainment once they leave their virtual office. Think of them as long-stay tourists if you will. I never heard of anyone here complaining about tourists spending here.

2. The mindset. This, to me, is one of the most exciting aspects of the digital nomad era. People with fresh ideas, different experiences, stimulating lifestyles. If they are moving to Croatia because it is so great, perhaps Croatia has something to offer, rather than the sad path of emigration. 

3. The fabulous free promo from digital nomads, clearly in love with this beautiful country. They decided to come, love what they find, and want to tell the world how amazing Croatia is - through blogs, Instagram posts and various other forms of social media. Kind of like the national tourist board's job if you like. Only better. 

This series will focus on the last point, the fantastic free promotion of Croatia by these longer term visitors. TCN is thoroughly enjoying our working partnership with one of the early recipients of the digital nomad permit. Steve Tsentserensky from Ohio. Steve first came to my attention with this fabulous video of Zagreb.

We are big fans of Steve's work, and we met recently over a beer or three in Zagreb. Steve will be travelling around the country over the next 12 months (actually, we think a little longer) documenting Croatia through his lens. We thought it would make a nice feature on the site, as well as showing how just one nomad with the permit is spreading the word about this beautiful country, so that others may see and come. 

And so continues our new series - Croatia through the lens of a Croatian digital nomad permit holder, this time in Stari Grad on Hvar.

You can follow Steve on Instagram, where he picked up over 2,000 new followers recently, after his CNBC News video about the Croatian digital nomad lifestyle went viral. Check it out above..

September 6, 2021 - Digital nomads give back to communities in various ways. The fifth in a new series on TCN, following the lens of Steve Tsentserensky, one of the early recipients of the Croatian digital nomad permit. Where better to continue than gorgeous Dugi Otok?

One of the discussions in Croatia these days surrounds digital nomads. What EXACTLY does Croatia get from digital nomads, especially if they do not have to pay income tax locally with the 12-month permit?

It is a classic Croatian tourism short-term mindset, which has become sadly familiar over the decade I have been writing about the subject. 

For me, there are three key wins for Croatia - and they all cost nothing.

1. Permit holders may not pay tax, but they are spending on rent, food, drink, entertainment once they leave their virtual office. Think of them as long-stay tourists if you will. I never heard of anyone here complaining about tourists spending here.

2. The mindset. This, to me, is one of the most exciting aspects of the digital nomad era. People with fresh ideas, different experiences, stimulating lifestyles. If they are moving to Croatia because it is so great, perhaps Croatia has something to offer, rather than the sad path of emigration. 

3. The fabulous free promo from digital nomads, clearly in love with this beautiful country. They decided to come, love what they find, and want to tell the world how amazing Croatia is - through blogs, Instagram posts and various other forms of social media. Kind of like the national tourist board's job if you like. Only better. 

This series will focus on the last point, the fantastic free promotion of Croatia by these longer term visitors. TCN is thoroughly enjoying our working partnership with one of the early recipients of the digital nomad permit. Steve Tsentserensky from Ohio. Steve first came to my attention with this fabulous video of Zagreb.

We are big fans of Steve's work, and we met recently over a beer or three in Zagreb. Steve will be travelling around the country over the next 12 months (actually, we think a little longer) documenting Croatia through his lens. We thought it would make a nice feature on the site, as well as showing how just one nomad with the permit is spreading the word about this beautiful country, so that others may see and come. 

And so continues our new series - Croatia through the lens of a Croatian digital nomad permit holder, this time on Dugi Otok.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And so too a great video. So I will shut up now. 

You can follow Steve on Instagram, where he picked up over 2,000 new followers recently, after his CNBC News video about the Croatian digital nomad lifestyle went viral. Check it out above..

August 26, 2021 - Digital nomads give back to communities in various ways. The fourth in a new series on TCN, following the lens of Steve Tsentserensky, one of the early recipients of the Croatian digital nomad permit. Where better to continue than gorgeous Hvar?

One of the discussions in Croatia these days surrounds digital nomads. What EXACTLY does Croatia get from digital nomads, especially if they do not have to pay income tax locally with the 12-month permit?

It is a classic Croatian tourism short-term mindset, which has become sadly familiar over the decade I have been writing about the subject. 

For me, there are three key wins for Croatia - and they all cost nothing.

1. Permit holders may not pay tax, but they are spending on rent, food, drink, entertainment once they leave their virtual office. Think of them as long-stay tourists if you will. I never heard of anyone here complaining about tourists spending here.

2. The mindset. This, to me, is one of the most exciting aspects of the digital nomad era. People with fresh ideas, different experiences, stimulating lifestyles. If they are moving to Croatia because it is so great, perhaps Croatia has something to offer, rather than the sad path of emigration. 

3. The fabulous free promo from digital nomads, clearly in love with this beautiful country. They decided to come, love what they find, and want to tell the world how amazing Croatia is - through blogs, Instagram posts and various other forms of social media. Kind of like the national tourist board's job if you like. Only better. 

This series will focus on the last point, the fantastic free promotion of Croatia by these longer term visitors. TCN is thoroughly enjoying our working partnership with one of the early recipients of the digital nomad permit. Steve Tsentserensky from Ohio. Steve first came to my attention with this fabulous video of Zagreb.

We are big fans of Steve's work, and we met recently over a beer or three in Zagreb. Steve will be travelling around the country over the next 12 months (actually, we think a little longer) documenting Croatia through his lens. We thought it would make a nice feature on the site, as well as showing how just one nomad with the permit is spreading the word about this beautiful country, so that others may see and come. 

And so continues our new series - Croatia through the lens of a Croatian digital nomad permit holder, this time in Hvar. Steve visited Hvar Town and Total Croatia partner Suncani Hvar recently. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And so too a great video. So I will shut up now. 

You can follow Steve on Instagram, where he picked up almost 2,000 new followers this week, after his CNBC News video about the Croatian digital nomad lifestyle went viral. Check it out below.

To learn more about the city, check the TC Hvar in a Page guide. 

August 22, 2021 - More great exposure of the Croatian digital nomad lifestyle, this time trending as the top story on CNBC News. 

They say that success breeds success.

And when it comees to tourism promotion, there is nothing better than word of mouth recommendations from family and friends. A hidden gem recommended by an enthusiastic friend, backed up with incredible photos and tales of a wondrous land work much better than expensive advertising campaigns. 

Croatia has thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of such word of mouth promoters, whose experiences are opening up Croatian tourism to new tourists. And a new sector of willing promoters has arrived - digital nomads. 

There has been a lot of buzz about Croatia and the digital nomad permit since Jan de Jong wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic back in May 2020. Reaction was mixed, with many locals wondering what was in it for Croatia - allowing foreigners to come and live and work remotely in Croatia without paying any local income tax. 

Takeup of the 12-month visa has been a little slow to take off, but there has been a noticeable rise in the number of digital nomads for whom Croatia is on their radar for the first time. Nomadic by definition, worcations of 1-3 months seem to be the most popular (no permit required), and the general feedback being shared is that Croatia is a great destination with its outstanding food, wine, nature, coast, culture, safety, Internet, affordability, accessibility, and excellent English.  

One nomad who is reaching a larger network of people through his excellent photo and videography is American Steve Tsentserenky, who was one of the first to obtain the 12-month permit earlier this year (read his experience in this TCN piece). 

Total Croatia - Zagreb in a Page - Canopy by Hilton from total-croatia.com on Vimeo.

Steve has been showcasing some of his work on TCN with both his photography in our Croatia Through the Lens of a Digital Nomad Permit Holder series, as well as some excellent videos in the TC Destinations in a Page series, including Zagreb above and Zadar below. Fantastic images which are proving very popular and are one more great free promo of Croatia.

But this weekend, Steve has gone one better, with a detailed breakdown of his lifestyle and cost of living in Croatia, compared to back home in the States. With a total monthly spend of $1,424 (compared to just average rent in New Jersey of $2,779), the case for a more affordable remote lifestyle in Croatia is clear. Add to that the quality of life, as Steve explains in the accompanying video in his piece for CNBC News, and the case for Croatia as a remote work destination is a little more compelling. 

Good news too for the Croatian economy. A spend of $17,000 a year (the majority of which is within Croatia), in addition to the constant free promotion, is not a bad return for having someone stay for 12 months without taking any job from a local. Increase that number to 100 remote workers, then a thousand, then... There is a simple roadmap to growing this potentially lucrative sector, as well as breathing life back into communities which traditionally die in the winter months when the conventional tourists have left. 

And it seems that Steve's story has struck a chord. His article has been trending as the top story on CNBC all morning. A little like the story of the digital nomad permit itself, which got massive free global coverage due to the pro bono efforts of a Dutch entrepreneur, small initiatives with zero budget can have a big effect. As Steve explains in his video, he first heard of the visa opportunity in a TCN article last August. And the rest is history. 

Croatia has a fantastic opportunity to develop its tourism around this remote work opportunity, focusing on its safety, authenticity and lifestyle. The feedback from nomads here has been broadly very positive. All we need to do now is to continue telling the story. Ambassadors such as Steve are very welcome, as they make the job much easier. 

For more news and features on digital nomads in Croatia, check  out the dedicated TCN section. 

June 1, 2021 - Digital nomads give back to communities in various ways. The second in a new series on TCN, following the lens of Steve Tsentserensky, one of the early recipients of the Croatian digital nomad permit. Where better to continue than Plitvice Lakes National Park?

One of the discussion in Croatia these days surrounds digital nomads. What EXACTLY does Croatia get from digital nomads, especially if they do not have to pay income tax locally with the 12-month permit?

It is a classic Croatian tourism short-term mindset, which has become sadly familiar over the decade I have been writing about the subject. 

For me, there are three key wins for Croatia - and they all cost nothing.

1. Permit holders may not pay tax, but they are spending on rent, food, drink, entertainment once they leave their virtual office. Think of them as long-stay tourists if you will. I never heard of anyone here complaining about tourists spending here.

2. The mindset. This, to me, is one of the most exciting aspects of the digital nomad era. People with fresh ideas, different experiences, stimulating lifestyles. If they are moving to Croatia because it is so great, perhaps Croatia has something to offer, rather than the sad path of emigration. 

3. The fabulous free promo from digital nomads, clearly in love with this beautiful country. They decided to come, love what they find, and want to tell the world how amazing Croatia is - through blogs, Instagram posts and various other forms of social media. Kind of like the national tourist board's job if you like. Only better. 

This series will focus on the last point, the fantastic free promotion of Croatia by these longer term visitors. TCN is thoroughly enjoying our working partnership with one of the early recipients of the digital nomad permit. Steve Tsentserensky from Ohio. Steve first came to my attention with this fabulous video of Zagreb.

We are big fans of Steve's work, and we met recently over a beer or three in Zagreb. Steve will be travelling around the country over the next 12 months (actually, we thing a little longer) documenting Croatia through his lens. We thought it would make a nice feature on the site, as well as showing how just one nomad with the permit is spreading the word about this beautiful country, so that others may see and come. 

And so continues our new series - Croatia through the lens of a Croatian digital nomad permit holder, this time in Plitvice Lakes National Park. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So I will shut up now. 

You can follow Steve on Instagram.