Bitcoin as a payment option for travelers are gaining popularity as more companies offer deals
Image source: pixabay - Free-Photos
An article posted on Forbes by Alexandra Talty reports on: "These Crypto Nomads Are Using Bitcoin (And Ether) To Travel The World" shows us how Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are streamlining borderless payments.
The advent of “greater accessibility in the crypto financial system… helps travelers,” says Laura Shin, the host of crypto podcasts Unchained and Unconfirmed and former Forbes staffer.
Benefits of Bitcoin goes beyond our country borders, and growing more important for countries with a collapsing national currency. Iran is one of the countries reported on CCN - Yashu Gola, that its national currency, the Iranian Rial, is collapsing due to new economic sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.
Besides a store of value, having borderless money meant that travelers do not have to exchange for several different currencies as well as do not have to pay additional charges to credit card companies or to face credit card theft or fraud.
Image source: pixabay - Gellinger
An example of a 'crypto nomad' is Felix Weis, who spent 18 motnhs traveling the world to 27 countries. The main article was post a few weeks back on Forbes - Laura Shin, highlighting a list of services, restaurants and hotels that allowed Bitcoin payment.
He was grateful to exchange some Bitcoin in order to travel in Cuba, a crypto-scarce country:
"I asked him, Can I come by and you get me from the airport and I give you some bitcoin and we can trade? And he said, Yes, and you can also stay at my house for a week. So I was able to go to Cuba."
Source: Forbes - Laura Shin
Image source: pixabay - Noel_Bauza
It is always refreshing to hear stories of a crypto nomad, while he may be the first but definitely not the last. Several online travel agents have adopted the idea and started allowing their customers to pay with Bitcoin. Travel agencies were listed by the Bitcoin Exchange Guide, including aBitSky, airBaltic, Surf Air and a few more.
What caught my attention was Cheapair.com, founded by CEO Jeff Klee during his university days in the year 1989. They were the first travel agency to accept Bitcoin back in 2013 and has since gone out of the way to provide crypto customers a form of payment.
More Bitcoin payment options can be found on Bitcoin Exchange Guide's full list, showing a list of retailers, fashion stores, cinemas and restaurants providing Bitcoin payments. Just imagine the ease of taking out a few satoshis for your Mediterranean food at Anchor Grill New York, or a steak at Arrowhead Beef.
If more of the world population depended on Bitcoins, its demand would outstrip its supply. This might be what is needed to give Bitcoin the value it deserves.
While I have been back in Australia, I have noticed a number of smaller retail outlets accepting crypto payments much to my surprise. I prefer to use crypto when travelling rather than getting burned by fiat exchange fees.
That's great news! I would get a ledger ready when I travel, in case I get to use it :)
Same in South Africa where lots of online stores accept cryptocurrency
That's great to hear :) Hope it will become mainstream within a few more years
Paying with crypto everywhere in the world will become the norm in a near future, we are making progress every day to reach that goal.
yes, I am really excited and looking forward to the future :)
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