Hey Reader,

My sisters and I went to the coast last weekend and found the perfect place for our mom's ashes. It was difficult but a great time overall with a lot of laughs.

One highlight was letting the dogs run free on the beach. Shelby loves the beach more than anything. And now my sister's dog does too.

We also had some excellent clam chowder, saw wild elk and banana slugs (which Shelby tried to eat), and the very best of all, I saw the green flash! I can die happy now.

Here's what I have for you this week:

✈️ Travel Spotlight: Cozumel's Free Beaches

💻 Digital Nomad Life: Travel Insurance

🐾 Travel With a Dog: Beach Tips

💰 Discounts and Deals: Travel Gear on Sale

---

✈️ Travel Spotlight

This Week: Free Beaches in Cozumel

All beaches in Mexico are supposed to be free to access up to the high tide line. In reality, however, this isn't always the case. Beach clubs and resorts will often make people pay to access their beaches, even if you aren't using their chairs.

I set out in Cozumel to find all the free beaches where you can plop down your towel, swim, snorkel, or just hang out all day.

I hired a driver for the day to take me around the island. It was perfect because he showed me the spots that I never would have found on my own.

He also gave me the inside scoop on some of the beaches. For example, Playa Casitas is right across from the Air Force and Army base so it's popular with them when they get off work. This is either a good or bad thing, depending on whether you enjoy a, let's say, raucous atmosphere.

Most of the free beaches on Cozumel's west side are pretty rocky, which makes them perfect for snorkeling. But San Francisco Beach is long and sandy and quite beautiful. I took Shelby there with no problems at all.

​Check out my article on the best free beaches in Cozumel. I also included some that are almost free, which means that you either need to purchase food or drinks, or your entrance fee is credited toward your food/drinks.

👉 Related Read: 11 Best Free Beaches in Cozumel (and 5 Almost Free)​

---

💻 Digital Nomad Life

Topic: Travel Insurance

I'm a big fan of travel insurance. I've had to file claims a couple times so it's more than paid for itself.

Last January my flight to Florida was delayed so long that I missed my connection and had to spend the night in Phoenix. I was reimbursed for the hotel, my meals (including ordering from Uber Eats), and tips for the shuttle driver.

I have a couple of go-to travel insurance companies.

​SafetyWing is always my first choice. I like them because they cater to digital nomads. They have a variety of plans, including long-term travel and health insurance.

For short trips, I often use Visitors Coverage. They compare rates from different companies so you can find the best price and coverage. This is who I used for that trip in January. The claims process was simple and quick.

There are a lot of other options too. Every year I research all the travel insurance companies and update my list of the top 10.

👉 More on this: Top 10 Digital Nomad Travel Insurance Plans​

---

🐾 Travel With a Dog

This Week: Beach Tips

Shelby has loved the beach since her very first visit. She’ll roll in the sand, greet every dog and human she can, and if there’s smelly seaweed to roll in, even better.

As I mentioned, my sisters and I recently took Shelby and my sister’s dog, Freija, to a dog-friendly beach in Northern California. It was Freija’s first time seeing the ocean, and even though she’s not a big fan of water, she surprised us by running into the shallows and having the time of her life racing across the sand.

If you’re planning a beach day with your dog, here are a few tips that help keep it safe and fun:

• Pack the basics: fresh water, a collapsible bowl, shade, a towel, and poop bags.
  ​
• Check the sand temperature before letting your dog walk on it. If it’s too hot for your feet, it’s too hot for their paws.
  ​
• Don’t let your dog drink saltwater. Offer fresh water often.
  ​
• Let your dog set the pace with the ocean. Some love to swim, others just want to dig or play in the shallows.
  ​
• A life jacket or harness with a handle gives you something to grab if a wave catches them or so you can catch them if they decide they’re not ready to leave.
  ​
• Keep an eye on other dogs. Beach excitement can make even calm dogs a little wild. Shelby almost got her head pee on by a dog!
  ​
• Rinse off after to remove salt, sand, and anything that could irritate their skin or paws.

A little planning goes a long way toward making the beach your dog’s favorite adventure too.

🦴 Gear Shelby's Loving: A waterproof blanket is a lifesaver when you get back in the car with a wet dog! This is a good one to protect your seats.

---

💰 Discounts and Deals

This Week’s Deals:

• ​Nomadic.com is having a big sale on travel gear - up to 60% off.

Stuff You Might Like:

Thinking about becoming a digital nomad? My Digital Nomad Planning Bundle gives you the tools to map out your transition, create a budget, and plan with confidence. Learn more

​Essential Spanish for Travelers gives you easy phrases (with pronunciation). You don’t need a full language course. You just need the right words at the right time. Check it out

Did you know I wrote a book? I did and it's on Amazon! It’s called You’ll be Murdered by a Drug Cartel (and other lies they told me). It’s a blueprint that walks you through the exact steps I took to become a digital nomad at 53. If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could do that,” this book shows you how to make it happen. See on Amazon

---

🥸 Joke of the Week

What happens when you throw a blue hat into the ocean?

It gets wet.

---

I want this newsletter to be as useful as possible. What topics would help you most? Reply and let me know!

Happy travels,
​Sherry

​Digital Nomad and a Dog​

P.S. Be sure to follow me on Facebook!

My general travel page is ​Digital Nomad and a Dog​​

I have a Facebook group specifically for travel in the Yucatan Peninsula called, you guessed it, Yucatan Peninsula Travel​​

I also have a private group, ​Women Over 50 Digital Nomads​ (you don't need to be over 50, but you do need to be a woman)

You can also follow me on ​Instagram​