Recent storms have reportedly blown away much of the smelly sargassum that impacts Mexico’s Atlantic coast. But now, the Riviera Maya will soon contend with a new type of visitor washing ashore, i.e. digital nomads.

Now is a good time to use some of Google’s money-saving tools for flights (read more below).

This Week in Nomad Deals

• Google Reveals Money-Saving Hacks: These new tools can help you save money on flights.

• Playa Del Carmen’s Nomad Surge: Better book your Airbnb fast.

• Another Golden Visa Gone? Nomads may have just a few weeks to snag Portugal’s investor visa.

Use Google Tools to Save Money on Travel

Big Tech likes to suck up tons of data. Occasionally, that can be helpful.

Take Google. Last week, the company’s The Keyword blog dropped a few new tools for travelers looking to save money.

1. Cheapest time to book. Google now provides a range of dates for cheap flights, so you know when is best to book.

2. Price tracking. Google can now notify you of significant price drops for a specified date range.

3. Price Guarantee. Google is piloting a new feature that will allow you to lock in a price on certain flights. If the price drops further, Google will refund you the difference.

Another protip: Google says that the best time to book a flight from the U.S. to Europe is at least 72 days in advance.

Packed Del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is getting packed af this year.

According to the Cancun Sun, local officials expect a 30% increase in the number of remote workers staying for the fall. Improved WiFi speeds in recent years have made this seaside Mexican resort a hotspot for nomads looking to escape frigid U.S. winters.

Unfortunately, Playa del Carmen is less of a deal these days. According to AirDNA, the average Airbnb nightly price today is up 18% from the same period in 2022. Snowbirds might want to consider booking sooner rather than later.

Protip: avoid American-tier prices for food by getting off the touristy Fifth Avenue and heading down side streets.

Last Chance for Portugal’s Golden Visa?

Portugal is saying adeus to its golden visa…at least in its current form.

Earlier this year, the Portuguese government announced sweeping changes to its investor visa that would make it much harder to buy one’s way into residency. Specifically, the new law would eliminate the option to purchase 280,000 euro worth of real estate.

However, the President of Portugal shot down the bill in late-August with his veto, sending it back to the Parliament for further debate. The bill could still be implemented as soon as this month or in October.

Why Does it Matter? Portugal is one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads, due to low cost of living, weather and a high quality of life in Europe. The Portuguese golden visa provides a pathway for those with the cash to buy their way to EU citizenship.