I have been fully remote since 2017. It was during that year I was in a transition period and committed to finding a full-time remote job so I could have the freedom to travel. Back then, remote work wasn’t necessarily new, but it also wasn’t extremely popular. I had been running this travel blog part-time since 2014 and traveled more than the standard two weeks of vacation a year, and giving up the blog just wasn’t an option. I ended up working as a server part-time for months until I finally scored my first full-time remote job for a marketing company.
If you’ve recently scored a remote job or are looking to travel more with your current remote job – woohoo! There is truly nothing better than working and traveling the world. I feel awful complaining about anything because most people would kill to have my gig – and if you have a remote job you can do it, too.
I’ve never understood companies that do not allow their employees to work remotely. For me, I am always more creative, more energized, and more focused when traveling and working.
I’m still not a full-time travel blogger. I thoroughly enjoy having a remote full-time job because I know many travel bloggers in the industry who get burnt out and end up not enjoying travel anymore because it’s their job. Running this part-time allows me the flexibility to only choose the partnerships and travel jobs that I’m excited about at rates I think are fair, keeping traveling exciting and enjoyable.
As of April 2024, here is all the work I do remotely, from anywhere in the world:
- Full-time digital director for Nearlywed Magazine
- Part-time travel blogger
- Freelance travel writer
- Freelance content creation
- Brand partnerships
- Manager for my cats (I wish I was joking LOL)
So if you’re someone who has been looking for tips for working remotely and traveling, I’ve got you covered! I’ve been juggling and managing work from all corners of the world for years…and made all the mistakes along the way.
1. Ask Your Company Important Questions
How flexible is your company? Are you expected to work the same hours? Do you track your time? These are all important questions to ask yourself & your company before you travel. Some companies require employees to work the same 8 am – 5 pm EST/MST/PST when traveling, which can make working in time zones in places like Oceania and Asia a bit more difficult because that means night shift on that side of the world.
However, if your company is flexible, great! Work hours how you want. I typically adjust my hours based on what timezone I’m in and what makes the most sense to be available for at least a few hours of the U.S. workday. I will also sometimes split hours – working 4 in the early morning and 4 in the afternoon/evening. Do what works best for you!
2. Figure Out Your Wifi Situation
This should probably be #1 on this list, but oh well. For the first five years of working remotely, traveling + wifi was the BIGGEST headache for me. Because let’s be honest, traveling and working doesn’t necessarily mean you have money, and many WiFi options cost $$. I spent years on the road traveling around the United States banking on libraries and coffee shops for WiFi. And when it didn’t work, I was STRESSED. Here are my three solutions for traveling & WiFi
- Hotspot: The most affordable option for working remotely and traveling within the United States is a hotspot from your cell phone carrier. I’ve taken many Zoom meetings & spent many work days working from my Verizon Hotspot. It’s $30/month, but can be turned off/on at any point, which means you can turn it on a pay for only the months you’re traveling. You just need to ensure you have at least 2-3 bars of service on the hot spot to handle virtual meetings.
- Starlink: I JUST upgraded to this in 2024, and it isn’t budget-friendly. However, if you are full-time on the road, it is the BEST WiFi solution. First, check if it is available in your area. It’s a $600 setup fee and $150/month, but you can get WiFi ANYWHERE. I’m talking about taking Zoom calls in the middle of Yellowstone or sending emails from the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Similar to the Hotspot, you can turn it off/on whenever you’d like.
- Researching WiFi in accommodation: this is mostly for international trips, but you NEED to make sure your hostel/hotel/Airbnb has decent wifi. Since COVID there are SO many hostels that label themselves as “remote work hostels” meaning they pride themselves on Wifi strength for remote workings. The Selina brand is my favorite hostel for remote work. You should also do research and how GOOD the WiFi is, not just IF they have it. Reading Google/Hostelworld/Airbnb views usually helps me determine if the WiFi is reliable.
3. Do Time Zone Conversions
I’ve taken 1 am meetings in bamboo huts in the middle of the Indonesian jungle and evening meetings from Mideveil Airbnbs in Estonia. Traveling and working remotely is all about learning to adjust and being OK with working random hours of the day. It does CHANGE how you travel – because traveling and working remotely is not a vacation, and sometimes meetings and work commitments fall at not-so-convenient times. But that’s okay! Because you get to take meetings from bamboo huts, beach shacks, and quaint cafes, how many people get to say that?
It’s also important to note that your email calendar doesn’t automatically adjust time zones. So if you want it to sync up when you travel, double-check that!
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