Remote Work Travel: Strategies for Making the Most of Your Destination

So you want to be a digital (semi) nomad — or at least take advantage of your work situation. I'm here to show you what that looks like. Here's how to make the most out of your remote work travel.

There are a lot of reasons I value remote work: For one, I can make my lunch at home; two, I don’t waste gas or put miles on my car commuting; and last — but arguably most importantly — I can work from wherever the hell I want.

At this point, I’ve worked almost anywhere. I’ve worked on planes and trains, in airports and coffee shops, Air BnBs and hostels, overseas and domestic destinations, and yes — even pulled over on the side of the highway (this was not ideal, but I made it work). I’d be lying if I said the work-while-travel lifestyle is for everyone, but I do believe it’s meant for me, and if you’re reading this, maybe it’s for you, too.

If you’re ready to start traveling while taking advantage of remote work, here are the strategies I use to make it happen.

Choose the Right Destination

When choosing a destination to travel to while you work, there are a few factors you need to consider:

• Comfort: You’ll likely need to stay longer than you think you do to make the most of your destination. Is the place you’ve chosen one you feel like you can stay in for a week comfortably?

• Affordability: Working in a hostel isn’t ideal (but it can be done). Can you afford the ideal accommodations for your work-from-anywhere trip?

• Connectivity: Are you able to reliably connect to internet, WiFi, or a hotspot where you’re working? When I’m working while I travel, I tend to pick a major metropolitan area as my “home base.”

• On-The-Go Options: Are there cafes you can post-up at between sight-seeing destinations? Or maybe coworking is your thing — just make sure you have a place to go that doesn’t keep you trapped in your hotel room every day.

Berlin: The bonus of carrying your backpack while you explore? It doubles as a tripod.

Personally, I found London, Paris, Prague, and Berlin particularly work-remote-from-anywhere friendly for beginners. I spent many hours in various cafes across these cities so that I could work after hitting a museum or walking through a market, and I never worried about carrying my laptop with me while I was out-and-about.

Create a Productive — or at least usable — Workspace

When it comes to working from anywhere, you do need to make sure you have a workspace that works for you. If you can work for hours at a cafe table, then you’re probably in the clear to start venturing out into the world. But if you need a quiet work space, consider booking a hotel room or an Air BnB/VRBO over choosing a hostel. With that said, not all hostels are “party hostels,” and you can definitely find quieter stays where working is possible in common areas, if the “cafe” ambiance doesn’t bother you.

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure you have the right equipment to work while you are on the go. I tend keep things minimal — my laptop, my planner, and a notebook — but I have been known to travel with a portable screen from time to time, when working as a data analyst. Personally, I love this Acer screen I got from Costco because it’s lightweight and easy to pack up (this link isn't paid — I just really like it). I also carry a portable battery, so I know my team will be able to reach me without my phone dying.

Establish a Routine

When I travel in a time zone ahead of ET, I like to wrap up my sightseeing with a sweet treat and postcard writing before I sit down to work.

Travel itself is a little disorienting, so establishing a routine (or sticking to one you already have) is essential to successfully working while you travel. Instead of vacationing, you're essentially living your regular life in a new city, so it's important to establish some personal boundaries to make the most of your trip.

I highly recommend setting your work hours and sticking to them, because it’s easy to work “just a little longer” when it feels like the middle of the day (because it is). Schedule time to go sight-see, eat, or just walk around — however you feel you can make the most of your destination for a few hours everyday.

One thing I’ve found most difficult when working while I travel is maintaining boundaries around my work hours. I advise communicating when you’ll be online with your team, and give yourself a hard stop every. single. day. It’s easy to waste the time you do have in a destination working, so stay on top of your set hours. If it helps, make a “logging off” ritual to end your workday part of your routine.

Balance Work and Leisure

To my fellow workaholics, I want you to know: This can be done, but it may take a little more planning than you’d think.

When I'm working while I travel, I like to identify my "non-negotiables" — in other words, the activities or experiences I know I want to do while I'm there, come hell or high water. Then, based on my defined work hours, weather, or any other variables I need to consider, I'll decide what I want to do on what day. For example, when I was in Barcelona, I knew I wanted to go paddleboarding. Because I was working Eastern Time hours (for the most part), I opted for a sunset paddleboarding experience, which still gave me plenty of time to get back to my hostel, shower, and get ready before it came time to log on.

It also helps to prioritize work tasks; this is just generally good advice for anyone working remote, but knowing what you need to get done vs. what you can push to tomorrow is very helpful when trying to force yourself to log off and enjoy your destination.

Most importantly, though, you need to learn to be flexible. Yes, planning helps and is important, but you also need to be able to pivot if something comes up at work, or you're unable to hit the spot you planned.

Manage Time Zones

If you've been reading my blog from the start, you know I've already discussed working with time zones to make the most of your trip. But while time zones can work to your advantage, the key to maintaining work success (and by this I mean: not getting fired) is keeping an eye on the time at home.

I personally pin a world clock widget to my home screen with the time back home, so I always know what time it is for my teammates without having to do some mental math. Being able to easily keep an eye on the time also helps you plan how much time you have left to explore, sit and enjoy your coffee or wine, and generally balance your time.

Prioritize Self-Care

I don't drink often, but how can you pass up sipping wine canal-side in Venice?

Remote work travel is different than other kinds of travel; you're balancing a lot of mental effort, while also trying to make the most of where you're at. It's easy to feel guilty about not getting enough done at work on a regular day when you aren't traveling, and it's just as easy to feel guilty for "not doing enough" in your destination.

I've maintained from the start that remote work travel isn't for everyone, and this is a big reason why. It's important to take care of yourself while you're adventuring, and I do this by staying active, eating well, and journaling.

Now, this doesn't mean I'm hitting the gym everyday or not enjoying the local cuisine, but it does mean I opt to walk whenever it's an option (and yes, I have been known to get a day-pass at a gym once in awhile), prioritize protein and fiber in my daytime meals to keep me fueled for walking and work (because sightseeing is much less fun when you're hangry), I stay hydrated, and I keep up with my planner and journaling habits I keep at home. It also means taking time to enjoy the local scenery, and slowing down to enjoy a meal.

Self care might look a bit different for each individual person, but regardless, it's important to remind yourself that there's no "right" way to travel.

When I started my first long-term remote work travel trip, I embarked to Europe solo for 60 days. I spent a lot of my first couple of weeks anxious that I was missing out on everything each city had to offer because of work, but ultimately, I realized that I could have spent months in each destination and still not see everything. In fact, there's a very real chance I wouldn't have been able to visit or see any of those incredible hotspots if it weren't for the ability to work remote.

I will always be a huge advocate for working while traveling, if only because if I wait until I no longer have to work, I may not be able to see and do what I want to do now. If that's you, I hope these strategies help you take the leap into your first remote-work trip.