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For a lot of us who recently started working remotely, the first thing on our to-do lists is travelling the world. Afterall how rare is it to be able to work from anywhere in the world, getting to know new people and learn about a new culture whilst you also earn money in the process. So how exactly do you work remotely whilst travelling?
When remote working and travelling at the same time it is important that you make a list of the countries you would like to work from, make a note of how long you intend to work like this, set yourself a budget and understand if this will impact your career or quality of life.
So what are some tips that you should follow when remote working and travelling? What are the pros and the cons and what are some good destinations for us remote workers? Keep reading to find out more!
(Now it’s worth mentioning that this post has a lot of information and so if you’re curious about the best equipment needed to work remotely simply go to my resource page here.)
Take note of why you want to travel and work remotely
Whilst travelling is one of the biggest things we love to do( there were 58 million vacations abroad in the UK alone in 2019), being away from home for long periods of time or getting used to a completely different culture can definitely leave you feeling isolated.
As such, it’s super important to take note of why you want to travel and work remotely.
In my opinion, if you want to travel and work remotely just for Instagram pictures or give the appearance to others that you live an interesting life, it’s probably not the best option for you.
Instead, if it’s something you’ve always wanted to do, could advance your career or is something you want to attempt before moving to a country permanently then I would definitely consider working remotely.
Sometimes, people want to travel and work for other countries in order to escape their home lives or because they don’t belong. It’s worth noting this may be a deeper-rooted problem and running away to a different country may not be the option you are looking for.
I feel as though the following are great reasons for wanting to work from another country:
- Getting to learn about a new culture
- If you are trying to learn a new language
- If you are looking to start a new career
- If you want to improve your communication skills
- If you want to be a problem solver
Make a list of all the countries you want to go to
Once you’ve found a solid reason as to why it is you want to work remotely and travel, it’s time to start planning and the first thing will be where exactly you want to go to.
Decide if you want to travel around the same country or go abroad.
If you want to go abroad, do you want to go to multiple countries in one go? Or stick to one country and do a deep dive there.
Do you want to learn the language? Go to a developing or developed country and how much time will you spend there.
If you are going abroad will the time difference impact you in being able to do your job?
By deciding what country you will go to, you can start laying the groundwork by answering the above and taking things from there.
My suggestion if you intend on travelling to multiple countries or cities when working remotely is to start small with a list of three which you can plan out relatively easily if it is your first time.
You can always add more destinations when you are travelling but it’s important to understand that if you’re new to this, you’ll likely make some mistakes.
Decide how frequently you want to change countries
So once you’ve decided on a list of countries that you want to travel to the next step is to decide how frequently you want to travel in between countries.
Let’s say you live in London and you decided that you want to work remotely from Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil.
As you can imagine, travelling between Thailand and Indonesia will be a lot easier to manage then travelling from Indonesia to Brazil.
You will also need to keep in mind the time difference and time zones that come into this especially if you are working for an employer who may need you to be present at certain times during the day.
Jet lag is real and so it may be the case of spendier shorter periods of time to countries that are close together and then longer periods when moving from one continent to another.
The devil is in the detail when it comes to planning your remote working journey and so you should make a note of the following:
- What is the time difference between the countries you are travelling to
- How long is the journey between counties
- What are the different ways in which you can travel between countries?
- What is the most expensive way to travel between the countries?
- What is the cheapest way to travel in between countries?
- Are there any political issues in travelling between countries?
Political issues in particular are something you should be aware of. For example, if you want to travel from Israel to Lebanon or vice versa there may be the political red tape that you need to get around.
Set a time realistic time frame
So the pieces of the puzzle are starting to take place, you’re coming up with a direction as to the counties you want to go to, the next tip I would recommend would be how long are you planning on travelling and working remotely for.
The truth of the matter is whilst most remote workers have done so for the past 4 years or more. It’s very rare to find people who work remotely for years on end without planting their feet in one location.
As such it’s good to set a realistic time frame for how long you plan to work remotely abroad or in another city for.
I like to break these timescales down into the following:
|
Time scale |
Definition |
| Long term | 1 year to 5 years is what I would call travelling when working from home in the long term time frame. It’s likely that you have travelled around a fair bit and may even have a favourite location that you are thinking of settling down in. People who work remotely abroad are much more likely to have their own business that allows them to sustain living abroad without ramifications from their employer. |
| Medium-term | 6 months to 1 year is what I would consider a medium-term time frame. It’s likely that you are travelling to change things up from your normal career, and have a few set locations you want to live in an experience more so than just going on vacation |
| Short term | A few weeks to 6 months is what I would consider a short term time scale to work remotely and travel from. Often people who do this take a sabbatical from their current roles and usually aim to visit as many countries as possible spending a few days in each. |
You can then further use these timescales to further break down your travelling to cities or districts in the cities to plan your travels one step further.
Decide if you want to go alone
Another major consideration you need to make when remote working and travelling at the same time is if you want to travel by yourself or with friends.
Travelling with friends is one of the best things you can do to further build on the relationships with the people closest to you, giving you all memories that can last a lifetime.
That being said it also has a number of downsides having to manage multiple people.
I mean what happens if you want to continue travelling and they want to go home? What happens if one of you gets fired from your job.
I found that the best thing to do if you do decide to travel and work remotely is to ask yourself how comfortable you are in being alone.
If you’re the type of person who can work from home without any feelings of isolation then you may find travelling by yourself is the option for you.
If isolation is something you struggle with, check out this post I wrote that has a bunch of great tips even if you do decide to travel by yourself.
Decide if you will invest in a property
Another thing you need to look into when travelling and working remotely is your housing accommodation.
For most of you, you will only be looking to rent for short periods of time per country as you will only be travelling for a few weeks or months and so investing in a property might not be the right option for you.
Some of you however are adamant to never work for anyone in the future and want to start your own business.
If this is the case and your planning on living abroad for one country for years on end investing in a property may be the right option for you.
It’s important to get an idea of what property prices are going for, how many bedrooms you need and how safe the area you intend on living in is.
Even for the short term if you decide to rent, get an idea of what the average cost of living is and take things from there.
Make an inventory of all the technology you will need
Now it’s time for the fun stuff.
Remote working is growing rapidly with it being estimated that there will be 10 million remote workers in the USA alone by 2030.
The main reason for this is due to advancements in technology.
I mean let’s face it, it would be a lot harder to work remotely and travel if we were still tethered to slow dial-up internet speeds and computer software that takes 25 minutes to load.
I can almost guarantee that if you decide to travel and work remotely, your job that helps pay the bills will mainly be done through the web.
So what are some good bits of technology that I would recommend?
Luckily I talk about this a fair bit on building a home office but to summarize I would recommend you invest in the following:
A high-end laptop will help you save time and money in the long term on buying new items.
Noise-cancelling headphones are great as some countries that are hotspots for us remote workers are notoriously loud like the streets in Thailand.
A wifi booster always comes in handy in case your flat or apartment doesn’t have the strongest interest. Wifi also can sometimes be weaker in developing countries hence why it’s good to carry around an ethernet cable
A portable charger always comes in handy regardless of the country you are in especially if you don’t have international plugs for the socket outlets.
Finally, a camera is always worth having as you will want to document your journey. Trust me when I say I’m not really one for pictures myself but whenever I go abroad to work I always end up wanting to take more pictures than I originally anticipated.
Understand if you need to switch your job
This is going to be one of the toughest decisions you will have to make when travelling and working remotely at the same time.
With the future trends moving towards the world of working from home. More organizations are getting more comfortable in offering things like sabbaticals or work breaks to allow their employees to work remotely.
That being said, most jobs will be hesitant to let one of their employees work abroad or from another city if it isn’t a part of the organizational culture.
If this is the case with yourself it’s time to ask if you need to switch roles to a company that will allow you to do this.
Whilst this might sound frightening, we only grow when we are out of our confit zone and if working remotely around the world is something that you need to do this is probably going to be the best option for you.
The good news is that regardless of your role, you can probably find a version of it that allows you to do so remotely.
For example, let’s say you’re an elementary school teacher. Keeping this job will be tough when you’re trying to teach the same kids from another country but instead, use the teaching skills you have and look at things like teaching English in a foreign language which has a massive demand in some countries.
Consider working for yourself
Another great option if your workplace allows you to travel whilst continuing on with your job is starting your own business.
Online business is one of the major reasons why people can work remotely starting their business online and growing from there.
Now please don’t go on YouTube and start listening to fake gurus talking all about how they earn six figures after doing two weeks worth of work.
Understand that this will be a real business that takes a lot of hard work. But I would suggest the following ideas:
Start a blog
One of the oldest forms of making money online that remote workers love.
Consider starting a blog on a topic you are familiar with that isn’t too competitive (avoid topics like health and fitness or personal finance which are far too saturated)
Typically it takes about 2 years to build up a blog to the point where it makes money. For me, the best course that teaches you to learn about blogging is income schools project 24.
It’s what I used to start this blog post. You can check out more about it here.
Amazon FBA
Amazon FBA is the process of using Amazon’s warehouses to your advantage and selling your manufactured products on Amazon’s marketplace.
Consider looking at sites like Alibaba or local manufacturers where you live and then consider selling these.
E-books
If you are more experienced in a particular area, for example, day trading or yoga, consider writing an ebook.
Selling an information product like this can help people learn more about a topic and you can earn a few dollars per book on the back of doing this.
Freelancing
Finally, if there is anything that you specialise in such as copywriting, teaching or proofreading you can consider looking into freelancing.
With the advent of sites like Fiverr and Upwork, finding gigs to do has been easier than ever.
You can even find people in the USA or in other English speaking countries who will pay a premium for native English speakers to help get their work done.
Figure out what budget you have
You’ll be shocked at how many people don’t take this into consideration when thinking about working remotely and travelling.
The truth of the matter is that whilst the cost of living is usually cheaper when working from developing countries like Thailand or India, things like lifestyle creep tend to start adding up and you start having to spend more money then you may have anticipated.
The best thing to do then would be to make a list of all your expenses before you leave per country. After a few weeks per country consider updating the budget once you have more information.
So what is a good budget when working remotely and travelling?
$1000 per month is a good budget for most developing countries to work remotely from. Hotspots like Thailand and Malaysia have a cheaper cost of living meaning that you won’t need to earn as much to sustain a decent lifestyle whilst also enjoying yourself.
Make a list of all the essential items you need
Aside from technology which we talked about a little earlier on. It’s important to make a list and ensure you take the essential items you might need.
For example, If you know that the water quality in the country you intend to work from isn’t the best. Consider investing in a water filter.
If the temperature fluctuates massively throughout the different seasons, make sure the clothes you bring are suitable for every weather condition.
Now you’re also going to want to ensure these goods are all easy to transfer so ensure your backpack or travel trolley has enough room for the essentials if you’re planning to jump from country to country.
Decide if you need to learn new languages
If you are planning to travel to a country for a longer period of time and English isn’t a major language that is spoken in that country or there isn’t a large community of other remote workers it will defiantly be worth learning a new language.
Nowadays it’s easier than ever to learn a new language with YouTube channels (like the one listed below) being a fantastic opportunity to learn multiple languages.
You’ll tend to find that you only need to learn around 300 words/phrases in order to be conversational and doing so means that you might get better deals on things like food or other items, being able to haggle.
Figure out how to manage the time difference
You’ll be surprised at how even a small-time difference of about an hour will impact your life when travelling and working remotely.
Whether this is for when you catch up with your friends and family who are hours away, communicating with your colleagues or stakeholders or even just travelling between countries figuring out how to manage the time difference will be incredibly important.
The best way I found to manage the time difference is to schedule your day.
Something as simple as google calendar allows you to manage multiple time zones in one view so spending an hour each week to balance your time can help mitigate any problems around this.
Have realistic expectations for your income
If you do decide to work remotely and travel and do leave your job in the process you need to set realistic expectations for your income.
If you decide to start your own business understand that it might be a few months before you start earning any real income.
If you opt for freelancing, you may need a strong body of work before you can charge a premium on sites like Fiverr.
If you get a job to help pay your way through your travels, understand that you won’t be earning in some countries as you would in the likes of the USA or UK.
One option that works brilliantly is to set a budget based on the back of what you spent last year working remotely. Doing something as simple as putting this in a spreadsheet and then taking out your expenses every month gives you an idea of the exact amount you will need to earn to not have any surprises.
By going into this with realistic expectations will allow you to not have any problems in the future when it comes to running out of money.
Learn about foreign culture
One of the things a lot of us don’t do enough of when travelling and working remotely is getting a good understanding of the culture of the place we are travelling to.
For example, if you are going to a Muslim country, it probably doesn’t make a lot of sense to drink a lot of alcohol in those countries.
If you are opting to go over to Japan, make sure you don’t eat in public.
Read up on the countries you intend to visit and learn about the norms before you go.
Read up on the tax implications
Tax, like death, is one of the things in life that we can’t avoid (unfortunately).
That being said, a lot of us seem to forget about it when it comes to working on our own income streams.
I would recommend working out if the taxation laws are different in the country you are planning on visiting.
For example, if you decide to work from your own company and you set up shop in Dubai the tax rate there is around 0% when compared to the UK which works out at about a 20% tax rate.
It’s also worth figuring out the implications of getting paid in another country if the company’s HQ is in the USA.
A great option I found was the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion clause which allows you to get tax breaks in certain circumstances. You can read up more on it here.
Make sure you have a strong internet connection
We touched pong this earlier on but having a strong internet connection is one of the most important things you can do when working remotely and travelling.
Almost all remote working jobs are due to faster internet speeds than a few years ago and so ensuring you have a strong internet connection will allow for fewer issues and allow you to also be productive when travelling remotely.
I would consider investing in an internet or Wifi booster when working remotely and travelling as a lot of counties that people like to work remotely from can sometimes have weaker internet signals then you are used to.
My recommendation would be the TP-link booster which you can read up more about here.
Have a backup plan in case things go wrong
Whilst I would call myself an optimist, I’m aware of the risks that can happen when working remotely.
You can run out of money, you may not be able to find a job or you might not enjoy the country that you are in once you get there.
As such, it’s always good to come up with a backup plan for these different scenarios.
Make a list of all the potential things that could go wrong.
Ensure that these cover large things such as ending up in prison or losing your passport to small things such as having a weak internet signal and then come up with two contingencies for each of them.
This will give you peace of mind and ensure that no matter what the outcome you will be covered.
Work out how many hours per week you need to work
A lot of you will be travelling and working remotely to focus more on the travelling part.
As such, it might be the case that you’re not as fussed about setting up a business or your career in the long term and just want to do day jobs to pay the bills.
An example of this would be backpackers who go to Australia every year to work on the farms whilst also exploring the country.
If this is the case with yourself, work out how much you will earn per hour and then work out the number of hours you need in order to hit your budget every month.
Be aware of the impacts on your career
Working remotely and travelling can be a fantastic thing to add to your resume to show that you are cultured and good at managing new situations.
if you are thinking of travelling for longer than a year or so you need to be aware of the potential impact this can have on your career. This is especially apparent if you are doing bit jobs that aren’t related to your career with employers asking why you took such a long break from what it was you were doing before.
If this is important to you I would consider trying to find jobs when you are travelling and working remotely that are in line with your career so you can keep up to date on the industry without losing any of the benefits.
Understand if you can manage the unpredictability
Working and travelling is tough, whether this is managing your money, a new culture or just going it alone.
As working from home is unpredictable, managing change is going to be incredibly important. Consider looking into mindfulness techniques of you are going through periods where you are unsure where your next paycheck is going to come from or if your flight is delayed to ensure that the normal peaks and troughs that come with working remotely and travelling are not an issue for you.
Consider some of the remote working hotspots
So now you have a good idea of some of the tips you should follow or look into when you are thinking about working remotely and travelling what are some hotspots that people tend to go to?
After all, working remotely and travelling is a lot easier when you are surrounded by like-minded people with the same mission as you.
Luckily I’ve compiled some remote working destinations by contents below
| Location | Why |
| Portugal | Want all the sun of Spain but a lower cost of living? Then Portugal is the answer. Lisbon is fast becoming a place for digital nomads and also has lovely break away spots |
| Scotland | Scotlands still has all the metropolitan life of other major places in the UK but also has a calmer vibe with beautiful landscapes to discover. A great option if you’re new to remote working and travelling. |
| California | Whilst it does have a higher cost of living than most of the other places on this list, California and silicon valley, in particular, is a fantastic option for those of you who want to start your own business and have the cash to spare. |
| Oman | An often overlooked country to visit in the middle east is Oman, which has an incredibly chilled out culture and tons of places to see as well as notorious hospitality. |
| Croatia | Croatia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and the low cost of living makes it a definite starting point for a lot of Europeans who want to explore the world of working remotely. |
| Indonesia | With incredible wildlife, beautiful sunsets and Bali being one of the world’s leaders when it comes to working remotely, Indonesia is a fantastic option for travelling and working remotely. |
| Thailand | Probably the most popular destination when working remotely in the far east. A lower cost of living, incredible culture and like-minded people make this a definite stop on the list. |
| New Zealand | Who doesn’t love Lord of the rings? Beautiful wildlife and native English speaking makes this a prime location if you want a slower pace of life |
| Dubai | Whilst definitely not the cheapest place to live, there is a reason a lot of ex-pats call the city of Dubai home. Beautiful weather year-round and a place that almost every major business is located make this a prime choice for working remotely. |
| Kenya | Why not enjoy a safari when working remotely. This African country is fast becoming one the most common chives for remote working with the country going through a large economic change. |
| Australia | For any surfers out there who love the sun Australia is a fantastic option to stop off on., Usually with better pay and a cheaper cost of living then other western countries like the USA and the UK make this a great option. |
What are some jobs you can do anywhere?
If you don’t want to start up your own business and instead want to work for someone else, what are some good jobs for working remotely when travelling? I’ve compiled a list below:
- Copywriting
- Teaching English as a foreign language
- Tutoring
- Search engine optimisation
- Graphic designer
- Web developer
- Programmer
- Data analyst
- Accountant
- Video editor
- Photographer
- Social media marketing
- Administration
So what are some other FAQs that people have around working remotely and travelling?
Can working remotely and travelling damage your career
Working remotely and travelling can damage your career if you do not continue working in your chosen profession during your time abroad. This can impact the amount you are paid and professional relationships going forward. Employers will question any gaps in your work history that do not relate to your career. It’s important then to keep up to date with your industry if your career is important for you.
Do you earn less travelling whilst working remotely
Employees who work remotely abroad earn less if they work locally in the country they are in. This is because most countries that are hotspots for remote working have a lower cost of living and so pay less. If you work for your current employer and will continue to do so abroad, you may find that you have more disposable income.
Employees who work from home earn more than those who are based in the office due to saving on commuting and often are in fields where they earn more.
Will working from home become the new normal
Remote working and working from home will become the new normal. Working from home has grown by 126% over the past 12 years and at this continuing rate, there will be almost 10 million permanent remote workers by 2030 with many more having the option to work remotely.
| Number of permanent remote workers | Decade | Percentage of US Population | US Population growth by decade (data gathered from US CENSUS) |
| 4,700,000 | 2020 | 1.43 | 328,200,000 |
| 10,924,129 | 2030 | 3.10 | 352,133,333 |
| 25,390,764 | 2040 | 6.75 | 376,066,667 |
| 59,015,314 | 2050 | 14.75 | 400,000,000 |
| 137,168,274 | 2060 | 32.36 | 423,933,333 |
| 318,817,848 | 2070 | 71.19 | 447,866,666 |
| 486,056,889 | 2075 | 105.70 | 459,833,333 |
To read up more I’ve written a blog post you can check out here.
Finally, a lot of people reading my blog want to know what products I recommend for a home office/remote working. You can find out my recommendations here and learn how I make money whilst working remotely on the side here.
The content on this on this site has been written by Fehed Nicass who has over a decades worth of experience in sales and has worked remotely for the past 2 years.
