The Ultimate Guide to Remote Work & Travel (10 Tips)

How do you make the world your oyster? Remote work means you can work from anywhere — even on a tropical island.

Reviewed by Joanna Zambas

Remote Work Travel world digital nomad objects

Many of us dream of escaping the confines of the physical office and instead making the road our office while we travel the world, discover new cultures and meet new people — a concept that’s been around for years, and a lifestyle that’s favored by some 17.3 million Americans.

In this guide, we’ll show you how you can do the same. We’ll explore the pros and cons of a digital nomad lifestyle, the legal and financial considerations you should keep in mind, and practical tips for working remotely while traveling to different parts of the world.

What is a digital nomad?

A digital nomad is a professional (usually — but not always — in tech-based and creative roles) who travels the world while working remotely, as opposed to “traditional” on-site workers who are based in a fixed business location. They may be employed by a company, but they’re more commonly self-employed.

No two digital nomads are the same. Some travel constantly, while others only occasionally (for a few months of the year, for example). Meanwhile, “classic” digital nomads tend to hop from one destination to another, while “slowmads” spend a few weeks or months in each location before moving to the next.

The pros of traveling while working remotely

Combining travel with remote work has several benefits, including:

You get to travel while making a living

The obvious first benefit of remote working and traveling is exactly that: you’ll be traveling the world all while you’re busy making a living.

Not only do you get to visit and explore places on your bucket list, discover new cultures and meet people from all backgrounds and walks of life, but the experiences you live also help you learn and grow as a person. This well-roundedness and cultural awareness, meanwhile, makes you more employable in the long run.

You lower your living costs

Especially if you’re traveling to and working in some of the more popular destinations for digital nomads, like in Southeast Asia, your living costs will be halved compared to what you’d be paying back home in the US.

Indeed, you don’t have to worry about utility bills, car insurance, gas, mortgage repayments and other costs. While you will, of course, need to pay for accommodation, most of your day-to-day expenses are covered by rent.

You have increased flexibility

Working remotely abroad means you have greater flexibility over when and where you work, be it in the morning or evening, or at a coworking space or a local café.

This, then, means a better work–life balance, as you have more time to explore the city that you’re in, attend concerts, meet new people, cultivate your hobbies (or develop new ones altogether), and do whatever else it is you want to do.

The cons of traveling while working remotely

Here are a few reasons you might want to decided against traveling while working remotely:

You can experience loneliness

One of the most common challenges that remote workers face when traveling is the loneliness and isolation that often comes with it. Extroverts, in particular, can feel it more than introverts.

Indeed, while you can certainly meet new people and make friends (if you make the effort, that is), it’s not always easy, and it can take time. This loneliness, meanwhile, can be further triggered when you’re not able to regularly keep in touch with family and friends back home, especially when you’re in different time zones.

You won’t have a lot of stability

Whether you spend a few months in a specific country or you hop from one city to another every few days, you’ll discover that stability is a thing of the past. Indeed, by the time you get anywhere near to getting used to your new “home” away from home, you’ll be packing up and boarding a plane or train again.

You won’t sleep in the same comfortable bed every night. You won’t have a favorite bar down the road. You won’t have the same friends with you. You won’t have a home. And this lack of stability will eventually remove all the fun and excitement from digital nomadism.

You’ll find it stressful

Another major issue that remote workers experience when traveling is the increased stress levels that come with the whole affair.

This stress is largely the result of having to constantly figure out where you’re going next, including finding accommodation, arranging necessary visas, learning your way around the new city, getting a new SIM card, and everything else in between — on top of the pressures of your job.

Ultimately, it can become overwhelming and in severe cases can lead to burnout.

Legal and financial considerations

Before jumping onto the digital nomad bandwagon, it’s important to take the time to understand the legal and financial challenges that come with it:

Visa requirements

One of the first things you need to look into once you’ve decided to adopt the digital nomad lifestyle is to research and understand the specific visa requirements of the countries you’ll be traveling to (which can vary greatly from country to country).

While most remote workers and digital nomads choose to work and travel on a tourist visa, this can result in legal repercussions — as tourist visas often technically don’t allow visitors to work during their stay (even if they’re not employed or contracted by a company in that country).

That said, some countries provide specialist digital nomad or remote work visas to cover any legal grey areas, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Cyprus, and Portugal. Requirements and conditions vary again, so make sure you understand — and adhere to — these.

Tax implications

Every country has its own taxation system, some being better than others, meaning that you might end up paying less income tax than what you would in your own country. But while this might be the case, and you may be eligible for certain tax benefits or exemptions (depending on your visa), there are still some tax implications that you need to consider.

Indeed, after living and working in a foreign country for a certain period of time, you will be liable to pay local tax. This may result in double taxation, where your income is taxed both in the country you’re visiting and in your home country. That said, many countries have double taxation agreements in place that circumvent this problem entirely.

Either way, it’s crucial that you research local taxation laws — and, even more importantly, that you comply with these, lest you are fined or otherwise find yourself in a legal conundrum.

Contractual obligations

If you’re employed by a company, your contract may have restrictions in place regarding where you can work from. For example, even if you’re on a fully remote work agreement with your employer, you may only be allowed to work from within the country that the company is based in.

As such, it’s important to carefully read through your employment agreement before you jet off to the Maldives or Thailand and embark on a digital nomad lifestyle. This way, you’ll ensure you don’t violate any terms that could result in disciplinary action, including termination.

If there’s no specific mention of where you can work from, or your contract doesn’t explicitly state that working from another country is forbidden, it’s a good idea to speak to your manager or HR to seek permission first and to make any necessary arrangements.

How to travel and work at the same time

Ready to take the plunge? Here are some tips for working remotely while traveling the world:

1. Choose the right destination

First things first, think about the type of destination you want to travel to and work from — do you prefer a big, busy city, or a small, quiet seaside town?

Once you have a general idea of this, start making a list of candidates — and then, importantly, research each one. It’s a good idea to look into things like living costs and crime rates (this is especially important for solo women and LGBTQ+ travelers).

2. Start small

Before fully committing to working remotely while traveling, it’s a good idea to first test it out to make sure it works for you and that it’s something you can see yourself doing for the foreseeable future.

For example, if you live in the US, you could consider moving to a different state for a month or so. This will give you some real-world insights into digital nomadism without being halfway across the world where you may potentially regret your initial decision.

3. Invest in the right tech

Being able to work remotely effectively, wherever that is, means that you need the right tech stack to make that happen. This includes a high-performance laptop, above everything else, as well as things like headphones, chargers, a smartphone, and anything else you need to get work done.

Often, your employer may cover these expenses, or at least offer you a stipend, but you may need to pay for these out of your own pocket, especially if you’re self-employed.

4. Ensure you have a stable internet connection

Beyond investing in the right tech, it’s important that you always have access to a stable, reliable internet connection so you can do your job without any hiccups. This means that traveling to somewhere off the grid might not be a particularly good idea.

That said, a reliable mobile hotspot can save you from headaches and disruptions!

5. Manage time zone differences efficiently

Depending on where you’re traveling to, you may have to deal with huge time zone differences between yourself and your team or clients. This means that you may occasionally have to work late at night or early in the morning to ensure effective communication.

Figure out what the time zone difference is, and plan your day and workload around this so there’s plenty of overlap between when you’re online and your team is online.

6. Choose appropriate accommodation

If you have the budget, staying in and working from a five-star resort at the other end of the world is possible. But if you’re looking for more budget-friendly options, consider renting an apartment or a private room in a hostel, or even looking into co-living opportunities.

Either way, make sure your accommodation offers everything you need to work: privacy, an internet connection and comfort.

7. Set boundaries

One of the most important things you need to do when working remotely (whether at home or from halfway across the world), it’s essential that you set boundaries with family, friends, any roommates and travel companions.

This involves communicating your work hours to minimize interruptions and distractions, and to remain productive.

8. Stick to a routine

Establishing a daily routine can help you stay organized and productive. This includes setting consistent working hours, and sticking to them as much as possible, while keeping them aligned with your productivity peaks.

Meanwhile, it’s also a good idea to keep a consistent sleep schedule and to plan other healthy habits into your day.

9. Manage your budget

Saving money on the road can be challenging, but it’s certainly not possible — and it should be a top priority of yours, as you will likely be tempted to every souvenir you can get your hands on.

Consider creating an Excel sheet or using a budgeting app to keep track of your finances and make better money decisions.

10. Understand it’s not a vacation

One of the biggest mistakes that both first-time and even experienced digital nomads make is treating the whole experience as a vacation. But it’s important to remind yourself that it’s not.

While you are traveling the world, you’re still working. You’ll still need to be online during work hours and complete your tasks as you normally would in an office setting.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions about working remotely while traveling:

Q: Which professions does digital nomadism cater for?

Anyone can become a digital nomad, whether you’re a writer, a customer service representative, a web developer or a tutor — as long as you’re willing to commit to the lifestyle. That said, some location-based professions like teachers and nurses will find it challenging or impossible to travel and work remotely.

Q: What are the best cities to travel to?

This largely depends on your own preferences, including whether you want to work in a big, busy city or a smaller, quieter town. That said, some cities you might want to consider include Budapest, Chang Mai, Lison and Tbilisi.

Q: How can I make friends and connections?

There are several ways you can do this, including by frequenting local bars and cafés, working in coworking spaces, attending local networking events, joining relevant Facebook and LinkedIn groups, and attending digital nomad events and conferences.

Final thoughts

Choosing the digital nomad lifestyle takes careful planning and a lot of thought before committing to it and changing your whole life. If you’re absolutely sure it’s what’s right for you, though, then we hope the insights and tips for working remotely while traveling we shared in this guide will be helpful.

Are you thinking about combining remote work with travel? Or perhaps want to share your own experiences and tips with aspiring digital nomads? Join the conversation down below, and let us know!

This article is a complete update of an earlier version originally published in 2022.