Working from Home Abroad: Tips from a Pro

Karina Durand, one of Parmi Ambassadors, adopted the nomadic lifestyle in 2022, and since then, working from home abroad has been my daily reality. Over the past three years, she had the chance to explore several countries, including Mexico, France, Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand, and even French Polynesia.

As a master in the art of working while traveling, she is now sharing her tips for the best possible experience. In short: choose your destination and accommodation carefully, have several plans in mind for accessing Wi-Fi, and don't underestimate the importance of traveling light.

1. Choose your destination wisely

Whether you're employed by an organization that allows you to work remotely or you're a freelancer, the first thing to consider before choosing your travel destination is the flexibility of your schedule.

If you typically work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time and want to work in Tahiti, for example, you'll have to get up in the middle of the night to attend meetings that are held for your colleagues at 9 a.m. I've personally experienced this kind of scheduling gymnastics, and while it's not pleasant, it's entirely manageable. However, unless you're a night owl or a nap-lover, if you have to get up in the wee hours of the morning to work, expect to experience the adverse effects of sleep deprivation, much like night shift workers experience.

Pro tip: If your work schedule isn't particularly flexible, choose a destination that's less than 3 hours outside your time zone. If you don't have a typical schedule and can adjust your work hours, then the world is your oyster.

2. Choose a quiet and safe place to stay

Once you've chosen your destination, you need to choose your accommodation. The first criterion to consider is the security of the location. Whether you choose an Airbnb, a hostel, a bed & breakfast, or a hotel, I recommend choosing a safe neighborhood and a location you trust. Remember that your laptop and work tools will be waiting for you in your room while you're out sightseeing.

I also recommend choosing a quiet location (away from bars or restaurants where loud music plays for hours) to promote concentration and your psychological well-being. If you're choosing a hot climate, also ask yourself if having access to air conditioning is important to you, or if it's a luxury you can do without (in some cases it’s a must).

Pro tip: Carefully read reviews from guests who have stayed at the place you're considering booking. Whether on Airbnb, Booking.com, Google Reviews, or TripAdvisor, take the time to read several different reviews. Choosing your accommodation is crucial to your experience, as you'll be there not only to sleep, but also to work. If you need a desk, make sure your room has one before booking, as this isn't always the case.

3. Wi-Fi: Have a Plan A, B, and C

If you plan to participate in video conferences while abroad, you'll need an excellent Wi-Fi connection. In major Canadian, American, and European cities, Wi-Fi is generally fast and reliable almost everywhere. However, in tropical countries, it's a different story.

Before booking your accommodation, I recommend asking your host what type of internet connection they provide and its speed. Here's a checklist of the types of connections you'll need, depending on what you need to do (recommenced by fast.com):

• For sending emails\messaging : 5mbps
• For making video calls : 20mbps
• For downloading videos : 200mbps

Source : Fast.com

Even if your host confirms that you'll have access to stable and fast internet and that you have nothing to worry about, I still recommend keeping another option in your back pocket just in case (I've experienced this too many times).

Make sure you have access to a cellular network (either through your cell phone plan or by purchasing data with an e-SIM card through a service like Holafly or Airalo). In case of slowdowns or Wi-Fi outages, you can share your cellular data with your laptop using tethering and work seamlessly. This mitigation strategy saved me on a farm in Switzerland when I had to call in to a live conference!

Pro tip: Even if you have a Plan A and a Plan B, I also recommend having a Plan C, especially if Wi-Fi is essential to your work. When possible, choose accommodations within walking distance of a cafe with free Wi-Fi. This can always be useful as a last resort, especially if you're working on a last-minute deliverable.

4. Travel Light

Whether you're working from home abroad or simply on vacation, traveling light is always a great idea. First, it'll make your travels easier, and as a bonus, you'll save on checked baggage fees.

Traveling light is easy no matter the length of your trip. The trick is to focus on versatile essentials, whose styles work equally well for sports, work, or outings on the town, and leave anything superfluous at home. Choose clothing made from technical fabrics that breathe, dry quickly, and don't retain odors (like merino wool), and avoid super athletic pieces in flashy colors, which you won't want to wear for every occasion.

Parmi's pieces are great for travel because they check all the boxes: they're made from high-quality technical materials, but their classic and timeless design makes them true essentials that adapt to virtually any setting. For example, the Free Range Merino T-shirt is perfect for a plane ride, a day hike, a Google Meet, an afternoon at a museum, or an evening out at a restaurant. Wearing it with leggings or shorts, or adding an accessory like a hat, gives you a unique look. It's practical when your entire wardrobe fits in a carry-on!

Finally, I also recommend packing more tops than bottoms, opting for neutral and easy-to-match colors, and making sure that each piece you pack goes well together. Choose comfortable clothes that can keep up with you in all your activities. Always check the weather forecast for your travel dates, and whatever you choose, pack enough clothes you can layer in case of cold weather and enough to weather the rain.

Pro tip: Laundry services are available almost everywhere in the world. Whether you're going for a week or three months, you don't need to bring a larger suitcase. You can do your laundry right there for just a few dollars.

The key: planning

Traveling while working is wonderful, especially because it allows us to be away for longer periods of time and thus immerse ourselves more fully in the culture of the countries we visit. If your situation allows it and you'd like to try it, I encourage you. The key to a successful remote work trip is careful planning.

Enjoy your trip!