Remote working was forced upon the masses as a result of the pandemic, but it has been an attractive pursuit long before lockdowns. The common view for many is that when the pandemic is over, the majority of us will return to the office. However, one of the greatest benefits of remote working is the ability to earn money whilst travelling.
Myths about working remotely abroad
I will not be able to use my phone abroad
All of the big mobile networks in the UK offer a plan which lets you use your phone abroad without extortionate prices. I personally use Three as their Go Roam feature lets you use your data, minutes and texts in 71 different destinations without any extra charges.
Three covers almost all of Europe as well as destinations such as Australia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Peru, Vietnam, Singapore and the United States, plus a few more.
Three offers a generous fair use allowance of 20GB in European destinations and 12GB elsewhere. The service is generally good, although this is dependent on the country. Data-hungry activities can always be saved for when you find some WiFi.
The WiFi is not good enough
WiFi is considered an essential across the world. Nobody wants slow WiFi and it is not a complementary service as some large hotel chains want you to believe. I have never personally experienced bad WiFi at any place I have stayed and I have never paid extra for it either. As a backup you can always use your phone as a hotspot or visit a coffee shop or lounge where WiFi is available. If the place you intend to stay at has bad WiFi, you will probably know well in advance by looking at the reviews.
My manager would not allow this
As long as your performance does not fall off dramatically then why should they care? You could be 10 miles or 1500 miles away, ultimately you are still not in the office.
Travelling is expensive
There are two main expenses to consider when travelling abroad: the flight and the accommodation. Below is the method I use but feel free to substitute Expedia for any of its competitors.
- Go to Expedia
- Select flight and hotel packages
3. Select I only need accomodation for part of my trip and choose a time period of three days
Why three days? Three days gives you enough time to decide whether you actually like the place you are staying at. Even if you are confident that you have chosen the right place there is still a large incentive to choose less days than your total stay. When deciding what to do after the three days you have two options:
a. Speak to reception or the manager of the property about staying longer. Very often they will be willing to negotiate a better deal than the one you currently have.
b. Check Expedia again for last minute deals. I have seen sizeable discounts offered for these short notice bookings.
4. Sort the hotels by price so you get the cheapest first
5. Select the guest rating. 4+ is usually the safest. Always check written reviews regardless of the ratings. The number of reviews also matters as one 5 star review doesn’t actually tell us that much.
6. Take your pick from the options presented.
Travelling alone is boring
Travelling alone is actually an experience I recommend everyone should do at least once. You are more receptive to your surroundings and the sense of adventure is unmatched. If the solo stuff is not for you then convince a friend or two to travel alongside you. If they are also working remotely then you can schedule time for work and leisure and reduce your expenses by splitting the accommodation.
I will need a visa
If you have a UK passport, then you have access to nearly every country in the world without applying for a visa before travelling.
I will need to exchange money
Starling Bank will not charge you to use their debit card abroad including no fees for withdrawing money. It takes minutes to sign up and anywhere that accepts Mastercard will accept Starling.
The Remote Working Vision
Remote working is about taking back autonomy so you can live the life you want.
