Remote Work – Page 2

8 places I would visit if I had paid time off

July 24, 2018Tagged Remote Work, Travel, travel tips, wanderlust1 Comment

I realize that I am very lucky — getting to work remotely while traveling the world is, in my ways, a dream come true for me. But, as I frequently write about, this type of travel means that the destinations I visit need to have reliable WiFi and be in time zones which are conducive to working with American clients.

Because of this, I sometimes catch myself dreaming of the day that I can go completely off-the-grid on a trip. Below are some of the top destinations I’d like to visit if I ever got some paid time off.

Montenegro

Located just south of Croatia is Montenegro, a gorgeous country bordering the Adriatic Sea.

I first decided that I needed to go to Montenegro while traveling down the Dalmatian Coast, from Split to Dubrovnik. As I kept heading further and further south, I could not believe that the landscape kept getting more and more beautiful. I took out a map (because maps were a thing back then), and saw that if I kept going south, I’d hit Montenegro, and set my goals on visiting the country.

While it is stunningly beautiful, WiFi is not yet reliable in the places I’d like to visit in Montenegro, which is why this trip has been put on hold. But hey, I’m told delayed gratification can be a good thing… right?

Patagonia

It’s my own fault that I haven’t visited Patagonia yet — I’ve actually had 2 trips planned there that I’ve canceled at the last minute (the first time, I went to Mendoza, Argentina instead and the second time, after checking the forecast in Patagonia, I decided to instead visit the Atacama Desert in Chile).

I am still aching to go, however, particularly to Bariloche and Ushuaia in Argentina.

While WiFi in those destinations is actually decent, the types of activities that I want to do (hiking, camping, and some adventure sports) would be difficult while working remotely.

Guatemala

Guatemala, particularly Antigua, is increasingly being a hub for remote workers. Known for its stunning landscape, Mayan history, and low cost of living (for Americans), this Central American country has been a top dream destination of mine for years now.

Although there are spots where you can find reliable WiFi, I want to stay on Lake Atitlán, which was formed in a massive volcano crater and is supposed to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. WiFi is spotty in this area of the country, though, so my visit will have to wait!

Mongolia

I love taking the road-less-traveled and there are few places that are more “remote” than Mongolia.

While the capital, Ulaanbaatar, has reliable infrastructure, my dream isn’t to stay in the city – it’s to go to the windswept plains and Gobi Desert and to get completely off-the-grid.

As a remote worker, this isn’t possible (at least not yet), meaning I’ll have to keep Mongolia on my bucket list for now.

Greenland

There’s an old saying amongst seasoned travelers: “When you’ve seen the world, there’s always Greenland.”

Located at the tip of the world, I first decided I needed to travel here after taking in an amazing view of the country on a flight from Norway to California. Since then, I’ve used Instagram to follow a few individuals who live in Greenland and have been captivated by their pictures.

While WiFi is reliable in towns and certain villages, I would love to be out on a boat and on hikes, neither of which are conducive to remote work.

Maldives

It’s not hard to see why this is a dream destination of mine – with crystal clear water, idyllic beaches, and some of the most luxurious accommodations in the world, the Maldives is one of the most aesthetically pleasing places on the planet.

The tourist infrastructure is set up for honeymooners rather than remote workers, though, and while many hotels have decent WiFi, it’s often in the public areas and the time zone can be difficult to work from with American clients.

With global warming and the chance that the islands will soon be under the sea, I’m definitely in a rush to visit (and hope that I can disconnect when I do).

Namibia

With the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Rwanda to the east, and the Namid desert in between, Namibia offers a mix of stunning landscape and incredible nature/wildlife.

While the country is starting to attract more and more visitors, WiFi is still fairly unreliable and the time zones are difficult to work from with American-based clients.

Bhutan

Nestled between India and China is Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge.

Featuring jaw-dropping landscapes, temples built on the sides of mountains, and in a region known for its incredible food, Bhutan is a dream destination of mine. As an American, it can be difficult (and costly) to obtain a visa to travel here and the time zones/WiFi aren’t ideal for a remote worker.

Let me know what you think of this list in the comments below!

5 steps to take before visiting a new country

July 22, 2018Tagged freelance, Remote Work, travel tips, travel tricks, wanderlustLeave a comment

Whether you’re new to travel or a regular globetrotter, visiting a new country is always exciting. It can also be a bit nerve-wracking, particularly for solo travelers, as you may be worried about safety, maximizing your time while visiting, and making sure you have a good time.

Below are some tips for steps to take after you’ve booked your adventure but before you step foot in a new country:

1. Learn basic phrases in the local language

Aside from my love of unlimited soda refills, probably the most American thing about me is that I am terrible at learning foreign language. After taking almost 8 years of Spanish and spending 4 years living less than 100 miles away from the Mexican border, my Spanish language skills are still very basic (though get better with alcohol consumption).

That said, before traveling to a new country, I always make sure that I learn how to say the basics, which include:

Hello
Thank you
Sorry/excuse me
Goodbye

While it would be great to know more (and see tip #4 here for help with that), I’ve found that knowing these words in a local language, a smile, and some body language are often all that I need to traverse a new, foreign destination.

2. Figure out currency conversion rates

One great way to save money when you travel is to use local ATM’s rather than currency exchanges to get your money, as the rate your bank charges is often lower. To do this, you should have an idea of how much money you need to get out by the time you land.

A trick that I like to use is looking up typical currency denominations and their corresponding value in USD, and writing down what it amounts to. For instance, in Colombia, here’s a list of the bills they have and current value in USD:

5,000 Pesos = $1.75 USD
10,000 Pesos = $3.50 USD
20,000 Pesos = $7.00 USD
50,000 Pesos = $17.50 USD

Knowing the exact worth, in USD, of these bills helps me avoid math (or really, getting the currency conversions wrong) when I’m out and about and possibly with no internet/cell service.

3. Learn about the local public transit system

If you’ve ever been to a new country and tried to hop on a local, non-tourist focused train/bus, you’ve probably experienced some anxiety related to it. Are you going the right way? Do you have enough money to cover the fair? Will there be signs for where you need to get off?

Even with proper research, a new city’s public transit system can be intimidating. I was in Tokyo a few months back for the annual cherry blossom festival, and Shinjuku station was hectic and confusing enough that, even with a plan, I almost had an anxiety attack.

But if you plan on using public transportation at all (and you should!), you should download a copy of the city’s local transit map and look into things like day passes, cost of public transit tickets, and hours of operation. Sometimes, you’ll find that private options (such as cabs or Uber) offer better value for your time and provide a way of saving time for you to explore.

4. Download “Google Translate” and “Google Trips” apps

Recently, I wrote an article about how Google Trips is my new favorite travel tool. I’ve linked to the article itself but, basically, it provides amazing day trip itineraries based on your interests.

Although Google Trips is my new favorite travel tool, Google Translate has been a favorite travel tool of mine for years. You can use Google Translate in a few ways, including entering a phrase you’d like to say in English and having the app tell you how to pronounce it in a local language to placing your phone over a menu (or anything in a foreign language) and having it auto-convert into English or another selected language.

5. Look into visa requirements

A few years ago, I was flying from Lima, Peru to Buenos Aires, Argentina when, at the Lima airport, I overheard 2 Americans talking. Apparently, they hadn’t realized that travel to Argentina required a visa for Americans, and because the system to apply for a new visa was down, they were stuck in Lima until they could get the visa approved.

Now, admittedly, I’m not the best at this — I’ve got a trip to Georgia planned in 7 weeks and I haven’t looked into the visa… yet. But you can save yourself a big headache by having the visa situation figured out a few weeks before your trip (or potentially a few months out for places that are known to have a difficult visa process, such as China).

Are there steps you take when you traveling to a new country? Let me know in the comments!

5 amazing places to work remotely from this fall

July 9, 2018July 9, 2018Tagged Freelancing, Remote Work, Travel, travel trips, wanderlust3 Comments

Call me old-fashioned, but I love a good shoulder season. Often, I’ll avoid international travel during the summer — and the high prices and temperatures associated with it — instead opting for amazing trips in the fall.

Since I’m working while on these trips, I’m concerned not just with the weather and cost, but also WiFi, safety, livability, and infrastructure.

If you can work remotely and are looking for some great destinations for the fall, be sure to consider these places:

Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi has almost everything you’d want in a remote work destination – it’s safe, cheap, has solid infrastructure/WiFi, and it gets major bonus points for being off-the-beaten-path (though Western tourism to Georgia is starting to pick up).

In September, Tbilisi experiences an average of 4 days of rain with an average high of 80°F/27°C and an average low of 59°F/15°C.

I’ll be spending the latter part of September here and can’t wait to report on it.

Seminyak, Bali

There is never a bad time to go to Bali. Seminyak, located just north of party-central Kuta, boasts amazing beaches, a strong and growing remote work community, and is an easy drive to some of Bali’s most amazing attractions.

It’s cheap, too – if you do your research, you can rent out a private villa with your own pool that is only steps away from the beach for roughly $80/night (with even more affordable options if you’re willing to forgo a stunning villa).

In September, Seminyak experiences an average of 4 days of rain with an average temperature of 80°F/27°C.

Marrakesh, Morocco

Morocco is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and Marrakesh, nestled at the foot of the Atlas mountains, is no exception.

With amazing food, beautiful views, and incredible markets, fall is the perfect time to visit as the weather starts cooling down.

In September, Marrakesh experiences an average of 1 day of rain with an average high of 90°F/32°C and low of 66°F/19°C.

Santiago, Chile

Anyone who reads my travel blog knows that I am obsessed with Santiago. It is, in my opinion, one of the safest, most beautiful, and livable cities on the planet.

Although it’s technically spring in the southern hemisphere, it’s still the perfect time to visit, with an average high of 67°F/19°C and 2 days of rain in September.

Budapest, Hungary

Recently voted the second most beautiful city in the world, you seemingly can’t go wrong with Budapest — it’s cheap, photogenic, and has reliable WiFi with a good infrastructure. There have been some alarming political developments in Hungary over the past few months, but it’s still safe to visit and a haven for remote workers.

I’ll be spending a week here in September before heading to Tbilisi and, similarly, can’t wait to report on the trip.

In September, Budapest experiences an average of 5 days of rain with an average high of 73°F/23°C and low of 51°F/11°C.

Are you planning any fun remote work adventures this fall? Let me know in the comments!

8 reasons why Tulum is the perfect destination for remote workers

January 11, 2018Tagged digital nomad, freelance, Mexico, Remote Work, tulum, wanderlust1 Comment

Beautiful beaches, reliable infrastructure, and a community of digital nomads — read on to discover why Tulum may be the perfect destination for remote workers.

1. Easy to get to

Tulum is located about 90-minutes away (by car, bus, or shared shuttle service) from Cancún International Airport. Flights to Cancún are easy to get, with direct service from most major American cities.

2. It’s safe

Mexico is going through a crime wave right now, and even typical tourist hot spots like Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta have had incidents occur over the last few months and in recent weeks.

But the Yucatán Peninsula, including Tulum, Merida, and Cancún have largely been insulated from this wave of crime and violence.

Having traveled to Mexico many, many, many times, I have never once felt unsafe in the country. That said, there is nowhere that I’ve felt more safe in Mexico than in Tulum.

3. Easy to get by on English

If remote workers needed to know the language of every country they traveled to, for many, their world would be quite small. While I encourage anyone traveling abroad to a country that speaks another language to learn basic greetings and words, it’s always nice to know if you can get by on your native tongue.

In Tulum, speaking only English isn’t an issue, with taxi drivers, hotels, and restaurants all accommodating Americans and English-speaking travelers from all over the world.

4. Reliable WiFi (unless you’re right on the beach)

I spent a week working remotely from Tulum and had no connectivity issues, except while I was sunbathing on the beach itself (and it probably was better to take a full-on break at that point).

The closer to “town” you get (which is about 2 miles west from the beach), the better the WiFi gets. To ensure you’ll have service while you work, I would recommend staying closer to central Tulum and taking a taxi to the beach, which costs about $5 per trip.

5. Simply stunning beaches

Turquoise water, soft, white sand, and warm tropical sunshine help make Tulum’s beaches some of the best in the world.

While there, be sure to get a massage on the beach, where you can listen to the waves crash while your worries float away — and cheap-ish by American standards (~$40 for 60-minutes).

6. Community of remote workers/digital nomads/freelancers

Tulum is almost synonymous with digital nomads and remote workers. If you go to a coffee shop in Tulum in the morning or afternoon, you’ll see laptops and iPhones galore, with people typing away, (presumably) working.

If you want to get away from the beach or need to be in an office, Tulum even has a dedicated coworking space, Coworking Karma Tulum.

7. Cenotes

One of the main attractions of staying in Tulum is visiting some of the nearby cenotes.

“Cenotes are natural swimming holes formed by the collapse of porous limestone bedrock, which has revealed a secret subterranean world of groundwater pools,” according to Lonely Planet.

“Most cave cenotes have fresh water that has been meticulously filtered by the earth, making them so clear and pure that you can see straight through to small fish frolicking in the plant life below.”

A number of cenotes surround Tulum, including Gran Cenote and Cenote Dos Ojas. You can snorkel, dive, or just check out the beautiful scenery away from the warm, Mexican sun.

8. Ruins (with a view)

I’ve saved the best for last — the famous Tulum Ruins.

Tulum’s history goes back to at least the late in the thirteenth century, during what is known as the Mayan post-classic period. Tulum was built with a wall surrounding it, and while the reasons are still largely unknown (and may have been lost with the decline of the Mayan world), it’s thought that priests and nobility were hosted within these walls.

For the best experience, you should arrive shortly after opening before the crowds come. Once you experience the ruins themselves, be sure to head to the beach for a swim in the crystal-clear blue water, surrounded by history.