How Remote Work Can Help Support a Travel Lifestyle
When remote work suddenly became the norm back in 2020, a lot of us got our first real taste of flexibility. No commute. No office dress code. For some people, that meant working from the couch in sweatpants. For others, it opened up an entirely new way of living. Suddenly, you could finish your morning meeting and then go for a walk on a beach you’d never been to before.
Even now that many people have returned to offices or hybrid setups, remote work hasn’t disappeared. That’s a wonderful thing for anyone who dreams of blending work with travel. Whether you want to spend a few weeks working from a new city or build a lifestyle where your “home office” moves with you, it’s absolutely possible… with a little planning and honesty.
Be Completely Upfront About Your Plans
Before you say yes to that dream remote job, have an honest conversation with your potential employer. Some companies require you to work from a specific state or even a specific address for tax or insurance reasons. Others might not mind where you are, as long as the work gets done. It’s always better to check first rather than scramble to explain later (it goes without saying that lying outright is completely unacceptable). Be totally transparent about your intentions of where you’ll physically be (or even that you don’t always know where that might be) so everyone is on the same page.
If you freelance or run your own business, you’ve got more freedom, but it’s still smart to understand any tax implications or visa rules for working abroad. A quick bit of research can save you from a paperwork headache later. An accountant might come in handy to make sure you understand what works best for you.
Time Zones and Planning Ahead
One of the biggest surprises about working while traveling? How tricky time zones can be. A 9 a.m. meeting back home might mean you’re up before sunrise or still out exploring when your phone pings with a reminder. Depending on where you go, you may need to commit to occasionally working very unconventional hours to match your home base’s time zone.
Before you go, look at your meeting schedule and block out time that works both for you and your team. Communicate those hours clearly, and then build your travel plans around them. If you know you’ve got a heavy project week coming, save the sightseeing for after or base yourself somewhere closer to home so you can stay on schedule. It’s all about balance.
Pick Places That Actually Work for Work
It sounds obvious, but not every beautiful destination makes a great office. It’s not worth setting up shop at a secluded beach resort only to discover the Wi-Fi drops every time the wind picks up. Look for places with reliable internet (and electricity), quiet work spaces, and good access to essentials like coffee, food, maybe even a co-working spot.
And if you’re like me and drawn to more remote or nature-filled places, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. More Eco-lodges and small hotels now cater to digital nomads (aka, people who earn a living working online while traveling); you just have to ask the right questions ahead of time.
Create Your “Work” and “Play” Boundaries
Ok, so this is just good advice even if you’re usually rooted in just one spot, but I digress.
When your office goes wherever you do, it’s easier than ever to let work creep into every corner of the day. It’s so easy to just…pop open that laptop or check your emails, because it’s always there. But at the end of the day, there’s no point in traveling if it’s just another day of the same stress with a different view. I would even go so far as to say it’s more likely to just add more stress to your life.
Be intentional about your schedule and reasons for traveling; stick to those goals. Try to set a start and stop time, just like you would at home. When you close your laptop, really close it. Go explore. Take that walk. Eat somewhere new. The whole point of traveling while working is to live differently, not just relocate your desk.
Pack Your Toolkit
A few little things can make a big difference on the road:
A travel surge protector or multi-country adapter (you never realize how valuable this is until you don’t have one).
Noise-canceling headphones for busy spaces.
A VPN for online security (some employers may supply this or require their use for corporate security)
And, if you’re a planner like me, a digital calendar that shows multiple time zones.
Expect the Bumps — and Embrace Them
Working remotely while traveling isn’t always smooth sailing. Maybe the Wi-Fi cuts out mid-meeting. Maybe you have to take a call at 2am from somewhere just above the Arctic circle in January (been there!). But to be so real with you, those stories might just become your favorite ones later.
The flexibility and inspiration that come with working from new places far outweigh the small inconveniences. You learn to adapt, to think creatively, and to truly appreciate the moments of calm in between.
At the end of the day, remote work and travel both require the same things: curiosity, discipline, and a sense of adventure. When you blend them, you give yourself permission to build a life that feels a little freer. A life that lets you stay productive and watch the world go by.
Work doesn’t always have to mean standing still. Sometimes, the best ideas come when you’re halfway across the world, sipping coffee somewhere new, and realizing you’ve built a lifestyle that lets you take flight.
And if you’re ever wondering where to go or how to get there, you know who to call.
Yours in flight,
Tianna
