Picture this: You’re sitting on the beach, sand between your toes, and a laptop on the edge of your lounge chair. You’ve been sending emails from this spot all day.

Does this sound like paradise? Well, it’s a real possibility in today’s world. With the internet, remote working opportunities, and personal storage options, this dream can be a reality. 

If you’re wondering how to work remotely and travel or how to become a digital nomad, this guide is for you. 

Must-Haves

While working and traveling isn’t an overcomplicated affair, there’s more to it than picking up and leaving town. From Costa Rica to Casablanca, no digital nomad is ready without these work-and-travel essentials.

1. A Remote Job

Your first requirement is a job that allows you to work remotely. With the COVID-19 pandemic changing work culture, more and more jobs may offer remote possibilities, making the work-travel lifestyle more attainable than ever. For many jobs, as long as there is an internet connection, you can do your work anywhere. 

Full-time remote work is an option, although you’ll probably want to stay in or near your office’s time zone to avoid working overnight. This type of digital nomad lifestyle is best for van life or travel within North America.

Part-time and freelance jobs add another level of flexibility. The ability to choose your own hours, hourly rate and projects is an advantage when you want to explore. For those looking to see all kinds of new places, freelance work is ideal.

2. A Laptop

You may have considered the possibility of working strictly from a smartphone or tablet. While this may work for certain small freelance opportunities—a laptop is ideal for larger, more hands-on projects. A full-size keyboard, a wireless mouse, and some noise-canceling headphones can ensure your remote work arsenal is optimized for any work opportunity you encounter during your work-travel.

If you’re traveling in a van, RV, or bus, consider allocating resources to a built-in office space. There are plenty of DIY tricks to creating a simple yet robust portable workspace. 

With your laptop, workspace, and work arsenal, you can minimize distractions and maximize time spent on leisurely travel.

3. A SIM Card

Depending on where you are, reliable internet can be scarce. SIM cards are often as cheap as $5-10 per month and allow you to complete some work on buses and trains, too. Plus, a SIM card facilitates communication with your coworkers and your loved ones back home.

You can typically pick one up at the airport when you land or head into town for slightly better deals.

4. A Storage Unit Back Home

Unless you plan to move abroad indefinitely, you’ll likely be returning home at some point. While you may not want to pay for a vacant apartment during the time you spend overseas, you’ll undoubtedly want to keep your cherished keepsakes.

A self-storage unit is an inexpensive way to give yourself peace of mind while you’re away. And you’ll be glad all of your stuff is safe and in one convenient place when you return.

5. An Adventurous Spirit

The digital nomad life is full of twists and turns, and you need to keep an open mind to pull off a successful working holiday. WiFi will go down; trains will be late; ordering food in a foreign language can be stressful.

Our advice? Take it in stride—it’s all part of the experience. 

Remember why you decided to leave your desk in the first place and enjoy the culture wherever you wind up.

Other Considerations for Working While Traveling

Besides the necessities listed above, there are a few other aspects of being a remote worker that you should keep in mind.

Visas

If you plan to travel outside of the U.S., be sure to look into visa requirements for foreign countries. Americans are lucky—the U.S. passport is one of the most accepted visas in the world. U.S. citizens can visit over 100 countries either visa-free or with a visa on arrival, and working remotely for a U.S. company means you can enter on a tourist visa.

With that in mind, most countries limit the amount of time you can spend within their borders—even those that don’t require a visa. Make sure you know how long you have, as overstaying your visa can have serious consequences.

Passive Income

If you can find a stream of passive income while you travel, you’ll have more time to spend exploring, meeting new people, and experiencing other cultures.

Here are some different ways you can generate passive income while traveling:

  • Rent out your home or car while away
  • Utilize affiliate marketing if you have a blog
  • Invest in a company that pays dividends

Coworking Spaces

Life as a remote employee can become lonely month after month. Coworking spaces provide the social aspect of an office space without the routine.

Look for coffee shops and coworking spots to connect with like-minded freelancers. They might even be able to show you around town.

Remember to Breathe and Slow Down

Visiting a new country or continent is exciting. The temptation to change cities every three days is powerful. Because you’ll be spending some of your time working, you’ll probably want at least a week in each place to really get a feel for it.

Make sure you take time to relax and see the sights as well. And if you fall in love with a location, consider a short-term rental and stay for a month or two.

Storage Solutions for the Nomadic Lifestyle

Whether you plan to work from your RV or a café in Greece, you’ll want somewhere to store your personal belongings. Paying for an empty home or condo doesn’t make financial sense; renting a storage unit does.

At Price Self Storage, we understand the needs of the digital nomad. Let us store your stuff so you can spread your wings. We offer a large variety of units in different storage sizes. Give us a call today—we’d love to hear about your plans.

Sources: 
Passport Index. United States of America Passport Dashboard.https://www.passportindex.org/passport/united-states-of-america/