Remote Work 101: Balancing Work and Travel (Part 22)

Published on Budget Nomad | 9 min read

Hey fellow wanderers!

So there I was, sitting in a hostel in Chiang Mai at 2 AM, panic-refreshing my laptop screen as the Wi-Fi died for the third time during a client call. My deadline was in six hours, I'd already rescheduled this meeting twice, and I was seriously questioning every life choice that had led me to this moment.

Sound familiar? If you're thinking about becoming a digital nomad, or if you're already out here struggling to juggle Zoom calls and temple visits, this post is for you. Because here's what nobody tells you about the "work from anywhere" dream: it's absolutely possible, but it requires way more strategy than those Instagram posts suggest.

After three years of working remotely from over 30 countries, I've finally cracked the code on balancing work and travel. Let me share everything I wish someone had told me before I bought that one-way ticket to Bangkok.

The Time Zone Nightmare (And How I Solved It)

Let's be real – time zones are the ultimate buzzkill of the digital nomad lifestyle.

I learned this the brutal way during my first month in Bali. I was working with clients in New York, which meant their 9 AM was my 9 PM. Sounds manageable, right? Wrong. I'd force myself awake for morning meetings, work through the evening, then stay up until 2 AM to hit deadlines. Meanwhile, I was completely missing the incredible sunrises, surf sessions, and everything else I'd moved to Bali for.

I was living in paradise and seeing none of it. Total fail.

Here's what actually works:

The Honest Conversation Approach: Before I book flights anywhere now, I have a straightforward chat with my clients. "I'm planning to be in Southeast Asia for three months. I can offer 3-4 hours of overlap with EST, or we can work asynchronously. What works better for your team?"

Most clients appreciate the honesty. Some need the overlap, some don't care as long as the work gets done. Either way, you know what you're signing up for before you're stuck in a terrible schedule halfway around the world.

The Night Owl Strategy: If you're naturally a night person (like me), working late hours can actually be perfect. I'm in Lisbon right now, and working 8 PM to midnight to overlap with US clients means I have entire sunny European days for exploring. I hit the beaches, wander through neighborhoods, eat long lunches at local markets, then settle into my evening work routine. It's honestly ideal.

The Async Life: But my absolute favorite solution? Going fully asynchronous. This means finding clients who care about deliverables, not face-time. I communicate through detailed Loom videos, comprehensive emails, and project management tools. No meetings, no required overlap hours, just results-based work. It's freedom in its purest form.

Pro tip: I keep a world clock widget on my phone with all my clients' time zones. Sounds obvious, but I can't tell you how many times this has saved me from sending a "quick question" message at 4 AM someone's time. Small detail, massive difference.

Wi-Fi: Your New Best Friend (Or Worst Enemy)

If I could give new digital nomads one piece of advice, it would be this: your accommodation's Wi-Fi quality matters infinitely more than its view.

I once stayed in this gorgeous treehouse in Ubud with a stunning view of rice paddies. Instagram gold. But the Wi-Fi? Absolutely tragic. I ended up spending 12 hours a day at cafes, schlepping my laptop through humid weather, spending money on overpriced coffee just to access decent internet. The "budget" accommodation became expensive real fast.

My Wi-Fi Hunting System Now:

Before booking anywhere, I don't just look at the Wi-Fi amenity checkmark – that's meaningless. I dive deep into recent reviews (like, within the last month) and search for keywords: "video call," "remote work," "upload speed," "stable connection." If three different people mention working online successfully, that's a green light.

I also join local digital nomad Facebook groups and straight-up ask: "Anyone know the Wi-Fi situation at [accommodation name]?" Nomads are brutally honest about internet quality because we all know how critical it is.

The First-Hour Test:

The moment I arrive somewhere new – and I mean within the first hour – I run speed tests. I use Speedtest.net at different times: morning, afternoon, evening. Because Wi-Fi that screams during breakfast might crawl during evening peak hours when everyone's streaming Netflix.

My minimum requirements: 10 Mbps download for general work, 25 Mbps for video calls. Anything less and I'm already planning my backup strategy.

Backup Plans Save Lives (And Income):

Here's my emergency kit: a local SIM card with unlimited data that I can turn into a mobile hotspot. In Vietnam, I paid $8 for 30GB. In Mexico, $15 got me unlimited for a month. This has literally saved client relationships when home Wi-Fi failed mid-presentation.

I also scout backup locations immediately – usually within 24 hours of arriving somewhere. I'll walk around, pop into cafes, ask about Wi-Fi, maybe order a coffee and test it. I keep a note in my phone: "Cafe Nomad – great Wi-Fi, quiet corner tables, coffee $2, opens at 8 AM." When disaster strikes, I know exactly where to run.

The Coworking Space Strategy:

I used to think coworking spaces were too expensive for budget travel. Then I realized: $10 for a day pass with bulletproof internet is way cheaper than losing a $500 client because your hostel Wi-Fi died during a pitch meeting.

I use them strategically now. Got an important presentation? Coworking space. Regular work day where I'm just grinding on a project? Home Wi-Fi is fine. It's about being smart with your resources, not avoiding them completely.

Plus, places like Chiang Mai, Canggu, Lisbon, and Medellín have incredible coworking scenes with free trial days. I've literally worked free in top-tier spaces just by taking advantage of "first day free" promotions.

Communication: The Skill That Changes Everything

Here's something nobody talks about: remote work isn't harder because you're traveling. It's harder because you're working across cultures, time zones, and technology platforms simultaneously. Communication becomes everything.

The "Working With Me" Document:

After one too many misunderstandings about availability and response times, I created a simple one-page document that I send to every new client. It outlines:

• My typical working hours (in multiple time zones)

• My preferred communication platforms

• My average response time (24 hours for emails, 4 hours for urgent messages)

• My availability for calls

• What qualifies as an "emergency"

• 
  

Sounds formal, maybe even unnecessary? It's prevented literally dozens of potential conflicts. Clients appreciate knowing what to expect, and I don't feel guilty about taking a day off to explore a new city.

The Magic of Async Communication:

When I first started working remotely, my messages were vague: "Hey, quick question about the project!" Then I'd wait 12 hours for a response because of time zones, only to engage in a frustrating back-and-forth that could've been avoided.

Now I write complete, actionable messages: "Hi Sarah! I'm working on the homepage redesign and have three questions: 1) Should the testimonials go above or below the pricing section? 2) Do you have high-res photos I should use, or should I source stock photos? 3) What's your deadline for the first draft – is Friday the 30th realistic? Looking forward to your thoughts!"

See the difference? That single message can move a project forward without requiring immediate back-and-forth. It's a game-changer when you're 12 hours ahead of your client.

Video Updates Are Pure Gold:

I discovered Loom about two years ago, and it's revolutionized how I work. Instead of writing a novel-length email explaining my progress, I record a 3-minute screen share video walking through what I've done. Clients love it because they can see progress visually, and it builds way more rapport than text ever could.

Plus, they can watch it whenever convenient for them. I record it during my work hours, they watch it during theirs. Perfect.

WhatsApp: The Universal Language:

If you're working with anyone outside the United States, get comfortable with WhatsApp immediately. It's how the rest of the world communicates. I've landed clients simply because I was responsive on WhatsApp while my competitors were waiting for email responses.

The voice note feature is particularly brilliant when you're on the move. I've sent project updates while walking to a café, clarified details while waiting for a bus, and built genuine relationships with clients I've never met in person – all through quick voice messages.

Setting Boundaries (Without Feeling Guilty):

This was my biggest struggle early on. I felt like I needed to be available 24/7 because I was "living the dream" of working from exotic locatios. Spoiler alert: being always available is the fastest path to resenting travel entirely.

Now I set clear office hours and protect them fiercely. When I'm working, I'm fully present for clients. When I'm exploring a new city, my phone is on "Do Not Disturb" except for genuine emergencies. This balance isn't selfish – it's what makes the lifestyle sustainable long-term.

I use Slack status messages religiously: "Working until 6 PM WIB," or "Offline exploring – back online tomorrow morning." Clear expectations mean fewer awkward conversations about why I didn't respond to a non-urgent message on a Saturday.

The Systems That Actually Work

Okay, let's get tactical. These are the actual systems and tools that keep my remote work life from descending into chaos:

Time Blocking Saves My Sanity:

I live and die by Google Calendar now. Every Sunday evening, I plan out my week in color-coded blocks: deep work time (red – do not disturb), meeting availability (blue), personal exploration time (green), and buffer time for the inevitable surprises (yellow).

This visual system helps me see at a glance if I'm overcommitting or if I have room to take that spontaneous day trip to a nearby town. It's the difference between feeling controlled by work and feeling in control of my schedule.

Project Management Tools Are Non-Negotiable:

I use Notion for everything – client projects, content calendars, expense tracking, travel planning, you name it. Everything lives in the cloud, accessible from any device, anywhere. No more "Oh no, I left that file on my external hard drive at the hostel" panic moments.

For client collaboration, it depends on their preference – Trello, Asana, or Monday.com. I've learned to be flexible with tools because fighting about platforms isn't worth it. But whatever we use, everything project-related lives there. No scattered information across email, Slack, and text messages.

Cloud Storage Is Your Safety Net:

Google Drive, Dropbox, or whatever you prefer – just use it religiously. I have a simple folder structure: Clients > [Client Name] > Projects > [Project Name]. Everything auto-syncs. I could drop my laptop off a cliff (please, universe, don't test this), buy a new one, log in, and have all my files immediately available.

The Communication App Collection:

My phone currently has WhatsApp, Telegram, Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. Is it excessive? Maybe. But different clients use different platforms, and I don't want to be that person scrambling to download and troubleshoot an app five minutes before an important call.

I've had calls on all of these at various points, often in the same week. Being platform-agnostic has literally saved client relationships.

The Reality Check Nobody Wants to Hear

Can we get real for a second? Working remotely while traveling is absolutely incredible, but it's not the laptop-on-a-beach fantasy that Instagram sells.

Most of my work happens in air-conditioned cafes, coworking spaces, or my accommodation. When I do occasionally try to work from a beach, I last about 30 minutes before the glare, heat, and sand make me give up. Those photos you see? They're for the 'gram, not actual productive work sessions.

The real magic isn't working FROM exotic places – it's working IN them. It's having the freedom to explore a new neighborhood every afternoon. It's being able to extend my stay in a city I love without asking permission. It's meeting fascinating people from around the world who are also building location-independent lives.

But that magic requires discipline, systems, and honestly, a lot of trial and error. I've lost clients because of Wi-Fi failures. I've burned out from terrible time zone management. I've had projects delayed because I prioritized beach days over deadlines. These mistakes taught me everything I now know about making this lifestyle actually work.

My Current Reality in Lisbon

Right now, I'm writing this from a small apartment in Lisbon's Alfama district. My rent is €650 a month – less than I paid for a bedroom in a shared apartment in my hometown. My work routine looks like this:

Morning (7 AM - 12 PM): I wake up naturally (no alarm!), make coffee, and spend the morning exploring. I walk through cobblestone streets, stop at local bakeries for pastéis de nata, sit in sun-drenched plazas, and just observe Lisbon waking up. This is the time that feeds my soul and reminds me why I chose this life.

Afternoon (12 PM - 2 PM): Lunch at a local restaurant where they know my order. I'm at the point where the owner greets me by name and the waiter doesn't even ask what I want anymore. These micro-relationships are what make a place feel like home, not just a travel destination.

Evening (7 PM - 12 AM): This is my prime work time. I have 3-4 hours of overlap with East Coast US clients, perfect for any necessary calls. Then I dive into deep work – writing, designing, strategizing. The city is settling down, I'm energized from my day of exploration, and I'm genuinely excited to work on projects because I don't feel like I'm sacrificing my life for them.

Late Night (12 AM - 1 AM): I usually end my day with a walk. Lisbon is incredibly safe, and there's something magical about walking through empty streets, reflecting on the day, feeling genuinely grateful for this weird, wonderful lifestyle I've built.

Is every day perfect? Absolutely not. Some days the Wi-Fi is terrible, deadlines pile up, I feel lonely, or I just miss having a "normal" life with routine and familiarity. But most days? Most days I wake up in disbelief that this is actually my reality.

The Bottom Line

Balancing work and travel isn't about perfect systems or ideal circumstances. It's about building flexibility into your work life, communicating clearly with everyone you work with, and being realistic about what you actually need to be productive.

It's about recognizing that some destinations are better for deep work (I'm looking at you, Chiang Mai) while others are better for lighter work weeks so you can explore more (hello, Barcelona). It's about knowing yourself well enough to design a lifestyle that actually works for you, not just what looks good on social media.

Start small if you're new to this. Maybe take a two-week trip somewhere affordable and test out working remotely before committing to a year-long journey. Figure out your Wi-Fi requirements, your ideal work hours, and how much structure you actually need to stay productive.

And remember: there's no one "right" way to be a digital nomad. Some people work 60-hour weeks and travel on weekends. Others work 20 hours and prioritize slow travel. I'm somewhere in the middle – 30-35 hours of client work, plus time building my own projects, with plenty of space for the exploration that makes travel meaningful.

The goal isn't to work less (though that's nice). The goal is to build a life where work and exploration coexist harmoniously, where you're not constantly feeling like you're sacrificing one for the other.

And that, my friends, is absolutely achievable. It just takes a bit more planning than those beach laptop photos suggest.

Currently nomading from Lisbon, Portugal. Next stop: Split, Croatia. Follow along for more honest takes on the digital nomad life, budget travel tips, and the occasional existential crisis about choosing adventure over stability. Let's connect!

What's your biggest challenge with remote work while traveling? Drop a comment below – I read and respond to every single one.

Related Posts You Might Like:

• How I Afford to Travel Full-Time on a Freelancer's Income

• The Truth About Loneliness as a Solo Digital Nomad

• My Actual Monthly Budget Breakdown: Lisbon Edition

• Why I Left Bali (And Where I Went Instead)