The realities of work and travel might not have been what you thought. I will go over the 5 pitfall that we have faced while traveling and working through 36 countries over the last two years. I’ll include stories and tips that could truly change the way you approach this lifestyle, especially the last one.
Hi, We are Nic and Tamz, we share travel tips and business insights that we learned from growing our business past six figures while traveling around the world. If you’re looking to travel and live life on your own terms, join our community.
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1. Unreliable Internet
One of the most obvious but often overlooked issues is unreliable internet.
When Nic and I first began traveling, we assumed that finding reliable internet would be easy, just like booking a good hotel room. We booked our stays through Booking.com and relied heavily on the overall Wi-Fi ratings provided. However, we quickly realized that these ratings weren’t always accurate. For instance, during a trip to the Philippines, we were drawn to a place advertising ‘blazing fast Wi-Fi.’ Unfortunately, the reality was a slow connection that could barely handle an audio call on Zoom, which, as you know, affected our work.
Tip: To ensure a reliable internet connection while traveling, read the most recent guest reviews, focusing specifically on their comments about the internet quality. These up-to-date reviews give a clearer picture than the overall ratings, which might not reflect the current state of the Wi-Fi.
We also found that having a reliable mobile hotspot as a backup has been a lifesaver. We use Airalo, an international e-SIM. It’s easy to set up, offers destination or regional packages, and allows us to have access to the internet as soon as the plane touches the ground. If you’re looking for reliable internet while traveling like us, you can use the link to get $3 off your next Airalo purchase.
2. Diet
You’ve probably seen those videos like “You walk 20K steps in Japan but eat this, this, and this…” Well, there’s some truth to them. You really can’t “walk yourself skinny” if you’re eating your way through every night market. Believe me, I’ve tried. Whenever Nic and I arrive in a new city, it’s incredibly tempting to dive into all the local street food, which is not only delicious but often quite affordable.
Tip: Travel slower. That way, you don’t feel pressured to try every local delicacy in one go. We have found that when we are full, we don’t get to enjoy each dish fully. By traveling slower, we can space out all the different dishes we want to try over multiple days, giving each dish a fair chance to impress us.
While it might not be for everyone, Nic and I start our day with oats and protein powder for breakfast. It sets the right tone for the day, making us more likely to eat better overall. Are we perfect? Absolutely not! But sticking to this routine has really helped us maintain a balance so far.
3. Burnout
Burnout—what exactly is it? According to WebMD, burnout is a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped.
You might wonder, how can someone experience burnout while living their dream life? It’s actually quite possible if you’re constantly pushing yourself to work hard and play hard 24/7. Nic and I found ourselves exploring cities all day and burning the midnight oil every night. Eventually, it gets to a point where you just want to hide in your hotel room, too tired to explore another new city.
Tip: We realized we needed to find a better balance. Exploring for just 3 to 4 hours a day worked best for us. Then, we spent the rest of the time relaxing or working back at the hotel. This routine helped us enjoy our travels without the burnout.
4. Insurance and a Financial Buffer
Living a carefree, YOLO-style life is all fun and games until something unexpected throws a wrench in your plans. That’s why everyone always talks about the importance of having a rainy day fund.
You might wonder how this relates to working and traveling. For us, we rely solely on our laptops to generate income. Let me share a couple of unfortunate incidents we have faced:
Once, I left my laptop on the bed, and Nic accidentally sat on it. The frame bent, and it started making a strange sound every time I opened it. Luckily, we managed to send it to Apple early as they said it could have affected other components in the future.
Another time, Nic left his laptop on a table in a bungalow where we were staying. Overnight, ants decided it was a great spot to move in. By morning, ants were pouring out of the laptop’s ports. Despite his best efforts to shake them out, they had already ruined the speakers. This did not interrupt us from generating income as he could plug in earphones, but it was definitely a real inconvenience.
Tip: Fortunately, we had insurance that covered the cost of repairs, but if you have never claimed from insurance, here is how it generally works:
Inform the insurance company of the incident.
Get a quote for the repairs.
Send the quote to the insurance company for approval.
Once approved, you would need to pay for your repairs upfront and send your receipt to the insurance company.
After a certain number of days or weeks, your insurance would reimburse you for the repairs minus the excess.
This is why it is important to have a financial buffer even if you have insurance, to be able to afford the upfront payment.
5. The Type of Work
There are many videos out there that suggest possible side hustles you can do to make money online, but if your goal is not just to make money online but to also travel, choosing the right type of job is crucial to avoid the hassle of time zone differences. Initially, we considered roles like project management, which often require frequent calls and meetings. However, constantly adjusting to different time zones became a significant challenge.
Tip: Jobs requiring less communication—like website design, graphic design, copywriting, or social media management—are much better suited for our nomadic lifestyle. These roles offer more flexibility since they don’t demand constant real-time interactions, allowing us to work at our own pace, regardless of the local time.
So, those are the top five pitfalls to watch out for when you blend travel with work. If you’ve found these insights useful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this blog—it would really help our channel. Share your own travel-work tips in the comments below—we’d love to hear how you manage the balance between work and travel. Safe travels and see you in the next blog!