After two months back in the UK, the most common question I have been asked when catching up with other business owners and self-employed people is:
How did it actually go working while traveling?
The answer? Great!
As a creature of habit, I couldn’t imagine what we would have done without work. Yes, there were a few late-night client calls and stressful moments, but that was a small price to pay for the experience. Before leaving, I was a bit apprehensive about how it would go and my priority was to travel and experience new places. We never worked a full day, allowing ourselves time to properly explore and enjoy each country without sacrificing work.
What I Learned
Letting Go A Little
Before this trip, I used to find even three weekends away from home a bit unsettling. I like routine but travelling and working forced me to let go a little.
From last-minute client calls to unexpected electricity blackouts on the Gili Islands, I had to learn to adapt and balance some uncertainty with my usual structured lifestyle.
Travelling Is Not a Holiday
We quickly realised that this wasn’t like a typical one or two week holiday. Instead of trying to cram in the top 10 tourist spots, we found ourselves creating mini lives in different places.
When we had busier work periods, we stayed in one spot longer. This meant less packing/unpacking and more stability to focus on work when needed, without missing out on the experience.
Top Tips for Working While Traveling
1. Choose Your Accommodation Wisely
As tempting as it sounds to work from a hammock or a cute beach café, practicality wins. The reality is that a comfortable chair, a desk and stable WiFi makes a huge difference.
Before booking a place, read reviews - especially ones that mention internet reliability. A dreamy location means nothing if you can’t actually get your work done.
2. Keep Travel Days Work-Free
It’s easy to think, Oh, my ferry arrives at 11 AM- I can take a call at 3 PM! or I’ll just work on the bus since it says it has WiFi.
Nope.
Buses are bouncy, ferries run late, and “WiFi on board” is usually a lie. We quickly learned to keep travel days work-free. That way, when I did have a good setup, I could get work done without unnecessary pressure but didn’t feel the guilt when I couldn't do anything.
3. Start Early
One of the best things about traveling around SE Asia? The light mornings!
If you can get out of bed early, you can easily get six hours of work done before lunchtime - leaving the rest of the day free to explore (depending on evening calls) which is a lot of time!
4. Schedule Actual Holidays
It sounds weird to plan a “holiday” when you’re already travelling, it’s definitely necessary!
When you’re in a work routine, it’s too easy to just open your laptop for “a quick hour” every day, and suddenly, you haven’t taken a proper break in 15+ days.
So, when we knew we’d be climbing a mountain or had only a short time to explore a destination, we “booked in” full days off.
And the Big Question… Would I Do It Again?
100% YES! I’d recommend it to anyone. It’s a fantastic way to travel while keeping your business running.
That said, while three months was an amazing experience, I think one month might be for me in the future!
