How To Work Online While Travelling
Working online while travelling
As many of you know, besides being a travel blogger, I am also an English teacher. Even as I travel, I continue to teach online from different locations.
There are definitely some supplies, strategies, and tips that help me to be successful working online as I travel.
Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad, or just be able to go away for a month and keep up with your work, this is my guide on how to work online while travelling.
Carry on bag for devices
Having a good carry on bag is essential to be able to hold all of your work supplies, electronics, and important personal items.
The bag should protect your laptop and any other electronics and supplies that you have and still fit in most carry on spaces of an airplane or other forms of transportation.
Personally, I think being organized is also key to being successful while travelling and working online.
For this reason I think that lots of pockets are also important to keep everything safe and organized.
I have different styles of carry on bags depending on the airline and how long I am travelling for.
This black small weekender bag above has so many neat pockets and packing areas!
There is a laptop pocket, a shoe pocket, lots of smaller pockets inside and a strap to connect this bag to your handle of your larger luggage.
It comes in 2 different sizes – personal item or carry on size.
To top it all off, it has a matching toiletry bag too! However, the downside of this one is that it has no wheels, so after you check your bigger luggage on wheels, you have to carry it.
If you prefer something with wheels, there is this rolling backpack shown above that comes with 3 packing cubes. It also has a special laptop compartment that has thick foam padding to protect your devices.
It’s also waterproof and tear proof, so whether you’re walking in the rain or putting your bag through airport security, your things should be safe.
You can click on any coloured text or photos for the links to the products.
This underseater 16″ luggage (blue) comes in different colours and has lots of great pockets. There is a special spot to put pens, phones, chargers, and of course a laptop or other device.
This bag fits under a seat on most airlines. It has water-resistant material.
There is room for clothing and other items in the main part. Also, the pocket for storing your laptop is padded for added protection.
If you need something bigger, this hard side spinner luggage even has a cup holder and a spot to rest your phone so you can watch or read something. It’s lightweight and a hard material, which is a bonus. It’s hard shell helps to protect your devices too.
It even has a USB and C port so that you can charge your phone or device.
Actually, this luggage comes in 3 different sizes, so buy according to your device size. There is a guide in the photos here: hard side spinner luggage.
What sold me on this one, is that when I am going through airport security, I don’t have to lay my bag flat on the ground to open it up all the way to pull out my laptop.
Instead I can open the front pocket and pull it out while keeping the rest of the bag closed. Genius!
How to protect your devices while travelling
This literally happened to me… I couldn’t believe it.
I just arrived, and I mean just arrived, in Puerto Vallarta for my first night! I checked into my hotel and put my carry on bag on the counter.
It somehow tipped over after sitting on the counter for over 20 minutes, maybe from uneven weight?
I don’t know… I didn’t touch it, but it fell… upside down on the cement wall, then the floor!
I held my breath as I picked up my luggage from the ground. I hesitantly looked inside, everything seemed ok…
I had my laptop in a thin protective sleeve… I slowly opened my laptop and the screen was cracked with lots of little pieces of glass in the protective bag.
It was a touch screen too! Then I noticed a big dent in the corner of the laptop too.
Luckily, it still worked, but I had to be very careful… no touch screen…
So, I learned my lesson… protect it even more! This is why I have different carry on bags, depends how much stuff I need to pack.
So, I knew that I needed more protection, so here are my go-to items to keep my laptop safer!
This blue puffy laptop protector bag comes in many colours and is very padded. It also comes in 3 different sizes, so you can match it to your device size. It’s the puffiness that gives it more protection.
When I want some heavy-duty protection that has a hard shell, I go with this water resistant heavy duty laptop case.
It comes in 2 sizes and has tie down straps to help keep your laptop in place within the case.
There’s a place for the mouse pad, cords and any other small items.
It has 4 layers of different materials to protect your laptop. They are the hard shell, foam, nylon, and neoprene.
If you have the space in your luggage, this bag is a great way to protect your laptop.
Keeping your devices charged while travelling
This wireless power bank with a stand is rounded which can be more comfortable in your hand. You can also put the phone on the stand and be hands free as you watch something or video chat with someone. The best part, you don’t have to worry about your battery running low because you’re charging it at the same time!
This thin portable charger on the right can connect with a USB A or USB C port. This one is very small and compact and smaller than the first option, but the first option has a stand to hold up your phone.
So, if you want to work online while travelling you need to keep your battery powered, so these power banks can help keep your devices charged.
Keeping small items organized
To help keep my bag organized, I will sometimes pack this cord and pen case organizer. It comes with a mesh pocket for cords, head phones, USBs and any other small things.
If you feel like you need more space, there is this electronic organizer bag that can fit your phone, more chargers USBs and even more than the first organizer.
Laptop or device stand
Depending on how long I am travelling and how much weight or room I have, I decide between 2 different laptop risers.
I always use a riser for 2 very important reasons.
- Ventilation. The laptop needs air to be able to flow from the bottom vents of the laptop. I know from experience, when you’re in a hot environment, it needs it even more. The fans work over time!
- Your body. It’s more ergonomically correct to use a riser so that you don’t end up with a sore neck, back, or jaw. You can raise the screen so that you’re not craning your head and neck downwards whenever you’re working.
The laptop tray desk is adjustable in height and it can be angled too.
This one is large though, it’s 23.6″ x 17.7″.
So, if you can pack it you will have lots of room to work.
You can use it while you work at a table or a bed. Your legs can fit under it if you’re on a bed.
If you need something that takes up less room in your bag, then this laptop holder and riser is super compact! It actually folds smaller than an umbrella and fits in a little pouch.
I choose this one when I don’t have a lot of weight or space.
It has 6 different adjustments of height. The only thing about this one, you just need to make sure that the typing angle is okay for you. I would test out the different settings to see what works best for you.
Carrying everything safely
You know those times when you’re trying to get all your luggage to the hotel or check in point, and you feel like you need more hands.
You keep taking breaks and switching hands as you muscle your luggage through the airport…
Well, I found a solution!
This add-a-bag luggage straps is great.
It can connect 2 or 3 bags together so that you don’t have to hold each piece of luggage with your hands separately.
Also, they’re adjustable for different sizes of luggage. Each strap can take up to 100 kgs of weight, so they are durable too.
If you think that this is a bit excessive, and you never travel with that much stuff, well I have another idea for you!
This single luggage strap is great if you only want to add 1 carry-on bag to the top of your checked or bigger luggage.
You can even coordinate it to match your luggage, as it comes in different colours and sizes. There is a size guide here: single luggage strap to help you pick the right size.
I have also used this strap to hold things like:
- a travel pillow
- a coat or sweater
- a blanket
- shoes
- duty free bags
- airport goodies
- food to bring on the plane
Obviously, I find it very useful when I only need to put 2 bags together.
One of these 2 straps are always with me if I have 2 bags or more.
Manage time zones
Lately, there has been a trend in countries not following day light savings anymore.
Some countries do, others don’t… who can keep track. But, it’s important when you’re working as a digital nomad with people around the world.
I am going to share my insider tips with you about how I easily keep track!
I use Time and Date to be in the know! It keeps me up to date with any latest news on countries that are no longer observing day light savings.
It will keep you up on the latest changes around the world!
Another important site that I use regularly is called Dateful.
I consider this site to be essential site for my work. It helps me to stay on track and never miss a class because a time zone mix up!
If a student wants to change a class, I pull up this site and check their time with my current time zone.
Use a calendar
I have a large calendar that I write on.
It has tearaway pages that are super easy to pack.
When I travel, I fold up the pages with the months that I need and easily pack them. They take up no space at all in my bag.
If someone changes the date of a class, I make the updates on my calendar and never have a mix up!
I use these tearaway calendar sheets so that I can leave my unneeded pages at home, as opposed to packing a whole agenda book or calendar.
They pack up very flat and small, they weigh nothing, and they are not in the way. Sometimes I place the pages inside my laptop as I am packing.
I also use this 8-pack of gel ink pens because they don’t bleed or smear on the pages or my things in my luggage.
It’s nice that there’s 8 colours because I can manage my calendar and classes well by using different colours for different time zones or other factors.
I also highlight special schedule changes, like if a student is changing the date or time of a class with a special box or colour around the change to remind myself.
Using different colours is especially helpful when daylight saving times is starting to help you to remember the changes.
Audio quality
If you’re doing videos, recordings, meetings or classes then I highly recommend this microphone.
I have this Blue Yeti microphone that is helpful to increase the quality level of my audio for students.
The microphone pivots down so that it is almost half the size as you see in the picture below.
It doesn’t take batteries or use an electrical cord. You just plug it into your computer with a USB port.
One thing to note, this microphone weighs 3.5 pounds. That’s fine for my situation, but I would like to let you know all the facts.
There are different sound controls, that I honestly don’t know too much about those in detail. I have never had a sound issue with my Blue Yeti microphone.
Wifi extender
Poor wifi… that is a nightmare for all digital nomads and people working online while travelling.
I always check the hotel or location reviews about wifi in advance using booking.com, but you never know until you’re there.
Maybe there’s bad weather or an internet issue happening that day…
So, what can you do… to help to prevent this struggle?
I always pack this super compact wifi adapter.
Now, I bet you’re thinking – microphone, wifi extender, a USB… It’s too many devices and not enough ports.
Problem solved! I bring this super small 4-port USB hub.
It lets you plug in more things to use with your laptop.
You can choose a USB A or a USB C and 3 different cord lengths too.
This 4-port USB hub has let me use a USB, my microphone, and my wifi extender all at the same time!
Peace and Quiet
Sometimes it’s loud… but you have to work…
Obviously, I don’t teach with ear plugs, that would be ridiculous.
Sometimes when I am preparing a new lesson, booking classes or writing a travel blog and it’s loud, I can use these to help me to concentrate.
Maybe you simply need to sleep so that you can work in the morning.
When you’re travelling and working, while others are vacationing and partying it can be an issue at times.
I have had this issue several times in Mexico!
What do you do? Well, if I need to sleep for whatever reason, work early, early flight, or it’s just very late, I use these ear plugs
If it’s not very dark or there are lights outside, this sleeping mask 100% blocks out light and has a 3D shape so it’s not sitting on your eyes.
It’s also super soft and light on your face.
A big part of being a digital nomad and knowing how to work online while travelling is to keep balance.
So, sometimes you need to shut out the party and distractions with whatever tools you can.
Pack a Sarong
So many uses for a sarong. I never go away without a sarong, sometimes I pack 2!
There are so many uses for them!
You can use it as a table cloth, then put your laptop on the surface to help keep it clean.
You can use it to cover up your laptop to protect it from the sun or other elements.
I have also used a sarong as a curtain to block out the sunlight if the curtains are not thick while teaching.
If you want to know about more travel hacks for using a sarong, check out 17 Ways to Use a Sarong while travelling.
These sarongs come in many different colours and designs.
Keep hydrated
It’s important to keep hydrated, especially if you’re in a hot climate.
This is another way that I keep balance. Taking care of your physical health is just as important while travelling and working online.
So imagine you set everything up, you’re working away, but you spill your drink on your laptop, or it tips over, or you forget your drink.
I like to pack this collapsible travel mug because it can be used for hot or cold drinks.
The 2 most important reasons that I choose this mug is because it is small and compact to pack, and it’s leak proof so you won’t spill on accident on your computer.
If you don’t want a travel mug, of if you’re looking for something more compact than you can choose this collapsible water bottle.
It comes in different shapes and sizes, but all of them are leak proof. This water bottle rolls up, then has a ring at the top so you can clip it on to a loop in your bag. this way you’re less likely to forget it if it’s clipped to your purse or laptop bag.
Both choices are made from safe materials, meaning no BPAs, and they both come in different colours.
Keep in contact
Another aspect of keeping balance and working online while travelling is keeping in contact with friends and family.
I use Airalo to get an eSim card, so that I can message and talk with anyone back home or anywhere else.
This way you don’t have to worry about being out of contact with friends and family.
Also, you will have service to help you with google maps, calling a hotel or other important details.
All you do is download the Airalo mobile app, then pick your package for your destination. It could be 1 country, 1 continent, world wide… whatever you want.
I also invite you to check out the Best Ways to Keep in Contact While Travelling.
Where to Stay
I find one of the most important decisions you can make as a digital nomad, or someone who works online while travelling is where to stay.
Your choices are not just about where there is a beautiful beach, but also about which country, town or city, and which area of that place, and finally which hotel.
These choices when researched will can help you to have better wifi services for your online work.
I use booking.com to check the reviews of hotels. Specifially, there is a spot that shows the wifi ratings for each hotel. I check the stars out, but I also read some reviews and check the dates of those reviews too.
I have found that this has helped me to avoid some major headaches and problems, and given me a more detailed opinion of different hotels.
You can use this widget to research, then book your hotel for any destination that you like!
Do you want to work online or be a digital nomad?
Are you a digital nomad? What do you do?
Do you sometimes work online while travelling?
Or maybe you’re thinking about starting to work online.
It can be wonderful, great views, great experiences, and amazing moments combined with still making money.
It can also be challenging, but having the right supplies with you and researching your destination and hotel can make it a lot easier!
Which tips do you find the most helpful? Do you have any to add to the list?
Besides being a travel blogger, I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Check out my services here!
