The last time we got together I discussed travel planning for working abroad. As promised here are my 6 tech tips about working remotely and exploring your new environment.
How times have changed. Now you can work anywhere that you can obtain Wi-Fi access. In turn, you can talk, text, or video with a simple data connection.
- Phone: My husband and I signed up for Google Fi phone service last year and save a bundle in the U.S. and abroad. It’s a sizable difference with no need to call the wireless provider to let them know you are traveling to the more than 200 global destinations available with Google Fi. We just got back from a month in Spain and calls were 20 cents/minute, data was $10/GB, and the text was unlimited on our $35 monthly phone plan for 2 users. That’s not a typo. Yes, you can BYOD (bring your own device) which in our case are Samsung’s purchased at Costco. Our September usage bill for both of us including voice, data, text, and taxes was only $55.43 while the previous month was only $53.66. Plus, it provides voicemail to text free-of-charge. We had Wi-Fi in our apartment rental so no data usage except when we venture out for directions to the awesome restaurants and sightseeing locations. In comparison, last year when we lived for a month in Bordeaux, France and signed up for the international Verizon Wireless plan charging $40 per line/monthly for 100 talk minutes,100 text, and 100 MB data and that was on top of my regular monthly rate which for 2 people was over $100 monthly. I inadvertently used my Pandora for a daily walk and racked up $25/100 MB in overcharges. In short order, we turned our phones off except for directions, making reservations or an unplanned emergency. Other cost-effective options to consider include international SIM cards, rentable global phones delivered before your trip, and WhatsApp that offers a small business app to download to your Android or iPhone for calling and texting. WhatsApp voice and video calls use your phone’s Internet connection, instead of your cell plan’s voice minutes, so you don’t have to worry about expensive calling charges.
- Internet: When my husband and I travel, we bring our computers and iPads. Two years ago, in Palermo, Sicily the apartment listing offered Internet but not the details including less than 1 MB speed, shared connection, and prepaid 40 GB monthly capped data plan. After days of frustration, I’ve since learned to ask for the details. First, I need to describe the apartment being built into the fortified Aragonese Wall constructed in the 1500s by the Spanish administration which was more than 3 feet thick but luckily had windows. Second, the router had to be placed limbs akimbo in a window for best signal access. The results were three-fold. The slow speed created video transmission pixelation issues plus whoever was using their device first had a better video quality. After streaming Netflix for 2 days on 2 devices, our data usage allocation was depleted for 32,80 euros. The apartment rental owner chided us which made me look for alternatives. The solution was ordering a pocket Wi-Fi router that was shipped to me in 3 business days from Milan. It provided options for 3G and 4G access, 150 MB download/50 MB upload speeds, unlimited data usage, and over 1,200 rental locations to drop off the unit for return after our month stay in prepaid return packaging. The cost was 3,70 euros/day with a small deposit of 35 euros. Brilliant.
- Local Transportation: Besides the obvious use of taxis and public transportation, I’m amazed where I have found ride-sharing companies. Uber is in approximately 70 countries including Morocco and Uruguay while Lyft is only in Canada and the U.S. I’ve used my Uber app with no problem in Croatia by doing the normal from and to directions. How simple is that?
- Voltage Transformer Converter: A universal power adapter is key to allow you to plug in your phone, computer, and other rechargeable devices. We purchased a country compatible wall plug by Bestek through Amazon which offers 2 electrical sockets and 5 USB ports for the wireless world we live in. For less than $40 we have power access in Australia and the EU with a universal travel adapter 220V to 110V voltage converter with a worldwide plug adapter. My only issue is it takes up weight and space in your luggage so make sure to look at the dimensions. Or have your significant other pack it! My solution since I tend to buy things to bring back home.
- Personal Hygiene: Not to forget your teeth, I have a tech solution for that as well. Through Amazon, I purchased my portable Sonicare electric toothbrush and an Ailifefort water flosser. You can recharge with USB or replace batteries. Yes, always bring extra batteries since they tend to cost more abroad than the volume purchase through Costco or online.
- Restaurant Reservations: We are foodies so enjoy traveling on our stomachs. I’m a senior contributor on TripAdvisor @hystericalhappiness with 381 contributions as of this writing. What’s great about this site is that you can map locations you want to visit, select food categories, and time of day to discover reviews with photos of potential restaurants. In Europe you will be referred to their subsidiary site The Fork or surprisingly Facebook for reservations. For those with language barriers, this is a no brainer to simply point and click.
Do you have any global travel tips to share? Would love to hear your thoughts on working remotely.
