A few years ago I had a crucial client meeting in Sri Lanka. A massive storm had knocked out the internet everywhere. After a frantic search in the middle of the night, I found a man in the jungle with a hand powered modem. I ran the meeting from there, surrounded by wild animals. My client had no idea. I tell the full story in a crazy meeting deep in the Sri Lankan jungle.
It worked out. I would not plan it that way again. Internet is the one thing a digital nomad cannot leave to luck.
Research before you book
Not doing your research is one of the five mistakes people make when becoming a digital nomad. Before you book a place to stay:
- Read recent reviews and search them for “wifi” and “internet”.
- Ask the host for a speed test screenshot. Good hosts will send one.
- Find two or three coworking spaces or cafes nearby with good reviews from remote workers.
- Ask in local groups which mobile network works best in that area.
Test it the day you arrive
Run a test on Speedtest at your desk, at the time of day you usually work. Then make a test video call. Speed is only half the story. A connection that drops every ten minutes is worse than a slow one that stays up.
If the first week shows it will not work, move. That is why I always book a short stay first, then look for a monthly rental once I know the area.
Carry your own backup
Your phone is your best backup. Buy a local SIM with plenty of data as soon as you land, or set up a travel eSIM before you fly if your phone supports it. When the wifi fails, turn on your hotspot and keep going.
For long stays in places with patchy power, a power bank keeps your phone and router alive through short cuts.
Know your backup spots
Write down three places you can work from at short notice: a coworking space, a hotel lobby and a cafe with good wifi. When the power goes out at home, you do not want to be searching for a plan. You want to be walking to one.
Sometimes the internet surprises you. On the way to a surf break, a friend and I broke down in the middle of nowhere. The breakdown spot had excellent internet, so we did a full day’s work in the truck while we waited. I wrote about it in seven crazy adventures.
Work offline first
Do your deep work offline. Writing, designing and editing do not need a connection. Download the files you need the night before, switch off notifications and get the real work done. Then go online to send, upload and reply.
My guide to a digital nomad daily routine shows how to plan your day this way.
Tell clients what happens when it drops
Clients do not need perfect internet from you. They need to trust you. Agree a simple rule: if a call drops, you will rejoin from your phone within five minutes, or send a message with a new time. Then keep that promise.
Plan big calls inside your shared hours and never on a travel day. My guide to digital nomad time zones helps you find those hours.
Research, test, back up. Do those three things and the internet stops being a worry. You can save the hand powered modems for the stories.
Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash.
My free guide to leaving the office behind: the steps I took to build a business I can run from anywhere.
P.S. It is free. Read it on your next flight.
