Showerthought: Working from cafes abroad isn't the budget travel dream

I see a lot of people saying to work remotely from low-cost countries to cut travel expenses... but from my experience, it often costs more in the end. Last year, I tried working from a few spots in Southeast Asia, thinking I'd save on lodging. However, unreliable internet meant buying expensive local SIM cards, and time zone differences had me taking calls at 3 AM. I also felt pressured to explore after work, so I spent more on meals and transport than planned. It turned my focus away from both my job and enjoying the place. In my view, a smarter budget hack is to plan shorter, dedicated trips where you aren't tied to a laptop. That way, you can truly relax without work hanging over you. Saving up for those breaks has made my travel more rewarding and actually cheaper overall.

4 comments

4 Comments

the_fiona14d ago

Honestly I found the opposite, I saved a ton by staying longer in cheaper places lol. You just have to be strict about your work hours.

rowan7151mo ago

Read a blog post saying the same thing about time zones.

logan_flores541mo ago

Totally get that, time zones are a nightmare sometimes.

annajenkins1mo ago

Seriously, time zones cause so much confusion. @rowan715 mentioning that blog post is spot on. Trying to schedule calls across zones is a total NIGHTMARE. You always have to double-check the math, and someone still gets it wrong. It just adds unnecessary stress to simple plans. The whole system feels outdated and messy.