In 2023, being a digital nomad is at an all time high. With people working directly from their computers all around the world, the opportunities are endless! As long as you have reliable wifi and a quiet place to get your work done, you are good to go!
In the past, I would stay at hostels that weren’t very “digital friendly” and because of that, it would always force me to find a work friendly coffee shop in the town or in some cases – not completing my work at all.
That was until I found out that some hostels are built directly for digital nomads and creating environments that make you just as productive – if not more productive as being home or in an office.
One of my first experiences with a hostel like this was at Hi Seattle at the American Hotel. A spacious hostel in the heart of Seattle, Hi Seattle was voted Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in 2019 and has maintained a strong reputation with digital nomads visiting Seattle ever since.
When I first discovered digital nomadism, I came up with a set of standards for each place that I visited while working. I’ll go over each one, so you can see what is important for you!
Let’s dive in!
1. Fast and Reliable WIFI:
In today’s day and age, it is nearly impossible to get work completed without access to the internet. When you stay at a place with fast and reliable wifi, it makes the work experience match that of working at home or in an office. On the contrary, when you are struggling to gain access to wifi or it keeps cutting in and out, a wave of anxiety rushes over you in fear that you won’t be able to complete your tasks for the day.
Of course, an accommodation could say they have fast and reliable wifi, but when you get there it seems non-existent. What I like to do prior to booking is see where the location is on the map, and find the nearest coffee shops around. That way I always have a backup option just in case.
Bonus tip: visit the location on Booking.com and filter the reviews by ones that contain the word “wi-fi”!
How Hi Seattle ranked among this requirement:
From the moment I checked in, Hi Seattle had fast, safe, and reliable wifi that allowed me to check my email, edit videos, search the internet, and even watch movies at the end of the day.
There was not a moment, where there felt like bandwidth issues would take away from my workflow and productivity while working and traveling.
2. Options of Where to Work
When you go to a new city or even visit a familiar place, you are not looking to be cooped up in your room all day working. This can be extremely hard for digital nomads especially when you have things that need to be done while discovering a new space.
My ultimate hack has been to switch it up and work from somewhere else in the building. Instead of your room, you can find a place to work from in the hostel that is different from where you sleep. Whether that is a table in the kitchen dining area, a common area with few people, or if you are lucky a co-working space is the exact answer you should be looking for.
A co-working space is basically a study room where you can go for peace and quiet while you complete your daily tasks without being bothered. Hostels can definitely get overwhelming with the amount of people, conversations, and distractions that come with that. To be able to have a space that is designated to work and studying, it makes the work feel easy and limits the amount of time you need to be doing work.
How Hi Seattle ranked among this requirement:
Hi Seattle offers a magnitude of places to work from to switch up your day. From the common areas on each floor, the kitchen with ample amounts of seating, or the multiple co-working spaces right near the lobby, it is hard to not find the right space for you.
I focus better with a quiet environment where I can isolate myself and get things done. So I decided to choose the co-working spaces because the amount of people was limited and there were zero distractions while I completed my tasks.
For others, socialization falls into their daily routine especially when working – and I totally get that. In that case, I’d suggest working in one of the common areas or at one of the many booths offered in the kitchen. That way, as people come and go you can strike up a conversation in passing.
Hi Seattle truly has the best of both worlds and I think that is what makes it so special to me and other digital nomads.
3. Private Work Space
Contrary to the previous example, sometimes you need to be in solitude away from everything. If you have a deadline to meet, a meeting to attend, or even just need some time alone, having a space to do so is extremely important. This is especially important when traveling and trying to make the most out of the time you have at each place. Time becomes extremely valuable.
How Hi Seattle ranked among this requirement:
When I visited Hi Seattle, I decided to get a private room with a bathroom because I did have some things I needed to get done. To my suprise, when I walked in there, there was a love seat which is one of my favorite work spots but it also had a desk in the corner of the room.
Instead of having to work from the bed or the love seat the entire duration of my trip, I had the opportunity to set up the desk for a productive day of work. Being task oriented, this allowed me to get my tasks done faster and gave me more time to explore the beautiful city of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
This was one of the main reasons Hi Seattle joined the top of my list for places to work at while traveling as a digital nomad.
When it comes to working, everyone likes a different environment. I think this becomes especially true in today’s day and age with people preferring to work in the office, hybrid, or straight from home. The same preference goes for digital nomads and what they prefer.
If you like working in your room, a coworking space, a common area, or even finding a local coffee shop around town to get a taste of the local life, having a choice is extremely important. Having the opportunity to switch up your work space and the place you work from, is a key to being a digital nomad.
To make this easier, SafetyWing has recently launched the Coworking Collection, a curated list of their favorite coworking and coliving spaces around the world. Plus, find discount codes and promos so you can get the best deal.
Make sure to check this out HERE!
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