Guides
What actually makes a workation run smoothly.
No glossy listicle full of inflated product names. Here's what actually matters for working remotely — from gear to visas, taxes, and insurance. Organized by category, explained honestly.
The guides are our lasting reference on legal matters, taxes and gear; every article carries a last-updated date. Dated experience reports and data analyses are on the blog.
Categories
What you actually need.
Portable Monitor
A portable second screen can noticeably boost your productivity on longer trips — especially for code, spreadsheets, or video calls. Here is what actually matters.
USB-C Hub & Power
Coliving apartments rarely have enough outlets, and nobody wants to buy adapters at the airport. A well-thought-out power setup solves 80% of your daily infrastructure problems.
Noise Cancelling & Audio
Good active noise cancelling makes cafes, open-plan offices, and airports bearable. For calls, microphone quality matters more than sound brilliance.
Ergonomics on the Road
Laptop stand, Bluetooth keyboard, backpack ergonomics: three weeks in the wrong posture can ruin an entire trip. What you actually need — and what is overkill.
Connectivity: eSIM & Mobile Router
An eSIM and a mobile LTE/5G router solve 90% of your Wi-Fi problems on the road. What to look for when choosing and setting them up.
Packing Lists & Organization
Packing cubes, a document organizer, digital backups: the right systems save time every day when you move often, and cut mental overhead considerably.
Visa & Residency
EU freedom of movement makes Spain, Portugal & co. the easiest workation destinations. Outside the EU, your residency status decides — here is what Germans need to check.
Workation & Taxes: 183-Day Rule, Deductions, A1
The "183-day rule" is only half the truth. If you keep a home in Germany, you usually remain fully liable for tax there — and the destination country can still claim its share.
Social Security & the A1 Certificate
Within the EU, the A1 certificate keeps you in the German system. Outside it gets complicated — a country with no agreement can mean double coverage.
Health Insurance & Health Care
The EHIC covers emergencies within the EU — but not medical repatriation. For non-EU destinations, travel health insurance is strongly recommended.
Data Protection & Employer Approval
Accessing company data from a non-EU country may well trigger an international data transfer. Plus: a checklist for getting a solid employer approval.
What Is a Workation?
A workation means doing your normal job from somewhere you would otherwise go on holiday. What the term means, how it differs from remote work, sabbaticals and the digital nomad lifestyle, and what to sort out before you go.
Working remotely abroad: what’s allowed
Open the laptop and work from anywhere? Not quite. If you’re employed by a German or EU company, working remotely abroad needs your employer’s sign-off and a check on social security, tax, entry rules and working hours.
Digital Nomads: Visas, Countries, Costs
What sets digital nomads apart from people on a workation, which countries offer a dedicated digital nomad visa, and what to sort out on tax, residence and insurance.
Workation & Digital Nomad Accommodation: Coliving, Apartment, Hotel
Coliving spaces, rented apartments, hotels or group retreats: the right workation accommodation comes down to your workspace, the internet, the contract and the location. With a comparison table and checklist.