Unstable Wi-Fi is one of the most common frustrations on workations. Cafes disappoint, coliving routers hang, and streaming only works sporadically. If you rely professionally on reliable connections, you need your own connectivity strategy. eSIM and a mobile router are the two most important building blocks — but they only work if you know their quirks.
eSIM: advantages, limits, and setup
An eSIM is a digital SIM card programmed directly into the device — no physical swap, no pin needed to eject a SIM tray. For travelers, that means you can buy and activate a local data plan before you even leave. Important limitation: not all devices support eSIM (especially older Android models), and not every eSIM provider covers every country. Test that activation works before departure — support abroad tends to respond more slowly.
- Check device compatibility before buying
- Buy the eSIM before departure and test activation
- Check data allowance and validity (days vs. GB) carefully
- Clarify roaming terms: some eSIMs only work in the home country
Mobile router: the most reliable fallback
A mobile LTE/5G router (also called a hotspot or MiFi) turns a local mobile network into your own Wi-Fi. That lets your laptop, tablet, and phone connect at the same time. What matters for international use: the router must support the destination country's frequency bands. Not every device supports all the bands used worldwide — a dual- or triple-band device with broad frequency support is necessary.
- Check the destination country's LTE bands (B1, B3, B7 for Europe; B2, B4, B12 for the US)
- Connection count: at least 5-10 simultaneous devices
- Battery life: at least 8 hours
- Insert your own local SIM or use an eSIM-capable model
Data plans: what is actually cheap
Local SIM cards at your destination are usually cheaper than international roaming plans — but you have to buy and set them up physically. International eSIM providers offer regional plans (e.g. "Europe" or "Asia") that are more convenient but often cost more per GB. For short trips or trips crossing several borders, regional eSIM plans can still be more attractive than country-specific SIM cards.
- A local SIM from the airport or a phone shop is often the cheapest option
- A regional eSIM for multi-country trips
- Estimate data usage realistically: 1-2 GB/day for normal work
- Backup plan: your phone as a hotspot as a last resort
Assessing and securing connection quality
Before booking or moving into a coliving space, it's worth looking up speed-test results online or asking directly. For video calls, 5-10 Mbit/s upload and under 50 ms latency is enough. Using a VPN abroad makes sense but can reduce connection speed — pick a fast VPN server that is geographically close.
- Ask for a speed test before moving in or booking
- For video calls: 5+ Mbit/s upload, under 50 ms ping
- Pick a VPN server as close as possible to your current location
- A dual-SIM phone as a mobile hotspot without an extra device
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