I love winter in Poland. But it’s too long for me and I always feel like packing up and leaving in February. That’s why I’m not surprised that other people are increasingly going to work remotely abroad. Many people are looking for a place where they can enjoy warmth and sunshine for most of the year, which is what many countries in Asia or even southern Europe offer.
This winter we went to Spain to work remotely and explore. This is a good choice due to many factors. First of all, the climate in Spain is milder than the Polish one. Depending on the region, the temperature hits 20 degrees Celsius in February. Besides, Spain is easy to get to.
This post will be about how to prepare to work remotely in Spain, but I also hope it will inspire you to travel and work from different places on earth. ?
Table of Contents
Working remotely from Spain – how to prepare?
I will divide the preparation for the trip into several parts. The first will be to answer how you want to get to Spain: by car or by plane?
Flights from Poland to Spain are offered by many low-cost airlines: that year we paid less than PLN 100 for tickets to Madrid and back. Besides, there are convenient car connections, and the roads are in good condition – this year we drove through France and Germany and it was an amazing adventure. What is a better way to get to Spain? What will be cheaper? Although flights seem to be cheaper, if you plan to be in Spain for a longer time and want to rent a car locally, it may be better to drive your car.
Where is the best place to work remotely in Spain?
Choosing the best region in Spain to work remotely depends on individual preferences, lifestyle, budget, timing, and weather requirements. Among digital nomads, the most popular are:
– Andalusia and Costa del Sol – this region is located in southern Spain and is known for its many attractions. It’s really warm there for most of the year.
– Canary Islands – a group of islands off the coast of Africa that enjoy a stable climate all year round
Other regions in Spain are, of course, no worse. This year we are stationed in Catalonia (Costa Dorada and soon, Costa Brava) and we are not lacking for sunshine. Yes, it’s a few degrees less than in Andalusia, but we were there last year and this year felt like something different. And if we stayed here longer, we would go north to the Basque Country.
Choosing an apartment for remote work
When going to work remotely, proper preparation of the workstation is key. Maciek and I work remotely daily, so we know what we will need when we go to work somewhere else. Not everything can be predicted, but it is important:
– A comfortable chair and desk/table – let’s agree, comfort is key for effective remote work. The desk should be large enough to accommodate all the necessary accessories. In our case, it should accommodate two people. ?
– Fast and stable internet – without a doubt, to work remotely we need a fast and stable internet connection. Before leaving, we make sure that the Internet connection will be fast enough to allow seamless use of the Internet, file transfer, and video conferencing.
– Heating or air conditioning – it’s worth checking if the place we’ll be in has air conditioning or heating. Spain can be cold in winter, even without snow. For that, in summer, temperatures sometimes exceed 40 degrees. Working in such conditions can be unpleasant.
Besides, depending on the possibilities, we take with us additional accessories (headphones, a second monitor for work). We look at making sure that the apartment has a separate bedroom and a separate dedicated work area. I know that online not everything can be checked, but in many places, you can write to the landlord/broker and ask around. Yes, it is possible to rent an apartment without checking and without contacting the landlord, but still, talking to someone who will rent the apartment to us gives a sense of comfort. We already know at the outset if we can get along with someone or not.
Technology tip!
When we are abroad for a long time, our search engine often prompts us with results from abroad. We don’t always want that, especially if we want to look for information in Polish, and we don’t know Spanish. ? If you want to avoid this, install a VPN so you can connect from Poland. Besides, it’s a good idea to prepare a technological survival kit for yourself before you leave.
Insurance, and working remotely
One aspect that requires a lot of attention is the question of insurance. In this case, much depends on what the law allows us to do. And this, in turn, depends on how we work (type of contract and internal arrangements in the company). Nevertheless, regardless of the type of employment, when leaving we must have insurance. In my opinion, it is worth buying private insurance, but I don’t want to advise you which one, because there are many changes in this topic, especially in recent months. I recommend that you see an advisor who will choose insurance that fits your preferences.
Our experience with remote work in Spain
In my opinion, working from Spain in winter was a hit. The comfort was mainly influenced by the fact that we had well-prepared workstations (such as high-speed internet, comfortable chair, and desk). The weather was fine, and we love sightseeing, so we explored Catalonia every day after work.
Working remotely from Spain is convenient not only because of the good weather but also because of the time zone. I think this element often affects productivity and comfort at work. When it’s 8 a.m. in our country, it’s the same in Spain (except in the Canary Islands, where there’s an hour difference). This allows you to work without changing your lifestyle: without getting up in the middle of the night or working until 2 in the morning.
Working remotely from Spain – why is it worth it?
One of the main reasons is the desire to change your surroundings and live in a new and interesting place while continuing your work. Spain allows for this. The climate, easy access, interesting culture, and numerous tourist opportunities are just some of the many advantages of this country. We were tempted by the attractions, weather, and landscapes. Besides, Spanish cuisine is world famous. Many people who, like us, work remotely in Spain take advantage of these opportunities and combine work with pleasure.
See also:
Malaga – Best Things to Do & Top Places to Visit
Hospitalet del Infante – Here You Spend a Beautiful Vacation
