Remote Work While Traveling: How I Built a Freelancing Abroad Career from Scratch

Wait for some distant, mythical age to give myself permission to explore the world? Or burn through my savings, praying they’d somehow stretch to cover years of slow travel?

Building my freelancing career from a Starbucks patio—where the Wi-Fi’s reliable, the view is interesting, and the decaf taste good.

Why I Refused to Choose Between Work and Travel

Most assume there’s no in-between—either grind away at a career until retirement. Or chuck it all to travel.

I didn’t like these options. 

That’s where remote work while traveling came in. I chose remote work while traveling instead of waiting for retirement.

I chose to design a life where I could finance my travel adventures as I went. 

For women over 50, there’s often an unspoken message that it’s “too late” to start something new or take risks. Not true. 

Knowing that my SEO, writing, and teaching skills aren’t confined to an office or a zip code provided the extra motivation and incentive, despite the skepticism voiced by others. I knew that if I provided value to clients from a cubicle, that I could provide value from a cafe in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Boquete, Panama, or anywhere I chose.

Of course, figuring out how to make this sustainable long-term required more than just hopping on a plane with my laptop. That’s when freelancing abroad became the key to stability. Freelancing gives me the freedom to choose who I work with and take power over my income—without tethering me to one location.

Remote work while traveling and freelancing abroad are not reserved for tech bros in their 20s. These are viable, flexible, empowering paths no matter where you are in life. I’m living proof.

Now there’s no single formula for how to build a freelancing career while traveling solo. But I can tell you exactly how I make it work—and the practical moves that keep me thriving. What works for me might spark ideas for you, and if nothing else, I hope it shows you that there’s no deadline or “right” way to start. Here’s how I did it:

Step One: Identifying Skills I Could Sell While Abroad

Freelancing abroad sounds glamorous, but no one is handing out paid gigs because you’ve racked up passport stamps.

Once I made the decision to pursue remote work while traveling, I realized failure would be fast if I didn't get down to business. First things first: I needed to be very clear about what I could offer that people would pay for—consistently.

I took inventory, not just of my resume, but of everything I felt that I am genuinely good at. I asked myself three blunt questions:

1. What skills do I have that solve real problems for people or businesses?

2. Can those services be delivered entirely online, without me needing to show up in person?

3. Would clients care where I’m located, or just care that the work gets done well and on time?

   
   

SEO, writing, and teaching ticked all the boxes. These skills aren’t flashy, but they have demand, are recession-proof, and highly adaptable. More importantly, they are skills I have honed over years. And this is stuff I really love doing!

If you’re considering freelancing abroad, start with this same brutally honest assessment. You don’t have to reinvent yourself. If you’re my age you likely already have a skill set ripe for remote freelancing.

Transferable Skills Women Over 50 Already Have (But Don’t Know Are Valuable)

Here’s the part no one talks about: so many women I meet on the road underestimate the goldmine they’re sitting on. Beyond traditional career roles, you’ve likely developed skills like:

• Project management: You’ve mastered juggling complex tasks, competing deadlines, and ever-shifting priorities—whether in corporate roles or in real life. To the single moms whose kids are now adults, your skill sets could rock this.
  

• Client relationship management: Years of knowing how to read people, manage expectations, and keep relationships healthy translate directly into freelance success.
  

• Consulting and mentoring: Your lived experience alone can guide others—whether that’s newer professionals, businesses needing fresh insight, or peers seeking direction.
  

• Executive-level support & strategic administration: Maybe you’ve kept teams, executives, or entire operations running smoothly behind the scenes. Those organizational, problem-solving, and coordination skills are highly sought after by entrepreneurs and remote businesses who need someone reliable, detail-driven, and resourceful—no corner office required.

These are the types of skills that translate into services that businesses, entrepreneurs, and even other freelancers need help with. Package them up and suddenly, you’ve got the building blocks of a remote career.

The key is looking beyond the obvious job titles you’ve held. Skills don't need to fit neatly into a LinkedIn category. They just need to solve a problem.

I didn’t start by chasing every opportunity, but by doubling down on what I already knew how to do really well.

Step Two: Setting Up a Remote Work Foundation Before I Packed a Bag

Freelancing abroad can feel effortless to the outsider, but it’s anything but. The flexibility, freedom, and “work from anywhere” lifestyle is only sustainable if you handle the unglamorous essentials first.

So,once I had clarity about which skills I could confidently sell, the next step was building a rock-solid foundation to make remote work while traveling possible—not in theory, but in actual, bill-paying practice.

Showed up ready to work at Kuala Lumpur’s main library—only to find out it was closed for a holiday. Freelancing abroad means rolling with the unexpected… and finding the next best Wi-Fi spot

Creating My Digital Headquarters

I treat myself like my own best client. I built a website—to showcase what I offer, and serve as my samples. For anyone starting out, even one strong client project, paired with a clear service offering, beats a dozen vague promises.

Payment Systems and Paperwork That Work Globally

Here’s something you don’t want to learn the hard way: setting up international-friendly payment systems before you hit the road is non-negotiable. I ensured clients could pay me without friction—whether through PayPal, Wise, Stripe, or direct bank transfer. I checked currency conversion fees and made peace with them.

I also drafted contracts that accounted for time zones, communication preferences, and deadlines. Even small clauses about preferred messaging apps and turnaround times saved me hours of headache later.

Finding Clients While Still at Home

Another crucial piece? Securing my first few freelance clients before ever setting foot on a plane.

I didn’t leave this to chance. I tapped my existing network—former employers, industry colleagues, even friends of friends—and let them know I was offering services remotely. I joined niche freelance platforms, but only those where serious clients were willing to pay for expertise.

The key takeaway: freelancing abroad requires treating your career like a portable business, not a side hobby.

Step Three: How I Balance Work Commitments and My Life as a Graceful Roamer

It’s one thing to land clients, pack your bags, and launch into freelancing abroad—it’s another to keep all the balls in the air once you're moving through time zones, currencies, and cultures. 

Building a remote career is a serious commitment. Balancing that with solo travel requires a system that allows you to honor your work and your freedom. Without it, you’re either constantly glued to your laptop, or worse, scrambling to meet deadlines while missing the very experiences you traveled for.

Frayed tape and busted cones show what happens when boundaries wear thin. I keep mine solid—so my momentum stays strong.

My Non-Negotiable Boundaries

When I became a full-time Graceful Roamer I set non-negotiable boundaries around my working hours. That’s not to say I stuck to a 9-to-5 schedule (far from it)—but I needed clear windows of time where client work got 100% of my focus, regardless of whether I was in a bustling city or a remote village.

For me, that often means working early mornings or late evenings to sync with clients across various time zones, leaving mid-days free for exploration. I also block out "off-grid" days in advance—days when I’m on the move or visiting areas with unreliable connectivity—so I can manage client expectations proactively.

Choosing Work-Friendly Locations

I’ve learned to prioritize destinations with infrastructure that supports my lifestyle.

Yes, I love spontaneity, but reliable Wi-Fi and safe accommodations tip the scales when I’m planning where to go next. That doesn’t mean every destination has to be a major city. Some of my best working days have happened in smaller, lesser-known towns—with a little research ahead of time, you can find excellent places to base yourself while freelancing abroad.

Avoiding Burnout by Designing My Days

The temptation to overpack your schedule is real. Early on I decided that I couldn't (and didn’t want to) operate at full-throttle all the time.

Instead, I designed days that allowed both meaningful work and meaningful experiences. Some days are client-heavy; others are set aside for hiking, people-watching, or simply resting. I no longer believe in “balance” as a perfect equation—it’s about creating a flow that serves you.

That’s how I built a lifestyle as a Graceful Roamer—not by working constantly or traveling chaotically, but by finding harmony between the two.

Step Four: Growing My Freelancing Abroad Career on the Road

Getting started as a freelancer abroad is one thing. Growing and sustaining that career while crossing continents is another entirely. My strategy: avoid treating my freelancing as a stopgap. I needed to build it as a business—portable, flexible, but stable.

Tapping Into Global Networks

Shifting mindset was key: I stopped thinking of my client base as tied to my home country. Working remotely while traveling opens up global opportunities, but only if you're actively looking beyond familiar borders.

I joined international freelancer communities—not the noisy, generic ones, but niche groups tied to my specific skill sets. Platforms like LinkedIn became more than just a place to post a resume—they were my virtual handshake, a way to connect with clients, collaborators, and other digital professionals worldwide.

I also made it a point to attend networking events whenever possible—both in-person (hello, co-working space mixers!) and virtually. Just because I was moving didn’t mean I couldn’t cultivate professional relationships. In fact, meeting fellow entrepreneurs, business owners, and travelers often led to unexpected referrals and collaborations.

Creating Visibility Systems That Work While I Sleep

One of the smartest decisions I made was setting up visibility systems that didn’t require me to be “on” 24/7. That meant maintaining an updated, optimized website that showcased my unique edge as a freelancer abroad. It meant publishing content—whether blog posts, or digital magazine articles, or through other platforms like Medium that positioned me as an expert, long after I’d hit “publish.”

This evergreen content worked as my silent sales team. Brands, editors, and potential clients could find me, vet me, and reach out without me needing to be constantly pitching.

Leveraging Referrals & Relationships

Relationships matter, no matter how nomadic you are. Every client interaction is an opportunity to create future work—through repeat business and referrals. Rule of thumb: under promise, over deliver. And always, always communicate early and honestly if there is a problem. 

I stay connected to clients. Quick check-ins and sharing helpful resources is an easy way to do so.

Building Systems for Consistency

One of the biggest traps I’ve seen—and experienced firsthand—is the classic feast-or-famine cycle. Early in my freelancing career (before I started traveling full time), I worked with retainer clients who provided steady, predictable income. 

While my current focus has shifted to freelancing abroad, I’ve leaned on what I know: creating consistency works. I’m actively rebuilding income systems with a mix of freelance client work, teaching opportunities, and digital product development.

Financial stability and travel freedom require long-term thinking.

Graceful Roamer Lessons Learned: The Wins, Missteps & What I Know for Sure About Freelancing Abroad

You could fill a bathtub with all the lessons I’ve learned while freelancing abroad. Some lessons were the hard kind, the ones that hit your wallet and halt your momentum.

Mistakes I Made So You Don’t Have To

In my early days freelancing, the temptation was to say yes to every client and every project. I thought casting the widest net possible was the key to security. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. Overcommitting spread me thin, and I quickly learned that not all clients—or all projects—are created equal.

What’s stayed true through every phase of my freelancing career is this: my clients are at the heart of what I do. Delivering on promises isn’t negotiable, whether I’m in a bustling city or a quiet village.

That’s why I put systems in place early to avoid the typical “freelancer pitfalls.” I’ve never treated connectivity, time zones, or workspace logistics as afterthoughts. Even when I moved from Seattle to a small town (where Wi-Fi wasn’t exactly blazing fast), I found reliable spots to work—hello, local Y—because delivering quality work always comes first.

If there’s a lesson here, it’s not about scrambling at the last minute to fix problems. It’s about setting yourself up so those problems don’t derail you in the first place. Systems, backups, clear client communication—they aren’t extras; they’re the foundation.

Each medal earned mile by mile. Same goes for building a freelance career—steady, focused, and always playing the long game.

Conclusion: You Don’t Have to Choose Between Work and Travel

I didn’t trade one life for another—I chose to design both, intentionally.

I’ve carried client projects across time zones. I’ve made business decisions from rental apartments, budget hotels, and places where I didn’t speak the language. None of it happened by accident—it happened because I refused to buy into the tired narrative that says freedom and financial security can’t coexist.

Every system I’ve built, every boundary I’ve set, and every skill I’ve leveraged proves otherwise.

Here’s what I know:

The real secret isn’t luck or privilege. It’s giving yourself permission to start. And then following through with preparation.

If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to work, roam, and thrive on your own terms—I’m here to tell you: it is. 

It’s Your Turn

Ask yourself:

• What’s holding me back?

• Is it uncertainty about where to start?

• Doubt about whether my skills are marketable abroad?

• Am I juggling numerous responsibilities, wondering if freelancing and traveling are even compatible with my life?

Reach out. Let’s talk about how your story could unfold from here.