Ask HN: Travelling the world while working on projects. Best way to do this?

Europe is actually a little harder than you might think. The days when a cup of coffee would buy you a seat in any Paris cafe for the entire day are long gone. You'll have to do some looking to find a place with good wifi and low enough traffic to tolerate you working there.

Hostels are not a good workspace for the reasons stated here already: They often close the common spaces during the day, and when they're open they're crowded with outgoing people having a good time, who are expecting everybody around them to also be on the same energy level and willingness to meet new people. You'll need to work on your Scowl-Of-Concentration if you want to fend off new friends.

Libraries are hit and miss. Most European ones have some crazy scheme in place to lock down internet access to just a few wired terminals. Oslo was the only one I found with simple free wifi and a comfortable place to work from.

Frankly, I'd skip Europe altogether in favor of Southeast Asia. Your money will go a lot farther there, and there's no shortage of paradise beach with cheap accommodation and wifi. When I need a good year off, my one-way ticket is usually to Bangkok.

Good luck!

I think you will find answers to many of your questions and concerns, as well as inspiration and guidance, from Simon & Erin over at http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/start-here/

I don't know what ever happened with their digitalnomad.co project. Either way, be sure to spend time reading their older posts as well.

that blog is very very interesting, and eye opening. thank you for the link.

First off, congratulations! Not a lot of people have the drive to save up that money for a big goal.

Hostels will give you an active social life but may be difficult to work with:

  1. Some have common areas, but it's usually only quiet during off hours
  2. Wifi will be a pain (even if a hostel advertises it, it's usually weak/broken)
  3. Your laptop might get stolen, not all hostels have lockers.  
     If they do advertise lockers, it's usually small.  Bring your own lock.

Some tips:

  1. Working at cafes are totally acceptable as long as you purchase items 
     from them once in a while.
  2. If you do decide to rent apartments, check out Airbnb.  People usually 
     offer discounts for 1-month rentals.  It's not so great for durations 
     shorter than 1 week b/c you'll usually have to meet/greet the owners 
     (which becomes difficult in a new foreign city, where you don't have a 
      cell phone and flight/train schedules get delayed a lot)
  3. Think about getting a cheap GSM smartphone that can tether.  When you 
     arrive in a new country, get a prepaid SIM card with data.  It's usually 
     slower, but it's useful when wifi is missing.

Once again, congrats and have a lot of fun!

For Internet access: Apple stores, lobby of hostel, tether using a foreign SIM (it will probably have 15+ GB of data for $25).

For working: Apple stores with theaters (Chicago, NY SoHo, London Regent St), lobby of hostel, laying in your bed, Starbucks, Au Bon Pain, etc.

Get a Skype number with unlimited US calling for something like $20/year, then you can make and receive US calls using your network access.

Get used to people thinking it's strange you're visiting a place not for holiday, but to live/work for a while.

I should elaborate in an ebook.

One of my friends spent a month in Sri Lanka living in hostels and working in cafes. For internet connection, he bought a USB dongle which worked throughout the island. Whole trip costed him less than $800 including airfare (from Pakistan).

Well, you only cited Europe, but here in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the best choice would be public libraries or Starbucks. With some local tips you could also find a mall with a quiet food court with wifi.