Remote work accommodation: working from an aparthotel

What makes good remote work accommodation?

Wikipedia notes that the rise of remote and hybrid work has boosted demand for temporary, flexible living arrangements with amenities suited to remote working, and describes serviced accommodation as offering residential-like amenities such as utilities, housekeeping and internet access. That is the pitch for working from an aparthotel: a home-like base without the set-up of a lease.

A digital nomad, in Wikipedia's wording, is a location-independent professional who can live and work remotely anywhere with an internet connection. Not everyone who works remotely fits that label; the same checks apply whether you are on a three-week project or a three-month stay. The table lists them in order of how often they decide whether a base works.

How good does the wifi need to be for video calls?

Microsoft's Teams documentation gives a sense of scale. It says Teams can deliver HD video in under 1.5 Mbps, and that when bandwidth is insufficient it prioritises audio quality over video quality. Those are Microsoft's figures for its own product; other tools differ, and the connection also has to carry everyone else in the building.

Bandwidth is only part of it. Microsoft notes that Wi-Fi networks are not necessarily designed or configured to support real-time media, and that the 5 GHz band suits real-time media better than 2.4 GHz but needs more access points for coverage. In practice, a connection that is fast in a speed test can still produce choppy calls if the signal is weak in your room.

Operators describe internet differently. Quest's FAQ lists broadband internet access among its standard services, with costs that apply and vary, and says wireless and cable connections vary by property and should be confirmed at booking. Ask in writing, as internet is the first thing to settle in any remote work accommodation, then test the connection on arrival and report problems early. A mobile data plan or a wired adapter is a sensible backup. For how internet fits into the rest of the rate, see are utilities included in serviced apartments.

What should a workspace in a serviced apartment look like?

A dedicated desk matters more than most guests expect. Quest says its apartments have separate work stations and living areas, suitable for small meetings, though business facilities vary by property. Ascott launched a Work in Residence initiative in 2020, with work suites at more than 60 properties in over 10 countries, each with a dedicated workstation depending on length of use and location, and a monitor and webcam available on demand. These are examples of operator offers, not a standard; listings differ, so ask what the apartment actually has.

Comfort is part of productivity. The UK Health and Safety Executive's guidance on working with display screen equipment at home says workers should be able to achieve a comfortable, sustainable posture, and that employers must plan work so there are breaks or changes of activity. That is guidance for employers in Great Britain, but the principle is useful to any remote worker: a chair and desk at suitable heights, and regular breaks.

As practical advice, a laptop stand, an external keyboard and a portable monitor make a rented desk behave like a normal one, and fit in a suitcase. Check that the apartment has enough power sockets near the desk.

How do time zones and daylight saving affect remote work abroad?

Time differences are not fixed. Wikipedia explains that clock-change dates vary by location and year, so the gap between two regions can change during the year. Its example is that Paris is usually six hours ahead of New York City, except for a few weeks in March and October or November when it is five hours ahead. It adds that around 34 percent of the world's countries use daylight saving time as of 2023, and the Time zone article notes that a few zones are offset by an additional 30 or 45 minutes.

In practice, check your meeting overlap for every week of your stay, not just the first, and watch the weeks around clock changes in both your location and your colleagues'. Put recurring meetings in a calendar that shows both time zones. If most of your calls fall late or early, ask about quiet hours, late check-in and whether noise from other guests is likely at those times.

When is a coworking space worth adding?

A coworking space is an arrangement where workers for different companies, or the self-employed, share office space. Wikipedia says it is attractive to remote workers and digital nomads, and that it helps workers avoid the social isolation they may feel while working remotely or travelling and eliminates distractions at home. It also notes that most coworking spaces charge membership dues, so check the terms rather than assuming a day pass is available.

A coworking space can fill gaps an apartment cannot: a faster connection, a meeting room, or simply company. It is worth adding to your remote work accommodation when your calls are frequent, when the apartment has a single shared room, or when you plan a stay of several weeks. Look at distance from the apartment; a short walk makes the habit easier to keep.

For longer stays, a neighbourhood with coworking spaces, cafes and shops nearby can matter as much as the apartment. Neighbourhood guides such as where to stay in Tokyo for a month cover that for specific cities.

Which stay length suits digital nomad serviced apartments?

Wikipedia describes an aparthotel as similar to renting an apartment but with no fixed contracts, with the operator setting a minimum length of stay. Serviced accommodation stays typically range from a few nights to several months. That flexibility suits remote workers whose plans can change, as you can extend or leave according to the operator's terms rather than a lease. For month-long bookings, see monthly serviced apartments.

Start with a week or two if you are unsure of the connection, the desk or the neighbourhood, then extend. If you plan several months of remote work accommodation in one place, the long-stay accommodation checklist covers laundry, kitchen and rate terms. The guide to business travel in serviced apartments covers similar ground for employer-booked stays.

Examples of cities to compare include Tokyo, Lisbon and Bangkok; weigh options in the places you are considering.