Alieke's experience with vanlife: the ultimate freedom on wheels

Vanlife sounds like the ultimate freedom: waking up with beautiful views, discovering a new place every day, and in between doing your work from your RV. For many digital nomads, this is the way to combine work and travel. I myself have worked from an RV several times and had a little taste of vanlife. In this blog I share the advantages and challenges of this lifestyle, my favorite camping spots and tips to work really efficiently from an RV.

The benefits of vanlife as a digital nomad

Ever since I was young, I had been traveling by motorhome. My father had completely converted his Vito van into a little house on wheels. With a kitchenette, bench, table, cabinets and folding beds. Room enough for our family of 4. Although there was no room for a shower and toilet on board, so for that we had to go to campsites and (filthy) public toilets for number 2. But that’s always part of camping life. Nice and back to basics.

What appeals most to me about living and working from an RV is the flexibility. You decide where you are and how long you stay. In Morocco, when I had had enough of crowded surf spots for a while, we simply drove on to a quiet beach village. In addition, the fixed costs are often lower than an apartment in the city: you mainly pay for fuel, groceries and the occasional camping or parking spot. I also noticed that I am more productive during vanlife. Less stimuli and more nature allow me to focus better.

Not to mention a big advantage: the community. Nowadays there are so many digital nomads traveling in a camper van that you regularly meet them along the way. It’s very inspiring to meet other digital nomads and vanlifers living the same life, which often leads to valuable conversations, great stories and sometimes even collaborations. The nice thing about knowing many digital nomads is that there are plenty who have a camper. For example, several times I went with friends and girlfriends who also work remotely from abroad, who also make their money online.

The challenges: working remotely in an RV

Remote working from an RV sounds romantic, but practice requires some adaptability. Internet and power are the biggest challenges. If your connection goes down during an important video meeting, you are hugely screwed. That’s why I never travel without a digital SIM card again and why most RVs have a mobile router.

In addition, climate and living conditions are determining factors. In Morocco I had to deal with cold nights, while the summers in Greece were very hot. Both not really conducive to your sleep I can tell you. This affects not only your comfort, but also your concentration needed to do your job well.

Finally, there are legal rules. In Greece, wild camping is officially prohibited, while in Morocco there are more opportunities. Many vanlifers alternate wild camping with official RV sites or campsites, so you can be sure to work in peace.

The top 10 vanlife destinations in Europe

Portugal
Spain
Italy
Morocco
Albania
Austria
Greece
Montenegro
Croatia
Slovenia

My favorite spots for vanlife in Morocco

In February I find the Netherlands much too cold and almost every winter I go to a sunny destination. This year it was Morocco. Where my remote work buddy Henno (yup, the one from Onderweg naar Liefde) was traveling around in his camper at the time and we decided to hang out together for a while. He was at the beach when I caught the bus from Marrakech to join him. It was an amazing experience in an insane country, which is perfect for exploring by campervan and meanwhile working online remotely.

During my period of vanlife in Morocco, I discovered many beautiful places that are ideal to combine with work:

Taghazout and Tamraght
Surfspots with a vibrant digital nomad community. Here I found good cafes and coworkings to alternate with working in the RV.
Sidi Kaouki
A quiet coastal village near Essaouira. I have often worked here overlooking the sea. Coverage is variable, so be sure to check beforehand to make sure everything is working properly, but the quietness makes up for a lot.
Imsouane
Popular with surfers and vanlifers who want to stay longer. It is a small village with a tremendously cozy and relaxed atmosphere. I happened to run into a digital nomad here who follows Working Remotely on Instagram, super fun. What a small world it is then.

My favorite spots for vanlife in Greece

Anyone who has been following NPO3’s program On the Way to Love season 2 knows why I was in Greece with Joris. A great adventure and peek into his crazy vanlife life. Among other things, he gives kitesurfing lessons where you travel around together in his bus, super cool. Waking up in the rooftop tent of the camper overlooking the sea was truly magical.

Also remote working in Greece is definitely recommended, because it is incredibly beautiful. If you want tips for beautiful places you should definitely check out the account of Joris, who knows all the gems to find. The country offers both mountains and beaches and combines culture with peaceful nature. My recommendations:

Peloponnese
A largest peninsula of Greece near the city of Athens in the south of the mainland. An area with quiet beaches and friendly villages.
Pelion
Green forests and mountain villages. Highly recommended in summer because it is cooler here. You can also go towards Mount Olympus, really recommended.
Lefkada
This is exactly what you go to Greece for. The island has so many beautiful little beaches with insane sea views and crystal clear water. Even a little further north towards Preveza is beautiful and peaceful.

How do you work efficiently from a digital nomad campervan?

Through trial and error, I learned what you really need to combine vanlife and work. I have also received many tips from full-time vanlifers who are experienced in working remotely from an RV. Good preparation ensures a worry-free RV adventure. Here are the most important ones:

Internet facility
- Always a minimum of two SIM cards (different providers and/or eSIM).
- Use a router with antenna or Starlink.
Power supply
- Solar panels (200-400W) and a house battery.
- Power bank and small inverter for emergencies.
Workplace and ergonomics
- Fixed table and chair in the camper.
- Sun protection and ventilation to keep your laptop (and yourself) from overheating.
Planning and workflow
- Schedule large uploads and backups in cities or at night.
- Schedule meetings at times when you are sure the connection is stable.
Communications
- Clearly indicate to clients or colleagues how you can be reached.
- Sometimes a phone call is smarter than a video call.

Popular jobs in the vanlife community

Not every profession lends itself to this life where you can make money online from abroad. Within the vanlife remote working community, you see mostly these remote jobs back:

Software and web development
UX/UI and graphic design
Copywriting, content and SEO
Virtual assistantship and customer service
Online teaching and coaching
Social media and digital marketing
Content creators (YouTubers, bloggers, affiliate entrepreneurs)

Combining Vanlife with remote working: freedom with constraints

Traveling in an RV and working remotely combined is fantastic! The freedom it gives is worth so much. Just be prepared to invest in the basics and prepare your trip well: internet, power and a good workstation. For me, it is the ultimate freedom to work in a camper van along the coast of Morocco or open my laptop in a Greek village. It’s not always easy, but the freedom, nature and special encounters make it more than worth it.