{"id":11496,"date":"2025-11-04T09:00:42","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T08:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/workingremotely.nl\/digital-nomad-aliekes-experience-with-vanlife-the-ultimate-freedom-on-wheels\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T13:43:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T12:43:17","slug":"digital-nomad-aliekes-experience-with-vanlife-the-ultimate-freedom-on-wheels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/workingremotely.nl\/en\/digital-nomad-aliekes-experience-with-vanlife-the-ultimate-freedom-on-wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital nomad Alieke’s experience with vanlife: the ultimate freedom on wheels"},"content":{"rendered":"

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

The benefits of vanlife as a digital nomad<\/h2>\n

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 a part of camping life. Nice and back to basics. <\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"camper \"working<\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

The challenges: working remotely in an RV<\/h2>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

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. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"camper<\/h2>\n

The top 10 vanlife destinations in Europe<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Portugal<\/li>\n
  2. Spain<\/li>\n
  3. Italy<\/li>\n
  4. Morocco<\/li>\n
  5. Albania<\/li>\n
  6. Austria<\/li>\n
  7. Greece<\/li>\n
  8. Montenegro<\/li>\n
  9. Croatia<\/li>\n
  10. Slovenia<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    My favorite spots for vanlife in Morocco<\/h2>\n

    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<\/a>) 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Alieke \"sitting<\/p>\n

    During my period of vanlife in Morocco, I discovered many beautiful places that are ideal to combine with work:<\/span><\/p>\n