How to Find Stays With Genuinely Fast Wi-Fi

To find a stay with genuinely fast Wi-Fi, make the host prove it with a speed-test screenshot, read recent reviews for the word ‘Wi-Fi’, and always carry a mobile-data backup so one bad router never costs you a workday. Here’s the routine.

Before you book

• Ask for a real number. “Fast Wi-Fi” is meaningless — request a speed-test screenshot showing download and upload. Aim for 25+ Mbps down, 5+ up.
• Read recent reviews for “Wi-Fi”, “internet” or “work” — recent, specific mentions from other remote workers are gold; vague or old ones aren’t.
• Ask about the setup — is it fibre or mobile? One router or mesh? Any data cap?
• Check the neighbourhood — rural and island stays can have slower or capped connections.

Your backup plan

• A travel eSIM for hotspotting when the Wi-Fi dies — see our best eSIMs guide.
• A travel router to turn any connection into your own secure network — see the remote-work travel kit.
• A nearby coworking space or café identified before you arrive.

More in Nomad Life, including the best nomad cities.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check Wi-Fi speed before booking?

Ask the host to run a speed test and send you a screenshot showing download and upload speeds. Aim for at least 25 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up for calls, more if you upload large files.

What Wi-Fi speed do you need to work remotely?

For video calls, around 10–25 Mbps download and 3–5 Mbps upload is enough. If you upload large files or stream, aim higher and always have a mobile-data backup.