Travel Q&A With Morgan Ramey
A few months ago, a good friend of mine and fellow remote worker, Morgan Ramey, reached out to me for help planning her first trip as a digital nomad with her partner. She wanted to travel to Mexico for an extended stay, working remotely while enjoying and exploring the country. I planned the trip and organized local accommodation. Here she answers some questions about her experience:
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I’m a Black Creative Entrepreneur and Founder of Kin and Courage. Additionally, Operations Manager at Humanity Communications Collective.
What inspired you to want to work remotely?
I desire flexibility in all areas of my life, including the ability to work from wherever I want. Previous to my travel journey, going out of the country, let alone across the state, was not something I could fathom. However, I believed if I could find a way to experience life while working, it would unlock a lot of possibilities for how I operate to live a more full life without fear.
Before your trip, what was the main thing that was holding you back from traveling?
First it was my job then the pandemic hit and everyone was working from home. Then it was logistics because I didn’t know where or how to look for affordable, safe areas with strong Wifi. Lastly, it was fear that the experience would be terrible for my partner and I.
Why did you decide to ask Katlyn for help in planning your trip?
Katlyn’s background and experience in being a digital nomad is deep and expansive. Katlyn also travels with her husband so she’s had to logistically plan for more than one person. With this knowledge I knew I was with the right guide to follow her recommendations. Ultimately, my lasting fears with traveling while working remotely were gone!
Tell me a little about your trip and where you stayed?
My partner and I traveled to Playa del Carmen where we were told by Katlyn that the area is tourist and WFH friendly. Katlyn has a great relationship with rental properties and forwarded us to a representative to get our housing needs sorted.
Our housing needs were strong Wifi, clean amenities, and walkable attractions. The experience delivered! My partner and I had weekly cleaning service, bike rentals, rooftop mini pool and a 5 min walk from the beach.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while traveling, and how did you overcome it?
Our biggest challenge was the language barrier which was expected. Thankfully, Playa Del Carmen residents were accepting of our ignorance and were patient with us. We used Google Translator when we had a hard time.
What was the best/most rewarding moment of your trip?
The most rewarding moment of my trip was night biking after a beautiful dinner in a beautiful city, fully realizing that I’m creating core memories with my partner that I’ll have for a lifetime.
Did you struggle with meeting people or making friends while traveling? If so, how did you overcome that?
We didn’t exactly have to meet people because we were content spending 1:1 time. However, we met a digital nomad couple with a baby. It was inspiring to hear about their experience. My partner and I went to a park where he joined a basketball game. We had a really great time with everyone we spoke to.
How did Katlyn make a difference in your trip?
Katlyn had a huge influence on the ease my partner, and I felt when planning our first digital nomad experience. We were able to put our concerns aside and trust we would have a great experience.
My most memorable experiences were the day, and overnight trips Katlyn recommended.
We completed most of Kayltn’s recommendations and left Playa del Carmen to appreciate all the moments. We think about going back all the time!
Would you recommend her to others who are nervous about planning their first trip as a remote worker?
Absolutely! Katlyn is very accommodating of various budgets and always recommends great places to eat.
What do you think are the most important things to consider when planning a trip as a remote worker (type of apartment, access to wifi, etc.)?
My experience taught me 3 important considerations when planning a trip as a remote worker:
Strong wifi over everything. Doesn’t matter how nice the place is if you’re stressed out connecting to zoom.
A walkable area to get essentials is a must.
Plan for the fun!
Where do you want to go next?
The next stop for us might be Nigeria/ Ghana/ South Africa, Bali or back to Playa del Carmen. Depends on our budget!
What do you think are the greatest lessons someone can learn from traveling?
The greatest lesson from traveling is that it’s ok to look stupid.
We didn’t know the language - we chose to learn as we went.
We were lost. We asked a lot of questions. We had fun and learned a lot about ourselves in the experience.
If you are dreaming of traveling but don’t know where to start, don’t hesitate to contact me!