As a travel writer on deadline, I can’t live without Wi-Fi. After a few years and plenty of trial and error, I found the best way to get online while working and traveling in my van.

Heidi Fuller-love

Since my first van all those years ago, I’ve upgraded several times and now have a larger RV with bathroom, bedroom, and cooking facilities.

But, as a freelance travel writer and podcaster, my biggest essential has always been a decent working space and really good Wi-Fi. If you only work occasionally in your van, you probably won’t worry much about these things but if, like me, you spend months at a time working on the road, you’ll need to invest in a few essentials. 

Getting online is one of the most important things to sort out. While many countries have internet cafes, I work too often to rely on them and prefer to be in my own space on the road without having to wait to find a cafe. 

I used to rely on hotspots and new sim cards when I changed countries. But I often found myself without a signal, even though I always used the speed test app to check if the connection would be good enough before deciding to stay somewhere.

Recently, I’ve found it’s much easier to use a SolisWiFi hotspot, which is a Wi-Fi hub shaped like a large orange disc that provides internet access. It’s slightly more expensive than a sim card. I bought the hotspot for €142,95 and then I purchase day or month passes. The unlimited global monthly pass I use costs €100,95 per month, but it’s half the price if you buy the Europe pass.

I find that this option provides an advantage over sim cards in that it works 24/7 via satellite rather than a phone signal. I’ve experienced a better, faster, more stable connection in most countries around the world with it.