[takeaways] • Power banks are the most underrated item in a digital nomad's kit — they free you from hunting for sockets and let you work from genuinely anywhere, not just places with convenient plug access.
• Public WiFi is both unreliable and insecure for work purposes. A mobile hotspot from your SIMOVO eSIM gives you your own private, encrypted connection wherever you are.
• A reusable water bottle with a filter is one of the highest-value items per gram in a travel pack — it saves money, reduces plastic waste, and keeps you functional in places where buying water isn't practical.
• SIMOVO eSIMs support tethering on most plans — meaning your phone becomes a personal WiFi hotspot for your laptop and other devices without needing a separate data connection.
• A Global SIMOVO eSIM covers 120+ countries on a single plan — the practical choice for digital nomads moving between multiple destinations without wanting to manage separate eSIMs per country. [/takeaways]
Remote working has given millions of people the ability to work from anywhere — not just from home, but from different cities, countries, and continents throughout the year. Whether you're new to the digital nomad lifestyle or have been combining work and travel for a while, the essentials you carry make the difference between a productive trip and a frustrating one. Here are five that are worth getting right.
[numbered title="Portable power banks" pill="Work from anywhere — not just places with sockets"]A power bank is one of the most liberating items you can carry. Modern banks charge phones, tablets, and smaller laptops via USB — meaning you're no longer anchored to walls and power sockets. Carry two or three charged banks as your primary source of device power throughout the day, then top them up overnight from a mains connection. The difference between working in a park, on a ferry, or at a mountain viewpoint versus being stuck near a socket is simply whether you've packed enough power.[/numbered] [numbered title="A reusable water bottle with a filter" pill="Higher value per gram than most digital nomads realise"]Staying hydrated is easy to neglect when you're moving between places and focused on work. Buying plastic bottles throughout the day is both expensive and wasteful — a good reusable bottle, ideally insulated to keep drinks cool in the heat, pays for itself within days. If you're working from places with unreliable tap water or access to natural springs, a built-in filter removes bacteria and makes virtually any water source safe to drink. One less thing to think about.[/numbered] [numbered title="A mobile hotspot via your eSIM" pill="Your own private, encrypted connection — no public WiFi dependency"]Public WiFi at cafes, hotels, and coworking spaces is convenient but carries real security risks for remote work — unencrypted connections expose credentials, client data, and work communications to anyone on the same network. A mobile hotspot from your eSIM removes this risk entirely: your phone shares its encrypted mobile data connection with your laptop and other devices via a personal WiFi network. Most SIMOVO eSIMs support tethering, including the Asia regional eSIM covering 20+ destinations.[/numbered] [numbered title="Toiletries and a basic first aid kit" pill="The unsexy essential that earns its place every time"]If you're moving between destinations frequently, maintaining a compact toiletry kit — toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, flannel — avoids the cost and waste of buying replacements every stop. More importantly, carry a basic first aid kit: plasters, bandages, antiseptic cream, sterile dressings, painkillers, scissors, and medical tape. In remote locations or smaller towns, a pharmacy isn't always close when you need one. The kit takes almost no space and its value is disproportionate to its weight.[/numbered] [numbered title="A SIMOVO eSIM" pill="Stable data, no roaming charges, no plastic — wherever you work"]eSIMs are the practical connectivity solution for digital nomads: no physical card to manage, no searching for local SIMs on arrival, no surprise roaming fees. SIMOVO plans are prepaid and activate the moment you land. For nomads covering multiple countries, the Global eSIM covers 120+ countries on a single plan — no need to switch plans between destinations. Plans run from 7 days up to 6 months, tethering is supported on most plans, and data is encrypted throughout. One purchase before you fly, working immediately on arrival.[/numbered] [tip title="Set your eSIM as your data line and tether your laptop through it"]In your phone's mobile settings, set your SIMOVO eSIM as the primary data line. Then enable Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Mobile Hotspot (Android). Your laptop connects to it as a standard WiFi network, using your eSIM's encrypted data connection rather than whatever public WiFi is available. This is the most secure and reliable setup for remote work in transit or in public spaces.[/tip] [warning]Never use public WiFi for work tasks involving client data, passwords, or confidential files. Cafes, hotels, and coworking spaces all carry risk — unencrypted networks are straightforward to monitor. Your eSIM hotspot is encrypted end-to-end. Use it for anything sensitive.[/warning] [esim flag="🌍" label="Everywhere" data="120+ countries" price="from £7" href="/products/global" benefits="Instant QR setup · Tethering supported · No roaming charges · Up to 6 months · No plastic"]One plan for wherever your work takes you[/esim] [faq] [q]Can I use a SIMOVO eSIM as a mobile hotspot for my laptop?[/q] [a]Yes — most SIMOVO eSIMs support tethering, which turns your phone into a personal WiFi hotspot. Your laptop connects to it as a standard WiFi network, using your eSIM's encrypted mobile data connection. Enable Personal Hotspot on iPhone (Settings → Personal Hotspot) or Mobile Hotspot on Android (Settings → Mobile Network or Connections) once your SIMOVO eSIM is active.[/a] [q]What is the best SIMOVO eSIM for digital nomads?[/q] [a]The Global eSIM covers 120+ countries on a single plan, making it the most practical option for nomads moving between multiple destinations. Plans run from 1GB over 7 days up to 20GB over 90 days. For nomads spending extended time in a single region, a regional eSIM (Europe, Asia, Americas) typically offers better value per GB than the Global plan.[/a] [q]How long can I use a SIMOVO eSIM for extended travel?[/q] [a]SIMOVO offers plans of up to 6 months duration on selected destinations. Unlimited plans with daily data resets are also available for destinations where consistent heavy access is needed. For travel longer than 6 months, you can purchase a new plan when your current one expires — setup takes under two minutes via the same QR code process.[/a] [q]Is mobile data safer than public WiFi for remote work?[/q] [a]Yes — mobile data connections are encrypted between your device and the mobile network, making them significantly harder for third parties to intercept than public WiFi, where unencrypted traffic can be monitored by anyone on the same network. For any work involving passwords, client data, or confidential files, a mobile data connection — either directly or via a personal hotspot — is meaningfully more secure than public WiFi.[/a] [q]Do I need a separate eSIM for each country I visit?[/q] [a]Not if you use a Global or regional SIMOVO eSIM. The Global eSIM covers 120+ countries on a single plan and switches between local networks automatically as you move. Regional eSIMs (Europe, Asia, Americas, etc.) cover multiple countries within their region on one plan. You only need country-specific eSIMs if you want the lowest per-GB rate for an extended stay in one destination.[/a] [/faq] [esim flag="🌍" label="Everywhere" data="120+ countries" price="from £7" href="/products/global" benefits="Instant QR setup · Tethering supported · No roaming charges · Up to 6 months · No plastic"]One plan for wherever your work takes you[/esim]
