The One-Week Nomad Test Run
Test a destination before committing to a longer remote-work stay
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~weeks to results
- Steps
- 5
- Confidence
- 97%
The One-Week Nomad Test Run treats destination selection as a staged experiment rather than an irreversible lifestyle decision. First, visit a potential base for a low-pressure week without carrying a full workload. Use that time to determine whether you like the place and to investigate the infrastructure that sustained remote work requires, including reliable Wi-Fi, mobile service, suitable accommodation and coworking options. Document any friction instead of assuming it will resolve itself. If the destination proves both enjoyable and operationally viable, return later for one to three months. This separates exploration from execution, shortens the feedback loop and reduces the risk that preventable logistical problems will derail work during a longer stay.
Origin
Lauren Razavi described this destination-testing method on Deep Dive with Ali Abdaal after years of working internationally as a digital nomad.
Core principles
- 01Test before making a long commitment
- 02Separate destination discovery from demanding work
- 03Evaluate practical infrastructure as well as enjoyment
- 04Use small experiments to expose hidden friction
- 05Return for a longer stay only when the trial works
How to run it
- 1
Select a candidate destination
Choose a place that interests you and appears capable of supporting your work, without assuming that its reputation or holiday appeal guarantees suitability.
Pro tip Start with somewhere you could realistically revisit for one to three months.
Watch out Do not make a long accommodation commitment based only on online reviews or photographs.
- 2
Run a low-pressure visit
Spend about one week there with little or no demanding work scheduled. Experience the location while retaining enough time to investigate practical details.
Pro tip Treat the visit as reconnaissance rather than a conventional sightseeing holiday.
Watch out A packed tourism itinerary will conceal the realities of everyday life.
- 3
Test the work infrastructure
Check internet reliability, mobile connectivity, coworking options, accommodation quality and other services needed for your normal routine.
Pro tip Test Wi-Fi at the times when you would ordinarily hold calls or upload files.
Watch out Do not accept an accommodation provider's connectivity claims without testing them.
- 4
Map the friction points
Record every obstacle that would create recurring stress, such as difficulty obtaining a SIM card, inadequate workspaces or misleading accommodation listings.
Pro tip Distinguish solvable setup tasks from structural problems that would persist throughout the stay.
Watch out Several small inconveniences can collectively make sustained work exhausting.
- 5
Decide whether to return
If you like the destination and its practical problems are manageable, arrange a one-to-three-month stay. Otherwise, test a different location rather than forcing the experiment.
Pro tip A local event or conference during the longer stay can provide structure and social connection.
Watch out Do not treat rejecting a destination as a failure; the test has saved a costly commitment.
In the wild
A remote creator interested in Vietnam spends one lightly scheduled week in Hoi An. They test apartment Wi-Fi, visit coworking spaces, buy a local SIM and check whether their normal calls overlap with quiet hours. After finding reliable infrastructure and a workable routine, they book a longer return visit around a conference attended by several friends.
→ The creator begins the longer stay with working infrastructure, realistic expectations and an initial social anchor.
A consultant considers a month in a picturesque coastal town but discovers during the trial week that internet outages are frequent and no coworking space supports private calls. Rather than hoping conditions improve, the consultant tests a nearby city instead.
→ The consultant avoids a month of disrupted client work and finds a more dependable base.
Common mistakes
Testing while overloaded with work
A demanding schedule leaves no time to investigate the destination and makes every setup problem more costly. Keep the reconnaissance week deliberately low pressure.
Judging only the holiday experience
Restaurants and attractions do not establish whether a destination can support everyday work. Test the mundane infrastructure your routine depends upon.
Booking the long stay first
Committing before testing turns correctable uncertainty into financial and operational risk.
Is it for you?
Best for
Aspiring digital nomads who have never lived and worked abroad for an extended period.
Not ideal for
People who must relocate immediately or cannot afford a separate reconnaissance trip.
From the transcript
“I try not to remote work anywhere but I haven't spent a week that's more of a holiday first.”
“And so it can be good to kind of do Iraqi like do a test run so you go somewhere for a week and one…”
“you're just there to kind of experience the place as a kind of test run to then go back for one to three months later.”
From the episode
How to Become a Digital Nomad - Lauren Razavi
Lauren Razavi