Working remotely from temporary housing

Key rules

• Speed proof: Ask for a recent speed test taken on wifi in the room where you will work, not just the contracted speed.
• Connection type: Fibre is much preferred over ADSL or a 4G/5G home router.
• Backup: Have a second connection ready, such as a prepaid SIM hotspot, before your first work day.
• SIM registration: You need a passport or national ID to buy a prepaid SIM in Spain.
• Non-EU SIMs: Home SIMs from outside the EU are not covered by EU roaming, so buy a local SIM or eSIM.

Ask about the connection before you book

A listing that says "wifi included" tells you nothing. Message the host and ask for these details in writing:

• Connection type. Fibre is much better than ADSL or a 4G/5G home router.
• Speeds and a screenshot. Ask for the contracted speeds and a recent speed test (download, upload, latency) taken on wifi in the room where you will work.
• Router position. Ask where the router is, and whether your work room is close to it or has a mesh system or repeater.
• Reliability. Ask about past outages and the name of the provider.
• Data limits. Ask whether there is a data cap or fair-use limit. This matters most on mobile-router lines.
• Wired option. Ask whether there is an Ethernet port, or whether the host can supply an adapter.
• Sharing. Ask whether the wifi is shared with other guests or a business. Sharing hurts call quality.

If the host cannot or will not answer, treat that as a warning sign.

Check the workspace

Photos of the bedroom and the living room are not enough. Ask for photos of the place where you would actually sit and work. The checklist below covers the details: desk, chair, sockets, light, noise and climate.

Two extra points are worth knowing. Spanish evenings are late and loud, so a ground-floor flat near bars can be hard to work or sleep in, and double glazing helps a lot. If you take calls, a separate room or a door you can close makes a real difference.

Set up a fallback connection

Plan a backup before you arrive, so one outage does not stop your work day. The simplest option is a local prepaid SIM, used as a phone hotspot.

• ID is required. You must show a passport or national ID, and the SIM is registered in your name.
• Where to buy. The main operators are Movistar, Vodafone and Orange. Cheaper brands include Lebara, Lycamobile, Digi, Pepephone and Yoigo, and Digi is often the cheapest.
• What it costs. A month usually costs around €10-20 for roughly 20-100 GB or more. Prices and plans change often, so compare before you buy.
• Hotspot use. Most plans allow tethering, but check yours.
• Other options. An eSIM data pack bought online avoids a shop visit. A portable 4G/5G wifi router with a prepaid SIM also works, and can serve more than one device.

If you have an EU home SIM, it roams at home rates, within fair-use limits. Long stays in Spain can trigger extra charges after a few months. If your SIM is from outside the EU, such as the UK or US, roaming can be expensive, so buy a local SIM or eSIM.

Some outlets ask for a Spanish address or bank account for contract plans. Prepaid SIMs do not need them.

Decide before you pay

Book only when you have the speed test, a photo of the workspace and a backup plan. Choose a listing with free cancellation where you can, so you can leave if the connection is weak when you arrive.

Remote-work checks for a short-stay listing

• Ask the host for a recent speed test run on the apartment's Wi-Fi, and look for at least 25-50 Mbps down and 10 Mbps up.

• Ask whether the line is fibre. Fibre in Spain commonly gives 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps, and you need more if several people share it.

• Check that video calls will run smoothly: latency under 150 ms (ideally under 50 ms) and packet loss below 1%.

• Ask for photos of the workspace itself, showing a real desk or table and an adjustable, supportive chair, not just a sofa.

• Count the sockets near the desk and bring a spare multi-plug. Spain uses type C/F sockets at 230 V.

• Ask about natural light at the desk, and bring or request a desk lamp.

• Ask about street, neighbour and building noise. Check whether the home is on the ground floor near bars, and whether the windows have double glazing.

• Confirm there is heating and air conditioning in the room where you will work.

• Check for a separate room or door where you can take calls.

• Plan a backup connection: buy a local prepaid SIM or eSIM that allows tethering, or a portable 4G/5G wifi router. Bring a passport or national ID, as prepaid SIMs are registered to the holder.

• If you have an EU home SIM, check its roaming fair-use limits and any extra charges for long stays. Non-EU SIMs are not covered by EU roaming, so get a local SIM instead.

Frequently asked questions

What if the wifi turns out to be weak after I arrive?

Use mobile data as your fallback. Buy a prepaid SIM in Spain, or an eSIM data pack online, and share it from your phone. Tethering is allowed on most plans.

Do I need ID to buy a prepaid SIM in Spain?

Yes. You must show a passport or national ID, and the operator registers the SIM in your name. Expect to pay roughly €10-20 for a month with about 20-100 GB or more, and the cheaper brands such as Digi are often the lowest.

Can I just use my home SIM instead?

It depends on where it is from. EU home SIMs roam at home rates, within fair-use limits, and long stays can bring extra charges after a few months. UK, US and other non-EU SIMs are not covered by EU roaming and can be expensive, so buy a local SIM or eSIM.

Does it matter if the host's wifi is shared with other guests?

Yes. Wifi shared with other guests or a business hurts call quality. Ask the host before booking, and ask whether there is an Ethernet port or an adapter you can use instead.