Checking the Wi-Fi before you rely on it
For a holiday, slow Wi-Fi is an annoyance. For a working trip, it can ruin a week. A few minutes of checking before and on arrival avoids most surprises.
Why the listing is not enough
"Wi-Fi" on a listing only says that a network exists. It says nothing about speed, about how far the signal reaches through thick walls, or about how many devices share it. Speed advertised on a contract is also not the speed you get in the bedroom at the other end of the flat.
What to ask before booking
- A recent speed test taken in the room where you will work, as a screenshot.
- Whether the connection is fibre, cable, DSL or mobile, and whether it is shared with other flats.
- Whether there is a cable socket for a laptop, if you prefer a wired connection.
Download, upload and stability
Speed tests show three numbers. Download speed matters for streaming and large files. Upload speed matters for video calls and sending files, and is often much lower than download on older connections. Latency, or ping, shows how quickly the connection responds; a low, steady value makes calls feel natural. Run a test several times, at different hours, because shared connections slow down in the evening.
Testing on arrival
Within the first hour, connect, run a speed test where you plan to work, and make a short video call to a friend. If something is wrong, tell the host straight away: restarting the router or moving it fixes a surprising number of problems, and the host can only help if they know.
Back-ups worth bringing
- Mobile data: a local SIM or an eSIM with enough data to share from your phone.
- A travel router: useful when you want to connect several devices or improve a weak signal near a window.
- A plan B place: a coworking space or a library near the flat for important calls.
Safety on shared networks
A rental's network is shared with past and future guests. Keep your devices updated, use secure websites, and avoid sharing files across the local network. For work, use the protection your employer provides, such as a VPN.
For hosts
A tested connection, a router placed centrally, the network name and password printed clearly, and a speed test screenshot in the listing answer the question remote workers ask most.