A few months ago I took part of Flatio’s Digital Nomad Inspectors club. Flatio is a new rental housing platform specifically designed for digital nomads. I got to stay in one of the apartments and verify the property for remote work purposes – and what better place to visit than Lisbon, a sunny charming Portuguese gem.
In general, heading to a new place as a digital nomad or remote worker always includes finding a suitable place to work from with good wi-fi speed and a desk. Flatio’s is taking care of exactly that need and taking the process of exploring a new destination while working remotely less challenging.
About Flatio
Flatio allows stays of 5 days or more with no maximum duration. What sets Flatio apart from similar platforms is their lawyer-verified, legally binding lease agreements that can be used as proof of address and for visa purposes.
Flatio focuses on providing properties suitable for remote work – the landlords have to provide dedicated workspaces and strong wi-fi connection.
The platform features deposit-free, and reasonably priced listings in over 300 destinations, mainly in Europe. You can find digital nomad apartments in popular digital nomad hubs like Porto, Madeira, Barcelona, Canary Islands, and even in Sofia, Bulgaria!
Their listings outside of Europe are also growing in numbers – you can search properties in Africa, North America, South America and some in Asia.
The booking process via Flatio platform was exceptional – everything was done online prior the reservation. I have received and signed a contract virtually, allowing me to not worry about anything else before my trip. The presence of an actual contract gave me a piece of mind that the accommodation is legitimate, safe, and the booking was secure. The platform is very easy to use, the booking process is straight forward and clear.
Digital Nomad Inspectors Club
I really liked the idea of Flatio’s Nomad Inspectors Club. It’s a program that allows outside people to verify the properties they have which creates a unique personal and unbiased view of their apartments. The inspected properties receive a “Nomad-Verified” badge on Flatio if they’re suitable for remote work. This helps other Flatio users in making informed choices for a productive and comfortable stay.
In order to join the Nomad Inspectors Club, you have to have some social media following. However, they have a LITE version with some perks for any digital nomad or remote worker that wants to book through Flatio. You can learn all the details on their website.
The apartment in Lisbon
I’ve stayed in a central Lisbon apartment for 4 nights. The apartment has a total of 2 bedrooms and can fit 6 people (incl. a pull out sofa bed). It is located in a lively neighbourhood very close to public transport, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, and sightseeing opportunities. The apartment is located in walking distance to major attractions such as St. George Castle and The Rua Augusta Arch. The sunset from the balcony was my favourite part of this place!
• The check in process
The communication with the host – Margerida, was timely and clear. She reached out to me prior my reservation dates to make sure that everything is okay and to arrange the check in process. Margarida was out of town on the dates of my visit so she arranged for a reliable person to take care of the check in. The check in took place in a pre-arranged hour. It consisted of a person welcoming me in the apartment, showing everything necessary, as well as measuring the electric and water meters (for calculating the utility costs at the end of the stay). Pictures of everything were taken, and tools were tested that they were working properly.
• The actual Wi-Fi speed
The Wi-Fi speed in the apartment was consistent on the first floor – ~50MBps download speed, ~11MBps upload speed (screenshot). The second floor, where the working station was located, was a bit less consistent and reliable – ~27MBps download speed, ~13MBps upload speed (screenshot). This made the working process on the second floor not so good. I used the table and chairs on the first floor which were also a good working station option.
• The workspace
There were two dedicated workspaces in the apartment. One table with 4 chairs on the first floor, and a desk with a chair on the second floor. The first table has an extension and can be turned into a bigger one, allowing for more working space (i.e. if there are 4 people working at the same time). The second floor’s desk and chair were located in a bright room. The chairs were normal dining table chairs.
• Relax and exercise zone
There are several places that would be good for meditation or exercises. Inside the living room, there is enough space for setting up a yoga or meditation spot (photo). Another good place is the top floor balcony which allows for an open-air exercise spot (photo). There was no available yoga/exercise mat which could be a good addition for the purpose.
• Public transport and connectivity
The apartment is located in a very central area of Lisbon – very close to Metro Station (green line), bus station, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets. It is walking distance from the central square where the Rua Augusta Arch is located. Airport is also easily accessible with the metro – there’s only one change in lines, and can be reached in less than an hour. Uber and Bolt are also widely used in Lisbon allowing for an affordable and reliable car transfer.
Enjoy some of the photos from the apartment, and maybe even check it out if you’re heading to Lisbon soon:
In general, the stay with Flatio was excellent. Centrally located, walking distance to everything needed, reliable wi-fi connection. If you’re searching for your next digital nomad destination, have a search on their platform and maybe you’ll find your own little gem.
