Nowadays, the words “holiday” and “vacation” don’t necessarily mean a complete break from work. Many of us have to still check and respond to emails at a bare minimum. Squeezing in time to work while traveling can be a real challenge, whether it’s during summer vacation, the often harried winter holidays, or any other time when you’re trying to “vacation” as much as possible.

As a writer at FlexJobs, I’m fortunate to have a great work-from-home job with built-in flexible hours. But when my husband and I decided to take an extended road tour of the American Southwest this summer, to see some of the nation’s best-known national parks, I knew it would be a true test of just how flexible my job really is.

With a background as a news reporter and editor, I was familiar with the challenges of writing on-the-go. Nonetheless, traveling while working for a month pushed new boundaries – writing from hotel rooms and from the passenger seat of our car, during long, dusty days crammed with sightseeing. So I laid the groundwork well in advance by researching the technology I would need to have and communicated actively with my boss and co-workers. I also made sure that my husband was on board with the idea that, although I was up for a really fun trip, for me this would be a “working vacation” as well.

Here are my five most valued tips that I learned about working while traveling:

1) Gear up – and zone out – even in noisy crowds. Airport waiting areas can be particularly boisterous. A good set of noise canceling earphones will help drown out extraneous sounds, keep your focus sharp, and provide musical inspiration, should you want it.

2) Make sure that all of your technology is up to the job.  Staying “wired” is key, so I purchased a mobile hotspot to give the option to work from almost anywhere.  Because my status as a traveling writer would be temporary, I settled on a 3G Verizon Hotspot that didn’t require a contract commitment.

3) Charge all devices fully at least once a day – even if the battery isn’t totally empty. It’s no fun running out of juice just when everything is going smoothly!

4) Find organized ways to manage (or uh, not lose) your stuff.  With a laptop, hotspot, and cell phone – plus all of the related car charger and power cords – it can be especially tough to keep track of everything when you’re travelling. Make sure you have a checklist system to know where all of your critical items at all times, and especially before you leave one location for another!

5) Choose hotels or accommodations with good wifi connections. Not always easy to do – especially if you’re at the mercy of staying with family/friends or if you’re in the middle of nowhere with few hotel options – but do what you can, because it will make your working situation much easier.

Preparation, staying nimble, and finding backup solutions were all a big part of making my “working vacation” work for me, and for my employer.   I hope some of these tips benefit you, and good luck in your travels!

Adrianne Bibby is a staff writer at FlexJobs, the leading site for telecommuting and flexible job listings. She spent time this summer traveling the American Southwest and learned the dos and don’ts of taking your job on the road.