Had to choose between a beachside coworking space or my hostel bunk for a Zoom call with a client

Last month I was in Koh Lanta in Thailand and had a big client call at 3 PM local time. The hostel's wifi was spotty and my bunk had zero privacy, so I tried this coworking spot on the beach for $12 a day. The place looked amazing in photos but the fan was so loud I could barely hear my client on the call. I ended up bailing after 10 minutes and running back to my hostel, where I sat in the bathroom with my laptop on the toilet lid just to get a stable connection. The client never noticed because I kept my video off, but I was sweating through my shirt the whole time. Now I always scout coworking spots in person before booking a day pass, even if the reviews look good. Has anyone else gotten burned by a fancy-looking workspace that turned out to be a total dud?

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lucas_price8319h ago

Manila last year I paid $15 for a "premium" coworking spot that had air conditioning in the lobby but not in the actual work rooms. I spent the whole call with a notebook fanning myself trying not to look like a sweaty mess on camera. Now I straight up ask the staff about wifi speed and noise levels before I pay anything. Also started carrying a small USB fan in my bag just in case. The photos always make these places look perfect but you gotta check the power outlets and the actual desk space too.