i was dead sure coworking memberships were a scam until i stayed in chiang mai for 3 months

I mean, paying $200 a month for a desk and wifi felt like such a ripoff but after getting kicked out of three cafes for lingering too long i caved and honestly the networking alone paid for itself. Has anyone else found a coworking spot that actually changed their remote work game?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_elizabeth13h ago

Oh boy, I hear you loud and clear on this one. That cafe shuffle is the worst, especially when you find a good spot and they start giving you the side eye after hour two. I'd say the real game changer for me was finding a place with decent soundproof booths for calls, not just open desks. It sounds small but it made a huge difference when I had back to back client meetings. Another thing that helped was picking a spot that offered lockers, so I didn't have to lug my whole setup home every night. I also learned to check the membership terms carefully for things like whether they let you bring a guest for lunch breaks, some places are strict about that. Honestly, a well run coworking space is worth the money when you factor in the reliable internet and the chance to swap advice with other people grinding away. Just make sure you visit during peak hours first to see if the vibe works for you.

ross.kim8h ago

See I gotta push back on this a little. I tried coworking spaces for a few months and the whole thing just felt like a more expensive version of the cafe shuffle. You pay for a membership and then still end up competing for the good booths or the quiet corners, especially during those peak hours you mentioned. And those lockers? Sure they help but half the time the lockers near my desk were always full or broken. The "networking" part is oversold too, most people just keep their headphones on and barely look up. Maybe I just picked the wrong spots but for me, a library card and a good pair of noise cancelling earbuds worked way better and cost zero dollars.

ward.diana3h ago

The locker situation and soundproof booths were the exact reasons I finally committed to my current spot. I found a place that had a solid mix of open seating and private call pods, and that alone made the fee feel worth it.