It’s getting warmer and the sunshine is calling. If you’re lucky enough to work or study remotely and have flexibility when it comes to your hours and location, you’re probably already familiar with the term “workation.” But if you aren’t, here you go: it’s when you combine your work and vacation and get to travel while working. Sound like something you’d like to do? Obviously! In this article, we’ll explore six of the best locations for your next workation, no matter what you’re looking for. But first, what makes a workation different from regular vacation or a staycation, or even being a digital nomad? Let’s discuss.
What is a Workation?
Generally speaking, a workation is when you mix leisure and work by going somewhere different and keeping up your regular work duties. But the truth is that a workation can be whatever you want it to be! It could last a few days or a few months: you can make your next workation whatever you want it to be.
How can you plan a workation?
It can be tempting to just get planning, but it’s essential to check with your boss or HR department before you get too carried away. Even if you work remotely, your company may still have some limitations about where you can work from and for how long. For example, you may be free to work from anywhere within the European Union, but have to ask permission to stay more than three weeks outside. Or you may be able to work from a US island, but need to request permission to work from Mexico. Before you do anything else, check your company rules.
How can I choose the right workation?
There’s no universal right choice for anyone when it comes to workations; to pick the best place, you need to think about your preferences and choose what matters most to you. Do you want to shut your laptop at 5pm and head right to the beach? Or do you want to visit museums and cultural centers in your free time? Before you make a final decision, make sure you think about what you want.
Questions to ask yourself when choosing your workation location:
Can you still properly do your job? Working from Bali’s sandy beaches may sound like a great idea, but if your WiFi connection is unstable and you are unable to join meetings, it may not permit you to do your job. If you work asynchronously from the rest of your team, your location may not matter too much, but if you have to frequently join meetings, ensure that your connection permits that.
Can you still be part of your team? Agreeing to work hours in a different time zone can seem like no big deal at the beginning, but you might get tired of waking up very early or working well into the night if your job requires you to work the same hours as the rest of your team. Before you decide where to work, make sure you ask your boss about different time zones and the hours you’ll be expected to work.
Can you afford to live in your dream workation destination? Salaries vary significantly from country to country and even by city; check out the cost of living in your desired destination before making the decision to ensure that your current salary can cover your expenses. This is also a good time to look into health insurance, medication costs, and any other expenses you’ll accrue from living abroad.
Do you meet the legal requirements? Lots of countries have limits on how long foreigners can stay in the country without a visa; in addition to making sure your company permits you to work from abroad for tax purposes, you’ll need to make sure you don’t get into legal trouble in your workation country either.
6 Cities for your Next Workation
Now that we’ve discussed how to choose your destination, let’s talk about some of the best:
Split, Croatia
Located in the middle of the country and full of beaches, great cuisine, and friendly locals, Split is a great place for your next workation. It’s an affordable and vibrant city that connects you to other islands and European cities, as well as offering co-working spaces, an English speaking population, and digital nomad visa options if you want to stay long-term.
Bangkok, Thailand
Another great option is Bangkok, Thailand, an affordable and bustling city that offers visitors and residents lots of options. Its monthly cost of living and activities rank it as one of the world’s best workation cities, offering co-working spaces and WiFi zones. Most people speak English in this Thai city and you’ll be surrounded by other expats and locals.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is one of the world’s most popular destinations for workations, thanks to its mild weather, sunny beaches, and affordable cost of living. What makes this European city unique, however, is its mix of beaches and city, offering both lazy days under the sun and history, museums, and cultural experiences. There are lots of co-working spaces in the city and WiFi is almost universally available.
Brisbane, Australia
This Southern destination is perfect for those looking for nice weather, lots of activities, and an affordable price. If your dream workation involves signing off and having tons of adventures at your fingertips, consider heading down under. Brisbane also offers a vibrant digital nomad community, many coworking spaces, and the chance to explore the rest of Australia.
Sicily, Italy
Did someone say pizza and pasta under the Italian sun?! This selection probably won’t surprise you; Sicily is a popular workation destination thanks to its wonderful weather, delicious cuisine, and close proximity to other Italian and European cities. Work from a small café on a cobblestone street and live your Italian fantasy.
Aruba
Does your perfect workation involve spending lots of time on the beach and relaxing as soon as your work day is over? Perfect for professionals that need to work during Eastern Standard Time, Aruba offers coworking spaces, accessible WiFi, and year round sunny weather to digital nomads.
Do any of these cities pique your interest? We thought so. If you’re ready to become a digital nomad, a career in tech that boasts flexibility might be the right choice for you. At Ironhack, we’re dedicated to helping people jumpstart their tech careers and start living their dreams. What are you waiting for?!
