From vacations to work days, the idea of working while traveling is not new, and that’s why ‘workcation’ is taking the world by storm. In today’s post, I’m going to let you know about everything you need to know about workcations.
Traveling around the world and getting to know our dream places while working and earning money to make the trips possible have been the ultimate goal for a ton of people since a long time ago, but in reality, most people just wait until retirement to travel freely, and the truth is that’s not the same.
That is why, across the years, many trends have been born like digital nomads, laptop lifestyle, and remote workers. Being a digital nomad myself, I know how hard it can be to take that step. At least that was the case until workcation showed up.
What is Workcation?
The concept behind workcation is simple, it’s a holiday or vacation where you get to work and accomplish your work tasks like a normal work day. Its principal difference with remote working is the fact that you don’t stay at your home while on a workcation.
Basically, a workcation is taking time away from your daily or common workplace, but not from working. Workcations let you merge the work and vacation into one, making it possible to experience a new destination while still earning an income
Many people combine it with their actual holidays, in order to extend this a bit, usually having 1-2 weeks of holidays plus 1 or 2 weeks of workcation. It’s one of the best ways to get your feet wet before becoming a digital nomad. All you need to start is a ready-to-work accommodation, and Noad Exchange got us covered (more on this later)
Advantages of a Workcation
The pros of this trend are wide, hence its popularity. From improving creativity to increasing productivity, here are some benefits of taking a workcation:
- Increase your mental health
- Decrease burnout
- Work from a different place
- Clear your mind and recharge emotionally
- Doesn’t eat up your personal time
- Get a better balance between life and work
- You’ll end up feeling refreshed and like a new
- Explore and learn new cultures in your free time
- Decrease work stress
How to Find Ready-to-Work Accommodation?
One of the main issues we face as digital nomad, remote workers and now for workcations are finding accommodations that are ready or suitable to work. While most hotels and resorts have Wi-Fi connections, it is usually slow and shared with a ton of people. Not to mention that most hotels don’t have a reliable or free workspace, and other accommodations that meet those requirements aren’t cheap.
So, can you imagine a space to find only ready-to-work accommodations? With a strong internet connection and a room suitable for working without disturbances, not only that, but it’s also as cheap as you only pay for the final cleaning when you leave.
That’s exactly what Noad Exchange is offering. It’s one of the easiest ways to find affordable accommodations that are ready to work.
What is Noad Exchange?
The first thing to know is that this is not a rental platform, it’s more like a home-sharing community that’s private and member-only, While you need to pay a membership and list your home to host other like-minded people, it’s way more affordable than other options.
You can expect to travel and stay in a home where people like you actually live, that way you can be sure to have a space that’s work-friendly.
How it works?
It may look complicated at first glance, but it’s not. All you need to do is become a member, pay the membership, and list your home. After your home is approved, you’ll get 5 or more credits to spend (most accommodations are 1 credit).
The catch here is that you need to have an approved home listing before you can travel, which in my opinion is a good way to create a safe and trusted give-to-get community.
This way you can travel around the world, know different places, and meet like-minded people in a cheap and affordable way while making sure you’ll be able to work properly.
If you’re excited about the incredible work that Noad is doing, then you don’t want to miss out on their exclusive Founding Member program. This unique opportunity allows you to become a part owner of the company and join in their journey. You can check it out here: https://wefunder.com/noad/
Also, we LOVE traveling and this is an incredible opportunity to work and travel without a hassle. Don’t miss the chance and sign up using my referral code: TravelExperta.
Anyone who signs up using my code will get an EXTRA 3 CREDITS to spend and stay anywhere they want.
Best Places for a Workcation
Any place with a good internet connection and a space that’s suitable to use as an office is good for a workcation, but across the years there have been several destinations preferred by digital nomads and remote workers.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon Is probably one of the largest hubs of digital nomads in Europe, which is also suitable for a workcation. The city is acclaimed for its stunning historical center with unique architecture and, of course, plenty of restaurants cafés, and vibrant nightlife.
Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca is not only popular among digital nomads but among expats too. It’s a well-known top-notch beach holiday destination with incredible weather all year long, stunning and almost pristine beaches, and it has amazing internet connections, there are plenty of cafes, and restaurants suitable for working too.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Another city popular for workcation is Amsterdam, It’s on many people’s bucket list for several reasons, but it’s well known among digital nomads for its nostalgic yet artistic feeling. The city is famous for its artistic legacy, an intricate set of canals, and its stunning narrow houses.
Not only that, many people are attracted by its cycling scene, and how popular biking is there. You can find a ton of cafes with people on their laptops, restaurants with top-notch internet connections, and vibrant nightlife.
Tips for a Perfect Workcation
If you’re a first-timer, here are some tips that can make planning your first workcation easy, that way you can be sure to do it right.
Pack and Double Check
Make sure you bring all you need, let’s say, make sure to pack your laptop, tablet, and its accessories, and in case you have backups, make sure to pack them too. Also, you need to keep your laptop and accessories in your carry-on luggage, that way it’s easier and more accessible.
Workcation + Paid Time Off
Try to combine your Paid Time Off with your workcation, that way you can prolong a lot your stay at the desired location. Talk it off with your manager or boss. Since you’ll be already flying, it’s easier to plan both of them as one single holiday.
Always have an Outlet Converter
I can’t stress this one enough, You can’t imagine how important and useful outlet converters are, they are lifesavers! Since most locals don’t use converters, they can be particularly hard to spot at your destination, and this is even more true when you’re checking one non-popular destination.
Make sure to get one with multiple USB ports, they can come in handy!
Other useful Tips:
- Prepare and organize your work before the trip.
- Be aware of timezone changes for work-related stuff.
- Avoid working on planes, unless you’re used to it.
- Reduce Meetings as much as you can.
- Have a backup internet-related plan (esims, cell phone data, etc.)
