Workation is becoming a popular trend worldwide, as more and more professionals recognise the benefits of combining work and vacation. If you’re lucky enough to work remotely, you have the absolute freedom to choose where you base your office. Whether in one of the remote islands of Croatia or a laid-back village in Portugal, the best workation destinations are far and wide.
So, be inspired and embrace the digital nomad culture with these incredible places for your next workation.
1. Croatia
Life moves at a relaxing pace in Croatia, and this is its biggest draw for digital nomads. A place that exudes a laidback atmosphere allows you to focus more and be productive at work. Moreover, Croatia offers many incredible places to discover, allowing for an enjoyable workation holiday.
Croatia boasts more than a thousand islands, including Brac, a picturesque island that’s become a popular workation destination in recent years. It is a small barrier island off the coastline near Split and home to the Vidova Gora, the highest point of the Adriatic Islands and a popular spot for hiking. Brac has a well-developed tourism infrastructure with excellent hotels and villas that you can book for long-term stays.
The beautiful island of Brac, Croatia
Hvar is another fantastic Croatian island that’s perfect for a workation holiday. While it’s famous for being a party destination, it has a thriving creative scene that will inspire you to work hard. What’s more, Hvar is home to luxurious hotels with inspiring views across the picturesque harbour, making it a great place to take up work. When you’re away from your desk, you can explore historical sites like St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Clock Tower, and the Franciscan Monastery. But if you prefer a relaxing break at the beach, head to one of the secluded beaches around Ždrilca Bay.
2. Mexico
With fabulous beaches, mouth-watering food, fascinating culture, and lovely coastal towns brimming with colonial architecture, Mexico is a tropical treasure trove that can make for a perfect destination for a workation. Workation is becoming a popular concept in Mexico in recent years, with more and more resorts offering workation vacation packages to lure digital nomads and remote workers.
One resort that offers a workation package in Mexico is the St. Regis Punta Mita, which allows travellers who can work remotely to stay longer in the resort. The package includes fully equipped offices where you can take up work and customised menus to meet your special dietary needs. If you are taking your kids, you can also request extra services like aid in home-schooling and after-school activities.
There are multiple things to love about Mexico, so it’s easy to see why remote workers are drawn to the country. You will find several beautiful beaches and many luxury rental villas in Mexico, the perfect places to lounge around during your work break. And if you’re fond of cultural experiences, Mexico offers many of these. So, if you want to experience a healthy work-life balance, fly to Mexico now.
3. Portugal
Portugal is one of the world’s best places to work and enjoy holidays during work breaks. Its beaches are beautiful and unique. What’s more, it has a wonderfully temperate and notoriously sunny climate all year round, making for a fabulous workation destination any time of the year.
Lisbon and Porto are the two best destinations for a workation in Portugal. Both cities are gorgeous and have many great accommodations that cater to those who want to stay longer. They are steeped in culture and history, with great architecture, excellent restaurants, and many coworking spaces and cafes where you can take up work and meet with fellow nomads.
If you prefer a workation holiday by the beach, the Algarve is where you should go. It’s home to many picturesque coastal towns where you can base yourself. Albufeira has that party vibe, home to great bars and clubs. Lagos and Portimao are also great places for workation, known for their beautiful beaches and natural landmarks. Aside from spending time at the beach, you’ll find plenty of awesome things to keep you entertained in the Algarve while not working. You can explore the lovely coastal towns or head to the beach to take up water sports activities.
4. The Galapagos Islands
When going for a workation, the Galapagos Islands may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But if you’re someone who loves nature and wildlife, the Galapagos Islands would be an ideal destination for working while on holiday. It’s an archipelago of many islands featuring unique landscapes, from volcanic rocks to white sand beaches.
Santa Cruz is an excellent base for a workation in the Galapagos. It’s famous mainly because of the presence of giant tortoises and sinkholes. Santa Cruz is also home to beautiful beaches where you could find yourself hanging out. After work, take an exciting tour of the Galapagos Islands, a great way to see all on offer here. You can also see giant tortoises or visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre.
San Cristobal is often the first destination you will arrive at when visiting the Galapagos Islands. It’s a great place to stay on a workation holiday since it offers many accommodations from hotels to vacation rentals, with many options for long-term stays.
5. Barbados
Barbados is one of those countries luring remote workers to the country with its workation programs and digital nomad visas. With abundant sea, sun, and sand, Barbados will make for a great destination if you want to combine work and holiday in one. When you’re not working or at the beach, you can go island hopping, discover mouth-watering Bajan cuisine, and explore historical sites like St. Nicholas Abbey.
While there are many vacation rentals in Barbados that you can rent while working remotely on the island, you can also choose to stay at luxurious hotels if you feel like indulging in some luxury. One of these is Marriott Barbados, which offers extended-stay workation packages providing guests with amenities to help them focus on work in a lovely Caribbean setting. The packages allow travellers to continue work while enjoying leisure activities during downtime.
