As you probably already know, workcations are pretty straightforward. Basically, you pack up your laptop case, jet off to a far-flung destination, and work remotely for a couple of days, weeks or even months.
So, instead of answering your morning emails in a flat in Birmingham, you could be sitting by a beach in Bermuda.
This new trend is a direct byproduct of the pandemic. The rise of remote working, coupled with a growing hunger for international travel means that more and more employees are deciding to take multiple breaks per year and save their annual leave while doing so.
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Of course, there are a lot of things to consider before you book a workation. You’ll need to think about the time difference, internet connection, cost of living, and of course, what kind of adventure you’re looking for.
So, to help you to decide, we’ve rounded up the four best places to do it.
For city slickers: Paris, France
As the saying goes, Paris is always a good idea. Instead of visiting the city of love for a long weekend, why not stay for a month (or two) and really immerse yourself in the French way of life (we’re picturing coffee and croissants by the Seine each morning).
If you love being part of a bustling uber-cosmopolitan city then you really can’t beat the French capital. After all, there’s so much to do here from an abundance of great museums to the amazing parks, superb cocktail bars and high-end restaurants. Plus, the people-watching is off the scale.
Paris is an expensive place to be, but there are hotels that specifically cater to digital nomads such as The Student Hotel and Mamashelter Paris East. If you decide to visit, join a coworking space such as Cosy Corner or La Cordée Coworking. It’s a great way to meet like-minded individuals and get some insider city tips.
Want to stay a little longer? Wefox, Europe’s number one digital insurer, is hiring in the city, with open roles for Lead Machine Learning Engineer, and Business analyst (actuarial) both available now. Plus, you can check out other open roles at wefox too.
Best for foodies: Austin, Texas
If you want to spend your workation eating great grub, then head to Texas. While Austin may be known for its legendary Tex-Mex, delicious barbecue, and exceptional breakfast tacos there’s so much more to the state capital’s food scene. In recent years, Austin has been at the cutting edge of modern cuisine, plus the city is home to plenty of amazing food trucks too.
Austin is becoming a tech haven in its own right. During the pandemic, numerous large tech companies moved to the Lone Star State to avoid soaring rents and an impossible housing situation in Silicon Valley. As of November 2020, 35 companies had relocated or opened new facilities in the Austin area according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce.
Austin is a great place for a workcation thanks to its extensive remote work community. There are lots of great coworking spaces and monthly events to allow digital nomads to meet up. Free Wi-Fi is available across the city and, while the cost of living might be high, it is in line with local salaries.
Want to move here instead? Indeed is currently hiring for a number of roles in the city, including a Software Engineer III – Job Seeker role, and a Staff Software Engineer job. Plus, you can find lots more open roles at Indeed here.
For beach lovers: Phuket, Thailand
Do you picture yourself swimming in crystal clear waters or lounging in a hammock on your lunch break? If so, you should consider working in beautiful Phuket, an island on the south west coast of Thailand.
It’s the best place for a beach vacation thanks to its wonderful weather. Even in the rainy season, the sun shines often and the daily temperature is usually around 35 degrees.
Because the country’s cost of living is so affordable, it’s typically an attractive place for a lot of digital nomads.
When you add in the exceptional Thai food, wonderfully friendly locals, and easy travel access to the rest of southeast Asia, it’s not surprising that so many people are flocking to this area.
Want to spend some time lazing on the beach as you code? Liberty Mutual Insurance has an opening for a fully-remote Senior Software Engineer, which could fit the bill nicely.
For adventure seekers: Dublin, Ireland
Would you like to spend your evenings climbing mountains, kayaking around small deserted islands, scuba diving or sailing in Dublin bay or practicing yoga in the park? If so, Ireland’s capital city might be the perfect spot for you.
Dublin isn’t known for its amazing weather but it’s definitely a great city for adventure seekers. Coastal, it offers access to a variety of beach and watersports activities and it’s right beside mountainous Co Wicklow, which is known as “the garden of Ireland”’. It’s the perfect place to go mountain biking, hiking or just exploring on the weekends.
The city is now one of the biggest tech hubs in Europe. Tech giants such as Airbnb, LinkedIn, and Deloitte all have bases in the city. There are also good transport links and plenty of coworking spaces such as WeWork and Huckletree. You’re pretty much guaranteed good wifi anywhere in the city too.
Dublin is certainly not cheap. However, if you live like a local, take public transport, and don’t spend all your evenings in the pub, you can make it work.
If you’re thinking about making a more permanent move, then Zurich Insurance has a range of cloud roles on offer including Cloud Engineer (FinOps) – Cloud Business Office and Cloud Platform Engineer – or check out all roles at Zurich.
Are you ready to find your next fully remote role? You can find all the best tech jobs on the House of Talent Job Board today
