As a travel and adventure enthusiast, I immediately got excited when I heard about the group work trip to Costa Brava offered by Working Remotely. A whole week working from a sunny place, combined with interesting activities and meeting new people. I didn’t have to think long about that, especially with autumn approaching. My expectations were high, and rightly so, as it turned out later.
The workstation in Spain begins
On Sunday morning I flew from Amsterdam to Girona, and half an hour later a friendly cab driver dropped me off at the hotel in tiny Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Since the meeting with the other participants wasn’t until later in the afternoon, I left my suitcase at the reception and went to explore. Just a 3-minute walk away was a cozy boulevard with numerous restaurants. From the terrace I enjoyed my cappuccino overlooking the wide sandy beach.
Wow, this change of scenery immediately provided more energy!
At 4 p.m., I met Alieke and the other participants at the Van der Valk Barcarola hotel. We were welcomed with a glass of Cava and several tapas, and introduced ourselves to each other. The healthy tension I had beforehand was now gone and I felt that this was going to be a special week. The group consisted of 11 people: 6 women and 5 men. The ages ranged from 28 to 53. Some worked in salaried employment, others as self-employed. A nice mix, in my opinion. After the first meeting on the terrace next to the pool, we walked together with our belongings to our apartments, which also belonged to Van der Valk International. The apartment I stayed in with 4 other participants was huge! Four bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a spacious living room with dining table and an even more spacious balcony. And that balcony had a phenomenal view of the sea. Everyone took some time to tidy up their belongings and freshen up, and during the well-delivered paella dinner by Alieke, the atmosphere got going right away. We toasted with a glass of sangria to a beautiful group work experience together. I had experienced this before during my travels, but it amazed me again how quickly a group of people who don’t know each other can go into depth during conversations.
The ideal combination of work and enjoyment
The rest of the week was a perfect mix of work and leisure. Each morning I began by admiring the beautiful sunrise from the balcony, then joined the hotel for breakfast. The rest of the morning and afternoon were devoted to focused work, with everyone finding a suitable workspace for themselves. In the living room or on the balcony of the apartment, in the meeting room or on the (roof) terrace at the hotel. I chose the latter. The wifi was good everywhere and the planned Zoom meetings with my colleagues in the Netherlands could go ahead without any problems. The evenings were all about relaxing and getting to know my fellow participants of the group workout. Alieke had put together a great program for us! From a visit to a vineyard to sea kayaking, there was something for everyone in the program. At the vineyard, the owner not only told us all about the winemaking process, but we also tasted the flavors during an extensive tasting. The Camino de Ronda hike took us past cute coves, while sea kayaking provided a refreshing adventure. But the boat ride during sunset was the highlight for me! In a beautiful setting, with nice people, watching the sun sink into the sea. That was truly a magical moment for everyone. And if I didn’t feel like an activity for a while? No hay problema. Everything was allowed, nothing had to during this group workout.
Review of the group workstation
Upon returning home, the most frequently asked question was: how was the group? From my perspective and experience, it was virtually impossible that the group was disappointing. Everyone was different, of course, with varying jobs, ages, interests and backgrounds. But that was precisely the beauty of it! I felt a stronger click with some participants than others, and that was totally fine. What brought us together was the shared passion for exploring new places and meeting new people. With that in mind, the experience could only be a positive one. After this intense week of work and fun, a sense of gratitude prevails with me. I am grateful for the valuable insights I gained both professionally and personally during the group work experience. But most of all, I am grateful for the wonderful people I met. This workation was much more than an ordinary experience; it was a unique journey! Soon we will have another drink together in the Netherlands. By the way, here you can find the aftermovie of the group workation. Do you also want to go on a group workout next year? Check the dates for 2024.
