In an era when remote working is becoming more common, the popularity of workations (a conflation of “work” and “vacation”) is rising sharply. More and more people are looking for ways to combine the useful with the pleasant. Workplaces abroad or in inspiring locations are favorites. But what makes a good workation accommodation? And what should you look for before booking something? Here are some key requirements that make an accommodation ideal for a productive and enjoyable workation.
1. Fast and reliable wifi
The first thing everyone should think about is good wifi. Without good Internet, your workation is doomed to fail. A stable and fast Internet connection is the backbone of any workation. Without a reliable wifi connection, online meetings, deadlines and everyday work can be severely hampered. The ideal accommodation provides an Internet connection that is not only fast, but also stable enough to support video meetings without hiccups. Will you be working remotely with your entire team? Then you’ll need even more than enough mbps so you can all be working at the same time. So a good group accommodation is really a consideration for your workation if you’re going with several people.
2. Comfortable workspaces
Although it is tempting to work from a hammock, an ergonomic workstation is important for long-term productivity. Images where someone works comfortably in a hammock with a laptop on their lap are only seen on Instagram and not in reality. With that, you’ll ruin your neck and back in no time. A good workation accommodation has a workspace with a comfortable office chair, a spacious desk or table, plenty of power outlets and good lighting. A quiet environment without distractions also contributes to a productive workday. If you are going with several people, carefully consider where you will all be working. It is far from ideal if there is only one big kitchen table where you all have to sit. Then if someone has an online meeting, or wants to discuss something with a colleague, everyone will be affected.
Going to a warm destination? Then consider the right temperature for your workstation. If you’re sweating in front of your laptop, it’s not exactly nice. Especially not if you have to appear in an online meeting and the drops of sweat are on your forehead. You often have a hard time concentrating in too warm an environment. Also keep in mind that sometimes it’s nice to work outside, but in the shade under a canopy and with a good Wi-Fi signal.
3. A quiet workspace with privacy
For concentrated work, quietness is a must. It is important that the accommodation offers enough privacy and a quiet environment so that you can work undisturbed. This may mean that the accommodation is in a quiet neighborhood or has well-insulated rooms. Things like blackout curtains and soundproof walls can also contribute to a better work experience. Be critical of this and contact the location before your workation to check if it is suitable for remote work. At a group accommodation, you can often find meeting rooms or a nice lobby or community space where you can work together. But be careful what you book, because by no means all group accommodations have these facilities. And if you book a location with a meeting room included, think about the desired layout of the room and whether it will fit your group. After all, if you want to put a lot of tables and chairs in a room, you will need quite a spacious room.
4. Remote working in an inspiring environment
One of the biggest benefits of a workation is the opportunity to work in a new, inspiring environment. This can greatly boost creativity and motivation. Consider accommodations overlooking nature, the sea or in a vibrant city with plenty to do. Your new surroundings should provide opportunities to relax and recharge after work hours. We at Working Remotely have been traveling the world with our laptops for years and have worked from the most amazing places. We’d love to share those experiences with you. If you want to go on a workstation and are looking for the perfect place to do so, alone, with your partner, friends or with your colleagues, check out the options for perfect workstation accommodations here.
5. Flexibility and facilities
A good workation accommodation offers some flexibility in addition to a good workplace. Think about arrival and departure times, the ability to purchase additional services such as a printer, meeting rooms, or even catering. It’s just what you need. Think about this in advance and then critically examine whether your needs can be met. Furthermore, it is helpful if there are facilities such as a gym, so you can easily exercise before or after your workday. Having a swimming pool or spa is of course absolutely top, to have a good balance between work and relaxation it is wonderful to be able to jump into the water between or after your working day. Do you own an accommodation or are you a manager of a location, check out this online master class for accommodations. In it I explain to you in 1 hour what is important for workations and how to attract the target group of remote workers.
6. Good food and drink
Tasty food and drink is important to many people, which I totally get. For a good workation, it is important to have easy access to food and drink. This can be in the form of a well-equipped kitchen in the accommodation, or in nearby restaurants and cafes where you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Some workation accommodations even offer meals or room service, so you don’t have to leave to eat well. Consider carefully in advance what your budget is for your remote work adventure. After all, certainly the cost of food and drink takes a big bite out of that.
7. Good connections and transportation options
Although you may spend a lot of time in accommodation during a workation, it is still important to have good connections and transportation options. This makes it easier to go explore your surroundings during your workation. This may mean that the accommodation is near public transportation, an airport or you can rent a car. In the latter case, I would always do that in advance, with a reliable rental company. And don’t forget your credit card, otherwise you won’t get the car.
8. With your company on workation
Want to take your team on workation and looking for a suitable location? We are happy to help! With our years of experience in the travel industry and our large network, we know how to find the best places. Something that exactly suits your needs! And it’s fully insured too, so you won’t have any hassle in case of calamities. We can also arrange airline tickets, rental cars and fun group activities for the best rates. Feel free to send us a message for free advice!
Time for your workation
A workation is an excellent way to combine work and leisure, but its success depends greatly on the choice of accommodation. By choosing accommodation that meets these requirements, you can ensure a productive work period while enjoying a unique and inspiring environment. The perfect workation accommodation provides the ideal balance between work and leisure, allowing you to make the most of both worlds.
More tips on remote working and workations:
- 10 tips to make remote working successful
- Here’s how you can do remote business: tips for remote success
- How to best combine travel and work
