In recent years, it’s more and more common for employees to consider working from another location than their home country. And even though it’s a trend that’s gaining more and more popularity, lots of employees still struggle with planning a successful workation. To make this easier for you, we’ve collected six steps that will help you plan for a successful trip, so you can get your job done and enjoy exploring a new environment:
- Get your employer’s permission.
- Pick a destination.
- Book your transportation.
- Choose your accommodation.
- Pack.
- Enjoy your workation.
Step 1: Get your employer’s permission.
Are you self-employed? Perfect, you’re good to. If like me (and probably the majority of the population) however you’re employed full-time, you might want to give your employer a heads up that you’re planning on working from a different country. Nowadays, a lot of companies are quite flexible with letting their employees work remotely, however it’s always better to be on the safe side.
If your employer is a bit hesitant about letting you work from another country, make sure and highlight the benefits of working from a new environment. According to a study by passport-photo.online, 86% of respondents agreed a workation boosted their productivity.
Step 2: Pick a destination.
Once you have your employer’s ok, it’s time to pick the destination for your workation. Ideally it should be a place where you’re allowed to work from, this will safe you a lot of hassle as you won’t have to worry about securing a visa.
Apart from the legal aspect, there are some more things to take into consideration:
- Which countries are easy accessible for you?
If you’re going on a workation, you probably want to avoid long and complicated journeys so that you can make the most of your trip rather than wasting your days off getting to your destination. - What kind of environment are you looking for?
Are you planning on spending time by the beach? Hiking in nature? Do you want to surf? Explore a new city? Milan for example is probably not the best choice if you’re planning a beach holiday. - What’s the cost of living in your destination?
This can have a big impact on the overall cost of your trip. - What’s the time zone?
In some cases, working in different time zones can have little impact on your work. If you’re working with clients/customers however and have a lot of meetings scheduled, changing your time zone might not be as simple, so be aware of that.
Step 3: Book your transportation.
‘Once you’ve picked your destination, it’s time to book your transport as the earlier you book, the cheaper it usually is. If you’re flying, make sure to allow for enough space for your work equipment (such as your laptop etc.) in your carry-on hand luggage. If a suitcase with clothes gets lost in transit it’s always a frustrating situation. Now imagine the same situation with your laptop from work inside.
Another tip: always carry two days worth of clothing in your carry-on, just in case.
Step 4: Choose your accommodation.
When considering your accommodation, remember that, for the most part, you will be working around eight hours every day. This means, if you want to make the most of your trip, choose a place to stay that’s close-by to what matters to you, whether that’s the beach, the city, the mountains, a forest, etc.
In DeskHub Tenerife for example we know that our co-workers tend to want to spend lots of time by the water. We’re so close to the beach that it’s very easy to go for a swim during a lunch break or after work.
Another thing to consider when choosing your accommodation is the type of accommodation you’re looking for. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I planning on working from my accommodation?
If the answer is yes, make sure to look for places with a strong internet connection and a comfortable space to work. It’s also possible to work from a cafe for example, however it will be hard to take calls and you won’t always be guaranteed a seat.
If the answer is no: - Are there coworking spaces nearby?
The benefits of working from a coworking space are that you have your own desk, ideally with an ergonomic chair. Coworking providers usually make sure that the internet is reliable and fast and in lots of cases provide small meeting rooms or booths for you to take calls.
Coworking spaces are also great for meeting new people from other companies and industries for networking, and potentially even social occasions. You can find a lot of them on Coworker. Which leads to the next question: - Do you want to meet new people?
You might be travelling with friends so potentially don’t have the need to meet others. However if you’re travelling on your own and are looking to socialise, a hostel or an Airbnb which includes rooms for other guests might be a great choice for you.
Step 5: Pack.
Once you’ve chosen your accommodation and your workation is approaching, it’s time to think about your packing list. Feel free to print this one out for a start, there’s some space for you to personalise it!
Step 6: Enjoy your workation.
Probably the most important step! Once on your trip, it’s time to make the most of it. Try and cancel meetings you don’t need to take and really focus on getting your work done so that afterwards you can enjoy whichever destination you chose.
Airbnb Experiences can offer some great activities hosted by locals you can join, and websites like Tripadvisor and Viator can also give some insights into what to do in your area.
And that’s it – the six steps to help you create the perfect workation. And should your destination be Tenerife, we hope to be able to welcome you in DeskHub Tenerife soon!
