7 key rules of the workation: how to travel and relax without a vacation

Try a workation if you work from home and do not have enough vacation time to travel. We explain what it is and how to set it up so that you and your coworkers may be comfortable.

How to organize your workation

To have enough time for work and rest, you must prepare for the workation in advance.

Decide on a place

Choose the direction for the workation. Maybe you have always wanted to move close to the ocean or spend your free time after work skiing or snowboarding at a ski resort. The direction will determine the scope of the preparation. For instance, you do not need to plan a trip, reserve lodging, or research the infrastructure of a new location to spend a month living in your country house.

Choose a comfortable accommodation

If you still decide to go to a new city or country, choose the best housing option. Here is what to consider:

  • The number of rooms with workplaces. If you are traveling with a company and each of you has called with a team or clients in your schedule during the day, you will need separate rooms.
  • Availability of Wi-Fi and its speed. If the description of the accommodation says that there is Wi-Fi, this does not guarantee that it works well. Carefully read the reviews to be safe.

Consider your comfort level and your top priorities. You might not care where the house is that you will be living in. For example, there must be a lot of windows, natural light, a comfortable work environment, and reliable Internet. Based on this, decide where to live.

However, if your apartments will be located far from the city center you can think about renting a car. Rental services are now available worldwide, no matter whether you have chosen some European capital or an Eastern city. In case the UAE is your destination consider hiring the best SUV in Dubai, especially if you are going not alone. However, specialists in any rental service will gladly advise which option to choose.

Explore the infrastructure around

Someone needs a coffee shop close to their home where they can go for breakfast or work in the morning. A park where you can go for a run or a stroll in between tasks for someone. When deciding where to live in the future, make a list of everything essential to you. However, as written above renting a car will make it much easier to get to any location even in case your apartments are located at some distance.

Set time for work and rest

To keep up and work and explore a new place, you need a regime. Start from yourself: in which half of the day are you most active, and are you tied to the schedule? For example, from 10:00 to 17:00 you work, and then you walk for three hours and explore a new place. Do not forget about sleep, nutrition, and the usual routine. This lifestyle requires a lot of strength.

Consider the time zones for work

If you decide to go to the other side of the world, do not forget about time zones, so as not to be on a call with colleagues at four o’clock in the morning.

Plan your budget

Think about expenses for unanticipated events in addition to those for travel, meals, and lodging. Remember about force majors. Of course, it is the last thing you want to think about but it can occur. For instance, if the aircraft is delayed or canceled, your hotel reservation will be canceled, forcing you to hunt for alternate lodging immediately.

Stay in one place for at least a couple of weeks

Moving every few days is very exhausting, and for productive work, no matter in which sphere you are working, you need a lot of energy. It takes time to get settled and adapt to a new place. The slower you move between locations, the better.

Where is the best place to go to the workation

A workation is not necessarily a trip to new countries. You can change the picture by simply going to a nearby town or a village house. Build on your desires and capabilities.

For example, if you are tied to a work schedule, look for places in your time zone or with a small time difference. If the availability of food deliveries and good coworking is important to you, choose a city with a developed infrastructure. If you want silence and privacy – a house in the mountains.