Everyone’s heard of a ‘staycation’ and many Brits became well acquainted with this concept during the pandemic. The latest trend to become popular is quite the opposite, however. A ‘workcation’ means enjoying the benefits of a holiday by having the flexibility to work from elsewhere in the world. Essentially, it’s like working from home but in a location abroad, so you’ll still do the work expected of a 9 to 5.
Although a workcation has the potential for a better work-life balance, it requires careful thought. You need to consider several aspects, such as entry requirements, working hours and living costs. So, which countries are best for a workcation and what do you need to bear in mind?
READ MORE: We share a list of 5 unique workcation destinations to consider
What is a workcation?
A workcation is a “working vacation,” as the name implies. Workcations combine traditional vacation travel with remote work. Essentially, you’re working, but instead of working from your couch at home or in the office, you could be working on the beach or in the mountains.
Workcations should not be viewed as a replacement for vacations; rather, they should be viewed as another tool in your arsenal of anti-burnout strategies. Continue reading to find out when you should take a workcation and when you should completely disconnect.
Why you should consider a workcation?
Being able to take a workcation is an excellent opportunity to boost your professional life, mental health and travel ambitions. This kind of flexibility will only serve to increase overall job satisfaction and has the potential to therefore make you perform better in your role. With the ability to easily explore new places outside of work hours, it’s also an excellent way to support your mental health after a few years of restrictions on travel.
What makes a good workcation location?
As you’ll probably be using electrical devices and communicating via the internet, you should consider utilities. Make sure wherever you’re staying has the cost of energy included or that it’s affordable. Likewise, the internet speed needs to be good enough for smooth uploading and downloading of files and for streaming work calls. Living costs are also an important factor, as you’ll need to ensure your salary sufficiently covers accommodation, food and transport.
Never travel to a country for work without having thoroughly researched its visa requirements. Digital nomad visas are gaining in popularity, are fairly simple to obtain and may well be crucial to legally support your stay.
Is the idea popular with Brits?
Booklet-printing specialist instantprint set about finding out about UK employees’ attitudes towards workcations. They conducted a survey on 2,000 British workers to get their thoughts. 47% of respondents said they would appreciate the opportunity, citing travel as the main reason. Who wouldn’t want to step straight out of their door into a holiday destination after the end of the working day?
Some of the findings are reflective of clear concerns for the UK working population. As the average cost of living in Britain increases, over a quarter of people expressed that there may be financial benefits to a workcation.
Interestingly, mental health was the principal motivation for 40% of people wanting to take a workcation. The benefits of travel on mental health are well documented, and there is increasing awareness in the workplace of the importance of safeguarding the mental health of employees. This means employers could reap equal benefits by putting in place a more flexible policy that supports workcations. In fact, over 20% of those surveyed indicated that a workcation could even make them more productive.
READ MORE: Here’s our list of the top places to be a digital nomad in Southeast Asia
Which countries are best for a workcation?
The research indicated that there are countries better suited to workcations than others, although some of this may ultimately come down to personal preference.
Georgia, which borders Europe and Asia, came top of the leader board for its low cost of living, low crime rate and easy visa opportunities. Romania came in a close second for the same reasons, followed by the Czech Republic.
These top three countries vary in their internet speeds, with Georgia having the lowest, Romania having the highest and the Czech Republic sitting in the middle of the three. Depending on the nature of your role, this may be a big consideration to enable you to adequately carry out your work.
Other countries in the top ten are already popular with UK tourists, including Thailand, Portugal, Spain and Croatia.
With such a variety of locations, if you have a role that requires you to be on hand for specific hours, make sure you pick a country without a significant time difference from the UK.
