Working remotely can give you the opportunity to pack up your laptop, travel to a new country, and enjoy a fascinating culture while getting your daily work done. In other words, it’s like a working holiday – colloquially known as “workcation”.
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Although the term “workcation” was around long before the pandemic turned the world upside down, it was the pandemic that served as the catalyst for working holidays to become a mainstream trend due to the fact that so many workers end up on the job indefinitely. work from home.
According to Holidu’s Work Index for 2021, the best places to work are based on factors such as reliable Wi-Fi, affordability of accommodation, cost of food, and quality of local attractions.
If you wonder what it would be like to combine work and pleasure in an exotic international location, here is the opinion of people who have done it.
Argentina
Sean Lau, founder of LiveOutLauchose Argentina as a place to work due to factors such as its attractions and food.
“Before visiting Argentina, I planned an average budget of $50 per day, $25 per night for accommodation, $20 for food, and $5 for miscellaneous things,” Lau said. “It was researching online, looking at Airbnbs, restaurants and things to do around the country.”
Lau added, “But after spending six weeks there, my average daily expenses were only $30. When I arrived in Argentina, I discovered that the country was experiencing severe inflation. Argentines are looking for ways to exchange their Argentine Pesos for any other foreign currency, such as the US dollar.”
He concluded, “This led to a local exchange rate (called the blue dollar rate) that was often twice as high as the bank’s official rate. This meant that my budget of $50 a day was worth about 100 USD. In the end, I spent a lot less than I expected!”
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Hungary
Phil Scully, team leader at Haro Helpers, said that as a remote worker, he can work however he pleases. One of his favorite destinations is Hungary, especially Budapest, partly because of its affordability, especially when it comes to food.
“They have great food on offer, being able to easily dine at local cafes while working makes the job very rewarding as it means I don’t just have to stay in my Airbnb when hours of work are required,” Scully said. .
He added: “As well as the exciting and affordable cuisine which offers something a little special to my visits, Budapest also has one of the most wonderful thermal baths I have ever visited, located just [its] central park. This means that when it’s time to relax, I can visit the therapeutic spa and enjoy the over 40 variations of pools and steam rooms they offer.”
Emma Gordon, the founder of US Salvage Yardsalso took a workcation in Budapes and calculated that she spent 45% less than she would have spent in America.
Portugal
Antonina Pattiz, founder of kiss somewhere, had visited Lisbon, Portugal before the pandemic and was thoroughly impressed with the friendliness of the locals, the charming, colorful town and the affordability. And once she quit her office job to pursue her website full-time, she said booking a workcation in Lisbon to escape New York’s brutal winter was a no-brainer.
“Taking a month’s job in Lisbon was more affordable than staying at my house in New York. My accommodation in Lisbon was 40% cheaper than the rent I pay, and the food (in restaurants and grocery stores) was more affordable. turned out to be 50% cheaper than what I paid at home. All in all, I think I saved 40-50% by taking a workcation in an affordable city abroad and I’m already planning to return to Lisbon next winter as well.”
She added: “It’s easy to get around using English, the language barrier is completely removed. The Portuguese are among the nicest people. Lisbon is one of the most affordable European capitals.”
Romania
“I have chosen [Romania] because it promised the perfect blend of affordable experiences,” said Diana Vicheva, travel specialist and editorial manager at Expo Travel Group, a B2B travel agency. “And it worked. Most Romanian cities (as well as smaller towns frequented by tourists) offer a range of affordable accommodation options for visitors on a budget – hotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and modern hostels. The locals are fluent in English and very welcoming. Free Wi-Fi is seen as a necessity, not an amenity, meaning you can work from your hotel or a lovely cafe.”
Vicheva continued: “Romanian cuisine is affordable, rich and usually comes in large portions. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, you can try local street food — for example, chimney cake for breakfast and mici (grilled minced meat rolls) for lunch. You can also explore farmers markets and cook your own meals – fresh produce in Romania is cheap and mostly organic.
“When it comes to attractions, Romania does not disappoint either. Nature, historical sites, architecture, arts… You will find something interesting almost everywhere you go. Museums are cheap, and they offer free entry on specific dates or between certain times (just check their schedules in advance). Plus, there are other free activities like walking tours, classes, and workshops.”
Spain
“Spain is a great destination for a short break,” said Karen Rosenblum, founder of Spain less traveled. “It’s affordable, user-friendly and geographically diverse with so much to offer.
“In the coming months, we hope for long-awaited news on an official digital nomad visa to make it even easier to work from Spain. But for now, many are using it for short jobs (less than three months) .”
Rosenblum added, “For those with US schedules, Spain’s time zone and lifestyle can actually work very well. at least during the summer) and the least crowded. Then, when Spain starts to slow down for siesta time, it’s time to start working, which is actually perfect because that’s when it’s hottest and it happens the least.”
“In terms of affordability, Spain is still one of the best bargains in Western Europe! Outside of the big cities (Madrid and Barcelona), it’s easy to find accommodation for a fraction of US prices. And since Spain has so many amazing and vibrant cities, small towns like Málaga and Valencia have so much to offer. From culture to food scenes, every region of Spain is so different. Food and everyday consumer products are also much cheaper in Spain than in the US or elsewhere in Europe. Many said they saved money by moving to Spain to work!”
Thailand
“Thailand is a dream destination for all digital nomads and there’s a good reason for that,” said Andreas Grant, Founder of Network Hardware. “I stayed there for a month and almost everything I needed was readily available. You can rent an apartment in Bangkok near the metro for around $450-500. This price includes access to a swimming pool, gym sports and a great internet connection. My job requires a strong internet connection and that wasn’t much of an issue in most popular cities like Chiang Mai and Krabi. You can also get a local sim card to use 4G internet.They have 7-Elevens everywhere so you can get by without cooking easily.At night you will notice the roadside restaurants have street food which you should definitely try.You can spend as little as $3-4 per meal if you stick to those roadside eateries When you combine all the expenses, it’s hard to spend more than $1,000 in a month, even if you try .”
Grant added: “The main reason I chose Thailand over other countries is that it is easy to navigate. They have all the modern facilities you need to run a job. access to an excellent internet connection was my main requirement. Even if you plan to explore other neighboring countries in Asia, this can be a great base for you.
Turkey
“My company has offices in California, Turkey, India and Morocco, so it was easy to decide where to go to work,” said Ben Hyman, co-founder and CEO of Revival rug. “I moved to Turkey because I have friends there that I wanted to see. This Middle Eastern country has a wonderful climate, delicious food and hospitable people. It is also very affordable to fly to Istanbul if you avoid the high season which is May-September.”
Hyman continued, “The shoulder season is my favorite time to go, and April in particular is beautiful due to their tulips blooming. It’s not hot and there aren’t as many tourists. You can also find better deals on accommodation, in addition to flights. When you’re in Turkey, public transport is the easiest and most affordable way to get around. Don’t expect to spend more than 25 euros in food per day, unless you want to splurge, and they have plenty of coworking spaces available if needed. Highly recommend Turkey for work.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 cheapest countries to take a “workcation”
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