Five digital nomad retreats to help you work around the world hassle-free
- As technology continues to advance and working remotely rises in popularity, the appeal of a nomadic working lifestyle is increasing
- To cater to this demand, a series of retreats are emerging across the globe, offering combined working and living spaces
By 2035 there will be one billion digital nomads travelling the globe, predicts NomadList.com, fuelled by a rise in remote and freelance work, cheaper travel and a decline in home ownership.
To cater to this demand, a series of retreats are emerging, offering combined working and living spaces.
Many people dream of combining travel with their job, but working remotely has its challenges. Many digital nomads work from coffee shops and spend time scouring destinations for reliable Wi-fi – and it can, at times, be isolating.
“The [digital nomad] lifestyle is just like normal life, but heightened and compressed,” says Katherine Conaway, co-author of The Digital Nomad Survival Guide (2017). She has been a freelance remote worker and full-time traveller since June 2014, when she quit her job as a digital design producer in New York.
“Your senses are often overwhelmed by new and different inputs around you. You are working [full-time], so your free time is incredibly valuable and there's pressure to spend it well. That’s all part of the adventure and what makes it a compelling lifestyle, but it also means it's more tiring and demanding than it seems at first glance,” she says.
To cater to the growing global army of digital nomads, a rising number of digital nomad retreats are cropping up. They offer a combination of co-working and co-living options, which range in length of time, itineraries and destinations.
Digital nomads turn to ‘transformative travel’ to find themselves
Conaway, who took part in digital nomad retreats Remote Year in 2016 and Hacker Paradise in 2017, says while the cost for retreats can seem pricey, retreats eliminate time wasted on planning, finding decent spaces to work, and organising travel and accommodation.
“They're not inexpensive programmes, but for the combination of tangible deliverables, including housing, transport, workspace and events, and other benefits, such as time saved and networking, it can be worth the price for periods of time,” she says.
Here are some popular digital nomad retreats that tick all the boxes for remote workers – from reliable Wi-fi, comfortable working space to providing networking opportunities and the chance to delve into a country’s culture.
1. Remote Year
Fancy spending between four and 12 months travelling the globe with a bunch of like-minded digital nomads? Remote Year offers groups of up to 80 people the opportunity to explore the world together, moving onto a new destination every month.
Accommodation, travel arrangements, work space, and business and social events are organised. Options include a trip around the world, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and Latin America.
Cost: A round the world trip costs US$29,000, a six-month trip starts at US$17,500 and a four-month trip starts at US$12,500. remoteyear.com
2. Be-remote
For remote workers looking to stay in one spot, Be-remote is based in popular digital nomad destination, Ubud, Bali. A NomadList.com survey showed Bali is the most popular Southeast Asian digital nomad destination, with more than 200,000 working travellers located there in June 2019.
Couple seeing world without flying seek boat ride out of Hong Kong
A second location is set to open soon on the island in Canggu. Options start from one week, with the cost including a private or shared living space, co-working space equipped with Wi-fi and other essential amenities, excursions, workshops and the chance to volunteer or collaborate with local projects.
Cost: US$1,000 for four weeks with a private room or US$450 for a shared room. be-remote.com
3. Hacker Paradise
Ranging from two weeks to one year, Hacker Paradise arranges single-location retreats in Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America.
Groups range from 20 to 30 people, with the cost including accommodation, co-working spaces, weekly lunches, workshops and the chance to explore the destination.
Frequent fliers and ageing: the risks and what you can do
It also offers retreats based on themes, which include professional and personal development, cultural and travel adventures, and social time.
While most attendees tend to be in the tech sector, all remote workers are welcome.
Cost: Varies depending on location and time. Two week retreats start at US$1,550. hackerparadise.org
4. Unsettled
For a taste of the nomad life, sign up to one of Unsettled’s single-location retreats, which are scattered across the globe.
Options include stays for one or two weeks, or one-month programmes, that take place in various locations.
Marriott opens on Japan’s remote, sub-tropical Miyako Islands
Destinations for 2020 include Bali, Cape Town, Buenos Aires and Greece. The cost includes accommodation, a co-working space, dinner parties, themed events and adventure activities.
Cost: The price varies on destination but ranges from US$2,000 to US$4,000 per month. beunsettled.co
5. Roam
Roam is a network of co-living and co-working spaces peppered across the globe. Attendees can choose to stay for one or two weeks, or one month, with locations in Ubud, Tokyo, Miami, San Francisco and London.
A spot in New York is slated to open soon. There are also options for couples and, in some locations, families. The cost includes accommodation, work space, social events and activities, dinners and excursions.
Cost: Prices vary by location but range from US$500 a week to US$1,200 a week. roam.co
