Whether you want a workstation on the beach, lounging in a comfy Airbnb, or in the comfort of your RV workstation, blending work and travel is a huge trend. The workation trend promises to become even bigger as destinations recognize the trend.
Papa Joe and I have been workation-ers for several years. It is no surprise to us, especially with changes to work and travel during the recent pandemic, that others are jumping on the bandwagon. Literally.
Did you know there is no synonym for “workation”? The concept really isn’t new, but the world is catching on to the joys of a workation (or for those of you who put the vacation portion first, workcation). Some call us digital nomads. Whatever the term, I’m glad the travel industry and employers are catching on.
Is a workation right for you?
There are some best practices to keep in mind when blending work and travel – and they aren’t difficult.
- Are you able to be a digital nomad? Of course, you need to consider access to the internet, the ability to perform your work away from home, and whether your employer supports your ability to work away from your home station.
- Can you extend a work trip? Papa Joe and I have been utilizing this practice for a decade. When traveling for business, extend your trip either before or after your required work activities. If you can make it work, go early and stay later!
- If you are considering an RV workation, research your destination campground/RV park. Many are now offering ratings for internet and cell phone connectivity, some even offer ethernet connection with your campsite. We have found that Campendium has very comprehensive reviews.
- Since you are blending work and travel, determine if your destination supports your ability to work. You may be surprised at what some popular vacation spots are doing to support the workation movement. If you want a workstation on the beach, Aruba is absolutely all in!
How can you make blending work and travel work for you?
The key to any successful venture is planning, and a workation is no different. Here are a couple of my favorite resources for workation planning.
If you are unsure, try a short workation experiment close to home first. That way, you can either cut your workation short or create a hybrid “office work” and “vacation” model. Papa Joe and I actually do that when we are working out of our RV close to home. I return to the house to work and he stays at his RV workation, and then we play in the evening.
Here is what works for the Travel Junkie team
Technology. It’s all about having connectivity regardless of where we travel. Both Papa Joe and I have a “go” pack for our work computers. Portable mouse and keyboard, backup internet connectivity. Our “go” pack is always packed and ready to hit the road, whether it be a river cruise in Europe or exploring the US in the trusty RV. We can (and do) literally work in the middle of nowhere.
Here are a couple of examples of workation destinations the Travel Junkie team has enjoyed.
We plan our destination so we have a workable blend of work and playtime.
For most of our travel in the US, we work during the day, play in the evening, and make sure our weekends are free to enjoy our destination. Papa Joe’s workstation has been on the beach more than once. We have both extended our comfy Airbnb stay. You only need to look at our RV page to know RV workations are a way of life for us!
Life at the office no longer needs to be a dozen steps from your kitchen. Expand your horizons and enjoy the amenities and flexibilities that are now available. Whether you add a day to your work trip in your comfy Airbnb, relax at your workstation on the beach, or convert a space in the RV into an office, just do it!
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