The New Workation Trend: How to Plan a Work Vacation

Do you work from home? Have you ever found yourself bored in your living room? Maybe you’ve headed to a local coffee shop or park to enjoy a change of scenery while you focused on a presentation or answered emails. If you're fortunate enough to be able to work from anywhere with a power outlet and an internet connection, you might be the ideal candidate for a workation.

What Is a Workation?

A workation is a combination of vacation and work. It's becoming increasingly popular among remote workers, who feel that since they can work from anywhere, they might as well work from a beautiful mountain retreat rather than staying in their apartment.

Where Did the Trend Come From?

The idea of a work vacation started to take off during the COVID-19 pandemic. While there has been a subset of mobile workers who could log in to their virtual machines from anywhere in the world and answer emails, it was mostly in-demand tech workers or managers who could enjoy this privilege.

The pandemic forced companies to become more flexible and allow employees to work from home. Today, remote work is open to far more job roles at all levels of the company ladder. While some bosses have tried to clamp down on the practice of working from home, those efforts have generally been unpopular.

Reasons to Plan a Work Vacation

Some self-employed individuals, or those with understanding employers, take extended workations. They become digital nomads and tour a region for weeks or months, while topping up their funds through their work. This enables them to go further and see more than they would on a traditional vacation.

Even for those who are expected to spend most of their time at their home base, workations have a lot of benefits.

Make Vacation Feel Longer

Most office workers have a relatively limited time-off allowance, and if you want to travel to a far-flung destination for your holiday, a lot of your vacation time can be eaten up by travel or recovering from jet lag.

Taking a workation can help you enjoy a longer holiday. You can stay on top of work while you're at the airport or when you're at the hotel and too tired to go sightseeing. If your job offers flexible hours, you can even work when local attractions are closed, allowing you to spend more time at your destination and see plenty of sights without feeling guilty about the expense.

Shake Up Your Work Routine

Let's face it: Even the best jobs can get boring after a while. If the 9-to-5 feels tedious and frustrating, a change of scenery may be just what you need. Working from a fresh location, meeting new people and simply feeling like you're out of the office can do wonders for your work-life balance.

Have the Flexibility to Work and Play Simultaneously

Many people fall into the trap of doing nothing but work when working from home. Being in a new place and staying in a hotel can give you a nudge to get out there and explore. If you told your boss you'd be available to work, you'd still have to check in and get your assigned tasks done every day, but you'll also have time to yourself and plenty of opportunities to have some fun.

Where to Stay: What Are Your Options?

If the idea of a workation appeals to you, you’ll need to figure out how to book it. There are quite a few options.

Booking a Hotel

The simplest option is to book a hotel, just like you would for a normal vacation. Staying in a hotel offers the reassurance of a certain level of accommodations. You can let someone else take care of the cleaning while you focus on achieving your goals. Depending on the hotel, you may have access to a buffet breakfast, executive lounges where you can work comfortably and high-speed internet access.

Staying With Friends or Family

If you'd like to catch up with friends or family, a workation gives you a chance to do that without taking up too many vacation days. Staying with loved ones can save you money on the overall cost of the trip, and it lets you spend more quality time together. You can put that spare money toward enjoying more activities together once your work obligations for the day are complete.

Renting a House or Apartment

If you're considering spending a month or two abroad as a workation, perhaps to immerse yourself in a new culture or practice a foreign language, renting a house or apartment is the ideal way to do it. Short-term rentals are usually less costly than a hotel for the same period and give you a bit more space, privacy and freedom. They usually have a kitchen — or at the very least some basic cooking facilities — and a washing machine. These amenities can help you stay within your budget on longer trips.

Workation Tips

Going on a workation can be a brilliant way to recharge your batteries if you're feeling burnt out at work, but it needs careful planning if you want to truly enjoy yourself. Consider the following tips when arranging your trip.

Research Communication

The last thing you want is to get to your beautiful woodland retreat and discover there's no Wi-Fi or that you can't roam with your mobile phone plan. Make sure you have access to the internet while you're away and double-check remote access options with your IT team as well. Warning your IT department that you'll be logging in from Germany when you live in California will help you avoid frustrating incidents, such as your account being locked for suspicious activity.

Set Boundaries

If you're planning a trip with a friend or family member who won't be working, make sure they know your plans and what times you'll be available. Talk to your employer about this as well, so they know where you are and what your availability will be.

Get the Timing Right

If possible, try to book your workation during a relatively quiet time of year. Even if you're confident you'll be just as productive when you're away from home, it doesn't make much sense to pay to travel only to spend most of the time looking at a computer screen.

If you're taking a longer workation and renting an apartment, a few days of overtime may not bother you, but for a more luxurious trip, it's a wise move to try to time it so it's as stress-free as possible.

Be Honest With Your Employer

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, discuss your plans with your employer in advance. Some companies have strict policies about remote working, typically because of the tax implications involved. Additionally, your employer may not want you to be carrying your work laptop with you abroad or using hotel Wi-Fi for work purposes.

If that's the case, your IT team may be able to make arrangements to add extra security to your account, enabling you to enjoy your holiday. If you don't inform them of your plans, and your IT department notices you logging in from an unusual IP, you may end up in violation of company policies. A short holiday isn't worth risking your livelihood, so be honest with your manager and try to come up with an arrangement that works to everyone's satisfaction.

Enjoy a New Way of Working

Taking a workation is a great way to see the world and recharge your batteries, without breaking the bank. Whether you decide to combine a workation with some traditional holiday time or determine that working from the beach is far more fun than working from the living room, you can enjoy some time away from home while still earning money.

Thanks to instant, global communication, there's no need to be chained to a desk at home. So, why not try this great new travel trend and broaden your horizons?

For peace of mind on your workation, get a travel protection quote from Generali Global Assistance. It’s free and easy.