Workations: Sun, sea and spreadsheets… the hot-desks of your dreams

For more than a year now, many of us have been working from home, and even though many offices are set to reopen this summer, it looks like remote working – in some form or another – is here to stay.

But why stick to loading up a laptop at home? In our increasingly connected digital world, it’s easy to stay in touch, opening up options to perform tasks from almost anywhere.

Responding to an increasing demand for “workations”, hotels are offering longer stay packages and governments are even tempting tourists with extended visas.

Seeking a new working environment? Why not hot-desk in these exotic climes…

Mauritius

Fancy topping up your tan while tapping away and dipping toes into the Indian Ocean? Open to tourists, retirees or professionals who would like to work remotely, a new Premium Visa (business.edbmauritius.org) allows foreigners to reside in Mauritius for a year with an option to renew for those who comfortably settle into beach life. To help visitors with their move, the scheme offers an ‘arrival concierge’ to assist with issues such as banking or finding a car.

Keen applicants must provide proof of accommodation along with adequate health and travel insurance. And as long as applicants promise not to enter the local labour market, they are free to conduct their business from afar.

The only downside is a mandatory 14-day in-room hotel quarantine, with PCR tests on day seven and 14. Also, anyone spending more than 183 days in the country is liable to pay tax. But on the plus side, the visa is available free of charge and includes a free Covid vaccination.

Alternatively, if you just fancy a long holiday, a regular tourist visa is available for anyone who wants to stay up to 180 days in a calendar year. Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels (beachcomber-hotels.com) offers a 65% discount for long-term stays of at least two months.

Meanwhile, Heritage Resorts (heritageresorts.mu), located on Domaine de Bel Ombre on the south coast, offers two month stays in a three-bed villa from £2,800 per month, including all utilities, daily housekeeping, pool and garden maintenance, complimentary wifi and use of a golf cart, plus free daily green fees.

Algarve, Portugal

With watches set to the same time zone as the UK, Portugal is an easy option for workers who want to clock in at the same time as their colleagues. Expect 300 days of sunshine per year and winter temperatures rarely dropping below 15C – an environment more appealing than the average office block.

The Algarve introduced a Clean & Safe campaign to help fight Covid and the local government is encouraging long stay visitors with open arms.

“With first class healthcare and with English widely spoken, it is a perfect place to work from for an extended period”, says João Fernandes, President of Algarve Tourism.

Many hotels are offering reduced rates to entice remote workers. Robinson Club Quinta da Ria (robinson.com), for example, offers the Workation package, promising quiet rooms with fast, stable internet connection for video conferences, or an ergonomic desk chair in a separate office. After work, visitors can enjoy the golf course, a massage, tennis or a bike tour in the surrounding nature reserve.

Hotel Faro (hotelfaro.pt), overlooking the Ria Formosa natural park, also offers a package with high speed wifi, TV in the room with HDMI connection, second monitor and laptop support option, private meeting room and access to a co-working space.

Dominican Republic

Digital nomads eager to reduce interaction will enjoy the bubble programme available at the Extreme Hotel (extremehotels.com) eco lodge in Cabarete, where a long-stay package invites a maximum of 15 people to join bubbles for a minimum stay of two months.

Costing from $1,100 per person per month (two sharing), it includes work stations, food from the hotel’s organic farm, ocean view yoga classes, various sports activities with instructors plus indoor pool/gym access and free wifi.

Elsewhere on the Caribbean island, Eden Roc Cap Cana (edenroccapcana.com) on the east coast offers a Villa Playhouse staycation package for extended stays of 20 to 30 days. The villas are equipped with a full kitchen, private pool, spacious living and dining areas, several bedrooms, plus a 24-hour butler and a private chef, free wifi and the set-up of an office area during their stay.

It might seem like a case of having an internet connection and you’re good to go, but working overseas can trigger all sorts of tax, social security and other legal consequences for both you and your employer.

It is important to consider this – and where we’re allowed to travel. For the latest guidance, visit www.gov.scot and www.gov.uk