Working Vacations: What, Why and Where to Go
Work vacations are all the rage these days. With the rise of remote work, the trend is not to be wondered at. For many people, the idea revolves around sightseeing during the day and working at night.
To be able to fully grasp the scope of the craze, let us distinguish between two trends first:
- Digital nomadism
- Working vacations
There may be slight differences between the two, though they also have some perks in common. While digital nomads choose to relocate abroad or simply travel the world while bringing their job with them, people enjoying working vacations do not necessarily stay long periods of time abroad.
However, many countries are actually offering working holiday visas, which are not to be confused with digital nomad visas. If you are simply planning to enjoy a brief holiday and work occasionally, you should look for different kinds of packages.
One example comes from Las Vegas. It offers the so-called workation packages, which include a number of benefits, including:
Private flights to the hotel or resort of your choice
High-speed Wi-Fi at affordable prices
A luxury room
Short or long stays
Room service mimicking office vibe
Additional benefits include up to $375 in Food & Beverage Credits and an "Executive Assistant" in the shape of the concierge. You can choose to purchase food and drink credits and cabana access, and book private pools.
Plus, it’s a perfect location for conventions, ranging from learning more about solar power, to marketing strategies.
Popular Working Holiday Destinations
As mentioned above, some countries offer special visas for working holidays. The requirements vary depending on your country of origin, but we will hereby list general requirements. One thing all visas have in common is that they are limited to travelers up to 35 years (some are even eligible only to people under 30).
Is there a downside to it?
Of course, there is. You’ll need the funds to travel, including covering your health expenses, which can often be covered by setting up a health savings account beforehand.
And remember, only residents of certain countries are eligible. They also need to demonstrate having sufficient funds and, in some cases, a foreign health insurance policy. Restrictions in regard to the number of working hours and employers permitted may also apply.
Countries offering working vacation visas include (in alphabetic order):
Argentina
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland, and New Zealand
Australia
Duration: 1-3 years
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Taiwan, Estonia, Belgium, Italy, France, Cyprus, Finland, Hong Kong, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Malta, South Korea, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, Canada, United Kingdom
Austria
Duration: 6-12 months
Age limit: 18-30
Countries Accepted: New Zealand, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Israel, Canada, Chile, Australia and Argentina
Belgium
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30
Countries Accepted: Countries Accepted: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan
Canada
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, USA
The Czech Republic
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-35 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand, Canada
Denmark
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan
France
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Taiwan, Russia, Mexico, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea
Germany
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Uruguay, Israel, Chile
Hong Kong
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30
Countries Accepted: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom
Ireland
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, USA, Taiwan
Israel
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30
Countries Accepted: Australia, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, South Korea
Italy
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea
Japan
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Iceland, Chile, Czech Republic, Argentina, Spain, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, Portugal, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Korea, Canada, New Zealand and Australia
New Zealand
Duration: 12 months (23 months for citizens of Canada and the UK)
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Argentina, Hong Kong, Philippines, Austria, Ireland, Poland, Belgium, Israel, Portugal, Brazil, Italy, Singapore, Canada, Uruguay, Hungary, Peru Japan, Slovakia, Chile, Korea, Slovenia, China, Latvia, Spain, Croatia, Lithuania, Sweden, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Taiwan, Denmark, Malaysia, Thailand, Estonia, Malta, Turkey, Finland, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, USA, Germany, Norway, Vietnam
Norway
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan
Poland
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan
South Korea
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-25
Countries Accepted: Austria, Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Sweden, Romania, Portugal, Poland, Netherlands, Mexico, Italy, Israel, Ireland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Belgium
Singapore
Duration: 6 months
Age limit: 18-25
Countries Accepted: Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, USA
Slovakia
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-35
Countries Accepted: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan
Spain
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30 for most countries
Countries Accepted: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand
Sweden
Duration: 12 months
Age limit: 18-30
Countries Accepted: Australia, Chile, Hong Kong, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Uruguay
The United Kingdom
Duration: 2 years
Age limit: 18-30
Countries Accepted: Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, Taiwan, New Zealand, South Korea, Hong Kong, British Overseas Territories
Visa-Free Options for Short Stays
If you are simply planning to enjoy a holiday and work while at it, options are close to limitless. While expensive places (such as Las Vegas mentioned above) offer interesting deals, the fact remains that these kinds of perks are fit only for people with deeper pockets.
For the mortals, there are some less expensive and more exotic spots to consider. Listed below are some of the most popular ideas, as rated by satisfied travelers.
Franschhoek, South Africa
Franschhoek is nestled in South Africa’s vineyards and is only an hour and a half away from Cape Town. The town offers much-needed tranquility but remains fully equipped with all the amenities and tech you need for work.
The activities you can enjoy, on top of the usual ones, include hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and hot air ballooning.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali has been gaining popularity over the years. For many people, it appears exotic enough while others cherish the zen of the place and the vicinity of other "exotic" destinations, such as islands of Java, Flores and Kalimantan, and Lombok. As a result, Bali is home to a large expat community, meaning that the prices are getting higher.
Cuzco, Peru
Cuzco is a splendid choice for a working vacation as it offers a range of lodging options suitable for everyone’s pocket. Not to mention that this UNESCO cultural heritage site is home to both Incan and pre-Incan historic ruins and that Choquequirao — a site less known but much larger than Machu Picchu — is a hiking distance away.
Seoul, South Korea
South Korea, in general, is a popular choice. The capital Seoul sees a large inflow of tourists every year, many of them who are attracted by the local cuisine. The truth is - there is so much more to the place than just food!
South Korea has been heavily investing in technology for years, which is to say that the wi-fi accessibility and speed are hard to be beaten even in Japan.
Conclusion
As you can see, working vacations can take you pretty much anywhere. If you aren't a resident of one of the preferred countries for working vacation visas, you should at least be able to enjoy a lengthy break at some of the world’s most beautiful spots. Plus, many also use these opportunities to brush up on their cultural learnings.
The expenses may be higher for more "exotic" locations but compared to the expenses required for visa applicants, these are but trifles.
If you are a student or a gig worker, you can opt for multiple destinations in European countries. For example, Eastern Europe is more affordable and no less stunning than its western counterparts. Prague, in particular, is one of the most popular destinations for both expats and digital nomads as it is considerably cheaper than other western capitals and no less stunning. In fact, the city boasts such breathtaking sights that it outmatches better-known tourist spots with good marketing but less impressive history.
Whichever way to choose to go, research your options beforehand. There are always some perks aimed at attracting additional capital by working people, so use all the benefits you can get!