work-styles

Workation: Combining Work and Travel

A travel arrangement where remote workers combine work responsibilities with vacation by working from a destination location, maintaining productivity while enjoying a change of scenery.

What is a Workation?

A workation is a hybrid approach to work and travel where remote employees temporarily relocate to a vacation destination while continuing to fulfill their regular work duties. Unlike a traditional vacation where you’re completely off work, a workation involves maintaining your normal work schedule and responsibilities from a more appealing location—whether that’s a beach resort, mountain cabin, or vibrant city abroad.

The key difference between a workation and a vacation is that workations are working trips, not time off. You’re expected to be fully productive and available during business hours, attending meetings, completing projects, and maintaining communication with your team. The “vacation” aspect comes from your off-hours: evenings, weekends, and any personal time you take before or after your work period.

Definition

A workation (portmanteau of “work” and “vacation”) refers to a work arrangement where remote employees perform their job duties from a leisure destination for an extended period, typically ranging from one week to several months. This allows professionals to experience new locations and cultures while maintaining their employment and income, blending productivity with the benefits of travel.

Key Facts

  • Duration varies widely: Workations can last anywhere from a few days to several months, with 1-4 weeks being the most common timeframe for first-time workations.

  • Requires employer approval: Most companies require employees to disclose workation plans, especially for international travel, due to tax implications, legal requirements, and time zone considerations.

  • Internet reliability is critical: A stable, high-speed internet connection is non-negotiable for workations, as you’ll need to attend video calls, access company systems, and complete your regular work.

  • Not the same as PTO: Workation days count as regular working days, not vacation time, meaning you accrue your normal PTO while on a workation.

  • Growing in popularity: Post-pandemic, 74% of companies now offer some form of work-from-anywhere policy that enables workations, up from just 23% in 2019.

Planning a Workation

Time Zone Considerations

Before booking your workation, carefully consider the time zone difference between your destination and your company’s headquarters or team location. A 2-3 hour difference is generally manageable, but larger gaps can create challenges:

  • Significant time differences may require you to take early morning or late evening meetings, cutting into your leisure time
  • Communicate your hours to your team in advance so they know when you’ll be available
  • Block your calendar to protect your adjusted work hours and prevent meetings from being scheduled during your local night

Internet Requirements

Reliable internet access is the foundation of a successful workation:

  • Research before booking: Read recent reviews specifically mentioning WiFi speed and reliability
  • Test immediately: Upon arrival, run speed tests and check connectivity before your first work day
  • Have backup options: Identify nearby coworking spaces, cafes with good WiFi, or invest in a portable hotspot as backup
  • Minimum speeds: Aim for at least 25 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload for video conferencing

Employer Disclosure

Transparency with your employer about workation plans is essential and often mandatory:

  • Check company policy: Review your employee handbook or work-from-anywhere policy for specific requirements
  • International travel: Nearly always requires advance approval due to tax treaties, data privacy laws, and employment regulations
  • Provide details: Share your destination, dates, time zone, and confirm you’ll maintain normal working hours
  • Legal considerations: Your company may need to assess tax withholding requirements, especially for stays exceeding 30 days in a single location

Workation vs Digital Nomad

While workations and digital nomadism both involve working remotely while traveling, they represent fundamentally different approaches:

Workations are temporary: A workation is a short-term arrangement, typically a few weeks to a few months, with the intention of returning to your home base. Digital nomads adopt travel as a lifestyle, often moving between locations for extended periods or permanently.

Employment structure differs: Workation participants are typically full-time employees working for a single company with a permanent contract. Digital nomads are more commonly freelancers, contractors, or entrepreneurs with multiple clients or their own businesses.

Pace and commitment: Workations maintain your existing routine and responsibilities with minimal disruption to your career or life. Digital nomadism requires significant lifestyle changes, including potentially giving up permanent housing, navigating visa requirements for long-term stays, and managing finances across multiple countries.

Intent and goals: The primary goal of a workation is to enhance work-life balance and experience a change of scenery while maintaining career stability. Digital nomads prioritize location independence and long-term travel as core lifestyle values.

FAQ

Can I take a workation without telling my employer?

No, you should always disclose workation plans to your employer. Many companies have specific policies requiring notification, especially for international travel. Undisclosed workations can create legal, tax, and insurance complications for both you and your employer, and may violate your employment agreement. When in doubt, ask your HR department or manager before booking.

How long should my first workation be?

For your first workation, 1-2 weeks is ideal. This gives you enough time to settle into the location and establish a productive routine without overwhelming yourself with logistics. It’s also easier to get approval for shorter trips. Once you’ve successfully completed a shorter workation and learned what works for you, you can consider extending to 3-4 weeks or longer.

Do workations affect my taxes?

Potentially, yes. Domestic workations within your home country typically don’t create tax complications for short stays. However, international workations may trigger tax obligations depending on the destination country’s laws and the duration of your stay. Most countries have tax treaties that prevent double taxation for short-term stays (usually under 183 days per year), but your employer may still need to report your location. Always consult with your HR department or a tax professional before planning an international workation.

What happens if something goes wrong during my workation?

Have contingency plans in place: identify backup internet locations, keep your manager informed if technical issues arise, and ensure you have appropriate travel insurance that covers trip interruptions. If work emergencies require you to return home, having flexible travel arrangements can help. Most importantly, maintain the same professional standards and communication you would at home—being proactive about solving problems demonstrates that you can be trusted with future workation opportunities.

Last Updated: 2026-01-20