Move over humdrum commutes and drab offices: these live-work retreats are giving the nine-to-five life a fresh face for digital nomads around the world.
04 March, 2022
The rise of digital nomadism was inevitable for the 21st century, even before words like "lockdown", "Zoom" and "fit-to-fly" had entered the universal lexicon. We just didn't know it would happen so fast. In our pandemic-present day, the phenomenon of location-independent working has fast become the norm, but - as many of us discovered over the various lockdowns of the past couple of years - remote working can be lonely, dull and void of spontaneous collaboration.
That said, the allure of working from sunnier, foreign climes still trumps the call of an office desk for most, which is where co-working retreats come in. Sociable, well-equipped and in some of the most appealing city, beach and jungle settings across the globe, these spaces offer the ideal platform for getting that all-important work-life balance right. From wildly beautiful, surf-centric escapes to high-spec, women-only co-living solutions, these are the hangouts to seek out when a spot of hot-desking calls.
One for outdoorsy types, global co-working platform Outsite works in the same way as Airbnb, but with additional benefits such as communal spaces designed for community gatherings and the loan of outdoor gear, including bikes and surfboards, at no extra charge. With locations across the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia, this smart-working outfit has garnered a great reputation among remote creatives for its laid-back, accessible approach to co-living.
Marrying the aesthetic of a boutique hotel with the practicalities of a hostel, Selina's co-working spaces all focus on wellness and exude a sense of calm - we're talking free at-desk massages, meditation sessions and "chill nets" suspended from the ceiling of communal spaces. Founded in a small Panamanian fishing town and growing fast, the brand now has outposts in 13 locations, from Mexican jungles to Portuguese beaches and in urban metropolises including São Paulo, Athens, Chicago and Melbourne.
Combining the therapeutic powers of surfing and yoga with a co-working setup, SunDesk is where the term "work-life balance" takes on a whole new meaning. Based on the shores of Taghazout - a forever-sunny fishing village on Morocco's Atlantic coast - the co-living brand's ethos is that work and play are of equal importance. As a result, guests not only enjoy comfortable co-working spaces (complete with high-speed internet, fresh fruit and ever-whizzing ceiling fans), but surf lessons, yoga sessions and a running club, too.
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One of the first workation communities to spring up when the co-working trend arrived in the early 2010s, Unsettled is a travel network for professionals on the hunt for a working holiday. Curating one-month international retreats in locations such as Bali, Greece and Costa Rica, the brand also offers clients a "Lifestyle Incubator" - a four-week programme designed to guide digital nomads towards success in their chosen career.
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The first women-only co-living space of its kind, Behere caters to the ever-growing number of location-independent working women, offering monthly co-living, co-working and fitness memberships in cities around the world. Stay on a month-to-month basis for as long as you like, and don't fret about the logistical details - the brand's all-in-one booking process and on-the-ground city hosts will take care of all the admin for you - including your flights. All you'll need to do is pack your bags, log on and get going.
