The best remote working destination according to digital nomads

For digital nomads, finding the perfect spot to work from is key. Remote working allows you to pursue your passions of travelling and working at the same time. If you've chosen this lifestyle, we're sure you're living a dream. Well, maybe not always, but we hope so. To see how digital nomads live and where they want to be, we created a survey and asked a group of digital nomads what characteristic the perfect remote working destination should have. Some of their answers might surprise you.

Good internet and safety

Dennis, 34, Remote Python software engineer, thinks the most important thing a remote working destination should have is good internet.

"I think it's important for the place to have good internet," Dennis said. "It's hard to be productive when your internet is slow and unstable."

But it's not just about the speed and stability of the internet connection. The local cost of living needs to be low enough that you can make ends meet with your income from online work.

"The cost of living needs to be cheap enough that you can live on it," he said. "Income from freelancing projects or website monetization or whatever can easily cover these costs."

Another important factor is safety and security. You want to feel safe in your new home away from home so that you don't feel like you need to stay inside all the time.

"You want a place where there are no social problems," Dennis said. "Where people are friendly and nice, where there isn't any crime or theft.

Digital nomad communities are the future?

"It would also be nice if there was an established digital nomad community where people knew each other and could help each other out,” says Sabine, 40, full stack engineer. "People love to work together and help each other out," she says.

She also looks for affordable housing, cheap food and plenty of sunshine. "I've been travelling around Southern Europe for almost six years now (with a break during the pandemic). The weather is great, there are lots of coworking spaces and it's easy to find an affordable place to live."

She adds that it's also important for a place to be affordable and comfortable enough that you want to hang out after work — which means having things like good restaurants and bars nearby.

Affordable cost of living is an important factor

Shyla, 27, account manager: "I'm from Canada but I live in Thailand now. It's cheap cost of living and cheap food and drink are really important for me. And there are so many places around the world where you can live really well on a small budget.

I started working remotely because I wanted to travel more. The idea of working from home was appealing to me, but I didn’t want to give up my career or my salary. Working remotely allowed me to have both."

Being able to rent both long- and short-term accommodation for a small budget is on top of the list of priorities for many young digital nomads who are still building their career and their portfolio.

The perfect remote working destination should have a vibrant cultural life

Emre, 30, mechanical designer, thinks the most important thing a remote working destination should have are amenities and a vibrant cultural life. He said: "I'm currently in Berlin and I'm enjoying it very much. I like this city because it's small enough to be easy to navigate by foot or bike but big enough that there is always a new place to discover.

"I am from Turkey originally, but I went over to Germany for university and then to the UK for work. I've just recently moved back to Germany, but plan on travelling to Portugal within the next six months." Emre says he loves to walk around cities on foot and find new places to eat or shop but added that he also needs to be near an airport so he can travel easily, on a whim.

Remote working retreats are a great way to start

Tamar, 44, has been experimenting with remote workers retreats and made many friends this way. It's exciting to share new experiences with new people, she says.

"It's a great way to be exposed to a whole new community," she says. "You get to meet people from all over the world."

Tamar is one of an increasing number of people turning to digital nomadism as a way of working remotely and travelling the world.

The concept was pioneered by Timothy Ferriss in his best-selling book The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (2007). Since then, cities across the globe have been offering incentives for digital nomads – from free Wi-Fi hotspots to discounted accommodation.

Are you ready to go nomad?

There are plenty of attractive places that suit the needs of digital nomads who work remotely from different locations all the time! Curious? Try our remote workers retreat in Italy! Italy offers a great lifestyle for digital nomads looking for a beautiful place to live and work. The country has something for everyone, from amazing food and wine to breathtaking landscapes and historical landmarks. And don’t forget about the good weather! During our remote workers' week, you will be able to connect with other professionals and enjoy select experiences, designed by us to make your stay absolutely memorable. Learn more about it here!