How to Choose Your First Workcation Stay (Without Killing Your Productivity)
Not every beautiful Airbnb is work-ready. Here's the checklist every digital nomad should use before booking a remote work retreat.
The Beautiful Trap
You've seen the Instagram posts — laptop by the infinity pool, golden light, zero stress. What they don't show is the 8 Mbps Wi-Fi that drops every 20 minutes, the wobbly dining table doubling as a desk, and the construction noise next door. Choosing a workcation stay requires a fundamentally different mindset than choosing a holiday rental. Beauty is a bonus; reliability is non-negotiable.
The Wi-Fi Test (Before You Book)
Ask the host for a speed test screenshot — not from their phone on 5G, but from a laptop connected to the property's Wi-Fi. You need at least 10 Mbps download for video calls — 25+ Mbps is ideal for comfortable cloud work alongside. Ask about the router location, whether there's ethernet available, and what happens when the connection drops. If the host can't answer these questions confidently, move on.
Workspace: Desk, Chair, Light
You'll spend 6–8 hours a day working. A kitchen counter and a bar stool won't cut it for a week, let alone a month. Look for listings that specifically mention a dedicated workspace. Check photos for a proper desk and chair. Natural light matters more than you think — it affects your energy, mood, and sleep cycle. A dark corner with a lamp is not a workspace.
Location: Quiet Over Central
As a nomad, you don't need to be in the city centre. You need quiet mornings for deep work, nature for afternoon resets, and a reliable grocery run within 15 minutes. The best workcation spots are slightly outside the tourist zone — close enough for a weekend dinner out, far enough that your Monday morning focus isn't interrupted by bar noise from the night before.
The Nomad Gems Advantage
This is exactly why Nomad Gems exists. Every property on our platform has been verified for work-readiness: internet speeds tested, workspace quality confirmed, and environment assessed. We do the due diligence so you can book with confidence and focus on what matters — doing your best work from the most inspiring places on earth.