When Digital Nomads go on Vacation
What is a vacation? For most it means taking a break from work and travelling somewhere. For many, it means travelling somewhere warm and tropical. But what if you already spend much of your time somewhere warm and tropical? And what if your work is flexible? What does vacation mean for a digital nomad?
We all need a break
I find that vacation isn’t just about location, or about not being tied to my job all day. It is a mental break. It’s true - I am my own boss, and as long as I do my work well and on time my clients don’t care where or when it is done. They all know I live abroad much of the year. So yes, on any given day, if I am all caught up, I can head to the beach or the pool or the local market and do what vacationers do.
But there is something different about taking a set time off, and heading somewhere other than your home or Airbnb. Going to a resort, enjoying the food and drink, spending all day (or almost all day) free from the constraints of work. Laughing with friends and telling stories. So - later this week we are going to a resort and meeting friends. Although many people think my whole life is vacation - which is funny considering how much I work - I am (finally) taking a vacation.
Now, I can hear some voices thinking - “you have been in Cancun for months - where would you be going to vacation?” We are heading to the Grand Bahia Principe resorts down near Tulum. (By the way, although my blog does feature affiliate links - as of this writing I am not an affiliate of Bahia Resorts, and get no compensation for visiting. This vacation is 100% on my own nickel.) One of the best, and most under used, perks of being a digital nomad is that in many cases beautiful seaside resorts are a bus ride away. So instead of being a major journey with expensive flights and dragging suitcases and winter clothes for our return, we just pack a light bag and head out. Snowbirds (or Digital Monarch Butterflies, as my previous post called us) and other long-term tourists really have a huge benefit just by our location. We have done this before, and it is really refreshing.
One thing you find is it doesn’t have to be as long. When you travel hours by plane, the time and cost involved make it almost a requirement to stay a week. We used to stay two. It takes a few days to get rid of the stress and headache of travel; dragging luggage through airports and standing in long security lines holding your shoes and waiting to pull out your laptop and toothpaste. But when you just have to take a short bus or even taxi ride? Even two or three nights at a resort is so refreshing.
So - do I have any tips about doing such a getaway? It turns out I do. And, I learned them the way I seem to learn a lot of things - by messing up and trying to remember not to do so again. Here are a few:
Give thought to packing. It may seem you are only gone a few days, but if there is something you really want or need every day - it really ruins things if you forget it. Whether it’s something you need to sleep well, or just the only pair of sandals you really find comfortable, make sure to bring that essential. While you may only be an hour or two from retrieving it, you don’t want to waste your limited time.
Do not over-pack. This is a few days - other than the essentials (see point 1) you won’t need much.
Can you limit the technology you bring? Hopefully you will really step away from work - as difficult as this can be for entrepreneurs. Instead of bringing your laptop, can you leave it behind? Is maybe your tablet or smartphone enough to let you monitor situations? Maybe not, but at least consider it.
Check in to the resort early. This is so good, I will be discussing it in the follow up post on how the vacation went. Every resort I have been to allows guests to arrive early and leave their baggage with the porters. Your room won’t be ready until afternoon, but you are free to enjoy the restaurants, bars, and amenities to your heart’s content. Similarly - on departure day you can stay late in the afternoon.
If your resort requires reservations for specialty restaurants, try to book these online. You won’t be able to at some, but at others you can. For example, at the Bahia resorts you can join their points club and check in 5 days before arrival. Then you can book your restaurants and excursions before you get there, instead of discovering all the best restaurants are booked. I’m already booked into the Brazilian Steakhouse.
Last point - consider joining the points clubs. It only takes a few minutes, and if you make a habit of going to the same family of resorts you can really benefit.
Seriously, try to book the à la carte restaurants in advance. The buffets are fine, but don’t miss out
So yes, even those of us who spend half our lives in paradise want (or need) vacation. Take one. Take several. And if others don’t understand what you need a vacation from when you haven’t shoveled snow in years and spend half or more of your life somewhere they race to for a week a year … let them wonder. You know how hard you work.
