Did you land a remote gig? Looking to pack up your laptop and live your life on the go? Need a week to recharge your batteries and relax?
The digital nomadic life is emerging in a multitude of forms, and organizations are responding with offers of remote work. From civic sweeteners and national incentives to short-term rental platforms, bridges are being built to connect people to jobs all over the planet.
Airbnb’s Live and Work Anywhere initiative, for example, encourages its employees to live and work remotely with fair compensation and coordinated internal systems. After announcing the program in April, the travel app revealed partnerships with 20 of the world’s most remote destinations in July. These places not only make it easier for people to live and work from home from anywhere, but these collaborations also aim to support governments and restart economic pipelines and local businesses after more than two years of travel restrictions. .
One of the problems with a global travel diary is that many companies require remote workers to stay in the United States or their home country. Fortunately, Reviews.org has put together a quick and rough list of 10 great remote places in the United States to live as a wanderer. At The Manual, we draw inspiration from Airbnb and Reviews.org to compare digital nomad destinations in the United States and beyond. How do Seattle and the Canary Islands fit together? Keep reading to find out.
Seattle, Washington and the Canary Islands
Seattle and the Canary Islands?! The Northwest Pacific against Macaronesia off the coast of Africa? What could these two have in common? Well, a lot actually.
Each of these outposts acts as international hubs. Each then offers a crackle of cultures. And each offers an incredible mix of nightlife, local flavors and access to the outdoors.
Seattle is in the northwest corner of the United States, just a few hours drive from Canada. Home to Amazon, Boeing and other international companies, there are plenty of cafes, libraries and other hubs to hook up. European and Asian influences blend with American flavors to offer a range of cuisines. The entertainment is endless, with great museums, musical hotspots and professional sports teams. A short ferry ride away are rural Vashon and Bainbridge Islands, as well as the vast Olympic National Forest, the country’s only continental rainforest. To the east are the Cascade Mountains, an all-weather adventure wonderland.
Likewise, the Spanish Canaries tick all the boxes for working in a digital nomad paradise. Located about 60 miles west of Morocco at its closest point, tourists come from all over the world to enjoy a multitude of activities. An important link between North America, Europe and Africa, these influences shape an irresistible blend of music, food and fun.
Teleworkers can participate and connect to Tenerife, Fuerteventura and/or Gran Canaria, the three largest islands of the archipelago. A solid infrastructure provides high-speed Internet access and multiple mobile hubs. When city life gets too much, nearby nature access includes forests, rivers, mountains, and the ocean. The southern region of the range offers spring-like weather all year round. And within the framework of the European Union, the cost of living is affordable.
San Francisco, California and Lisbon, Portugal
The two hilltop cities overlooking a large body of water, San Francisco and Lisbon, each offer eclectic urban lifestyles for the digital nomad on the go. One is just a bit more expensive than the other.
With many diverse and distinct cultures, an offbeat reputation, miles of running trails, and a character that precedes itself, San Francisco is one of the world’s great international capitals. San Francisco is also one of the most expensive cities to settle in. Ironically, it’s a great place to experience a living wage for a temporary stay. Whether it’s Friday through Monday or a month-long getaway, there’s plenty to keep visitors in and out of San Francisco busy.
What may be an extra hop, but a definitely cheaper choice is the Lisbon coast. Portugal’s capital wears its age like a wise philosopher, having “discovered” the world hundreds of years ago, and today its people and places exude charm and wisdom.
The sun shines 290 days a year in Lisbon and the temperature rarely drops below 60 degrees. Famous for its hospitality, the town welcomes newcomers and the streets are safe to stroll day and night. Like its Pacific cousin, much of Lisbon’s cuisine is dedicated to perfecting a thousand ways to cook seafood. This graceful age also welcomes the future with dozens of hubs for digital travelers.
Denver, Colorado and Cape Town, South Africa
One landlocked and the other connecting two oceans, Denver and Cape Town may not seem comparable at first glance, but the mid-sized cities have a lot in common. Both towns are located at the foot of the mountains and each range provides a sunny and plentiful place to throw laptops for a while.
People flocking to Cape Town and Denver find futuristic urban hubs. These innovative cities are home to young urban tech workers from around the world. Major industry offers opportunities, as Denver is home to several military and government conglomerates, while Cape Town is home to several large chemical companies.
Both towns serve as medium-sized shopping malls surrounded by miles of rocky heights dotted with trails. Cape Town is surrounded by some of the best wine country in South Africa. From fresh lamb to ostrich and wild game to subtropical fruits and avocados, freshly picked meat and produce are plentiful. In Denver, foam is flowing with more than 140 breweries to date. Nourished by the ranches and farms of the Great Plains, Denver serves up some of the best fresh beef steaks, greens and potatoes in the West.
Atlanta, Georgia and Bangkok, Thailand
Atlanta and Bangkok vibrate with a suffocating and sensual pulsation. The unofficial capitals of South and Southeast Asia, respectively, have a lot in common to offer unplugged travelers looking for short- and long-term stays.
Positioned as the center of the bullseye between India to the west, Australia to the south, Oceania to the east and China to the north, Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world. The capital of Thailand’s ancient kingdom, Bangkok, has been attracting visitors for thousands of years. Tourists rush headlong into a collision between cultural tradition and modernity. Stunning palaces and temples sit alongside skyscrapers and an endless web of humanity. From dark alleyways to exclusive restaurants, the food is world class and the hospitality is second to none. Not to mention the hundreds of beaches, jungles and wild greenery nearby.
Likewise, Atlanta’s liveliness springs from its factories as well as its people. The “city in the forest” boasts dozens of parks, streams, and meandering paths through bright, welcoming neighborhoods. Southern hospitality and diverse businesses make up Funky Little Five Points, hip Midtown, historic Downtown and sophisticated Buckhead. Not only are black-owned businesses celebrated here, but Atlanta is known as a top destination for LGBTQ+ travel.
And if nature is calling, the Chattahoochee River leads the way to the North Georgia Mountains, the southernmost edge of the Appalachians.
Chicago, Illinois and Buenos Aires, Argentina
These two global cities share a remarkable history. Buenos Aires and Chicago each developed during the 19th century as inland conduits for transporting meat and grain from the fertile frontier to markets in the East. Today, the pair are still thriving cosmopolitan metropolises with a wealth of entertainment, food, fine experiences, and places that appeal to any wireless traveler.
Passion is alive in every city. Buenos Aires is the home of hot tango while Chicago sweats to the beat of the blues. These traditional styles are giving way to all kinds of musical offerings and stages of all sizes.
As ancient capitals of meat production, there’s no comparison to the assortment of cuts and casings, from frankfurters, kielbasa and T-bones in Chicago to bratwurst, chorizo and grilled flank steak in Buenos Aires.
There is a character to Chicago and Buenos Aires, indicative of its western settlers and influenced by later immigrations. After the Europeans followed the great industry into the Windy City, the great migration flowed from the south. African Americans seeking freedom and jobs have left their indelible mark on the city. In Buenos Aires, waves of German and Japanese immigrants in the 20th century added a new spice to the Spanish colonial city.
Today, there are hundreds of bars, cafes, coworking offices and other places to connect and many vibrant and unique neighborhoods to hang digital hats in North and South American cultural hubs.
get out of there
There may not have been a better time in American history for remote work. Businesses and offices reshaped by COVID-19 policies are more lenient than ever on physical presence, and the post-pandemic world is just waiting to be explored.
Editors’ Recommendations
