According to Icelandair, the following ten cities throughout the world are the finest places to work while on vacation.
Kansas City, United States
Vienna, Austria
Wellington, New Zealand
Copenhagen, Denmark
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Victoria, Canada
Perth, Australia
Frankfurt, Germany
Brisbane, Australia
Helsinki, Finland
Typical huge cities like New York and Los Angeles aren’t at the top of the list, which may come as a surprise to visitors. Gisli S. Brynjolfson, director of worldwide marketing at Icelandair, believes that these metro systems aren’t necessarily the greatest for getting away from the hectic pace of a typical working day.
According to Make It, “slow travel” is an emerging trend that “emphasises connections, whether it be with the local people; companies; culture; food; and to leave locations in a state future travellers can explore.”
Some of the most enthusiastic advocates of slow travel include business travellers, who tend to travel alone and stay in one place for longer periods of time than other vacationers. “It’s about being conscious, not overworking yourself, and taking your time to learn about the places around you,” Brynjolfsson adds.
The ability to work remotely has never been easier, but many employees are returning from these “breaks” more exhausted than they were before they left. According to Expedia’s newest Vacation Deprivation research of 14,500 working adults across 16 countries, 61 percent of Americans who took a working vacation in the last year didn’t consider them to be “real” vacations. In addition, 72% of those who worked during their holiday reported feeling more exhausted than ever.
The Icelandair research recommends that vacationers find balance by connecting with nature, remaining active, and meditating while on the trip. When you’re working, find a travel companion or a remote coworker who can act as an accountability partner to help you prioritise your rest on days when you’re away from your devices.
While these places are equipped for remote work, make sure some of your vacation is logged off—delete email, exercise proactive healing and immerse yourself in your new destination—before you go for your next adventure.
