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With many of us working remotely, Sarah Marshall finds top spots to log on from afar
offers an “arrival concierge” to help with issues such as banking or finding a car.
Applicants must provide proof of accommodation and adequate health and travel insurance. As long as applicants promise not to enter the local labour market, they are free to conduct their business from afar.
The only downside is a mandatory 14-day in-room hotel quarantine, with PCR tests on day 7 and 14. Also, anyone spending more than 183 days in the country is liable to pay tax. But on the plus side, there’s no charge for the visa and it includes a free Covid vaccination.
Alternatively, if you just fancy a long holiday, a regular tourist visa is available for anyone who wants to stay up to 180 days in a calendar year.
Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels (beachcomber-hotels.com) offers a 65% discount for long-term stays of at least two months.
Meanwhile, Heritage Resorts (heritageresorts.mu), located on Domaine de Bel Ombre on the south coast, offers two-month stays in a three-bed villa from £2,800 per month, including all utilities, daily housekeeping, pool and garden maintenance, complimentary wi-fi and use of a golf cart, plus free daily green fees.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE Enjoy a range of activities
Algarve, Portugal
With watches set to the same time zone as the UK and Ireland, Portugal is an easy option for workers who want to clock in at the same time as their colleagues.
Expect 300 days of sunshine per year and winter temperatures that rarely drop below 15C – an environment more appealing than the average office block.
The Algarve introduced a Clean &
Safe campaign to help fight Covid and the local government is encouraging long-stay visitors with open arms.
“With first-class healthcare and English widely spoken, it is a perfect place to work from for an extended period”, says Joao Fernandes, President of Algarve Tourism.
Many hotels are offering reduced rates to entice remote workers. Robinson Club Quinta da Ria (robinson.com), for example, offers the Workation package, promising quiet rooms with fast, stable internet connection for video conferences, or an ergonomic desk chair in a separate office. After work, visitors can enjoy the golf course, a massage, tennis or a bike tour in the surrounding nature reserve. Prices start at ¤67 per person per night.
Hotel Faro (hotelfaro.pt), overlooking the Ria Formosa
Natural Park, also offers a package with high speed wi-fi, TV in the room with HDMI connection, second monitor and laptop support option, private meeting room and access to a co-working space. Rates are ¤825 for 15 nights and ¤1,500 for 30 nights.
Dominican Republic
One of the key methods for containing coronavirus is by minimising movement, meaning it makes sense to stay in one place for a while.
Digital nomads eager to reduce interaction will enjoy the bubble programme available at the Extreme Hotel (extremehotels. com) eco lodge in Cabarete, where a long-stay package invites a maximum of 15 people to join bubbles for a minimum stay of two months.
Costing from $1,100 per person per month (two sharing), it includes work stations, food from the hotel’s organic farm, oceanview yoga classes, sports activities with instructors, plus indoor pool/gym access and free wi-fi.
With 300 days of sun per year, it appeals more than most office blocks