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A team workation combines the flexibility of remote work with the experience of traveling together. Teams continue their normal workday from a different destination while using evenings and free time to explore, relax, and connect with colleagues.
For many companies, team workations provide the perfect balance between productivity and travel, giving teams a refreshing change of scenery without putting projects on hold.
Surf Office helps teams organize productive team workations with accommodation, workspaces, activities, and logistics - all in one place.
A team workation gives the whole team dedicated time away from the usual office routine to work, collaborate, and bond in a fresh setting. Common objectives include:
Most workations last between 5 and 7 days, giving teams enough time to stay productive while enjoying the destination. Here's a sample 6-day workation itinerary in Peniche.
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After a productive workday, it's time to explore the destination together. Here are some popular activities that Surf Office has organized during team workations.
Workday, a people analytics company, hosted its company retreat in Barcelona. The team spent at the beach with activities like stand up paddle, swimming, and a surfing lesson. A beach trip is good for big groups because everyone can do what they want. Some can swim, some can play beach volleyball, and some can veg in the sun.
Get away from the noise and hustle of the city and bring your team for a nature hike. Our destinations in the Catskill Mountains, Zion national park, and Gran Canaria are perfect for bringing your team on a hike for some fresh air.
Break up your larger group in small teams and take a walk through the historic streets of Lisbon, for instance. See famous monuments, hidden gems, and learn about the culture of the city on a scavenger hunt. Get to know the city and each other in a fun way.
Invite a local expert to speak about something out-of-the-box. Or, have your employees volunteer to give informal Ted Talk-style presentations about something they’re passionate about. This approach leverages internal resources, uplifts individual interests, and shows your support for skills beyond work roles.
EVBox is a company focused on providing charging solutions for electric vehicles. Their group of 200 people joined Surf Office for a company retreat. In the process, we hosted a special dining experience in Lisbon with traditional dishes and drinks. Organizing meals can be a challenge for large groups: read what we’ve learned about making restaurant reservations.
If you want to keep your team bonding business-focused, host a hackathon. Divide the large group up into small teams and work on a project. A traditional hackathon focuses on creative problem-solving – emphasis on “creative.” Don’t be afraid to make the hackathon open-ended to foster innovation.
A team workation is a trip that allows employees to work remotely from a different location while enjoying the benefits of travel. Unlike a traditional vacation, team members continue working during the day while spending their free time exploring a new destination and participating in shared activities.
A workation combines regular work with travel, allowing employees to continue their day-to-day responsibilities from a different location. A retreat typically involves a structured agenda with workshops, planning sessions, team-building activities, and dedicated time away from normal work routines.
Team workations can improve employee satisfaction, boost morale, encourage creativity, strengthen relationships, and provide a refreshing change of scenery. Many companies use workations to help employees recharge while remaining productive.
Most team workations last between a few days and a few weeks. Shorter workations are ideal for team bonding and a change of scenery, while longer workations allow employees to settle into a destination and balance work with exploration.
Yes. Many companies find that a change of environment can improve focus, creativity, and motivation. Choosing the right destination, accommodation, and workspace is key to maintaining productivity during a workation.
The best workation destinations combine reliable internet, comfortable accommodation, convenient travel connections, and opportunities for leisure activities. Popular options include Algarve, Peniche, Crete, Lanzarote, Lake Tahoe, and Jeju Island.
This depends on the goals of the trip. Some companies maintain normal working hours, while others reduce schedules to create more time for team activities, exploration, and relaxation.
Popular workation activities include hiking, surfing, sailing, winery tours, cooking classes, beach days, group dinners, and local cultural experiences. The best activities help employees relax and connect outside of work.
The cost of a team workation depends on the destination, duration, accommodation, transportation, group size, and planned activities. Companies often balance budget considerations with the goal of creating a productive and memorable experience.
Start by defining the purpose of the workation and selecting a destination that supports both productivity and leisure. Consider factors such as internet quality, accommodation, time zones, transportation, and activities. Many companies work with retreat planners to coordinate logistics and create a seamless experience.
The entire offsite was very great, very good. Very well organized. I liked the planning process - I didn't have to do it, I just had to approve it. I trusted you completely, with everything... I saw this attention to detail and we really appreciate it.
You were amazing and saved me 90% of the time I would have used... definitely working with Surf Office again, 10/10.
From the very first contact to the last goodbye, Surf Office was an incredible company to work with for our company retreat in Portugal. The customer service was top tier and every single person I interacted with was absolutely lovely, professional and so helpful.
You were unswayable in terms of your positivity, in terms of your proactiveness and cooperation, and just your get it done mentality. So that was really good. Thank you.
Honestly, everything went so smoothly. From Anthony sending us proposals and working hard at finding the right venue, to Romane planning every detail and being so flexible with our requests, to Fernanda being an absolute superstar onsite and being so helpful. Thank you all so much!
I panicked when I learned I had to plan this, I've never done this before. Everything went smoothly for me, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you.
I mean, you guys are magicians. I don't know how you do it... Honestly, it's been great, Jolanda, the support that you've given during the planning stage with all of the prep work that goes into it beforehand. You guys are really, honestly, the best. Thank you so much, you make my life so much easier.
We'd love to learn more about your team and what you're hoping to achieve with your workation.
Is your team fully remote, hybrid, or office-based? Do you plan to maintain regular working hours, or would you like more flexibility for activities and exploring the destination?
Organizing a successful workation involves much more than booking accommodation. From finding reliable workspaces and restaurants to arranging activities and airport transfers, there are plenty of details to coordinate.
Our experienced project manager will take care of everything—from selecting the right destination and accommodation to organizing activities that fit around your team's work schedule.
We'll be your one-stop shop for all the logistics of your workation. Your dedicated Retreat Planner will coordinate every detail, giving you peace of mind and access to our trusted local partners at the best possible prices.
According to our repeat clients and companies that previously organized workations in-house, this is one of the biggest benefits of working with Surf Office.
Before your team arrives, you'll receive a detailed itinerary covering your accommodation, workspaces, transfers, activities, restaurants, and free time.
Everything is carefully coordinated, so your team can stay productive during the day and enjoy the destination once work is done.
You focus on your work - we'll take care of the rest.
The simplest and most cost-effective way to organize an unforgettable team workation is to get Surf Office to do it for you! If you decide to plan it yourself, though, be sure to keep the following tips in mind:
The local time can have a major impact on your team's ability to work effectively. Imagine you're normally based in California but choose southern France for a workation. Your usual morning check-ins suddenly happen at the end of the workday, while late-afternoon client meetings might require waking up before sunrise.
This is less of an issue when the whole company travels together, but it's still worth choosing a destination that won't force employees into unusual working hours.
Fast internet isn't optional on a workation. Video calls, cloud-based files, and collaboration tools all depend on it.
Most destinations offer reliable internet nowadays, but standards vary widely. One person's idea of "good Wi-Fi" may not be enough for a team running multiple video calls at the same time. That's why it's important to verify internet speeds before booking.
Big cities often have excellent infrastructure, but they're also full of distractions. In our experience, the best workation destinations strike a balance between productivity and leisure.
Places like Ericeira or Napa Valley offer plenty to do outside working hours while still providing the peace and quiet needed to focus during the day. If team bonding is more important than productivity, though, a short city break could be the better choice.
Flights, accommodation, restaurants, and activities should be booked well in advance, especially during peak travel seasons.
Early booking increases your chances of securing the accommodation you want, helps avoid last-minute price increases, and makes it much easier to coordinate activities for larger groups.
Having organized hundreds of retreats, Surf Office already knows which destinations offer reliable infrastructure, productive work environments, and memorable experiences. Instead of spending weeks researching options, you can focus on the trip itself while we handle the logistics. Contact us today for more information or to get the ball rolling.
A successful workation requires more than booking flights and accommodation. Internet quality, transportation, workspaces, activities, and local logistics all need to be considered.
Choose from hundreds of retreat locations in Europe, America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.
