As a solo female traveler and digital nomad, one thing I value is community. And often an easy way to get set up with a community and new friends quickly when traveling is to join a coworking space or stay at a coliving place.
What is that you ask?
- A coworking space is where you have a bunch of people, who well, cowork…aka work together in the same room(s) at the same time.
- A coliving is a place where you have a bunch of digital nomads and remote workers living and working all together.
Here are some of the reasons I like joining coworking spaces and staying at colivings as a digital nomad:
- They cater to your needs! It’s easy to get set up quickly. Every place is different, but they should have great wifi, desks, plenty of plugs, call rooms, and hopefully ergonomic chairs. Air conditioning can be really helpful too. I love being in a beautifully and functionally designed space that makes my life easier, especially as I get older – and have the money to pay for it. As a digital nomad, I’m working – not on vacation. So having a place designed with remote workers in mind makes a difference.
- Local knowledge. When you stay somewhere where the owners or community managers live and work, they can give you all the inside tips!
- Community. Imagine showing up to a town where you know no one, and meeting 10 new friends your first day? That’s basically what it’s like at the best coliving/coworking spaces I’ve been at. I’ve loved going on outdoors adventures with fellow colivers and coworking space members – many of whom I’m still in touch with.
- Work motivation. When you’re in a tropical paradise (or winter wonderland), it’s nice to be surrounded by driven, ambitious, hard-working people who work hard and play hard. Not only will they go on adventures with you, they’ll be understanding and encouraging when you have to get projects done. And it’s nice to have someone to type beside 🙂
When I have joined a coliving or coworking, generally, it’s really enhanced my experience. I’ve met awesome people all over the world because of it. And it makes getting to a place, settling in, and making friends quickly a breeze. These places tend to be a bit pricier, and I find the high price point tends to mean that you’re meeting other legit business owners/remote workers. You can absolutely find cheaper places to stay, but for me, the cost tends to be worth the value. And I love juxtaposing nice places when I need to focus with roughing it and less-fancy places – when I am on vacation. I think doing both helps me stay grateful and appreciate everything I have. I don’t always stay in colivings or join a coworking. Sometimes I want more time to myself and privacy. I’ve booked hostels, hotels, and rented rooms/whole places to stay. Pro tip: try location-based Facebook groups and Facebook marketplace to find cheaper housing (more legwork, but you can get great results!). Here are a few of my favorite coliving and coworking places around the world. I’ve stayed at all of these, and met wonderful people I’m still in touch with at each location:
Swiss Escape
This is a lovely coliving chalet in Grimentz, Switzerland – the Swiss Alps. If you’re big on skiing or snowboarding, you must go in winter – it’s so close to the ski lift! I can’t wait to go back in summer. Swiss Escape has two chalets with a few bedrooms each, so you really get to know everyone. Grimentz is an incredibly charming village that somehow manages to have lots of food options, and, because it’s Switzerland, is easy to get to via public transportation. Switzerland is pricey, and we cooked a lot more than I usually do! Make sure to use my booking codes for a discount on your stay! Tashaescape!w for stays under 28 days, and Tashaescape!M for stays over 28 days
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Heyday Chalet
A charming coliving chalet in Morzine, France – the French Alps. Again, if you like skiing or snowboarding, do yourself a favor and go here in winter! Also really looking forward to going here in summer 🙂 Heyday is in a gorgeous 100 year-old farmhouse, and a bit more upscale – it comes with delicious family meals and a hot tub. The founder, Plunkett McCullagh, a gregarious Irishman, lives in the apartment downstairs and often hangs out with the guests, which is a lot of fun. I loved it so much, I even wrote an article about this place. Just mention my name (Tasha Prados) to Plunkett when booking here for a 15% discount 😝
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Hub Hoi An
This coworking space is located in Hội An, Vietnam – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hội An is amazing – beach, beautiful rice fields, centuries of history as a trading port, and incredible food. I met great friends at the coworking space, and loved having somewhere to go to work! Here’s a Q&A I did with the founder. During covid a new owner took over (and rumor has it is moving to a new property!). I am looking forward to going back and seeing how the place has evolved. When booking, mention my name (Tasha Prados) to Florian for a couple of free days at the hub!
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KoHub
A tropical coworking space in Koh Lanta, Thailand, KoHub is well-equipped. You can even order food or drinks right to your desk! You can work outside or in an air-conditioned room. They have lots of fun little breaks, like coffee and tea breaks, and events (game night!! Sunset drinks 🌅) to meet other members.
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And, some places I do NOT recommend:
- Selina. I stayed at two of their locations in Mexico. To me, Selina felt built-for-Instagram – not the actual needs of digital nomads, way too expensive for what you actually get, like it is white-washing my beloved Latin America, like they did not appropriately pay – or train – staff, and like they did not care about covid safety or guests’ physical safety. I have heard every location is different and some are great, but I can only go off my own experience. I may yet give it another try at another location 🤷🏽♀️
- Outsite. I used to be a big advocate for them…but alas, no longer. You can read my full review here.
Remember, it’s your journey – don’t be afraid to try things for yourself and see what you do & don’t like!
So what did you think of this list? Have you visited another coliving or coworking space that you loved? Tell me all about it on Instagram @t.prad!
Disclaimerrr: You’ll find some affiliate links throughout the site – along with real talk about what I do/don’t like about the product/service. I don’t recommend things I don’t like. If you decide to act on my (free!) advice (you’re welcome ????????♀️), this means I’ll get back some pennies on my efforts – so it’s a great way to show your support for this multicultural creator 🙂
