Ditch the U.S. and Work Remotely in the Caribbean This Winter
Aruba
The deal: Not one to let a perfectly good tourism slogan go to waste, Aruba transitioned its “One Happy Island” to the One Happy Workcation program, which invites US nationals with a valid passport to come stay on its sandy shores for seven to 90 days.
You’ll need to purchase Aruba Visitors Insurance, which covers hospitalization, isolation expenses, and other costs should you test positive for COVID-19 during your stay. That insurance runs $10-$15 per day (and it’s free for kids under 14). You’ll also need to show a negative COVID PCR test to enter or get one on arrival.
Once you’re here, the program requires you to book a package on the website, with condos, villas, and traditional hotel stays in the mix. Among them, there are solid deals to be had: The Digital Nomad package at Aurum, for example, starts from just $98 per night for a minimum 14-night stay. And the Renaissance Aruba Resort Casino’s package gives 10% off the best rate while throwing in a ton of extras, like partially covering insurance costs, discounts on food and beverage, and free non-motorized water sports.
For a 20-mile-long island, Aruba really packs it in: Your “office” breaks could include strolls on sugary beaches, kitesurfing in blue, or snorkeling below mouthwash-hued seas. Make sure you visit Arikok National Park to see eerie abandoned gold mines and swim in a natural pool hidden under the lip of a limestone cliff within the island’s most remote wilderness area.
MORE: 20 incredible things you can only do in Aruba
Mexico
The deal: Traveling to Mexico is a bit complicated—it’s a huge country, and every state is in a different situation—but the US State Department recently lifted its travel advisory against Mexico. For US travelers arriving by air (the land border remains closed for now), the country is offering a visitors permit that allows travelers to stay for up to six months. Temporary Resident Visas are also available and allow for longer stays (Viva!).
Hotels south of the border are making an appeal to remote-workers with kids in virtual school. For example, Puerto Vallarta’s St. Regis Punta Mita Resort is offering a Waldorf-inspired homeschooling program, 24-hour tech support, beachside “study cabanas,” and even study buddies for the kids while you babysit a margarita.
Across the country in Cancun, the JW Marriott Cancun Resort Spa is offering 10-night workation packages that include access to a private conference room, unlimited phone calls, and other perks. Vacation rentals with WiFi abound in Mexico’s popular resort towns, too, so there’s always a way to stay for longer on the cheap away from hotels, if you prefer.
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