Of the 111 countries in the world analyzed by Kayak, Portugal was considered the best to work and travel in at the same time.
With remote working you're not tied to the office: where do you want to work from?
With remote working you're not tied to the office: where do you want to work from? Tim Roosjen on Unsplash

The adoption of teleworking all over the world during the pandemic has given rise to a new phenomenon: the so-called "workation". Several people have seen teleworking as an opportunity to live unique experiences in other countries - even exotic countries - which offer good conditions to combine remote working with holidays. Working while on holidays doesn't sound great, but what about being on holidays while you work? This is what people are looking for when they take a "workation". So, which are the best countries to do this? According to a ranking prepared by the search engine Kayak, Portugal is even the best country in the world to be teleworking while enjoying a holiday.

The 111 countries analysed were classified based on 22 indicators divided into six categories. They are: accessibility, travel costs, local prices, health and safety, remote work, social life. All data was collected and analysed between 1 September and 20 October 2021.

So, what are the top 10 countries that combine remote working and holidays?

Portugal

Portugal topped the list of places to work remotely on holidays
Portugal topped the list of places to work remotely on holidays GTRES

Portugal was considered the best place in the world to be working remotely and enjoying holidays at the same time. This is because the country achieved a high score in almost all the categories analysed. In fact, the country offers a mild climate, several interesting places to visit, a low crime rate and a relatively low cost of living. In addition, the Portuguese tend to have an excellent knowledge of the English language and Portugal also offers a visa for digital nomads.

Spain

Portugal's neighbour Spain came in second on the ranking
Portugal's neighbour Spain came in second on the ranking GTRES

Second place in this ranking of the best countries that combine remote working and travel isright next-door in Spain. And why is that? Portugal's closest neighbour offers a lively nightlife, having a large number of bars and restaurants. In addition, there are also many coworking spaces with good conditions for working remotely. 

Romania

Low rents and great food helped Romania come in third place
Low rents and great food helped Romania come in third place CALIN STAN on Unsplash

For third place on the list we are staying in Europe but moving over to the far side of the continent to Romania. There are some aspects of Romania that digital nomads particularly appreciate, such as the affordable rents and the rich local cuisine which helped it to place so highly as a destination for remote workers looking to holiday and work.

Mauritius

The beaches of Mauritius make an excellent place to holiday and work
The beaches of Mauritius make an excellent place to holiday and work Ondrej Bocek on Unsplash

To experience the fourth place on the list you must travel to the island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. It is located near the giant island Madagascar and is known for its fabulous beaches, lagoons, and reefs. This is exactly what helps to make this exotic location one of the best destinations to spend a holiday while you work remotely.

Japan

Japan's stunning natural landscapes mean you could work with a view
Japan's stunning natural landscapes mean you could work with a view David Edelstein on Unsplash

For fifth place on the ranking we again have to travel, this time to the island nation of Japan in the Pacific Ocean. The country's beautiful natural landscapes and mountainous national parks are a wonder to behold and with many imperial palaces as well as thousands of shrines and temples up and down the country you'll have plenty to see and do, and Japan's many densely packed cities provide everything you will need to work successfully while you visit.

Continuing on with the rest of the top 10 we find Malta (6th place) , Costa Rica (7th), and Panama (8th). And finally, to close out the list we return again to Europe where the 9th and 10th spots are occupied by the Czech Republic and Germany.