Work From Anywhere With These Top 10 Remote Year Alternatives
Remote work allows you to work from anywhere in the world that has a WiFi connection—a perk that’s arguably one of the best benefits of working remotely, especially for those who value travel and flexibility. As increasingly more people grow accustomed to the freedoms of remote work, the traditional office space continues to evolve. Now, whether you prefer typing away at your keyboard from the comforts of a cozy cabin in the mountains or working with your toes in the sand at a beachside cafe, you can do your job from nearly anywhere you desire.
Those who choose to use their remote work freedoms to travel often prepare by searching for reliable accommodation, stable WiFi, and a community to explore the world with—all of which can be challenging to find before you’re on the ground in a country. That’s why so many remote workers choose to embark on travel programs like Remote Year. These programs allow remote professionals to trial out the digital nomad lifestyle—where individuals work and travel simultaneously—alongside a like-minded group of people. Each program comes with different inclusions, but nearly all of them provide accommodation and a solid WiFi connection.
If you’re planning to embark on a remote work adventure and are considering joining a program like Remote Year, keep reading. We’ll share what Remote Year is and why you might be searching for an alternative plus offer ten excellent remote work programs to start traveling with this year.
From the most popular digital nomad work locations to off-the-beaten-path destinations, here are ten top Remote Year alternatives to fuel your wanderlust.
What is a remote work program?
Remote work programs allow you to travel and work from unique destinations around the globe while taking the pressure of figuring out travel logistics and planning off remote workers. Although remote work programs offer unique approaches to travel, nearly every program equips remote workers with a stable WiFi connection, accommodation, and some form of community.
Of course, each program comes with its own nuances. Some programs are stationary and focus on providing co-living and co-working services in set locations. Others change locations throughout the year and focus heavily on fostering a tight-knit community. There are countless different remote work programs to choose from—with more popping up every year.
What is Remote Year?
Remote Year, a remote work program now owned by Selina, offers itineraries ranging from one-week retreats to year-long journeys. If you’re looking for longer-term travel options but aren’t ready to commit to a full year’s itinerary, Remote Year also offers one and four-month trips.
Their available itineraries include worldwide destinations, with trips planned across Asia, Africa, Europe, and The Americas. With Remote Year, all travel routes are fixed. Participants travel around the world together for the entire trip duration—providing an excellent opportunity to get to know your travel buddies and build deeper relationships.
For digital nomads who want to see as much of the world as possible while having their travels organized, Remote Year is a great option. The company handles everything from the planning, booking, and programming of the trips—including flights—so you don’t have to worry about the details of your trip.
Cost: Varies by location and length. Starting at $2,000 a month.
Includes: Accommodation and utilities, travel between destinations, co-working space, professional and social programming, and an on-site community leader
Why choose a Remote Year alternative
While Remote Year is one of the leading (and perhaps most well-known) travel programs on the market, there are countless other fantastic Remote Year alternatives that suit different needs and preferences. Remote Year certainly has its perks, but it’s not for everyone—no remote travel program is.
Here are a few reasons you might find yourself looking for a Remote Year alternative in the first place:
Cost: Compared to other remote travel programs, Remote Year can be an expensive option. While their programs include transportation in the cost, the hefty price tag is still too steep for many. 12-month itineraries are priced at a whopping $32,000 per person, making Remote Year a less accessible program option financially.
Community: While Remote Year programs provide an excellent opportunity to build deep connections with your fellow travelers, the fixed nature of their itineraries can limit the number of people you connect with. Long-term trips, like their twelve-month program, maintain a consistent group of like-minded people throughout the year. You’ll spend the entire experience with the same people as you venture to new countries.
Destinations: Remote Year programs offer fixed itineraries with destinations that shift throughout the year, so while they have an incredibly diverse range of global destinations planned there’s no guarantee that they’ll have trips to your dream destinations during the periods you’re looking to travel.
Top 10 Remote Year alternatives and pricing
Ready to travel the world and start working remotely alongside a community of like-minded adventurers? Explore the top remote year alternatives out there, discover unique ways to see the world, and find a remote work program that piques your interest.
Here’s our roundup of the ten best programs like Remote Year, what they cost and include, and why you might choose one.
A quick list of top Remote Year alternatives:
1. Venture with Impact
2. Nomadize
3. Hacker Paradise
4. Selina
5. WiFi Tribe
6. Unsettled
7. Work Wanderers
8. Outsite
9. Nomadbase
10. WiFi Artists
1. Venture with Impact
Venture with Impact is a social impact-focused remote work program. It connects remote workers with local volunteer or advocacy opportunities, giving back to the communities groups travel to—one month at a time. Members can immerse themselves in local experiences while contributing to the communities they visit. It’s a beautiful way to travel and give back at the same time.
Participants can stay in cities for as little as a month, or they can choose to volunteer longer-term and receive discounted rates for each additional month they book. Destinations are planned in advance and change on a monthly basis.
Currently, Venture with Impact offers programs in nomad hotspots like Mexico City, Medellin, Chiang Mai, and Lisbon. They plan to announce special one-week retreat programs in the near future, with a continued focus on social impact plus education, career transition, wellness, and more.
Cost: From $2,000 per month
Includes: Accommodation and utilities, co-working space, day trips, professional and language support, partnership with local volunteer organizations, cultural events and activities
2. Nomadize
Nomadize was designed with adventure seekers in mind. It’s a travel booking platform that pools together retreats from all around the world and offers discounted travel deals. They offer remote work experiences with a focus on destination-specific activities, like helicopter rides and wellness workshops.
Would you like to immerse yourself in a month of yoga and meditation practice in Ubud, Bali? Or perhaps you’re keen to explore hidden gems, like Ile de la réunion, by helicopter? Nomadize allows digital nomads to learn and develop hobbies while they work and travel—no matter what those dreams might be.
Once a program is selected, nomads can book travel through the Nomadize app at a discounted price. For those wanting to pursue a new hobby or passion while they wander, Nomadize might be an ideal option.
Cost: From $2,900 per month
Includes: Accommodation and utilities, co-working space, professional and social programming, and pre-selected adventure activities
3. Hacker Paradise
Like Remote Year, Hacker Paradise, is renowned for its remote travel programs and vetted global community. However, unlike Remote Year, Hacker Paradise provides greater flexibility for digital nomads to choose how long and where they’d like to travel to.
Members can travel and work with Hacker Paradise for as little as two weeks or choose to travel together for months. The itineraries offer flexible start and end dates in exciting destinations across the globe, with co-living programs ranging from the bustling streets of Tokyo, Japan to the posh castle-filled countryside of Normandy, France.
Cost: From $2,400 per month
Includes: Accommodation (private rooms only) and utilities, co-working space, on-site community leader, professional and personal growth, social programming
4. Selina
If you love the digital nomad lifestyle but prefer to travel at your own pace and foster community yourself, you might enjoy staying at Selina’s co-living spaces. Selina is a chain of co-living hostels that offers co-working spaces and accommodations for travelers globally. Locations are stretched across nearly every corner of the world, from the sunny shores of Mexico and vibrant streets of Colombia to the cobbled streets of Greece. Wherever you’re traveling, there’s likely to be a Selina nearby.
The Selina brand was founded by two surfers, so many locations exude a welcoming hippy-chic atmosphere. You can choose to book short-term or monthly accommodation at Selina locations and opt for varied membership plans to access their co-working spaces. Their month-by-month colive option allows nomads to spread their stays across different cities with Selina locations.
The community found at Selina locations is dependent on the destination, time of year, and co-living layout—some destinations attract a hostel vibe that’s not as conducive to work. However, many locations are perfectly suited for remote workers looking for a good balance of work productivity and social events while they travel.
Selina is ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in the location independent lifestyle without the commitment of a long-term, structured program. Their flexible co-working memberships make it easy for nomads to access good WiFi—whether they’re staying in Selina’s co-living spaces or a nearby Airbnb. In the evenings, many locations offer fun activities and social events to connect travelers with one another. It’s a nice and easy way to meet new people during your stay.
Cost: Dependent on location, length of stay, and the package chosen. Prices range for nightly, weekly, and monthly stays.
Includes: Location dependent. All co-living packages include accommodation and free WiFi. Not all locations include co-working space access
5. WiFi Tribe
If you dream of traveling alongside a warm, welcoming, and inclusive community, there’s no better option than WiFi Tribe. No remote travel program emphasizes community quite like the tribe—here, fellow travelers turn into family, business partners, and lifelong friends. Nearly every WiFi Tribe member returns for multiple trips, with some members choosing to travel with the tribe year-round.
WiFi Tribe’s programs offer a flexible live-around-the-world membership, allowing travelers to select different locations to work and live from, one month at a time. Each month-long adventure is referred to as a ‘chapter’ and includes a maximum of 25 people to ensure the group remains close. Choose to travel with the tribe continuously or hand-select your favorite destinations from the annual calendar—members can choose to sign up for as few or as many chapters as they’d like. With bucket list cities like Cape Town, Medellin, Barcelona, and Buenos Aires on the calendar, it’s hard to choose!
Everything WiFi Tribe does is community-based, meaning the membership experience—whether you’re on or off chapter—is influenced by you and your fellow travelers. All members have access to a global Slack community to share ideas and travel plans, vote on destination preferences for future chapters, and stay connected with fellow tribers. On chapters, members host skillshares on a variety of topics, ranging from individuals’ professional expertise to personal passions.
Compared to Remote Year’s travel itineraries, WiFi Tribe offers added month-to-month flexibility. Additionally, all travel plans and ideas are discussed and chosen by the broader group—making it an excellent alternative for those wanting more choice in where they travel. If you’re looking for an incredible community of like-minded people to make memories and lasting friendships with while you travel, consider joining WiFi Tribe.
Cost: From $1,200 a month
Includes: Accommodation and utilities, co-working space, and tight-knit community
6. Unsettled
Unsettled is a co-living and co-working brand that has been around since 2014. For nearly a decade, they’ve hosted hundreds of in-person retreats across destinations worldwide. The team at Unsettled offers retreats and getaways that aim to break the mundane aspects of your everyday routine, while inspiring personal and professional growth.
Destinations include far-flung locations, like the picturesque shores of Costa Rica and the mysterious depths of the Peruvian Amazon. Choose from one-week, two-week, and monthly experiences—all of which are designed to disrupt your working norms with transformational travel experiences and peer-to-peer learning.
If you’re looking to break free from a boring daily routine and live adventurously, Unsettled offers great travel programs to inspire change in your life. Some destinations offered are better suited to remote work and travel, while others are heavily adventure and travel-focused.
Cost: From $2,300 per month
Includes: Accommodation and utilities, co-working space, events and activities, local SIM card, and airport pickups
7. Work Wanderers
Founded by South African native and digital nomad coach, Andrea, Work Wanderers offers one-week and one-month retreats for remote workers. Destinations include exotic locations, like Egypt and Turkey, plus co-living in nomad hot spots like Bali and Thailand.
Group retreats are custom-built to offer a super personal experience. Group sizes range from eight to eighteen nomads per trip—ensuring that groups form a tight-knit bond. If you’re looking for a short-term remote travel program to explore a new city, Work Wanderers is an excellent option.
Cost: From $950 per month.
Includes: Accommodation and utilities, daily yoga, group activities, skillshares, and retreat coordinator
8. Outsite
Like Selina, Outsite offers a range of global co-living locations that cater to remote workers and entrepreneurs. Whether you fantasize about catching a wave during your lunch break or prefer to be cozied by a fireplace in an alpine lodge, Outsite offers gorgeous accommodations and highly equipped co-working spaces in dream destinations.
Every Outsite location offers comfortable and spacious rooms, shared or private bathrooms, a secure WiFi connection, social and private working spaces, community kitchens to use, and much more. Each destination has a community manager that organizes gatherings and social events while offering valuable advice and support from a local.
If you prefer traveling on your own terms without being locked into an itinerary or pre-determined group of travelers, Outsite may be an excellent option for you. New locations continue to be announced, with existing locations throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America.
Cost: From $900 per month
Includes: Accommodation and utilities, co-working space, community manager, plus fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities
9. Nomadbase
What was once known as Nomad Cruise has transformed into a community of digital nomads called Nomadbase. It’s a business and travel club for nomads that offers global events and retreats periodically throughout the year.
Currently, programs are limited to four-day and eleven-day excursions that are focused on short-term adventure activities with other nomads. Other digital nomad programming options are expected to be announced in the future.
Cost: Varies by experience, destination, and length.
Includes: Accommodation, Nomadbase community access
10. WiFi Artists
WiFi Artists is a remote working program that offers one-month, four-month, and twelve-month travel itineraries for digital nomads. Like Remote Year, the cost of their longer programs includes all accommodation, transportation, and community-organized activities. With at least one group tour plus three activities scheduled each week, this program is an excellent option for those eager to join a lot of program-led experiences.
Currently, WiFi Artists has trips planned across South America, Central America, and Europe. Choose to embrace or escape winter with their variety of upcoming trips ranging from ski excursions to summery cities.
Cost: Varies by program length. Monthly programs are priced per trip, while four-month and twelve-month programs have flat-fee pricing.
Includes: Accommodation, local SIM card, transportation between locations, airport transfers, on-site community leader, and optional social activities
Find your nomad community and start traveling with WiFi Tribe
While there are numerous programs like Remote Year to choose from, there are none that value community quite like WiFi Tribe. Our community of over 1,000 members represents over 60 nationalities, hundreds of professions, countless skills and hobbies, and one group of like-minded, amazing people that feel like family.
There’s no better way to travel than with the tribe—but don’t take our word for it. Explore our 2023 calendar and apply to become a member.
FAQ About remote work programs
What are some of the benefits of remote working?
Remote working provides professionals with the freedom to work and live on their own terms. By working online, you’re able to work from anywhere in the world that has a WiFi connection—giving you the flexibility to work from home or travel while you work.
Say goodbye to the days of long work commutes and typing away from a mundane office cubicle, and hello to flexible work. As a remote worker, you can create the work environment and lifestyle that’s best for you.
What are some of the benefits of remote work programs, like Remote Year?
Remote work programs, like Remote Year, take the hassle out of securing reliable accommodation, WiFi, and co-working access before you travel with a remote job. Plus, they often introduce you to a community of like-minded workers to share experiences with.
By joining a remote work program, you automatically enter into a new destination with a trustworthy living and working setup, plus a group of friends to explore alongside.
How much do remote work programs typically cost?
The cost of remote work programs is dependent on the length, location, inclusions, and time of year. Generally, remote work programs range from $1000 per month to $4000 per month.
How long are remote work programs?
The length of remote work programs varies by company and itinerary. Some programs require a minimum travel length of one month, while others offer nightly and weekly accommodation options. Alternatively, remote work programs like Remote Year offer year-long travel itineraries.
The length of programs depends on the commitment travelers are looking to make, both financially and time-wise.
What qualifications do you need to join a remote work program?
The specific qualifications to join a remote work program differs for each company. Generally, remote work programs require you to come with some kind of remote job—whether it’s a paid full-time job, part-time freelance work, or passion project—to focus on during the program.
Some remote work programs require participants to undergo a rigorous application process and interview to ensure applicants align with community values. Others have age restrictions in place for their programs.
