Team Workations

Help your team work and travel together

1000+

Offsites organized

Years of experience

200+

Retreat locations

Why organize a team workation?

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.

What is the purpose of a team workation?

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:
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Maintain productivity remotely

Strengthen team relationships

Improve cross-team collaboration

Encourage creativity and innovation

Balance work and leisure

Experience a new destination

Organize your next workation with Surf Office

1000+ retreats organized ● 10 years of experience ● 200+ retreat locations

Sample team workation in Peniche

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.

Day 1: Arrival & Welcome

Settling in and kicking things off

14:00–17:00
Airport transfers from Lisbon and accommodation check-in
17:00–18:00
Welcome drinks and workation introduction
18:00–19:30
Sunset walk along Peniche's coastline
20:00–22:00
Welcome dinner with Portuguese seafood
22:00+
Optional drinks in Peniche Old Town

Day 2: Work & Surf

Focused work and first waves

07:30–08:30
Breakfast
09:00–11:00
Coworking session
11:00–11:30
Coffee break
11:30–13:00
Team workshops & planning
13:00–14:30
Lunch
15:00–17:30
Surf lesson at Baleal Beach
17:30–19:30
Beach relaxation or sunset
20:00–22:00
Dinner together

Day 3: Deep Work & Surf Progression

Deeper focus and surf progression

07:30–08:30
Breakfast
09:00–11:00
Coworking session
11:00–11:30
Coffee break
11:30–13:00
Project collaboration & breakout sessions
13:00–14:30
Lunch
15:00–17:30
Second surf lesson with coaching
17:30–19:00
Free time in Baleal
20:00–22:00
Dinner overlooking the Atlantic

Day 4: Work & Explore

Productive mornings and exploring the coast

07:30–08:30
Breakfast
09:00–11:00
Coworking session
11:00–11:30
Coffee break
11:30–13:00
Company presentations & roadmap discussion
13:00–14:30
Lunch
15:00–18:30
Boat trip to Berlengas Nature Reserve (weather permitting) or coastal hike to Cabo Carvoeiro
20:00–22:00
Group dinner in Peniche Harbour

Day 5: Final Surf & Celebration

Wrapping up and celebrating together

07:30–08:30
Breakfast
09:00–10:30
Final team wrap-up session
10:30–11:00
Coffee break
11:00–12:30
Open coworking or individual work
12:30–14:00
Lunch
15:00–17:30
Third surf lesson and friendly surf challenge
17:30–19:30
Free time on the beach
20:00–Late
Farewell dinner and celebration

Day 6: Departure

Relaxed morning and goodbyes

07:30–09:00
Breakfast
Flexible
Hotel check-out & transfers to Lisbon Airport

Recent retreats organized by Surf Office

From teamwork to tiramisu: Inside Boundless’ Rome offsite

Elke at Surf Office was a great partner for planning our April company retreat in Rome. She was incredibly responsive and went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed ahead of the trip, including venue, transfers, restaurants, meeting room requirements, and activities. Surf Office researched several locations for us and helped us to select Rome and the perfect venue for our team. Overall, we had a very positive experience and would definitely recommend an offsite in Rome with Surf Office.

Alannah Clarke Horne

Head of HR Compliance, Boundless

employees

Rome, Italy

learn more

Salonkee’s 4-day team building event on the Silver Coast, Portugal

Surf Office helped us create an unforgettable team event! Their practical and thoughtful approach streamlined the entire process, making it effortless for us to enjoy the whole experience. We’re grateful for all their help and their perfect organisation!

Amandien Anrys

Office & Event Coordinator at Salonkee

employees

Silver Coast, Portugal

learn more

How this software company fosters an employee-centric culture of connectedness

Not only was the working environment on this retreat better than our previous retreats, but a less stressful situation also allowed us to have a lot of fun together as well.

Best retreat locations

Jeju Island

South Korea

Best for:

nature retreats, team wellness, outdoor experiences

Jeju Island offers volcanic landscapes, coastal scenery, and a slower-paced atmosphere ideal for team retreats focused on relaxation and connection. Teams can enjoy hiking, beach activities, local food experiences, wellness programs, and scenic tours while balancing productive work sessions with outdoor adventures and cultural experiences.

Crete

Greece

Best for:

island retreats, outdoor experiences, team wellness

From mountain villages to beachfront resorts, Crete offers a diverse retreat experience combining nature, culture, and Mediterranean hospitality. Teams can enjoy sailing trips, local food experiences, hiking, wellness activities, and seaside dinners while creating space for both focused work sessions and relaxed team bonding.

Algarve

Portugal

Best for:

beach retreats, relaxation, spring & summer offsites

The Algarve is ideal for teams looking for sunny weather, ocean views, and a slower-paced retreat atmosphere. Popular activities include boat trips, beach dinners, golf, and coastal experiences, making it a great fit for companies prioritizing relaxation and team bonding.

Peniche

Portugal

Best for:

surf retreats, active teams, outdoor experiences

Known for its surf culture and dramatic Atlantic coastline, Peniche is a strong choice for teams looking for a more energetic and outdoors-oriented retreat. Surf lessons, boat trips, and fresh seafood restaurants create a relaxed but active atmosphere for smaller and mid-sized groups.

Zion Park

United States

Best for:

nature retreats, outdoor adventures, team bonding

Red rock canyons, desert landscapes, and wide-open scenery give Zion National Park a retreat atmosphere that feels immersive, active, and far removed from everyday work environments. Hiking trails, lodge-style accommodations, campfire gatherings, and wellness-focused experiences make the area appealing for teams looking to disconnect, and recharge.

Lanzarote

Spain

Best for:

island retreats, outdoor experiences, team wellness

Defined by volcanic landscapes, ocean views, and year-round mild weather, Lanzarote offers a unique setting ideal for company retreats focused on relaxation and nature. Teams can enjoy beach activities, hiking, catamaran trips, wellness programs, and local food experiences while balancing productive work sessions with outdoor adventures and team bonding.

Lake Tahoe

United States

Best for:

mountain retreats, lakeside experiences, outdoor activities

Lake Tahoe combines alpine scenery, crystal-clear waters, and year-round adventure into a retreat destination that feels both active and relaxing. Lakeside lodges, hiking trails, wellness experiences, ski resorts, and waterfront dining make the region especially attractive for company offsites focused on nature, team bonding, and outdoor exploration.

Get 3 personalized venue proposals

Organize your next workation with Surf Office

1000+ retreats organized ● 10 years of experience ● 200+ retreat locations

Team workation activity ideas

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.

Head to the beach‍

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.

Take a hike

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.

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Treasure hunt

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.

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Sailing trip

Surf Office can arrange as many boats as necessary to take your company for a sunset sail. We’ve hosted short sailing trips for our retreats in Lisbon, Ericeira, Santa Cruz, Mallorca, Valencia, and Barcelona. These are memorable evenings out – usually with a stunning sunset!

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Host a speaker or Ted Talk

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.

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Share a meal

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.

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Hackathon

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.

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FAQs about team workations

What is a team workation?

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.

What is the difference between a workation and a retreat?

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.

What are the benefits of a team workation?

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.

How long should a team workation last?

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.

Are team workations productive?

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.

What are the best destinations for a team 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.

Should employees work full-time during a workation?

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.

What activities work well during a team workation?

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.

How much does a team workation cost?

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.

How do you plan a team workation?

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.

💛 Wall of love 💛

We got incredibly positive feedback. Many people said it was the best offsite we've ever had. So that's obviously the most important thing from like an organizational point of view. It was super nice working with you guys. I really enjoyed it. It was the first year we had an agency like you guys on board and it did really help, especially now having a much bigger team.

Helen

Director of Market Intelligence

We did send a survey to everyone after the event. And the feedback was very positive. Everyone loved the hotel. People were saying that the food at the venue was very good, which I agree with. The rooms were great. The meeting space was perfect for us. Obviously the beach and the area were perfect. I think it was a great location for our team. There were some people that said this was the best summit they’ve attended.

Natalia

Operations Coordinator

The feedback has been impeccable. Everybody loved the hotel, loved the staff, loved the support from Surf Office, everything. All the expectations were, you know, not even just met, but went beyond. We loved the way we were taken care of.

Gabor

Executive Assistant and Office Manager

The overall feedback was really fantastic. Everybody really liked the venue. They really liked being in the same location. We had a wonderful partnership and we’d love to work with you again.

Jen

Operations and Administration

We walked into it anxious. We walked away from it absolutely amazed by the results. It was so well organized. I would never have been able to do that alone, you pulled that off entirely. It was amazing. The team is buzzing! It blew people away. It definitely blew us away.

Samantha

HR Manager

I was stressed out before the retreat cause I never did the planning. As soon as we arrived to the hotel, they knew everything and I didn’t have to worry about anything. Big thumbs up to the Surf Office team for the general flexibility, and for the communication.

David

HR Lead

It was absolutely perfect. There wasn’t one thing that I can criticize. We had a fantastic time, really really good. It went so smoothly, everybody was very happy. Anybody that asked now about how the offsite went, I just say: “It was amazing, you only can use 1 company, you don’t need to use anybody else”.

Christina

Senior Operations Manager

Amazing. It was I think a really lifelong memory. I think the whole team had a really great time. I never could do this without Surf Office.

Tina

Finance & Operations Manager

It was an awesome experience. It went super smooth, the drivers were on time, food was great, and the flexibility of the hotel was great. We had a truly amazing time and all because of your great work and preparations – you were like the magic fairies that organised everything so beautifully!

Felicitas

Chief People Officer

Organize your next workation with Surf Office

How does it work?

1. Tell us more about your plans

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?

2. Planning with your dedicated project manager

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.

3. Detailed plan and schedule of your workation

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.

→ How does Surf Office work?

5 Tips on planning a workation for your team

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:

1. Take time zones into account

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.

2. Choose accommodation with fast internet

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.

3. Go somewhere with minimal distractions

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.

4. Book ahead of time

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.