.webp)
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:
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
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
- 14:00–17:00Airport transfers from Lisbon and accommodation check-in
- 17:00–18:00Welcome drinks and workation introduction
- 18:00–19:30Sunset walk along Peniche's coastline
- 20:00–22:00Welcome dinner with Portuguese seafood
- 22:00+Optional drinks in Peniche Old Town
Day 2: Work & Surf
Focused work and first waves
- 07:30–08:30Breakfast
- 09:00–11:00Coworking session
- 11:00–11:30Coffee break
- 11:30–13:00
Team workshops & planning
- 13:00–14:30Lunch
- 15:00–17:30Surf lesson at Baleal Beach
- 17:30–19:30Beach relaxation or sunset
- 20:00–22:00Dinner together
Day 3: Deep Work & Surf Progression
Deeper focus and surf progression
- 07:30–08:30Breakfast
- 09:00–11:00Coworking session
- 11:00–11:30Coffee break
- 11:30–13:00
Project collaboration & breakout sessions
- 13:00–14:30Lunch
- 15:00–17:30Second surf lesson with coaching
- 17:30–19:00Free time in Baleal
- 20:00–22:00Dinner overlooking the Atlantic
Day 4: Work & Explore
Productive mornings and exploring the coast
- 07:30–08:30Breakfast
- 09:00–11:00Coworking session
- 11:00–11:30Coffee break
- 11:30–13:00
Company presentations & roadmap discussion
- 13:00–14:30Lunch
- 15:00–18:30Boat trip to Berlengas Nature Reserve (weather permitting) or coastal hike to Cabo Carvoeiro
- 20:00–22:00Group dinner in Peniche Harbour
Day 5: Final Surf & Celebration
Wrapping up and celebrating together
- 07:30–08:30Breakfast
- 09:00–10:30Final team wrap-up session
- 10:30–11:00Coffee break
- 11:00–12:30Open coworking or individual work
- 12:30–14:00Lunch
- 15:00–17:30Third surf lesson and friendly surf challenge
- 17:30–19:30Free time on the beach
- 20:00–LateFarewell dinner and celebration
Day 6: Departure
Relaxed morning and goodbyes
- 07:30–09:00Breakfast
- Flexible
Hotel check-out & transfers to Lisbon Airport
Recent retreats organized by Surf Office
Best retreat locations
Get 3 personalized venue proposals
.jpg)
Organize your next workation with Surf Office
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 couldn't do it without you. You were a huge support for us. We did a feedback survey asking the team how everything was, asking about the hotel, the food, the program etc. and they were able to rate from 1 to 10, & overall we have a 9.5 So it was really really successful!
The expectations were really high. We put a lot of pressure on you since the start, telling you about our last events in the Moroccan desert and in Eiffel Tower. But it was great. The organization was really smooth. The event was beyond expectation!
We did a survey with the guys, we have like mostly 9/10, or 10/10. People were really having so much fun… they were very happy with the choice of the place. The venue, the weather, the team dynamics, it all came together really well.
I really felt having you being part of it was such an asset. Just knowing that you were point in organizing this and then also if there was a question or problem we could just reach out directly was really helpful.
Everybody loved it! We did a post-offsite survey, and it was all vibes! Everything went to plan. One thing that we were all saying internally as well is like - I honestly don't think we would have made happen unless we had Surf Office.
It was great! People loved the balance of free time and activities. They loved that we gave them options on activities.
We have been doing this since 2008, so it was the 17th event this year. And the consensus was that this was the best ever. Everybody was super happy, they had lots of fun. So it was great.
People got together, people got to see each other. We had really good internal sessions, and also a lot of off time sessions. I feel Surf Office thought of a lot of things that one would not think when you're planning an off site in another country.
We have grown so much since our last event, so were a lot of people, and we needed those three days to talk, to interact with everyone... You handled it so beautifully. We did not have to worry about organizing or arranging anything. You guys did an amazing job.
Organize your next workation with Surf Office
Get a quoteHow 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.
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.
5. Hire Surf Office to help
choose your location
Choose from hundreds of retreat locations in Europe, America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.
Ask AI for a summary of Surf Office
