Feel Like Working Abroad? Here’s Where We Recommend You Work From!

Here, at Social Bee, we tend to look on the bright side of life. And we collectively agree that not all of 2020 left a sour taste in our mouths.

There have been many positives we can reflect on. Let’s start by acknowledging our utmost gratitude toward companies within the United States that have ditched the forced American dream and now provide remote options for employees post-pandemic.

With many Americans fed up being 'locked-in' at a job for what feels like a lifetime, many are opting to throw their belongings in a storage box and adot a lifestyle of becoming a Digital Nomad.

But with hundreds of options on the cards, you may wonder just where to set up shop and work remotely.

So, we've come up with a three-part series focusing on our favorite Digital Nomad destinations that you can relocate to almost instantly.

From Europe to Latin America and all the way on the other side of the globe to Asia, here at SocialBee, we've got you covered.

Let’s Jump on That Flight to Latin America!

Let's start off with our notoriously friendly, Spanish-speaking neighbors to the South.

Baby steps are highly recommended if you're feeling a little apprehensive about leaving home for the first time. So, not only is the majority of Latin America in the same timezone as the US, but there's a 9/10 chance you learned at least some Spanish in school, or chances are you’re Latino yourself!

So whip out DuoLingo and head down south to…

Mexico City, Mexico

Just a few hours on a flight from most major American cities, and you’ll set foot in one of the most welcoming countries on the planet; 'mi casa es tu casa' is in full effect here.

Mexican people are some of the kindest and most caring people, so you'll feel right at home with its gorgeous hospitality. It's just part of Mexican culture.

Surround yourself with delicious street food daily, spend a Friday with friends at a Cantina, or opt for traditional Mexican music nights in the Centro Historico. And the best part is, regardless of what you social media or your T.V. tells you, it's very safe for tourists to visit!

Mexico offers a 6-month tourist visa option on arrival for American passport holders. However, recent reports say that Mexican authorities have been scaling this back and only giving out the full 180 days on an individual basis. So we'd recommend booking a full-refundable flight and bringing the confirmation to show that you intend to stay for a six-month duration.

Alternatively, you can apply for temporary residence through a Mexican embassy in the US for as little as $50, as long as you meet the financial requirements. It lasts up to one year and can be extended up to four years.

Mexico City has an abundance of gorgeous cafes and restaurants in Condesa and Roma, with strong internet and great coffee sourced from other parts of Mexico like Oaxaca and Veracruz.

A few coffee spots we’d recommend are Blend Station and Cucurucho, which both have multiple locations throughout the city and are hugely popular with remote workers. Buna has a gorgeous roastery just outside Roma in the Doctores neighborhood, and another one in Roma itself—both excellent to work from or Sunday lunch with all your new friends!

As you can probably guess, we'd recommend staying in the Roma or Condesa neighborhoods. These places are close to all the action and the Chapultepec park—the green lung of Mexico City, spanning 686 hectares, twice the size of Central Park in New York.

You'll be surprised how at home you'll feel in these areas of the city.

If a walk through the park isn’t your cup of tea, head down South to Xochimilco for a day trip of knocking back mezcalitas on a traditional party boat. Or check out one of the many museums Mexico City has to offer. They’re free on Wednesdays, but not open Mondays.

Medellín, Colombia

An underrated city in an underrated country, actually voted 3rd best city to visit by TimeOut. But it wasn’t always like that. Colombians have worked hard to lose the negative reputation the city had, fueled by headlines about drug lords and armed groups since the 60s. Although the city has a long way to go, if you don't go flashing your expensive belongings or wander around areas you are unsure of, Colombia is the perfect place to become home.

Medellin is a young city, attracting Colombians from across the country, Latin Americans, and foreigners to its lively nightlife, beautiful greenery, and rustic coffee shops.

Medellin boasts amazing salsa nights at Son Havana and reggaeton nights at Dulce Jesus Mio—and in this city, there's never a techno/house club too far away!

Americans can set up shop in Colombia for three months as a tourist on a US passport. However, Colombia is bringing in a widely accepted digital nomad visa that you can look to apply for.

We'd recommend staying in the Laureles neighborhood. It's outside the nightlife bubble of 'El Pobaldo'—an area where you will most likely spend a lot of time eating great meals and drinking Aguardiente, but it’s not entirely ideal for living.

Ubers in Medellin are safe and affordable, so whenever the nightlife or a good meal calls, you can grab an Uber anywhere from $2–5.

Del Muri cafe is a stunning cafe situated on the Primer Parque de Laureles with excellent coffee with talented and friendly baristas. A talented busker often stops by the cafe to play a song, so take your headphones off and enjoy the music, baby! This is Latin America, and music runs within everyones’ veins.

You will find people from all over the world working here, looking to expand their networks, especially as the tech scene is up and coming.

The popular Comuna 13 tour runs several times a day, taking you safely into one of Medellin's previously most dangerous neighborhoods from the 90s to give you an idea of just how far this country has come.

If adventure is your thing, you can go Paragliding in San Felix or Guarne, both short trips to the north of the city.