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One of the benefits of a digital nomad lifestyle is that you can choose to live and work somewhere warmer when winter arrives.
There’s nothing quite like putting on your swimsuit and heading to the beach when you close your laptop at the end of a hard day – but where can you embrace this lifestyle?
With digital nomadism becoming increasingly popular as a trend, it can be difficult to select the best destinations – but we have a few suggestions that we think will appeal.
Here are our top 7 warm weather destinations for digital nomads to visit this winter:
1. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
A sun-drenched beauty on the Mexican Caribbean coast, Playa Del Carmen has a vibrant party atmosphere with a host of great bars and restaurants, many of which overlook the beautiful beaches.
It’s about a four- to five-hour flight from most of the continental United States, and it’s in the Central Time Zone, making it easy to work remotely while stationed there.
Despite being popular and easy to get to, this bohemian seaside town is still a relatively cheap place to live, with a good choice of monthly accommodation and affordable food and drink.
This city also has more to offer than just the beach, with attractions such as beautiful cenotes and impressive Mayan ruins just a short bus ride away.
Mexico is also one of the easiest countries to obtain a visa for Americans, making arranging one simple.
Average monthly cost: $2,500
Average temperature in January: 65-80°F
The best for… a party feeling in a beach town, but still close to home.
2. Phuket, Thailand
The island of Phuket has long been an outpost on traditional Thai backpacking routes, but has recently become a great destination for digital nomads as well.
With fantastic weather, incredible food and culture, vastly improved internet and a generally friendly attitude towards foreigners, it’s easy to see why Phuket is popular.
Phuket has a thriving café culture to suit every taste. You’ll find plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a wide range of establishments owned and run by Westerners and by local Thai people.
And you are spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches.
To the west you’ll find beautiful spots like Patong Beach, Hua Beach and Kata Beach, while from Phuket City in the east you can take a boat to more remote locations like the Ko Yao Islands or the iconic Phi Phi Islands.
Average monthly cost: $1,700
Average temperature in January: 75-90°F
Best for… tropical climate and beach parties.
3. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is another well-known destination for digital nomads, but that’s not a bad thing.
It is popular and well-known for a reason: it is a great place to live this kind of lifestyle.
With lush jungles full of vibrant nature, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and no shortage of historical and cultural attractions, Bali is a great place to base yourself. That is why it regularly belongs to the top destinations on Nomadlist.com.
It also has a low cost of living, decent infrastructure and a range of visa options for digital nomads.
The downside of Bali is that it is busy during peak times of the year, but despite this there are still some hidden gems to discover.
Average monthly cost: $2,000
Average temperature in January: 72-85°F
Best for… engaging culture and making travel friends.
4. Medellín, Colombia
The Colombian city of Medellin has exploded in popularity in recent years and has become one of the most popular destinations in Latin America.
Medellin, also known as ‘The City of Eternal Spring’, is a cooler option for digital nomads, and not just in terms of climate.
It’s an incredibly trendy place to be at the moment, with the Laureles district recently named one of the coolest in the world.
It’s a hive of cool cafes, bougee shops and a remarkable nightlife where people want to stay for a while.
Average monthly cost: $1,400
Average temperature in January: 55-70°F
Best for… cool cats who don’t need to be at the beach.
5. Tulum, Mexico
Another Mexican destination on our list is iconic Tulum – a place where ancient temples meet the beautiful Caribbean coast.
Due to its popularity and growing tourism infrastructure, Tulum isn’t necessarily the cheapest place to live as a digital nomad, but if you’re sensible you can still enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle for a modest price.
It has many advantages to offset the higher prices, such as a super easy visa, a lively party scene, tons of ancient sights and a good choice of long-term accommodation.
Average monthly cost: $3,300
Average temperature in January: 70-80°F
Best for…larger budgets and people who love luxury.
6. Cebu, Philippines
This enchanting island in the Philippines has been attracting digital nomads for several years now thanks to its very low cost of living, beautiful coastline and warm climate.
That said, Cebu is still a bit under the radar, but that won’t be for long considering how beautiful it is.
Lined with pure white sand and a shimmering turquoise sea, Cebu is easily accessible and an ideal place to spend a decent amount of time.
Although the Philippines doesn’t have a visa for digital nomads yet (it’s apparently in the works), the country is very welcoming to those who choose to stay a little longer.
Average monthly cost: $1,400
Average temperature in January: 75-85°F
Best for… a sense of escape, yet easy to get to.
7. Mazatlan, Mexico
This smaller and lesser-known digital nomad destination in Mexico, located on the stunningly beautiful Pacific coast, looks set to become popular in the future.
With many of the features that digital nomads love, such as nice weather, proximity to beautiful beaches, and solid services and infrastructure, Mazatlán is quickly gaining fans from the United States.
Because it is still an emerging destination, the costs of long-term accommodation, food and other essential services are still relatively low compared to other places in Mexico.
One downside is that it is located in the state of Sinaloa, which is known for its problems with crime, so if you decide to go, be careful and sensible.
Average monthly cost: $1,500
Average temperature in January: 60-77°F
Best for… a quieter, more off-path digital nomad experience.
Average monthly cost figures are estimates based on data from Nomadlist.com, average January temperatures are estimates based on various weather services.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
