Creative and refreshing: the 'Workation' travel trend

Who doesn't wish they could swap their daily workstation at the office or at their desk at home for a dream location? The basic necessities are easily met: a laptop, a camera for online meetings, and fast internet – that's all you usually need.

Where would you prefer to work? In a secluded hut in the mountains with panoramic views and fresh mountain air, a converted stable on an old farm, a tiny house with its own sauna, a hotel with wellness facilities and gourmet cuisine, or in a stylish loft in the big city with bustling nightlife? Thanks to Workation – the combination of work and holiday – you can have it all.

On the other hand, you can network and exchange ideas with colleagues if you combine your accommodation with a workplace with a coworking space, which often provides additional benefits such as phone booths, meeting rooms and particularly fast internet connection. The countryside also offers unique Workation locations, such as in Brandenburg's Fläming Heath region. There, a scheme for digital nomads was awarded the German Tourism Award. You can take your pick from various types of accommodation, and in the evenings meet by the fireplace for a games evening or a chat.

Workation by the sea...

Lohme: Houses at the Baltic Sea in Lohme ©DZT (Florian Trykowski)

The Baltic and North Seas also offer a wide range of Workation options: whether on a campsite on the beach, where you can take a quick dip in the water during work breaks, or in a villa on Rügen. Try working in a disused industrial complex on Sylt, on a houseboat on Fehmarn , or at desk spaces you can book by the day in Sankt Peter-Ording, just a few metres from the North Sea.

Start your day on one of Germany's idyllic islands, where the gentle sea breeze blows and inspiring natural backdrops create the perfect setting for a productive day's work. Early risers can enjoy a colourful sunrise by the sea with their morning coffee. So you can start the day in comfort and be ready for morning meetings with a sea view or even right on the beach. Fortify yourself in a cosy restaurant with regional delicacies such as crab or fish during your lunch break. In the afternoon, you're free to explore the surrounding area: on Rügen, for example, you can visit the chalk cliffs that inspired the famous artist Caspar David Friedrich, on Sylt you can explore a shipwreck, or on Fehmarn you can climb the Flügge lighthouse and enjoy the view from the very top.

And in the mountains...

Guggersee Lake near Oberstdorf, Bavaria ©Getty Images (Raimund Linke)

Mountain lovers are sure to get their money's worth in the Allgäu region , where you wake up to an impressive mountain panorama. If you want to get your body moving again after work, set off on a hike. Or, if it's relaxation you're after, hire a SUP board and enjoy the silence as you glide across the lake. Those who prefer a more sociable atmosphere can join an open climbing group or visit one of the meet-up groups that exist in this region, for example for newcomers or start-ups. Not only will you find inspiration for your work, but maybe also new friendships!