Millions of people who started working from home during the pandemic are likely never going back to the office. Likewise, remote work programs — launched by destinations and resorts to attract untethered but stir-crazy workers — are likely to outlast the pandemic as more professionals realize they literally can work from anywhere with good Wi-Fi.
These programs range from The Bahamas’ BEATS program to Aruba’s One Happy Workation.
But if you’re remotely for a week or three months, you’ll still need to find a place to stay — and more and more resorts are offering remote-work programs for precisely that purpose.
Here are some of the resorts in the Caribbean that have offer rooms with a (much) better view for remote workers:
Located on Jamaica’s quiet South Coast, this villa resort offers remote workers a special rate of $150 per person per night for stays of three weeks or longer. Rates include use of a private waterfront villa, pool, and beach (all within reach of the wifi), non-motorized watersports, and the services of a full villa staff — chef, housekeeping, night butler, and nanny if required.
The Graycliff Workation Special package is good for half off room rates for stays of two weeks or more at this Nassau hotel. The rate includes daily continental breakfast, housekeeping, high-speed Internet access, use of a printer, and IT support.
Located at the massive Baha Mar development in Nassau, Bahamas, the Grand Hyatt offers a Work from Hyatt package that includes access to a private workspace, daily food and beverage credits at more than 40 restaurants, poolside cabana reservations, and an on-site Work From Hyatt Ambassador to help facilitate your stay.
The boutique seaside hotel in Jamaica is offering a Home Away From Home package for travelers staying a minimum of three weeks and who book their stay by Aug. 31 for a travel date before Dec. 16. The deal includes private villas, complimentary in-villa spa service, food and beverage discounts, water sports and fitness facilities including a jogging path and tennis courts.
Banyan Tree resorts worldwide — including the Banyan Tree Mayakoba in the Mexican Caribbean — are offering a work-stay program called Habitat under which guests can book stays in seven-night blocks and hop from resort to resort. Savings on room rates increase with each block purchased, up to 60 percent off. Habitat Passes can be used for up to six months for stays of 7-28 nights.
Marriott Caribbean
Workcation packages offered by Marriott resorts in the Caribbean include the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino (complimentary wifi, cabana rooms with ocean views and balconies, complimentary microwave and fridge, half price self-parking, and 15 percent off food and beverages); and The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, which has an Executive Pursuits Package that includes daily breakfast for two, 20 percent savings on food and beverage, daily beach villa access with high-speed wifi, and complimentary access to boardrooms.
The Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino‘s program, good through Sept. 12, 2021 with a five-night minimum, includes private workspace, complimentary high-speed Internet, a $50 daily food and beverage credit, half off laundry service and cabana rentals, discounts on parking and pet services, and daily housekeeping.
True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, Grenada
Choose from studios, suites and villas with kitchenettes or full kitchens and settle in for a workcation at rates starting at $1,400 per month for a studio with complimentary wi-fi, weekly maid service, and discounts at the hotel’s restaurants and bars.
This Ocho Rios resort’s Extended Stay Package is good on stays in standalone beach bungalows or suites and includes half off accommodations for stays of four weeks or more, 30 percent off spa treatments, a 10-percent discount at the gift shop, and a $500 food and beverage credit.
Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino
With Hilton Aruba’s Escape to Happiness package, guests who stay for three weeks get the fourth week free. The offer includes full daily breakfast for two, a 20 percent discount on spa and food & beverage services, and premium wifi. For every 28 days that guests stay they also will receive one two-tank boat dive (or snorkel) for up to two people with the hotel’s general manager and one Sunset Concierge Dining Experience for two. Minimum length of stay is 28 days; valid through Jan. 8, 2022.
An executive assistant available 24/7 via text is part of the Home to Grand program at this AAA Five-Diamond resort; other amenities include a 24-hour personal contrive, airport transfers, free massages, and private office space.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia
The Work From Paradise package at this luxury St. Lucia resort includes private VIP round trip airport transfers, rooms with private pool terraces, a private butler for the duration of your stay, welcome amenity with bottle of Veuve Clicquot, breakfast for two with smoothies, daily lunch, private 3-course dinner for two with Chef + Sommelier meet and greet, one 50 minute private Swedish massage, private cabana access at the main pool with fresh fruit and water daily, and indoor and outdoor workings space and complimentary WiFI. The “Work from Paradise” package starts at $1,049.00 / night and is available in one-bedroom accommodations.
Eden Roc Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
Villas at the Eden Roc come with in-suite offices and classrooms set up for remote working and learning. The resort’s Villa Playhouse and School of Roc programs include a children’s concierge, daily lessons in art, dance, and Spanish language, and more. Rates are discounted 20 percent with a minimum stay of 15 nights and 40 percent on stays of 60 days or longer.
Karisma’s new Workcation Package is based on stays of 10 or more nights and features discounts of up to 15% off best available rates, with 25 percent off stays of 20+ nights. The offer at all El Dorado Spa Resorts, Azul Beach Resorts, Generations Riviera Maya, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts, Margaritaville Island Reserve, and Karisma Villas includes 25 percent off of laundry service, 25 percent off of spa services until 5 p.m., 2-for1 spa services after 5 p.m and two complimentary Stress Relief Hydrotherapy sessions; $1,000 in resort credits; high-speed WiFi and complimentary IT support; room service and priority restaurant seating; and Complimentary Kids Club access.
Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino
The “One Happy Workation” package at Renaissance Aruba includes lodging in a one-bedroom suite at a 10 percent discount on stays of 21 days or longer plus COVID testing and insurance, free wifi, Oceans Spa discounts and 25 percent off food and beverage, complimentary access to Renaissance Island an the use of a cabana for a day, and included use of non-motorized water sports gear. Book for travel through July 15, 2021; use promo code S8366.
Royalton’s Upgrade Your Office program starts at $900 USD per person for a 14-night stay that includes 24-hour access to the Diamond Club Lounge and complimentary business center access, as well as free laundry service, daily professional networking happy hours, and of course all-inclusive food and drink.
The “Work from Home at Silversands” package, good on stays of three or more weeks, is available from $1,250 per night for a Junior Suite and from $2,500 per night for a private villa and includes airport transfers, daily breakfast, daily working lunch, three weekly 45-minute workout sessions with a private trainer, twice weekly 60-minute massages, home office and tech support, laundry service, and COVID-19 testing.