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One of the benefits of living a digital nomad lifestyle is that you can choose to live and work somewhere warmer when winter comes.
There’s nothing quite like throwing on your swimsuit and heading down 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 growing in popularity as a trend, it can be hard to narrow down the best destinations – but we have a few suggestions we think will be appealing.
Here are our top 7 warm weather destinations for digital nomads to check out this winter:
1. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
A sun-kissed beauty on the Mexican Caribbean coast, Playa Del Carmen has a bustling party atmosphere with a host of great bars and restaurants, many of which face out onto the stunning beaches.
It’s around a 4 to 5 hour flight from most of the mainland United States, and it’s in the Central Time Zone – making it easy to work remotely while you’re stationed there.
Despite being popular and easy to get to, this bohemian beach town has remained a relatively cheap place to live, with a good choice of monthly accommodation and affordable food and drink.
There’s also more to this town than 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, which makes it simple to get set-up.
Average monthly cost: $2,500
Average temperature in January: 65-80°F
Best for… beach town party vibes but still close to home.
2. Phuket, Thailand
The island of Phuket is a longstanding outpost on traditional Thai backpacking routes, but recently it has also become a great digital nomad destination.
Providing fantastic weather, incredible food and culture, much improved internet, and a generally friendly attitude towards foreigners, it’s easy to see why Phuket is popular.
Phuket has a thriving café culture that caters to every taste. You’ll find plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well as a wide range of establishments owned and run by Westerners as well as by local Thai people.
And you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches.
Over in the west, you’ll find stunners such as Patong Beach, Hua Beach, and Kata Beach, whereas from Phuket City in the east, you can catch a boat to more remote locations such as 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-trodden digital nomad destination, but that’s not a bad thing.
It’s popular and well-known for a reason – it’s a great place to live this kind of lifestyle.
Featuring lush jungles filled with vibrant nature, some of Earth’s most beautiful beaches, and no shortage of historic and cultural sites, Bali is a great place to base yourself, which is why it regularly ranks among 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.
Bali’s downside is that it’s crowded at peak times of the year, but despite that, there are still some hidden gems you can seek out.
Average monthly cost: $2,000
Average temperature in January: 72-85°F
Best for… captivating culture and making travel friends.
4. Medellin, Colombia
The Colombian city of Medellin has exploded in popularity in recent years to become one of the most popular destinations in Latin America.
Dubbed ‘The City Of Eternal Spring’, Medellin is a cooler option for digital nomads, and not just in terms of its climate.
It’s an incredibly trendy place to be right now, with its Laureles neighborhood recently named one of the coolest in the world.
It’s a hive of cool cafés, bougee businesses, and noteworthy nightlife that leaves people wanting 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 by the beach.
5. Tulum, Mexico
Another Mexican destination on our list is the iconic Tulum – a place where ancient temples meet gorgeous Caribbean coast.
Due to its popularity and growing tourism infrastructure, Tulum is not necessarily the cheapest place to live as a digital nomad, but you can still enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle at a modest cost if you’re sensible.
It has plenty of upsides to balance out the higher prices, such as a super easy visa, a lively party scene, countless ancient sites, 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 those who love luxury.
6. Cebu, Philippines
This spellbinding island in the Philippines has been attracting digital nomads for several years now thanks to its very low cost of living, gorgeous coastline, and warm climate.
That said, Cebu is still a little under the radar, but it won’t be for long when you see how beautiful it is.
Lined with pure white sands and shimmering turquoise seas, Cebu is easily accessible and an ideal place to spend a decent amount of time.
While the Philippines doesn’t have a digital nomad visa yet (one is 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, but still easy to get to.
7. Mazatlán, Mexico
This smaller and lesser-known digital nomad destination in Mexico, nestled on the stunningly beautiful Pacific coast, looks set to be a popular one in the future.
Featuring many of the hallmarks digital nomads love, such as great weather, proximity to amazing beaches, and solid services and infrastructure, Mazatlán is rapidly gaining fans from the United States.
Because it’s still an emerging destination, the costs of long-term accommodation, food, and other vital services are still relatively low when compared to other places in Mexico.
A downside is that it’s in the state of Sinaloa, which is known for having problems with crime, so if you do decide to go, make sure you exercise caution and be 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 Nomadlist.com data, average January temperatures are estimates based on several weather services.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com