Las Palmas tops list of year round nomad destinations and here’s why

It’s official. Las Palmas is one of the best places in the world to be a digital nomad

Wondering where to work from next or looking for a suitable place to kickstart your new career, as a location independent professional? Quoting a survey of jobbing digital nomads earlier this month, business website Forbes listed the top 11 locations to work in the world.

And our own hometown of Las Palmas, on the island of Gran Canaria, makes the list at number 5, just behind Playa del Carmen in Mexico, Thailand’s Koh Lanta, Taiwan’s Taipei and Czech capital Prague.

top-digital-nomad-destination

What makes Gran Canaria so appealing, when you have the entire planet to choose from?

With no real winter to speak of and a vibrant expat community in residence, Las Palmas actually topped the Forbes chart when respondents were asked for their year round preference.

High speed internet, reasonable living costs, plenty of affordable accomodation and a distinctly European vibe (without the weather) have seen the city become a melting pot of different nationalities over the last decade. But it’s not just favourable working conditions that make the island so appealing.

Apart from work, what else is there to do on the island?

Gran Canaria is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and culture lovers too, as a couple of online articles reported this month:

With temperatures rarely falling below 20 degrees, a distinct absence of rain and some of Europe’s most dramatic mountain scenery, Cycling Weekly devoted a large part of their 2018 winter cycling guide to the island. Empty roads, superb riding surfaces and plenty of challenging climbs were just some of the attractions mentioned, support what we already knew – that Gran Canaria has some of the best cycling in the world.

If getting out on the bike sounds too much like hard grind, you may prefer the more relaxing pastime of wine-tasting. While they may not be as well-known as those on neighbouring islands, news website Delano visited several of Gran Canaria’s 60+ vineyards (or bodegas), where visitors have the chance to experience a way of life that goes back generations and, more importantly, some of the surprisingly drinkable local plonk.

best digital nomad spot for winter

Is it really worth ditching your 9-5 and taking up the digital nomad lifestyle?

The short answer is yes apparently, after a study by outsourcing website Upwork and the Freelancers Union found freelancing has a bright future. So bright in fact, that over the last 2 years the number of people choosing to go self-employed in America alone has grown by more than 30%, contributing in excess of $1.4 trillion to the American economy in the process.

Changing attitudes among both employees and employers, mean more companies are opening up to the idea of staff working remotely, outsourcing entire projects to offsite teams and even filling vacant positions with remote workers.

The looming digital skills shortage will make freelancing the norm

That’s the claim made by employment website Lexology, in a report that warns of an impending global talent crunch which could result in as many as 85 million unfilled vacancies before the end of the decade.

One of the areas predicted to suffer hardest is the tech sector, which is music to the ears of remote workers everywhere. Cheap flights and increasingly fast internet speeds make it cheap to travel and possible to work from almost anywhere. In effect, it’s never been easier to take your career with you, rather than being pinned down to a traditional office environment.

It’s August. It’s hot. Most of us are on the beach. But here’s the latest from the world of coworking in Las Palmas.

What to expect from life as a digital nomad, bringing up children on the road and how the boom in coworking spaces are changing the landscape of our cities.

You do know that being a digital nomad will change you as a person? Right?

Coworking spaces Las Palmas

Leading the digital nomad lifestyle is a great way to see the world. We all know that. But besides getting to explore new places, what will a life of travel and work teach us as human beings?

Writing on the Digital Nomad Soul website, longtime travellers Carla and Oliver have listed 30 – yes 30 – positive personal changes they’ve experienced since deciding to pack up their laptops and hit the road.  (Be warned, once you read 26 and 27 you may never want to go home!)

Freelancer lifestyle no longer a first world privilege

One criticism often levelled at the ‘location independent’ work model is that for the most part, it’s a privilege enjoyed only by holders of certain passports – most notably European or North American. But a recent Entrepeneur.com article suggests the nomad trend is beginning to take off worldwide.

Having watched the comings and goings of jobbing travellers for more than a decade, talented web professionals in countries like India and Thailand are taking their skills to the co-working spaces of the world, combining a life of travel and work.

Bringing up kids on the roadLas Palmas coworking spaces

That’s a relatively simple step if you’re single, or part of a like-minded couple. But what about when you have kids to think about as well? Alyson Long – one half of the team behind the World Travel Family website – has taken that one step further. Having been on the road since 2012 her two sons have grown up in dozens of countries.

Alyson’s eldest is now a teenager and – for any digital nomads with young children considering the future – the journey she, and her family, have taken over the last 6 years makes a fascinating read. In her latest post, she explores aspects such as self-schooling, medical needs, language barriers and the need for friends as her kids become young adults.

It’s official, coworking spaces have a positive effect on local communities

The global shift to independent or freelance work, continued growth of startup companies and the consolidation of many into ‘scaleups’ is placing a big strain on commercial landlords and constructors in the world’s most popular cities. Demand for coworking spaces is at an all-time high and a recent report on news site Realty Biz News claims the move toward shared offices could be permanent.

Their report claims coworking is ‘upping the game’ and creating a new level of service or amenity, which can often have a very positive effect on individual properties, the areas where they are located and the people living closeby. The challenge for property developers is to deliver both leases and properties to meet shifting demand.

What should you consider when choosing a coworking space?

Not much, according to this recent blog on Indian coworking site Hub & Oak, which lists the 4 most important things to look for in a productive shared office environment. It may be short, but the checklist is well worth making a copy of.

Planning a trip to Gran Canaria?

If you are August is a great month to be here. Despite being very warm, we’re an island, so temperatures are a bit cooler than mainland Spain (where it’s hitting the high forties as I write this) and there’s always a cooling breeze off the sea. The sun is out, so every day’s a beach day and there’s absolutely zero rain forecast for a couple of months.Best coworking spaces in Las Palmas

Plus, you’ll get the chance to come and visit us in our new bigger and better coworking space – right in the heart of downtown Las Palmas. We have a large coworking area, private offices, meeting rooms, recording facilities (coming soon) and 2 awesome terraces.

Superfast broadband, free coffee / water and – if you want to come and give us a try – your first day is completely free.

Drop us an email, or give us a call and we’ll book you a spot.

5 Incredible Facts About Coworking

Facts About CoworkingCoworking is on a mind-blowing growth trajectory, as more of us turn our backs on traditional employment models and become digital nomads.

A recent worldwide study – The 2017 Global Coworking Survey – threw up some very interesting facts about growth within the sector, that blew us away.

5 almost unbelievable stats about the state of coworking in 2018

1. In 2011 there were just 1,139 coworking spaces around the world. As we head into the new year there are almost 14,000!

2. A staggering 71% of coworkers have collaborated on new projects with other users – 11% have gone on to form a new company or business.

3. More than a quarter of coworkers have their rental fees paid by an employer. The implications of this are huge and give us an idea just how many companies now allow their staff to work off-site.

4. 44% of coworkers describe themselves as a digital nomad and will use multiple spaces over the next year.

5. 67% of coworking spaces plan to expand in 2018 and 42% will be opening an additional location.

Read the full 2017 Global Coworking Survey here.