“Happiness-boosting perks like this are certainly effective in keeping the workplace more attractive.”
We can all agree that COVID has changed the way we live and work. With that in mind, Homelike has given us the opportunity to work outside our home base (Germany, in my case) for up to 2 months a year.
I was fortunate enough to be able to take advantage of this digital nomad policy for a whole month in the summer of 2021. I packed my bags and set off to Paris, France. Although I’ve been to Paris before, I chose it as my remote work location for a specific reason…
So, what’s the deal with Paris? Let’s not beat around the bush. The city’s absurdly good food scene is 95% of why I chose to go there (followed by museums and yada yada).
I’m a big foodie who regularly explores the boundaries of gluttony! Well, who am I kidding? I’m an out and proud glutton (#shameless #unapologetic).
The French take their food seriously and Paris is, without a doubt, the holy grail of the culinary world. But it’s not just haute cuisine, Michelin stars and “tiny portions of pretentious food”. Paris has something for every kind of foodie. Even the fussiest of eaters will find something they can’t get enough of. You’d truly be hard pressed to find a bad restaurant there.
What’s more? Even fast food oozes quality in Paris. So, if you’re someone who needs your junk food fix every now and then like me, you’ll find plenty of top-notch options.
My weekends were essentially a giant meal.
How did I organise my work while in Paris? During my stay in Paris, I clearly separated my work time from my “fun” time. My daily work routine continued as usual and I worked from Monday to Friday during normal working hours just as I do in Germany.
On the other hand, my evenings were wide open and pure magic! I spent most of my evenings exploring the best eateries of Paris.
My weekends were essentially a giant meal. I spent all my time traipsing around the city, enjoying delectable French pastries, drinking delicious vino and gorging on mouth-watering food from around the planet- happily tipsy and on a full belly.
Did I do anything else in Paris? To be clear, I did more than just pig out while I was there. I also went on walking tours of some fantastic Parisian neighborhoods such as the Marais, Montmartre, Quartier Latin, and Montparnasse. I also managed to take a few day trips outside of Paris during weekends- Giverny, Mont Saint Michel and Strasbourg to name a few.
Was the workation worthwhile? Absolutely! I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The ability to work from a location other than my home base is definitely an added benefit that the avid traveler in me loves. I’m sure many of us are looking for more than just a steady paycheck. Happiness-boosting perks like this are certainly effective in keeping the workplace more attractive.
The flexibility to work from a different location not only helped with breaking up the monotony of daily life in the same city but also gave me the chance to experience life in Paris like a local. It was a “mental refresh”, in a manner of speaking.
Would I do another workation in Paris? No, I won’t be going back to Paris for a whole month despite all that extraordinary food. I’d go only for shorter trips. The reason is that I travel with my dog and Paris was not as accommodating of dogs as I expected. Moreover, my dog is way too used to life in Germany where he is treated like royalty.
But, I’ll definitely use this option in 2022. I’ve already started daydreaming about the next place on my bucket list. There are simply too many places on my list but Croatia, Greece and Spain are top contenders. Can’t wait!
Must-try restaurants in Paris: Frenchie Pigalle, Django and Le Jackpot. I tend to research food extensively during my travels. If the restaurant ratings are anything below 4.0 stars, I just don’t go there (unless the bad ratings are for poor service). In Paris, I raise the bar to 4.5 stars.
Quick tip for my fellow workationers:
Make sure your rental has a reliable internet connection. In Paris, I was forced to use my mobile internet on many occasions and it was especially frustrating during video calls.
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