FIVE REASONS WHY THE CARIBBEAN IS POPULAR AMONGST DIGITAL NOMADS
St. Maarten, like many islands in the Caribbean, has seen a rise in digital nomad visits as the digital age moves further. These professionals, often carrying their main offices in their laptops, increasingly choose Caribbean getaways as their third place working spot. For some traveling digital nomads reasons might be self-evident, we delved into what makes the islands a great place to work from. Whereas reasons below will not apply to every Caribbean escape for working abroad, we did interview some digital nomads why they chose St. Maarten and came up with below arguments.
1. Ease of travel
The Caribbean is well connected to many hubs in both North and South America as well as Europe. This means there is a cornucopia of exotic beach destinations to work from well within a few hours of flying. In case of St. Maarten, it helps that in the words of Dutch state secretary Zsoltan Szabo, St. Maarten Airport is now considered the most technologically advanced airport in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This adds considerably to the ease of travel and shortens travel time. If you are looking for more secluded beach retreats than the most famous Caribbean getaways, know that hubs like Princess Juliana also offer easy island hopping options to more quiet destinations, be it via local airplane carrier or ferry.
2. Inspirational views
It is not for nothing the Caribbean ranks amongst the most famous sunny vacation spots in the world. Many digital nomads are creatives, and mixing their working day with a warm weather vacation helps the inspiration. Creatives selecting the Caribbean as their source for new ideas stand on the shoulders of giants like James Bond novelist Ian Fleming, musical composer Noel Coward and painter Romare Bearden, all choosing Caribbean escapes to enhance their creative process. Local celebrities like Ruby Bute, Roland Richardson and nobel prize winner Derek Walcott further show how this region is a source of inspiration for artistry. Cultural festivals and events, traditional island music and dance and Caribbean history and heritage sites will further widen your scope of this colorful region and improve creative output.
3.Cosmopolitan Culture
The Caribbean historically is a cultural melting pot, and as the world globalizes the region remains an ever evolving variety of cultures, nationalities and ethnicities. This does not make up a source of inspiration by itself, but also provides a welcoming and understanding environment on itself. On St. Maarten alone, it is said that its multicultural quilt is made up of over a 100 nationalities.
4. All at hand – Digital equipment & Internet speed
There are many top Caribbean shopping destinations, all providing your technical needs as a digital expert. As an example, St. Maarten is known for the best duty-free shopping in the Caribbean. A store like Boolchands offers state of the art digital equipment, whereas CaribWork IT has served some well-known European companies and has answers to digital service needs. Though many Caribbean destinations make a good effort in establishing appropriate internet speed for working abroad, stability differs highly per island. It is recommended that when selecting your Caribbean island of choice, find out what the local internet status is first to curb expectations.
5. Safety
As for a digital nomad a laptop equals an office, you want your hardware to be safe. Caribbean safety levels differ highly throughout the region. Though paradise never equals utopia and like anywhere in the world you should take care of your valued equipment, some Caribbean destinations like St. Maarten rank first level. This means safety levels are comparable to North-American and European countries.
6. Affordable
Not every Caribbean retreat is as affordable as the other when you are looking for a beach paradise to work on. This is the more important for a digital nomad as most likely they are looking for a longer stay at their Caribbean escape where they can work remotely.
Prices for a long stay will differ highly throughout the region, but there are plenty
budget-friendly beach destinations like St. Maarten to choose from.
7. … all the other great stuff that makes a digital nomad tick
Inspiration goes well beyond the cultural only. It is not for nothing third place workers decide to move outside their home comfort zone, but their destinations of choice are also part of the experience. Needless to say, islands like St. Maarten offer prime snorkeling destinations, deep-sea fishing trips, sailing adventures, opportunities to go ziplining in the tropics and beautiful hiking trails near the ocean. Immerse yourself in typical Caribbean Culinary Experiences, Rum distillery tours and local food and craft beers to further enhance your “home away from home” experience!
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