July 5, 2021 - It seems like the perfect Instagram shot. Stretched out on the deck of a beautiful sailing yacht, the stunning Croatian islands and the Adriatic Sea in the background and a snazzy laptop laid out on the lounging cushions.

The Digital Nomad dream, right?! YES!

And, you’re not alone if you think so. There is an ever-increasing number of digital nomads, taking their laptops and heading out onto the seas for that get-away from it all, creating a remote working holiday like no other. Yet does the reality and the dream match?

Maybe for a moment. AND the reality of it all may be a little bit different, especially if you aren’t clear on what you need on board and why it’s important. 

Not All Are Created Equal

So, here’s what we mean by that. Just like not all Airbnb’s a created equal. Not all yachts are created equal. And just as the most seasoned digital nomads will have a carefully crafted list for what they need in an Airbnb. Jumping on-board a yacht for an extended period will require the exact same thing, a carefully crafted list to ensure that all you require is supplied or if not, you know about it and there are no nasty surprises.

Most Common Questions

Does the yacht you are sailing on have an adequate WIFI connection? This is the most commonly asked question one most will answer yes. And yet being on the see in an unknown option to most and the implications of this one question, is a lot broader than a simple yes.

There are three other things that are important to consider on your checklist:

• How will I keep my devices sufficiently charged?
• Are there sufficiently comfortable workspaces to sit?
• Especially in summer, is there shaded space available on board?

As lovely as lounging around on the deck with your laptop looks on Instagram, it doesn’t make for a very comfortable working position for more than ten minutes add to that working with minimum shade or downstairs with no air con and the thrill of a remote working holiday on the sea, can soon wear thin.

So, for anyone considering such an adventure, here are the top four must-haves to ensure your remote working holiday experience on board is amazing!

WIFI

As we said earlier, WIFI is always the first question that comes up in a conversation about working remotely on a boat.

Which makes sense. It’s right there in the title, Digital Nomad. Digital! It’s a tad difficult to be digital if there’s no WIFI connection! And one of the great things about the Dalmatian islands is that the reception for the most part is fantastic.

And there are amazing places you will want to visit, with no reception and that doesn't mean you need to miss out or settle for less. That is why along with WIFI connection, it is important to be sailing with a skipper and/or a crew that understands the importance of being connected.

Because, while there isn’t reception in every nook and cranny, good, ongoing communication amongst everyone on board, will ensure that you can still have the best of both worlds. That is, being able to be in good reception to connect with your clients and complete your commitments online, as well as experiencing some of the incredible hidden treasures that Croatia has to offer tucked in away from the reach of the digital world.

Yes, it will take a bit of juggling which is why it is important to be working alongside the crew on-board who can help you manage this juggle and really work hard to help you get the most out of your time on board without sacrificing any of your work commitments.

TIP ONE: Check WIFI and even more important, choose a skipper and/or crew who truly understands what it means to be a traveling, working Digital Nomad.

POWER

Another big consideration when you’re thinking about working from a yacht is power. Boats carry their own power, in the form of batteries. Different boats have different capacities to store and hold power, and if the boat is older and ‘well-loved', these batteries can often be working at much less than 100%. Now, this is something that many sailors are totally ok with. Traditionally, going sailing has been about disconnecting and putting away technology in favour of reconnecting with nature, the stars and revelling in the quiet.

And sailing has changed over the years. We now have sailing boats, both monohull and catamarans, that have increased power bank capacities, enabling those of us who need to, to stay connected to the outside world whilst still enjoying all the beauty and serenity that comes with spending time on a yacht in the Adriatic.

Even for the older boats that aren’t as power-endowed, there are tricks and tips for making sure you can power up when the batteries are low or unreliable. You can choose to pay and dock in a marina or port where you can hook up to shore power. Or your skipper can run the motor if you are at anchor or on a mooring ball to help charge the batteries. Although this does very much lessen the serenity of being anchored or moored in a picturesque Croatian bay!

TIP TWO: Check with your skipper and/or crew the electricity capacity and availability on the yacht you are looking to be on for the week.

ITINERARY

The itinerary is also something that needs thinking about when you are a working Digital Nomad on board a sea-going vessel. Your work schedule and the work schedule of other Digital Nomads on-board need to be discussed and made known so that the Skipper is aware of what times a strong WIFI connection is imperative, perhaps for a webinar, to dial into a staff meeting or to take a client call.

This information then needs to be juggled with sightseeing, managing any weather systems that may be moving through the area, as well as making sure that everyone is aware of the plan for the week, including how it can so easily change during the week. Plans need to be made to ensure that time is allowed for comfortable working conditions each day.

TIP THREE: Communication and planning is key to smooth sailing and being able to meet the variety of needs of all on board.

SHADE/AIRCON

The peak of the summer season in Croatia means temperatures of close to 40 degrees in the Mediterranean sun. The sea breeze takes the harshness away from the sun and it’s still important to be extra careful when spending time onboard in the sun, especially during the hottest times of the day. Enquire about the cover and shaded areas on board. Working directly in the sun isn’t that much fun after 10 minutes or so.

And while you will welcome air conditioning like your best friend, note that your air conditioner can only operate while your yacht is connected to external power, or while in the marina. If you are spending the night anchored in an enchanting bay, you’ll need a generator or go air-con-free!

All of these things that we so often take for granted on-land, you need to ask about and feel comfortable with the arrangements right from the start, when booking your remote working holiday.

TIP FOUR: Enquire about the onboard bimini sunshade and other cover provided on your chosen yacht, just to be sure.

We hope you find these top 4 must-haves helpful when planning your remote working holiday on the Adriatic.

If you have questions, feel free to ask below in the comments or check out Total Croatia, Sailing in Croatia: Your One-Stop-Shop for everything sailing.

If you’re looking to experience that remote working holiday that keeps you wanting more, find more details here about an amazing Digital Nomad Sailing Week.

For more about Digital Nomads and Travel in Croatia follow TCN's dedicated pages - Digital Nomads | Travel.

May 22, 2021 – We caught up with another digital nomad in Dubrovnik and the career of this one is not what you would expect from someone working remotely. Meet Vanessa Anderson!

Vanessa Anderson is a digital nomad and a lawyer. Two things that hardly seem compatible. Yet, she is making it work. COVID-19 changed the way she and her colleagues do their work and it made being a digital nomad lawyer possible. She knows Croatia well having been here before and running a travel website Balkan Eyes specialising in this region. When she heard about the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program, she applied. Originally, she just missed out on the opportunity to join the program, but due to some last-minute changes, we've got to see her in Dubrovnik, joining the other digital nomads in the group. Vanessa hails from Portland, Oregon, and is now enjoying her working and living experience in Dubrovnik.

DNiR Program

The Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program is a creation of Saltwater Nomads in partnership with Total Croatia News. The program is a collaboration between the City of Dubrovnik and the global digital nomad community it hosts, all done with great help from the Dubrovnik Tourist Board as well. The DNiR program is producing interesting and valuable results that could have a real impact on the local community

The Interview

In our short video, we asked Vanessa about her experience with Dubrovnik. Regardless of the fact she visited this area many times, this is her first working experience in the city. It changed her outlook on the city.

„Now I've been here for a longer period and it's pushed me to look outside of the walls as well. Before I had done more of the tourist things. You know, the walls are beautiful and I love just walking around, but also seeing other neighbourhoods has really expanded my view of Dubrovnik.“

She finds it easy to work here having adapted her work to constant travel.

„I have my practice mostly online so I don’t carry around binders of documents which is key to being a digital nomad. I can talk to my clients over the phone, on Zoom. With the pandemic, there's been more of an expectation that that's how things are going to go. Right now, the court hearings are still done over Zoom as well, so my presence is not needed in Portland.“

Make sure to check out the full interview with Vanessa below and hear her advice on making Dubrovnik a digital nomad-friendly place.

Saltwater Nomads' Tanja Polegubic on Dubrovnik Digital Nomad-in-Residence Program

Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Frankovic on Digital Nomads, US Flights, 2021 Season

Winners announcement video:

Learn more about the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program.

cToday’s interview is with Rob Schubert. Rob is a young entrepreneur and tech wizard from the Netherlands. After coming to Estonia to get his master’s degree in the area of digital health, Rob eventually started a healthcare startup VocDec. VocDec is a tool for early screening of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in newborns. Rob and his team won an award for the most impactful healthcare startup in Europe. After a success like that, it is clear to see why he exudes optimism and is looking forward to new challenges.

Through LinkedIn, he found out about the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program. Seeing how he wanted to visit Croatia, which he knew to be a beautiful country, Rob jumped at the possibility of applying. After a strict selection process, he ended up being one of the ten nomads selected for the program. Rob will undoubtedly bring a valuable perspective on working and living in Dubrovnik.

The Digital Nomads-in-Residence program was created by Saltwater Nomads in partnership with Total Croatia News. It will utilise the collective experiences of ten digital nomads living and working in Dubrovnik. Using design thinking process workshops, a strategic direction for the city will be created. Dubrovnik Tourist Board and the City of Dubrovnik both support and collaborate on the program. It represents a push towards the diversification and sustainability of Dubrovnik as a destination.

Paul caught up with Rob recently to ask him a few questions and get his impressions on living in Dubrovnik and being a part of the Digital Nomads-in-Residence program. Particularly interesting were his views on Dubrovnik as a destination prior to the program:

“Before, I knew that this was a highly touristy destination. Mainly, people were visiting for Game of Thrones sights.”

Having spent some time living and working in Dubrovnik, his views of the city as a travel destination have changed:

“ …I see that there are way more opportunities for other types of tourism…”

“I think the city can also communicate something different than being this Old Town… and the set of Game of Thrones.”

In the short video, Rob shares his experiences of working alongside his fellow nomads in a unique Dubrovnik co-working space. Check out the full interview below.

Learn more about the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program.

Saltwater Nomads' Tanja Polegubic on Dubrovnik Digital Nomad-in-Residence Programme

Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Frankovic on Digital Nomads, US Flights, 2021 Season

The winner announcement video:

For the latest digital nomad news from Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.