When Vanessa Van Edwards and her husband set out to travel the world, they didn't have to leave their careers behind.
"We literally had our entire office in our computer, on Skype, and with our phone," she said.
Recommended Videos
Not all work, not all vacation. Experts say "workations" like the trip Van Edwards took are growing in popularity. And, the benefits go beyond fun.
"We were able to network with people and in industries we had never thought we'd be able to. And even if it's the same work, the different atmosphere inspires you. It's, it's a way to really recharge your life, recharge your work," she added.
"Workation retreats" are popping up in locations around the world.
"What's allowing more people to do workations is the new work flexibility. So bosses, teams are much more open to working with a virtual person," said Van Edwards.
Co-working, co-living sites like the Surf Office offer travelers office space, and the ability to meet new people - all while enjoying the local surroundings.
"They run yoga workshops, they do wine tastings, they do sort of group communal dinners. Already in the short time I've been here I've actually made a lot of very interesting connections and I'm hoping to kind of forge new business relationships," explained Surf Office visitor Rupert Clague.
"I feel like I can be more productive in a workation. You have a lot more creativity and freedom and mental space to, to be able to produce," added Desiree Tavera, also a Surf Office visitor.
And workations aren't just for independent workers or individual employees. Some companies are getting in on the trend and taking their employees on a group workation.
Zen Payroll CEO Joshua Reeves says staying and working together in a beautiful setting is a great way to build community and more.
"Sometimes just literally changing environment can create a big impact in terms of helping someone think about what they're doing differently," said Reeves.
A recent survey found 75% of employees rank workplace flexibility as their top benefit. Dan Schawbel, founder of workplacetrends.com, says the workation is one way to give employees the flexibility they seek.
"The workation is becoming increasingly popular because employees know that they're getting less and less personal time but they want more and more flexibility. It's one way employers are coping with this," said Schawbel.
If you're considering taking an extended workation, Van Edwards suggests starting small, with a weeklong trip to get a sense of logistics on the road. And when you're away, make the most of the local environment.
"Go to networking events, try a meetup you've never done before, do a dance class, do a cooking class. It gets you out of your daily routine. That's what workations are all about," she suggested.
Van Edwards says dealing with different time zones can be a challenge of workation, since 9am where your office is might be the middle of the night during your travels.
And, of course, you have to make sure to stay someplace with strong internet connectivity. Others point out that in order to succeed at workation, you have to have good self-discipline since you're managing your own schedule.
Other links from this story: