Co-living arrangements are the new overseas traveling trend, and you’ll find that they are popping up all over the world. You might dismiss the idea of living with a group of other people at first, thinking that it would be similar to a dorm or hostel situation, but you would be missing out on something innovative and exciting. Co-living spaces offer much more than, say, a commune, kibbutz, or boarding house. Based on your needs, you can find one that feels like it was made just for you.
This new trend is about community and developing connections with like-minded people while you are traveling abroad. Most of the ones you’ll find will have these same core features: shared kitchens, shared living areas, and a shared office/computer space in which to work. You will also be able to find places that offer the amount of privacy that’s important to feel comfortable and at-home. Things like fully furnished living spaces with amenities and a full bathroom to yourself. These group housing arrangements come in all shapes and sizes, so you’re sure to find just what you need. There is everything from luxury living to basic budget living – just choose according to your taste!
The Perks
Co-living is essentially for those who want to travel abroad on their own schedule without being required to lease something out for too long a period of time. For example, what if you want to travel to Greece, but only for a couple of weeks? You could stay in a hotel, but you’d pretty much have just a bedroom to live and work from. You could stay in an Airbnb, but that’s not likely to be much different. If you choose the shared living route, you could get all of the amenities of home for just about any period of time you’d need them.
Another great perk is that if you’re traveling abroad alone and would like to connect with other like-minded individuals, this is the perfect place! Let’s face it, it’s hard to get everyone’s schedules to sync up just right to always have travel companions. Sometimes, you’d prefer to go alone over not going at all. Meeting new people can be just as much of an adventure as exploring a new country. That’s not to say that you absolutely have to socialize – if you don’t want to, you don’t have to! However, some co-living spaces even offer day trips and excursions which you can take with your group living community, so that you can both see the new country and all it has to offer, and make new friends!
Co-living & Co-working
So, what if you have to continue to work during your travels? With so many work-from-home jobs out there, traveling and working is no longer out of the question. You can still run into common troubles, though. How will you know whether your WiFi will be dependable? What if you choose to work in a public area and it’s too noisy? Sometimes, it’s not even easy to find an internet connection, depending on which country you’ve chosen to stay in. Co-living makes working on the go so much easier.
These living spaces provide strong WiFi and areas in which to work so that you can rely on always having the connection and quiet that you need. Set your laptop up at a computer bar and get to work, then when you’re finished, go on a day trip somewhere interesting with a friendly group of people from all over the world. Doesn’t sound half-bad, does it?
Types of Co-living Homes
As the market continues to rapidly grow for this new living arrangement, there are numerous types of homes to choose from. There are some that work more like hostels with bunks and limited privacy, but then there are some that cater to the more luxurious crowds, with rooftop pools, yoga classes, and an ongoing calendar of events in which you can choose to participate. Then there’s everything in between!
Whether you’re more of a budget traveler, a millennial looking for fun connections, or someone who’d really love to take a dip in that rooftop pool, there’s something to be said about trying these out. Don’t think of it as a roommate experience or something you’ve grown out of. These co-living arrangements are for people who feel inspired to make new connections with others from all over the world. This can bring just as much excitement to your life as going on the trip itself! Take a look at some of the options out there and give it a try.
