The 10 most popular US destinations for remote workers
Sophie-Claire Hoeller
- The coronavirus pandemic has turned much of the country's population into remote workers.
- According to a new Airbnb survey, these new digital nomads are increasingly booking longer stays in small-to-mid-size cities that have easy access to the outdoors.
- Popular spots include Park City in Utah and Santa Fe in New Mexico.
- While nonessential travel is no longer discouraged, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that "travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19."
The coronavirus pandemic has affected practically every aspect of life for most people.
Most dramatically, it has turned much of the country's population into remote workers.
No longer tied to their offices, these workers are booking longer-term stays around the country to work from home in a new setting: An exotic new home office location has become the new vacation.
According to a new survey from Airbnb, titled "How Airbnb and Travelers are Redefining Travel in 2021," 83% of respondents "are in favor of relocating as part of remote working," and a quarter believe they'll be able to "live where they want to and work remotely."
One in five of those surveyed have already relocated due to the pandemic, either permanently or temporarily.
According to the survey, many travelers are using Airbnb rentals to try out new cities and neighborhoods they're considering moving to. The survey says that there's been a 128% increase in guest reviews mentioning "relocation," "relocate," "remote work," and "trying a new neighborhood" from July to September 2020 compared to the same time window last year.
The survey also notes that remote workers are increasingly booking longer stays of two weeks or more in small-to-mid-size cities that have easy access to the outdoors.
Here are the most popular US destinations remote workers are flocking to for their home offices away from home.
Park City, Utah, is known for its historic Main Street and its epic skiing in the winter.
Source: Visit Utah
Truckee, California, is a super outdoorsy town that sits on the California-Nevada border in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe, the biggest alpine lake in the US.
Source: Big Life Magazine, Keep Tahoe Blue
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, is a cute ski town surrounded by a plethora of hot springs to unwind in.
Source: Steamboat
Home to Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, is a down-home college town filled with culture, history, and great restaurants.
Source: Discover Durham
Santa Fe, New Mexico, has a colonial history that gives it a charming European vibe with a rugged Rocky Mountain backdrop.
Source: Insider
Boise, Idaho, was the fastest-growing US city in 2018 and named the best place for millennials to live in 2019.
Source: Insider
This historic city of Richmond, Virginia, has recently had a renaissance thanks to a hip, young creative class that's brought along a trendy food and arts scene.
Source: Lonely Planet
Greenville, South Carolina, is known for its photogenic and bustling downtown, which boasts the stunning Blue Ridge Mountain as its backdrop.
Source: TripAdvisor
Indianapolis, Indiana, attracts the outdoorsy thanks to its White River State Park and its countless walking and biking trails.
Source: Lonely Planet
Fort Walton Beach, a small city in the Florida Panhandle, is known for its white-sand beaches and many golf courses and fishing opportunities.
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