Remote Year has been around for quite some time, and if you want to become a digital nomad, their programs can be an ideal solution. Before booking your spot, check out our Remote Year review to find out if it’s really all it’s cracked up to be.
Founded back in 2014 by Greg Caplan and Sam Pessin, their aim was to help facilitate digital nomads by taking care of the logistics needed to manage travel and work. Of course, they also wanted to add a healthy dose of socializing and networking on top of this, and thus Remote Year was born.
Since its inception, a lot has happened in the world of digital nomadism, but even post-COVID, Remote Year is still one of the leading remote working programs around. Countless programs such as Remote Year have paved the way for a new generation of digital nomads to venture into the world.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re already deadset on taking your nomadic life to the next level. But is Remote Year the company to help you do it? Read our in-depth review to find out.
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Image from Remote Year Facebook
What is Remote Year (RY)?
Before diving right into why you should (or shouldn’t) choose Remote Year to help you travel and work remotely, what exactly is Remote Year?
At its core, Remote Year is a company that assists people in traveling and exploring many different countries worldwide. At the same time, they promote location-independent remote working and create a thriving community of nomads around the globe.
Based on the premise of taking eager nomads through various cities in different countries worldwide, Remote Year provides an easy solution for anyone looking to eliminate any potential hassles of travel and working remotely.
Remote Year At a Glance
Although there’s a lot more to it than simply jumping on a plane and setting off for a world tour, let’s dive into the need-to-knows of Remote Year.
What Does Remote Year Cost?
The first aspect of any remote working program is its associated costs. When you consider what exactly you’re signing up for, it’s pretty normal to expect it to be quite expensive.
With Remote Year, your costs will mostly depend on the length of the specific work-travel program (or journey, as the company calls it) and the continent you’ll tour through. Taking into account that Remote Year offers three different programs, this is what you should expect to pay:
- One-month programs start with an advance payment of $549 and one payment of roughly $2,000 before departure.
- Four-month programs start with a reservation fee of $1,000, followed by a down payment of $2,000 due before departure and a monthly payment of $2,250 for the duration of your program.
- Twelve-month programs start with a reservation fee of $1,000, followed by a down payment of $4,000 before departure and a monthly payment of $2,250 for the duration of your program.
Note: These are the current prices at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Image from Remote Year Facebook
Remote Year Locations
Some remote work and travel programs tend to focus on a set number of destinations that can often seem to limit when you consider the entire world your playground. Remote Year, on the other hand, goes out of its way to include a diverse location offering.
But where you go during a Remote Year journey depends largely on your chosen program. You must keep in mind that remote work programs are largely dictated by the community that supports them. Remote Year is no different, and based on previous successes, some of the locations you should encounter include:
- Latin America – Mexico City (Mexico), Medellin (Columbia), Santiago (Chile), Lima (Peru)
- Europe & Africa – Lisbon (Portugal), Split (Croatia), Valencia (Spain), Cape Town (South Africa)
- Asia Pacific – Kyoto (Japan), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Hanoi (Vietnam), Chaing Mai (Thailand)
Image from Remote Year Facebook
Remote Year Inclusions
When it comes to what a remote year will cost you and where you could potentially be going, what does their program include? Your down payment and subsequent monthly installments get you the following:
- Flights – Your flights between each country chosen for your program.
- RY Nation Hub access – This is a community platform where you can access events and curated work-from-anywhere resources.
- Onboarding assistance – You’ll have help from RY’s dedicated Nation Support Team on travel preparation and guidance.
- Pre-departure meetups – These are usually online meetups where your entire group can get to know each other before departure.
- Accommodation – This will be a private room in either a hotel or apartment equipped to cater ideally to digital nomads.
- Professional workspaces – You’ll have access to a 24/7 coworking space that has reliable (usually superfast) Wi-Fi.
- Community support – On your remote year you’ll have support staff in every city in the form of program managers and consultants.
- Professional programs – These include various workshops, brainstorming sessions, and numerous networking and social events.
- Health & Safety support – You can access 24/7 health and safety advice and assistance from International SOS.
- Remote Year Marketplace – This is RY’s platform where you can book activities and events that include local excursions, adventures, and cultural experiences. They come in different offerings such as Track Events, Plus Events, Side Trips, and Once-off Local Experiences.
- Citizenship – Think of this as a completion award. When you finish your remote year, you get alum status that allows you to pop in and out of programs or cities at reduced costs.
Image from Remote Year Facebook
Remote Year Exclusions
Yes, a lot comes included with your price and payments, but Remote Year also lists a few things that are excluded. These are:
- Flights to and from your destination. You’ll have to carry the costs of your initial and final flights back home.
- Transportation to the airport when your program is over.
- You’ll be responsible for necessary visas, vaccinations, COVID-19 testing, and medical costs.
- You have to handle your own travel and medical insurance planning and costs.
- All meals for the duration of your program come out of your pocket and hinge on your planning and dietary requirements.
- While you can book local experiences, adventures, and amenities via the RY Marketplace, you will pay separately for them.
- Finally, you’ll be responsible for getting and paying for local SIM cards across all destinations.
Image from Remote Year Facebook
How Does Remote Year Work?
If you think all of this sounds like a hell of a lot of planning, you can ease up a bit. The way Remote Year is structured means that you’ll have to do very little planning as to where you’re going, how you’ll get there, and where you’ll stay.
The entire process is very simple and exceptionally straightforward. You visit Remote Year’s website and browse through their available and upcoming programs. As we’ve mentioned above, these are either 1-month, 4-month, or 12-month offerings.
When you find one that you like and can afford, you fill out the required application form (it’s super simple) and then send it off to the Remote Year team. After that, you’ll be scheduled for an interview with one of their team members to determine if it’s the right fit for you.
If you’re an eligible candidate, you’ll get a notification of acceptance shortly after your interview. Finally, you pay your deposit (or advance payment) and prepare for the program.
Image from Remote Year Facebook
Why Choose Remote Year?
Now it’s time for the real question – why should you choose Remote Year? Let’s not beat around the bush about this: venturing into the world is scary and challenging. It takes a lot out of a person; if you go it alone, that’s precisely what you’ll be: alone.
Probably the number one reason most (if not all) choose RY is their community. The company puts a lot of work into fostering an accepting and supporting collective of like-minded travelers. This is an essential part of their success and the acclaim they have for their globetrotting journeys.
You’ll be surrounded by groups of between 20 and 30 fellow adventurers who all share the same passions and ideas. Aside from this, choosing RY means you don’t have to worry about potentially missing out on something.
Your RY group will have a dedicated (and expert) program leader whose entire job is facilitating group activities, fostering a sense of community, and making your travels as fun as possible. Beyond that, each city you visit has at least two local RY city team members who provide incredible insight into everything you can (and should) do while there.
And then, of course, the personal and professional development of heading out on a remote year is second to none. RY includes effective and enjoyable workshops, skillshares, brainstorming sessions, and masterminds into your daily itineraries, which are well executed and community-driven.
Now add to this the fact that they pretty much take every logistics-related issue out of your hands. As a digital nomad, having the stress of booking flights, finding accommodation, and deciding on workspaces taken care of is an absolute dream.
Image from Remote Year Facebook
Who Should Choose Remote Year?
This is an easy question to answer. If you have the luxury and opportunity to work remotely and travel, then you’re the perfect candidate for a Remote Year program. This means anyone, from freelancers to full-time remote workers, can explore the world as part of an RY group.
That being said, remember that you’ll travel the world, spending one month in each designated city alongside a group of 20 to 30 people. It might not be for you if you do not like large groups or pre-planned travel arrangements. You don’t need Remote Year if you prefer independent travel and have a knack for meticulous planning.
Advantages of Remote Year
Time to look at the biggest advantages you’ll have if you choose Remote Year.
Unparalleled Organization
Undoubtedly, one of the most significant advantages of partaking in an RY program is their amazing attention to detail regarding organizing and planning your travel logistics. They go the extra mile to ensure that you can effortlessly hop from one city to the next without any additional stress.
You Have Access to Reliable Facilities
Anyone who has spent even the least bit of time as a digital nomad would know that finding a decent workspace and proper accommodation is a challenging thing to do. And when it’s not difficult, it’s tedious. Remote Year has a range of partnerships and affiliations with companies worldwide that provide facilities to meet every nomadic need.
You Get Citizenship Perks
We’ve already touched on this, but Remote Year’s Citizenship is one of their biggest advantages. This gives you a more cemented place in their community and bragging rights that you’ve already completed a year with them. Then, you also get other benefits, such as access to their “Remotes” Slack channel and discounted offers on future journeys.
Image from Remote Year Facebook
Disadvantages of Remote Year
It’s logical that Remote Year has some disadvantages, so let’s dive into the biggest ones.
It’s Expensive
This shouldn’t be a surprise, but yes, working and traveling around the world as part of an RY group is expensive. The total fee charged by the company is relatively high. While less pricey programs are available, you need to consider that you’re responsible for paying for any extras.
They Have Limited Itineraries
While Remote Year continues to improve yearly, they have yet to introduce varying itineraries for destinations. Their itineraries are set for a specific location, and usually, only one is pre-planned for each city for your entire group. This means your choice is limited, and you may not find an itinerary to suit your needs.
There’s a Lack of Freedom
This one ties into what we’ve just covered. Still, considering that the RY team already plans your entire itinerary (for your whole program), you have no control over destinations, accommodations, or activities. It does draw back your freedom a bit and can lead to a sense of disinterest.
Image from Remote Year Facebook
Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Year
Sure, we’ve covered a lot of information on Remote Year already, but here are some more answers to questions you may still have.
Is Remote Year Worth It?
At the end of the day, what you make of your remote year is entirely up to you, and while it is more expensive than potentially traveling alone, it is worth it.
Are There Alternatives to Remote Year?
Yes, there are many. It wasn’t too long ago that there were only a handful of remote working programs, but these days, there are dozens.
Are You With the Same People the Whole Time?
Yes, you spend the entire program duration with the same group of people, which helps create a lasting and worthwhile community.
Image from Remote Year Facebook
Remote Year | Final Thoughts
So that’s it, folks. Remote Year in a nutshell. Remote Year is an ideal choice for anyone looking to embrace global diversity and experiences. It offers structured worldly adventures alongside like-minded individuals with the backing of a digital nomadic ideology. We hope this answers your number one question – is Remote Year legit?