Community
What can I expect for the size of my Remote Year community?
After three years of traveling with Remote Year communities, we’ve concluded that there is no “perfect sized” community. We’ve found that a community is driven by the passions, connections, and motivations of the people who are part of it more than the size of the group.
Remotes find what fits them best based on their work schedules and existing commitments and interests. Because of this, our program sizes are flexible and vary. You’ll find out the exact size of your community about one month before Arrival Day.
When do I meet my Remote Year community?
You’ll get a virtual introduction to your community via Slack and Facebook three months before your program launches. Additionally, you’ll likely spot other members of your community on Premote webinars. Your community will have its own dedicated Experience Webinar a few weeks before Arrival Day so you can learn more about each other and meet your Program Leader!
Will there be other people traveling with our community?
Likely, yes! Remote Year alumni, known as Citizens, often travel alongside communities or pop in for a month at a time. You can expect to have a few Citizens and Remote Year staff members join your community at different points throughout your travels.
What is the demographic breakdown of the people with whom I’m traveling?
You can expect to learn more about your specific Remote Year community demographics about one month before Arrival Day, on your program's Experience Webinar.
Within the Remote Nation, which includes all current Remotes and Citizens (alumni), 45+ nationalities are represented, ranging in age from 22-65, and working in industries from marketing to law, to computer programming to accounting, and more.
Being part of a traveling Remote Year community is a challenging and rewarding experience. A past Remote explained her experience as, “meeting people who have stretched my mind, challenged me, frustrated me, and become some of my best friends.” There will be people from different backgrounds, walks of life, belief systems, ideas, and passions in your community. We’ve heard from many Remotes that they are able to test out lots of different ideas and ways of living while on a program.
What is it like to travel as a couple on Remote Year?
Review this Remote Year for Couples 1-pager to dive into some FAQs. Also, check out this first hand perspective from an RY Citizen (alum) about traveling with her significant other on a 4-month RY program.
Does everyone on my Remote Year program have a full-time job?
All Remotes are employed or in professional pursuit. This means that all Remotes are working towards some type of professional goals, but when, how, and how much each Remote works greatly varies. About 50% of current Remotes are full time employees, while the other half are a mix of freelancers, entrepreneurs, or those in professional pursuit. There are some people on Remote Year who have independent financial stability that allows them to work part-time or pursue personal passions while on Remote Year.
Can I host visitors while I’m on Remote Year?
Yes. Visitor policies in Remote Year accommodations vary depending on destination, accommodation, and the preferences of your flatmate(s). Your accommodations in each city will be different, as such, the space available for visitors will vary. It is your responsibility to determine if your living space is sufficient for visitors.
When visitors can be accommodated, you have up to 10 nights, each month, to share with visitors in Remote Year accommodations. So, if you have two visitors staying with you for a night, this counts as two visitor nights, and so on. The first five visitor nights each month will come at no cost. Any subsequent nights will cost $15 USD per night, which will apply to your bill for the following month.
If you are planning to have visitors, it is necessary to follow the visitor policies outlined in section 5 of the Participant Policies.
Is there a community leader?
Yes, you will have a Program Leader (PL) traveling alongside you and your community during your program. PLs work with our larger Remote Year team to deliver great customer service throughout your experience. They might not have all the answers, but they can connect you to the right person or piece of information.
You will get to know your Program Leader throughout your travels, which helps us ensure the Remote Year platform is best suited to each individual. PLs organize and communicate community events to keep all Remotes in the loop, experiencing new things, and connected to the Remote Nation. Ultimately, the community is what you bring to it. PLs connect Remotes and work with you to create community events.
Your Program Leader does not work 24/7—they work normal business hours and take vacation days, too! It’s not atypical for them to work a weekend and take a week day off instead. Keep in mind that a normal response time is 24-48 hours. PLs are not doctors, lawyers or therapists. They cannot assist with medical issues (but we have a service called International SOS that can) or legal issues.
Is there other community support in Remote Year cities?
Remote Year has City Teams of one to three people in every Remote Year location. These teams are responsible for setting up the foundation of your experience in that city by selecting the neighborhood, accommodations, and workspace. They curate unique local Tracks and provide recommendations so you can experience the city’s highlights and explore the hidden local gems.
City Teams work with vendors to resolve issues that may pop up, host “office hours” to share their local knowledge. They provide recommendations and answers to your questions, and also create content for the City Guides that will help you find your way around and truly experience their city. Remotes value the local City Teams because they allow Remotes to experience the city in a way that would not be possible without local knowledge.
Like your Program Leader, City Teams do not work 24/7—they work normal business hours and take vacation days, too! It’s not atypical for them to work a weekend and take a week day off instead. Keep in mind that a normal response time is 24-48 hours. City Teams aren’t personal assistants. They do not translate documents, place phone calls for you, arrange medical visits, or plan vacations for visiting family / friends. While they typically have networks and communities within their city, City Teams can’t set up job interviews for you.