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Thrilled I visited Mexico City for the first time with Remote Year. Omar the city guide held high energy and brought in key friends to make sure we were all having the experience we came here for. I chose Remote Year because I wanted to experience a new city abroad with people who were “up to good things” and I got what I was asking for. I also chose to use their housing, which was perfect.
I have traveled a lot and had heard good things about Remote Year. I decided during a year of travel while working remote on my own I would sign up for a month of RY. I’m going to be honest about my experience because I don’t really feel like most of these reviews are reflective of the true experience (RY encourages city and trip leaders to have people fill out reviews and most people end up reviewing the leaders rather than the company and experience itself)
I had high expectations - usually when I’m traveling I meet people with similar values of learning different cultures. I’ve always made lasting friendships through experiences like studying abroad or solo travel. However, the vibes on this trip were off. Sadly I haven’t really kept in touch with anyone I met through RY.
For context, RY offers both year-long trips and month-long trips. On my month-long trip, they had us combined with a year-long group in the same city at the same time. I would have thought this would be a good thing because there wouldn’t have been many participants without both groups. However, I learned quickly that this makes for an awkward dynamic. The year-long group had already been traveling and meeting new people from the month-long trips for about 9 months. Some of them admitted that they really didn’t want to meet new people or put in any effort at that point. This led to the year-long participants creating an “inner crew” because they had already gotten to know each other and solidified friendships. I understand that perspective but honestly the value as a month-long participant drops significantly if they don’t feel others are truly open to making friendships.
Other people I met on the trip were there more to party than to learn about a new culture. There wasn’t really much that the leaders did to teach us about the new culture other than a short culture intro (30 min) at the beginning of the month. I had talked to some of the year-long participants about past trips they had taken, like in Cape Town, and was shocked to learn they hadn’t really learned anything about apartheid or visited the ample history museums in the city. I learned that the RY culture skews more towards partying than it does soaking up and learning a new culture. I’m sure some people are looking for that in their experience but I was not.
Lastly, I agree with the reviews that talk about all the add-on pricing. Although I do think the base price is fair and I like the new flexible options, the add-on experience pricing was a bit ridiculous (ie $50 for a hike with the RY group that you could do on your own for free). However if you don’t pay up for the add-on activities, there won’t be many opportunities to get to know everyone in the RY group.
In conclusion, there are a lot of cities (like Mexico City), I would encourage people to travel on their own and meet other travelers through coliving rather than the RY program.
Thank you for sharing your experience of your time in Florianopolis in July 2023. This is in addition and disappointingly contrary to the feedback we received at the time, which stated the group ‘meshed well’, and feedback was given as full marks across the board, including the experiences available and heralded the team’s approach to delivering a solid cultural understanding.
Often people traveling for a 1 month period intersect with groups who have been traveling for a longer period of time. Every effort is made to make sure groups are fully integrated and welcomed. This dynamic is the same as traveling remote workers who choose to travel outside of RY, but without the added advantage of dedicated Community Leaders whose role is to facilitate connection.
Part of efforts to build community, every month, are 7 official included experiences, which act as a bare minimum. This includes a City Introduction, a Language & Culture Class (av. 2hrs), walking tour, a welcome event and a farewell event, in addition to get togethers organised by the Community Leader. All of these provide great opportunities to meet other remote workers, without additional cost.
To note: In Cape Town, our City Welcome and separate Culture Class are some of the most extensive in all our destinations, and do in fact include a huge history of South Africa. No topic is shied away from, with the option of additional experiences to further learn more about South Africa’s past and present. Every destination we provide a huge resource list for members to also do their own learning, and suggest places to visit in the city to further develop various cultural understanding.
In terms of the hike in question in Florianopolis, for those who went on the experience, they would know that this day took in two locations and the costs for the experience included round trip private transport, a private yoga lesson with instructor and a separate guide from start to finish. We think this is clear from the RY Marketplace description, but we will make sure the City Team also makes sure to emphasise the full itinerary.
Feedback really is welcome, and we definitely take it all on board to see what we can address and improve upon. This is why we encourage honest feedback at the time of the experience.
Wow, where do I even start? My 4 months in LATAM with Remote Year were an absolute blast. I got to explore Lima, Medellin, Antigua and Mexico City and that’s not even the best part…
The most amazing part of this journey has been connecting with incredible people. The relationships we've built go beyond just friendships – they're like unbreakable threads that have woven us together across different cultures. Each person has brought a special touch to my experience, leaving a trail of lasting memories in my heart. MORENO FOR LIFE!
And speaking of Morenos, let me give a shoutout to Omar, our community leader - an absolute ROCK STAR! His personality radiates thoughtfulness and fun, making every step of the journey even more special. Omar's knack for bringing people together, his genuine care for each member of our group, and his unwavering enthusiasm have truly elevated the experience. From organizing incredible excursions to creating opportunities for us to connect on a deeper level, Omar made every moment unforgettable. He's not just a leader; he's a friend and an integral part of the memories I now hold dear.
Remote Year's magic lies in its ability to simplify travel. Precise planning and thoughtful curation let me immerse myself, free from logistical stress. With something for everyone, whether a thrill seeker, nature lover, history buff, foodie, or adventurer, they cater to all.
What sets Remote Year apart is its community spirit. More than travelers, we're a family united by a shared passion for exploration and connection. These bonds surpass borders and time, creating a network I'm honored to belong to forever.
So thank you Remote Year for my newfound tramily (borrowed this from Gert) and all these unforgettable moments!
After years of seeing ads, I finally pulled the trigger with a 1-month trip to Mexico City. I was paired with two amazing roommates within a walking/bike ride distance to the co-working space and a ton of cafes. The local team and Community Leader were active, attentive, and available the entire time. The events helped everyone easily bond, while learning about the city and shaping out and overall memorable experience.
Mexico City was a blast with Omar and Giral. We did all the cool fun stuff but my favorite was the hot air balloons! What a magical experience among friends. I highly recommend coming here and exploring the best food, culture, and community Remote Year had to offer!
My entire month in Mexico was wonderful!!! The community, city, people, food, experiences offered, etc. Our community leader Omar was spectacular and will always be in my heart. I truly feel that I've made a group of friends for life and would recommend Remote Year to anyone that can do it. Can't wait for my next trip!!!
Had an incredible month in Mexico City - Omar was the best city guide you could hope for!! Have already recommended RY to lots of friends 💜🧡🙏
Beautiful month in a beautiful city with beautiful people
The experience was amazing. There were only 9 of us in Mexico City and some of our activities got canceled because we couldn’t meet the quota BUT Omar, our city leader was amazing . Even simple dinners were a blast. I was 30 years older than most of the group but we all blended so well. We were silly most of the time and I laughed the whole month. There were hiccups on the admin side before the trip but everything worked out well in the end. I wanted my own place (and I do recommend that now that you can chose your own).Be prepared for your house feeling extra quiet when you get home. It’s a bit of an adjustment after having such a fun group of people on vacation with you. Everything Omar said was funny and I miss having someone like that around to entertain!
My experience with remote year was life-changing, and the best money I have ever spent in personal development or networking. This was my first time living and working remote, so I felt comfortable traveling with our group of 14 to Mexico City. The whole experience cultivated a tightknit community. I have made lifelong friends and indispensable business connections, one of which is Giral, a.k.a. Paco he really made us all and me in particular feel at home in a foreign city, he went out of his way to get us reservations at the best bars, restaurants and clubs in the city. He knew all the hotspots, and as a Mexico City native was the ultimate tour guide, spiritual, Sherpa, and instant best friend, draw is a shining star in the remote year community. My experience would not have been the same without him. We are now lifelong friends and I consider him my brother. I had a great experience with remote year, and I am now considering a one year track around the world in 2024 special thanks to Paco and , the Remote, your community for making this experience, stress-free, fun, easy, and rewarding. I highly recommend here to any one who is a first time international traveler and even seasoned pros. I highly recommend going “full send” on all of the experiences and trips. Book all the experiences, go on all the trips, eat all the food, and drink all the Mezcal. I am currently eyeing trips for 2024. Ideally, Paco will be the leader of the trip or he will at least be in the city when we are there. Planning to go back to Mexico City sometime soon and will definitely be kicking it with Paco then! Muchos Gracias!!!
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