South America! I spent 9 months there and it’s incredible, my favorite continent by far. Jan/Feb is a perfect time to go Buenos Aires and hit up Patagonia since the seasons are flipped. If you want a beach vacation you could also hit up Colombia or Ecuador (or Brazil but it might be incredibly hot). Ecuador has some amazing hikes too. And of course there’s the Amazonas.

I was in Lagos (Portugal) for most of November and it was perfect. You could really hop all around the Algarve. Lagos was great because it’s such a small, walkable, chill town. Met quite a few DNs but a decent amount of locals too.

You could go to smaller towns in the Algarve to meet more locals as well - Tavira and Loulè were local hotspots recommended to me, Olhao and Portimao are also options but maybe more boring places, Albufeira is a bigger city if you want that… so many options and some of the best beaches I’ve ever seen.

Go to southeast asia

I can’t vouch for Internet speeds. But surf over winter is usually good in Morocco

Escaping the dreary English winter for some inspiration sounds like a great plan! Based on your interests, I’d suggest Costa Rica. It’s perfect for hiking, has amazing surf spots, and the local craft beer scene is growing. The vibrant art culture and laid-back atmosphere might be just what you need to recharge. Plus, the time zone difference isn’t too drastic for your work. And a tip from my travels: use Rebookify for hotel bookings. It helped me find some cozy spots without breaking the bank. Happy travels, and may you find what you’re looking for

Time zones may be a bit of a stretch, but I’d recommend Cape Town. You’ll be able to get in all your activities in the morning before work. Surfing and hiking are great and it’s pretty easy to get around.

Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Rio, Medellin would be my places to start with. I worked remotely from Buenos Aires 15 years back, fantastic city.