A Workation Retreat in Lloret de Mar, Spain

When The Better Neighbors announced a workation retreat in Lloret de Mar, I’ll be honest: I was unsure.

Lloret has a reputation as a loud, chaotic summer party town. So not exactly the peaceful, inspirational place most digital nomads dream about.

But visiting outside high season, which is when the retreats are organized, is an entirely different story. The beaches empty out, the town slows down, and the mix of locals, long-term residents, and off-season explorers creates a surprisingly warm atmosphere.

By the end of my two weeks here, Lloret had grown on me in ways I didn’t expect.

After joining The Better Neighbors retreat in Sinaia, Romania, which I loved, I was curious to see how a coastal version would compare. The answer? A completely different vibe, but just as memorable. And the reason it was memorable had much less to do with the destination… and everything to do with the people.

Here’s my honest review based on my two-week stay: what I loved, what surprised me, and what you should know before signing up.

Joining a Workation Retreat on Spain’s Costa Brava

First Impressions of Lloret de Mar (Off-Season)

Lloret de Mar sits on the Costa Brava, about an hour north of Barcelona. In summer it transforms into a full-on tourist hotspot with crowded beaches, messy nightlife, and neon signs. But off-season, it becomes something else entirely: calmer, friendlier, more local.

You’ll still see large hotels and a few leftover traces of “summer mode,” but without the crowds the town feels relaxed and pleasant to walk around. There are plenty of cafés to work from, supermarkets right by the hotel, and beautiful coastal trails that start right outside town.

Ok, Lloret de Mar isn’t the most picturesque place in Spain, but it’s far more pleasant than its reputation suggests.

There are a few practical downsides to note though, if you do decide to come to Lloret de Mar:

There’s no train station, which means your only public transport option is buses. There are however direct buses from both Barcelona center and Barcelona airport to Lloret de Mar.
There’s no Uber or other ridesharing app (yet), and taxis were sometimes difficult to order while I was there.
When the evenings were getting a bit colder in November I started to notice that this town is built for sunnier weather and really lacks cozy, warm bars and restaurants.

Staying at Hotel Robson: A Surprisingly Comfortable Remote-Work Base

A hotel room with a white double bed, a small desk with a chair and a tv on the wall — My room at Hotel Robson

3 people sitting around a gray table, with a tv screen in the background showing Spanish grammar — Spanish lessons, tailored to different levels

Our coliving took place at Hotel Robson, which turned out to be a far better digital nomad base than I expected.

My room was comfortable, with a good bed, decent lighting, and even a balcony. Each room has a desk as well, which admittedly is a bit small, but there’s also a good coworking area downstairs: quiet, comfortable, and nicely decorated.

3 people sitting on yoga mats on a roof terrace with bright orange chairs in the background — Yoga on the roof terrace

The wifi was good, there was daily yoga on-site (hosted on the beautiful sunny roof terrace when the weather allowed), Spanish classes several times a week, and even free washing machines during the retreat.

And, being in the center of town and just under five minutes from the beach made the location perfect.

There is a communal kitchen, and like every communal kitchen everywhere, you get the occasional frustration when someone forgets to clean up properly. But it wasn’t a major issue, just the usual group-living dynamic.

A spacious, industrial looking kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a gray floor — The communal kitchen at Hotel Robson

If you stay at Hotel Robson outside the retreat, note that the kitchen and laundry aren’t available. But I’d say it’s still a great hotel for digital nomads thanks to its location, price, and work-friendly spaces.

A quick note if you’re driving: parking is difficult in Lloret. I did eventually find free street parking, but paid parking at Centre Comercial Porta Lloret is your best bet.

Daily Life at the Retreat: Productive, Social, and Surprisingly Inspiring

3 laptops and 2 turmeric lattes on a wooden table with parts of other tables showing in the background — Working from a cafe with 2 other retreat participants

One of the best things about this coliving retreat is the structure: there’s always something going on, but nothing is mandatory.

A typical day for me included a slow morning (I’m just not a morning person!), optional yoga, a few focused work blocks in the coworking area, lunch with whoever felt like joining, maybe a walk along the beach in the afternoon, and then a community event or dinner in the evening.

Some people preferred to work from cafés like La Cova or Forn de Pa, and thanks to our WhatsApp group, it was incredibly easy to coordinate meals, beach walks, or spontaneous after-work activities.

What made this coliving retreat quite unique was the fact that we weren’t just a group of remote workers; there were several artists in residence as well.

Why the Mix of Artists and Nomads Makes This Retreat Special

A girl with a gray hoodie sitting on a beige chair, facing a painting of a woman's face she is painting, with painting supplies on a gray table next to her — Lucia, one of the artists in residence

The Better Neighbors does something I’ve never experienced elsewhere: they bring digital nomads and artists together under one roof.

I expected there to be quite a divide between the digital nomads and artists, but that wasn’t true at all. We mixed really well, and I loved getting to know people who have a career so different from mine.

In general as well we were such a nice, diverse group that somehow connected really well. We ranged in age from early 20s to 60s, all with completely different backgrounds, jobs, and life stories.

I loved working from our communal area while an artist quietly painted nearby. It added this calm, creative energy to the space. I ended up learning about how they build their careers, where they sell their work, and yes, I even bought my first piece of original art.

The conversations, the shared meals, the late-night discussions about creativity and remote work… that’s what made the retreat feel meaningful. The destination mattered far less than the group of people you ended up sharing it with.

A big part of this is thanks to Alejandra, our community manager, who is genuinely fantastic at making everyone feel included and creating a sense of family from day one.

Events & Activities: A Good Balance of Organized and Spontaneous

A group of people sitting around a wooden table, working on individual drawings — A drawing workshop as one of the skill-sharing events

There were plenty of activities to join, but no pressure whatsoever. The Better Neighbors organized daily yoga, Spanish classes, a coastal hike (one of my favorite days), and a great day trip to Girona.

Participants are also encouraged to host a small workshop, skill share, or fun event. This led to mastermind sessions, cooking nights, painting workshops, and creative evenings. These sessions often turned out to be the moments where people bonded the most.

Eating in Lloret de Mar

A group of people sitting at a long wooden table inside a restaurant with a wooden interior — A group dinner at one of our favorite spots in Lloret

Even in the low season, Lloret has a wide range of restaurants; one of the perks of being in a tourist town. Our group loved La Rambla for breakfast and lunch, and Bodega Sa Xarxa quickly became our unofficial “retreat bar.”

Having 2 small supermarkets right next to the hotel was very convenient as well, plus the communal kitchen where I made most of my breakfasts, lunch on days I didn’t take a break for lunch in town, and a few communal dinners.

Admittedly, I love eating out or having an after-work drink, so I’d often end up joining others for drinks and dinner in town.

What You Can Do In and Around Lloret

Large silver letters on a city square spelling "LLORET" with a modern white building in the background — The public library, a good place to work from

A rocky coastline showing bright blue water, several trees and a coastal town with a small marina — Llafranc, a town worth visiting

I would say Lloret has enough to offer to keep you entertained for a few weeks.

There are some beautiful coastal walks, as well as a long, sandy beach with a boardwalk that’s perfect for morning or sunset strolls. Lloret has a few gyms, a public swimming pool, a padel court, a nice spa, and easy bus connections to nearby towns.

Girona is a must-visit, and the rest of the Costa Brava is filled with charming villages, dramatic cliffs, and stunning viewpoints.

I really enjoyed visiting neighboring towns to get more of a feel of what the Costa Brava has to offer. I’d recommend a day trip to Blanes and Tossa de Mar because they are so easy to reach.

But if you have time and want to see more of the Costa Brava, consider visiting Llafranc, Pals, Figueres, and Cadaqués.

Personally I didn’t visit Barcelona because I’ve been there numerous times before, but several other retreat participants went there for an evening, a day or a weekend, which is perfectly doable because it only takes just over an hour by bus to get there.

If You’re Thinking About the Costa Brava as a Workation Base

A river in the middle of a city, showing a beige bridge and beige, yellow and pink buildings on one side of the river — Girona, Costa Brava

Lloret surprised me, in a good way, and Hotel Robson can be a good place to stay for a workation even without an organized retreat.

But, I’d probably choose Girona as a base if I were traveling alone outside of an organized retreat. Especially if I’d want to stay somewhere for several weeks or months.

Girona is beautiful, historic, has great cafés and several coworking spaces, and is well-connected by train and bus.

Lloret is more fun with a group; Girona is better if you want a year-round city feel.

Lloret vs. Sinaia (Romania): Which Retreat Is Better?

I wrote a separate review about the coworking retreat in Sinaia.

Both retreats were amazing, just in different ways.

Choose Lloret if you want:

A coastal setting
A livelier town with more restaurants and cafés
A mix of beach time, hiking, and community events

Choose Sinaia if you want:

Mountains and forests
A quieter, cozier atmosphere
Easy transportation
Daily access to an incredible spa

You honestly can’t go wrong, it just depends on whether you’re in a “sea” or “mountain” mood.

Final Thoughts: Would I Recommend It?

A large group of people sitting at a table with a white tablecloth, outdoors on a terrace with a green floor, some trees and the sea in the background — A group lunch by the sea

Absolutely, without hesitation.

I arrived in Lloret with low expectations for the town and left with a full heart because of the people.

That’s the real value of these coliving retreats: you bring together a group of like-minded, curious, creative individuals and let the conversations, shared meals, and everyday moments build something special.

Was Lloret perfect? No.
Was the retreat unforgettable? Yes.
Would I join again? 100%

If you’re looking for a workation where you’ll meet inspiring people, form surprising connections, get real work done, and explore a beautiful coastline during your downtime, The Better Neighbors retreat in Lloret de Mar is a great, and very affordable, choice.

Practical Info: How to Join a Future Coworking Retreat

A group of people sitting around a wooden table, looking at one woman speaking — A mastermind session during the retreat

You can find full details and upcoming retreats on thebetterneighbors.com.

But here’s a quick overview:

Stays can be booked per day, week, or month, with the monthly option offering the best price. I’d recommend booking at least two weeks, though a month allows you to settle into the community more.
Each retreat typically includes around six artists in residence alongside digital nomads, bringing the total group size to roughly 15–25 people, which is big enough for variety but small enough to feel personal.
Retreats in Lloret de Mar will run in March, October, and November.

If you want to know even more about what the retreat really looked like, I shared daily stories while I was there, which you can find here on Instagram.

Also Read:

A Workation Retreat in Lloret de Mar, Spain – My Honest Review