The No. 1 city in the world to travel and work remotely is in the US—and it isn’t New York or LA

Kansas City, Missouri, has been recently crowned as such by Icelandair in their analysis of prime locations for travelers who wish to spend their PTO days wisely. With this destination, visitors can get the most out of their work hours and still have plenty of time for exploration after-hours!

The city is full of popular attractions including The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kauffman Stadium, Worlds of Fun and a hustling downtown area.

From its captivating music to its delicious food and abundance of activities, Kansas City offers an unforgettable experience for visitors from around the world.

The city has emerged as the number one destination among 115 global cities, which were carefully selected based on their importance in the tourism sector and the availability of leisurely travel choices.

Apart from its tourist attractions, Icelandair ranking takes into account a variety of factors such as the quality of life including cost of living, safety and availability of health care services; it’s ease in working there; environmental aspects like climate index, noise pollution, light pollution and air quality as well as data from the United Nations’ World Happiness Report.

Here are the top 10 best global cities to take a working vacation, according to Icelandair.

1. Kansas City, United States
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Wellington, New Zealand
4. Copenhagen, Denmark
5. Edinburgh, United Kingdom
6. Victoria, Canada
7. Perth, Australia
8. Frankfurt, Germany
9. Brisbane, Australia
10. Helsinki, Finland

That’s because these metros “aren’t always best when you’re looking to take a step away from the busy hustle of a usual working day,” says Gisli S. Brynjolfsson, director or global marketing at Icelandair.

Slow travel is an increasingly popular concept that emphasizes forging meaningful connections with the local inhabitants, businesses, culture and cuisine.

It also calls for leaving places in a manner where they may be explored by other travelers in the future as well. According to a spokesman of this budding trend, it is all about savoring experiences more than simply ticking boxes off your list of must-sees and -dos.

Slow travel is an attractive option for individuals planning a working vacation, as it gives them the opportunity to explore their destination at a more leisurely pace and for an extended period of time. It also appeals to those traveling solo, allowing them the flexibility to go at their own pace and take in everything that the area has to offer.

According to Brynjolfsson, this approach encourages people to be mindful of their time away from home and savour each moment they spend in a new place.

The pressures of having to work while on vacation, combined with the lack of a physical change in scenery or atmosphere, can leave individuals feeling drained and overwhelmed instead of recharged and refreshed.

Interestingly, a majority of Americans who took a working vacation during the past year did not deem them to be ‘genuine’ vacations.

Furthermore, according to Expedia’s latest Vacation Deprivation study, an overwhelming 72% of individuals who worked through their holiday felt more exhausted than ever before.

To ensure you’re not overworking on days when you need to be productive, take short intervals away from devices and find someone who can help you practice self-discipline in regards to taking necessary breaks.

Finally, even though these cities have the infrastructure for remote work, it is important to take some time away from your laptop and phone during your travels.

Take a break from emails and other online tasks by deleting them altogether, commit to practicing proactive restorative activities that will help you relax, and make sure to fully immerse yourself in exploring the new destination that you are visiting.