Remote teams
10 things remote teams always get wrong about offsites
Common mistakes — and the fixes — from planning 120+ offsites for distributed teams across Europe.
- Choosing the destination before the dates. Lock your dates first — venues and flights are date-dependent.
- Under-budgeting. Remote teams often forget flights. For a distributed team of 20, group flights add €150–€300/person.
- Over-scheduling. The best moments happen between the sessions. Leave breathing room.
- Skipping the icebreaker. If your team hasn't met in person, the first evening needs structure. Don't assume chemistry.
- Booking too late. Popular venues in Portugal and Spain book 8–10 weeks out in peak season.
- One person doing all the planning. It burns them out. Hand it to a specialist.
- Forgetting dietary requirements. Get them in writing 4 weeks before. Every time.
- No offsite agreement. Agree norms upfront: working hours, alcohol policy, photography consent.
- Bad Wi-Fi. Always verify the bandwidth, not just "yes there's Wi-Fi". You need 10 Mbps per person minimum.
- No follow-through. The offsite creates momentum. Capture decisions and commitments before you leave.