Somewhere between client calls, admin tasks, and the constant low-grade hum of “what’s next,” entrepreneurs start to crave a different kind of productivity. Not more hours. Not more hustle. Just a setup that makes it easier to think clearly and to keep building without burning out.
That’s the headspace Laura Salaun was in when she came to the Algarve for her first coliving experience with POMAR. She’d spent “more than 10 years working for a Digital Marketing agency in NYC,” got “a taste of remote working during the pandemic,” and decided it was time to explore entrepreneurship and more flexible work locations. “So I started my own agency about 2 years ago,” she says. “Working remotely has been a dream of mine for a long time, and a big reason and consideration in my career choices.”
POMAR, as a hybrid place for nomadic and digital workers in the Algarve, close to the beach and fishing villages, gave her a setting that matched her goals: work with focus, live with ease, and actually feel part of something social without trying too hard.
This is Laura’s story: the NYC-to-Algarve contrast, the practical realities of remote work when your job involves “heavy platforms” and crawling websites, and why POMAR felt like “the perfect balance between a shared apartment and a coworking space.”
Meet Laura: Founder Energy, NYC Intensity, South of France Roots
Laura’s home base is New York City—“going on 13 years soon”—but she’s originally from Arles in the south of France, and she describes them as “obviously 2 very different paces.” That contrast shows up in how she works, what she values, and the kind of environment she seeks when she needs to reset.
“I live in NYC… although I’m from Arles in the south of France,” she says. “New York brings intensity, energy, opportunities… There’s always something to do, someone to see, somewhere to go. Lots of hustle and bustle that makes it the city that never sleeps.”
It’s more like a rhythm she’s learned to balance. “I’ve loved it since moving to NYC,” she adds, “and I’ve also learned that I love giving myself a chance to miss New York too.”
Why Coliving, Why Now: “All I Need… Is a Computer and Good Wifi”
Laura wasn’t chasing a fantasy version of remote work. She was looking for something that actually fits work-wise and life-wise.
After the pandemic proved remote work could be real, she moved toward a lifestyle that gives her more flexibility and time with the people she cares about. “Some would say, all I need to be able to work is a computer and good wifi,” she says, “and I love having the ability to spend more time with family, friends and even clients.”
Coliving, for her, wasn’t some dramatic identity shift, rather a practical evolution. “I am new to coliving, it was my first time with POMAR,” she says. But she’s not new to shared living: “Although I have lived in shared apartments until not so long ago.”
What coliving adds, when it’s done well, is structure. You get privacy and calm when you need it, but you’re not stuck in isolation. That’s why Laura defines it in a way that instantly makes sense to other remote workers: “Coliving for me is the perfect balance between a shared apartment and a coworking space.”
What Remote Work Actually Requires: Quiet, Bandwidth, and a Door That Closes
Remote work can look really different depending on what you do day to day, and Laura’s setup comes with a few non-negotiables. Her priorities are refreshingly specific, because her work is specific.
“Remote working, and especially coliving/coworking situations, allow me to settle temporarily somewhere else,” she says. “I get to dive into a different place, hang out with locals and internationals, and get inspired.”
But inspiration isn’t the hard part. The hard part is making sure your work setup can handle real demand. “What can be challenging sometimes is the wifi situation and finding quiet spaces to have meetings and calls,” she says. “Parts of my job involve heavy platforms or crawling websites, which might require higher network bandwidth.”
That’s the detail that matters for entrepreneurs: you can love the aesthetic, but if the Wi-Fi drops mid-call or you can’t find a quiet corner for a client presentation, the whole experience collapses. Laura puts it plainly: “I also get on video calls pretty often to stay in touch with clients, and I need a private, quiet space to do so.”
And she’s clear that this isn’t a preference, it’s criteria. “Both are very important criterias for me in choosing the right location that will fit my needs.”
The Project She’s Proud Of: Building Arlésienne from the Ground Up
If Laura’s story feels familiar to younger entrepreneurs, it’s because she doesn’t glamorize the founder journey. She tells the truth about what it takes to build something real.
“I’d say starting my agency is the project I’m the most proud of,” she says. “I’ve always had many ideas and have day-dreamed about becoming an entrepreneur.”
What follows is basically a founder montage, minus the Instagram filter. She talks about the fun parts: “choosing the name, the branding, direction I want to take are super fun”, and then the parts that actually build the business: “setting up the business structure, admin, payroll, invoicing etc in a country where my ‘common sense’ doesn’t always apply.”
“It’s been a very gratifying rollercoaster,” she adds, “and I learn so much every day about my expertise, the industry, growing a business, and myself.”
Two Chapters, Two Atmospheres: POMAR Na Praia and POMAR OG
Laura stayed at two POMAR locations and treats them like two distinct moods: both inspiring, both memorable, each offering something different.
“I stayed at both POMAR Na Praia and POMAR OG,” she says. “They are both incredible locations in their own way.”
Chapter One: POMAR Na Praia: “A Typical Portuguese Country House” with Ria Formosa Views
“POMAR Na Praia feels like a typical Portuguese country house,” Laura says, “on top of a hill, with amazing views of the Ria Formosa (and the swimming pool).” And for Laura, the daily ritual mattered. “Waking up every morning to the sunrise light has been a highlight,” she says.
Chapter Two: POMAR One: Design, Character, and “Room to Breathe”
“At POMAR One, I really enjoyed the thoughtfully curated interior design full of character,” Laura says, calling out unmistakably Portuguese details: “clay pots, typical portuguese blue tiles, large open living space.” And then she lands on the kind of line that feels like a whole concept: “Indoor that gives room to breathe.”
The Project She’s Proud Of: Building Arlésienne from the Ground Up
Laura came to POMAR with intention: “My goal… was to re-focus on the strategy for Arlésienne for 2026,” she says.
She gives the context too: “I had prioritized working ‘in’ my business and focused on clients in the past few months as Q4 is a very busy time for E-com brands, especially in the US.”
At POMAR, she shifted modes. “I was able to focus on working ‘on’ my business, and laying out what’s next for Arlésienne,” she explains, listing exactly what that meant: “better client onboarding and offboarding processes, work on the website (still working on it!), and Marketing strategy for the upcoming year.”
The POMAR Team, In Laura’s Words: “Exceptional”
“The team at POMAR is exceptional,” she says. “They take client satisfaction to heart. Claire and Sam have been excellent at making me feel welcome, settled, and at home.”
Then she zooms in on something a lot of coliving spaces underestimate: the work it takes to build a real community.
“I’m especially impressed by the effort and care put into building and nurturing the community,” she says, pointing to “group activities, recommendations, and overall availability to answer any questions and provide local recommendations.”
A Core Belief: Coliving Should Make It Easier to Connect (Not Harder)
“I think a lot of coliving/coworking locations could do better on community building,” she says. “Some give out discounts to local stores, host a few events here and there.” Then she explains what felt different about POMAR: “What made Pomar different is that we are in small groups, and so we can hang out together after work.”
She points to the mechanics behind it, too. “With the WhatsApp group, the community leader is able to share essential information and communication, and anyone in the group is also able to initiate an activity like a hike, yoga session or movie night.” She closes with the line that basically sums up POMAR’s advantage: “Participation from guests is strongly encouraged with POMAR, with the right foundation and systems in place to help facilitate.”
A Moment She’ll Remember: Tavira, Rainbows, and a Festival Night
“With a small group, we went to a super cute festival in Tavira, Inverno festival, with music, food stalls and local businesses,” she says.
Then she gets specific: “We shared a delicious chorizo/buffala pizza from Onda Quente,” she says, adding that she “bought some hand cream and cacao paste from Mystic Alchemist.”
“Although the weather was cloudy, we got graced by multiple rainbows while a live band was playing Brazilian and Portuguese covers on stage.”
“A magical moment i’ll remember,” she finishes.
Looking Ahead: More Workation, More Local Guides, More Algarve
“I’m looking forward to seeing the workation offer develop!” she says.
And when it comes to content, she wants what most people actually want when they land somewhere new: local taste, not generic recommendations.
“I’d love to get more local recommendations for restaurants, spa, bars, music, festivals exhibits etc…,” she says. “I heard that something might be in the works and I’m looking forward to it!”
Connect with Laura
Instagram: @laurasalaun
Website: arlesienne.co
Ready to Find Out More About the POMAR Experience?
If Laura’s story sounds like the kind of reset you’ve been craving, equal parts focused and human, POMAR is built for exactly that: a hybrid coliving experience for nomadic workers in the Algarve, designed to support both productivity and the sweet Portuguese life near the coast.
Find out more about the POMAR experience
Frequently Asked Questions: Coliving for entrepreneurs in Algarve
Coliving combines the comfort of a home with the ease of a built-in community. Instead of booking a place and figuring everything out alone, you’re joining a shared living setup where people are also working remotely, exploring the area, and open to connecting. For entrepreneurs, it can feel like the best of both worlds: your own rhythm, plus a social layer when you want it.
Yes, especially if you want a work-friendly setup without the corporate coworking vibe. Laura describes coliving as “the perfect balance between a shared apartment and a coworking space,” and highlights that reliable Wi-Fi and quiet spaces for calls were essential for her workation sprint.
POMAR has multiple locations in the Algarve, close to the coast and local villages, ideal if you want beach access, nature, and a slower pace, while still being able to stay focused on work. It’s designed to help you settle in quickly and make the most of the region.
Absolutely, if the space is designed for it. Laura notes that her work involves “heavy platforms” and crawling websites, so bandwidth matters, and she often needs a “private, quiet space” for video calls. The right coliving setup makes it easier to concentrate during the day, then switch into a more social mode after work.
The community is one of the biggest differentiators. Laura points out that the group size stays intentionally small, making it natural to “hang out together afterwork.” Guests also use a WhatsApp group to share essential info and organize activities like hikes, yoga sessions, or movie nights.
Your days can be as structured or as spontaneous as you want. Depending on the group, you might join a hike, a yoga session, or a casual dinner—or explore the Algarve at your own pace. Laura’s favorite memory was going to Tavira’s Inverno festival with a small group, with music, food stalls, and local businesses.
Not at all. POMAR is a great fit for entrepreneurs, freelancers, creatives, and anyone who works remotely and wants a change of pace. You don’t have to live “nomad life” full-time to benefit from a workation sprint in a new environment.
It depends on the vibe you’re after. Laura describes POMAR Na Praia as a “typical Portuguese country house” with views of the Ria Formosa, while POMAR One stands out for its “thoughtfully curated interior design” with Portuguese details like blue tiles and clay pots—plus “room to breathe.”
Beyond the basics, bring what supports your work rhythm: noise-canceling headphones for calls, a portable laptop stand, and anything you rely on for deep-focus sessions. If your work is bandwidth-heavy (like Laura’s), it’s also worth planning key tasks around your most reliable working hours.
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🏖️ Join POMAR na Praia this winter for a pop-up coliving by the beach till April 2026
Contact us to discover how POMAR Coliving can become your new work base in Portugal.
