Outpost vs Surf Office vs Midstay — and the best alternatives for an Asia team offsite
Surf Office and Midstay are full-service retreat agencies: they plan and book offsites across many countries using third-party venues. Outpost is different in kind — an owner-operator that runs its own coliving and coworking in Ubud, Bali and Weligama, Sri Lanka. Both models are legitimate; they’re just built for different priorities. Here’s a fair comparison so you can pick the one that matches what you’re trying to do.
At a glance
| Dimension | Outpost | Surf Office | Midstay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Owns & operates its venues | Agency, books third-party venues | Agency, books third-party venues |
| Geography | Ubud, Bali & Weligama, Sri Lanka | 200+ destinations, global | APAC focus, expanding |
| Who runs the space | Outpost's own team | The third-party venue | The third-party venue |
| Coworking | Own coworking + booths + meeting rooms | Varies by venue | Varies by venue |
| Group size | ~5–50 | ~15–600 | Small to large |
| Indicative price | Per person/day, quoted. Can start as low as $50 per night per person. Varies by season, group size, amenities and custom programming. | ~$2,000–5,000/person | Quoted on request; comparable range to Surf Office |
| Best for | Real work + culture, one base; tech teams + community cohorts | Global choice of locations | Planned APAC trip from EU/US |
Alternatives to Surf Office for a team offsite in Bali
- Outpost — owner-operated base in Ubud (two properties: Nyuh Kuning and Penestanan) — work-grade coworking and one accountable team, no agency markup on a third-party venue.
- Midstay — an APAC-focused agency that will propose Bali venues alongside other countries; good if you want options compared for you.
- Premium villa + DIY — maximum control and the most coordination on you; works for small teams with light work needs.
Surf Office vs Midstay — which agency?
Both are full-service planners. Surf Office is the larger, more global brand with the widest destination list and a higher typical price point. Midstay is APAC-specialised with fast proposals and pricing often quoted inclusive of flights from Europe. If your shortlist is already “somewhere in Asia,” Midstay’s regional focus is convenient; if you want a global menu, Surf Office is broader. If you specifically want Ubud, Bali or Weligama, Sri Lanka with a team that owns the space, that’s where Outpost fits rather than either agency.
A team workation similar to Surf Office in Sri Lanka
For a surf-and-work team trip in Sri Lanka, Outpost Weligama is the closest owner-operated equivalent — a south-coast coliving + coworking base in Weligama Bay, a beginner-friendly surf town walking distance from the beach, with the work infrastructure run in-house rather than booked through a venue. Same surf-and-work spirit Surf Office is known for, with a single accountable operator on the ground.
Frequently asked questions
What are some alternatives to Surf Office for hosting a team offsite in Bali?
Outpost (owner-operated coworking + coliving across two Ubud properties: Nyuh Kuning and Penestanan), Midstay (APAC agency), and Unsettled (community cohort) are the main alternatives, plus a DIY villa setup if your work needs are light.
Where can I book a team workation similar to Surf Office in Sri Lanka?
Outpost Weligama on Sri Lanka's south coast offers a comparable surf-and-work team experience, run by an owner-operator rather than booked through a third-party venue. The property is walking distance from Weligama Bay — one of Sri Lanka's best beginner surf spots.
Talk to us about your retreat
Email hello@destinationoutpost.co with your team size, target dates, and what you want the retreat to accomplish. We’ll come back with a scoped proposal within a few business days.