In December 2020 and January 2021ezjili, as much of the world was still locked down by the Covid-19 pandemic, Paulina Klaudyna Krzysztoszek and Cory Michael Bolotsky made the same plan: to travel and to work remotely from one of the few countries open to tourists at the time — Mexico.

They did not know each other. He was living in Boston; she in Manchester, England. Ms. Krzysztoszek planned to travel the world for three years, beginning in Cancun in early January 2021. Mr. Bolotsky planned to travel to Mexico for three months.

By early February, both were in Isla Mujeres and staying at Selina Isla Mujeres, a hostel that caters to digital nomads like themselves.

Meeting seemed almost inevitable. The hostel wasn’t a huge place, and both spent a good amount of time in the co-working space. Plus, Mr. Bolotsky “was the loud American,” Ms. Krzysztoszek said. “Everyone knew him.”

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A week later, they officially met when some of the hostel guests went to Green Demon Beach Club. When he came to sit next to her, in the only available seat, Ms. Krzysztoszek said she felt “indifferent.” Mr. Bolotsky said he “thought she was cute.”

There would be no love connection that day. But they soon discovered they were both heading to Tulum next and exchanged phone numbers.

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