What is bleisure and how to make the most of it
Business travel doesn’t have to be all boardroom meetings, headaches and airport lounges. More professionals are now choosing to tag a few extra days onto their work trips to explore a new city.
This trend is known as bleisure travel. It’s a simple way to see more of the world without using up all your annual leave. It’s a growing habit because it helps to reduce the stress of a packed work schedule.
Why bleisure travel is on the rise
The rise of hybrid working has made this style of travel much easier to manage. Instead of rushing back on a Friday night, many employees now stay until Sunday or Monday. This often works well for companies too as it can result in cheaper return flights on off-peak days.
How and where you stay is key for bleisure travel
When you’re staying for a longer period, a standard hotel room can start to feel cramped. Serviced accommodation is often a better choice because it gives you a proper living + working space and a real kitchen, which makes it easier to transition from working hours to your personal time.
It’s also worth pointing out that bleisure helps with the physical toll of travelling. If you fly across time zones for a one-day meeting, your body will struggle to recover. By staying for an extra two days, you give yourself time to rest and adjust. This means you will likely be more productive when you get back to your home office. Many businesses now encourage this because they see the value in a rested workforce.
How to organise your schedule
The secret to a successful bleisure trip is clear boundaries. You don’t want to spend your Saturday answering emails when you should be visiting a museum. It’s best to finish all your core tasks during the official business days so your leisure time is completely free. You can tell your team that you’ll be offline for the weekend and won’t be checking notifications. This allows you to fully engage with your surroundings and enjoy the local culture.
Planning your itinerary in advance will help you save time. Since you’re already in the city for work, you don’t need to waste time on transport from the airport. You should look for attractions that are close to where you’re staying to maximise your downtime. It’s a good idea to book any tours or restaurants before you leave home so you don’t have to think about logistics while you’re there.
Ways to save money on your stay
One of the biggest perks of bleisure is the cost saving. Your employer will usually cover the cost of the flights, which is often the most expensive part of a trip. You only need to pay for the extra nights of lodging and your personal meals. This makes high-end destinations much more affordable than they would be for a standard holiday.
Here are a few ways to keep your personal costs low:
- Ask if your company’s corporate rate can be extended for the extra nights.
- Travel with a partner or friend who can split the cost of the room with you.
- Use local supermarkets to buy food instead of eating out for every meal.
- Look for free walking tours or public galleries in the city.
- Check if your travel insurance covers the leisure portion of your stay.
Benefits for your wellbeing
Work-life balance is a common topic, but it’s hard to achieve when you’re constantly on the road. Bleisure travel changes the narrative from a tiring chore into an opportunity. It gives you something to look forward to after a long day of negotiations. Instead of seeing the inside of a taxi and a hotel lobby, you get to experience the actual personality of the place you’re visiting.
This approach will also help you build better relationships with local clients. If you know the city well, you’ll have more interesting things to talk about during small talk. You might even find that inviting a client to a local spot you’ve discovered creates a stronger bond than a formal dinner. It shows that you’re genuinely interested in their home and not just there to tick a box.
In closing
Bleisure is more than just a buzzword. It’s a practical way to travel that benefits both the employee and the employer. By combining your obligations with a bit of exploration, you’ll find that business trips become much more enjoyable.
It’s an easy way to see the world while staying on top of your professional goals. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s worth suggesting it for your next trip away from the office.