Work and play during a holiday: Here is how to create a family ‘bleisure’ trip

NEW YORK – Many parents who have the flexibility to work remotely are stitching together summer family travel with work trips.

This combination of business and leisure travel, known as “bleisure”, targets the mismatch of parents with limited time off and kids who are out of school.

A Deloitte 2025 summer travel industry study found that one-fourth of American workers travelling with children said they planned to work during their longest trip of the summer – and they plan to extend those trips by an average of three days.

Balancing work responsibilities with a change of scenery and activities for kids can offer respite from the daily grind, and it does not have to cost a fortune.

Some people extend business trips, catching up with family after meetings.

Many travellers crash with loved ones to cut costs, while others sublet their homes while they are on the road.

Here are tips on managing work while getting away with family.

Set expectations with your employer

First, check your organisation’s remote work policy. Some companies have adopted norms, including dedicated work-from-anywhere periods, and “summer Fridays” that employees can use to lengthen a weekend trip.

Ask colleagues who have worked on the road for tips.

Speak with your manager about your plans, including the working hours you will be keeping.

Come prepared to discuss dates, the duration of the experiment if it is a new one for your workplace, and your manager’s priorities and concerns. Expect to make some trade-offs, as these more flexible ways of working can require concessions from both sides.

Before the trip, try to set up meetings at your destination. If you work for a large organisation, see if you can get face time with colleagues in the area.

And you should make your availability and whereabouts clear to colleagues through Slack updates and out-of-office responses if you are taking weekdays off.

Get help

If they are not being cared for by another adult or in front of a screen, many children under 10 are not capable of just “hanging out” for hours on end.

Day camp options can be less expensive, and local parenting forums are a good source for recommendations. And check their hours – many camps require mid-afternoon pickup.

For babysitters, try services which can identify vetted caregivers, and be clear about duties and choreography.

What are the rules about entering rooms where people are working? Are there upcoming calls that require quiet? Who is in charge of meal preparation? Lay out each day’s plans for all to see on a shared calendar.

Advance planning is key.

“I have found that trying to figure it out ad hoc absolutely does not work,” said Ms Young-na Park, the Brooklyn-based writer of the newsletter Making It Work.

She and her husband Jacob Krupnick, who runs a film production company, need extended hours of focused time for work, which does not always align with the wishes of their children aged nine and seven.

After trying many permutations, including local camps, the family found success on a month-long trip to Hawaii in 2021.

For two days each week, a babysitter watched the kids. Then they were under the care of either mum or dad for one day. Day five was for family outings.

This plan “ensured we each definitely had three full work days”, Ms Park said. It also reduced the cost of babysitting and left time for family adventures.

Maximise productivity

Schedule kids’ organised activities outside the home or hotel for when you need uninterrupted work time.

Look at your work day in advance, advises advertising technology consulting leader Kerry Frum.

In the summer, she, her husband Joshua and their children – who are nine and six – head to a family home in Mattituck, where she works remotely.

“What do you need complete uninterrupted time for? It may be heads-down work or a critical meeting you are leading or have a key role in, or you just want to make sure you are impressing others with your full attention,” she said.

Their children spend most of the summer in local day camps, supplemented by babysitters to cover the work day.

The time away can be an invitation to work differently. Even if you will be laptop-facing on many days, avoid a sad hotel room desk by finding a location that is more motivating.

Many hotels and homes include co-working spaces and single stations, natural light, charging stations and computer monitors. There may be meetings you can take on the way back from camp drop-off, on a walk or otherwise off-camera.

You might lean into projects that require deep thinking or creative problem-solving. You may bring back some useful new work habits, along with a souvenir for your manager.

Be open to change

Without the usual comforts of home, plan activities and adventures to take advantage of what is unique where you are going.

Discuss the hikes, cuisine and cultural experiences that will make it worthwhile to forfeit your daily conveniences, such as kids’ friends and familiar food.

This could be as simple as pool access for city kids.

Check calendars for local institutions and listings for concerts, museums and sports events, and distribute research and planning responsibilities among older children.

Take advantage of local libraries: Many have organised activities in addition to dedicated spaces for children and teens and quiet spaces for all. NYTIMES