One way to maximize your travels and see the sights of the world efficiently is to combine your business and leisure seamlessly.
The idea has been making waves for some time and has been dubbed a Bleisure trip by younger generations.
Business travel is inevitable for most who want to liaise in person and expand their connections, but business trips can be less than relaxing. By merging the world with leisure, you can get a little downtime on your travels and explore the best of both.
Today’s article will talk you through some of the best ways to balance meetings with fun and help you plan a productive and successful bleisure trip with enjoyable memories to take away.
- Destination Choices
The first step to planning a successful bleisure trip rests on the destination itself. Where you go is fundamental, especially in terms of work/play balance and logistics.
The destination will of course be somewhat dictated by the nature of your business. But by assessing it you can find something that fits work and leisure needs.
Business Priorities
You must ensure your destination has the amenities necessary for the business elements of your trip.
It needs to be in proximity to the locations on your business itinerary and you will want to consider resources too. Reliable internet signals and decent transportation routes are likely to be top of your list for the business side of your trip.
One good way to plan a bleisure trip is to extend and expand around a conference or training event you have to travel for; once you know the location, you can see what else is about and plan from there.
Exploring Nearby Leisure
The business side of things should take precedence, but with the logistics for that catered to you can start looking at sightseeing local to your business trip destination.
Check out culinary delights on offer and investigate any cultural and recreational activities running nearby.
Bleisure Travel As A Trend
Bleisure travel popularity is on the rise, especially with younger professionals. Surveys reveal that 69% of millennials want to extend their work trips for leisure, stretching their work trips into mini vacations.
More often than not, they take travel companions with them.
Although this isn’t restricted to the millennials, almost half of bleisure travelers bring someone along for the leisure portion of their trip.
For some, it is a way to be more time-efficient and spend extra hours with their family, and for others, it is the cost-effectiveness, but everyone can benefit from how fulfilling bleisure is.
It is a creative way for modern business travelers to take a break without professional sacrifice.
- Schedule Strategies
With a destination in mind, scheduling becomes the next puzzle piece in planning your bleisure trip.
To balance the work and play elements, you have to organize your time carefully for smooth transitions.
Business Commitments First
Work obligations and commitments need to be addressed first when planning your itinerary. It is a good idea to list any meetings, appointments, and deadlines.
Remember, not everything goes according to plan, so between one item and the next, be sure to leave yourself some wiggle room for the unexpected.
Planning Leisure Around Work
Whether it’s early mornings or late evenings, schedule your leisure elements around the work priorities.
It might take some time, most bleisure travelers spend hours on the research required to get the balance just right.
Remember some venues offer packages for sightseeing etc so you might want to factor in a day off or two to open up your schedule for the leisure activities available.
- Packing for Work and Play
Another element that you have to take into consideration is attire and travel essentials.
You don’t want to overload your luggage, but you do need to plan for both scenarios, so it is vital to pack efficiently.
Versatile Wardrobes: Success V’s Relaxation
With versatile clothing choices such as a blazer that screams success while elevating a casual look, you can pack outfits that transition between bleisure activities.
Helping you maintain the professional appearance required for meetings without being too dressy for any casual outings.
Travel Tech Accessories
Make sure you have all your necessary gadgets for business, such as laptops and chargers, as well as for relaxation.
Noise-canceling headphones are a game changer for the journey itself, so don’t forget that internet access can bring you some earned downtime, too.
Whether it’s streaming with mobile apps or connecting to your favorite websites from abroad, a VPN for gaming can help keep your activities secure, bypass geo-restrictions, and keep things enjoyable while you unwind after a day’s business.
- Getting the Most Out of Your Downtime
A bleisure trip without sufficient leisure is just a business trip. Making each moment count is the real thing that differentiates the two. So make sure you pack in the fun.
Experience Local History & Culture
The average week-long bleisure trip will usually include two to four days worth of leisure activities.
To make the most of it opt for immersive activities that you can’t experience elsewhere. It is the ideal opportunity to engage with culture.
Culinary tours, museums, and scenic walks are all great ways to maximize a short stay and have a rewarding experience.
Relaxation That Energizes
Another great way to elevate your business trip to bleisure is to inject a range of relaxation activities.
When choosing a venue, look for these elements to make sure you relax and unwind.
Decompressing between the business activities can help energize you and make you more productive at the next. It is also perfect if you are bringing along colleagues or companions.
Book a spa day, try your hand at yoga or sports, organize an afternoon retail therapy, or simply tan around the pool with a good book.
Conclusion
The younger generation is embracing the bleisure philosophy, taking companions to join them for extended business trips.
While regarded as a bit of a trend bleisure travel provides an innovative way to blend work and play and ensures productivity with a well-deserved side of enjoyment.
Getting the balance right is no easy task but with the right destination and a well-managed schedule that takes advantage of the downtime you have available and a great travel package you can transform a business trip.
Bleisure trips can enrich workloads with culture and make the mundane elements less dull, so armed with today’s tips, why not plan and book one for yourself?
