How to mix family, vacation and work

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

- Emily Goligoski

NEW YORK -

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 traveling 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 travelers 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 organization'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.

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 organization, 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.