There are many ways to “go on a workation,” but in practice, most of them fall into two camps:
- the Justifiable One — when there’s a business reason to go, a client to visit, an event to attend, and you cleverly extend it into something more enjoyable
- the Just-Because One — when there’s no professional excuse whatsoever, you simply decide your laptop deserves a better view.
Each has its own charm, rhythm, and level of chaos.
One starts in a suit jacket; the other in beachwear that still looks vaguely professional on Zoom.
The Bleisure Workation
Business + Leisure travel starts with a professional purpose. A client meeting. A conference. A work trip that already makes sense on paper. And then — the clever twist — you arrive a little earlier or stay a little longer. Same hotel room, slightly extended stay, the blissful illusion that you’ve hacked the system.
The Pros:
There’s a sense of efficiency in the air. You’re already there, your flight’s paid, your hotel is tax-deductible (or at least partially so). You get to network, show your face, tick all the professional boxes — and then, when the official part wraps up, you simply… don’t leave. There’s something satisfying about reclaiming a few days from a trip that would otherwise disappear into your calendar’s black hole. A sort of professional rebellion — polite, efficient, and just indulgent enough to feel like a small victory.
The Cons:
The illusion of freedom is strong — but so is your calendar. The “free time” you planned often dissolves into last-minute follow-ups, spontaneous client dinners, or catching up on what you missed while being “offline” at the event. You promise yourself a proper museum afternoon, but end up half-scrolling Slack in the gift shop. You’re living the dream, technically — but somehow you’re too busy replying to emails to notice it.
The Change-of-Scenery Workation
No in-person meetings. No clients to wine and dine. The Change-of-Scenery (a.k.a. Just-Because) Workation starts with a craving — for sunlight, for quiet, for movement, for anything that isn’t your usual desk. You pick a spot on the map, pack your laptop, and go. The ticket isn’t expensed, but the satisfaction absolutely is.
The Pros:
Freedom, in its purest, laptop-friendly form. You design your own rhythm: mornings of deep work, afternoons of exploring, evenings where you don’t need to explain why you’re offline. You find yourself more focused, more inspired — maybe because no one expects you anywhere. Everything feels a little lighter when you’re the one calling the shots, and even mundane tasks (emails, invoices, edits) feel easier when done with a view.
The Cons:
Freedom comes with logistics. You’re suddenly your own travel manager, IT department, and accountability coach. Internet can betray you, power outlets are never where you need them, and there’s always that one café that looked perfect until a toddler birthday party arrived. Without the structure of meetings or deadlines, you risk floating — working in bursts, resting in guilt. It’s magical, yes, but it’s still work, just in prettier lighting.
The Takeaway
Both flavors of workation have their place. Bleisure makes travel more efficient — a way to squeeze life into a work trip. Change-of-scenery, on the other hand, reminds you that “remote” doesn’t have to mean “home.”
One is opportunistic; the other intentional.
One helps you make peace with your job; the other helps you fall in love with it again.
And if you ever manage to find a rhythm that includes both — congratulations. You’ve officially mastered the art of working without boundaries (and somehow, without losing yourself).
💬 I’d love to hear how you do workations — are you more of a “Bleisure strategist” or a “Change-of-scenery dreamer”? Tell me in the comments; I love seeing how others find balance between work and wander.
💻 About the Workation Diva
I’m Caro, an early pioneer of remote work, studying IT in the ’90s when “the Internet” still made dial-up noises. I’ve been blending work and travel since before it was fashionable, from spa weekends during business trips to half-vacations at my family’s place in Buenos Aires. These days, I live the part-time laptop lifestyle — balancing motherhood, projects, and plane tickets, proving that freedom can come in Wi-Fi and family-size portions.
Workation Diva 