Destination Bleisure

Words Georgie Young

5-min read

Work trips don't have to be all about work, especially in this era of setting up anywhere in the world. Here are six locations where there’s plenty to do when the laptop closes for the day or weekend.

While traveling for business sounds glamorous, the reality is decidedly less so. More often than not, the majority of the trip is spent in transit or in meetings, leaving little time to explore your destination du jour.

That’s all about to change with the rise of ‘bleisure travel’. Also known as a workcation, bleisure blends business and leisure travel by adding an extended holiday before or after the work event. Although somewhat popular before the COVID-19 pandemic, it has taken off with the rise of remote working, and the world’s luxury hotels have embraced the trend.

What Makes a Good Bleisure Destination?

Bleisure travelers typically look for hotels and destinations that excel at both business and pleasure, with proximity to cultural institutions and good restaurants as much a necessity as fast wi-fi and rapid-transit links.

With that in mind, we asked Quintessentially Travel to fill us in on the world’s best bleisure destinations. Whether you’re headed to Melbourne for a conference or fancy working from Tokyo, the team has selected six destinations ideal for bleisure travelers, plus plans for your itinerary while you’re there. Work-from-home, meet work-from-world.

Work From: San Francisco Proper

If doing business amid flamboyant interiors by Kelly Wearstler sounds like your ideal work-from-home setup, San Francisco Proper is the hotel for you. It’s located in a flatiron-style building, so every room comes with stellar San Francisco views. The transportation links are excellent, and ferries to Alcatraz and other locations depart just three kilometers away.

Weekend Plans: Follow the Path Less Traveled

Hikers – expert or otherwise – will love the adventurous trek to the labyrinth at Land’s End; the views stretch all the way along the Marin Headlands to the Golden Gate Bridge. For dinner, head to Hog Island Oyster Co. for oysters from the bay, clam chowder (a San Francisco must) and a glass of California chardonnay.

Work From: Crown Towers

Combining a killer location with polished design, this soaring Southbank hotel is ideal for both business and pleasure. Spacious rooms have desks next to floor-to-ceiling windows, and you’re within five minutes of Melbourne’s slew of restaurants, galleries, theaters and cafes. Try Higher Ground on Little Bourke Street for Aussie-style coffee and brunch.

Weekend Plans: Hit the Road

There are five wine regions within easy reach of Melbourne. Mornington Peninsula is best for a day trip, although we recommend tacking on an overnight stay at the vineyard-smothered Jackalope Hotel. Or, drive west of the city to the Great Ocean Road, where sparkling seas and koala-dotted trees characterize one of the world’s best road trips.

Work From: Bulgari Tokyo

Less than two minutes from a train station and with Bulgari’s typically magnificent rooms, this hotel is set to become a bleisure hub since its opening in April. Elevated on floors 40–45 of an ultra-skyscraper, it towers over Yaesu 2-Chome North District, with the Imperial Palace and Ginza just a few minutes away.

Weekend Plans: Explore Roppongi

Among tourists, Roppongi is known for its nightlife; however, it’s also home to a burgeoning art scene. Hire a specialist guide and head to Perrotin Tokyo to soak up some of the best, making sure to also plan a stroll through Harajuku to see the most extravagant cosplay in the world.

Work From: Capella Singapore

This beach-fringed resort on Sentosa Island is the preferred staycation spot for the city’s stylish set. It feels a world away from the frenetic energy of Singapore proper. Stay in a villa for the ultimate work from home setup, complete with speedy wi-fi, an elegant seating area and a plunge pool for a midday dip.

Weekend Plans: Feed Your Soul

Eating and drinking are practically national pastimes in Singapore. For drinks, try a Sakura Martini at World’s 50 Best Bars veteran Jigger & Pony. To eat, try the Tekka Centre wet market and hawker stalls for a dining experience that’s as authentic as they come.

Work From: Rosewood Hong Kong

Although not strictly designed for bleisure travelers, Rosewood Hong Kong certainly feels like it, with an extended-stay package that includes complimentary hotel transfers and discounted in-room dining – ideal for late nights working at your harbor-view desk.

Weekend Plans: Escape the City

Despite being surrounded by hundreds of kilometers of coastline, Hong Kong’s beaches are – somewhat criminally – overlooked. Pack a picnic and head for the more remote stretches, such as Long Ke Wan or Turtle Cove. Or, to see the city from a new perspective, hike to Sunset Peak. For those less active, rooftop bar Plume offers equally satiating views.

Work From: The Conservatorium

With the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Concertgebouw within walking distance, you can’t get bored at The Conservatorium. And even if you do, there’s a human library of knowledgeable locals ready to give you travel tips. Rooms are spacious by Amsterdam standards and come with huge desks and a complimentary smartphone to use throughout your stay.

Weekend Plans: Eat (and Drink) Green

As one of the greenest cities in the world, Amsterdam excels at farm-fresh produce. Travel to the suburbs to dine at De Kas, a farm-to-table restaurant that plucks produce from its kitchen garden to serve in its historic greenhouse. Or on Saturdays, visit the farmers market at Noordermarkt and Gloulou Bar, an organic wine cellar beloved by locals.