Hybrid this, hybrid that. Where will it stop? We’re familiar with hybrid cars and the gradually maturing concept of hybrid working – that tricky balance of working from home and being strategically present in the workplace – and now there are hybrid holidays too. When I first came across the term I wasn’t completely sure what it meant. I thought it might be worth investigating; after all, it might be something I’d enjoy…
Hybrid holidays – variations on a theme
The label ‘Hybrid Holidays’ can be used to describe to two things. The first and least-used version is a combination of activity types within one holiday. These have been around for years, and are typically a variation on the two-centre theme. A good example is a safari & beach holiday, a favourite in East Africa. On a similar note, the combination may be a long train journey, prior to a trek – an increasingly popular combination for travellers to the subcontinent.
This article is not about that new ‘take’ on the two-centre tour. Instead it’s about the more common use of hybrid holiday. And that refers to combining work and leisure in one trip. It approximates to ‘digital nomad lite’. It’s a way to combine a desire for travel without missing out on work or using too much of your precious holiday allowance.
Short stay, long stay?
So the idea is to carefully combine work and holiday in one trip without compromising either. It can work for any length of trip. Paradoxically it may be easier to do this satisfactorily on a short city-break, rather than a longer holiday. Here’s how it can work: take a midweek evening flight to your destination. The next day or two, say Thursday to Friday lunchtime, rise early and work remotely from your hotel room or a nearby café. Or, if you don’t need to make calls, use a local library. Come Friday midday, clock off (ideally with a pre-booked afternoon’s leave!) and enjoy a long weekend away from home. Take a return flight on Sunday evening or early Monday morning.
Longer trips follow a similar model, but perhaps with more days given over to working – say 3 or 4 out of a fortnight’s break. That can be both a hinderance and a help, aspects of which I explore below.
The benefits of hybrid holidays
In either case, whether the trip is short or long, the result should be a combination of staying on top of things at work, while simultaneously benefitting from a break in routine and the pleasures of exploring somewhere new.
If you are able to work remotely, this model is definitely something with which to experiment. Taking advantage of time away without losing significant days from your annual leave is a real benefit. Additionally, the longer ‘short’ trips also make these breaks less rushed and therefore more fulfilling.
On longer holidays the benefits can be magnified, and with careful planning it is similarly possible to minimise the amount of annual leave consumed while still having the best of both worlds. Prepare properly and your work-life balance can remain fully intact.
The drawbacks
The possible disadvantages usually centre around not properly switching off from work, or working more than was intended. On top of that, you need to be sure the remoting working element really is compatible with the job you do – not everyone has that choice and trying to force a square peg into a round hole rarely works. Be sure that your colleagues know you will be away from the office and out of the country. It’s better for them to know in advance rather than discover it during an emergency…
In addition, it’s worth being very realistic about the work you can accomplish while you are away. If you’re a seasoned remote worker, then you may already be organised and disciplined. If you work remotely only sometimes, be sure to plan out exactly what you’ll be doing while away.
Last – and by no means least – unless you’re travelling alone, your companion or companions may not appreciate you devotion to work, especially if it overshoots. Guard against this at all costs.
How to get the best out of hybrid holidays
Plan carefully to avoid misunderstandings! If you’re travelling with your partner or a friend, be sure to agree which portion of the trip is work and which is holiday. Fix that before you go and then (this is important!) stick to it. Jointly check out the attractions and available activities in your destination, so both of you can get the most of the time away. If something crops up at work while you are on the holiday portion of your trip, make sure you already have a colleague who’ll take over in your absence. You’ll be on leave properly at that point, so such arrangements will be expected.
Above all, make sure that your plans are realistic and achievable. Failure to do that will make the whole trip very stressful and most certainly a waste of time and money. Getting things right in this respect is not as difficult as it sounds. All that’s required is a thought-through plan and the readiness, when the time comes, to properly switch off from work… and to remember how to relax.
By Declan Morton, writer and editor at Essiell Ltd and Money4Travel.
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