12 Essential Bleisure Travel Tips for Mixing Work and Vacation

5. Budget the trip: compare costs vs. a separate vacation

To see if a bleisure extension saves money, run a simple comparison that totals airfare, lodging, ground transport and any extra personal expenses. Often the flight is the expensive piece, and when a company covers the business fare for the days tied to meetings, adding two or three personal nights can be cheaper than booking a separate leisure trip later. Use a spreadsheet with two columns: "Bleisure extension" and "Separate vacation." Put all shared costs where the employer pays the business portion and list the personal-only costs you’ll cover. Include incidental costs like extra meals, attractions, and baggage fees. Don’t forget potential savings from loyalty points or hotel elite status when you consolidate stays. For transparency with your employer, separate personal charges in booking records or use a split payment method so expense reports remain accurate. This small exercise gives you numbers to present if a manager asks about fairness or budget impact.