5 tips for balancing business travel with family vacations

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at Disneyland is a great place for kids and adults.

By Mark Chesnut

During the summer season, busy professionals may face the challenge of balancing work trips with family vacations. Here are a few ways to stay productive while maintaining a balance between work and quality time with the family (with some delightfully Disney-influenced examples).

1. Choose destinations that make sense for business as well as pleasure. In places like Florida, Hawaii and California, you’ll find lots of options for meetings and doing business, as well as plenty of family-friendly activities and attractions. Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Aulani A Disney Resort & Spa are certainly great backdrops for any family vacation. They also boast high-tech amenities for business-minded folks, so you can easily schedule meetings or arrange for uninterrupted work time while away.

2. Get the family involved in the planning. Sure, you ordinarily might choose destinations, air and hotel as quickly as possible. But when kids or a spouse are involved, they’ll feel more excited if you review options with them, ask their opinion and allow them to play a part in the decision-making process. Scroll through descriptions and user reviews on Orbitz and see what everyone thinks about the choices.

3. Book hotels that offer something for everyone. With all that work on your plate, you’ll want well-equipped business centers, WiFi and meeting space. But with the family coming along too, be sure to look for things like on-site children’s programs, versatile dining options, and easy access to attractions — such as Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which is adjacent to the Disneyland park entrance. All-inclusive resorts can also be a good place to combine work with fun.

4. Take the kids to work. If there is a fun business event — perhaps a picnic or a factory tour — bring the family with you. Way to multitask.

5. Set boundaries. If you need to get work done, set some time every day to get it done. Family members should respect that you need to work duringthese hours — but also remember that when the hours are up, you should spend time with them.

Related resources

• Chicago hotels
• Disney vacations
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• New York hotels

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on travel to Latin America.

Tagged: California, Disney, Family time, Florida