Hush Trips: Benefits And Risks Of This Type Of Travel

After the onset of the pandemic, many office workers learned something: Being present in one physical workplace is not essential for every job.

Even as offices reopened, countless employees continued to work from home ― or from somewhere else. Not only did this change the way people work, but it also changed the way they travel. Enter the “hush trip.”

But what exactly is a hush trip, and how does it work? Below, experts break down the benefits and downsides of this approach to travel.

“A ‘hush trip’ is where employees work remotely from a location other than their usual one, without informing their employers,” said travel blogger Sean Lau.

It’s a temporary setup in which employees might simply work from a beach house an hour away from home for a few days ― or they might travel to a different time zone or even internationally.

“Since they can just log on and handle their job duties from anywhere, the mindset is why even bring it up to your employer if you happen to be in the Bahamas while you’re working,” said travel blogger Esther Susag.

Hush-trippers typically continue to do their work tasks and take Zoom meetings, but refrain from mentioning where they are located. They work from hotel rooms, coffee shops and even short-term co-working spaces.

“They may go as far as to use a VPN to disguise their IP address and location,” said Gabby Beckford, a travel expert and founder of travel site Packs Light.

The concept is somewhat similar to “bleisure travel,” which involves combining business and leisure travel. Bleisure travelers might go on a work-related trip, but tack on extra time on the front or backend for vacation. They might also work remotely from their destination in between relaxation and touristy activities.

With hush trips and bleisure travel, employees often take friends or family along, but they might also go solo.

“It’s an experience woven into the fabric of the digital nomad and remote worker lifestyle since the dawn of connectivity,” said Erick Prince, a travel blogger and founder of travel site Minority Nomad. “And now, the broader travel world is having a taste of its charms. But like any dish, this trend comes with its own unique blend of flavors ― both delightful and challenging.”

“As someone who works remotely and prefers working somewhere scenic, I…