More and more, the answer to the question “business or pleasure?” is becoming “both.” The rise of remote work allows folks to — of course — work from home. But why work from home when you can work from the pool or the campground? As work culture transitions from cubicles to wherever there’s a strong Wi-Fi connection, new forms of work-cations are emerging.
What Is A Hush Trip?
Digital nomads have been a thing for a while, but RVshare coined the term “hush trip” in its 2023 Travel Trends Report. In the report, the peer-to-peer RV marketplace describes how remote workers are leaning into the remote aspect of their work. “These employees are still putting in the hours but working from an alternative location where they plan to enjoy leisure activities in their off-hours, and don’t feel the need to disclose their location,” explains RVshare.
Thanks to RVshare, hush trips have officially entered the zeitgeist with coverage in publications such as Fortune and WorkLife.
Some work cultures are more flexible than others. Several TravelAwaits writers travel full-time. In fact, we have no idea where any of them are at any given point because there is no need to. In our line of work, deadlines matter — location doesn’t. Our staffers gather for a Zoom call every morning, and while we are surprised if someone has a new background on any given day, our employees are absolutely allowed to work from wherever they would like without obtaining prior permission. Once, I showed up to work from a vacation rental in Colorado. I had joined my husband on his work trip and didn’t mention it to my superiors or coworkers because it didn’t affect my job. We traveled there and back outside of work hours, but I’ve also been known to work from the car. I didn’t know it, but I’ve been taking “hush trips” for the better part of a decade!
How People Are Using Hush Trips
Funny videos feature folks taking video calls from unexpected locales. In this one, a man is all business on top and party on the bottom as he appears to take a Zoom call from a pool party in Las Vegas. From touristy to tropical, all destinations are on the table for hush trips, as long as there’s a good internet connection!
RVshare‘s 2023 Travel Trends Report reveals that “nearly all remote-friendly workers are interested in sneaking in a vacation without calling off work when their travel accommodations allow.” In fact, 56 percent of the working adults surveyed say they are “very or extremely likely” to go on a hush trip. According to the report, “Among that group, 36 percent of Gen X and 36 percent of millennials, of whom nearly all claim to have remote jobs, have already planned a hush trip in 2023.”
Hush trips are perfect when one spouse is retired but the other isn’t yet, or perhaps one spouse works as a teacher and has the summer off while the other can only take a couple of weeks off per year.
Why Go On A Hush Trip This Summer
As someone who has unknowingly been participating in this phenomenon as long as I’ve been working remotely — give or take 8 years — I can assure you that the best time to go on a “hush trip” is summer. Why? Because it is more likely to be warm enough to lay by the pool on your lunch break. The days are also longer, so you can explore in the daylight post-work. Campgrounds are a great hush trip destination and summer is a great time to go camping.
How RVshare Can Help
When I first started working remotely, my husband and I got a camper so the cat and I could join him on his work trips throughout the Midwest. All I needed was my hotspot and enough bars for it to work and I was in business. I have fond memories of that year in our lives as we saved up enough money for a downpayment on our first home. We camped everywhere from Kansas to Kalamazoo, exploring and spending time together. I write all of this to say, while a vacation rental, hotel, or friend or family member’s place may all work as a makeshift office for your hush trip, a campground is also a wonderful place to work. And Wi-Fi at campgrounds has improved immensely!
Don’t own a camper? That’s where the folks at RVshare come in. Think of it as the Airbnb of campers. They offer all sorts and sizes for whatever your needs may be. Rent an RV to take on a road trip, book a stationary camper that has a permanent place, or have the camper delivered wherever you want! When you “clock out” for the day, you can get some fresh air, sit by the fire, and look up at the stars.
Tips For Taking A Hush Trip
Travel Time
Travel outside of work hours if possible. Working and driving don’t mix, and in-flight Wi-Fi is not always reliable. That being said, I’ve spent many a workday in the passenger’s seat, and there’s nothing like starting the day at your house, stopping for lunch on the road, then looking up from your laptop and realizing you’re 5.5 hours from home. It feels like time travel.
Beware Of Public Wi-Fi
Although many websites are encrypted, public Wi-Fi networks may not be secure. If you work with sensitive data, your company probably already has a VPN set up for protection. However, if you are concerned about this, use a hotspot instead of public Wi-Fi networks.
Make Sure You Have A Good Connection
A shaky internet connection will put your hush trip on blast in a flash. When camping, be sure to look for campgrounds with strong Wi-Fi connectivity. If you use a hotspot, ensure that there is enough cell service for it to work well.
Video Call Background
A different video call background will blow your cover. Use a generic one if you want to keep your location under wraps.
Social Media
Posting on social media while you’re away isn’t a great idea as it announces to your followers that you are not home. But, if you are trying to keep your trip hush-hush, then you might want to avoid giving it away on social media anyway, especially if you’re friends with your boss!
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