I tried a ‘hybrid holiday’ and discovered the secret to work-life balance

My life in the city is non-stop. I spend my days travelling across London on heaving Tubes, working in an office, then rushing through crowded streets to meet friends. I wouldn’t change it for the world, but sometimes, I want to escape.

The only problem is, I don’t drive. Maybe I shouldn’t admit this, but I didn’t even turn up to my driving theory test last month. I’m not alone; nearly half of London households don’t have a car.

So when I want a break in the UK, I must pack myself onto a train, pay a fortune for taxis, or endure the clunky process of renting a car (that someone else will have to drive).

For all of that hassle, I’d never even think to bank the annual leave and work on that hard-earned staycation instead.

That’s where Turo comes in. It’s an app that lets you rent cars directly from local hosts. A bit like Airbnb, but for vehicles. 

On your phone, you tailor your search, scroll, and pick a model that suits your price range. There’s everything from Ford Fiestas to a Porsche 911, and your ride is delivered straight to your door.

Then it’s just you, the open road, and the kind of car that makes even the M25 feel glamorous.

After being invited to test it out, I found myself on my first hybrid holiday. Not a full digital detox, just space, fresh air, and a change of scenery. It’s part remote work, part mini-break, and I didn’t need to use my limited leave to get out of the city for a night or two.

It’s all about the journey

My partner and I checked the weather forecast, saw glorious sunshine, and booked a convertible BMW Z4 for two days that would normally be around £300 in total.

Compact enough for narrow country roads, but still stylish enough to make the trip feel like something special, the host arrived with the keys days later. We did a quick walk around, checked the app, and off we went. I’d recommend checking your host’s reviews and previous bookings to make this experience as smooth as possible.

Our destination was a cosy hut in the woods, buried in the Cotswolds countryside at The Fish hotel in Broadway. With a promise of strong WiFi, good food, a private hot tub and a log burner, it ticked all the boxes: peaceful, remote, and perfect for working during the day and unwinding in the evenings.

If you’re doing a hybrid holiday, you need to make the most of the time you aren’t working. We made sure to make the journey part fun, cruising with the roof off and stopping for lunch at The Boxing Hare, a renowned pub in the famous Cotswolds town of Chipping Norton.

After a breezy check-in at the hotel, where rooms start from £350 a night, I logged on to work for a couple of hours. For working from home, the Hilly Huts are perfectly set-up to spend hours huddled over your laptop. The fridge was filled with snacks and drinks, there was a tea station brimming with options, along with a coffee machine for that caffeine fix. And if that wasn’t enough, the hut was installed with a buzzer to ring for more refreshments. 

Equally, if you’re someone who needs a change of scenery, across the grounds are communal areas and food stalls with plenty of seating to work from. Staff were incredibly accommodating and made our stay as comfortable as possible.

I’ve never ‘worked from home’ in such luxury; the only problem was feeling sorry for my poor colleagues who had to endure my Zoom background whilst they sat at their usual desk.

After I signed off at the end of the day, it was time for a well-earned dip in the hot tub, with drinks brought directly to our garden.

Having had time to switch off and relax, we got ready for dinner at Hook. It’s a seafood restaurant on-site of the hotel, promising a laid-back but luxurious vibe. For those that don’t like seafood, there are other options for meat-eaters and vegetarians, but for me, The standout dish was a tuna tartare with wasabi and a ponzu dressing.

What followed was the best sleep I’ve had in ages. Needing to wake up ready to log on at 8 am the next day, I barely needed an alarm clock. Instead, an open blind let the countryside sun stream in, starting my day in the most relaxed way possible. 

Armed with my laptop, I worked for the day on the veranda. We can all relate to the issue of working outside with no charging ports, so you will have to shuffle around to charge your devices indoors with plug sockets in relative short supply.

It may not be as accessible as your monitors and keyboards at home, but we returned to London feeling so refreshed before the weekend had even started.

Hybrid future?

We’re in this weird in-between space right now, where offices are open, but remote work is still the norm for many of us. And while I love the flexibility, working from home can get monotonous.

That’s why I’m convinced hybrid holidays are the future. You don’t need to block off a full week or use up all your annual leave, but just refresh your routine by working somewhere else.

And Turo makes it so easy. Whilst owning a car suits a lot of people, for those who rarely need them, it’s better value, better for the environment, and way less stress.

It’s fine to love your bustling city life but also admit you need to recharge. When we’re building careers, we don’t always want to fully unplug to experience a new environment.

My eyes have been opened to the hybrid holidays and honestly? It’s the best kind of work-life balance I can imagine. 

Anna Staddon was a guest of Turo and The Fish Hotel.