The 10 Best Cities for Bleisure Travel in America

Combining business and pleasure is the latest travel trend and Fundera runs down the best cities for multitasking travel.

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Bleisure Travel's Best

According to a recent Expedia study, more than 60 percent of business travelers extend business trips for a little leisure time fun which = bleisure (business + leisure) travel. In determining the best cities for bleisure travel, the online small business marketplace Fundera looked at hotel availability and cost, traffic congestion, dining and entertainment options and transportation. So while big cities still win points for their ample transportation, entertainment and dining options, small cities also made the top 10. Read on for the top cities for bleisure travel.

10: San Diego

A top destination for business travel, especially in the healthcare, biomedical and cleantech industries, San Diego also has the convenience of an airport just 3 miles from downtown. Shown here: San Diego's Point Loma Lighthouse, located at the mouth of the San Diego Bay, built in 1855 and available for tours.

9: Washington, D.C.

A boon for business travelers: Washington, D.C. has been ranked the fourth-best city for bleisure, in part due to its great public transporation access.

8: San Francisco and Oakland

The San Francisco-Oakland nexus is a top destination for tech business travel. For travelers on a budget, or those wanting to extend their stay for some personal R+R, Oakland can offer more reasonable hotel room prices than downtown San Francisco, where hotel rooms clock in at a pricey average of $387 per night according to the Fundera study.

7: Atlanta

Not just booming metropolises, but smaller cities like Atlanta also made the grade for bleisure travel because of affordability, light traffic and convenient access to downtown. With a nightly hotel room average of $197, Atlanta definitely adds affordability to the mix and a hot restaurant scene to boot.

6: Miami

Miami International Airport is just 8 miles from downtown and the city has a great international vibe that makes it as appealing for business travelers as it is for leisure travelers. Pictured: one of Miami's fastest-growing neighborhoods, Brickell, home to international banks, popular restaurants and luxury condominium and apartment towers.

See More Photos: 13 Amazing Things to See (and Eat) in Miami

5: Chicago

Though the commute from Chicago's O'Hare into the city can top 110 minutes, the city did rank third for public transportation access, according to Fundera. With its top restaurants, incredible art museums and stunning architecture, Chicago also offers plenty to keep business and leisure travelers busy and inspired.

Top Things to Do in Chicago

4: Houston

Because of Houston's sprawling dimensions at 600 square miles across, business travelers are advised to stay downtown or close to where they will be doing business in order to save time and effort.

3: Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington Metro Area

At one million square feet of exhibition space, the Dallas Convention Center is a real draw for this Southern city though business travelers may need to rent a car to contend with the city's sprawling landscape. Pictured: the Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport

2: New York City

With commute time from John F. Kennedy International Airport at a whopping 110 minutes and the most expensive hotels in the nation, at $393 per night on average, New York may be challenging and pricey for business travelers. But it makes up for those disadvantages with an internationally renowned restaurant scene, exceptional cultural opportunities and a vibrancy that will tempt business travelers to extend their stay even longer. It also has the best public transportation in the country, with a one-way subway trip priced at just $2.75.

1: Los Angeles-Long Beach Metropolitan Area

With over 100,000 dining and entertainment options, the number one bleisure city travel destination, according to a recent Fundera study, is Los Angeles.

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The 10 Best Cities for Bleisure Travel in America

Related To:

Shop This Look

Bleisure Travel's Best

10: San Diego

9: Washington, D.C.

8: San Francisco and Oakland

7: Atlanta

6: Miami

5: Chicago

4: Houston

3: Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington Metro Area

2: New York City

1: Los Angeles-Long Beach Metropolitan Area

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