Summer Travel 2014: Escape From Your Business Trip

Ah, summer, that glorious time of year when elevator conversations turn into travelogues and weekend bags hide out under desks. It’s suntan season, and the following pages serve as your all-purpose guide to doing it right: the best carry-on suitcase, treats to bring back to the office, novels to read, and apps to download, and a definitive calendar for booking flights and taking vacation days (without pissing off your boss). But first things first—where to go? We picked eight unexpected destinations, from an English seaside town to an Arabian desert oasis to a woodsy retreat outside New York. They’re all close to major cities, so business travelers can tack on a long weekend for pleasure. Think you’re too important to miss some meetings? Getting away improves productivity, alleviates stress, and generally makes you a happier, less curmudgeonly colleague. Just do it, people.