It's not narrow, just different. We're not all 20 something's with free schedules.
Once you have kids and become involved in their lives, something like this goes from being an enjoyable vacation-like work-bonding experience to ridiculous pain-in-the-ass to schedule time away from family requirement.
That isn't to say that it can't or shouldn't be done outright, but that like anything, it should be done with regard to the people and personalities on your team's best interests at heart.
I appreciate this kind of trip and culture is not for everyone.
But I worry about the stereotype you project - we're not all 20-somethings, and I think even our 20-somethings would object to you thinking they had anything like "free schedules"!
I totally agree with your comment that anything like this needs to be done with regard to the people and personalities on your team.
I have wife and kids, definitely not 20-something anymore, and work at a global company (i.e., not startup). Last year I spent 120+ days on the road.
While I respect that some people may not accept they have to travel for work at all, I don't think the stereotype of "only single 20-something with free time would do it" is valid. And 10 days, a couple of days per year is not really unreasonable.
If you love what you do, make it happen. If you don't like, then quit and go work on another place where travel is no req'd.
Once you have kids and become involved in their lives, something like this goes from being an enjoyable vacation-like work-bonding experience to ridiculous pain-in-the-ass to schedule time away from family requirement.
That isn't to say that it can't or shouldn't be done outright, but that like anything, it should be done with regard to the people and personalities on your team's best interests at heart.