Fun During Business Travel

For first timers, business travel sounds like a fairy tale. It feels like your company is paying for your vacations to some exciting new corner of the world. But those who have been on business trips will tell you otherwise. Most business trips, if not planned properly, end up in a blur of rushing up meetings, conferences, jet-lag and personality differences with colleagues. All plans for sight-seeing are reduced to the inside of the office building and hotel lobby. Here are a few pointers to ensure that your business trip does not turn out this way.

1. Spend the company dollars

Remember that if the company is paying for it, then ALWAYS buy business class tickets. If the budget is low, then appoint some people to browse for Discount business class tickets. With a little effort, you can easily get hold of cheap business class tickets. Don’t make the life altering mistake of travelling in economy class during company sponsored trips, which may set a precedent and pose a problem for all your future business trips. The travelling business class will make sure that you’re more fresh and rested for the days ahead.

2. Write it down

Remember that this is not a family vacation and you will be expected to work and make the most out of the trip for the company. Thus it is ideal to have a formal schedule or timetable for the trip. Try to set up meetings and work related activities during the early part of the day, leaving space for fun in the evenings. If a business trip is pre-planned, then it usually allows you free time on the day you land at your destination. Most people use that day to explore the place and have fun. My experience says that one should always rest a great deal after landing in for a business trip. It allows you to unwind from the travel, recover from the jet lag and get ready for the busy days ahead.

3. Forget the wives

Yes, I know you feel sorry for leaving your wife behind, but it does not mean you are obligated to spend the little free time you have in browsing malls for that designer bag she talks about all the time. Also you are not obligated to hang out with your colleagues if you don’t want to go to that museum. Grab your fun colleagues or meet up with an old friend and do what’s fun for you. Remember this is not a school field trip where everyone has to stick together. You can always excuse yourself from unappealing activities and take time to do your own stuff, even if that means watching a movie all alone in the hotel room.

4. Take an extra day

Even if your company does not give you an allowance for staying in an extra day or two, spend your own money and stay back for a couple of days in the destination city to make the most of the fare the company spent on your business class ticket. Forget about work then and use the free day to unwind and explore the city. Make a vacation out of the free day and reward yourself for your hard work. As they say, “All’s well that ends well!”