If you travel a lot because of your business you know just how often you can begin to dread the thought of having to travel in that plane over and over again. Dealing with all the hassles at the airports, dealing with jet lag, dealing with being away from your family and friends so often. All of these things can simply make the though of a business trip one of sheer drudgery. But, you can change that. You can look at it in a different light if you set your mind to it.
Since you are on a business trip a lot of the normal stress of planning for a trip is eliminated because generally, it’s your company that’s going to take care of the airfare as well as where you will be staying. So this can give you plenty of time to decide what kind of pleasure that you can add to mix in with the dull drums of the routine of the business trip.
Of course, you are going to know where your company is sending you on your business trip so why not take some time out before you go to do some research about the place you will be visiting. Check out what kind of neat attractions they might have or find out what is considered some of the good nightspots there might be close by where you are staying. You can also figure out what good restaurants you can go to while on your trip so that you aren’t just limited to what’s offered at the hotel.
See if you can’t include a couple of extra days on the trip, try to make those days at the end of the whatever business you are involved with during the trip. This means even if you end up having to pay for the room. This way you are giving yourself a little reward and at the same time, you might have a little time to relax before returning home.
You should also find out what kind of room your company has booked you for. If you discover that it doesn’t have everything that fits your needs it shouldn’t be too hard to call the hotel up and see if they can’t give you a room that offers more of what you want. Even the smallest detail can help make your stay a lot more pleasant.
If the weather is good during your trip, don’t spend all of your time in the hotel room, even if you have some work that needs to be done, take that work with you outside so you can enjoy the great weather instead of being locked up with your work inside the hotel.
Consider getting together with the client or other business people who might be there and try experiencing something fun to do together to take the edge off the stress of doing nothing but business together. For example, if the city you are in has a sports team of any kind and they’re playing while you are there try and get tickets for a group and go out and enjoy the game together.
Try bringing some comfortable casual clothes, your camera, and take some time being a tourist when there is a lull in your work. Forget about the work, forget about the meeting just get out and mingle with the locals and have some simple freedom and fun.
