If you’re a frequent business traveler, you’ll know that despite your best intentions, it’s easy to leave a destination and only have seen hotel rooms and office walls. But there are a few simple way to ensure that you get to enjoy your next business trip, and feel like you’ve actually been traveling, and not just spending time on a plane or in a sterile hotel room.
Here’s how to make the most of your next business trip:
Research Ahead
Spend some time on Google, and research your destination before you arrive. Not only will this help you feel more excited about the trip, but you’ll know more about its points of interest, history, and culture. This will increase your chances of success when dealing with the locals, and give you some ideas of where to go during your downtime.
Be Prepared for Delays
Be sure to plan your schedule with a lot of time between when you’re expected to arrive, and your first meeting. Flight delays and traffic delays happen, and if you leave space at the end of the trip you may get a chance to visit that tourist site, or wander through the local market before you head to the airport.
See if you can combine Business with Pleasure
If you don’t have to be straight back in the office, ask if you can take a day of vacation time, and fly home a day or two later. This will give you time to see some of the sights, unwind, and return refreshed and ready to work.
Explore the Culinary Delights
One of the best ways to get to know a place is by its food. Whenever possible, choose local dishes, and ask the waiter for their recommendations. Who knows, this may introduce you to a new favourite dish or cuisine.
Make the most of your downtime
Sure, after a long day of work, it can be tempting to head back to your hotel, grab room service, and crawl into bed. But instead, try a movie or a show, a jazz club, nice restaurant, or a quick wander through a museum.
Do some Exercise
Instead of working out in the hotel gym, visit a website like mapmyrun, and find some good running and walking routes in the area. This will give you a chance to see the city by foot, and it’s an excellent way to see local areas you might otherwise miss.
Take your Spouse
Believe it or not, many companies won’t mind if you bring your spouse, or even the kids along with you, as long as you get everything done. Obviously you can’t expect the company to pick up the entire bill, but it’s always more fun to experience a new city with your family.
Make some friends
Locals are often happy to show you around, in exchange for a chat, or the chance to practice some English. Check out Couchsurfing, which has meetups in cities around the world, giving you the chance to get some advice on where to go, people to hang out with whenever you have some downtime.
