Traveling for business doesn’t have to mean you can’t have any fun on your trip. Find ways to experience the best of a destination during your next business trip with these four tips.
Extend your stay
Business trips can be busy affairs, filled with meetings, conferences, workshops and team-building activities, just to name a few. If your day-to-day schedule is too busy to get in a little sightseeing, why not add a couple of days to your trip? By arriving a few days before the business part of your trip starts — or by staying a day or two later — you can score yourself a mini-vacation, without trying to work at the same time. If you’re flying to your destination, ask the boss if you can rearrange your flight to add a little extra time in the locale, and don’t forget to offer to pay any airfare differences.
Eat outside the hotel
No matter how busy your schedule is, there’s no doubt you’ll have to eat during your trip. What you don’t have to do, though, is settle for the continental breakfast buffet in the hotel lobby or room service after a long day of meetings. Instead, use your meal time to savor the destination with a dish at one of the local must-try restaurants. If you’re in town for meetings, you can also score business points by bringing a client or colleague to one of the city’s most renowned restaurants.
Skip the gym and head outdoors
If you’re the type of traveler who doesn’t let a little business trip get in the way of your fitness regimen, you probably appreciate the cardio machines and free weights of a hotel gym. If you’re trying to experience the destination while you’re in town, though, don’t waste precious time staring at a wall while running indoors. Grab your running shoes and go for a jog or walk outside instead. Whether you’re running through a local park or simply walking the neighborhood blocks, you’ll get a much better feel for the destination by getting out and immersing yourself in it, rather than working out in an indoor gym.
Schedule smartly
Every minute counts when it comes to making the most of your business trip, especially if you’re trying to experience the destination while you’re there. If you’re in control of your own schedule, try to book appointments back to back to leave a couple hours’ worth of spare time in the late afternoon or early morning, rather than spacing appointments out throughout the day and never having enough time to check out a local landmark or attraction. Making sure your schedule is tight can mean the difference between having just enough downtime to grab a latte between meetings and being able to take a local tour at the end of the day.
What are your best tips for experiencing a destination during a business trip? Let us know in the comments!
