Making Business Travel A Mini Adventure

What comes to mind when you think of business travel? Smart suits? Laptops on planes? The red eye and copious amounts of coffee? You're not wrong, far from being the stereotypical business travel arrangements, it's something people live and breathe regularly. But just because that's how it's done, it doesn't mean you can't change it.

Work still comes first for obvious reasons, but these jaunts out of town - you can use them to build in some downtime if you're clever and strategic about your plans.

As hybrid working stretches what it means to “be in the office”, the smartest travelers are doing more without compromising on results. Let's look at how your next business trip can be the mini break you need.

Land Earlier

If you're not restricted, then booking a slightly earlier flight allows you more downtime, more breathing space, and a chance to not rush to your meeting but take a more leisurely way to get to where you need to be.

That earlier flight could mean you get breakfast in a quaint little city bistro instead of airport coffee and a questionable sandwich. You're already paying to travel there, so why not make it work for you, not just the company?

Book Smart, Not Central

Unless central is the smart choice, then go for it. But the hotel by the conference center or the client’s base isn't always going to serve you well for downtime. You want to choose a location with personality, character, and a lot going on other than work.

Let's say you're heading into San Diego, choosing a location that is a thriving area, littered with small restaurants, bars, or the popular Sidebar Nightclub means you get to swap that standard “team dinner” for something much more fun, so you can relax and enjoy your time away from home.

Walk Everywhere

Not so easy if you're heading out somewhere rural, but if you're going into the suburbs or the city for meetings, then why not choose to walk for a while, even if not the entire distance?

You'll be surprised at what you can see and do as opposed to sitting in a cab or rental car and zipping past. Even if you walk back so you arrive on time and then take your time heading to the hotel, choosing to walk can allow you to see more of where you are than just traffic and blurred sidewalks.

Build In One Thing for You

It doesn't need to be grand - a morning run perhaps, or a short museum trip, even grabbing a theatre show for a couple of hours one evening. You need to give yourself time to do one thing for you, not just for your employer, but something you enjoy. Because when you make travel a personal event for just an hour off the clock, everything becomes easier and more enjoyable. And yes, a quick massage in a spa before you head back to the airport absolutely counts.

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