Comments on: On the Company Dime: Making the Most of Business Travel

By: Thomas Aylmer

Thomas Aylmer — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:35:46 +0000

I heard a consultant joking once, he said, first time you love it, second time you can stand it, and the third time you never want to do it again. It’s probably very true. The better the company lets you travel, the less stressful it will be, but if you have a family that you are constantly leaving, that would never be easy.

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:56:26 +0000

Sounds like you have a pretty neat job that you are able to do that!

By: Jayne

Jayne — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:03:39 +0000

5 out of the 12 countries I have visited this year were on company time and money and I was so grateful for every opportunity. I maybe have it easier than others as I plan my own business trips so I always make sure I have enough leisure time to explore a place afterwards. As you say, prior research is key. Business travel has also taken me to places I might never have chosen myself – Estonia, Lithuania, even China were pretty low on my wish list but became a pleasant surprise when I flew there for work. In a ideal world I would love to travel independently forever but until I am a millionaire I feel extremely blessed to be able to travel for work.

By: Jess Porter

Jess Porter — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:41:47 +0000

I don't know whether this would be of any use to you but staying in serviced apartments can make your trip a little less uncomfortable. You're right, hotels are completely sterile and it does not help when you're already stressed. It's not going to change the fact that you'll probably see very little of the country but it does feel more like living in a country for a while rather than being a tourist or business traveller.

By: Friday Siteseeing: Corpse Flowers, Not-So-Private Restrooms, Endangered Travel Traditions | Cheap Flights Usa

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:33:43 +0000

[...] the downsides of regular business travel? Optimize, and turn that convention into an awesome vacation. [...]

By: Friday Siteseeing: Corpse Flowers, Not-So-Private Restrooms, Endangered Travel Traditions | Paperless Media

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:33:27 +0000

[...] the downsides of regular business travel? Optimize, and turn that convention into an awesome vacation. [...]

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:49:27 +0000

a mean trick is right! I was so excited for my first business trip and it turned out to be brutal.

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:49:01 +0000

haha all I do in the office is plan trips, more or less.

By: Anil

Anil — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:35:57 +0000

Planning is definitely key. Business trips typically leave you jumping from one point to another so you've got to research ahead. That's what the office is for! .-= Anil´s last blog ..The Best Comments Of The Month: March 2010 =-.

By: Emily @ Maiden Voyage

Emily @ Maiden Voyage — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:00:18 +0000

Business travel definitely seems like a mean trick. You feel like you’re going on vacation, but it’s nothing like it. I went to London for a week on business in February, and my coworkers and I were so excited. Our hopes were quickly squashed when we realized we were going to be stuck in an office until at least 5 every day. We did go out and eat really nice dinners in the evening, and we stayed at a great boutique hotel — two definite perks of traveling on the company dime. But it was definitely hard to enjoy the city. Thankfully, on our last full day, my boss back home emailed us and told us to only work a half day so we could actually go enjoy the city during the day. I left the following day for Istanbul for a three-night vacation. While the company didn’t pay for that, they paid for me to get from Austin to London, which is the most expensive part! So it was incredibly easy to buy a cheap flight and extend my business trip with a few vacation days. That made it worth it!
.-= Emily @ Maiden Voyage´s last blog ..Guest Post: Two Days in Paris =-.

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:40:38 +0000

thanks Joya!I can’t say I’m a fan of business travel but it’s definitely important to make the best of it.

By: Steph

Steph — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:39:57 +0000

You are right. Maybe I am expecting too much

By: Chris - The Aussie Nomad

Chris - The Aussie Nomad — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:00:32 +0000

I’ve had one business trip. Just an overnight skip down to Tasmania. Worked all day then hit the pub for a feed and beers afterwards.

Nothing glamorous but just having the ability to chill out at a little local pub that i would otherwise never visit was great.
.-= Chris – The Aussie Nomad´s last blog ..Mail Redirection, Bills and More =-.

By: Joya

Joya — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:00:51 +0000

Hi Steph. These are great tips. I agree that I probably wouldn’t want to travel for work because I’d rather go somewhere to enjoy it rather than stay in an office but these are helpful to make the most of not so appealing situation.
.-= Joya´s last blog ..Hello world! =-.

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:28:08 +0000

yeah I’m sure that the nature of your job has a lot to do with it.

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:27:37 +0000

good advice!

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:27:24 +0000

haha yeah, the eating out is a nice perk but it doesn’t quite make up for all the sitting around.

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:24:07 +0000

Where are you headed in Georgia? If it’s Atlanta or Savannah let me know for suggestions…

By: Cornelius Aesop

Cornelius Aesop — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:03:18 +0000

I"m going to Georgia soon on my first business trip, luckily I'm able to go a few days early and enjoy the weekend before my conference starts on Sunday. .-= Cornelius Aesop´s last blog ..Don’t Want No Short Short URL =-.

By: Candice

Candice — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:16:56 +0000

Hahaha, so true. Sounds so glam when I say, “My company is sending me to France and Seattle this year.” In reality I won’t really get to see anything, I’ll be working my ass off, and the only real perks is eating out all the time…which inevitably leaves me feeling sluggish and disgusting.

But you’re right, be prepared. I made so many mistakes when I first when to France. So, so, so many.