You’re not travelling if you don’t leave your hotel on a business trip

You’re not travelling if you don’t leave your hotel on a business trip

With such a lot of world to see and your flight paid by the company, it’s almost a crime to not take advantage of the free travel and see the city while you’re there. So much global business is conducted in exciting and vibrant cities like New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Sydney—all well-versed in catering to the needs of the business traveller.

Tight schedules often lack scope to travel as you would on holiday, meaning it’s time to get savvy with your time. Even a short stroll around the local area of your hotel searching for dinner will allow you to connect with the city more than simply holing up and ordering room service. With a bit of planning, you can transform your business trip without needing to tack on an extra day or two of your hard-earned holiday time.

Of course, if you can take an extra day—do! Use this day to properly explore, stroll around the city and discover the place you’ve been working in. This is also excellent for unwinding after a potentially stressful whirlwind of meetings, allowing some respite before returning home and back to work.

Otherwise, use your time wisely around your meetings and schmoozing. The easiest way to get a feel for a country or city is through its cuisine. Ask your concierge for recommendations nearby then head out and enjoy! Good food can turn any hectic trip to a mini holiday for your tastebuds. After dinner, make your way to something you wanted to see or visit—do some research before you go and identify two or three things to prioritise according to your time allowances. Don’t try to cram everything in; your business trip will likely be busy enough, so don’t feel stressed on your downtime too! Keep it light; wandering is the most relaxing way to see a new city. If your business partners have organised meals out, make sure you try something new and really enjoy the cuisine—shared experiences and meals make networking very simple indeed. While you’ll likely miss out on the simple pleasure of wandering the streets to find a restaurant if you go with work, take your time on your way back to your hotel. A few extra minutes to check out a side street or piece of graffiti will do wonders for your state of mind and stress levels.

Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

Ask your colleagues for recommendations for lunch; if you enjoy their company, ask them to show you somewhere and share a meal. If you prefer sandwiches, walk with your food and find a park or square to watch the locals go by. Pop into a deli or a bakery and sample a local delicacy­—just try things!

For short trips, skip the cramped and stuffy hotel gym in favour of a jog or walk to a tourist attraction. The fresh air and views will wake you up better than a 40-minute treadmill pounding and you may even spot a café to return to for your pre-meeting coffee and breakfast.

Remember your right to boundaries when travelling on business: it’s easy for a simple one-hour coffee meeting to turn into several hours in the name of inane networking. Let your colleagues or clients know there is a deadline by scheduling time with them; when the scheduled time runs out, wrap things up at their natural point. Don’t cut a meeting short when it’s going places just because you want to go places, but creating boundaries helps protect your limited free time. In the same vein, don’t feel obliged to spend your free time with your colleagues either. You can personalise your time after work obligations are met, the same way you would at home, so don’t be afraid to decline an offer that doesn’t seem as tempting as a bit of sightseeing would.

People everywhere choose careers for the travel opportunities they promise; keep seeing your business travel as an opportunity to explore. With a little effort and planning, you’ll find there’s so much to discover, even if you’ve only got five minutes.