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Business travel - what do you do?

klee73010

klee73010

I might have a thing for drummers
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Apr 25, 2015
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Some of you may be aware, I actually have a "boring day job" (ha!) as a trainer. I was told when I took on the position there was a chance I'd be asked to travel, but it never happened, and then the company eliminated the majority of business travel. Well... my supervisor presented me with a "stretch assignment" that will mean one week of travel in the summer (super excited, btw!). It will be my first ever business trip!

For those of you who've traveled on business before... what do you do in your down time?
My initial thought - wooooo! totally free to explore! - no kids, no chores! woooo! one week! woooo!

My picture of this trip:
1) Morning running in a new place
2) work and work meetings (I am not a salaried employee, so I work hourly, and am usually not allowed overtime - this means I am typically 7am-330ish schedule)
3) evenings to see things in the area - walks, city free events, touristy things.

Am I totally off base? I don't necessarily want to go, and sit on my mobile devices/computer (because that's what I do at home after kids' bed time)

My trip is tentatively the second week in July, and it is to Southfield, Michigan - a city not far outside Detroit. (hoping to finalize that info in early May!)
 
My husband travels for business a lot and in his downtime he works on his own projects (mostly involving writing on his laptop), meets friends, takes walks, and visits local attractions. Have a great time!
 
@michelepixels my husband has gone on a few trips and has done similar - out with co-workers, hung out at hotel. I don't want to just sit in the hotel, I want to experience the place! mixed with this is something I've never had a chance to do, seems totally thrilling. LOL!
 
I've traveled a few times for business. Once we went to Maryland, but the work schedule and the plane schedule didn't allow for anything fun. I ended up sleeping once I was done working for the day!

Another time we were in Rochester, NY (upstate) for training for 2 weeks. So we headed over to Niagara Falls on the weekend. That was pretty awesome! I think it mostly depends on whether you will have a vehicle, and whether you will be able to spend the evenings as you want.

Have fun!
 
klee73010 said:
@michelepixels my husband has gone on a few trips and has done similar - out with co-workers, hung out at hotel. I don't want to just sit in the hotel, I want to experience the place! mixed with this is something I've never had a chance to do, seems totally thrilling. LOL!
Click to expand...

Yep! Like I said, he goes on walks and visits local attractions. He likes to walk on the waterfront in Seattle and San Francisco. In China on one business trip he walked on part of the Great Wall!
 
my hubby is a songwriter/musician and he packs his puter and all the stuff (he has this amplifier that goes in his ear thingee) and he writes and plays for hours on his downtime.
Me? I like to go to museums and people watch for hours...it is my joy! I also pack notebooks to draw and sit and drink a coffee. I love to use public transportation, talk with the locals and thrift shop!
 
When I traveled for work I was gone all day. All. Stinking. Day. (And the evening.) So I'm no help there, except to say that I loved just relaxing in bed in front of the TV for 5 minutes before falling asleep lol. But I can tell you that Southfield is a great city, and I hope you get to do a little bit of traveling around the area! :) I'm sure some of the Michiganders can help you out with ideas, but here are some off the top of my head: There is the Somerset Collection (fancy-schmancy talk for "mall") in Troy. Or you could take a little trip to the Henry Ford Museum, which is basically a required school field trip for MI kids. :) And Detroit is having a renaissance so maybe you might want to check out some great art or restaurants there. Perhaps there will be some Michigan natives whom you could ask for on more specific ideas on where to go.
 
My husband travels just a little bit. Whenever he goes he's usually busy almost the whole time. In his down time he'll explore the area. One time we went with him...we got to hang out at the pool during the day and explore the town with him at night.
 
if money and paid time off was no issue (husband is out of PTO when accounting for our *hopeful* portland trip this year), Hubby and kids would come too, and they would hang out all day, and we'd hang out at night... and then take a long weekend and drive to northern MI where he has family... but just their flights and a rental car (assuming I will not have one provided) was $1700. :( :tantrum
But on the other hand, I'm excited to go on my own. I hope it gets finalized sooner, rather than later!
 
I travel extensively for business, and while I have experienced some hugely fabulous places, most of my experience is that there isn't much down time unless I make it. Evenings are usually dinner with the client or meetings with the team to prepare for the next day or solve problems.

If it's a particularly interesting place I'll fly in or stay over and pay my own hotel. Sometimes airfare is way less expensive if you fly the next day so then it's a treat my company pays hotel and I get to explore the city.
 
oh so long since I traveled for work I can't even remember but one thing I always loved was trying to experience local life, which I guess is what you guys say"explore" hope you get lots of "you" time!!!!!!
 
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