I’ve spent the last week on business travel and really enjoyed it! A business trip can be draining, but it is important to do things for yourself on these trips to feel fulfilled. Here are some rules I live by on my work trips.
Don’t Eat At Chains
This may sound obvious, but try your best to not eat at any chains. Of course, when you have a big drive that day, by all means grab your Chick Fil A. However, I don’t go to Starbucks or Subway when I can find a local coffee shop or deli. Again, this sounds dumb but you will be shocked how much it improves your experience to make this small change. Not only will you get to explore a new area, be pleasantly surprised by the food and experience, but you will also be supporting local businesses. Often times when I seek out these local restaurants, I find really fun avenues full of shopping and murals.
Sit At The Bar
Sitting at a table by yourself is not only boring, but it feels very closed off. I like sitting at the bar at restaurants because I can watch sports, chat with my neighbors and the bartender. It truly does make you more open to opportunities and new friends.
Go For A Nature Walk
After a long day of work, you need to get off screens and get outside. Intentionally looking for parks or riverwalks instead of around your hotel, makes the experience so much better. I was super lucky to get to enjoy my walks in the beautiful fall weather.
Rely On The Destination Marketing Organization Websites
I saved my best tip for last, relying on destination marketing organizations. These are state funded companies where the whole goal is to increase tourism in the area. They are great resources to discover local hotspots, learn about special traditions of the area, historical features and breakdowns of each neighborhood. You have probably heard of these before, they all have similar names like “Experience Columbia”, “Visit Music City”, “I Love NY” “Choose Chicago”.
These DMOs are where you will find information about festivals and events going on while you are in town, or fun challenges the city offers. For example, I did Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail while I was in town and earned a free t-shirt for going to six stops! It was such a fun and rewarding way to explore.
By doing each of these things after your work hours, you will truly get to experience the city you are in for your business trip on a more personal level. Business trips are only fun if you put in the effort to explore! I can guarantee you will be exhausted, but I’d rather be tired and have had a good time than alone in my hotel eating fast food every night.
Would you like a job that sends you on business trips? Where would you go?
If you liked this post, check out my tips about What I Learned On My First Week Of Business Travel
