There is always this illusion that those who travel for work have a glamorous life. (Outside of your typical travel bloggers and influencers.) And that they are being able to visit many places thanks to being sent by their employer for work.
If you are one of those people that loves to travel, being in a job that requires work travel to different locations can be a blessing. Accommodation, meals and activities are covered by your gig, which is a big plus. But this does not necessarily mean you will be visiting the city the same way you would on vacation. One thing I picked up even before becoming a global freelencer is that there is illusion of work travel. It certainly looks far better from the outside looking in.
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Misconceptions about Work Travel
A big misconception around work travel is the amount of free time you have to play tourist in a city.
• You rarely see a city properly. You have to intentionally carve out time before or after work to see sights.
• Even when “tourist opportunities” arise, you may still be on the job.
• For me, the moment I land in a city, I “clock in” & don’t “clock out” until the on-site event/project ends. Which means sleep is a nice to have but not a guarantee and my itinerary is packed.
Regardless, I love ❤️ every second of work traveling and wouldn’t give it up! Additionally, there are ways to get a taste of the city you are working in. How you ask? You simply have to get creative and find ways to sneak in some tourist things into the mix.
Top wORK tRIP Tips
See my top work trip tips on How To Work & Travel At The Same Time. I have applied these to my business trips in these countries. (Just to name a few.)
Research and Planning
Do a little research and planning before arriving to your city of work. Figure out what your schedule will be, if any free time/gaps will be available. Additionally, find out the locations you will be at such as hotel, office, event venues, etc. Research what is near these places that could be easily visited during this free time/gaps.
Restaurants And Food Suggestions
Dinners can be an easy way to make your trip a culinary one. Ask local work contacts or find online restaurants and food suggestions that should be explored while in said city. What’s for dinner. Suggest to clients or employees if you may be taken to places you shouldn’t miss. If already pre-planned by work, rest assured. They have most likely picked a restaurant that will be a culinary highlight in the city.
Walk
If able to walk to locations, walk! This allows you to explore neighborhoods. If in a city, the hotel selected by your employer will most likely be very central to places to see, things to do, etc. Add some fitness time into your work trip jf you are a runner. Consider a run opposed to hitting the hotel gym to kill two birds with one stone. I can assure you that your body will thank you.
Add Days
If your schedule allows, consider extending your trip. Add some days either in the front or back end of when you are committed to work and play tourist. Sometimes, the cost of extending your stay may be minimal compared to returning later on your own. I did this during a work trip to Brazil and added a Latina solo trip to visit Paraguay.
Sign Up For Loyalty Programs
Sign up for loyalty travel programs and be sure to add your frequent flyer number in flights, hotels and car rentals (if applicable) & earn points/miles for personal travel or upgrades for future travel.
Use A Travel Credit Card
If your work allows you to use your own credit card for travel expenses, consider using a credit card that earns rewards on travel-related costs and use this card during your work trip. You will be surprised how quickly you will earn rewards, for guess what, future travel.
Read my post on travel credit cards.
Final Note
There are many ways to make the most out of your work trips and still enjoy the city you are working from and/or earn rewards which will allow you to use for personal trips to save you money.
To my fellow comrades who travel for work, are there any tips that have worked for you? (Share in the comments below.)
Disclaimer: This how to work and travel article may contain affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission on purchases made through these links. By making a purchase using these links, you are directly supporting and allowing me, a Latina travel blogger to continue providing you with free high-quality travel guides. Thank you!
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