How to turn a business trip into leisure time

How to turn a business trip in leisure

Ah, the age old question - could you actually have fun on a business trip? Furthermore, if you can, where do you draw the line, in order to stay productive, before everything spirals out of control? Well, the answer to these questions isn’t as simple as one might expect.

Still, our advisory travel experts have been dealing with this topic for years now, and they’ve come up with a short list of things to do, and most importantly, the ones you should avoid doing at all costs. What makes them such experts in the field? Like I mentioned, they’ve been doing this for a long time, and they still haven’t been fired, so I guess they’re doing something right.

Plan ahead

Some people might say that planning ahead takes the whole magic out of the situation, but when you’re in a time crunch, there’s no better way of getting things done. You’ll probably have your time schedule before you depart, so don’t be afraid to put in all on a piece of paper. Once you complete this task, you’ll have a clear insight on the amount of free time you can use. However, don’t stop there. Write down all of the locations you’ll have to visit, and then move on to Google, and find out what are some interesting places worth visiting nearby. One tip, though, do not plan for every minute of your day, as that will only add unnecessary stress to the situation. Pick out one or two things for each day, and try to stick to it as much as possible.

Pick a hotel closer to downtown

To be fair, in order to follow this rule, you actually need to be able to make a choice, which you aren’t always, but work with me for a second. If you have the option, choose a hotel that’s closer to the city center, instead of staying in ones closer to the airport. Sure, you’ll lose an hour or so in the transport, but trust me, it’s worth it. Any downtime you receive is pretty useless, if you find yourself trapped in an airport, with nothing around you, but a lonely coffee shop.

Try to sneak a Sunday in

Most press conferences start on Mondays, so use it to your advantage. Instead of arriving at your hotel Sunday evening, try to move it to Saturday. This way, you’ll have a whole day at your disposal, allowing you to visit all the museum, art collections, but also restaurants and bars you might desire. Best of all, you won’t have to constantly look at the clock. Just take your time and relax.

Don’t be afraid to use the public transport

Driving around in taxis or rental cars can save a lot of time, but in my opinion, if you go this route, you’ll never connect with the locals. Most people will be more than happy to call themselves casual tourists, and that’s perfectly fine, but if you want to integrate yourself with the culture, you have to check it out from the locals’ eyes.

Furthermore, if you visit Europe, for example, you’ll find out that their public transport is usually top notch. Not only that the busses and trains arrive dead on time, but they will also allow you to jump from place to place in a matter of minutes. The idea of planning ahead bodes well here too, as a couple minutes research can save you a ton of time afterwards.

Skip a gym for a day

Nowadays, most corporations care about their employees’ lifestyle, and more time than not, gym passes are included in the package. However, I advise you not to use it on your next business trip. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking you to skip your workout altogether, but instead, use your body weight, and hit up the local park, or go for a jog around the city. This way, you’ll combine your workout with a sightseeing trip. Wouldn’t you call that highly efficient?