Traveling for business often isn’t as exciting or glamorous as those on the outside looking in perceive it to be. There are, however, a few tricks I’ve learned over the last quarter century to make the most of life on the road. I’ve snuck in enough fun to more than make up for the missed flights, disappointing hotel rooms and bad meals.
Take a few minutes for yourself
Seldom does it take more than an hour to soak in some of the local color wherever you might be traveling. Social media makes this a bit easier because you can just send out a tweet asking your friends where they would have lunch in [insert city name here]. Now, instead of yet another meal at [insert chain restaurant here] you can dine at a local favorite.
For example at WordCamp Phoenix earlier this year, I was directed to a restaurant I now consider one of the top five I have ever dined. It turned out that FnB was only a short six-block walk from the hotel where I was staying. It’s unlikely I’d have found this gem without asking. That was more than six months ago and I can still taste that amazing meal.
Stay where you can walk
I just returned from a meeting in the Kansas City area. I could have stayed at a hotel within walking distance to the meetings but not near much else. Instead, I opted to stay a few miles away in a part of town called Country Club Plaza. It’s a shopping and dining district that allowed me to get out and walk in each evening. My hotel may not have been as nice, but my experience wandering the plaza for an hour or so each evening more than made up for it. Plus, I got a little exercise.
Visit a landmark you’ve always wanted to see
Twenty-five years ago when I started traveling for business, I always assumed I could return to the places I really liked. Yet, there are many places I found interesting but have yet to return to for fun. Montreal is a good example. It’s an amazing and rich city that I’ve been t0 three times for business. They were always short trips and I have yet to walk in the old city. It’s a shame. If I visit again, I’ll make the time to do it; even if only for an hour.
Taking in a sporting event
This year, I’ve been lucky and have been able to see my hometown Milwaukee Brewers play in both Fenway Park (Boston) and Chase Field (Phoenix). In both cases, I just happened to be in that city for business at the same time the Brewers were there. I was able to visit two ballparks I’d never been to and cheer my home team on. I suppose I could have stayed in the hotel, ordered room service, worked and then watched TV. But really, I end up doing that enough anyway.
You get the idea. Some of these ideas are free and, even the ones that are not, are relatively inexpensive when you compare the incremental cost to the total cost of the trip.
Sounds like we’re on the same page today, eh?
Well, you’re doing it and I’m just thinking/writing about it. I’ll be chained to this desk for the next couple weeks then the travel gets a tad bit nuts through mid-November.