Most people dream of the opportunity to travel and see new places. But when your opportunity to travel is mainly due to your job, then the idea of traveling all the time suddenly doesn’t seem so exciting. But travel is travel, and with a little effort you can find ways to make your business travel fun and still experience the joy of new places.
Learn About the Town
It may seem like a no-brainer, but learning about the area you’re heading to can make a big difference in your trip. It doesn’t matter if you’re going just a couple of towns away or to the opposite side of the world, knowing where you’re going and what they have to do there can make your trip more enjoyable. TripAdvisor is an easy one-stop site that can tell you about:
-Hotels.
-Restaurants.
-Trip ideas.
-Shopping.
-Forums.
-Apps.
-Travel guides.
-Cruises.
So if you’re looking for cheap hotels in New York City, click on ‘hotels’ and sort them by price or ratings. If you click on ‘things to do’ it will show categories for performances, museums, outdoors, sports, and so much more. You can see what the nightlife has to offer, and you can even do searches by dates. People have left comments and ratings so you get an idea of the restaurants and activities, and if it is something you’d enjoy.
Apps that Can Help
If you travel for work then there’s a good chance you’re an app junkie like most professionals. CNN has a listing of up to 50 apps that can be great for travelers on the go. There are some well-known ones like Kayak, but there are a few you may not have heard of that could be helpful.
-Wikitude: Digital tour guide.
-mTrip: Offline maps for when you don’t have cell service.
-JetLag Genie: Helpful tips for overcoming jet lag.
-Fotopedia Heritage: Image based location guide.
-aMetro: Transportation information.
-EveryTrail: Location guide especially great for outdoors.
-Postagram: Creates postcards with your iPhone.
-mPassprot: Medical concierge.
You might also want to check out Foodspotting and Swirl. These apps will help you find the best restaurants and places to shop near your hotel.
Mix Business and Pleasure
The culture of business is changing. Newer generations are emerging, and CEOs are becoming younger and younger, and with them they’re bringing in new ideas of what a creative and motivating work environment is. Zappos has been one standout company that is doing things differently, allowing for fun and a freer forum in the workplace. They tell US News: “This helps increase productivity, communication, and creativity, while reducing sick time and turnover.”
Finding ways to have fun, while staying professional in your meetings can help make your business trips more enjoyable. The boys at Theta Tau are looking for corporate sponsors, and as they reach out to possible investors, it’s a great chance to mix business with pleasure. Instead of just having a meeting, take potential sponsors on a chartered fishing trip for a day to make the pitch. Leverage the places and environment around you to make your business venture more pleasurable for everyone.
More Tips for Fun Business Travel
Business writer Michell Haase offers a few more tips for bringing the fun back to business:
-Take an extra day.
-Travel like a local. (Bus, bike, or just hang out in a café.)
-Hire a local to show you around.
-Go to a dive bar or someplace the locals hang out.
-Enjoy a park or outdoor area.
-Ask for tips from your hotel concierge or business hosts.
Also, if you have a credit card that has special credit card offerings or rewards, check with your provider to see if they have any perks for the area you’re traveling to. This is a common practice now among banks and financial companies, who understand that consumers have a lot of choices when it comes to how they spend their money while traveling.
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