While we may not always be in a position to choose our business trips and destinations, we can choose to have fun while on them.
1Business traveler
For most, having a holiday while on business sounds impossible.
But as the saying goes, every dark cloud has a silver lining, and even the dreariest business destinations can have a fun element if only we looked closely.
While the prospect of business travel seems exciting initially, the novelty of it soon wears off, leaving us with trips we dread going on.
Surprisingly, however, a holiday or mini-vacation while on business does not take much time or effort.
In fact, with proper planning, you can avoid getting jaded and make your business trip fun. How?
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In this article, we guide you on how you can vacation on your business trip.
5 Tips To Turn Any Business Trip Into A Business Holiday.
- DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Before you travel to your business destination, ask yourself what the place offers in terms of attractions.
Is it a quaint old town with a rich history? Is it a seaside locale? Or is it one of the world’s best safari destinations?
This will help you determine what kind of fun activities you can slot in your itinerary.
Also related to this, you might want to consider whether it is an ideal destination for a family holiday.
However, it is perhaps prudent for those traveling on company business to check on your company/ employer’s policy first before tagging your family along.
A well-researched business travel trip yields dividends.
For example, it will serve you well to determine whether you will take a road trip and, if so, the scenic route you will travel on to max out the fun!
Prior research also enables you to pack adequately for the trip and all its attendant fun activities.
Imagine how regretful you would be if you arrived at the hotel and discovered that they have a pool and you do not have your swimwear ready.
- STRATEGIC RESERVATIONS
This tip is handy for those who have the flexibility and luxury of determining when and where to travel.
Will you be using a company credit card or a personal one?
Remember, always make a comparison of what different service providers have on offer.
Some airlines and hotels, for example, offer bonuses such as frequent flier miles to regular clients.
So why not capitalize on these?
Who knows, the bonuses you stack up might eventually even afford you free return trips and stays at great destinations.
Another critical element to consider is what time you wish to travel for your work holiday.
On his trip to Kenya a while back, Aadvik and his wife Prisha booked their business trip to coincide with Masai Mara’s annual wildebeest migration.
According to the couple, their ‘business lunch came with a wildlife cocktail, which was a welcome bonus.’
Thanks to their strategic planning, the two undertook successful business meetings and had opportunities to see Kenya’s fantastic wildlife.
Some of the places they visited during their work holiday included the Masai Mara Game Reserve and the Nairobi National Park, the only protected area in the world with a diverse wildlife population within a major city.
- EXPLORE
Now that you have found out all there is to know about your destination; it is time to travel and close some deals with loads of fun during your downtime.
It is always a good idea to explore the environs where you will be staying.
If the business meeting or seminar ends at 3 pm, for example, what fun is it to just lounge in your hotel room watching telly?
Tour the town or local village a bit.
Hunt for souvenirs.
While at it, sample some of the local delicacies. In short, be adventurous.
Business trip holidays are an excellent opportunity to learn about other people and their culture.
These may be persons with you on business or the local community at the venue.
- EXTENDED STAYS
To capitalize on your business trip, you could also consider extending your stay by a few days after the business part of the trip is done.
Extended stays allow you to explore the destination a little more while on a budget. For starters, you will not have to incur extra travel costs while at it.
3 Business Holidays on a beach
The extra time will also allow you to visit areas that need a more significant amount of time.
But always remember, all this is dependent on your planning and the work arrangement at hand.
What is important to note is that with proper organization, extended business trip holidays are a sure-fire way to create lasting memories with minimal hustle.
- KEEP POSITIVE
‘A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart’ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Sometimes things may go awry during business travel.
The airline might lose our luggage, your hotel staff may treat you horribly, or your business party may turn out difficult and intolerable.
A little positivity may, however, take us a long way. Positivity includes being tolerant of other people’s way of doing things and finding beauty in bland situations.
For example, if you are traveling by road for business and get lost while on your road trip, you may choose to enjoy the scenery on your unplanned detour.
It does not detract from your original goal or destination. Whether mad or joyful, you will ultimately have to get to the venue, so why not enjoy yourself along the way?
