5 Things I Love About Business Travel

Have you seen the commercial for Southwest Airlines (did you know they have a blog) where the guy at work always volunteers to take the business trip, then one day his boss comes looking for him but he is using his rewards miles to take a vacation?

That is how I often feel about business travel - I am always ready and willing to take a business trip, although I have yet to redeem any rewards for personal travel.

5 Things I Love About Business Travel

As we discussed the other day, there are certainly things to dislike about business travel but there are also plenty of things to love.

1. Traveling to new destinations.

Having an opportunity to visit new parts of the country, or world, without having to pay out of your own pocket is hard to beat. While most business travel will not allow for much time to truly explore your destination, you should be able to experience some of the attractions.

Depending on your company policies, you may even be able to extend your stay by a day or two beyond the purpose of trip. Demonstrate how much money the company can save on airfare by arriving a day or two early and you might just find yourself with some time to explore.

Lately my travel has been focused on business conferences, which means that most of my trips have been to either Orlando or Las Vegas. While those are certainly fun destinations, I’d enjoy a bit more variety - which is why I am really hoping that the need to visit my colleagues in Japan comes sooner rather than later.

2. Indulging in fine seafood.

When talking about the things that I hate about business travel, I mentioned that eating out can become a nuisance. However, I can usually get by a few days simply by indulging in some of the foods that I don’t often eat at home.

My wife and kids are quite the picky eaters, which means I rarely find myself at a nice seafood restaurant and we never have seafood at home. Therefore one of the first things that I typically do when traveling for business is seek out recommendations for a great seafood restaurant.

Hopefully your company has a generous allowance for meals as eating at some of the nicer restaurants can be quite expensive.

3. Escape from the monotony of the office.

Whether you are traveling for a conference, meeting with a client, or simply meeting with colleagues in another office, getting away from the office can do wonders for your attitude.

The day to day happenings at the office can become quite monotonous, leaving you feeling drained at the end of the day as you deal with office politics. When you are out of the office for a few days, you will come back feeling fresh and recharged. It is amazing how even a small break from the routine can leave you energized.

Even though I might not be traveling, I firmly believe that my flexible work arrangement with one day off per week has helped me in that regard.

4. Getting a break from the demands at home.

As much as I love spending time with the family, sometimes you need a break from everything. It is hard to come home from a day at work, crack open a cold beer, and plop down on the couch for awhile when the kids need help with their homework or want to play with you outside.

When you are away on business, there is nobody to answer to when the day is over. If you want to head back to the hotel and have a beer while lounging around in your underwear, there is nobody to stop you (unless you are doing that in the hotel bar). Feel like vegging out in front of the TV for awhile, no problem. Feel like going down to the pub to shoot pool, no problem.

Enjoy your time away from home, as once you get back you will need to jump right back in and give your spouse a break as well.

5. Peace and quiet.

Some people do not enjoy being alone. Personally, I love it and look forward to time when I can simply sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. No distractions, nothing but my thoughts. With two growing boys at home, there are not many opportunities for this type of peace and quiet.

When I am away on business, I like to begin and end each day by simply sitting somewhere and letting my mind wander. While visiting Miami last month, I had an amazing view of the ocean from my balcony and enjoyed the time just sitting outside, watching the waves crash in on the beach. The following week when I was in Vegas, I would wake each morning and just sit for awhile as I looked out over the mountains.

What about you?

You have learned about the things that I love about business travel as well as the things that I hate about business travel. Do any of the items above make your list of reasons that you enjoy traveling? I’d like to hear what things you love the most about business travel.