Business travel

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

As I mentioned on countless other threads, I am going to be doing a lot of travelling for work. Who else engages in this odd practice? What is it like? Do you get tired of it?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 18:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

I used to in old job, haven't yet in new one (but will eventually). It is fun, esp. when you get to take gygax! out for dinner and expense it. It is tiresome when you have to constantly travel to Charlotte FUCKING North Carolina.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 18:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

I used to in my last two jobs. Don't have a job now, so no travel of any kind.

Maybe it's perverse, but I really enjoyed it, pretty much wherever the destination. You find yourself becoming a big snob about hotels when you don't have to pay for them. You also learn to hate the airlines and become acutely aware how horribly run they (ALL) are. Depends on your expense allowance, of course, but eating out can be fun. One of my jobs basically had 100% bill-through to clients, so you'd find yourself asking at the hotel, where's the most expensive restaurant in town? They'd say, "well, the BEST restaurant is..." You'd reply, "That's not what I asked. Where can I spend the most money?"

― Skottie, Friday, 28 May 2004 18:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

This is all good.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 18:56 (9 years ago) Permalink

Maybe it's perverse, but I really enjoyed it, pretty much wherever the destination.

clearly you've never been to Charlotte.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 18:57 (9 years ago) Permalink

Even Charlotte sounds exotic to me!

I just missed out on going to Wilmington, Delaware. I'm gutted!

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 18:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

Actually, stence, I did have a series of trips to N.C., not Charlotte, nothing that cosmo, and yes, it does bring you down. Blech.

For the most part, my business travel was not to the same destination but once or twice, and usually didn't last more than 2-3 days at a time. That kept it fresh. Fun to see new places. In the other job, I did travel back and forth to NYC and San Francisco for weeks at a time, but living in either of those two cities in nice hotels on someone else's nickel is a treat!

Yeah, but not Charlotte.

― Skottie, Friday, 28 May 2004 19:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

see the rest of NC is okay, it's just Charlotte that's blah. Best business travel ever was either week in SF in 2001 (aforementioned MY DINNER WITH GYGAX! was then) or basically spending all of summer 2002 in NYC in an apartment (with digital cable! maid service! a/c!) at 55th and 2nd.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

also once for work I stayed at Le Parker Meridien (it was cheaper than the Plaza), which supposedly has New York's most expensive meal ($1000 for a caviar omelet thingy).

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:04 (9 years ago) Permalink

i do, although i've slowed down considerably of late. aside from the fear of flying thin, i mostly enjoy it. i love hotels and different cities and being anonymous. it can get disorienting, but you just have to roll with things.

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'll never fly thin, I always fly PHAT (esp. when someone else pays for it).

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

When I fly w/ my boss, he apparently flies first class (it's in his contract), and everyone else flies coach! :(

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

Not that I'd want to sit with him anyway.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

you're probably better off that way.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

I dont really travel at all, but Im due for living in houston next summer for a trial for a month or two. or six. it sounds kinda awful, but there's tons of money to be made, as well as all expenses paid. (i ryhmed)

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

you can still take me out to dinner!

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

i'm not a fan of business travel in general though... unless your business consists of 4 hours of pleasant work and a whole lot of tourism. unfortunately most of my offsite business hours have been like 6am-10pm hours.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:19 (9 years ago) Permalink

hours hours hours... hours.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:19 (9 years ago) Permalink

Are you talking to me or hstencil? I still owe you dinner.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:19 (9 years ago) Permalink

It sounds like I will be mostly seeing the inside of airport terminals and hotel conference rooms.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:20 (9 years ago) Permalink

yeah, sehr glam huh?

i mostly miss my bed... i don't sleep well away from home.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:24 (9 years ago) Permalink

when are you coming to NYC again gygax!?!?!?

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:29 (9 years ago) Permalink

Makes a big difference where/how long you travel -- hauling yourself across the country for a week at a time is a lot different from short 1-2 day trips. I travel a lot but stay mostly in the midwest, so I can work a (reasonably) full day somewhere and be home sometime in the evening. OTOH, fly back east from the west coast and you've essentially blown the whole day.

Being near an airport that's a hub for a major airline is a HUGE benefit, otherwise you're going to be two hops from a lot of your destinations. Try to stay loyal to one airline/hotel chain to get the most miles/points/benefits.

You will have experiences like when you're sitting in the South Bend, Indiana airport (which could easily pass for a bus terminal) waiting for a prop plane to take you home, there's no dataports on the pay phones, you haven't had dinner, it's January, and it's snowing. But hang in there. . .

― Jeff Wright (JeffW1858), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

for pleasure? probably sooner than january (which would be the time of year for business).

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

OMG Jeff, I know that South Bend airport very well - have you been to the "aviation museum" on the upper level?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:32 (9 years ago) Permalink

FYI South Bend airport DOES have a very shitty cafe. But don't walk around outside too much...it's in the ghetto.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

we're all business here, gygax!

Travelling for business every once in a while = CLASSIC
Travelling for business all the time for sales = DUD

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 19:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

@d@m, no, I didn't check out the museum. Next time I'm there. . .Ghetto? I turned north on US 31 and two minutes later thought I was in Nebraska. Guess I took a wrong turn :-) I was actually impressed that there was train service to Chicago.

Food is always hit-and-miss in mid-size airports, and actually can be dicey in bigger airports if you're not in the hub carrier's concourse (e.g., Terminal 2 at O'Hare).

Most amazing 'what-is-THIS-doing-here?!?!' airport find in the midwest: the (big) used book store in Milwaukee (blanking on the name right now -- Renaissance?)

― Jeff Wright (JeffW1858), Saturday, 29 May 2004 01:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

I found myself really loving trips that involved tiny airports as the final destination. Esp. important with rental car agencies. In, for example, Dallas/Ft. W. you have to ride a shuttle about 20 miles to the cars. In smaller places, frequently the exchange would work like this.

"So where is my car?"
***pointing*** "That silver one over there."
"Oh. Thanks."

― Skottie, Saturday, 29 May 2004 13:23 (9 years ago) Permalink

Here I was thinking food was always a miss in airports. LGA C terminal had a decent TINY bar with some three letter name which served Sam Adams on tap. Otherwise I've almost, almost been tempted to try to last on a few extra packets of pretzels.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Saturday, 29 May 2004 20:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

6 years pass...

doing this atm

― call all destroyer, Thursday, 10 February 2011 23:27 (2 years ago) Permalink

pretty much blows

― call all destroyer, Thursday, 10 February 2011 23:27 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

lots of trips this year and I'm realizing I need some healthiness protips. Last trip (a week and change) had my digestive system a mess despite getting in walks and some gym time. heading off now for a 6 day trip and my stomach is already anxious! Also I hate flying!

― tehresa, Friday, 11 May 2012 12:05 (1 year ago) Permalink

I think I travel the perfect amount. I usually go to all our US offices over a couple of years (New York/Washington DC/Los Angeles/San Francisco/Dallas/Houston/Palo Alto), which can all be fun places to visit. Occasionally I get to go to weird places, like Orlando or Detroit, which is humorous, but not that enjoyable. Only overseas I've done is to Hong Kong, which was pretty awesome, because I never would have spent that type of money on a vacation for myself. Would like to do more overseas.

― Jeff, Friday, 11 May 2012 12:10 (1 year ago) Permalink

Downsides are I usually overeat and over drink. For lunches I've instituted only eating a salad to offset eating a large meal out every night. For some special projects, I really don't get to leave the office till late at night, so I don't get a chance to see much of the city. Every time I've been to NYC, I haven't been able to leave Manhattan.

― Jeff, Friday, 11 May 2012 12:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

Last trip I was very busy during most days and would end up catching up on work till like midnight in my hotel room. So sad.

― tehresa, Friday, 11 May 2012 12:21 (1 year ago) Permalink

And yeah, must of my trips involve catered meals for breakfast/lunch and going out for dinner... I don't know why listening to academics makes one hungry, maybe it'spowrr if suggestion because the coffee is always there, there's always snacks, etc.

― tehresa, Friday, 11 May 2012 12:25 (1 year ago) Permalink

I was on business travel earlier this week and ate a ton of unhealthy foods to offset the depression of staying at a comfort suites.

― quincie, Friday, 11 May 2012 18:28 (1 year ago) Permalink

Right now, business trips = Germany, which means a lot of beer and heavy food and because I am generally visiting small towns, the hotels are lovely but tend not to have gyms so I'm feeling a little overburdened right now. I, too, need to work out how to make these trips more healthful as I'm going to do a lot more this year.

― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Friday, 11 May 2012 19:23 (1 year ago) Permalink

ate a ton of unhealthy foods to offset the depression

This. I eat terribly while traveling, justified by this "you poor thing, you deserve to have this thing you would not think of eating at home because you are having to be in this particular hellhole" (i'm looking at you Birmingham AL). Also, keeping irregular hours due to time zone changes and super long work days + having to catch up on stuff at night in a hotel room. Coming home is such a relief, in so many ways - back to a routine that keeps my life happy is a huge one.

― Jaq, Friday, 11 May 2012 19:36 (1 year ago) Permalink

I just opt for grilled chicken salads and grilled chicken sandwiches without mayo or honey mustard if fast food or diners are all that's available.

Also, had a personal trainer actually show me a hotel room-based workout to do

― Choad of Choad Hall (kingfish), Friday, 11 May 2012 19:47 (1 year ago) Permalink

I brought my resistance bands with me... I can't complain about location because I am actually at an eco spa in the hills outside austin this time. However, my room isn't ready and all I want to do is get in a quick bit of exercise before going out for big dinner thing and I can't cause im in work attire :(

― tehresa, Friday, 11 May 2012 20:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

I'm awful at this as i'm super-frugal when i'm spending the company's money - which means i tend to stick to fast food. At least that's my excuse for stuffing myself with falafel and khachpuri. It's compounded by my obsession with free hotel breakfasts.

― Just like you, except hot (ShariVari), Friday, 11 May 2012 20:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

My issue is compounded by the fact that I'm dealing with people trying to sell me things worth hundreds of thousands if not millions so they feel obliged to wine and dine me (and I feel somewhat obliged to show willing). I think I am expensing 1 meal in 6 out of the last trip I was on.

^1st world problems I know, I know.

― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Friday, 11 May 2012 21:16 (1 year ago) Permalink

Hotel breakfasts are shit. Have cold cereal and load up on as much fruit as you can, giving you munching things thru-out the day and at airports so's you don't have to worry about hitting up a supermarket for produce when yer out & about

― Choad of Choad Hall (kingfish), Friday, 11 May 2012 22:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

hoo boy I would have a lot to contribute if this was on 77

― Gentlemen Take Instagram Photos (King Boy Pato), Friday, 11 May 2012 22:43 (1 year ago) Permalink

^^^this

I saw that movie Up in the Air before I did the kind of business travel that demonstrated to me omg that shit really happens, probably a lot, a fact my (formerly on-the-road-weekly) husband told me was the case. I didn't believe it, until I was actually on the road!

― quincie, Friday, 11 May 2012 22:58 (1 year ago) Permalink

I knew I was traveling far too much at one point when I met up with another travel-a-lot friend for dinner in Sydney and all we talked about were our favorite suitcases ;_;

― Jaq, Friday, 11 May 2012 23:06 (1 year ago) Permalink

Sad to say, as I was repairing my roll aboard suitcase today I was thinking how good it was and how long it has lasted.

― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Saturday, 12 May 2012 22:00 (1 year ago) Permalink

I like the fact that I do a fair amount of business travel, some of it to places that are pretty much off limits to most tourists. In the past couple of years I've been to Armenia, Poland, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Saturday, 12 May 2012 22:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

That's something that's quite attractive about my job. I work in English language assessment and there's always the possibility i might get to visit places like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the future.

I had a fantastic survival training session with an ex-SAS guy who specialises in keeping business travellers safe in unconventional locations. We were taught how to disable someone with a torch and why it's always best to have a window seat on planes, etc. It was really interesting.

― Just like you, except hot (ShariVari), Saturday, 12 May 2012 22:22 (1 year ago) Permalink

Why a window seat? I always like toe get one but because I like to lean against the wall and also look out but I'm guessing this isn't the reason.

― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Saturday, 12 May 2012 23:03 (1 year ago) Permalink

No, if the plane is taken hostage they almost always shoot people in the aisle seats first.

― Just like you, except hot (ShariVari), Saturday, 12 May 2012 23:07 (1 year ago) Permalink

Whoa. Good to know, I guess.

Kiev and Shanghai are looming in my future work travel. Probably not until I've been back to Birmingham AL a few zillion times though.

― Jaq, Saturday, 12 May 2012 23:13 (1 year ago) Permalink

also off to Kiev next week, tried to schedule my visit around the football but it just wasn't possible unfortunately

― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Saturday, 12 May 2012 23:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

(Almost) eight years since my posts above and I haven't been back to South Bend to check out that aviation museum. The 'pay phones not having dataports' is thankfully no longer an issue :-)

As others noted above, you have to make exercise (or at least some physical activity) a priority, especially if your day consists of sitting for eight+ hours and two big meals. I prefer to exercise in the evening, but it's tough after a day like the above and a couple hours of e-mail catch-up staring you in the face.

The quality of the free breakfast generally correlates with that of the hotel, though I've had some disasters occur at some upscale chains (e.g., Wonder Bread dipped in something vaguely egg-ish and run through a toaster ^= French Toast.)

― Jeff Wright, Sunday, 13 May 2012 03:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.