Not everyone likes to travel.
However, even in the modern world of e-mail, video conferencing, and computer technology, business travel is still an essential part of doing business.
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Some people are just afraid to travel, and unless they get psychological help, probably never will venture past Rhode Island borders.
There are those whose jobs force them to travel frequently, and it isn’t long before the thrill of traveling disappears.
Because many companies insist that you travel over a Saturday night to take advantage of lower air fares, business travelers are forced to be away from home and family over the weekend.
Rushing to make tight air connections; spending nights in airport hotels due to cancelled flights; fighting jet lag; eating airplane food; getting stuck in a strange city in a snowstorm during a holiday; watching an old movie on T.V. in a second rate hotel on a Saturday night are all legitimate reasons business travel can be a downer.
Avoiding the travel blues
There are ways to avoid the business travel blues and make the best of those endless days and weekends away from home and loved ones:
- If you travel on company business, you should have a phone card or business cell phone, which allows you to call home once a day.
- Take along a picture of your loved ones to keep on your hotel bed table. (I have a friend who brings a picture of his dog).
- Bring something back for the kids, whether it’s the hotel soap or a tee shirt that says, “My Daddy went to Chicago, and all I got was this lousy tee shirt.”
Many travelers collect things. Some are trivial, like shot glasses from every state. I have a friend who “collects” State Houses. Every time he visits a state capitol, he includes a trip, with camera, to the State House.
I love old hotels, and like to walk through downtowns, visiting hotel lobbies. I also like to take outside elevators to the top floor of the newer hotels.
I’ve interviewed a number of actors over the years who spend a good portion of their lives traveling from state to state, performing in shows every night but Monday, when many venues in town are closed.
They also work late and tend to sleep late in the morning, leaving little time to explore new cities.
Many fall into the pattern of watching talk shows and soap operas in their hotel
rooms. Some head for the malls. Others search out the best restaurants in town.
Members of the “Fiddler on the Roof” cast make arrangements with a local health club to work out. Many business people now take advantage of hotel health clubs, or bring their walking and jogging gear and see the city on foot.
Many large corporations now have their own health club facilities and access to local golf and tennis clubs.
A businessman who frequently travels told me that he kept in shape jumping rope in his hotel room. “But the people below me always complained.”
If you must travel on business, make the most of it by finding a way to continue doing what you enjoy doing most, whether it be eating at fine restaurants or jumping rope in your hotel room.
Take advantage of long plane rides to catch up on that novel you’ve been wanting to read. Sure, you’ve got those financial reports to review, a presentation to polish, and you need to check up on your e-mail. But give yourself a break and clear your mind of business details.
And there’s always that in-plane movie. Or the New York Times crossword puzzle.
Lost for ideas? Here are a few:
- Keep a diary or journal.
- Write all those letters you’ve been meaning to write.
- Catch up on all those magazines that have been accumulating. Leave them on the plane. Take a break from “Forbes” and read “Golf Diqest.”
- Sleep.
- Take time to simply slow down and reflect on those things that are important in your life.
- Catch up on work from the office (Last resort).
- Take the Gray Line tour of the city. See something that intrigues you? Find time to return and explore in greater detail.
- Visit the State House.
- Ask the locals what their favorite restaurant is. Don’t trust the concierge or a cab driver. They often get rewarded for leading you to a certain place.
- Visit historical sites.
- Buy the local paper or magazine (most major cities have their own magazine similar to the “Rhode Islander” or “Boston” magazines. Check out what’s going on in town.
- Visit long lost relatives or friends.
- Bring your bathing suit and workout clothes and take advantage of hotel health club facilities.
- Walk neighborhood streets and check out the architecture.
- Find those out-of-the-way book stores and antique shops.
Whatever your hobby or interests (collecting stamps, bird watching, visiting churches, attending AA meetings, shopping, history, music, poetry) there is sure to be an organization in any major city to help meet your needs.
I traveled to Washington, D.C. four or five times a year and always found an interesting play at one of the many theaters, and at least one new exhibit at one of the Smithsonian museums.
Now, if someone could help me keep my cool when my flight has been delayed or my baggage has been lost, I’d have things completely under control.
(Don Fowler is a freelance writer from Cranston.)
