A business trip does not mean that all our time should be spent working, and if that does not happen, the employer will be upset. It is quite the opposite, as even the Labor Code states that regardless of the place and form of work, the employee is entitled to 11 hours of continuous rest.
This also applies to business trips, which can turn out to be journeys to completely new regions, accompanied by stays in comfortable hotels full of attractions. We should not give up on these, so a business trip can also be pleasant and even exciting. How to plan free time during such trips?
The Labor Code does not overlook the issue of business trips and travel, and thus the time an employee spends working under such different circumstances. Business trips in today's world, where many businesses operate globally, have become a daily occurrence. However, at first, some employees may find it confusing when work ends and free time begins. After all, you do not return home, but to a hotel that still feels more like work than home. Over time, however, we realize that this free time can be well used both inside and outside the hotel. Professional goals obviously must come first in the travel plan, but they can be successfully combined with plans to explore the city, have dinner in recommended restaurants, or get a massage in the hotel spa area. Where to start planning a business trip?
Usually, we have influence over the choice of transportation and accommodation. At this stage, our plan for the time we can spend as we wish should begin. Let's look for accommodation in a location that, in our opinion, has the most attractions that interest us, while still being close to the place where we perform our professional duties. If that is not possible, let's think about a car as our means of transport. We will save a lot of commuting time. Additionally, when traveling within the country depending on the season and our preferences, you can always pack a bike in the car. If our business trip is connected with nearby bike trails, we can plan a trip. If we are going abroad, we usually travel by plane, but on site we can consider renting a car.
Let's remember that a business trip still means limited free time, and it is necessary to optimize traveling and reaching important places or attractions. The internet helps in this matter, saving us time on searching and asking around. Just equip yourself with useful phone applications. If we are abroad and do not know the language, one of them should be for real-time translation. Besides that, an app showing highly rated restaurants nearby or attractions typical for the area will be a great hit. And of course, a precise map, which we will follow like a guide hand in hand.
A business trip also involves expenses, some of which we can settle with the employer, and others we cannot. In such circumstances, we have to keep a close watch and control spending. There are also helpful applications for that, some with installed currency converters. We collect all receipts by taking photos, so we quickly know if we stay within the business trip limit set by the employer. There are many more apps; it all depends on our needs and expectations during the trip, but above all, using them allows us to save a lot of valuable free time. Now it is time to choose accommodation, and not just any.
Also read: Choosing a hotel for a business trip – what to pay attention to?
Accommodation is a very important issue because it is where we return after a day at work, and maybe partly do work there. It is where we want to relax, having everything we need provided. Should we choose an apartment or a hotel? Apartments, although sometimes luxurious and giving full freedom, have the downside that you have to provide much more yourself than in a hotel. There is no restaurant, no room service, and above all, no wellness & spa area with jacuzzi, sauna, and pool. After a hard day of work, it is nice to have such amenities within reach and move there in hotel slippers wherever our imagination takes us.
When choosing a hotel for a business trip, check its offer thoroughly, including the restaurant menu. Trips to local attractions and dining in recommended regional restaurants are a must on our list, but in everyone's life, there are days when you simply don't want to go out. Sometimes the weather is poor, and sometimes it’s just our condition. The hotel room should meet high standards, have a private bathroom, Wi-Fi, and proper soundproofing, as you never know who your neighbor will be.
Remember, however, that a hotel is not just peace and quiet. Free time after work in a hotel can be spent having a drink at the hotel night club or playing social games if the place offers such things, e.g., billiards or bowling. Being more social, you can make new acquaintances with other guests and spend free time together. Those thirsting for physical activity after work can use the pool or gym. The wellness & spa area is a reliable way to regenerate, take care of yourself, and reduce tension and stress after a day of work. Massages, peels, beautifying treatments, and those supporting the fight against various ailments and imperfections will make our time pleasant and lift our mood. How to plan time outside the hotel?
A business trip is always the development of the employee’s competences that should ultimately translate into the potential of the whole company. However, besides these benefits, the employee can gain much more. Much depends on the place we are going to. Perhaps it is a city or region we have not been to yet but always wanted to. A change of climate and cuisine is very refreshing to the psyche, and this fact alone may affect the results of such a trip.
If we go abroad, our plan will definitely include main monuments and tourist attractions typical for the place. We will interact with another culture and language, thus testing ourselves in new circumstances. If we stay in the country, we can face different nature, also cuisine typical for a given region. Forests, mountains, lakes, or the sea – all of these can be on our way, and there is hardly anyone who has all of them around every day. That is why a boat trip on the Masurian Lake District or a trip to the mountains is gladly arranged if we happen to be in the Beskids or Tatras. Large metropolises, on the other hand, encourage us to check guides and visit city monuments, but also attractions such as a metro ride, which we do not experience daily.
