A business trip does not mean that all our time should be spent working, and if it is not, the employer will be upset. It is quite the opposite since even the Labor Code states that regardless of the place and form of work, an 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 them up, so a business trip can also be pleasant and even exciting. How to plan your free time during such trips?
The Labor Code does not overlook the issue of assignments and business trips, and thus the time employees spend working under such different circumstances. Business trips in today’s world, where many businesses operate globally, have become a daily routine. However, at first, it can be confusing for some employees to know when work ends and free time begins. After all, you don’t return home but to a hotel that still feels more like work than home. Over time, though, we realize that this free time can be well spent both in and outside the hotel. Professional goals must, of course, come first in the trip plan, but they can be successfully combined with sightseeing, dinners in recommended restaurants, or a massage in the hotel spa area. Where to start when planning a business trip?
We usually have influence over the choice of transport and accommodation. At this stage, we should start planning the time we can spend freely. Let’s look for lodging where we feel there are the most interesting attractions, while also being close to our work location. If this is not possible, consider a car as your means of transport. This will save a lot of commuting time. Also, when traveling domestically, depending on the season and preferences, you can always pack a bicycle in the car. If the business trip is related to nearby bike paths, you can plan a cycling tour. When traveling abroad, we usually fly, but on-site, renting a car can be considered.
Remember that a business trip means limited free time, so optimizing movement and getting to important places or attractions is essential. The internet helps here, saving time searching and asking around. It is enough to equip yourself with useful phone applications. If abroad and you don't know the language, one app should provide real-time translation. Besides that, an app showing highly rated nearby restaurants or local attractions is a perfect choice. And, of course, an accurate map to guide us like a hand-held tour guide.
A business trip also involves expenses, some of which can be reimbursed by the employer and some cannot. In such situations, keep a close eye on spending. There are helpful apps for this, some with currency converters. Collect all receipts by photographing them, so you quickly know if you stay within the travel allowance set by your employer. There are many apps available, depending on our needs and expectations during the trip, but mostly using them allows us to save a lot of precious free time. Now it is time to choose accommodation – and not just any.
Also read: Choosing a Hotel for a Business Trip – What to Consider?
Accommodation is very important as it is where we return after a day of work and where we may partially work. We want to relax there, having everything we need. Should you choose an apartment or a hotel? Although apartments can be luxurious and provide full freedom, they require us to arrange much more ourselves than in a hotel. There is no restaurant, room service, and above all, no wellness & spa area with a jacuzzi, sauna, and pool. After a tough working day, it’s nice to have such facilities within reach and move around in hotel slippers wherever your imagination takes you.
When choosing a hotel for a business trip, check its offer thoroughly, including the restaurant menu. Sightseeing nearby attractions and dining in recommended regional restaurants are musts on our plans, but sometimes there are days when we simply don’t want to go out. Weather can be poor, or sometimes our condition. The hotel room should meet high standards, have a private bathroom, Wi-Fi, and proper soundproofing because you never know who your neighbor will be.
Remember, though, that a hotel is not only about quiet and peace. Free time after work at the hotel can be spent having a drink at the hotel night club or playing social games if offered, e.g., billiards or bowling. Being more social, you can make new acquaintances with other guests and spend your free time together. Those craving physical activity after work can use the pool or gym. The wellness & spa area is a reliable way to recharge, take care of yourself, and reduce tension and stress after a workday. Massages, scrubs, beautifying treatments, supporting the fight against various ailments and imperfections make our time pleasant and lift our mood. And how to plan time outside the hotel?
A business trip always means the development of employee competencies, which ultimately should translate into the company’s potential. However, besides these benefits, the employee can gain much more. Much depends on the destination. Perhaps it is a city or region we have never been to but have long wished to visit. A change of climate and cuisine is very refreshing for the mind, and this fact alone may impact the results of the trip.
If traveling abroad, the plan will surely include the main landmarks and tourist attractions characteristic of the place. We will engage with a different culture and language, thus testing ourselves in new circumstances. If staying in the country, we may face different nature and regional cuisine. Forests, mountains, lakes, or the sea—any of these may cross our path; hardly anyone has all of them at once daily. That’s why we willingly arrange a boat trip on a Masurian lake or a mountain hike if we are in the Beskids or Tatras. Large metropolises invite looking into guides and visiting urban landmarks but also attractions like metro rides, which we don’t usually experience daily.
