Traveling for business might be one of the best perks with working in a corporate, 9-5 job to a female traveler like you and I. We look forward to dipping our toes into new territory. We start counting down the days until it’s time to hop on a plane for another adventure. However, with the limited amount of free time that comes with traveling for business, it can be hard to invest our time and energy into explorative experiences. With this in mind, we wanted to share some tricks for making the most of your free time when traveling for your day job!
Research Quick & Easy Transportation
Because time is one of the toughest resources to find when business travel, be sure to look into transportation to and from the airport or your hotel. What is the easiest solution for getting to and from your main hub? Is it an Uber ride? Or is public transportation cheaper and just as easy? Could you rent a bike? Nailing down exactly what is the quickest way to get around your location will get you more bang for your buck.
Look Into City Passes Or Day Tours
Many larger, international business cities feature city passes and day tours for visitors. Get the most out of your time and money! If you happen to be working in a city with hop-on, hop-off busses, have fun jumping around the city while exploring. Most day tours also pre-book popular museums and tourist spots. Avoid the headache of booking everything on your own or having to spend your precious time waiting! Booking a city pass or day tour might be a business traveler’s secret weapon.
Know What’s The Best Of What’s Around
If we haven’t preached it enough, research is your best friend. If your business has booked your hotel for you, use Foursquare to find great restaurants, sights and more nearby. We’re huge Foursquare fans for its visual platform. You can see pictures and reviews of worthy pitstops in your free time. Another idea is to research Instagram specific locations and city specific hashtags. We’re always adding drool-worthy #dametravelerin(entercitynamehere) on Instagram. So, feel free to do some Dame Traveler hashtag stalking! Add your favorites to your “saved” Instagram page or carry them over to Google Maps so you can see just where you are in relationship to your favorite locations.
Use Your “Down Time” To Your Advantage
If you have a spare hour or two to yourself, invest in your experiences in your location. We know that after a long day of work, expelling more energy can sound like the last thing you want to do. However, if you truly want to experience a place that you’re visiting, it’s so important to use your down time to your advantage. Should you have an hour free for lunch, go through your pre-researched locations and see what you could sneak in. If you have your mornings free until 9 am, beat the crowds and go see the sight that’s on your bucket list. Take advantage of every free second you have… even if it’s first thing in the morning or late into the evening.
Extend Your Trip (If Possible)
If you’re able to, add a day (or two) or book a red-eye flight out of your location. Adding an extra couple of hours for you to explore your location while traveling for business is an awesome idea! Extend your trip into the weekend, if you can. Fly out on Sunday evening instead of a Friday afternoon. Of course, this all depends on what your company allows. But take advantage!
Attend A Meet-Up
Research local meet ups in your location. It’s a great way to get an inside look into what’s fun and well-loved by locals. A quick Google search will find a ton of female-driven traveler meet ups. If you can squeeze in a lunch with a local guide or with another woman traveler, you’ll feel closer and more connected to where you’re visiting!
Offer Up A New Location Your Lunch Meeting
This trick goes a long way! Should you be able to have a lunch meeting other than a boardroom, suggest a change of location (and be sure it’s a place you’re dying to see). Maybe it’s that cute coffee shop you saw on Instagram, or a restaurant near a park or sight you’ve been wanting to see for yourself. You can even suggest to have a picnic or a walk and talk chat! Suggesting a location change will also allow you to share a new experience with your co-workers.
