Do you want to experience the culture, or just the conference room?
Most international business trips are jammed with meetings. This means most business travelers see just A) the airport, B) the hotel, and C) the conference room where they meet. Eiffel Tower? Not so much. London Eye? Nope.
Here’s some tips to free up time on your business trip, so you can experience at least some part of the culture:
1. Pack Light. As someone once said, the only three things you really need to travel are plane tickets, a passport, and money. Everything else is secondary. Build your suitcase strategy on this minimalist approach. Just bring what you really need. Packing light makes you most nimble, and therefore frees up time. Ditch the “just incase” items. You can get buy them when you get there if needed. Most of all, do not check a bag at the airport. Checking a bag will steal up to an hour of your time at the destination. It will steal much more time if your luggage is lost.
2. Stay Near Public Transportation. If you are traveling to a major city with a subway/metro system, try to get a hotel near or on top of a metro station. Then you can sneak away quickly, for little money. Plus, the subway/metro is often an experience unto itself. Being able to get away quickly may be the biggest difference in being able to see any of the city.
3. Write Your Hotel’s Address On The Back Of Several Business Cards. You can use these to hand to the cab driver to get you to the hotel quickly. This is especially helpful if the driver speaks a different language. Plus, with your business card, the cabbie can get in touch with you if you accidentally leave something behind in the cab.
4. Make Use Of Long Layovers. Instead of trying to take a nap in the chairs at the gate, sneak away and see the city. With a layover of four hours or more, you’ll have time to leave the terminal, grab a cab, and at least tour the area. Your boarding pass will get you back in the terminal, through security, and onto your flight.
5. Exercise When You Arrive. Jet lag can sometimes steal the free time you might otherwise have to take in some sightseeing. Exercising when you arrive can get your body back on track. Go for a jog or hit the hotel fitness room if they have one. If you are in a new city, there will be some adrenaline rush and excitement to help power you through. Exercise will help push you even further.
Crunch Time Coach 