How to Make the Most of Mixing Business and Leisure Travel

For many people, the appeal of business travel is the opportunity it provides to mix in a little leisure time. After all, why not take advantage of being in a new city for a work trip by adding on a couple of days to sightsee or visit family and friends? 

However, before you start packing your bags for your next business trip, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Review Your Company’s Travel Policy

This is probably the most important step. Many companies now have policies in place that allow for some mixing of business and pleasure, but it's important to make sure you understand the guidelines before you book anything. 

Some companies are totally fine with it as long as you get your work done. Others may have strict policies against it. For example, some companies may require that any personal travel be completed outside of normal work hours. 

The last thing you want to do is get in trouble with your boss or HR. So, review your company’s travel policy before you start making plans.

Make Sure You’re Protected

If you’re going to be mixing business and leisure travel, you need to make sure you’re protected in case something goes wrong. That means getting travel insurance and making sure your health insurance will cover you while you’re away. 

You should also make sure you have all the necessary vaccines for any country you’re visiting, even if you’re just passing through an airport in that country. Better safe than sorry!

Think About Scheduling

When you’re mixing business and leisure travel, it’s important to think about scheduling carefully. You don’t want your boss breathing down your neck while you’re trying to enjoy your vacation. 

So, try to schedule any meetings or events during less popular times, like mid-morning or mid-afternoon. And if possible, try to schedule your leisure activities for days when you don’t have anything scheduled for work. That way, you can relax without having to worry about getting back to work on time.

Build Your Itinerary

This step is important whether you’re just traveling for business or mixing business and leisure travel. You need to build a solid itinerary so that you can make the most of your time in each city. When you’re planning what to do, try to find activities that will help you relax after a long day of meetings or sightseeing. 

For example, if you love museums, try to find one that has extended hours so that you can go after everyone else has gone home for the night. Or if you love food, find a restaurant that has a great happy hour so that you can get a discount on drinks and appetizers.

Check for Travel Restrictions

Finally, before you mix business and leisure travel, be sure to check for any travel restrictions that may be in place at your destination(s). Some countries have strict rules about what kinds of activities foreigners can participate in while they are visiting. Others may not allow foreigners to leave the city where their conference is taking place without a special permit. 

Therefore, it’s always best to do some research ahead of time so that you know what kinds of activities will be off-limits during your trip.

Get In Touch With Our Business Travel Experts Today!

Mixing business and leisure travel can be a great way to save time and money while still getting away from it all. 

However, we understand that it can be difficult to plan two trips at once. That’s why our travel experts at CTI Business Travel are here to help! We make things easier for you so that you can enjoy your getaway, worry and hassle-free! For more information about our business travel services, give us a call at 801-224-5300 or fill out our online contact form to get in touch!