I travel a lot for work. Here's how I maximize my time in each city to turn every trip into a mini vacation.
After starting a job that requires me to travel a lot, I've learned to make the most of each trip.
I turn every trip into a mini vacation by maximizing my evenings and mornings.
I try to extend my trip by arriving a day early and staying over the weekend.
When I started my new job, I was thrilled to discover the position would entail occasional travel.
I daydreamed about packing my bags and jetting off to new places, but quickly realized that most of my time would be spent in hotel ballrooms and windowless convention halls.
I struggled with the thought that I'd mostly get to see each city during the drive from the airport to the hotel. However, I realized it didn't have to be this way.
Here are a few strategies I've developed to maximize my time and create mini vacations on every work trip.
I arrive a day early and knock out some of the touristy activities.
Traveling for work has taught me to feel comfortable exploring new places by myself. I like to arrive a day early to make sure I have time to see everything I want to.
Since I'm usually able to check into my hotel room early, I can drop off my bags and get right to exploring the area.
In Pittsburgh, I used this extra time to go on a self-guided walking tour of the city, stopping by the Andy Warhol Museum and Point State Park.
During my first day in Chicago, I made sure to hit all the biggest tourist attractions, including the Riverwalk, the Bean, and Lake Michigan.
I wake up early to make the most of my mornings.
Waking up early is a great way to work some more time into the day. Even if I can only get a few hours to myself on a trip, I at least try to visit an art museum, a popular restaurant, and a local coffee shop, exploring the surrounding area along the way.
Having a limited amount of time can sometimes pose a challenge — but a fun one. My fiancé was able to join me in Chicago, where we embarked on a quest to try as many restaurants featured on "The Bear" as possible.
One morning, we visited Kasama, the first Filipino restaurant to receive a Michelin star. Another day, we opted for an early lunch and ate at Mr. Beef, the sandwich shop that inspired the TV show.
I dig into my evenings and experience the city by night.
While in Chicago, I caught a Cubs game in the evening and watched the sunset over Wrigley Field.
Another evening, I wandered around the Art Institute and enjoyed a view of the skyline at a rooftop bar and restaurant.
If I'm not feeling up to leaving my hotel, I'll do a quick internet search for some of the top restaurants in the area and order takeout. This way, I get to experience local flavors from the comfort of my bed.
I try to extend my visit and stay over the weekend.
If possible, I try to stay in the city for an extra day or two to truly indulge in a mini vacation.
After a long week of conferences and networking, I like to relax during my remaining time and visit some places I didn't have time for earlier.
My Pittsburgh trip was short, but before I returned home, I stopped at a local coffee shop and walked through Randyland, an eccentric outdoor art museum.
Even though traveling for work can be tiring and time-consuming, there are plenty of opportunities to make the most out of each trip.
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