Business travelers are made, not born. And almost everyone who travels frequently for work can list off at least a few things they wish they’d known when they first got into the game. It's not all obvious—like the importance of committing to a points and miles program early on; these programs literally exist because of you, dear business travelers—and some is nuanced and only learnable with time, like finding a hotel that feels like home and lets you leave a suit in the closet.
To gather the rules of the road, we chatted with highly-seasoned business travelers about what they wish someone wiser had told them at the start of it all. These sources come from many lines of work and walks of life—museum directors who know which gala dresses are easiest to pack, private equity and corporate law guys who prefer boutique hotels, young communications specialists who’ve learned to find the romance in everything, and so on. (A number of people we interviewed asked to use a pseudonym—this is hard hitting stuff!—which you'll see reflected below.)
Read on for their tips and tricks of successful business travel.
This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip.
Work Travel Is Not Leisure Travel
It’s exciting when work sends you to far-flung places that you’ve always wanted to visit—but don’t let the novelty trick you into thinking you’re getting a vacation. “My first couple of work trips took me to Europe, which was very exciting for a fresh out of college twenty-something,” says Zelda, a communications specialist for the International Council on Clean Transportation. “Being a young person who couldn't afford a transatlantic flight and three-star hotel rooms on my dime, I immediately felt the need to get the most out of the experience. That pressure, combined with the actual work I needed to do on the trip, was a recipe for burnout.”
You have to do your work, and do it well, in order to continue being sent on work trips. And you’re likely going to be exhausted thanks to the itinerary, networking, and drinking, all of which are reliable elements of her business trips. Make sure work, and then rest, are your priority, before finding time for sightseeing and moments of leisure in your after-hours. To that end…
Alex Green
Prioritize Rest
“I have given up trying to get the most out of the hours directly around my required work, because I really need those times to rest,” Zelda says. "A fancy hotel room should be enjoyed to its fullest. A bathrobe? Pool? Spa? Even just sleeping or watching TV in freshly changed sheets. Charli XCX says it best: Everything is romantic.” Give yourself a break, especially if you’re going to be on the clock for longer hours than when you’re at home.
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