Does Anybody LIKE Business Travel?

[daughtersrus]

Since I always scold my kids when they use the word “hate”, I’ll temper this statement…..

I STRONGLY DISLIKE business travel!!!

I live in the metro Atlanta area and have to fly out today for a week of sitting in meetings in San Francisco. Yes, I AM grateful to have a job; I know there are a lot of out-of-work people that would like to have my problem right now.

But, I LOVE going home every evening….my dog jumping around greeting me at the door, the challenge of getting the kids to their different sports practices while squeezing in dinner, listening to my wife tell me about everything that happened at her school that day (she’s a HS teacher), listening to my son and daughter tell me how “nothing” happened at school that day, homework time, late night trip to the gym, and then to bed and do it again the next day. I LOVE IT!!! The only interruptions to this routine I appreciate are the trips to Disney.

Instead, this week, I will stand in line at the airport to get crammed on a plane with a bunch of people I don’t know, sit jammed into that horrible seat for 5+ hours, walk a mile through the airport to pick up my stinky rental car, drive through city traffic in a city I don’t know, struggle to stay awake and attentive through all day meetings, go to dinner with the same people I just sat in all day meetings with, sleep alone in a hotel room, and get up and do it again, and again, and again.

The flight home isn’t so bad…at least I’m going home.

That’s all…..just wanted to vent a bit. I am blessed with my health, family and job. Doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons to fuss a bit from time to time.

Thanks for listening.

I've never had to travel for business so I'm not really sure if I'd like it or not.

My neighbor on the other hand LOVES to travel. Granted he only goes on a few trips a year (unlike another friend that works for the same company and is gone 3 weeks out of the month). Their travel generally involves going to other offices out of the country. Usually, it's London, Paris and Bangkok but on occasion it's also NYC . They always fly 1st Class and seem to do a bit of socializing, eating a lot of good food and enjoying a cocktail or two or three...

His company lets him put his plane tickets on his personal credit card to earn miles and gives it back to him after he files his expense report. Because of this, they've earned a ton of miles that they use for family vacations.

 

[MushyMushy]

My husband hates it. He's been traveling a lot lately and can't stand it for all the reasons you've mentioned.

Once in a while if he goes within driving distance, I try to go with him. I'm the one who loves that, but then I'm not sitting in meetings all day.

 

[binny]

I'm a travel agent ALL of my travel is business travel LOL

I dont mind it usually. Except when Im trying to get work done and I sit next to a talker. I dont mind talking but I tried on 6 different flights to get one page done and couldnt make it happen, one of the flights I was in the first row and the FAs talked my ears off.

 

[safetymom]

I had a job where I traveled every other week or so. I loved it!!!! It gave me the chance to see a new city, try new restaurants, etc. I loved checking out new airports.

It made me appreciate what I had at home too.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I had a job where I traveled every other week or so. I loved it!!!! It gave me the chance to see a new city, try new restaurants, etc. I loved checking out new airports.

It made me appreciate what I had at home too.

Same here - and the job lasted about 6 years. I miss it now. I love my current job, but I really miss hopping on a plane and going somewhere. I'm a big traveler and it was a great way to see many, many places without having to foot the bill. I was in my 20's, not married, no kids...why not get out there and experience everything!

 

[brerrabbit]

I don't mind it but tended to enjoy it much more earlier in my career. Back in the early 80's when I was just starting my career I traveled a bit and it was kind of nice. No PC's, no cell phones, and you could focus on what you were there to do. I traveled to DC a lot for meetings at FERC and with specific customer groups. Today when I travel, I have my Blackberry, my PC and am expected to maintain my regular work activities in addition to what ever meetings I am having. It makes travel a bit more hectic. Still I enjoy it quite a bit. I have gone and seen a lot of the country that I would have otherwise not scene. My current geography covers the Pac NW and I have made trips this year to Seattle, Idaho, and Sun River, Oregon. I get to go to some really nice places. Unfortunately I will be in Kansas City in late October and am not really looking forward to that.

 

[AristocatFan]

We live in IN and DH has to work in TX weekly Mon-Thurs. While he loves traveling he says it does get old after awhile.

 

[Alphabetsoup]

I sooo wish I got to travel more. If I'm really lucky, I might get to go to a conference per year...but I'd love to travel more often. I guess I"m weird like that.

 

[DebbieB]

I am a trainer for a major insurance company and travel frequently to do classroom training. Not as much as I used to, in 2007 it peaked around 87 nights for the year. That was too much. Now it's every month or two, we do more online training now. I enjoy getting out and seeing new things, meeting new people. When the flights are ontime, it's fine. But when you have 2 or 3 hour delays, it's a pain. Especially now that PIT is no longer a hub, connections are common. Living in Atlanta you should be able to get a non-stop almost anywhere. Count your blessings.

 

[Hillbeans]

My DH travels from the US to China for weeks at a time. I think the time change is rough on him, but he seems to really enjoy the opportunity to experience a completely different culture and work on something that we both feel is a chance most people don't get. It's not easy being home with the kids by myself for weeks at a time, but we manage, I know it's not forever.