Make a mini vacation out of your work trips with these 4 tips

All trips are not created equal. There are romantic getaways, family vacations and trips with friends. Then there are business trips.

All too often, these are quick jaunts that can blur together into an endless parade of hotel ballrooms, bland conference rooms and chain restaurants.

The pandemic has reshaped many things about travel, including the length and frequency of work trips.

But what about their level of fun? (Yes, fun!)

I’ve always tried to add a little bit of “local” to each of my work trips as a way to break up what can otherwise be a monotonous slog from city to city. These days, I find myself doubling down on those efforts to try to make my work travel just a little bit more exciting.

So how do I do it? Here are my tips for getting the most out of your business trips.

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Always pack a bathing suit

A quick dip in the hotel pool or hot tub can transform a stuffy trip into a mini vacation. OK, that might be overstating it — but at the very least, it can help reset your frame of mind.

I find that the act of taking off my work clothes and putting on a bathing suit forces me to stop thinking about my job for a few minutes. You can swim a few laps and get the blood flowing, or slip into the hot tub and ease those sore traveling muscles.

Try to pack a bathing suit that you know dries fast. Add in a plastic bag, too, just in case it doesn’t. Yes, this is one more thing for your suitcase, but bringing it can help inject a bit of relaxation into your trip.

Get outside

It’s all too easy to remain in our travel bubbles. Between taxis, airports and meeting rooms, we forget that we are not actually getting any fresh air.

For me, the best way to get to know a new city is to go on a run. But not everybody enjoys running. That’s OK. There are other ways to enjoy your surroundings.

On a recent trip to Florida, I was still recovering from an injury and couldn’t go on my run. So, I woke up early each day and went for a sunrise walk on the beach.

It wasn’t a giant walk, but it gave me just enough time to enjoy the ocean breeze, hear the waves crash and clear my mind.

The rest of my days were spent in meetings, but I at least felt like I was getting a little bit of a beach trip in.

Be smart about upgrades

I usually don’t care about hotel suite upgrades on business trips. Sure they are nice, but I’m typically by myself and not spending tons of time in the room itself.

But I’ve recently been paying more attention to the car I rent.

First off, I almost always rent a car even if other people love relying on Lyft and Uber. Having a car forces me to not have my head buried in my phone. I need to look out the window, see what’s around, pay attention to directions and get a sense of an area.

I have elite status with all three big car rental agencies and love to pick my own vehicle with Hertz and National. And on my recent Florida trip, I noticed that a convertible was shockingly only $10 more a day than a standard ride. For my two-day trip with sunny skies and spring-like weather, it was well worth the added expense.

I didn't have a ton of time to drive, but when I did, each ride felt like a mini adventure.

Try local restaurants

My final tip is probably the most obvious one but also the most important: Sample local food.

If you don’t know a good spot, ask your business contacts, the hotel bartender or just about anybody you come across.

It’s easy to get trapped in an endless parade of airport lounge cheese cubes or bland burgers at chain restaurants. Too easy. So, put a little bit of effort in to find something different.

With a group, you can still have a good time without feeling like your meal is the same as the last 20 you've had on the road.

If traveling alone, I usually dine at the restaurant's bar, as it's where I often have interesting conversations with others eating there. They are usually locals, and I learn something new from them.

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(Photo by Eric Rosen/The Points Guy)

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Bottom line

A business trip is never going to be a vacation. But with a little bit of time and planning, you can transform another dreary road trip into something that feels a little less robotic.

At the end of the day, all you have to do is just shift your mindset slightly and do a little research before heading out. Trust me, it’s worth it.