Traveling for business is necessary for many, but it doesn’t mean you can’t mix a little business with pleasure.

Sure, you can’t ignore what you are there to do, but that doesn’t mean you have to dread the trip. There are ways to make traveling for business more fun without compromising your job.

This list of seven ways to optimize your business trip to include more fun can help you to enjoy your business trip to the full.

1. Book an Extra Night

If you are going into a city that you are looking forward to exploring, you can see if your boss will allow you to arrive a day early or stay a day longer.

You can use this extra day to fit in some activities at your destination that you would look forward to. You can even use the extra day to get some work done early so that you can squeeze in even more relaxation during your stay.

Flight costs are often cheaper on certain days of the week, and these costs can be higher around a big corporate event.

You can use this money-saving tactic as leverage to convince your boss to let you stay an extra day.

2. Go Local

Many times, during business trips, you fly into the airport, get a shuttle directly to your hotel and stay in the area of your hotel for most of the trip.

This is understandable, especially if you don’t know the area, but you can find many hidden gems if you wander off the beaten path.

You can ask the concierge at the hotel where the local hot spots are and get directions. Don’t be afraid to walk around and get lost (safely, of course.)

Often these excursions lead to the most adventurous experiences and exciting memories.

3. Research Your Destination

Traveling is an excellent opportunity to learn new things, even during a business trip. To ensure that you experience something new, you can do a little research about the area you will be visiting before you leave.

Look for famous landmarks or scenic highways that you want to visit and fit them into your itinerary for the trip.

Instead of eating at the hotel restaurant, eat the local foods that the area is famous for. If you are traveling to the area, you may as well enjoy what it has to offer.

4. Schedule Your Meetings for Fun

Most people that you conduct business would welcome the break from the stuffy boardroom discussions.

You can spice things up by scheduling your business meetings with your clients in more appealing locations.

This may require that you get a little creative, but this article has fourteen unique venue ideas that you can steal.

5. Choose One Treat

Even if you can’t fit in an entire fun experience during your business trip, there is always a way to treat yourself, even if it’s small.

Whether you splurge on a massage at the hotel spa or go for a walk in the park during your lunch break, find something that you can do to bring a little pleasure to your trip.

6. Ditch the Corporate Hotel

One way to shake up the ho-hum business trip is by opting to ditch the corporate hotel scene. These big hotel chains may be convenient, but they all look pretty similar, and you can even forget that you are in a different city.

You can also make your business trip more unique by finding a local Airbnb or Vrbo near your business event.

7. Get Help With Planning

Sometimes the worst part of traveling is trying to handle all of the traveling logistics before you leave.

You can save a ton of time and energy if you enlist the help of a lodging specialist that not only does most of the work for you but can get the best rates since they partner with hundreds of hotels.

While many companies offer corporate lodging services, most of them do so for a fee. Get help with your next hotel stay for free with a service like Hotel Engine.

Conclusion

There’s nothing wrong with making your business trip feel a little more like a vacation. If you have to travel, you might as well enjoy it, right?

These seven little tips can help your next business trip feel less like work.