Mixing Pleasure with Business when You Travel Abroad

Travelling abroad for business offers a great opportunity to reach out to a whole new population and increase your marketing share, and is vital in this global economy. For the smart business traveler, it also offers the opportunity for a little personal travel mixed in with the business trip. Since your company has already paid for your travel expenses, there is no reason why you shouldn't try to fit a little personal exploration and sightseeing into the trip. Here are a few tips to help you blend some pleasure with your business when you travel abroad.

1. Pack comfortable clothes: While you can probably do some sightseeing in your business attire, it will definitely have an adverse affect on the experience if you are uncomfortable in your clothes or shoes. Bring one comfortable outfit and pair of shoes with you to wear on your excursion to avoid discomfort; if you can go out more than once, your hotel can always wash the outfit.

2. Bring your own money: Personal travel during a business trip should get paid for with personal funds, so make sure you have cash and credit cards from your own budget to pay for sightseeing and personal travel.

3. Play only on your time: It is not appropriate to indulge in personal travel and sightseeing while on company time. Cramming in a quick trip to a touristy hot spot in between meetings puts your employer's success at risk and, since that's the whole purpose of your trip, should be avoided.

4. Keep your behavior in check: Since you are representing your employer or company while you are abroad, it is best to keep your behavior work-appropriate at all times. If it's not something you would do or say while at work, then don't do or say it while abroad.

5. Carry travel health insurance: This insurance ensures that any injuries, accidents or illnesses suffered while you are abroad are treated in an affordable manner at a medical facility you can trust. In some cases, it can even ensure that you get medical evacuation coverage so you can be treated near your home, if that makes you more comfortable. And with flexible coverage options, travel health insurance policies have premiums that can fit into any budget.

When balanced correctly and handled responsibly, it's easy to mix business travel with a little bit of pleasure sightseeing. Whether that means relaxing on a beach, hitting tourist hotspots or just taking a quiet stroll by yourself with no appointments in sight, a little pre-trip preparation can help you indulge without putting the goal of your trip at risk.