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How to Travel with a Full-Time Job

Wondering how to mix travel in while working, especially with a full time job?

Impossible you say? Well, we know from first hand experience that not only is it possible but it can also be rewarding and even profitable!

It’s a common trope – a would be traveler quits their job, travels the world, and finds love, fame, and/or fortune. I’m sure you’ve all seen a movie or read a book about it but the reality is that in real life that doesn’t usually happen.

While as tempting as quitting your job and taking a long vacation is, it’s just not realistic for a lot of people, who are (understandably) too practical to take that enormous leap, or who have commitments that simply won’t let them quit their job and sail the seven seas.

While being able to work remotely is undoubtedly the easiest way to work while traveling (have laptop, will travel), there are some jobs that you just can’t phone in while on the road and times when just flat out quitting might not be the best answer.

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to quit your full-time job to see the world. It definitely takes a can-do attitude, some creative problem solving, and even some occasional slight of hand, but for many people it’s possible to both work full time and also scratch that travel itch.

How to travel while working

When we first started traveling together almost 20 years ago, my husband Charles and I had full time jobs. We started out taking weekends off to travel, then two week vacations, working remotely while spending months in Mexico, and eventually a year long trip through Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Not all of these tips will work for everyone, but with some creative thinking, hopefully at least one of these will apply to your situation!

I know that many people believe that travel and work are an impossible mix! Whether you are part of a working couple, a single would be traveler, or even a traveling family, there are so many ways you can travel while still keeping your full-time job.

Here are our top tips for how to travel with a full-time job.

We start with what should be the easiest solutions for most people, getting more creative as we go down the list.

Use your weekends and time off

Everyone gets time off at some point, and how you use that time is yours!

If you have vacation days and weekends off, take those days to travel around the world. You can make a bunch of four-day weekends for more extended travel, or you can take a short weekend trip somewhere. If you are really pressed for time, look into flights instead of long drives to maximize your time at the destination rather than in the car.

Be flexible with your dates

If you want to travel while you have a full time job, sometimes you need to be flexible with your dates.

Taking off in the middle of summer might not work if your busy season at work is during the summer or, for instance, in the middle of tax season if you’re an accountant. Instead, consider taking a few extra days off before a big holiday break or a four day weekend to maximize your vacation days and allow more travel time. Get creative and be flexible if you want to see and do more.

Travel in the off season

While this ties into the previous segment, if you can schedule time off during the shoulder season like late Spring/early Fall, you can better maximize your time away from home. While most people love to travel in the summer, the reality is that’s often peak times so going in Fall or Spring can not only save you hour long lineups but also allow you to travel for much cheaper.

Work extra hours

Does your employer let you bank time? Some employers let you take time off in lieu of overtime pay.

If you can bank time, try working extra hours during busy periods, and then taking those days off to add to your vacation time. Just make sure that your employer is accurately recording any extra time that you work and you’re being paid fully when you’re not there.

Take advantage of travel opportunities at work

Ask your boss if there are any travel opportunities at your work. You may be shocked to find that they offer travel to warehouses, conferences, and other work opportunities if you just ask. While you won’t be able to do them all, you may be able to snag one or two extra trips!

Since most of the work stuff happens during the day, this often means you can enjoy entire nights off in a new city and if you can plan those dates around a weekend, it can often give you a few extra days to enjoy wherever you happen to be.

Work during your vacation

While this seems the opposite of what we’re trying to do here, many employers won’t even consider allowing employees to work remotely. Yet, these same employers will be happy to let you work right through your vacation time.

Sure, it sucks to have to do work while you’re on vacation. However, if you absolutely can’t afford to take time off and you have a backlog of work that keeps piling up, working during a vacation may be an option that doesn’t break the bank.

To make this work, you’ll either need to convince your boss to let you work remotely as you travel, or you’ll need to make the slog into work, and have a staycation. If you can afford it, get a hotel or somewhere nice to stay for part of your vacay, or stay at home and splurge on fun activities during your off hours. While it might not seem like travel, if you do some local activities outside your norm, that can go a long way to making your vacation at least memorable.

Take unpaid time off

For a lot of readers, I’m sure that I lost you at the word unpaid, but hear me out. If you can manage to save enough for a vacation, taking unpaid time off can be a way to free up some time for a trip, while still keeping your job.

I’ve used the technique of asking for unpaid time off a few times, when I was in a situation where I could afford to travel, but just didn’t have the time or vacation hours available to me.

While it’s true that companies love having you on premise, if they’re not having to pay you, they often don’t mind you taking a few weeks or, sometimes even a few months off for a mini sabbatical. If work is quiet at your company, your employer may actually appreciate having to spend less on payroll for a while.

Unfortunately, if your job is especially busy, or your expertise is essential to your employer, this strategy might not work but it never hurts to ask. Most people never even think to ask but their response might surprise you, especially if the company can gain something in the process such as a new skill or language learned or even just having better mental health when you return.

Ask your current employer if you can work remotely

This one’s a little risky: If you have a really uptight or vindictive boss, you risk showing them your hand that you want to travel.

However, you may be surprised. Many employers don’t want to lose a good employee, so if you’re trusted and your work is valued, and you can successfully do your job at home, being able to work remotely may be as simple as just asking.

I’ve successfully used this technique in the past. I started out with a technical writing job that was full time, and on site. Over my first few months, I worked hard to get my immediate supervisors to trust my work ethic, and to value my work.

About three months in, I asked if I could work remotely a day a week. They said yes, and I made sure to show them that I was productive, and working hard at home.

A couple of months later, I asked if I could work two days remotely a week. They said yes, and I kept up the hard work.

After another couple of months, I asked if I could work remotely full time, and made a case that working remotely would save them money by freeing up my office space, and they wouldn’t lose any productive time at all. They said yes, and I was off to Mexico in a few weeks’ time.

If you have a job that could be done from anywhere, consider asking your boss if you can work some of your time from home. This will give you more flexibility to travel as you can work from anywhere at that point.

Find a job that lets you work remotely

This one might seem impossible, but there are a lot of jobs that allow you to work from home from the start.

This is one good thing we can thank the pandemic for. The amount of remote workers has increased right around the world and so many companies have discovered that having remote workers is a viable proposition moving forward. It’s opened the door to so many more possibilities.

Editing and writing jobs are probably the most familiar of remote jobs. You don’t even need to take a cheap custom writings job – there are writing jobs that pay well, especially if you have a skill like technical or medical writing, academic editing, or copywriting.

Check out our list of 45 best travel jobs for some more great ideas for jobs that let you work as you travel.

Take contract work instead of a permanent 9 to 5

We spent years using the downtime from our contract IT jobs to travel. We’d work for six months or a year at a contract job, and then travel in between contracts.

The major downside of this approach is that you need to earn enough doing contract work to afford to take time off. You also need to be able to save money and budget well however the good news is that contract workers are often paid more. You can also often save on income taxes since you’d be working for yourself. Between tax breaks and company write-offs, doing contract work can be quite lucrative in the right market and is worth looking into.

Take a sabbatical

Not everyone can take a sabbatical leave; we get that.

However, if you’re lucky enough to be in a profession that commonly allow sabbaticals, like academics, definitely look into it.

It may not be common knowledge, but many companies allow sabbaticals, including Patagonia and even McDonalds. You may have to discreetly ask your HR department, or browse around your company website to find out if you qualify for a sabbatical but they can be a great way to keep your job but allow you the free time to follow your passions.

The crazy part is that some companies even pay for your sabbatical time off! This really depends on your company, their philosophy about work and life as well as the country you live in.

Regardless, even if your sabbatical may not offer paid time off, the beauty of a sabbatical is that you’ll have a job to return to after you travel. Just make sure you start saving up .

Be your own boss

If you run your own business, you have a lot more say in the days you work and the hours. We started working for ourselves about 10 years ago, and it gave us a lot more flexibility to travel.

Working for yourself means that you may be able to take more time to travel and even give yourself the flexibility to work from different time zones.

Being your own boss can mean starting your own business by blogging, selling on Etsy, or even becoming a virtual assistant! There are so many different options that offer flexibility, which will help you get some more travel time while still working full-time for yourself.

Working for yourself also means that you’ll need to become better at budgeting for time off, and allowing for unexpected expenses. It may also mean that you end up working more hours in total than you ever did when working for someone else but while it’s not always easy, it can be quite rewarding and allow you to see the world on your schedule, rather that someone elses.

You don’t have to quit your job to see the world.

While taking time off to travel is nice, it’s also nice to not worry about how you’re going to pay the bills when you return from your long trip.

No matter how you do it, don’t be fooled into thinking it will be easy or just work out. If you want to keep your job but still step out and see the world you’ll have to work twice as hard to make sure you keep the work/travel balance in check.

While it won’t be simple, it can be even more rewarding by not only keeping your bank account in the black and your career moving forward but also allowing you to see all the amazing things this world can offer.

There are even a lot of jobs that you can do while you’re on the road. There are plenty of students searching for editors, so jobs in academic editing and writing can be relatively easy to pick up.

Have a tip about work and travel? We’d love to hear about it.

these tricks really sounds interesting and useful to fulfill your traveling dream while going doing a job.

keep sharing such a good information with us.

Great post that will hopefully get more people exploring the world. Sometimes it just takes a little motivation to figure out how to do it, but many of us our proof that it can be done.

I have been planning to travel but I have a full time job as well thanks for this great tips

Pretty good advices. After one vacation I enjoyed traveling so much that I had to change to a telecommuting job to have more time to travel. Anyway, combining office work and travel is very difficult!

Amazing tips and very helpful as well for all the people who feel stucked at work or are not able to take out some self-time from their hectic schedule. I liked your tip of looking for travel opportunity at work. I guess those who don’t have enough leaves can definitely take advantage of this. Keep educating readers through such posts.

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How to Travel With a Full-Time Job: 6 Creative Ways

Posted on Last updated: April 10, 2024

I’ve been living and working abroad since 2013 and I can confirm there are MULTIPLE WAYS to travel with a full-tome job. No, you don’t need to give up your career. Yes, people will actually pay you!

The pandemic truly made us re-evaluate our priorities and I’m 100% here to help. If you’re dreaming of a more flexible work environment that will allow you to travel while working full-time, I have 5 creative ways to make that happen for you.

In this article, I’m going to discuss:

• Choosing the right travel/work balance for you
• 6 ways to travel while working full-time
• My favorite apps to make working while traveling easier
• Important tax considerations when you’re on the road
• Ways to get sh*t done at work while away from your normal set-up

If you think this path is right for you and you want to pick my brain about your specific circumstances, book a one-time 45-minute private coaching session with me.

Is Traveling with a Full-Time Job Right for You?

Not everyone is meant to be on the road 24/7 so you’ll want to figure out what’s the right path for you and your work style. There are a few important questions to consider

• Will I be traveling alone? Or do I have a partner or family members to consider?
• What countries can I currently work in easily? Do I need a work visa?
• What’s my budget for traveling while working full-time? Can I make less in exchange for greater flexibility?
• What are my career goals? Is there a specific timeline I need to be conscious of?

After evaluating these questions, your strategy should become clearer about what sort of circumstances are right for you when it comes to blending your career-travel ambitions.

For example, when it comes to traveling while working full-time, I have a partner I need to consider – but no children – so it’s easy to take off whenever I want to for up to a month without feeling guilty.

For anything longer than a month, I would need to have a conversation with my partners to ensure we’re on the same page.

However, backpacking for a year while being a digital nomad is not really conducive to my professional or personal aspirations.

I don’t want to be apart from my family that long and this becomes a tax nightmare for me.

You’ll need to decide what type of travel you want to do while working full-time (long-term backpacking vs shorter trips) before moving on to my 5 recommended ways.

6 Creative Ways to Travel while Working Full-Time

If you want to work full-time and travel easily in your spare time, here are your best options! I’ve done nearly every single method so you can trust me when I say – it’s totally doable.

1. Transition Your 9-5 Abroad (Indefinite)

No one ever tells us this in America, but if you’re a skilled person, you can take your career overseas!

Whether you’re a teacher or a Product Manager (like me!), there are international companies who are eager to bring you to their offices abroad!

Currently, I work for a global travel tech company as a product manager. I started working for them in London (in 2017) and I was able to negotiate a transfer to their Germany offices in 2020. I’ve been in Germany ever since.

You don’t need to abandon your career ambitions to move abroad if you’re a competitive person. Visa, Facebook, and all the other international companies have global locations that you can transfer to with enough effort.

Read my article about finding a job abroad here.

Once you’re outside of America, travel becomes naturally easier. As I’m writing this blog post, I’m currently waiting in the Berlin Brandenburg business lounge on my way to Rome.

I’m taking my laptop and I’ll be remotely working from Italy for the next week!

When I was living and working in Beijing, I was able to take off to Hong Kong and the Philippines without much money or planning.

Frequent travel while working full-time is much easier once you get out of the United States; trust me.

As Americans, we have an additional tax reporting responsibility when we work abroad, but don’t let that deter you.

You need to understand that it’s really just a reporting responsibility and only under extreme circumstances will you be double taxed.

Read my article about American expat tax requirements here.

2. Negotiate a Remote Contract (1+ year)

If you’re lucky enough to negotiate a remote contract, congratulations! You’ve truly secured a golden ticket that most people would kill for!!

I was able to negotiate a German remote contract in Aug 2021 and that’s how I have so much flexibility.

So what is a remote contract?

Essentially, a remote contract specifically removes any location-dependent clauses from your work contract. However, remote contracts will likely include a country-specific reference because they need to abide by some sort of legal framework.

With a remote contract, you can easily travel while working full-time because there’s no expectation for you to come into a specific office. You only need to get the work done wherever you are in the world.

For example, my remote contract is specifically a German contract. This means I pay tax to the German government and I get to enjoy the social security and healthcare benefits of living in the European Union.

If you’re able to negotiate a remote contract and want to move outside of the country that your contract specifically references, you’ll need to consider how that will affect your tax liability and immigration status.

A good rule of thumb is: if you’ve been in a country longer than 3 months, you should start exploring if that country expects you to pay tax locally and if you’re in violation of your tourist visa.

Some countries and regions (like the UK) have super generous tourist visa allowances, but tourist visas are not work visas so tread carefully.

Furthermore, if you’re paying taxes in the United States, but haven’t been in the country for more than 35 days, you might be entitled to a massive tax refund since you’re not technically a full-time resident.

Set up a consultation with my trusted tax partner – My Expat Taxes – to find out more about tax and reporting responsibilities as a remote US worker.

3. Volunteer Abroad (2-6 months)

If you’re just starting your career or are less concerned about bringing your 9-5 abroad, you should seriously consider volunteering abroad.

There are a variety of websites that match volunteers with hosts in different countries to do a ‘work-exchange.’ In a ‘work-exchange,’ you’d exchange your labor and skills for food, room, and board.

A few things that you can do when volunteering abroad include:

• Organic Farming (WOOFing)
• Working at the front desk of a hostel
• Becoming an Au Pair (in the EU or America)
• Work as a camp counselor (I did this in Morocco!)
• and so much more!

There are endless opportunities if you want to volunteer abroad, but you’ll need to bring some savings with you as you won’t be paid for this work.

My favorite websites are:

• workaway.info
• Worldpackers.com

It’s also important to know that since this is a volunteer opportunity, you’ll need to be extra careful with your tourist visa allowance because there are always time limitations. You cannot get a work visa through a volunteer opportunity.

I‘ve lived abroad for many years and love helping others find work abroad and figure out their “Move Abroad Plan.” Check out my class below to get you started ASAP!

4. Become a Digital Nomad (1 month-2 years)

Becoming a digital nomad can be super exciting!…. but it can be tiring toward the end lol.

Moving from place to place every 30 days to make sure you’re not in violation of your tourist visa gets to you after the 2nd year, but I would still encourage everyone to do this if they have the opportunity.

So what’s the difference between being a digital nomad and having a remote contract?

Not much actually. I think the real difference between the two classifications is probably how stable the income is. A remote worker still has a traditional 9-5 whereas a digital nomad is often an entrepreneur or freelancer.

As a digital nomad, you have two options when it comes to creating a home base.

First, you can choose to bounce across countries every 1-2 months to ensure you can take advantage of all the financial benefits that come with not being tied down to a single location.

Your second option is to take advantage of a digital nomad visa in a foreign country, which will allow you to establish your tax residency there for 1 to 2 years.

There are benefits with both options; it just depends on how comfortable you are with uncertainty and constant movement.

If you choose option 1, not only are you going to need to find clients and establish a consistent cash flow, but you’ll also need to change countries every few months. This might feel overwhelming to some people; I know it was overwhelming for me.

Read this article about easy countries to move to for Americans to start your digital nomad research.

5. Short-Term Contract (2-6 months)

Contract work is often a great way to gain international experience and travel while maintaining a 9 to 5.

Essentially this means that your company sends you to a different country for a brief amount of time to complete a specific project.

These temporary contracts will likely send you abroad for 2-6 months and your company will provide you with an ‘Expat Package.’

This means that they will pay for everything; which includes housing, flights, a food stipend, and more!

I was sent on a short-term contract to Turkey for less than 2 months and it was a wild experience!

I was able to work as an emergency aid worker and was given a company apartment with a spending stipend. I saved every penny of my paycheck!

If you’re interested in doing a short-term contract, it’s important that you focus on getting the best package possible because you are uprooting your entire life to pursue this opportunity.

For example, these are the things that I would absolutely require if I was going to a new country on a short-term contract.

• My accommodation to be found and paid for in full
• Private health insurance and international medical facilities
• A food and living stipend for everyday costs
• My flights to and from paid for

Obviously, if you are volunteering to work on a short-term contract these things are not going to be guaranteed. However, any company that is reputable will likely provide all if not the majority of the following things in addition to your normal salary.

6. Travel Scholarship (3 months -2 years)

Did you know that there are travel scholarships that will pay for you to study and volunteer abroad for a certain amount of time? These are often called paid travel opportunities.

My favorite way of discovering paid travel opportunities is through my friend’s website packslight.com.

Gabby is an absolute master when it comes to applying and finding paid travel opportunities that will get you across the world at no additional cost to you.

What you’ll need to do is send in an application for the various opportunities.

Then, someone will contact you as a finalist or if you are successful in the application you can expect the company to organize and pay for your travel abroad.

My Favorite Digital Nomad Apps for Employees on the Go!

When you’re traveling and working abroad, there are certain apps that will make your life more bearable as you jet-set across the world!

Here are my favorite apps and websites for digital nomads:

If you’re ever wondering how you’re going to watch your favorite American Netflix shows while you’re abroad, then look no further than Nord VPN!

They will help you keep in contact with all of your country’s pop culture references no matter where you are in the world.

TransferWise

Because I have multiple clients that are international and have outstanding student loans to pay, I need to send money in different currencies back and forth across the world.

The most affordable way to do that is via TransferWise . You can load all sorts of currencies into your account and then exchange them into different currencies for a fraction of the cost that your bank will charge you.

If you’re interested in setting up a coaching business, look no further than Teachable .

Teachable is an online platform that helps me keep in contact with my customers all over the world and they make taking payments easy with the Stripe integration.

Whenever I’m looking for freelancers, I always start on Upwork.

Upwork allows me to hire people from all over the world and their payment protection plan gives me the confidence I need about the quality of work my freelancers will perform.

I believe in Upwork so much, that I’ve been using it for the last eight years.

When I first moved abroad, I don’t think I truly understood how much emotional stress the move was going to cause me.

That’s why I really enjoy using online therapy services, like BetterHelp , because no matter where I am in the world I can always stay with the therapist I trust and I can do my sessions in my native language.

Opening a bank account as a foreigner abroad is incredibly difficult. I’m so grateful that N26 allows me to spend local money in Europe despite having an American passport.

The flexibility of N26 made it possible for me to sign an apartment lease and start my life in Germany properly.

Important Tax Considerations for Traveling while Working

Something I wish someone would’ve told me before I moved abroad was the fact that there is no way to avoid taxes, no matter where you are in the world.

Even if you have a company registered outside of the country you’re living in currently.

If you are American or a green card holder, you are expected to report and file taxes every single year no matter where you are in the world.

But reporting and Filene doesn’t necessarily mean paying additional taxes to the United States if you don’t currently live there.

If you stay out of the US for at least 330 days in a full calendar year, you will potentially not need to pay taxes to the United States government.

However, it is likely that you are a tax resident in another country and will owe taxes there instead.

If you are a digital nomad from the United States, and you don’t take up residency in any one country then you could potentially receive a large tax refund from the US government come tax season.

Use Form 2555 to claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.

For more specific information on what forms to file and how to file correctly, head on over to my trusted partner My Expat Taxes .

My Expat Taxes is a wonderful resource and software to ensure you get the maximum refund possible while still remaining budget-friendly.

Ways to Get Sh*t Done while Working and Traveling

It’s definitely not easy to stay focused while traveling and working full-time. Somehow corporate meetings just aren’t as interesting as cenote dives and adventures across the ocean. [LOL]

Here are a few ways I stay focused while working full-time and traveling.

First, be sure you have a good set-up in your new home to do your work. There’s nothing worse than trying to get work done in an awkward sitting position or just on your bed.

Next, some countries are not known for their strong Wi-Fi signal, be sure to inquire before you arrive with your Airbnb host that the Wi-Fi is suitable to conduct meetings and streaming.

Third, check to see if there are any low-cost co-working stations in the city that you’re traveling in.

They often have day passes or short-term agreements so people just like you can come in and work in a normal environment every so often.

Finally, make sure to adjust your work calendar based on the different time zones that you’ll be traveling through.

This is an automatic feature but you have to enable it in order for your meetings to be expressed correctly.

Now You’re Ready to Start Traveling while Working Full-Time

I hope you found this article to be helpful in giving you ideas regarding how to balance a full work schedule with your ambitions to travel.

There are so many opportunities to travel and work full-time, you just need to find the right option for you.

If you want my direct support and feedback on your specific circumstances, schedule a private coaching session with me here.

If you’re interested in learning more about working while traveling abroad, read these additional articles that might be of some help:

• This is how you can find a job in another country
• Here I go into more detail about how to find affordable travel opportunities
• Consider doing a master’s abroad, because you can also work while you study
• Here’s information about how I was able to put it into the tech industry in London

If you want additional support in your move abroad, consider taking my Move Abroad Master Class for everything you might need to know regarding your international relocation.

Thanks so much for reading this post and I hope to see you on Instagram!

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The ultimate guide to traveling for work: 35 best tips for business travelers

Before you travel…, 1. check your company’s business travel policy, 2. stick to carry-on bags only, 3. keep your essentials packed and ready to go in your suitcase, 4. keep your essentials handy when on the road, 5. pack both business attire and casual clothes, 6. keep security checks in mind when you pack, 7. make comfort a priority, 8. sign up for rewards programs, 9. make sure you charge your electronic devices, 10. fly non-stop, 11. make use of airport lounges, 12. use a suit bag, 13. bring a power bank, 14. bring your (travel size) toiletries, 15. pack healthy snacks, 16. choose your plane seat wisely, 17. do your research on foreign business etiquette, 18. download helpful apps, 19. bring a power adapter, 20. check in beforehand, during your business trip…, 21. choose water, skip alcohol, 22. if you have a meeting shortly after landing and need to be fresh, try drinking coffee two hours before the meeting, 23. layover tip: take the time to connect, 24. stretch, 25. adapt to meal times as soon as possible, 26. beat jet lag with exercise, 27. don’t be tempted to sleep as soon as you arrive, 28. try to stick to your most important daily routines, 29. take pictures of all your receipts, 30. store your receipts properly, 31. use a firewall when using public internet, 32. there are alternatives to working in your hotel room, after your business trip…, 33. don’t forget to report your expenses, 34. send thank you emails, 35. leave reviews, did you find this article useful.

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Perfecting the One-day Business Trip: Tips and What to Pack

Written by Becca

Updated on February 23rd, 2024

I took a very short one-day business trip, flying back the same day! Here are my best tips for how to survive and what to pack, to make this work travel worth it and easy.

This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

Table of contents

• What to pack for a same-day work trip
• Tips for taking a one-day work trip
• Final thoughts on a one-day business trip

I was recently presented with the opportunity to take a one-day business trip, departing in the morning and returning home the same night. It was mildly thrilling as I first considered it.

As a woman in her mid-thirties, I am glad to travel halfway across the US for a single in-person meeting, and go home to sleep in my own bed the same night.

How do you take a same-day business trip, though? Is there any secret hack or tip I needed to uncover? How do you survive the early morning flight, the late night return and looking fresh and put-together in between?

Take it from me: I first researched the other tips out there from business travelers who nailed the one-day business trip, and these are my best suggestions of how to do it and what to pack.

What to pack for a same-day work trip

Packing for a same-day work trip isn’t hard, but I thought through it a few times. Here’s what I went with, from the bag I strategically chose to the back-up smart items I packed in there.

Your business travel bag or luggage

While business travel websites and pro business travelers out there recommend a short carry-on suitcase like the Daily Carry-On from Away , I found it perfectly appropriate to take a professional laptop travel backpack.

I swear by the Bivy Tote Backpack from Troubadour , which is my dedicated work backpack for when I head into the my Manhattan office.

Get free shipping on orders $100+, Troubadour's 5-year guarantee and 100-day returns now!

Shop the deal

With room for a laptop and a central cavity that fits a slim packing cube , accessories and chargers, it was a no-brainer to take this awesome travel backpack on my business trip.

I was considering taking the Troubadour Adventure Carrier tote , which I also have in my closet, but decided that I didn’t want to be stressing either one of my shoulders during all that walking through airports. I’ll use this lovely and spacious tote for another occasion.

I chose the Bivy backpack for my one-day trip in order to manage weight on my shoulders effectively while walking through airports twice in one day. Here’s what it looks like.

Travel (waist pack) accessory bag

I’ve mentioned in other gear articles of ours that I really like having a waist pack during travel days. During a same-day business trip, you do quite a bit of travel in just a few hours!

Shop my picks

Great for stylish women travelers (or men travelers!), it can be worn in a cute “waist” location rather than at your hip.

It fits all my daily “stuff” from hand cream, hand sanitizer, keys, cards, wallet and phone, to more random items like even an entire water bottle.

I appreciate its sleek, expandable design and multiple pockets, ideal for daily essentials and travel, with a stylish silver buckle adding a touch of elegance.

On this trip, I took the Public Rec Belt Bag , which I used both in its fanny pack method and its sling bag setup. I find this bag is to be so convenient for keeping my passport, wallet, phone and AirPods handy and close to my body. I keep it in my lap during the flight as well.

Not interested in the look of this convertible fanny pack? Check out the list of my best fanny packs for travel to see more options.

Work items to pack

Make sure to take your work laptop, laptop case (I use a simple neoprene one I bought on my own) and your laptop cable or charger. I usually pack these the night before.

One tip is to make sure you don’t take your personal laptop instead of your work computer, as that would be an unfortunate mistake. Pack these while you’re not in a rush, ideally not in the minutes before you’re running out the door.

Other travel accessories

In addition to the standard “travel things” like a phone cable and an external battery pack or power bank (great for when you have an old plane with no outlets!), you could consider bringing compression socks for the flight and a neck pillow (I recommend this easy one from BCozzy ).

You’ll also want a reusable travel water bottle! Pack the one you’d take on any trip. I recommend the YETI or the S’well bottles . Fill up your bottle at a water fountain before you board your inbound flight, so that you’re not parched and tired upon arrival.

Toiletries to bring

When leaving home for just a day, you might think, do I need toiletries?

I opted for “yes” on this question, after reading some recommendations of bringing a toothbrush and travel-sized toothpaste for these reasons:

• So that you can freshen up by brushing, after a flight, if you fall asleep and feel groggy
• In the rare case that your return flight is cancelled, you’ll be glad to had a spare toothbrush and toothpaste

I also brought aromatherapy scented travel-sized hand cream for battling the dryness of the plane, plus having an attempt at smelling nice before my meeting. I packed one tube of mascara as a quick makeup fix, one lip balm and one mini Vaseline , also to combat airplane dryness.

One more thing: a last-minute item I threw in my backpack was a travel-sized hairbrush to use post-flight in case I looked messy.

For men, you could consider bringing a beard comb or small set of travel-sized grooming items .

If you often perspire during flights, or just tend to feel smelly, opt to bring along deodorant and apply it either in the airplane bathroom before the descent, or in an airport bathroom right when you arrive.

Clothing, accessories and shoes

As my trip was during the fall, I was lucky to be able to wear a sweater as my casual top that doubled as a layer on the flight and a base that I could “dress up” before landing.

How did I do my “dressing up before landing?”

I packed a set of a matching necklace and bracelet that I could put on, along with a solid-colored pashmina that could add a pop of color to what I was wearing (which was dark jeans and gray Allbirds Pipers ).

I also expertly applied mascara as the plane was landing, by using my phone as a mirror. Luckily, I did fine.

I should mention I also wore my black leather band travel watch by Victorinox , which is always a classy item to have on my wrist in professional environments.

In a small packing cube , I packed one extra pair of underwear and one extra top, along with a pair of leggings, for two possible reasons:

• In case I wanted a change of clothes for the flight home the same night
• For the same reason of (in a rare case) my return flight getting cancelled and my needing to spend a night in my destination

Tips for taking a one-day work trip

Remember: this business travel guide is for anyone taking a work trip that lasts only one calendar day, not a 24-hour trip that involves one night in a hotel. I’ve recently done one of those as well, and the difference is that you really do require a whole night’s worth of things.

For anything I mention here, it’s in regard to leaving in the morning, going to a meeting or event out of town, and coming back the same night. I’m not really speaking to red-eye flights , which would start the night before and get you into your destination in the morning, essentially. The tips here speak to waking up at a “more or less” normal morning time and getting home before midnight the same day.

Here are my best tips for making your trip successful and not getting too tired!

Get a good night of rest the night before

I really recommend trying to go to bed at 9, 10 or 11 pm the night before your same-day work trip, depending on if you have a 6, 7 or 8 am flight.

I had a 9:30 am flight out of an airport not too far from where I live, so I lucked out. I went to bed around 11 pm the night before (and of course didn’t sleep very well because I always fear I’ll miss my early morning alarm!). I left home a little after 7, and was already through security and grabbing a latte 45 minutes later.

Check into both your flights the day before

Because your flights are both on the same calendar day, you can check in online the day before you leave and save a lot of time at the airport.

Perfect that one-day work trip packing list

Despite being such a brief trip, as you can see from the packing I did above, you may be challenged by fitting all these “what-if” items into only a backpack or mini carry-on.

Pack your trip bag beforehand

Pack your entire carry-on or backpack the night before your trip and make a short list of the finishing touches for the morning. For me, this list tends to be my phone charger, phone, battery backup power bank and a few other things.

Keep in touch with colleagues or clients

If your flight is delayed, or even if it takes off early, ping your coworkers also traveling or your client/partner on the ground at your destination to let them know your status.

I texted my coworkers as soon as I landed, and we texted the business partners with whom we’d be meeting, nearly immediately, to tell them our ETA at the office campus.

Have a freshen-up plan

For me, my plan was to put on my jewelry, fix my hair and have my makeup done before landing, as I was meeting colleagues immediately in the airport and heading right to the meeting with another company!

Your plan could look different. Think about if your tight schedule allows time to change clothes in an airport bathroom, have a meal before picking up your rental car, etc., so that you can have a game plan.

Regarding meals, we’re talking about that in just a second!

Make sure to eat on the way in

Luckily, I picked up both breakfast and snacks at airport shops in the morning and ate enough to hold myself over for a while, as well as have snacks for the afternoon if food wasn’t available or being planned. Truth is, you never know if others came from having lunch and assume everyone has eaten.

It was fortunate that I prepped in this way because I headed with colleagues to our meeting, forty minutes outside the city we landed in, and we wound up not going out to lunch for another two and a half hours. If I hadn’t been able to sneak a snack, I would’ve been starving!

(As you can see here, I’m a bit of a health nut, and I focus on nutrient-rich foods full of protein and fiber on travel days. I try to avoid chips and pure sugar junk as long as possible.)

Be communicative about your time frame

What with departing the same night back home, keep your coworkers and business partners at the meeting or event informed of your departure timeline so that no one encounters any stress.

We were in luck that we went out to a business lunch after meetings were done, and our timeline for getting in an Uber and being en route to the local airport for the flight home was absolutely perfect.

Plan around that flight back home

Sleeping in your own bed tonight is surely the end goal, so make it a priority to not miss that flight back to your origin airport!

Calculate the distance between where you’ll be spending the day, to the airport, so that you can get through security and to your gate on time. Hopefully you’ve had a chance by then to have a successful business meeting or event, and even sample some local cuisine!

For me, I went right from the airport to a meeting at an office campus in a suburb, and then went right back to the airport with coworkers to make our return flight to NYC .

Prepare for delays

This is standard travel advice and also standard business travel advice, of course. Would you ever know it? While I was with colleagues waiting for our flight home to board, we got a notification from the airline app that our flight was delayed more than 90 minutes.

I had a moment of agony and then was thankful I wasn’t alone, but surely could’ve been if I had been heading to a different home airport than the others.

Fortunately, there were food options nearby, as well as WiFi. Eventually, our delayed flight wound up being able to board earlier than expected and we made a mad dash for that!

Final thoughts on a one-day business trip

I think my same-day work trip went fairly well, considering that I did travel halfway across the US and return home in the same period of less than 16 hours. Air travel really never ceases to amaze me for how it gets you from Point A to Point B, so fast .

A few things that brought me success were staying relaxed, keeping an eye on the time and knowing that I had everything with me that I needed in case of an unexpected scenario.

I hope your same-day trip for business goes swimmingly and that these recommendations were good reminders of what you can do!

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Traveling for Work Tips: How to Find Balance

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Ahhh the phrase “traveling for work” is great until you need those “traveling for work tips.” To the naked ear it sounds like a dream come true, especially if your job is paying too! Sleeping in hotels and Airbnbs, squeezing in tourist time to sightsee, and trying new foods in work destinations – these are the greatest perks.

However, what do you do when it becomes too much? Traveling for work, or even quitting your job to travel the world, has become the new #goals. Even when you do something you love, positive stress and fatigue is real. But how do you balance it all without compromising your mental health? 

During my grad school years I traveled for work AND school as a full-time graduate student – including a 3-month summer practicum in Berlin . And now as a full-time social worker, I travel for work multiple times a year. It can be a lot of work and you need to take care of yourself. Through trial and error, I have some tips to minimize stress when you are traveling for work.    

Table of Contents

Business travel hacks

Are you a student too? Plan time for your homework 

If you’re traveling for work, while also in school, planning will be SO important to balance your school work with your “work work.” The most ideal situation would be to do all of your homework before the trip. But we know that is not (or hardly ever) the case as you are preparing for the trip beforehand. Take advantage of the travel time and get some done on the plane and while you wait to board. Or, the weekend before your work trip, get ahead on homework then.

Do work in the airport or on the plane

Even if you don’t have homework in the traditional sense mentioned above, chances are you have something to do. Ironically, there is work you are sacrificing during traveling for work time. Depending on your departing flight time, plan to get to the airport a little early to do work as you wait. Take conference calls in-route, respond to emails, schedule meetings for when you return, etc.

This way you can relax on the flight, or vice versa! Either way, both are good opportunities to incorporate a little work with a little rest all at once. You may also find you are more productive in the airport on plane too! By the time you land, you only have to focus on the reason you’re traveling for work in the first place.

If traveling with a co-worker, get separate rooms

Though this depends on your organization and available funds, I would highly recommend separate rooms for yourself and co-workers. Everyone needs a break from someone at some point. Regardless if you like them or not, you need personal space while you’re traveling for work.

Now you don’t have to completely ignore you co-worker when the work is done – unless that’s the relationship you all have. I’m not judging! Yet, we all need personal space even following  the most successful work day.

This can look like eating dinner on your own or getting food delivered while watching a movie in your hotel room. After a weekend-long trip traveling for work , that time away from each other at the end of each day to decompress is key.  Protect that peace and working relationship.

Travel light (and invest in good luggage)

A few days of work travel does not require a full 50lb suitcase – it’s not worth it! Carry-ons, via a backpack or suitcase that fits in the overhead, are the better move. Using a carry-on you don’t have to worry about your luggage getting lost or stolen. That’s the worst and would not start your work trip off on the right foot.

In the same breath, having a solid backpack or suitcase is an investment to purchase. Find something sleek and easy to pack for best results, including packing cubes that separate your work clothes from the leisure ones. Good luggage goes a long way.

Get some form of exercise

Working out is not only good for your physical health, but for your mental health too. While you enjoy the big hotel bed and personal shower, why not head down to the hotel gym? Getting a little exercise in walking on the treadmill, running, or lifting a few weights can get you active. For people who don’t get that much action or movement during their work trip, this can also be good for you. 

The gym not for you? No worries. Try taking a walk around the block near your accommodations or to a tourist attraction nearby. You can also walk to your lunch or dinner spot, instead of ordering a Lyft or Uber. Staying active as you are traveling for work can relax you personally and professionally.

Print what you need and invest in TSA Pre-Check

Sometimes that mobile pass won’t cut it, or you will forget to charge your phone. Just in case, print all documents you need for your trip and look into TSA Pre-Check . On your way in or out of your work trip, standing in long lines is the last thing you want to do. TSA Pre-Check makes it easier for travelers to go through security, customs, and beyond. You save time, even in the busiest airports.

As someone who (surprisingly) did not have TSA Pre-Check for awhile it is worth the investment. And if you do more international travel Global Entry is the better of the two. Global Entry includes TSA Pre-Check, therefore you get the best all in one.  

More traveling for work tips you need to know

Book your flights to be in and out

Sometimes you get sent to the same places while traveling for work. Once the high of visiting any destination multiple times wears off, you may not enjoy it as much. Schedule your flights to arrive just in time to do what you need to do, and leave right after your engagement is complete.

Extend your time to sightsee or work remotely

Yet, if you do want to of the best traveling for work tips is extending it to explore! Sometimes you can add on an extra day to actually enjoy the city you are visiting. Be advised that the organizers may want you to stay longer too so that is a possibility.

And if you clear it with your boss, you can possibly extend the trip too and work remotely! You don’t have to miss a whole day (if you don’t want to). Be sure to have clear boundaries in the contract about your responsibilities for the work opportunity.  

Set clear boundaries with your work about travel

Speaking of boundaries, do you know the protocol as you are traveling for work? What is included on the company card and what isn’t? What is the budget for food and transportation? How many hours are required for the trip? And how will that affect you when you come back to work post-trip? 

These are the kinds of questions to know the answers to prior to traveling for work. You don’t want to be overthinking your every move during the work trip. Sit down and clarify any questions you have before you go. It will make your trip run so much smoother and set a precedent for future trips as well.  

Treat yourself

While it’s cool to be traveling for work, which can seem like the reward, treat yourself to something else. Go to a nice meal, drinks at a cool bar at the end of work engagement, a manicure or pedicure, etc. Maybe there is a spa in the hotel or elsewhere  you can indulge in once your work commitments are complete.

Traveling for work can wear down the body, and a massage always sounds like a good idea. As a die-hard traveler I squeezed in a visit to the NMAAHC in D.C. while on a work trip because I love museums! Whatever you love, whether that’s entertainment, bookstores, parks, etc. make time for something you love to do. Contributing to your own happiness is the ultimate way to treat yourself. 

Final traveling for work tips and advice

As someone who balanced a part-time job, 5 classes , a 10-hour per week practicum, and a side hustle (aka Sojournies ), I know life can get hectic. It’s necessary to understand your limits and take breaks when you need it. The best traveling for work tip may even mean declining work trips when the option presents itself.

Traveling for work sounds super adventurous, until it doesn’t and wears you out. Good luck and remember to take a breath! No trip is worth sacrificing your health. Hopefully these traveling for work tips make it easier.

Thanks for reading! Save this post by pinning it for later!

( This post was originally published on January 19, 2020 and updated on June 22, 2022 )

Sojourner White is a remote social worker, train travel queen, and award-winning travel journalist. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin she has been a digital nomad and called both Spain and Germany home. Through her platform Sojournies, she helps 9-5ers fulfill their career goals and bucket list dreams to find freedom and flexibility outside the office. Sojourner has been featured in Buzzfeed, PopSugar, The Matador Network, HuffPost, and Thrillist and written for Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Fodor’s, Insider, Lonely Planet, Viator, and more.

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22 Practical Tips To Make Travelling For Work More Bearable

Do you love travelling for work? Or do you dread every trip and then wish that it was over? I land firmly in the middle. I didn't mind travelling for work, mostly because my work colleagues were awesome.

But on the other hand, I am a bit of a homebody. And truthfully, I would always prefer to be at home with my family. 

To make my work travel more bearable (and maybe even enjoyable!), I am always looking for tips, tricks and hacks. In this post, I am sharing some of those tips with you.

1. Always take a bag with wheels.

Why do I always forget this one? Every time I am travelling for work I think, “Nah, she’ll be right!". "I am only going for a couple of nights so I won’t need much!”. And then I end up cursing Past Bec as I hobble through the airport with my overpacked duffel. As cute as my duffel is (white with black stripes, gifted to me by my sister), I always regret taking it.

If you are travelling a lot, consider investing in a small carry-on piece with wheels and laptop storage!

2. Set some boundaries

Do your work colleagues want to go out partying after a full day at the office? If you want to party on, there's no judgement. But if you prefer to eat room service spaghetti bolognese on your crisp white sheets while watching crappy reality TV... well, you need to set some boundaries and stick to them.

Whatever you decide, just remember that you can’t operate on no sleep. Make sure you factor plenty of snooze time into your plan. Otherwise you'll spend your days in the office hating life! (I know this one from experience...)

3. Don't forget the self-care

I am no fitty-titty, but when I am away for work, I love a good pilates sesh. Even on the floor of my hotel room before heading into the office. I've also been known to pack my own trail-mix snacks and will never be seen without a bottle of water. Just because I am away from home, it doesn’t mean I have to stop looking after myself.

The same goes for you, so make sure you are incorporating some self-care into your travel plan. If you are a gym bunny, book into a hotel that has a gym onsite. Don’t forget to pack your gym clothes and your runners. If you have special eating requirements or you are on an eating plan, suss out the food spots before you go and work out where you can buy some simple, healthy essentials if you get stuck!

4. Spend the extra money to access the lounge

This tip was provided by Matt (my ex-boss), who explained to me that for a reasonable annual fee (usually a few hundred dollars) you can get unlimited access to the airport lounge. "What's the big deal?", I asked, obviously having limited experience as a lounge goer*. Matt explained that every time you fly, you are grabbing coffee, snacks and meals and the airport. This adds up and if you are flying frequently, the cost of lounge access can work out to be much more economical than ad hoc purchases. You can get your coffee and food inside the lounge whilst also enjoying the more obvious benefit of being so much more comfortable that you would be out in the general waiting area! This is a great tip and one that I plan to investigate myself!

Some further good news - chat to your accountant as you might even be able to claim your lounge access pass back as a deduction at tax time!

* Since writing this post, I have investigated. I love the lounge!

5. Carry a wide-mouthed water bottle

I was actually given this tip by my friend Brooke from The Pursuit of Wellness as I was preparing for a cruise. Brooke is an expert cruiser and gave me loads of tips. But this one is also super helpful for business travel. If you are anything like me, you are very conscious of staying hydrated. In fact, water for me is a little bit of a security blanket. If I don't have a bottle of water nearby I tend to feel a little edgy about when I am going to get my next fix. As you can imagine, when drinking bottled water, this can add up, very quickly!

On a recent trip to Queensland I spent over $40 on bottled water over a couple of days. Most places though, especially in office environments, have access to clean drinking water, or filtered water that you can drink to your heart's content. If you take a wide-mouthed water bottle, you can take advantage of the free H2O. Which is not only a huge cost-saving, but also a massive convenience!

6. Review your transfer options

This tip is from my good friend, Candice, who knows exactly how I like to travel. Well prepared and with as little hassle as possible. Candice and I both prefer to drive ourselves to the airport as it means that we aren't reliant on anyone else to get us to the airport in time. We both prefer to be in control of our own destinies!

Where we live, in Canberra, Australia, it is actually far cheaper for us to drive and pay for airport parking for several days, than it is to get taxi transfers. But it's best for you to review your options and see what works for you. If you have a good public transport system or are a fan of Uber, these could also be strong options.

Do you like travelling for work? Make it way more bearable with this EPIC post!

7. Build relationships with local drivers

Matt popped back in to share a little more of his travel wisdom. (Perhaps he didn't want to be outdone by Candice?) He suggested that if you are travelling to the same locations regularly, it can help to build relationships with local drivers. Matt told me that when he and his work colleague used to travel regularly to Melbourne, they had a specific driver who would pick them up at their request, in a previously agreed spot away from all the lines. This is a little bit of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". For a regular fare for well-behaved travellers, a driver might be willing to make him or herself available for private bookings. If anything, it sounds like it is worth asking!

8. Carry small amounts of cash

I am not a fan of cash. I use my debit card for everything. But when I am travelling for work, I always make sure that I have a little bit of cash in my wallet just in case. "Just in case of what?", you might be asking. Well, have you ever been caught up in meetings and not had a chance to duck out and grab yourself some lunch? If you have a little cash on you, you might be able to ask a colleague or friend to race down to the local cafe and grab something for you.

Or perhaps you only have limited time available and you can't find a vendor that takes EFTPOS. Maybe you are desperate for a drink and you forgot to bring your drink bottle and need to grab a bottle of water from a vending machine. Maybe you need a stick of gum but the EFTPOS minimum is $10. The credit card machines goes on the fritz in your taxi and you need to pay a fare. Picking up what I am putting down? Of course you can't be prepared for every single possibility. But having a bit of cash on you could save you from some awkward or time-poor situations.

9. Make the most of your travel location

La Tonya Roberts hit me up on Instagram and let me know that she loves travelling for work so much she has actually made a career out of it! That’s commitment! Latonya told me that her best tip is to make time to explore the location by doing some local activities and eating local food.

I totally agree with La Tonya on this one. I'm making more of a conscious effort to enjoy the places I travel to. Do you know, I have been to Melbourne three times for work and have not done any sightseeing? Seems like such a waste!

10. Embrace Airplane Mode

The lovely Johanna from Adventures of Jo sent me an email with her travel tip. She said to make sure you remember to pop your phone onto airplane mode so that you can use it in the sky. This is a great tip. My phone is an extension of me and I am lost without it. (I just had a mini digital detox and it was hard!).

To take Jo’s tip a step further, I recommend you download your favourite tunes or podcasts to your phone or tablet before you fly. Then you have plenty to listen to while you are up in the air! This goes for e-books and magazines too. Anything to avoid the crappy (and sometimes non-existent) in-flight entertainment, right?

11. Check in early

This might seem like a fairly simple or obvious tip, but I wanted to mention it just to be sure. Whenever I am travelling I make sure to check in as early as possible, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I am not a good flyer, so I am a little selective about where on the plane I sit. I like a window seat so that after the in-flight snack, I can rest my head on the side of the plane and fall off to sleep.

Secondly, it saves time at the airport. And  it means that I can sleep in a little longer before an earlier flight. (One of the same reasons I also avoid checking in luggage wherever possible!).

Finally, it allows me to keep my boarding pass on my phone, which is always close to my fingertips. This means that it is one less piece of paper that I have to carry. (And possibly lose!)

12. Join the frequent traveller clubs

If your employer allows you to claim frequent flyer points for your work trips (unfortunately mine doesn't!) then you should definitely take advantage of it! Even if you don't travel often, the points can add up and can save you money on future flights or hotels that you book for holidays. And let's face it, every dollar counts! Frequent flyer programs can also offer you other benefits. These may include priority check in or even access to the lounge. (If you haven't already been convinced that membership is worthwhile.)

I saved a considerable amount on my upcoming travel to the Gold Coast. Firstly because I traded in some points to pay for part of my airfare. And secondly, because they sent me a birthday voucher – cash off my hotel bill!

16. Stay the weekend

I used to live in Brisbane and some of my closest friends live there. But unfortunately I don't usually get up there much. This year I have the opportunity to travel there a couple of times for work and you better believe that I am going to stay the weekend! Where I work, they are totally happy for staff to do this, as long as we pay any difference in fares. (If the flights are more expensive for you to travel over the weekend).

This can make for an incredibly low-cost holiday, particularly if you are travelling somewhere where you have friends or family. If not though, don't discount it. Look for some low cost accommodation and lock it in. It could be a great chance for you to explore an unfamiliar city that you wouldn't necessarily travel to.

17. Check out upcoming events

Like the last tip, I am all up for encouraging you to make the most of your travel. And if there's an option for you to see a show or go to an event while you are away then I say "Go for it!" I've got tickets to see Danielle LaPorte later this month while I am away on a work trip. I had to slightly rearrange the dates of my work trip to make it happen, but if I wasn't travelling for work I would have missed it, full stop. Even though I live I Canberra, the capital city of Australia, we don’t often find that events tour here. So, this is a bit of a treat.

The great thing is that I convinced one of my work colleagues to come with me, which has two benefits. She has now been introduced to Danielle's work for the first time and we will have a chance to bond over the event! I can't wait!

18. Create a standard packing list

If you are travelling regularly, save yourself the pain of wondering "have I forgotten something?" Every time you travel. I learnt this the hard way, and have about 20 packets of travel sickness pills in my medication box as a result. Because every time I travelled I would forget them and end up buying yet another box at the airport kiosk. (For about twice the price that I can get them at my local pharmacy). Create your list on your computer and print it out every time you go away, or print it once, laminate it and check the items off with a dry-erase marker. I promise you, this is a game changer and will mean that packing your bag to go away becomes super quick and hassle-free!* 

* Since writing this post, I've upgraded my travel checklist! I now have it in Trello. In fact, I have one checklist for travelling for work and another for personal trips.

19. Take a creature comfort from home

Candice popped back in to let me know that she likes to take a creature comfort from home when she travels for work. Especially if she will be away for a while. Candice suggested that your favourite pillow might be a good option, provided that you have room in your suitcase.

I think this is a fantastic idea. In fact, I've actually been packing my essential oil diffuser with me as my creature comfort. I love setting my diffuser up in the hotel room and diffusing oils to help me sleep, or to ground me after a hard day at the office.

20. Pack a set of clothes in your carry on

This tip only really applies if you are travelling a long distance (like, overseas), or have multiple stopovers as there is more chance of your checked luggage being lost or delayed. Got a meeting first thing the morning after flying? Imagine how embarrassed you would be if you had to rock up in your casual travelling clothes. Bags don't go missing or get hugely delayed too often. But you can guarantee it will always happen when you have somewhere important to be. Isn't that Murphy's Law?

If you pack some spare clothes, you can at least look semi-respectable for that meeting or event! (This may seem a little over-prepared, but if you are reading this, I am guessing you are probably a preparer. Being too prepared has never bitten anyone on the bum. Girl Guide's Honour)

21. Pack as light as possible, then lighter again

While we were on the cruise, Hubs and I spent quite a bit of time in the art gallery and even purchased some art to take home. This meant that we also got to know the ship’s Art Director, Ajay, who had been on the ship for the past seven months! My gosh, I couldn’t even imagine it! With this in mind I figured that Ajay was probably a master at travelling for work. I asked him to share his best tip. Ajay told me that it is all about packing light. He then offered these follow up pearls of wisdom:

• Make sure all of your books are loaded onto your phone or tablet, so that you don’t have to carry physical books.
• Roll everything – you can fit heaps more in. You'll just need to iron when you arrive at your destination. 
• Stuff your socks and underwear into your shoes. You should be able to fit at least 4 pairs of socks in each shoe! 
• If you are going away for a while, pack your socks and underwear into a plastic bag so that you can tip them directly into a drawer in your hotel room.

Have fun when travelling for work!

One thing I have learned about travelling for work is that I always hate it less when I let my hair down a little. Grumbling because you don't like travelling for business will not bring anything good upon you. So, save your complaining and work out how you can enjoy the situation that you are in. Whether that includes going out for dinner with your colleagues, hiring a cheesy movie from the in-room entertainment system, reading a trashy novel, splurging on a massage, or simply just choosing to smile instead of grimace, give it a go and be grateful that you have an opportunity that others would beg for. 

I hope you have enjoyed this huge post about travel tips for work! Have a great work trip and let me know in the comments if you have any other great travel tips!

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About the Author

Bec McFarland is an experienced HR practitioner, manager, career coach and the creator of Pop Your Career. She delights in sharing practical, straight to the point career advice, spending time with her family and eating Mexican food.

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9 Tips for Working While Traveling and Staying Productive

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“Working while traveling?! I could never do that. I’d never get any work done.”

This exact thought crossed my mind more times than I could count.

Having a full-time job in the United States has molded me into someone who feels comfortable within the familiar lull of Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. This rhythm has been an old friend, a safe haven that tells me exactly when to turn on and when I get to turn off. Like training your brain to not associate sleep with midnight munchies by vowing never to eat in your bed, returning to the same office day in and day out has long been understood as the signal for triggering productivity. 

But as a traveler, I am constantly torn in two directions. While structure appeals to my type-A, to-do list-crossing, goal-oriented brain, travel proves to me time and time again that there is more than one way to live a life. As much as corporate culture tells us there’s only one clear path to happiness, my lived experience tells me otherwise. 

So what do you do when you’re torn between work and travel? Maybe you’re considering working remotely to help extend your PTO, but are worried about how to balance it all. No doubt, productivity levels are easily thrown out the window as soon as you hop in a plane, check into a hotel, and catch that first glimpse of the ocean. Right? 

If any of these thoughts or worries about working while traveling sound like you, you’re in the right place.

As someone who has shared these same worries and spent the last several years going after it anyway, I now know a thing or two about enjoying new surroundings while keeping on top of work responsibilities.

Here are 9 tips for optimizing your workflow to have a productive day, whether you’re working remotely from a cafe in the Philippines or answering emails while sipping mai tais on the North Shore of Oahu .

RELATED: What I Learned From Traveling One Month in Southeast Asia While Working Full Time

9 Effective Strategies for Working While Traveling

1. choose a destination that will set you up for success.

It’s a good idea to make your travel situation as reliable as possible, and this is a good place to start. When you first start working while traveling, one of the best (and most responsible) things you can do is choose a destination that’s well-known for being remote work-friendly.

So, what does that look like?

• Booking stays at hotels or Airbnbs with a fast WiFi connection.
• Opting for major cities with a strong cell phone signal, plenty of coffee shops, and coworking spaces.
• Traveling somewhere within a reasonable time difference of the time zone you work in or that your clients are in

Choosing destinations that have the infrastructure for remote work reduces the chances of something going wrong.

If you’re not sure how friendly a city is for remote workers, you can check out resources like Nomad List . It’s a directory for destinations all over the world that tells you things like:

• Cost of living
• Average internet speed
• Free public WiFi
• Coworking spaces
• Best neighborhoods

One of my favorite countries to work remotely from is Mexico for this exact reason because I’m always within three hours or less of Pacific Standard Time (Los Angeles). And, depending on where in Mexico you go, coffee shops, restaurants, and hotel options with WiFi are often relatively easy to find for people traveling with laptops in hand! Some of my go-to’s include Oaxaca, Guadalajara, and Los Cabos .

2. Don’t Skimp On Your Accommodation

When I tell you this has been one of my biggest rookie mistakes time and time again, I am NOT kidding!

Booking the right accommodation plays a major part in your productivity levels. But a fast and stable WiFi connection isn’t the only thing you need to consider.

The next thing you have to look at is the type of accommodation and your budget. 

For example, if you want to work remotely from expensive cities like Paris or Amsterdam, you might only be able to afford hostels or cheap hotels. While those options are great for keeping costs down and meeting other travelers, it could negatively impact your productivity or ability to do your job.

Imagine trying to join a call at 11 pm when your dorm room is sleeping, everyone downstairs is having a party, and the WiFi is slower than dial-up. It’s just not going to work.

When you’re working remotely, you need to take into account what environment helps you work better. Maybe it’s having an entire Airbnb apartment to yourself or having a lobby coffee shop you can retreat to each morning.

Whatever it is, look at destinations where you can afford the type of accommodation you need to perform at your best. For more expensive places, you may have to get creative or save those destinations for your PTO days or weekend trips. When it comes to working remotely from a different city or country, skimping on your accommodation is one of the quickest ways to self-sabotage your productivity, unless you have a reliable place you can go to work each day, like a coworking place or coffee shop (more on that below!).

PRO TIP: Not sure the WiFi will meet your needs? Don’t hesitate to ask hotels or Airbnb hosts for a screenshot from an internet speed test!

3. Figure Out When You Work Best And Plan Your Travel Itinerary Around That 

Do you know what time of day you’re most productive?

Of course, if you’re working full-time for a company, your hours may be dictated by your clients, customers, or the time zone of your team. But, if your schedule has some flexibility, determining when you are your most productive can work wonders in terms of planning out the delicate balance between working and traveling simultaneously. 

For example, my creative energy is highest in the morning before lunchtime and late in the evenings after dinner. Depending on what’s going on in my day, I try to schedule my most important work tasks first thing in the morning and tasks dedicated to this blog in the evenings. 

I find that the middle of the day is the most “tempting” for me in terms of wanting to go outside and explore while traveling, so this is when I’ll try to designate tasks that require less brainpower, like admin and replying to emails. This is also usually when I try to squeeze in quick adventures, like visiting a new coffee shop or checking out a museum. 

Now, when you’re on the move, your schedule might not always be predictable. But when you’re working while traveling over extended periods, you’ll need some kind of routine you can fall back on. 

By taking the time to understand your energy flow throughout the day and crafting your work schedule around that, you’ll be less likely to experience work-related burnout while on the road . Plus, it’ll help you find the best times to schedule fun activities and adventures without getting in the way of peak productivity hours.

RELATED: Business Travel 101 – Tips For Your First Time Traveling For Work

4. Plan Out Your Work and Travel Schedule Simultaneously

As you might be suspecting, if you want to work and travel, sometimes you just need to marry yourself to your calendar. 

There’s no way around it.

Knowing where your time is going each day will keep you on track with your workload and determine when you can squeeze in some sightseeing along the way, like visiting the Mayan ruins or explore hidden waterfalls in Bali .

One of my favorite hacks for planning my work schedule is time blocking my calendar. 

Here’s an example of what that might look like for me:

• 7:00 – 8:00: Yoga class, online workout , or long walk through the neighborhood
• 9:00 – 11:00: Internal meetings and client calls
• 12:00 – 1:00: Lunch at a nearby cafe I haven’t been to before
• 1:00 – 3:00: Light admin tasks and email catch-up
• 3:00 – 5:00: Projects and research
• 5:00 – 7:00: Go to a museum or catch happy hour 

During the week, I try to plan small sightseeing activities here and there, while remaining flexible in case my to-do list is too long. On the weekend, I’ll reserve those days for booking bigger, full-day adventures or weekend getaways. 

5. Cut Your Itinerary Down

As a meticulous itinerary planner who loves researching travel and activities ahead of time, it pains me to say this, but the best way to work and travel without going crazy is to downsize your itinerary.

When taking time off and going on vacation, I have no problem packing my days with things to see and do, restaurants to check out, and far-off day trips.

But when you travel with work simultaneously, you simply can’t fit in as many things in a single day. If you try, you’ll see your productivity decline and your stress levels skyrocket. It’s just not sustainable (trust me, I’ve been there too many times to count).

Trim down your itinerary to no more than one or two ideas each day on workdays. Note that I say “ideas” rather than “plans” – keeping your workdays fluid will also help keep you sane just in case a last-minute meeting pops up and you suddenly can’t go to the beach till tomorrow. 

Because traveling while working means you’ll inevitably have to explore destinations more slowly, it also makes a case for considering spending longer amounts of time in one place rather than hopping from city to city.

As a general rule, travel should enhance your work experience and show you new possibilities for meshing the two worlds, not detract from your productivity or cause you unnecessary stress! 

6. Maximize Your Transit Days

Planning your work schedule doesn’t need to start once you arrive at a hotel. If you have a lot of work that needs to get done, you can also look at ways to fit in a few hours of work while on the road too.

For example, if you’re road-tripping to a nearby destination, and you know you’ll have a strong cell phone signal and Bluetooth calling, you can schedule some easy calls you’ve been meaning to take.

If you’re at the airport, you can plan to work on tasks that can be accomplished even with slower WiFi, like answering emails or drafting up reports.

For items that require a more stable internet connection, try to reserve those tasks for non-travel days or see if you can work on an offline version when you’re en route.

While travel days can seem hectic, some of the best opportunities for being productive can be found in long plane rides, bus transits, and train commutes. Heck, I’m also not above turning on my hotspot and sending emails from the passenger seat of a car.

If pushing myself in less comfortable situations means I get more free time later to relax and explore, then odds are, I’ll do it. 

Think about how you can realistically use your own transit days to get on top of your work schedule and give yourself more time to explore.

7. Research Coworking Spaces (And Other WiFi-Friendly Options) Ahead of Time

Coffee shops, cafes, and hotels are popular options for working remotely. When I travel, I’ll usually reserve the day with the least number of meetings to visit a new coffee shop or hotel lobby because I like the buzzy energy and newness that comes with it. 

When working this way, my biggest tip is to always check TripAdvisor, Yelp, or Google ahead of time for WiFi or reviews from others about working there. If you can’t readily find that information, call, email, or WhatsApp the establishment you’re planning to go to ahead of time to double-check that they have public WiFi you can use.

On the flip side, while working from coffee shops and hotel rooms is fun, and changing up your scenery is often exciting, let’s be honest – the inconsistency can often be killer when you need workspaces you can depend on for your Zoom calls and deadlines. Because of this, working from coffee shops and whatnot, while great options, aren’t always ideal.

What’s more:

• You might get lonely.
• You might miss the buzz of an office.
• You might need the clear separation of work and home that’s often needed to feel sane.
• Heck, you might just find the lure of your bed and the liveliness of cafes way too distracting to get any real work done.

This is where coworking spaces can help you travel and work at the same time more effectively (and with a bit more consistency you can depend on).

Not only do you get to meet fellow globetrotting remote workers, but being in a room with other people also working hard to meet their own deadlines can make you more productive.

It’s like getting that same hit of productivity “peer pressure” from an office environment, but with the added benefit of being in a cool destination.

PRO TIP: How do you find coworking spaces around the world?  

First, you can consider international brands to see whether they operate in the cities you plan on traveling to. WeWork is a membership-based option that operates in 23 countries, for example. Selina is a more youthful brand that combines hostel culture with digital nomadism and offers travelers compact coworking spaces that can be reserved for a small fee in advance. For other options, you can use directories like Coworker or do a quick Google search for [city name] + coworking space to see what comes up.

RELATED: A Step-By-Step Guide to Plan a Trip With Google Maps

8. Figure Out Your Tech Set-Up

Whether you’re working remotely from another state or country, the right tools are essential for getting work done while traveling.

You want to invest in items that’ll make you more productive and stop you from falling into poor habits, like “oh, I’ll do that later” or “I just can’t do that right now.”

For example, if you have an iPad, consider investing in a portable keyboard. It can help you get in some work while on the bus or in a cafe without having to lug around your laptop.

Other things to consider arming yourself with in addition to your laptop might include:

• Portable WiFi device
• External hard drive (My pick: SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD )
• Plug adapter and surge protector (My pick: World Travel Adapter Kit by Ceptics )
• Noise-canceling headphones and / or call-friendly headphones, depending on whether you do more talking or listening (My pick: Jabra )
• Portable cellphone charger (My pick: Anker charging gear )
• Roaming data plan

If there is something that will help you work better while traveling, add it to your must-pack list and bring it with you everywhere!

9. Set Boundaries

Are you traveling with other people? If so, set work boundaries before you leave, especially if you plan on working remotely and they don’t, or if you’re going to be on different work schedules.

Explain to your friends that you won’t be able to hang out all the time, and you’ll need space to get work done during whatever hours you’re required to be online. 

By creating clear expectations, you don’t need to feel guilty saying “I need an hour to work” or turning down activities that don’t work with your schedule.

Going on digital nomad retreats, or traveling exclusively with friends or partners embarking on a work and travel journey, can help alleviate this guilt. That way, everyone on the trip is a working professional and understands there is a time for both work and play. 

What are your tips for how to work while traveling and staying productive? Got any hacks I missed? Let me know in the comments below!

Read This Next:

• How to Find a Coworking Space You’ll Love
• How to Navigate Working From Home with Your Significant Other
• What I Learned From Traveling One Month in Southeast Asia While Working Full Time
• How to Prevent Burnout When Traveling for Work: 5 Tips
• 6 Tips For Embracing the Work From Home Lifestyle
• How to Travel More With a Full-Time Job: 13 Actionable Tips
• Business Travel 101: Tips For Your First Time Traveling For Work

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Hey there! I’m Rachel, a travel writer and a full-time advertising / marketing expert. In 2019, I traveled more than 25 times while working 9 to 5, and since then I’ve committed myself to living a more adventurous life, even if it means bringing my laptop along for the ride. Are you hungry to travel more, but overwhelmed with how to juggle work and play? You’ve come to the right place!

Recent Adventures:

Top Woman-Owned Travel Companies That Should Be on Your Radar

Los Angeles Staycation Idea: Two Days in Palos Verdes, California

How to Ask Your Boss for More Vacation Time (The Right Way)

Let's go places.

• Updated on: October 1, 2021

2 Responses

This was the first article (of many) that I have read which has real advice. I am a new digital nomad and I’m trying to do too much to fast. So thanks for this – I have started following you to read more!

I totally feel you on this! I am always tempted to do way more than I should be, especially if I am working while traveling. It’s not easy to slow down and be more gentle on yourself so you can keep your work up without burning out, I’ll be the first to admit!

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Need experienced hospitality professionals for the up and coming high season? Help with your social media, solar power or surfing school?  Thought of having a mural painted on that ugly wall?  Working Traveller is not about finding you just people to help with the harvest or cleaning. Look at the 100s of skills travellers have added to their profiles that you can invite to come and work for you once you have set up your profile.

The skills you need – when you need them

Working Traveller matches the skills you need with the travellers who have them and are on their way to your country when you need them. It’s 100% free to post your work needs and always will be if you are a host. All we ask in return is you leave a reference for every traveller that comes to stay with you. To find out more, see the hosts section. Start posting your work needs today and within 24 hours they will be seen by potentiality 100,000+ travellers. It’s free to advertise and to build up your references. Sign up now   and start to fill your skilled volunteer and paid needs today.

Agree what they will do/what you provide – before they arrive

Working Traveller is not like other volunteer sites that offer one package fits all – 5 hours a day for 3 meals and a bed. A skilled carpenter working 10 hours a day will not work for the same as someone who does a few hours of apple collecting a day. With every work placement you arrange on the Working Traveller site, you agree whatever you want with each traveller on the site so you have a record, before they arrive.  You then have them all sitting around your table for dinner in the evening, all happy with their individual agreement made with you.

2 min “How it works” video

Feedback from around the world

Where in the world is it best to Work & Travel?

Visit the ‘Work and Travel Country Guides’ to find out about work and volunteer visas and what kind of work you will find in the places you want to travel to. We have a long way to go with the wiki, but there are 100s of updates from travellers and hosts from all corners of the world. So do your bit and add in what you know once you have signed up and logged in.

Whats the visa situation for volunteer work in America? Is it easy? Can you you get paid for short term work?

What time of the year is best for work and travel in Greenland? What industries need extra help? Fishing and tourism? Can you volunteer on a tourist visa in Greenland?

What the deal with the Australian volunteer visa going from two years down to one ? What other kinds of work other than sheep farming can I find in Australia?

Bolivia wages - are the really low? It's one of the most traveled South American countries for backpackers so - is Hostel the thing here?

What the season for backpacker jobs in Vietnam? Is their volunteering opportunities? Visas? Whats the deal? And are they OK with Westerners working there?

Is there yoga opportunities in Goa? Can I get work with the camel herders in Rajastain? Does the Indian six month business visa let you work and travel there?

You wont get work as a vampire stand in - but what about helping out with the harvest or working in a hostel? Do they need foreigners? Or do they have it all covered?

Can you get work if you don't speak Russian? Do they need English speaking reps for tourist work? Whats the season in Russia for backpacker work?

Is the tourist industry back up and running in Egypt? Do they need foreigner helpers there? What about archaeological digs and NGO work?

Volunteer work in Thailand - is it easy to find? The one month visa laws have changed. How will that affect me getting work in Thailand?

Volunteering in the Congo - great idea or... need my head testing? Is it possible? Is it safe? Does any one do it? Visas - is it in the too hard to do basket?

How easy is it to find work in the vineyards in Georgia? Do they have a tourism season there? Are they used to using foreigner volunteers?

WORKING TRAVELLER LTD 27, Lonsdale Rd, Blackpool, FY1 6EE, UNITED KINGDOM

Work and travel the world using your skills to gain work experience and references for a good job back home

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How to Travel For Free: Master List of 100+ Resources

Travel as a way of life requires making some outside-the-box job decisions. I’ve been a traveling alternately as a seasonal worker, a volunteer, a vanlifer, and a tourist for over a decade without any sort of “normal” job. Here are the resources you’ll need to do the same.

A word of caution: there are many companies (GVI, Interexchange, GoAbroad, BUNAC, etc.) that position themselves as “gap year” programs or volunteer programs but require huge sums of money from anyone looking to work or volunteer. It’s completely unnecessary to pay for these middleman companies. While some of the sites listed below, like Workaway, may require a small membership fee, they all list jobs and volunteer positions for free. While $50 or less (or ideally zero) can be a normal rate to sign up for a job board website as a job seeker, paying $1,000 or more for a 2-week-long job placement is absolutely absurd. Proceed with caution on pay-to-work sites, especially when evaluating TEFL (teach english as a foreign language) opportunities. Many of them are scams.

That said, taking travel jobs has enriched my life in more ways than I could ever have predicted. I highly recommend searching for seasonal adventure jobs, beginning by heading over to the travel jobs section of this site!

Paid Travel Jobs With Housing

Adventure jobs worldwide.

• WanderJobs A wide variety of seasonal adventure jobs worldwide.
• Backdoor Jobs Outdoor adventure jobs & volunteer positions.
• Jobs Abroad Bulletin Wide range of jobs abroad.
• Season Workers A variety of worldwide seasonal jobs.
• Anywork Anywhere Full time work internationally.
• Coolworks Seasonal adventure jobs in the US.
• Adventure Job Board Handful of outdoor education jobs.
• Occupation Wild Outdoor adventure jobs in the US.
• Good Natured Jobs A handful of seasonal jobs worldwide.
• Adventure Jobs Small but interesting variety of seasonal jobs.
• QORF Adventure tour jobs in Australia.
• Good Work “Green” jobs in Canada. Some include housing.
• Job Trekker Adventure jobs across Canada.
• Overseas Job Center Seasonal jobs & pay-to-volunteer gigs worldwide.
• Hostel Travel Jobs Worldwide volunteer & paid positions in hostels.

Au Pair Jobs

• Au Pair World Worldwide matching service for au pairs & families.
• Au Pair Live-in nanny jobs worldwide.

Cruise Ship, Boat, & Yacht Jobs

• Find a Crew Ship & boat positions, commercial & private.
• All Cruise Jobs Hospitality, crew, etc., on cruise ships.
• Cruise Job Finder Positions on cruise ships & yachts.
• Blue Water Yachting Yacht crew & cook positions.
• YA Crew Jobs on yachts & super yachts.
• Crewseekers Yacht crew jobs for all experience levels.

Yoga & Spiritual Jobs

• Yoga Trade Work exchange and paid yoga instruction jobs worldwide.
• Yoga Travel Jobs Paid & volunteer positions in spiritual tourism.

Summer Camp & Education Jobs

• ACA Camp Summer & year-round camp jobs.
• Camp Channel US summer camp jobs.
• YMCA Nationwide jobs across the US, many with room & board.

Other Outdoor Adventure Jobs Worldwide

• Divers Jobs SCUBA jobs for certified instructors.
• Outdoor Ed Wilderness therapist, teaching, & camp jobs, etc.
• Alaska Tour Jobs Seasonal and year round tourism jobs in Alaska.
• Ranch Work Positions on US ranches.
• Snow Season Central A few worldwide ski jobs.

Work Exchange & Volunteer

• Workaway The leading site for worldwide work exchanges in beautiful destinations. Extensive host/volunteer rating system.
• WWOOF The leading site for organic farm work exchanges worldwide.
• The Shortlist WanderJobs-approved gigs that don’t pay.
• HelpX Farm, hospitality, & more work exchanges worldwide.
• All Hands Natural disaster relief.
• World Packers Extensive work exchange listings worldwide.
• Hippohelp Large number of exchange opportunities worldwide.
• Volunteers Base Smaller work exchange site.
• Help Stay Interesting volunteering worldwide.
• Hovos Worldwide work exchanges.
• Volunteer Latin America Most positions are no cost.
• The Poosh Sustainable building projects (straw bale, cob, earth ship, etc.) worldwide.
• Working Traveller Worldwide volunteer gigs & some paid.
• One World 365 Many paid jobs & pay-to-volunteer jobs booked through middleman companies. Be wary of pay-to-work options.

Wilderness Conservation

• Student Conservation Association US volunteer trail maintenance.
• American Conservation Experience US conservation for young people.

Social Activism Corps

• Americorps Intensive long-term volunteering in the US.
• Peace Corps Intensive long-term volunteering worldwide.
• Mercy Corps Intensive long-term volunteering in Guyana, South America.
• United Nations Volunteers Intensive long-term volunteering worldwide.
• Voluntary Service Overseas Volunteers fighting poverty worldwide.

TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) Jobs

• Teach Away Placement service for jobs in China & Asia.
• JET Placement service for jobs in Japan.
• English Opens Doors Teaching positions in Chile.
• The International Educator Job board for worldwide TEFL positions.
• Maximo Nivel TELF certification (costs $$) and job placement.
• International TEFL Academy Earn certification (costs $$) and lifetime job search guidance.
• The Nation Foundation A few volunteer positions.

Kibbutz in Israel

A kibbutz is a sponsored cultural & Hebrew language volunteer exchange for young Jewish people.

• Kibbutz Ulpan 5 month language, work & culture exchange
• Kibbutz Volunteer Program Center Cultural volunteer placements.

Free Accommodation

Hospitality of strangers.

• Couchsurfing Leading site for overnight stays in host homes.
• Warm Showers Like couchsurfing, geared toward bikers.
• Be Welcome Free accommodation for kind travelers.
• Trustroots Overnight stays in people’s homes & meetups.
• TalkTalk Bnb Free accommodation in exchange for language lessons.
• Hospitality Club Socially oriented home stays.
• Global Freeloaders Free local accommodation with hosts.
• Culture Go Go Free home stays in return for English lessons.
• Staydu Choose between free stays, stay for work, or pay to stay.

Free Overnight Parking

• National Forests
• All Stays Camp & RV App
• Highway Rest Stops

House Sitting

• Trusted Housesitters
• Caretaker Gazette
• House Careers
• Mind My House
• House Sit Match
• Love Home Swap
• Home Exchange
• NightSwapping

Useful Travel for Free Lists

• Free Accommodation & Cheap Travel (by I Am Aileen)
• Ways to Sleep Free Traveling (by Gamin Traveler)
• Master List: Sites to Find Outdoor Adventure Jobs (WanderJobs)
• How to Get Paid to Travel (WanderJobs)
• 20+ Types of Jobs with Room & Board (WanderJobs)
• 347 Hostels Open to Work Exchanges (Working Traveller)
• Van Life- Top 10 Free Overnight Parking Spots (The Road Abode)
• 6 Amazing Places to Stay & Volunteer (The Guardian)

Blogs for Long-Term Budget Travel

• Nomadic Matt
• Matador Network
• Wandering Earl
• Expert Vagabond
• Big World Small Pockets
• Frugal Travel Guy

It is also worth searching the major job boards, like FlexJobs and Indeed, and through Facebook groups. While these sites aren’t specifically built for finding travel jobs, with the right keywords you can find plenty of them. The more specific you are with your search, the better. Check out these Tips for Finding Seasonal Adventure Jobs with Housing .

Reddit is another great source of information for nomadic travelers. There are a number of fantastic subreddits with active members giving away tons of insider information. Check Reddit when tackling confusing, scammy quagmires like TEFL placement programs and shady foreign schools. (Here is Reddit’s helpful TEFL blacklist .)

Know of another great resource? Send us an email so we can add it to the list! <3

About the author

How to Be a Traveling, Working Mom (According to Traveling, Working Moms)

By Meredith Carey

Traveling for work is a serious perk: you get to visit cities you may not have otherwise, rack up airline miles to use on your next personal trip, and get out of the office, even just for a bit. But when you’re a working mom, managing your company’s expectations and your nine-to-five (who are we kidding, your nine-to-seven) alongside your parental responsibilities, a business trip can throw a wrench into your carefully crafted balancing act. Throw the kids’, spouses’, and backup help like friends’ or nannies’ schedules into the mix—plus pumping equipment and schedules and milk shipments, if you’re breastfeeding—and everything becomes infinitely more complicated.

It doesn’t have to be stressful from start to finish, though. We talked to moms who travel often for their work to see what tools and tricks they use to keep themselves functioning, maneuver work trips around their family’s needs, and bring their kids into the business travel fold. Here’s what they had to say.

It all comes down to the prep

The key is to set expectations—at work and at home—early. “Moms are some of the most efficient employees on the planet," says jewelry designer Jenny Bird, mom to a 5 year old and a 5 month old. "So, if you've got a good relationship with your employer, set expectations up front, before you go even go on maternity leave, for what you'll be able to do when you come back so you can control a little bit more.”

Most of the working moms we talked to have cut down what would have been a week-long trip before kids to a day or two of back-to-back meetings. Katherine Ryder, founder and CEO at Maven Clinic and mother to a 1 year old and a 3 year old, has consolidated her trips to two to three days, max. “My time is so much more precious than it ever was before kids and that same kind of philosophy carries over to being at the office as well,” she says.

“I've gotten very good at picking the things that really, really matter to the company, to my role, and to me. And I only do those things,” says Liz Meyerdirk, Uber Eats’s global head of business development and mother of three. “As soon as I know what my work travel is I put out on the family Google calendar. My husband has a pretty demanding job and travels a lot, too. So we have this rule: If it's on the calendar, the other person has to work around it.”

If you have the flexibility, adjusting when you fly can also make a big impact,” Bird says. “If possible, I take a flight that's after my son has gone to school so I can have breakfast with him—or take a flight home that lands whenever possible before he goes to bed so we can spend time together."

When you’re breastfeeding, that means overpacking

“The struggle is real when you’re nursing and traveling, ” says Ryder. Lauren Fong, founder and CEO at Cinc branded content studio and mom to a 4 year old and a 14 month old, agrees. On her packing list when she’s nursing and traveling without her infant? A wireless pump, ice packs, freezer bags, a travel-sized baby bottle rack, and dish soap to wash bottles in the hotel room, just to name a few. Also a must in Fong’s book: a hotel room with a freezer.

And if you're flying, be sure to read up on specific airlines' and countries' rules. “The last thing you want is to be going through airport security, bringing back your frozen breast milk stash and then having them say you can't bring what you’ve worked so hard to create with you,” Fong says. Ryder recommends Maven's overnight breastmilk shipping service as another option—even better, of course, if you can expense it, like the employees at Goldman Sachs and Bloomberg.

Embrace Facetime

Nearly every business traveler we talked to had a Facetime plan. For jewelry designer Jenny Bird, it’s motivating her oldest to call her when he misses her most on his iPad. For Rachelle Hruska MacPherson, co-founder and CEO of Lingua Franca and mother to two sons, 5 and 7 years old, it means making work plans around the time they’re video chatting. “When we were in India and we were so far away from them, I really planned our days around a 5 p.m. Facetime because it was the only time I knew they were going to be together at home,” she says. “It allowed me to really be present during the day because I knew we had this plan to talk.”

Involve your children in the travel, even if they can’t come along

Rachel Holt, Uber’s vice president for new mobility, finds books to read about her destinations in order to connect with her daughter. “Now, every time I go to San Francisco , she’s like, ‘did you ride the cable car,’ because it’s something we read about every time I travel there,” Holt says. (She, like most business travelers to San Francisco, has yet to actually ride the cable car.)

One of Bird’s other tricks is to talk about one thing in the city she’s visiting—say, a taxi in New York or the Eiffel Tower in Paris—before she leaves, and then film a little video on her trip when she’s near it.

A little present goes a long way.

We do mean little: “When my son was a little younger, he thought I was flying around the country to get him a lollipop,” says Ryder. It doesn’t even have to be bought on the trip: “Usually when I leave, I cut out hearts from paper and I'll write little notes on them. I leave them everywhere so [my daughter] can find them, be excited, and call me when she does,” says Fong.

The first trip is going to be hard—but work trips can be a blessing

“My first work trip away from my kids, I cried the entire plane ride," says Hruska MacPherson. "You're worried about what you're missing out on.”

But nearly every single mom said that the time they have away from their families—and even from their fellow coworkers, in hotel rooms at night—is more of a vacation than their real ones. “Of course I’m missing my kids," says Meyerdirk. "But you’ve got to focus on the positive. I don't have little kids touching me at all times. I can use the bathroom without a child busting in."

“The plane has become such a sanctuary for me, even though I have flight anxiety," says Hruska MacPherson. "Planes with kids are not relaxing. They’re just not. I never read a book on a plane when I was single—and on a trip last week I thought to myself, 'wow, I just read a whole book on one flight'.”

“Every time I come back, it’s like a reset,” she says. “They've missed me, but they've grown, they’ve become more independent. It’s totally healthy to take that time apart.”

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How to Elevate Your Style : Our exclusive masterclass starts on April 15th, register here .

What to Pack for a Business Trip: A Women’s Guide to Traveling in Style

So you’ve got an upcoming work trip and the time has come to start planning for your travels.

For some, hitting the road is a career must. Conferences are your love language and you always find new favorite spots every palace you go to.

For others, it’s a hassle. After all, on top of prepping projects or presentations, you now have the additional baggage of travel.

If you’re staring at your closet, unsure of what to pack for a business trip, welcome. You’ve come to the right place.

Press pause on stuffing every possible outfit you might need into your suitcase. Instead, sit down with our one-and-done women’s guide for stress-free work travel. From how to pack your bag to what should make the cut in the first place, we’ve thought of everything.

How to Pack for a Business Trip: Tips for Business Women

Photo Credit: Pexels

Before we get into what to pack for a business trip, let’s tackle how to pack for a business trip.

At Next Level Wardrobe , we encourage our clients to approach clothing with intentionality, and to value quality over quantity. Use these as your two guide posts as you prepare for your trip.

What does this mean in practice?

It means that every item you take with you should be there for a specific purpose. Have a realistic idea of what your trip requires instead of over-stuffing your bags with “just-in-case” items. Remember, you’re going on a business trip, not on a spontaneous adventure.

Approach your travels with a clear, concise plan and you’ll actually be more prepared and you’ll feel more put-together.

Our top tip for women wondering how to pack for a business trip is to start with the perfect luggage.

Choosing the Best Luggage for Your Business Trip

View this post on Instagram A post shared by TUMI (@tumitravel)

Although every trip and traveler is different, the need for a high-quality piece of luggage stays the same. First, you want a bag that’s sturdy to avoid any mid-travel misshapes or shopping for a replacement too soon.

Next, you want a bag that’s the right size for your travel needs.

In our experience, selecting a carry-on suitcase and either a backpack or a duffle bag is enough for most trips. (We’ll break this down with our packing list and how to pack your bag later on.)

An added bonus of this luggage duo? If you’re traveling by plane, you’ve got everything you need at your fingertips. No worrying about lost bags or racing against the clock at baggage claim.

When picking out what to pack for a business trip, we recommend checking out Tumi . They’ve got all things bags, backpacks, and suitcases. They’ve got a wide range of sizes, makes, and models from compact carry-ons to spacious weekenders for all occasions. You can also count on their complementary baggage trace system in case of loss or theft.

Last but not least, their warranty has you covered. The first year includes just about any type of damage to the suitcase (even from TSA or airline workers). Years 2 through 5 cover you for manufacturer defects or normal wear and tear.

Now that you’ve got your bags, let’s get to packing them.

How to Pack Clothes for a Business Trip

View this post on Instagram A post shared by NY + LA Personal Stylist (@nextlevelwardrobe)

With your perfect luggage in hand, let’s make the most of the space inside it. Recently, our NLW founder Cassandra Sethi went on a 6-week trip with just a carry-on and personal item. She was able to create 50 outfits with only 24 clothing items (including shoes).

Stuck on how to pack for a business trip in terms of clothes? Here are our tips for women on getting everything inside your bag:

1. Pack pants by folding them in half and laying them flat. We recommend placing these at the bottom of your bag so you can easily fit other items on top

2. Roll your tops over the pants. This is best for casual or knit-woven tops that won’t wrinkle too easily. Button-downs or other blouses and dresses are best folded on top of the pants. You can always steam these items once you arrive at your destination.

3. Fold sweaters flat and pack them over the rolled tops, leaving space for your shoes.

4. Pack your shoes inside a shoe bag. Some retailers sell dedicated shoe travel bags for this, but an old drawstring bag will do just fine as well.

5. If you’re traveling with a suit or gown, do not roll it. Either fold it neatly along with your pants or keep them in a garment bag.

When discussing what to pack for a business trip with clients or on our Instagram, we often get asked about packing cubes. Is it worth buying them or other supposed “space-savers”?

We vote no.

When you learn to lean out your wardrobe and you have the right bag, you don’t need anything else.

What to Pack for a Business Trip: Set Your Suitcase up for Success

Image Credit: Pexels

Before we get into our packing list, we have to address the elephant in the room: your closet.

If you don’t have the right pieces in your closet, you won’t have the right pieces in your suitcase either.

Perhaps you’ve got a closet full of too many pieces that don’t go together or don’t fit your current body. Maybe you’ve got a wardrobe of impulse buys that you wore once and ended up regretting.

Chances are, you won’t feel excited or confident about bringing these pieces on your business trip. This leads to overcompensating by overpacking just to try to string one outfit together.

To avoid these feelings in the first place, we recommend a closet clean-out . At NLW, we use a proprietary style system on all of our clients to help them feel confident, gain unlimited outfit options and love their purchases.

Once you’ve invested in the right pieces, colors, and fit, you’re ready to take on any business trip in style.

What to Pack for a Business Trip: Our Essential Women’s Business Travel Packing List

In our opinion, you don’t need a completely new outfit for every single day of your trip. The most efficient way to approach what to pack for a business trip is to stick to core colors.

Core colors are black, grey, navy, and white. These neutral shades are versatile enough to endlessly mix and match with each other. For example, with 4 pants, one in each core color, and two tops, you can create 8 different outfits.

You can always add a piece or two in a tonal color (shades of core colors) or an accent color. However, those items should be the minority of what’s in your suitcase.

Here are our clothing recommendations on what to pack for a business trip, item by item:

Tops  – Blouses/dress tops – Casual/t-shirt tops

Bottoms – Denim – Non-Denim options like trousers, slacks, skirts

Dress (If you wear them.)

Layering Pieces (Depending on the climate.) – Sweaters – Blazer – Coat/Jacket

Shoes (Depending on the length of your trip, the MAX amount you should bring is 3.) – Dressy sneakers – Flats – Heels

What to Pack for a Business Trip: FAQs

If you’ve got lingering questions about what to pack on a business trip, keep scrolling for our travel FAQs.

I always overpack, how can I stop doing this?

This all starts with how you approach shopping and building your wardrobe at large. If you have versatile, well-fitting, essential pieces in your wardrobe, you won’t feel the need to over-pack.

Declutter your closet of unnecessary items, and stick to pieces you’ll wear again and again and easily mix and match.

Then, when it’s time for your trip, consult your itinerary and map out exactly what you’ll need for each day. Don’t give into bringing pieces on the off-chance that you’ll unexpectedly need them.

I mean, you’re not bringing every single item from your work desk to your business trip, right? Apply the same thinking to your clothing.

How do you pack for different climates?

Two words: Light layers.

Start off with one essential piece you’ll need for each climate.

Here’s an example. Starting your trip in arid Phoenix, Arizona? Grab a classic tank top in a core color. Next stop: always foggy San Francisco? Block out the bay breeze with a cashmere cardigan. Heading to Toronto in the wintertime? Pack a timeless black or grey coat.

Pair these items back to business-ready trousers or pants and you’re ready for anything.

Is there a set number of clothes you should bring on a business trip?

No. It all depends on the length of your trip, your itinerary, and even the industry you’re in. The packing list above will give you a good baseline to start at. Customize it to fit your needs.

What about non-work clothes for when you’re off the clock on your trip?

No trip is all business all the time. It’s okay to bring a couple of non-workwear items IF (say it with us) you know you’ll wear and need them .

For example, if you’ve scheduled yourself to hit a nearby nature trail on a free morning, go ahead and pack one workout look.

In fact, if you’ve followed all the above steps, you should have room in your suitcase for necessary off-the-clock pieces.

Looking for expert help creating the ultimate travel-ready closet? Check out Next Level Wardrobe’s Virtual and In-Person image consulting services . You’ll work with a team of style-savvy experts to strengthen your brand and build a closet you truly love.

About the Author - Cassandra Sethi

Personal Stylist & Image Consultant

* Disclosure : Next Level Wardrobe only recommends products that we’d suggest to our clients or personally wear ourselves. All opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, Next Level Wardrobe may earn a small commission. Read the full privacy policy here .

3 Professional Pieces for a Timeless Closet

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Cassandra Sethi

is a NYC Personal Stylist and Image Consultant. She is the Founder of Next Level Wardrobe and 'The NLW Style System' that guarantees clients more outfits with less items.

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A Business Travel Blog

April 21, 2019 By Michelle Maraj 1,396 Comments

5 Out of Office Examples for Traveling on a Business Trip

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that we will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. All opinions are those of the author.

When you need to travel for work, you might need to set an out of office message. Out of office messages are useful if you are not available during regular work hours. This may be necessary if you are out of the office in transport, such as on an airplane without WiFi, or if you are participating in a conference and cannot be online.

Out of Office Message Requirements

Your out of office message can be as detailed as you would like, but there is one requirement for your auto reply email: state when you will be back. You do not  need to explain why you are away, however you should at least communicate when you will be able to respond to your emails. Otherwise, you can be as creative as you would like.

A typical business travel out of office email will have the following components:

• Thank the person for their email.
• Let the person know when you will be returning.
• Provide an alternate contact person or emergency contact number.
• State that you will respond to emails when you return.

Additional components of your out of office message could include:

• Whether you are checking your email, versus if you are out of the country
• Why you are currently out of the office

See some of our business trip out of office messages below.

Out of Office on a Business Trip

If you are out of the office on a business trip, you can state so in your auto reply message. If you are traveling for a client, you do not want to get too specific on the location. Instead, leave your email vague. Put your location on your corporate calendar. If your coworker needs to know where you are, they can check your calendar for details.

Thank you for your email. I am currently out of the office on a business trip, and I will be returning on [Date]. I will respond to your email upon my return. Sincerely, Michelle

The above should be the bare minimum included in your auto reply message. If there is the possibility of urgent matters coming up while you are gone, you should include a contact person or an emergency contact number in your message as well.

I am currently out of the office on a business, and I will be returning on [Date]. If your matter is urgent, please contact [Name] at [Name’s Email], or call me at [Number]. Otherwise, I will respond to your message when I return. Thanks, Michelle

Only include your phone number in your out of office message if you do not mind being reached. If you are traveling to a place without service or will be unable to talk, it is best to only leave a contact person.

Out of Office during Business Travel

Occasionally for work, you may find that you are in commute for an entire day and will have limited access to email. If many of your coworkers will wonder where you are, it may be ideal to set up an out of office message for business travel.

I am currently traveling with limited access to email. If you need immediate assistance, please contact [Contact]. Otherwise, I will respond to your email as soon as possible. Thanks, Michelle

You might also be traveling to work, but find yourself at a client with a poor Wifi connection. While you are working, many of your coworkers may be wondering why you do not appear online, or why you are taking longer than usual to respond. In these circumstances, you might want an auto reply message similar to the following:

I am currently on-site with limited access to Wifi. If your matter is urgent, please contact [Contact] or call me at [Number]. Thanks, Michelle

Out of Office Attending a Conference

If you are on a conference business trip, mentioning the conference in your out of office can be beneficial. If a client who is also attending the conference emails you, your client may notice the opportunity to meet up with you.

Thank you for your email. I am currently at the Tableau Conference in Las Vegas, with limited access to email. I will be returning on [Date]. If you need immediate assistance, please contact me on my cell at [Number]. Sincerely, Michelle

Auto Reply Messages for Business Travel

Depending on your company culture, your out of office messages may be more casual or fun. However, if you work in professional services, it is best to keep your auto reply messages as fluff-free and simple as possible. State that you will be out, say when you will be back, and include what to do if it is an emergency.

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Bringing Family On Business Trips

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Being Away From Home Can Be Hard

This year, more than others in the past, my work visits tend to be to one city for about four nights. My daughter is just five and at a critical age. There is a real struggle between being successful and providing a life for her that I always wanted for her with being present enough for it to matter. For those that have the luxury of both, I salute you.

My father was gone most of my childhood four nights every week on business, yet we have a very close relationship and always have; being apart does not necessitate a bad parental relationship nor does coming home every night from work necessitate a good one.

All the same, the older she gets, the more I see her growing up from the little girl that would beg me to read her a story when I was all too tired from a long day.

I’m not going to miss out on these critical years.

Ethical Implications

The biggest challenge when bringing the family along on business trips are the ethical implications. Business trips are paid for by the company and are not mini-vacations. Often, this couldn’t be clearer, but if I were to take my daughter to Orlando during a convention and then to Disney after meetings are finished for the day, is that ok?

Often, the concern does not necessarily arise from the act of having family present on a business trip but the implied limitations family can put on an employee there solely to conduct business. It would be improper to avoid dinner with clients to spend time with family if that’s the reason an employee is there.

The issue is typically more with perception from co-workers than anything else. With social media as pervasive as it is, co-workers may misinterpret an occasional inclusion of family as misusing company funds. That doesn’t mean there is actually an issue with it but perception is the reality.

Does Management Approve?

Management may not condone bringing the family along on business trips but should. I am fortunate to work for a company that does allow my family to join me from time-to-time and I will be careful not to abuse that privilege. Other companies I have worked for have given me the latitude to bring them along on occasion as long as there was no interference with my work.

That being said, management should be consulted prior to family joining an employee on a business trip. In my experience, being open and honest with my employer usually leads to an embrace of the concept. Several times, my employer has suggested I take them out for dinner on the corporate card. Again, moderation and honesty are key.

Separating Costs

Another concern is whether ethical charges are being incurred solely in connection with the employee’s business requirements and the nature of out of town work.

Did the employee order a large pizza on the company card to treat his family or would he have spent the same amount anyway? Did the employee take the same rental car they would normally book or upgrade for one that fits their family more comfortably? Was the hotel chosen in relation to the convenience for client visits or due to the pool?

Here are some basic guidelines I keep in place:

• Don’t change any parameters of normal business bookings (use the same hotel rooms, rental car categories and flight booking criteria)
• Do not alter spending on meals to accommodate family
• Make everything clearly above reproach
• When in doubt, pay out of pocket

Work/Personal Boundaries

My, then girlfriend now wife, joined me on a business trip to Las Vegas early in our relationship. She respected that it was a work trip for me and I made time for her when work was done. It was fine. My wife has been understanding on the few business trips she has joined me, my daughter is happy with a pool and a new city.

The same boundaries that are in place when working from home have to be respected by families traveling with the employee. Business calls, computer time and meetings have to be separate from family time. If something comes up for business, the family has to understand.

Employees that have inexact personal and work boundaries will find it difficult to manage. Families can feel ignored, employees can be distracted while they should be focusing on work – boundaries are important. Families should discuss them in advance, be clear and enforce them.

It’s a joy to bring my family on work trips though it may be less fun for them. When the opportunity arises to bring them along, it suits their schedule and my employer approves, I am happy for them to join. I encourage other employees to consider this approach and spend more time with their families while working out of town. It creates an unusual reprieve for the constant road warrior and creates a new environment for their loved ones.

Have you taken your family with you on a business trip? What has your experience been? How do you balance home/work life? Does your employer approve or disapprove?

About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: [email protected]

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When I was an employer of many traveling staff, I would encourage them, if desired, to take spouses, lovers/SOs, as well as to arrive a bit early ( and/or to stay on after the work activity, on their own arrangements). I wasn’t being magnanimous in these policies: I wanted staff to be productive, relaxed and happy, and to be there for the long term rather than burn out. Very, very few ever abused those policies and it made for a more harmonious and profitable work environment.

I knew a coworker who once had a client agree to pay for 4 transatlantic economy tickets for him and his family instead of 1 business class ticket for just him. He ended up staying longer than if he had traveled alone which ended up benefitting the client, having him available in the same time zone for an extended period of time.

By the way, very well written article. Kudos.

My employers so far have been pretty rigid on this. You have to get approval directly from the CEO to extend a business trip for personal reasons, so the requests are metered out sparingly. But it’s a very hard no that your family stays with you during the period you are there on business, not even in a separate hotel room paid for out of your pocket…maybe someday…

Of course this didn’t apply to a couple people two levels up the food chain from me. Bringing their wives from Europe to San Francisco and having them come out for dinner/drinks…

I absolutely agree with this post and the previous comments. Often the flights are cheaper if I leave on a Thursday or Friday than leaving on Saturday/Sunday for a meeting on Monday, and so I loose a weekend to save the company some money (even accounting for the extra $$ for hotel rooms over the weekend.) A few times I year I will bring my wife along and enjoy whatever city we are in over the weekend, and she’ll either work from the hotel while I’m at my meetings, or will fly back home. We don’t abuse the corporate credit card and in fact we usually pay for the weekend meals from our personal credit cards (we’d be using these same cards while eating out if we were at home..) Sometimes if I know that I’ll be returning to a location several times, I’ll travel solo the first few trips to understand different neighborhoods in my destination, and then will bring the wife along on one trip to a good neighborhood.

I have my own company so its much easier to bring. Of course cannot expense their costs. I used to travel with 1 kid for 2-3 weeks each year. My son then 8-9 would stay sometimes a full day at the hotel. He would have lunch at the excutive lounge. Order room service. One time I came back a bit later and he was already at the happy hour of the club lounge (no alochol of course for him) but he did finish already 5 cans of cola. That said, 1 or 2 pax in a hotel is no additional expense 🙂

When I worked at my former employer, I brought my wife along on training trips a few times, usually by extending the trip a couple of days on either side. The company’s policy specifically permitted it as long as any additional costs were separated out as personal expenses. If anything it saved my employer on airfare because a weekend stay lowered the costs for my (business) portion. I’m sure my wife enjoyed the free time during the day, and we did some fun stuff like dinner and a Broadway show after class. I agree with both your post and some of the comments, it’s a little thing that makes business travel more bearable, and employees more loyal; seems like a win-win as long as the privilege isn’t abused.

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Want to work remotely in Italy? The country just launched its new digital nomad visa.

Remote workers with dreams of working from the rolling hills of Tuscany or the cliffs of Positano are now one step closer to making that reality. Italy launched a new digital nomad visa.

Two years after its announcement, the highly anticipated digital nomad visa officially became available for those eligible on April 4.  

“Italian-style, everything happens slowly,” said Nick Metta, a lawyer for the law firm Studio Legale Metta , which has helped Americans relocate to Italy for decades. “Now there is a pipeline of people waiting just to file the application. It's been a long-awaited visa.” 

Most of Metta’s clients would previously apply for a student visa, which allowed them to work part-time in Italy. 

Under the new visa, people will be able to work from Italy for one year, with the option to renew once their visa is due for expiration. Without a visa, U.S. travelers could only stay in Italy for up to 90 days without the ability to work.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

The launch makes Italy the latest European country to offer a digital nomad visa , which has already been available in Greece and Hungary. 

Here’s everything we know about the digital nomad visa for Italy.

Destinations behind a paywall? What to know about the increasing tourist fees worldwide.

Who can apply for a digital nomad visa in Italy?

According to the official decree , the visa is meant for those who “carry out a highly qualified work activity through the use of technological tools that allow you to work remotely.” 

The regulations define eligible applicants as “digital nomads,” self-employed freelancers, “remote workers,” or those employed by a company outside of Italy and can work from anywhere, according to Studio Legale Metta.

To qualify for the visa, the applicant has to meet certain requirements:

• A university or college degree or an accredited professional license
• Six months of work experience in the industry, or five years for applicants without a university degree
• An existing employment contract
• A criminal record check
• Proof of an annual income of €28,000 (about $29,880.06)
• Evidence of housing in Italy
• Evidence of health insurance coverage 

Applicants can also apply to have family members join them on their Italian move, but the government has to give the final approval. 

How do I apply for the digital nomad visa in Italy?

Thankfully, Metta said the paperwork for the digital nomad visa isn’t “too complicated.” 

The first stop for interested applicants will be the Italian Consulate for their area. “Consulates are basically the front of the government to receive the applications,” Metta said. Interested applicants can book an appointment with the consulate and start gathering their necessary documents. People can also apply by mailing in their application. (However, Metta did mention consulate websites are often confusing and outdated, so working with a relocation service can make things easier.)

To apply, applicants will also need a passport with an expiration date at least three months after the end of the visa period and two passport-sized photos.

Relocation services can also help people navigate the sometimes complicated process of applying for a visa, such as negotiating early termination penalties with landlords in Italy. 

These services also help people with state and tax planning, especially if people own assets in the U.S., like a house. Once in Italy, people need to register their residency with the town hall, which will determine what sort of taxes they’ll pay. People can speak to an international tax specialist to figure out their future taxes as well. 

How much will the visa cost?

According to Studio Legale Metta, the application fee is €116 (about $123.78) per person.

How long will the application process take?

Not too long, actually. Metta estimates the process could take just three weeks if applicants are “well-organized and have all your tax documents filed.”

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

Want to see the next total solar eclipse in 2026? An expert recommends booking travel now.

• 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years.
• Travelers worldwide will likely head to Spain, Iceland, and Greenland for the event.
• A hotel expert encouraged travelers to start planning and booking their trips now.

It'll be two decades before the next total solar eclipse hits the US .

Another option: hop on a plane to Europe and turn the 2026 total solar eclipse into a viewing vacation.

Eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler at GreatAmericanEclipse.com told Space.com that up to 3.7 million people likely traveled for the solar eclipse on Monday.

HotelPlanner's chief communication officer, Philip Ballard, told Business Insider that the eclipse was a major revenue generator for many cities. For places like Austin, Texas, and Rochester, New York, it could have created $1 billion in revenue, Vox reported.

"I would say the total solar eclipse has become a global phenomenon," Ballard said.

Ballard added that the next solar eclipse , which will pass through Iceland, Greenland, and Spain on August 12, 2026, could result in similar tourism and revenue influxes.

And if travelers are considering a trip to Europe for the solar eclipse, Ballard recommends planning your trip now.

Determine your eclipse viewing destination

According to Space.com , 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years. Its path will go through Greenland, parts of western Iceland, and northern Spain.

Choosing where to watch the eclipse will be a tough and important decision for travelers.

Iceland and Greenland have some positives. These regions will experience longer totality times, so viewers can watch the eclipse longer. Plus, the sun will be higher in the sky, so finding a spot to watch the eclipse will be less challenging, Space.com reported.

The downside is that these regions are more likely to be cloudy, according to the outlet.

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While parts of Spain are likely to offer clearer skies, the eclipse's timing will be shorter and closer to the horizon, which means travelers will need to plan and track down a viewing location with unobstructed views of the western horizon, Space.com reported.

Regardless of the destination, according to the outlet, one bonus is that the strongest meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere will happen the following night, so travelers can pack two events into one trip.

Book flights and hotels far in advance

Ballard encouraged people to book their hotels in their destination of choice as far in advance as possible.

"You should start looking now and booking hotels now because those cities in the path are already going to be at peak season," Ballard said.

Ballard said it's similar to when a Super Bowl city is determined or a Taylor Swift tour date is announced — you immediately see spikes in bookings. He predicts hotel occupancy rates will hit near-record highs, and room prices may double around the solar eclipse date.

Ballard's general rule of thumb is to book international travel at least three months in advance, but since this is such an anticipated event, booking earlier is smart. His advice is to start discussing plans with friends and family. If you decide on a destination, book a refundable room to keep your options open if plans change.

Regarding purchasing a plane ticket, a study from Expedia states that international travel's sweet spot is at least six months in advance.

According to Expedia, travelers who book six months in advance save an average of 10% more than travelers booking within two months or less.

Skip the hassle of planning altogether and book a solar eclipse tour

Another option is to let a tour operator do the work for you. A handful of tour companies have seen the increased interest in the solar eclipse and launched tours designed around the event.

These tours will have predetermined locations to view the eclipse, hotel blocks reserved, and itineraries highlighting both the region and the eclipse.

However, these can sell out quickly. For example, Space and Telescope created an 11-day tour of Spain around viewing the 2026 solar eclipse. The tour has already sold out as of Wednesday, and the waitlist is full.

Other operators, such as Wilderness Travel and Eclipse Traveler, have similar itineraries for the total eclipse in 2026.

Watch: A small Australian town was treated to a rare hybrid solar eclipse

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EU proposes youth mobility agreement with UK to help youngsters travel, work and live in both areas

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses a media conference at the conclusion of an EU Summit in Brussels, Friday, March 22, 2024. European Union leaders on Friday discussed plans to boost investment and the economy. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

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BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Commission proposed Thursday to start negotiations with the United Kingdom to allow young people to move freely, work and study in both regions after Brexit — the U.K.'s departure from the EU four years ago.

According to the EU, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU following a referendum in 2016 has damaged mobility between the two areas.

“This situation has particularly affected the opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel and to benefit from youth, cultural, educational, research and training exchanges,” the Commission said.

When the U.K. was still a member of the economic and political bloc, its nationals had the right to live and work freely in the EU, with reciprocity for EU nationals in the U.K. Under the agreement proposed by the EU’s executive arm, EU and UK citizens between 18 and 30 years old would be eligible to stay up to four years in the destination country.

The deal would also allow equal treatment of EU and UK students in the field of university tuition fees. Most EU students must now pay international tuition fees if they want to study in the U.K. The Commission says these vary between 11,400 and 38,000 pounds ($14,200-$47,300) per year and are a strong deterrent for EU students who generally don’t have to pay as much within the bloc.

The Commission’s recommendation will be discussed by EU member countries who must give the green light before the executive arm can start negotiations with the UK.

“We have successful Youth Mobility Schemes with 13 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, and remain open to agreeing them with our international partners, including EU member states,” the British government said in a statement.

The U.K. has its own Youth Mobility Scheme, which it has offered to some EU member states. The Commission believes the British plan is less ambitious than its own proposal.

“Our agreements provide a valuable route for cultural exchanges providing partner countries are also willing to offer the same opportunities for young British people,” the British government added.

Follow AP’s coverage of Brexit at https://apnews.com/hub/brexit

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It’s My Work-Diapers Backpack-Tote

Most diaper bags are just tote bags or backpacks made of waterproof materials, with extra pockets to hold bottles, pacifiers, and baby snacks. (Some of the more elaborate ones have insulated storage and removable changing pads.) They are often bulky, and, in my experience, life as a parent is easier without one. I prefer a more streamlined multipurpose bag that I can use for work or travel or just everyday errand-running, in addition to baby outings. And the best one I’ve found so far is the surprisingly spacious and nice-looking LeSportsac Double Trouble backpack.

My ideal diaper bag is lightweight and easy to carry, wipes clean and doesn’t show stains, looks good with everything I might wear, and is just as handy for carrying a laptop, water bottle , or wallet as it is for carrying baby stuff. The Double Trouble checks all of these boxes — plus, it can be used as a backpack or a tote. It has two tall pockets on the sides that work just as well for an adult water bottle as they do for a baby bottle. Inside, there are four elastic-trimmed mesh pockets that I use for everything from a computer charger to extra tampons and infant Motrin. There’s also a sneaky outer zipper pocket on the back and two smaller pockets (one zip, one not) on the front.

Despite its French-sounding name, LeSportsac is an American company that was founded in 1974, was taken over (and given new life) by the son of the original founders in the early 1990s, and is now in the middle of another revival along with other popular brands of the ’90s and 2000s. This resurgence and the backpack’s trapezoidal shape make it feel subtly trendy — even Prada -adjacent — especially in the all-black nylon that I have (though it also comes in an ever-changing array of bright colors and playful prints). It has a ’90s mini-backpack vibe without being actually mini or overtly vintage-looking. I first became familiar with the brand in college when I worked part-time in a kids’-clothing store that carried some of the Hello Kitty and Tokidoki collaboration bags . Then, last year, LeSportsac sent me a few items to try in celebration of its upcoming 50th anniversary, and the Double Trouble was the sleeper hit.

Before the Double Trouble became my “diaper bag” of choice, I tried three other contenders: a leopard-print Colugo diaper tote , an all-black Caraa baby bag , and a Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole backpack , also in all black. All three are well-designed bags with practical details like removable looped straps for hanging on a stroller and insulated pockets for snacks or milk, and all three had great potential. But, ultimately, none of them fit my criteria for everyday (or even occasional) non-baby-related use and ended up in the back of my closet.

I put the Patagonia backpack — which is also popular among artists and art handlers — on my baby registry , thinking it would work well style-wise for both me and my husband. It’s lightweight and packable and can be hosed off in the event of a spill. But since it lacks structure, the lightness of the backpack and the depth of the main compartment are more frustrating than they are practical. No matter how thoughtfully I packed it, everything would disappear as if into a … black hole. I always had to use two hands and a hard surface to find anything — not great if you’re also holding a wriggly or fussy baby with a dirty diaper.

The Caraa baby bag is the opposite, designed so you can find exactly what you need quickly. It’s all black on the outside, but the lining is cream-colored, so all your stuff is easy to see. It has three insulated outer pockets, two non-insulated magnetic sleeve pockets, a back zipper pocket that can fit a tablet or an iPad but not my MacBook Air, and a hidden zipper pocket for tucking away the optional shoulder straps. Inside, there are also four clear plastic slots and one elastic rimmed divider for organizing diapers . But the bag is bulky in a way that outs it as a diaper bag, and it can’t really double as a work bag since it can just barely hold my 13-inch laptop in the main compartment (and even then, the computer fits only without a protective sleeve ). The wealth of pockets, while useful, annoyingly causes me to carry more than I need.

The Colugo diaper tote is roomy and very attractive, with a handful of useful inner pockets and two small zipper pockets on the outside. It also has a removable cross-body shoulder strap. But I’ve found I like it better as a weekend bag, because it’s too big and heavy to use on a daily basis in New York City.

Where the Double Trouble beats them all is in its simple and ergonomic design. It’s comfortable to wear as a backpack despite a lack of extra padding or tactical-looking straps — the wide, woven nylon straps hug my shoulders gently as they evenly distribute the weight of whatever I am carrying. I can even wear it comfortably while carrying my son in a baby carrier , and the placement of the outer pockets makes it easy to reach around and grab my phone or a straw cup one-handed. When the subway car is crowded, it’s easy to switch to carrying it by the top handles as a tote. It fits in the storage bin of my compact Yoyo Stroller or in the basket of a Citibike. Best of all, it always makes my outfits look more sleek and put together, so much so that I chose to bring it with me instead of a purse on a recent trip to Japan and even got compliments on it from the salesperson at the Beams store in Kanazawa. It’s more than just a work bag, or a diaper bag, or an alternative to a purse for sightseeing, and I plan on carrying it long after my son is out of diapers and carrying his own backpack .

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Top 10 states with longest work commutes revealed — no. 1 may not surprise you.

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If you can make it here, you’ll make it anywhere — just consider extra time for travel.

Commuting to, from and around the “city so nice that they named it twice” can be a pain. Rush hour traffic, random street closures and mass transit delays are all daily grind nuisances.

But the harrowing hassle of hustling and busting isn’t limited to the city’s limits.  

“Workers in New York State [have] the longest commute times,” stated an April 2024 report from the US Department of Energy. 

The DOE, which manages the nation’s nuclear infrastructure and administers the country’s energy policy, used 2022 data on the average 9-to-5er’s one-way travel time to work to compile a list of the top 10 worst states for commuting. 

Researchers determined that most New Yorkers spend approximately 33.2 minutes during their trek to the office. 

And while riding in a train, bus or car for just over a half hour might not sound so terrible, the trip has yet earned the Empire State the No. 1 spot on the longest commute roster. 

Straphangers in Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia have it almost as bad. 

The findings revealed that folks in each province, too, lose a little more than 30 minutes of their lives high-tailing it to their cubicles Monday through Friday. 

DOE analysts attributed the lengthy jaunts around the densely populated states to “traffic and urban sprawl.”

The experts also noted that the average one-way commute time across the US is approximately 27 minutes. 

But staffers in the Midwest have it the best. 

“South Dakota and North Dakota had average commute times of less than 18 minutes,” read the report. 

Workers in similarly provincial regions such as Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Montana also enjoy quickie shuffles just under the 20-minute mark.

However, some business bigwigs don’t mind a long haul. 

NYC “super commuter” Susan Miller gladly hops on a plane every week to work as a full-time professor at the University of Michigan.

And hairdresser Kaitlin Jay, 30, told The Post she’s perfectly content spending nearly six hours commuting door-to-door from her home in Charlotte, North Carolina to work at an Upper West Side salon on a biweekly basis. 

“I love what I do in New York and I love life in Charlotte,” she said. “I get the best of both worlds.”

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Should I have a complete vehicle inspection in anticipation of a road trip? | Car Doctor

Q: i have a 2012 nissan pathfinder with 200,000 miles. it has been well maintained and has not required any major repairs other than some work on the rear suspension framework. should i have a complete vehicle inspection in anticipation of a road trip is there anything in particular that i should be concerned about, given the age and mileage of this vehicle.

A: Check all the fluids, get an oil change, and give the drive belts and coolant hoses a good look along with the radiator. Also, the tires should be checked for possible damage from winter potholes. Then take a look at lights and wipers – there's nothing more annoying than a road trip with streaky wiper.

An emergency kit, spare tire, jack lug wrench, wheel lock key (if needed) some basic tools, portable jump-pack, air compressor, flares/reflector, flashlight, gloves and a cellphone charger are all handy to have.

Is my frequent oil change strategy a good idea or overkill?

Q: I have a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab with a 3.0 Duramax Diesel. I have routinely changed the oil every 5,000 miles even though the manual calls for changing the oil at the 7,500 mark or as shown on the oil monitor system. Is the 5,000-mile change overkill?

Also, when I get a new vehicle, I change oil at the 1,000 mile mark, based on recommendations from friends that there is more wear and tear with the new engine during the first 1,000 miles. Is this overkill?

A: At one time, people changed their engine oil in as little as the first 500 miles to remove any assembly material. Today's engines – due to assembly techniques – are much cleaner. In fact, changing the oil early will sometimes not allow the rings to seat properly.

As for periodic oil changes: changing the oil every 7,500 miles will maintain the warranty, but every 5,000 miles certainly can’t hurt.

Gas with high ethanol caused problems with Honda generator

Q: I live in Florida, and I recently needed to use my Honda generator. It would not stay running. I took it to a local shop, and they told me the issue was I was using fuel with a high ethanol content. They drained the fuel and all seems good now. How could that happen? Is the gas station responsible for the problem?

A: It is possible that there was some cross contamination at the station and E85 (85% ethanol) ended up in the wrong tank. But what could also have happened is – depending on the gas station – if the station pumps don’t have a dedicated E85 pump and you were only filling a small gas can, the residual E85 in the hose (could be up to half a gallon) mixed with and contaminated the regular fuel. I usually fill my gas can when I fill my car with gas, but I do it after I refuel my car. This way there is no chance that the gas can will have anything other than regular (low ethanol) fuel.

How do the gas engine and batteries work together in Honda hybrid?

Q: I have a 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid and am hoping that you can explain two things about it. First, I don't understand how the gasoline engine and the batteries work together. Second, there's a button to put it into EV mode, but then it only goes at most a mile, so what's the benefit of that option?

A: This hybrid system uses the gasoline engine for three distinct purposes: to power the generator to supply electricity for the drive motor; to flow power directly to the front wheels to move the vehicle; and to charge the hybrid battery pack.

The electric motor also provides instant torque at zero RPM and allows for seamless operation of the idle start/stop system. The EV-only mode is designed to operate for short distances for speeds generally no higher than 30 miles per hour.

To me, the EV mode is more of a novelty than a useful function. Under the normal hybrid mode, the gasoline engine and electric motor work together to maximize both engine performance and economy.

What is causing lights to flutter on Chevy truck?

Q: My 10-year-old Chevy truck has an issue with all the lights fluttering. They go slightly from normal to brighter to slightly dimmer. It is noticeable, but just barely. So far, I have cleaned all the battery connections and even the battery cable where it attaches to the body, but nothing changed. What could be wrong?

A: I suspect that the alternator is faulty. You can test this with a digital multimeter. In this case you want to set your meter to read AC volts. Take your measurements at the battery while the engine is warmed up with the headlights and defroster turned on to put a load on the electrical system.

When performing the test, If there is more than 0.1-0.5 volts of AC ripple, then the alternator is most likely faulty and should be replaced.

John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email [email protected] and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook .