Phone a Friend!

One of the best ways I have found to save money on the road, as well as get a great meal, is to reach out to friend.

Thanks to social media, we are able to keep up with many people from our past.  When traveling for business, this is a great time to re-connect.  Reach out to them if you have their phone number or email a couple of weeks before your trip to make sure they will be around.  Then, make plans for a dinner, preferably at their house so you save money on dinner that night.  Also, another advantage, you get a home-cooked meal on the road, something we all enjoy!

While it is great to re-connect, as with most of my posts, use common sense.  Do NOT reach out to an ex love interest if you are married or have a current love interest; spouses generally frown on this when you are traveling.  Also, if you know this particular friend loves to party until 3:00 in the morning, do NOT reach out to them unless you know for sure you have the will power to call it an early night.  In the end, remember, your first concern is your job, that is the reason you are on the trip in the first place.

By reaching out to an old acquaintance, you are making yourself get out of the hotel room and relax a little bit; which is always good when you are on the road.  It can be very easy to stay in your room and do nothing but emails and reports.  While this is productive, it can also be very tiring and make your 3 day trip feel like a 3 week trip.  However, when you see an old friend and meet their spouse and/or children, maybe for the first time, then time seems to fly as do your stresses.

I have made it a point to ask on my social media sites who is in the town I will be traveling to.  For instance, if I know I will be in Seattle for a few days in two weeks, then I'll simply post, "hey, anyone in the Seattle area?"  Then, when they respond, if it is someone you want to see, send them a private message and arrange the dinner.  But NEVER advertise in an open forum your travel dates as mentioned in my previous post Don't Brag About Where You Are.

I mentioned to reach out a couple of weeks before your trip, there are a couple of reasons for this.  First, is obvious, you want to make sure they are available.  The second, is to make sure you are available.  Chances are that if you wait until you are on your trip, the visit will never happen.  It is amazing how quickly emails, reports, phone calls, etc. can pile up while you are traveling.  If you wait, you will decide you are too busy, and try to see them next time.  However, if the plans are already set, you will feel bad about canceling at the last minute, and honor your commitment.

Again, remember you are on a business trip, and this should be your first priority, not a reunion with old friends trip.  However, use your travels to re-connect with old friends if you have the time.  You will be amazed how good this feels, and how relaxing this is while on the road.