business Archives - The Early Air Way

The life of a business traveler can be exhausting. Days and weeks away from home, family, and friends combined with the tiring realities of travel can leave you feeling drained. One idea to make this lifestyle easier is to combine work and pleasure. It can be a simple matter to extend that business trip to allow for sightseeing and vacation time.

There are a few simple things to keep in mind when adding a few extra days of holiday onto a business trip. Although not every city might seem ripe for personal exploration, you may be surprised to find that nearly every town has something to see, whether it be a small, local museum, a gorgeous covered bridge, or a unique gastronomic treat. Next time you have a work trip coming up, perhaps it’s time to consider extending your trip to add on some fun.

Check with Your Employer

The first point should be obvious make sure extending your business trip works out for your employer and vacation time. If short on time, many employers will even make exceptions to allow for a day or two unpaid. It is important to keep in mind any tax issues that could arise. The IRS has plenty of rules and regulations, of course, for what qualifies as a business expense, so caution is the word of the day.

The Best in Business Class

One perk for many business class travelers is the ability to fly business class. When extending that business trip for a day or two of holiday, one consideration is the flight to or from your destination with your travel companion. For that very special occasion, maybe the entire family can fly business class, or even splurge on something as special as a private charter jet!

Stay at Your Business Hotel or Change Locations?

Business hotels have a lot going for them. They are generally well-located, offer many amenities, and come with the name of a big chain hotel. In some cities, such as New Orleans, such a hotel may work out perfectly for extending your trip. The New Orleans convention center and the hotels surrounding it happen to be located within walking distance to the French Quarter, street musicians, and gourmet food the city is known for, and many offer views of the mighty Mississippi. However, in case your business trip is to a city such as Cedar Rapids, moving into a quaint bed and breakfast or independent hotel could make your stay a bit more memorable.

What to Do?

Luckily for the business traveler looking to add on a few days of holiday, many work trips happen in cities such as Chicago, Atlanta, Portland or Denver. There is no challenge in finding museums, parks, shopping, and dining options. Things may require a bit more research, however, if work brings you to a less cosmopolitan location. The major cities of the United States are undeniably fascinating, but the true charm and heart of the country lies in the small towns.

The South

Search out the best fried chicken or local gumbo, wander former plantations, and walk through civil war history, all with that famous southern hospitality.

The Northeast

Clam chowder, antiques, and the best fall foliage in the country, along with short travel distances make it is easy to visit several states in one day.

The Midwest

Traditional main streets, covered bridges, country fairs, rolling farmland, and a “down home” feel.

The Rockies and Southwest

Mountain scenery, former gold mines, New Mexico chilies, and dramatic landscape combine to take your breath away.

The Pacific

World class wine villages, dramatic coastlines, mountain lakes, and fantastic seafood.

Throughout the country, each month brings a variety of festivals, street fairs, and traditional local events that will be unlike anything you may find elsewhere. Search out local community boards, ask the locals, and check in with the local café or bar staff, who always seem to be in the know.

Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Perhaps the most essential tool in creating a magical vacation holiday attached to your business trip is to be willing to step outside your comfort zone. In a town which seemingly has nothing going on? Head to the local bar for open mic night or karaoke. Not your style? That doesn’t mean it can’t create a memory to last a lifetime. During harvest time in a small town, join the locals for wine stomping or participate in the pumpkin festival, complete with hayrides, cotton candy, and adorable kids running wild in jean overalls. Each region of the country has their very own food specialties. A little nervous about deep fried pickles or geoduck? You will never know until you try it!

Make the Most of Your Time

Although you don’t want a couple of extra days for holiday to be overloaded, with just a day or two added on to a business trip it only makes sense to go in with a plan. Do some research, know your options, and have a general idea for trip. Combine entertainment and dinner with a trip to a dinner theater. In areas with no public transportation, perhaps figure in a car rental to get out into the countryside for a picnic. Often times, local tour companies can provide wonderful trips for local sightseeing to places you may have a hard time discovering on your own.

….Or Don’t

Perhaps what you really need is a holiday “in”. Perhaps you find yourself booked into a hotel featuring a pool, satellite TV, room service, and spa services. Sometimes, what the harried business traveler really needs is simply a day or two to decompress. Take this time to sleep in, to eat breakfast in bed, and partake in a massage or facial. Most of all, time to simply relax and enjoy some down time.

Regardless of where your work may take you, by extending for a day or two not only will you be able to take advantage of some time off, but you may also discover a tiny piece of magic where you least expected it.

Flying on Your Time Table

With commercial flights, you are limited in terms of when you can leave and when you can return home. If you’re lucky, it’s possible to book a flight that doesn’t involve multiple layovers and frequent connections that leave you with little time to catch your breath. You also hope and pray that one of your connections isn’t delayed long enough that you miss the next connection and end up spending several hours waiting for the next flight out.

All of the guesswork goes out the window when you choose to charter a private jet. The flight will leave at whatever time you choose. Checking in is not any big deal, and you can board the jet quickly and begin to settle in. Depending on the distance you need to travel, there will be no need to change planes along the way. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

More Room

Many private jets are designed to accommodate a limited number of clients at a time. Perhaps you are taking the family for a vacation. All told, there will be eight people on the flight. The jet you choose accommodates ten, so there is some extra room to relax.

That additional room involves more than a couple of extra seats. The layout could include tables that make it easy to do some work, play games on a laptop, or enjoy board or card games during the flight. Taller members of the family will love the ability to stretch out and take a nap in one of the reclining seats. Try doing any of these activities on a typical airline flight.

Food That’s to Your Taste

Airline food has been fodder for jokes over the years and with some justification. At best, the odds of ending up with something you really like are not that high. With a private jet charter, you get to choose the food that’s stocked in the galley ahead of time.

The fact that you have control of the menu is more than a convenience. Perhaps you or a member of your family has certain food allergies or needs to follow a particular type of diet in order to manage a chronic condition. With a little planning, you can ensure the meals are low in carbohydrates, ideal for people watching their cholesterol levels, or happy to be gluten free.

Landing Closer to Your Destination

You may not realize it, but there are a number of airports that can only accommodate smaller planes. That means taking a commercial flight could mean having to debark and switch to a puddle jumper in order to get where you want to go. Those smaller airports are often prime landing places for private jets, especially the ones that are designed to carry less than fifty passengers. If your destination happens to be Sarasota, FL, the closest you will get with a larger flight is Tampa. With a private jet, you get to sit back and fly directly into Sarasota.

Traveling Just for Two

Did you know there are private jet charters that will accommodate two people as easily as a dozen? Think of what that could mean when you want to plan a trip for you and that special someone. It’s easy enough to arrange for long-stem roses to be arranged to perfection in the cabin. The galley can include something chilled for the two of you to enjoy, and the crew will make sure they are discreetly out of sight and out of mind. This type of setting is ideal for a romantic getaway whether it involves flying to a destination that has significance to you and your beloved, or going to dinner at a restaurant located on the other side of the country.

More Cost Effective Than You Think

The cost of flying on a private jet is more affordable than many people realize. When the overall cost is broken down per person, it is often competitive with the expense of purchasing a ticket from a commercial airline.

Above and beyond the flight cost, there is the time savings you enjoy as a result of being able to get where you are going sooner rather than later. Private charter companies do their best to be flexible when it comes to scheduling outbound flights. That means you can call them around lunchtime and leave for your destination right after work.

When the plan is to be in a customer’s office first thing in the morning, you don’t want to run the risk of being late. A commercial flight may or may not have you in town soon enough to freshen up and be ready to talk about whatever is on the customer’s mind. By choosing to fly out on a private jet today, you have time to get to the hotel, prepare for the upcoming meeting, get plenty of sleep, and be at your best when you sit down with the client. The fact that you are prepared and on time will go a long way toward maintaining the relationship and keeping the company cash flow healthy.

Private jets are not just for business use. Couples, families, or even friends who are going on a group vacation should consider this travel option seriously. After learning more about the expense and comparing the cost with the perks, it won’t be hard to make the right decision.