last minute work travel

[womet]

Talk about the.very.last.minute. I just got approved for travel to a conference that starts on Sunday in California. I am running around getting forms signed, make travel arrangements, and reschedule meetings that I have next week. And I need to make sure H has arrangements to and from his neck procedure on Thursday and that my high school student has enough work to keep her busy next week. 

I am a planner and this last minute stuff stresses me out.

[Deleted]

That is like twice as much notice as I usually get even for things I couldn't possibly anticipate

[orangeblossom]

Jun 6, 2013 12:57:23 GMT -5 womet said:

Talk about the.very.last.minute. I just got approved for travel to a conference that starts on Sunday in California. I am running around getting forms signed, make travel arrangements, and reschedule meetings that I have next week. And I need to make sure H has arrangements to and from his neck procedure on Thursday and that my high school student has enough work to keep her busy next week. 

I am a planner and this last minute stuff stresses me out.

Ah the beauty of the last minute approval.  Been there done that. Hope you're able to get everything figured out, and that you enjoy the conference.

[magdala]

Exactly. I have a professional suitcase half-packed at all times because I will get notice today that my flight is leaving at 8 am tomorrow.

[womet]

Jun 6, 2013 13:04:26 GMT -5 v said:

That is like twice as much notice as I usually get even for things I couldn't possibly anticipate

Clearly, I am a creature of habit. And being in the gov't usually means that I have plenty of time to make the arrangements. I'm just hoping that we can get everything processed and approved in our slow gov't systems.

[womet]

Once I know the details of my flights, I am hoping I might be able to arrange a last minute GTG with @kirkette and others.

[orangeblossom]

Jun 6, 2013 13:10:13 GMT -5 womet said:

Jun 6, 2013 13:04:26 GMT -5 v said:

That is like twice as much notice as I usually get even for things I couldn't possibly anticipate

Clearly, I am a creature of habit. And being in the gov't usually means that I have plenty of time to make the arrangements. I'm just hoping that we can get everything processed and approved in our slow gov't systems.

Towards the end of my time at my office things were so up in the air with approvals, things were routinely approved at the last minute. It was so annoying and frustrating.

[womet]

Jun 6, 2013 13:14:54 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Jun 6, 2013 13:10:13 GMT -5 womet said:

Clearly, I am a creature of habit. And being in the gov't usually means that I have plenty of time to make the arrangements. I'm just hoping that we can get everything processed and approved in our slow gov't systems.

Towards the end of my time at my office things were so up in the air with approvals, things were routinely approved at the last minute. It was so annoying and frustrating.

Normally there is more lead time, but the travel memo only got approved last Friday. And apparently there were originally ~350 people who requested to attend this conference, and it's been cut to 123.

And the woman who added me to the list asked me to watch my spending so that we can stay below certain spending levels. Um lady, had the list been approved earlier, I could have found a less expensive hotel. So please be happy that it's only 60% above the per diem hotel rates.

[orangeblossom]

Jun 6, 2013 13:18:30 GMT -5 womet said:

Jun 6, 2013 13:14:54 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Towards the end of my time at my office things were so up in the air with approvals, things were routinely approved at the last minute. It was so annoying and frustrating.

Normally there is more lead time, but the travel memo only got approved last Friday. And apparently there were originally ~350 people who requested to attend this conference, and it's been cut to 123.

And the woman who added me to the list asked me to watch my spending so that we can stay below certain spending levels. Um lady, had the list been approved earlier, I could have found a less expensive hotel. So please be happy that it's only 60% above the per diem hotel rates.

323 people?  It must be a major conference for that many people, but now that I think about I think I know what it is.

I'm sure you already tried it, but did you try the site that allows you to see if the govt rate is available (can PM you if you don't know it) to see if you could find a room.  I loved using that site.

ETA: I forgot to say that would really annoy me about watching spending at the last minute.

[womet]

orangeblossom, I was able to justify the more expensive hotel because a cab would have cost me at least $50 each way.

And you are probably spot on in the conference.

[emilyinchile]

I had a very similar situation last year - got told on Thursday that I was going to Bogota on Sunday, then got "talked to" about my expenses (luckily only because the guy who looked them over thought my hotel cost was for one night instead of two). Good luck getting ready!

[Deleted]

Womet that does sound stressful, sorry about that! I am a planner, too.

[orangeblossom]

Jun 6, 2013 13:52:08 GMT -5 womet said:

orangeblossom, I was able to justify the more expensive hotel because a cab would have cost me at least $50 each way.

And you are probably spot on in the conference.

Oh good, I'm glad you were able to justify it without too much of an issue.  Enjoy!