Tagging along on SO's work trip

[gogreengowhite]

Do you/have you tagged along to your SO's work trip/conference? Was it fun?

DH has a conference in San Francisco at the end of April.

He will be busy for large parts of the day but I'm still thinking of going with.

My dad took the week off to watch our kids and we would probably stay through Sunday.

My friend lives in LA and flights between are only $150 so I might fly there for one of the days.

[lindyanne]

I ended up in New Orleans at a show bc it happened to be right after our honeymoon 10 years ago. Sadly it wasn't allowed at DHs old job. And of course when DH started working for himself we had a child so that's not as fun anymore. DS was a handful but now that he's in school I wish I had sucked it up and gone a little. Unfortunately all DHs trips happen during the school year.

[cheezer]

I just joined H's business trip last weekend. He flew down a day early and I had off Monday where he didn't. We only had 1 night's hotel and my very cheap flight as the extra costs. If it was a conference I'd assume there would be so many activities that you wouldn't see your H though. Depends on if you'd want to entertain yourself or not.

[erbear]

I went to Chicago one time with Dh on a business trip. It was fun. I did stuff on my own during the day, then he was free at night (he's a lawyer and was taking depositions, so nothing at night)

[audette]

DH tagged along on one of my business trips last year. It was in Germany, so we took an extra week and did the tourist thing, too. DH chilled out at the hotel, and wandered around the medieval town where my meeting was being held (and saw more of it than _any_ of the meeting attendees), and was invited along on all of the evening activities I was invited to.

It may have helped that I'm in a very male-dominated field, so adding an extra dude to the mix when we went out for beers wasn't a big deal... (I was the only woman at the meeting of 30+ people)

[Deleted]

I went with H to New Orleans this year. I went shopping and sight seeing by myself during the day and then we had the evenings together. We also stayed an extra day so that we had one full day to go do stuff. It was fun.

[Pom]

I go all the time. It's fun, but our logistics are pretty simple, cats no kids.
If Mr.P. was going to San Francisco, I'd be there with bells on.

[treedimensional]

I tagged along on spouse's work trips to Honolulu and San Fran, but that was long ago. Now I travel so much more than he does.

[aurora]

H has come with me a couple of times for my work trips. The best one was in Maui; I think he pretty much just sat on the balcony with his computer all day (he was working remotely).

[Norticprincess]

Depends on where he is going and the schedule for the trip/ conference. Some of the work trips the logistics make it really hard to tag along. Conferences are usually easier.
His company allows them to use PTO to extend stays as long as the flight cost doesn't change significantly and he pays for his expenses after the work part is done.
Sometimes I'll meet him after sometimes during if it is somewhere I want to go.
His stuff for this year, the one option is in a city about an hour from family I don't see very often and it is overseas. If he goes to that one, I'll go see family while he is doing conference things.

[meowmaps]

This past summer I joined my H for a week in London. I did my own thing for a couple of days but what made it nice was that his work schedule was pretty flexible. I think I was only alone for two days. We were able to do things together on all of the other days and we even had a couple free days together at the end.

San Francisco is a great city! I think you'll find plenty to do on your own and with your H. Focus on doing things you know he wouldn't enjoy when you're on your own and then wait to do the things you'd both enjoy when your H is free. For instance, I spent most of my alone time going to museums I knew my H wouldn't care about.

[nsl]

I spent a week in Athens when H had a conference there several years ago, and our family went to Disney World two years ago when H was attending a conference there. Both times there was minimal expectation for him to participate in social events outside of the formal sessions. I had a blast seeing sights without him during the workday, and we did a lot of exploring together in the evenings when he was finished.

[tcu2003]

I tagged along on DH's work trip to Honolulu a few years ago. I was pregnant, so it was an awesome babymoon. We flew over a few days early and went to Kauai, and then stayed a couple of extra days. I also took DS and went to San Antonio with him for a training class he has two years ago (we drove, though, so it was easy for us to tag along). I have family there, do DS and I saw them, did Sea World, Alamo, etc while DH was in classes, and we hung out at night.

DH has tagged along on my trips more often just because I was BFing, and wanted DS to be able to go to conferences and meetings the first couple of years. I think in the last few years they came to Denver, San Antonio, Houston, San Diego, Portland (Oregon), NYC and DC with me. They would visit family/friends if we knew anyone in the area, and/or go sightseeing while I had meetings, and then meet up with me when DS needed to nurse, and when I was free to hang and do stuff together. I'm also in a male-oriented field, and a few others usually bring kids, so it is pretty easy to add them to the mix. Plus DH knows enough of the people attending these things now that he doesn't usually mind, as long as the location isn't horrible.

[tcu2003]

Oh, and I would totally go to SF! I've only been once and so want to go back. You'll have tons to do and see during the day.

[maddiepaddy]

I often tag along to my H's conferences. We add at least a day, but sometimes an extra week or so if it's international.

I enjoy wandering around on my own while he's at conference functions. I get to see sights he'd be uninterested in, shop without being rushed, etc.... Then, we make time to see a few major things together when he's free. 

[crashgizmo]

We do this often as well. DH came with me to DC and Boston- we always added on a few days on one end or another. DH used to travel to Phoenix and El Paso monthly, so if I didn't have external meetings I came along just so we can hang out at night. I usually work during the day or drive/ride public transit to local hangouts.

[WinterWine]

I did it for the first time last month when H was in NYC for work. I came on a Friday and stayed the weekend. His company paid hotel bc it was cheaper than him flying home between two work trips. We had the whole weekend to explore the city together. I enjoyed it, and would do it again if we cold add days to a trip and hang out together.

However I wouldn't do it if I didn't get to spend much time with H. Both of us have limited vacation and I consider it precious time- I always have more trip ideas than vacation days. So I wouldn't spend some of my vacation days if I couldn't actually hang with H. Ow ever if you don't tend to use all your vacation or have excess, then I'd definitely tag along!!

[mich1]

SO has tagged along on most of my research conferences. He actually had enough interest in the conference that he would attend some sessions with me. Otherwise, he just did what he wanted during the day and met up with me when the day was over. He normally would come in when the conference was half over, and miss the more hectic part of it. Depending on location, we also added days on for a mini vacation.

He's come with me to San Antonio, Honolulu, Washington DC, Orlando, Miami, New Orleans, Baltimore and a few other locations.

[lolo]

Yes, to Hamburg, Dublin and Stockholm. I love wandering around during the day and then meeting up at night--and of course, it's a million times more affordable.

[gogreengowhite]

Great, I will definitely tag along.

I have more than enough PTO and I've never been to California so I really want to go.
I think I'll fly in on Wednesday, fly to LA for 10-12 hours on Thursday and then do a little exploring on my own on Friday.

His conference ends at 3 on Friday so it wouldn't be too much time on my own.

[Deleted]

Yay, I am glad you decided to go!!! You will have so much fun, Friday during the day you can do a ton of city touring / sightseeing, and really prioritize anything you want to visit.

That sounds like an absolute steal on the flight, too, which makes it all the more worth it.

I am sure you will have a ton 'o fun!

[gogreengowhite]

Jan 26, 2015 7:56:52 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

Jan 26, 2015 5:42:39 GMT -5 gogreengowhite said:

Great, I will definitely tag along.

I have more than enough PTO and I've never been to California so I really want to go.
I think I'll fly in on Wednesday, fly to LA for 10-12 hours on Thursday and then do a little exploring on my own on Friday.

His conference ends at 3 on Friday so it wouldn't be too much time on my own.

Why not fly into LAX and out of SFO?  Seems more efficient.

Yeah, I typed that way too early this morning. I realized in the shower I wasn't thinking it through.

I checked prices and it's only $16 more to do dtw to lax landing at 10:30 am and then flying to SFO at 8 or 9 pm. So that saves $134 for me to spend while there.

[imojoebunny]

I would go. I don't mind doing touristy stuff by myself. DH has been there twice in the last two month, but they were just two nights, so not worth it for me to get childcare and go.

SFO is my second favorite city though, the hipster side of my family lives there, which adds to the fun.

[sporky]

I'd go in a heartbeat. I've tagged along on a bunch of DH's trips since he always gets sent to fun places. I've never had an issue keeping myself occupied during the day.

[magdala]

DH has a four day conference in Chicago every other year. I have friends in Chicago. I tag along, treat myself to a spa day, visit with friends, tour museums and spend the evenings with him. Generally one evening is a ball game because he is a baseball fanatic. I won't be going this year because of the baby but it was generally a good time before DD was born.

[liveintheville]

I always try to go. I've been to SF twice for conferences and loved it. Now he goes to Vegas yearly and I go on that one with him. I entertain myself during the day and at night we get dinner and shows compliments of various people at the conference. It's a great deal.

[ewall]

H tagged along on one of my work trips to Vegas. Trip coincided with my birthday so we decided to make a trip out of it. Usually my trips aren't as flexible so we tend to meet somewhere after my trip ends. I use my company-paid return flight to meet H elsewhere, we will spend a few days, and then fly home together.

[mrsdoe]

I've done it several times. I love traveling alone and doing my own thing. Lots of times my h has had other things come up and is busier than expected. There's plenty to do in San Francisco and you can easily keep yourself busy all day. I went in October one year and had awful weather and I hated the hills since I'm fat and lazy. Plan ahead, do Alcatraz, the cable cars, Lombard street, etc. I thought the food there was excellent!

[Deleted]

I've done this a few times, he will extend the trip either before or after so we can spend a few days together.  The days that he has work/conferences, I know I'm on my own and won't see much of him. He's out of the room by 7:30am and I usually see him for a few minutes before he heads to dinner 5:30-6pm and then he'll be back to the room around 9-10pm.  Depending upon what his evening activities are, sometimes I'll join him - i.e. if he's out at the bar with co-workers.