I am about to accept a job where I will be traveling 50% of the time (road only) covering a territory in my state. I have never had to travel for work before so am a little nervous about how to adjust to this type of schedule. Does anyone have any advice? I am hopeful that it won't be too tough of a transition compared to doing a lot of air travel but am looking for any tips I may not be thinking of.
I'm currently in a transition from a job that required like 5-10% travel to one that is 40% (though some of that 40% is local) and it hasn't been too bad. But that's easy to say when you don't have kids to worry about and the trips tend to be short.
Lots of people here travel a lot -- y4m and audette always come to mind first. Eta @shoegal
I've been on the road for 6 years now, covering state-specific territories. I love it, but I'm also the type of person who enjoys my alone time. The first couple weeks will be difficult because it is different level of exhaustion just getting used to everything. But it soon becomes NBD. Will you have a company car? Do you enjoy driving? Satellite radio, Bluetooth, and navigation are key items to have.
Buy yourself a nice suitcase and possibly a rolling computer bag for your laptop, files, travel printer, etc. I don't have a separate set of toiletries/essentials for my bag, but that's an option. Find wardrobe pieces that can be easily mixed and matched and don't wrinkle too badly.
Make sure you have a wifi hotspot from a wireless carrier. Small wireless mouse if you don't already have one.
Pick a hotel brand that is available in most of your territory and stick with it. Status is everything. My preference is Marriott, but Starwood or Hilton are also options. I pick my hotels based on their fitness centers because I try to keep a workout routine going on the road.
Will you have a company card for expenses? I have that plus our company uses Concur which makes it easy to keep track of everything.
I am new to the constant work travel game, but at any rate, my advice would be:
Yes, good suitcase. For short trips I have a Travelpro Maxlite 3 that I love. It is sturdy, super light, and carries a lot for its size. I use a Lo & Sons Brookline tote for my laptop/files. It slides on the handles of my suitcase. I would not want to roll two things at once, so rolling laptop bag was not something I would consider.
Two apps -- TripIt (which organizes travel itineraries) and TripList (packing lists) keep me sane and organized. I am using Expensify to track expenses. Not the best app ever, but free and way better than nothing.
I love my GoToobs for shampoo and conditioner. I get to use my normal products (without paying extra for travel size or worrying about running out -- I can always refill). I just got a similar thing for toothpaste from The Container Store. I forget the name but it is brilliant.
Packing cubes keep my suitcase super organized and save a lot of space. Mine are from Lands End.
I have extra chargers that I keep in a little bag in my suitcase so I don't have to pack them each time.
Thanks for the responses. I anticipate it will be mostly day travel but as much as one overnight a week. I think the adjustment from a desk job to being on the go all the time will be hard at first for me. I do like my alone time so I think it will be a nice balance as the job involves a lot of talking to people.
I'll have to feel things out once I get started b it do hope to stick with one hotel chain. I'll have a rental car for all of the travel I do. I need to look into packing cubes, they sound brilliant.
I used to have a job that was 60% travel -- some road but mostly air. My first piece of advice would be to outsource your home life as much as possible -- if you are gone several nights a week it's hard to keep up with all the laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping etc. it's nice to have all that done when I'm home for a few days so I can spend my home days with family and having fun. I also tried to do stuff like pedicures, eye arches etc when I had free evenings while traveling (which wasn't often but nice). I agree with a nice suitcase and extra set of toiletries and charges. Always keep meds with you (Advil, stomach stuff, etc) and some protein bars. If you are renting cars a lot, make sure you get ones with USB chargers so you can charge your phone while driving and listen to podcasts/radios. Many cars don't have one. Try to keep up your normal routine as much as possible with respect to food choices and exercising -- it's tough when you are going to nice steakhouses 3 times a week. Don't feel bad about carving out you time to read, etc. I had colleagues who preferred to take long trips with more downtime while when I first started I was so focused on jamming as much possible into a trip that I wore myself out. I keep all my "travel clothes" in one section of my closet so it's super easy to pack. Also keep some extra undies in your suitcase! Make sure you pick a hotel chain that's convenient for all your destinations. I prefer starwood, but they aren't in a lot of the places I go to. If you are able to do so, use a great rewards card for business expenses. I'm able to charge everything to a personal card and rewards really add up.
I also have within state travel and have been doing it for close to 14 years. The requirements have also varied. Right now I can do mostly day trips with an ocassional overnight stay. For years, I had to fly to my destination (big state) and spend a week a month away. For me that was 10x tougher.
PP's have great tips. I have a travel toiletries bag almost ready to go at all times. I fully agree to stick with a brand or 2 of hotels. Mine are Hilton and Marriott but mostly Hilton. That makes a huge difference. If you can get suite (i.e. Home wood or residence) that is even better. Eat well while you are out even if you are alone. I never go to fancy rest. but I make sure I eat well. Take some time to decompress. It is so easy to work until late at night when you are alone in a hotel room but it is important to take a break.
I don't travel extensively, but about 4-5 times a year for work then of course any personal travel.
I like having toiletries that I use just for travel. I also have gotten sample sizes of some of the make up products I use and keep those in the bag. But with as much as you are traveling, you may just want to buy doubles. Sometimes I move make up to the travel set when it is low and buy a new one for home.
The hardest thing for me is keeping up with work emails while I travel. Just schedule time in your day to check on those and plan time in the evening to work on any reports, etc that need to be finished up.
I bring clothes that I can easily layer and change formality with--a tank that works with slacks and blazer during day and a cardigan and jeans at night so I have less to pack and less I need to change into. Shoes that are comfortable and go with everything are helpful. But never pack only one pair unless you can easily drive elsewhere. I once only brought one pair and had the heel rubber fall off. Not good.
Have a good stash of OTC mess with you--I feel like I always am running to CVS everywhere I go and it's not convenient.
Most of my travel is air-based, and tends to be large chunks of time, vs day trips, so I'm not sure how useful any tips I might have will be. My big ones are to have a separate set of toiletries, and a dedicated set of chargers for everything you need to pack along, so packing is more of a grab and go, as opposed to finding a collection of things and making sure you have everything. (I also keep a set of the normal meds I use - benedryl, etc in my travel toiletries bag.)
Keeping up with diet/exercise things can be challenging when on the road, too. Try to schedule time for exercise, and figure out on-the-road options for food that are going to fit your normal diet.
Another recommendation for packing cubes. I bought a set from e.bags after I saw them recommended here. Totally game changing, and I was already pretty good at fitting a lot in my bag.
My travel is probably similar to what you're describing. Mostly day trips, maybe 3-ish overnights per month. I'm probably out visiting clients 2-4 days per week, mostly within a 3 hour radius, but some up to 5 hours away. When I'm not making client visits, I work from a home based office, and I travel to our regional office (by plane) approx. 1 day per month. My biggest advice for being in the car all the time is to download plenty podcasts that interest you. I also try to take food with me in a cooler when I won't be eating with clients so I can avoid being tempted to stop for fast food.. This is both MM (since I'm only reimbursed for overnight trips) and healthier.
I do an overnight trip about 2-4 times a year for work, for trade shows.
Make sure you can get around easily with your bag. My old carry-on did that thing where it jumps and flips over when you roll it along with you, so I had to get a new one (this one can roll upright next to me). It's just from Marshall's, nothing fancy. Also make sure that you can lift it into an overhead bin on a plane by yourself.
A backpack, rather than a suitcase, has been useful for me during train travel. It's a lot easier to move around with your luggage.
A compact reusable shopping bag is useful for taking home trade show stuff, or packing dirty laundry/shoes separate from your clean clothes. I have a ChicoBag that folds up into a small pouch.
I usually have down time in the evening, so I use Yelp and food/travel blogs to find a nice local attraction or restaurant so that I can have some Me Time. Also useful to look for a nearby supermarket or deli so you can pick up a drink or healthy snack for your hotel room. If you want to use a separate purse or wristlet for any personal activities, be sure to pack it. I pack a book for train/plane travel and for when I go to dinner alone.
Pack an extension cord - my laptop cable is really short, and the power outlets never seem to be within reach.
Find clothes and shoes that work with multiple outfits. Scarves and jewelry can help stretch your outfits. Get some basic black flats that are comfortable for standing and walking. Keep a few Band-Aids in your purse. Deodorant can also help when your shoes are irritating your feet.
I pack more underwear and socks than I think I'll need - they don't take up much room and they're invaluable when you really need them. If you're checking your bag, keep a change of clothes in your carry-on, or at LEAST underwear (didn't someone here once sit in pee in an airplane seat?). Remember to keep your electronics, meds, and anything valuable in your carry-on at all times.
I hand out a lot of business cards and collect a ton. A blazer with deep pockets (use one pocket for your cards and one for theirs) is really useful. I have a small black cross-body bag with a couple of big outside pockets that's also useful for this. When I get a chance, I write down the date and name of the show on their cards, and maybe the topic of our conversation, so that I can remember where I met them, and I can reference that when I email them in the future. Have at least two working pens with you.
If you're traveling internationally, take a photo/scan of your passport and email it to yourself.
Yeah I think my travel is pretty different, though also substantial. For me, it requires a lot of help at home, so things like Amazon prime, MyUPS (manage deliveries for when you're there), cleaning service, etc. are critical. Also if you are staying in hotels, be loyal to one brand. Double set of chargers for sure.
Yes, I travel for work sometimes. In fact, I just got home from a business trip a couple hours ago. Thankfully I do not travel for work frequently.
My H, on the other hand, travels frequently. There was an adjustment period, but he's been traveling for years and we are all used to it now. He usually flies more than drives so I don't have any advice specific to the road warrior travel.
I think the biggest adjustment is to not think about travel days as "15 or 18 hour work days" and just think of them as days. That may sound odd typed out but it can be overwhelming at first when you look at how many hours are spent working and away from home.