Travelling internationally with work

20LEgend

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone has ever had to travel abroad for work? I was offered a job which will involve travelling for roughly 2 weeks every month to locations in Europe (spain, italy, france etc).
How did you find the travel? Did you find it boring or interesting?

I will probably be travelling on my own but may have someone else with me from time to time.

Cheers

helimachoptor

20LEgend wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone has ever had to travel abroad for work? I was offered a job which will involve travelling for roughly 2 weeks every month to locations in Europe (spain, italy, france etc).
How did you find the travel? Did you find it boring or interesting?

I will probably be travelling on my own but may have someone else with me from time to time.

Cheers

Op, travelling with work is great. I've done quite a lot in the last year. Been to some great places and met great people. Where i work, the hotels etc are booked for us though we can usually pick if we want to. flights under 4 hours are economy but over 4 hours are business.

While I was away I didnt come home at weekends so you can explore the city where you are or even have your bf/gf/friends come over for a weekend.

And expense everything!


Op it can be boring. I spend 6 weeks in Kosovo and though the TV showed all of the latest cinema releases, I was there on my own so there wasnt much to do. Went to Spain after that and pretty much went on the beer Thursday, Friday and Saturday with some Spanish guys I was working with.

snellers

I loved the travel for first 4 or 5 months - seeing different places, albeit for short periods. (all friends and family think you are a high flyer as well which is a bonus to the ego!)

Eventually you will get bored of flying, check-in desks, delays and security procedures at airports....your mind will go numb and you will wish for less travel.

.......as for travelling on your own - I must say I found sitting in a hotel (many nice hotels) eating dinner on your own in the restaurant is a horrible, horrible experience, followed by little to do so back to your room to watch the tv....I hated it!

It was great to start with, people from the foreign offices, clients and colleagues all wanted to meet up when abroad and many a good night had - when normality kicks in and you are a regular however that's what I found difficult.

I don;t regret doing that type of travel and look very fondly back thinking how lucky I was to see lots of different places but I wouldn;t by choice want to get back into it regularly.

**just thinking the last couple of places I visited on business were Amsterdam and Madrid.....sounds nice.......but.......flight very early in the morning, taxi straight to an anonymous industrial estate, lunch at a restaurant followed by dinner at the hotel in the evening (situated outside of the main area). Worried about waking early next morning for early flight so straight to bed after dinner, taxi to airport, home......I didn;t find it much fun!

IMO all depends on the company, where they put you up to stay (whether easy to walk into tourist areas) and how long you stay......despite all of my moaning I thoroughly recommend you give it a go!!! :-)

Iago

Airport - Hotel - Conference - Office - Hotel - Restaurant - Hotel - Office - Airport

rinse and repeat.

I did a lot of international travel in my last job, and it's not as glamourous as people think. At the same time it gives you a chance to work with different people and cultures and has it's rewards. Overall I'm glad I did it but also glad I don't have to keep doing it.

jester77

Depends on the trips. I've had some good and bad ones. Nothing worse than going to a client somewhere for a week, missing your connection somewhere (happens a lot in the winter) and bags getting lost in the mixup for the whole week. You're left with the shirt on your back and whatever the airline gives you, usually a few toiletries and a t-shirt!

Saint_Mel

I've been abroad a few times with work and its a mixed bag really.
I enjoy travelling and seeing different places so that part was good. If possible I try to get travel where I have a weekend away either side of the working time there so I can do a bus tour or have a good wander about, catch a match or gig if theres something on.

Downside is when all exploring is done, and during the working week there you are stuck in a hotel room with a few channels and not much else.

If your with a group its not too bad as you can all go out for dinner etc but if your on your own a table for 1 gets less appealing every evening.

Nody

If you don't hate flying and airports now you soon will learn to abhore them in a couple of trips. 2h before to check in and go through a meaningless security checks over and over again, pay for overpriced food and drinks and then of course that lovely time spent on the airplane with recycled air. As noted by the other people you're usually flying in early in the morning, go to the site, work all day, dinner in the evening with the partners/alone/fly back, I would not count on a lot of weekend/spare time unless you're going to pay for it yourself and not all companies even allow it.

Anyone who thinks constant travelling is glamerous has not done constant travelling in the last couple of years of the latest OMGWTFBBQ terrorist era.

kaimera

Least you have nice countries

Wanna swap one for 4-8 weeks in africa starting next week?

Cant say I mind, still young so the travel isn't a problem {up to 70% of the year I can be away}. When else am I going to visit these places.

bruce wayne

Iago wrote: »

Airport - Hotel - Conference - Office - Hotel - Restaurant - Hotel - Office - Airport

rinse and repeat.

I did a lot of international travel in my last job, and it's not as glamourous as people think. At the same time it gives you a chance to work with different people and cultures and has it's rewards. Overall I'm glad I did it but also glad I don't have to keep doing it.

Completly agree, glad I did it, glad I dont have to do it so much anymore. Depending on the job, you may not get to see much of the cities you go to due to long working hours. Add that to very early flights and many wasted hours in departure lounges, and constent security checks....it will get very tiring very quickly.

Mena

I loved it. Used to spend months in the Middle East, often got to take the family along and hey, everything was at least Business Class. Can't go wrong with it.

I don't agree with the "Airport - Hotel - Conference - Office - Hotel - Restaurant - Hotel - Office - Airport" bit but then we each have different jobs.

kaimera

Wont someone think of the carbon footprint!

Woden

In the last 6 months I've started a job with some travelling though slightly different to the set ups above. We go onsite for projects of various lengths. The companies own accomdation is the places we work. London, NY, Stockholm, Singapore and you live with people from work can travel home on weekends if you want but like many of the posters above with respect to flights I've seen enough airports this year alone.

So I get to settle in and see places but also feel more at home then a hotel. I expect to be here for 6 more months or so roughly.

WRT the OP I think 2 weeks out of each month sounds like a nice balance getting to see many places without being stuck in hotels for too long. Good luck and enjoy!

MIN2511

kaimera wrote: »

Wont someone think of the carbon footprint!

Carbon footprint:rolleyes:


OP, people have different opinions about travelling with work. I for one would love to!

cronos

Do you get paid for the time you are traveling? And if so how much if you dont mind me asking?

Iago

Mena wrote: »

I don't agree with the "Airport - Hotel - Conference - Office - Hotel - Restaurant - Hotel - Office - Airport" bit but then we each have different jobs.

As you say, different jobs, different requirements. Mine involved giving training and speaking at or attending conferences so I was rarely away more than 3 days at a time. In that short period of time the scenario above pretty much covers off what my experience was.

Of course there were a couple of trips, such as one trip to Stockholm when I had 5 days in the city and that's a lot more enjoyable. At the same time it's hard to be away from your partner for a couple of nights every week, and it can put strain on a relationship.

So as I say, glad I got to do it, but equally glad I don't have to do it anymore.

snellers

personally I wasn't getting any extra money to travel - so those 4am wake up calls, tired drive to the airport to check in at 7am were all down to me - of course during working hours irrespective of whether you are on a plane, sitting in an airport lounge or actually working you get paid - in effect including the periods of travel I would be actually 'working' an 18 hour day

my company had a strict travel policy (primarily v.early flights as generally most cost effective, or alternatively after work flights - so would leave the office - taxi to airport...etc)

wasn't glamorous I can tell you!

for those with slightly longer (outside of europe) business class travellers who spent longer periods in the same place I coiuld imagine it being more agreeable - potential to bring family over for few days..etc - but for the majority of companies looking to cut costs in the current economic climate they will be using budget airlines, economy class (unless longer journeys), average hotels and expect you to do a big proportion of the travelling outside of work hours.

kaimera

cronos wrote: »

Do you get paid for the time you are traveling? And if so how much if you dont mind me asking?

basic rate for travel but it's paid door to door.

20LEgend

Thanks for the replies and opinions lads.

The travel would generally be away for a week (monday to friday), back in the office for a week then away again the following week.

What kind of expenses can you generally claim when you're away?

kaimera

Anything work related;

taxis to work places, bit & pieces you need for work etc etc, daily allowance if applicable, plane tickets if you have to change them, charge on withdrawing money on your credit card to name a few I think you should be able to expense back.

stereo_steve

I'd love to know what percentage of people here happen to work for a certain Sweedish company?! I'll put my hand up!

sunnyside

Can I ask what sort of jobs involve trips abroad? I'd love to do it for a bit.

cronos

sunnyside wrote: »

Can I ask what sort of jobs involve trips abroad? I'd love to do it for a bit.

IT consultant

20LEgend

If i get the job it will be Internal Audit that i will be working in.

irlrobins

20LEgend wrote: »

What kind of expenses can you generally claim when you're away?

Depends on your company policy but basically as soon as you step foot out of your front door, everything is charagable to your company. Within reason of course. Drinks with a meal is ok to expense. Shots in a nightclub wouldn't be.

You can also be put on a per diem, whereby you're given a fixed amount for each day you're away. Reduces the paperwork involved, and if you spend less than the per diem amount you can generally pocket the difference.

I currently work in the UK Mon to Fri, and my expenses usually consists of taxi fare to and from Airport, per diem (to cover meals), hotel accommodation, roaming charges on phone, hire car, fuel for car, car parking fees, any banking charges arising from using ATMS, etc.

I don't mind the travel, but it can be monotonous. Especially as the city I work in is a bit of a shithole. Think of Bray, without the seaside. Stay in the same hotel all the time, know all the staff names, etc.

One plus is that I get to earn hotel points and airmiles. So i can get free holidays out of it.

So the travel has its highs and lows. I guess you just gotta hope there are more highs than lows.

dudara

I'm currently working in Brussels and will be here for about the next 5-6 months. I leave Dublin on the 6.50 am flight on Monday and leave Brussels on the 9.20pm (Brussels time) flight on Friday. BTW, this flight is nearly always late leaving Brussels as it's the last flight of the day. You'll get to see too much of airports when travelling for work.

As irlrobins said, once you step out the front door everything business related is chargeable. Taxi to/from airport, (mileage if driving), meals, roaming costs etc. Depending on your companies expense policy, and your own level of expenditure, you might even be able to save a few bob.

As I'm going to be over here for a while, I asked for an apartment rather than staying in a hotel. That is also paid for by the company. Being continuously in a hotel room can get rather bleak, especially if you have to stay in a hotel that doesn't have a gym or other facilities.

Watch your diet when travelling though. Because you could possibly be on your own, it's tempting to overeat and portions are often large because it's all restaurant food.

irlrobins

dudara wrote: »

Watch your diet when travelling though. Because you could possibly be on your own, it's tempting to overeat and portions are often large because it's all restaurant food.

Have to agree, it's very easy to eat crap food while away (sometimes you have little choice) and you pile on the pounds. Getting some exercise is key, helps you unwind and sleep better I find.

snellers

an advantage of hotel would be many these days will have pool / gym for working out.....depends where you stay - if in the centre of a nice town then your workout could be walking the streets, if you are staying near the sirport however your walking options are limited!