If you are going on a business trip then this may mean a free holiday for you where you will get put up in a nice hotel while having the benefit of somewhere to explore in your free time. Ultimately though you will still be on company time for much of it, and that means that when you’re not doing whatever it is that you were sent to do, you should still be finding ways to be productive and do some kind of work.

So the question is, how do you make sure that your hotel will facilitate this work, and how do you make yourself able to work when it doesn’t?

Equipment

First of all you should make sure that you are bringing the right equipment with you, and specifically this should of course mean a small laptop or netbook you can work on, and anything ese you might need to do your job.

Something that can make a big difference here is to bring with you either a dongle, or a smartphone that provides internet tethering. While most hotels these days will offer you WiFi, carrying these things with you will ensure that you can access the internet even where they don’t and this will allow you to do research and answer e-mails on the train/plane as well. Bringing a spare battery can also help as this way you can keep working even when you can’t find a place to recharge.

Hotel

When you choose your hotel it makes sense to try and find somewhere that will offer WiFi, but also a good desk to work on and of course coffee making facilities in the room to keep your mind sharp. If you can get a room that’s away from any noise, and that has a good view, then this will be even better.

Meanwhile you should also try and limit the time you will waste doing other things. Look for a B&B that offers you breakfast for instance and this is time saved when you would otherwise be looking around for a place to eat. Likewise if you can find a hotel that provides good transport links then you can spend less time walking and more time working.

Another aspect to consider is how comfortable the place you’re staying is. Choosing somewhere nice isn’t just an indulgent way to waste money – if you sleep better then you’ll find you are more likely to wake up feeling recharged and able to work the next day.

Nearby Amenities

It’s also worth looking into the nearby amenities that are on offer where you’re staying. If you can find a good coffee shop to work in then this will provide you with somewhere you can operate that will be likely to have power sockets, free internet and a fairly quiet atmosphere. Other great places to work while you’re travelling include libraries, gyms and university campuses so look for these in the area when you’ve had to sign out of your hotel.

Jason Coffey loves travelling and is never in the same place for more then a week. He has travelled all around the world and has come to the conclusion that there is no place like home.