as someone who travels a lot for work i am curious the opinions of others... When dining alone, do you roll solo at a table or prefer the bar?
(and yes this topic was conceived out of boredom)
I don't eat... just drink at the bar. ;)
Depends on whether you're in the mood to pick up chicks. Generally, you'll find ZFB in the corner with Rosie Palm and her 5 friends.
Pardon the tangent, but as a high school teacher who has never traveled for work, I've always wondered whether or not it is enjoyable.
On one hand, I assume you have some sort of per diem and get a decent meal and a few drinks out of the trip, right? (Again, without ever being on a business trip), I'd think that even if you work close to the entire time, you still get to drive around a different city and check out at least some sites, which sounds at least a little interesting.
Of course, I can also imagine the pain of airports, car rentals and hotel check-ins. Plus, whenever I have to have meetings about work instead of actually doing work (i.e., institute days instead of teaching) I'm rarely in a good mood.
So not to hijack your thread, but are business trips enjoyable, or not?
Quote from: Pepperoni_Cannoli on September 03, 2010, 10:52:18 PM
Pardon the tangent, but as a high school teacher who has never traveled for work, I've always wondered whether or not it is enjoyable.
On one hand, I assume you have some sort of per diem and get a decent meal and a few drinks out of the trip, right? (Again, without ever being on a business trip), I'd think that even if you work close to the entire time, you still get to drive around a different city and check out at least some sites, which sounds at least a little interesting.
Of course, I can also imagine the pain of airports, car rentals and hotel check-ins. Plus, whenever I have to have meetings about work instead of actually doing work (i.e., institute days instead of teaching) I'm rarely in a good mood.
So not to hijack your thread, but are business trips enjoyable, or not?
Different strokes for different folks.
If you're in your early 20s and single, they can be fun. After several years, it can be wearing and upsetting, especially if you have other things in your life outside of the job that is requiring the travel.
Eating at the finest restaurants throughout the country and/or world is fun for a minute... as are hitting different concert and sporting venues... but after awhile, you may start to cherish a quiet night at home.
If alone, I think spreading out work on a huge table while taking your time with dinner is the best bet.. but if you're feeling frisky, or trying to watch a game then you belly up to the bar to eat.
I do not believe 4everwarriors claim that ZFG is generally in the corner of a restaurant. First, fast food workers rarely travel and if he did, I would expect him to be checking under the mattress, and checking with the front desk - 'if I order Hot Babes In Lust, how will that show up on the bill?'. Definitely seems like a Taco Bell value menu + in house 'movie' type of guy.
Word to the Cranberry Suites in Tomah.
Bar.
Bar but I usually go to places that let me get take out. nothing like taking Chinese food back to the hotel room when I'm on the road
I travel for about a week at a time, four or five times a year. Generally I go to larger areas like San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, etc. I hate the plane travel, but once I am on the ground there I am pretty busy and I enjoy my work. By about day four I want to be home.
If I do not have a dinner appointment, I always eat at the bar. At least I can watch television.
One problem is that when I am on the road I eat like sh*t and don't excercise enough...or at all really. (Hotel excercise rooms suck.)
You just need to spring for a nicer hotel. Exercise facilities at the Peninsula or Four Seasons are pretty decent.
Like most things, the first time around it is fun to travel for your work. After year 1, and having seen most cities - for me it was a beating..the airports, rental cars, packing. Additionally, because it is business travel, you generally spend most of your time conducting business and need to be sharp..so you can't really go out and enjoy the nightlife. Additionally, there just isn't a whole lot of time to sightsee. So, my take..travel for leisure and not business. I've had plenty of dinners alone, and for whatever reason..eating alone at dinner feels a lot worse than going to lunch by yourself.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on September 04, 2010, 02:33:20 PM
You just need to spring for a nicer hotel. Exercise facilities at the Peninsula or Four Seasons are pretty decent.
Heh...yeah that would be nice. I basically stay at Courtyards though. Decent beds...good locations...and I have enough Marriott points to last a lifetime.
I'm a Hilton Hore:free breakfast and I look for a nice place with a bar to eat supper
Quote from: Pepperoni_Cannoli on September 03, 2010, 10:52:18 PM
Pardon the tangent, but as a high school teacher who has never traveled for work, I've always wondered whether or not it is enjoyable.
On one hand, I assume you have some sort of per diem and get a decent meal and a few drinks out of the trip, right? (Again, without ever being on a business trip), I'd think that even if you work close to the entire time, you still get to drive around a different city and check out at least some sites, which sounds at least a little interesting.
Of course, I can also imagine the pain of airports, car rentals and hotel check-ins. Plus, whenever I have to have meetings about work instead of actually doing work (i.e., institute days instead of teaching) I'm rarely in a good mood.
So not to hijack your thread, but are business trips enjoyable, or not?
I find them enjoyable as long as there aren't too many of them. If I travel alone, I will usually make a point of having dinner with a client in the city I'm in. If I'm going to eat alone, I'll just do room service....happily married, not interested in picking up the chicks.
I'm a Marriott guy so I rack those points up which is always a good thing, too.
As a single educator, eating dinner alone means eating in my classroom while correcting or waiting for the nightly School Site Council or PTA meeting! lol
I usually sit at the bar, and not to scam on chicks. Just feels less awkward. (to answer my own question.) i am new to the travel for work game, and mine will be all road travel. What is the best chain for hotel rewards? Marriott, hilton, hyatt, holiday inn? And i never thought of room service as a way to add more points, thanks.
Quote from: MU B2002 on September 05, 2010, 04:21:50 PM
I usually sit at the bar, and not to scam on chicks. Just feels less awkward. (to answer my own question.) i am new to the travel for work game, and mine will be all road travel. What is the best chain for hotel rewards? Marriott, hilton, hyatt, holiday inn? And i never thought of room service as a way to add more points, thanks.
I am a Marriott guy, but whichever one you pick, the key is to get their affinity credit card (I have a Marriott Rewards Visa). Every dollar you spend on anything is a point. Any dollar you spend on anything at a Marriott is three (or maybe 5) points. I travel for about three weeks every quarter and all my business (and personal for that matter) expenses go on this card. It really accumulates fast. I have about 250,000 points built up and it's only taken about 2 years. That's enough points for a week at their top tier hotels/resorts.
i see how that would work, but i have a work card and it is frowned upon to use your own and bill company back. Probably because us bank gives them 60 or 90 terms and if they owe me cash they have to issue payment right away. Oh well. I think i am going to try marriott, and hilton if needed.
Quote from: MU B2002 on September 05, 2010, 06:34:57 PM
i see how that would work, but i have a work card and it is frowned upon to use your own and bill company back. Probably because us bank gives them 60 or 90 terms and if they owe me cash they have to issue payment right away. Oh well. I think i am going to try marriott, and hilton if needed.
Yeah, I'm lucky that I don't have use a corporate card.
bar
Quote from: MU B2002 on September 05, 2010, 04:21:50 PM
I usually sit at the bar, and not to scam on chicks. Just feels less awkward. (to answer my own question.) i am new to the travel for work game, and mine will be all road travel. What is the best chain for hotel rewards? Marriott, hilton, hyatt, holiday inn? And i never thought of room service as a way to add more points, thanks.
Hey Buddy,
Welcome to the road...I've used Hilton for awhile but have moved back to Marriott just because the corporate rates were better and I was getting sick of Hilton nickel and diming me for toothpaste or shaving cream.
I think Southwest flies out of JAX but I'm also a delta guy...
To the question about travel. I actually enjoy getting out of the office for a few days and always take a travel day so the week goes by quicker. It's not too bad but it can be draining if I'm out for more than 5-6 consecutive days.
thanks army. Let me know next time you will be down recruiting in FL somewhere. I will adjust my travel schedule accordingly.
Quote from: MU B2002 on September 05, 2010, 07:16:55 PM
thanks army. Let me know next time you will be down recruiting in FL somewhere. I will adjust my travel schedule accordingly.
I'll be in Tallahassee on September 29th.
I'll probably be down in either JAX or Miami sometime during the 3rd week of October. I'll let you know for sure
Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on September 05, 2010, 05:59:21 PM
I am a Marriott guy, but whichever one you pick, the key is to get their affinity credit card (I have a Marriott Rewards Visa). Every dollar you spend on anything is a point. Any dollar you spend on anything at a Marriott is three (or maybe 5) points. I travel for about three weeks every quarter and all my business (and personal for that matter) expenses go on this card. It really accumulates fast. I have about 250,000 points built up and it's only taken about 2 years. That's enough points for a week at their top tier hotels/resorts.
+1. I have the Marriott Visa as well and put all business and major personal stuff on it. I haven't had to pay for the personal use of a hotel room in about ten years.
I always decide to bely up at the bar...usually though i am going to be watching whatever sporting event they put on. I usually get lucky and get quicker service this way.
4never can give you tips on hourly motels with vibrating beds. Especially if you one have a per diem of $25 total. PM him for details.
Quote from: MU B2002 on September 03, 2010, 09:37:23 PM
as someone who travels a lot for work i am curious the opinions of others... When dining alone, do you roll solo at a table or prefer the bar?
(and yes this topic was conceived out of boredom)
Depends onthe restaraunt I want to go too. Some don't serve dinner in the bar, so that means a table..... Scola's in San Fran was that way, so I had to have a table to myself.
Quote from: MU B2002 on September 03, 2010, 09:37:23 PM
as someone who travels a lot for work i am curious the opinions of others... When dining alone, do you roll solo at a table or prefer the bar?
if you do eat alone at a table try it like Steve Martin's character in 'The Lonely Guy', take out a notebook so they think you are a restaurant critic and will get fawned over all night
When I first started traveling, I used to be a room service only guy but I've learned that, for me, bellying up to the bar is the best way to go. I really enjoy the work I do, but evenings can be tough because I just want the time to pass as quickly as possible so I can go back home to my family. Staying in my room, staring at the clock makes me a little stir crazy so getting out helps pass the time.
As others have said, I've also found that bartenders are more attentive than the wait staff and will often strike up a conversation with you which helps pass the time. Be warned though, not all bartenders are interesting to talk to. That's why I usually bring something work-related with me and occasionally have to study it closely in order to look busy and avoid a bad conversation with a stranger. Yes, that's juvenile, but it's effective.
Also, the first time you eat dinner alone you'll probably feel awkward and like people are looking at you funny, but it's all in your head. No one really cares.
Good luck!
I spent over 5 years in international sales 6 week around the world then one to two weeks in the office. Weekdays working with clients and entertaining and weekends on my own. I cannot think of a better way to see the world than on the company dime. Would highly recommend it to all gives an entirely different perspective on how lucky all of us are to live in the US.
Most of my time was spent in Asia and the Middle East but I usually hopped to a European city for the weekend when in the Middle East.
Always eat in the bar you meet the best people there and hear the best stories.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on September 07, 2010, 09:07:06 AM
Also, the first time you eat dinner alone you'll probably feel awkward and like people are looking at you funny, but it's all in your head. No one really cares.
EXACTLY! Well said.
I always look at people eating by themselves funny. Then I wonder why they don't have any friends.