Comments on: Another city, another event, another night alone in another hotel. http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/ a blog by Meg Pickard Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:56:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Post of the Week » Blog Archive » Shortlist for week ending 3 October 2008. http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43882 Post of the Week » Blog Archive » Shortlist for week ending 3 October 2008. Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:56:05 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43882 [...] 1. meish dot org: Another city, another event, another night alone in another hotel. [...] […] 1. meish dot org: Another city, another event, another night alone in another hotel. […]

]]> By: Ariel http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43876 Ariel Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:44:15 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43876 Goodness, you've just described what makes up my daily life on the road, which is almost all year round. Do you ever unpack? I can never bring myself to. Case in point: I have been in the same place - a little cottage, not a hotel - for over 2 weeks now and just tonight decided that, perhaps, things could come out of the suitcase for a bit. Staying put is somewhat novel while hotels, airports and countless hours in the air are all routine. Unlike you however, I have lived out of a suitcase called home for the last 4 months. I still haven't got a base but have bags on two continents, three countries and six cities. Your post made me feel dizzy, understandably. Goodness, you’ve just described what makes up my daily life on the road, which is almost all year round. Do you ever unpack? I can never bring myself to. Case in point: I have been in the same place - a little cottage, not a hotel - for over 2 weeks now and just tonight decided that, perhaps, things could come out of the suitcase for a bit. Staying put is somewhat novel while hotels, airports and countless hours in the air are all routine. Unlike you however, I have lived out of a suitcase called home for the last 4 months. I still haven’t got a base but have bags on two continents, three countries and six cities. Your post made me feel dizzy, understandably.

]]> By: Adrian http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43811 Adrian Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:52:46 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43811 I normally (if the city is nice), treat myself to a nice dinner and a few cocktails. I used to take a book, now I take an iPod. Sometimes I watch people. Other than that, spot on. I find travelling with a group of friendly colleagues can be lots of fun though. Can turn a dump of a city into a fun evening. I normally (if the city is nice), treat myself to a nice dinner and a few cocktails.

I used to take a book, now I take an iPod. Sometimes I watch people.

Other than that, spot on. I find travelling with a group of friendly colleagues can be lots of fun though. Can turn a dump of a city into a fun evening.

]]> By: Vicky http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43796 Vicky Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:04:56 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43796 I feel your pain, Meg. Hotel rooms are so isolating, and however great the facilities it's not as if you can just pootle around as you would do in your own house. Some of my colleagues do overnight stays for business just rarely enough that it's a wee adventure for them - and if they're denied the opportunity, the wistfulness in their voices is palpable. Personally I'm not a fan of hotels, however plush they are, and prefer to travel home even if it means just a short time in my own place before I have to get up for work the next day. I feel your pain, Meg. Hotel rooms are so isolating, and however great the facilities it’s not as if you can just pootle around as you would do in your own house.

Some of my colleagues do overnight stays for business just rarely enough that it’s a wee adventure for them - and if they’re denied the opportunity, the wistfulness in their voices is palpable. Personally I’m not a fan of hotels, however plush they are, and prefer to travel home even if it means just a short time in my own place before I have to get up for work the next day.

]]> By: Meg http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43781 Meg Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:06:55 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43781 The trouble with the hotel bar is that if you're a woman travelling alone on business, sitting in a hotel bar nursing a drink is an invitation for a slightly drunk man in a shiny suit, possibly with bad hair, to start talking to you. In some cities, if I've arrived early enough I've gone out for a bit of a walk around the neighbourhood before dark, but it's not always possible. The trouble with the hotel bar is that if you’re a woman travelling alone on business, sitting in a hotel bar nursing a drink is an invitation for a slightly drunk man in a shiny suit, possibly with bad hair, to start talking to you.

In some cities, if I’ve arrived early enough I’ve gone out for a bit of a walk around the neighbourhood before dark, but it’s not always possible.

]]> By: Karen http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43778 Karen Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:49:11 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43778 so true -especially the trouble sleeping and setting multiple alarms. so true -especially the trouble sleeping and setting multiple alarms.

]]> By: Sameer Vasta http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43776 Sameer Vasta Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:06:16 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43776 As someone who spent 289 days traveling last year, and is on track for just over 200 this year, this post hits very close to hom.e As someone who spent 289 days traveling last year, and is on track for just over 200 this year, this post hits very close to hom.e

]]> By: Lee Bryant http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43775 Lee Bryant Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:45:41 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43775 haha - spot on! I do this a couple of times a month exactly as you described. I have to admit that a little alcohol goes a long way towards blunting the experience, but not much. I try to do less of these overnights since i have had kids - and god how I miss them in the mornings - but sometimes it is unavoidable. I have a 9am start for an EU seminar on Thursday - sigh - so I will think of you when I encounter the counterpane, so to speak. haha - spot on! I do this a couple of times a month exactly as you described. I have to admit that a little alcohol goes a long way towards blunting the experience, but not much.

I try to do less of these overnights since i have had kids - and god how I miss them in the mornings - but sometimes it is unavoidable. I have a 9am start for an EU seminar on Thursday - sigh - so I will think of you when I encounter the counterpane, so to speak.

]]> By: mike http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43773 mike Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:14:09 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43773 Oh, God. Brings it all back, this one. I always went out, though. Bar, chair, beer; mag-reading, fag-smoking, people-watching. Hotel bar, even; but only when forced by default. Hated being alone in that hotel room, as it emphasised my isolation/alienation in a way that sitting alone in a bar didn't. Oh, God. Brings it all back, this one. I always went out, though. Bar, chair, beer; mag-reading, fag-smoking, people-watching. Hotel bar, even; but only when forced by default. Hated being alone in that hotel room, as it emphasised my isolation/alienation in a way that sitting alone in a bar didn’t.

]]> By: Girl with a one track mind http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43772 Girl with a one track mind Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:11:06 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43772 Very familiar - right down to the sleep problems... Very familiar - right down to the sleep problems…

]]> By: Gordon http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43769 Gordon Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:36:29 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43769 That all sounds eerily familiar. I wonder if so many business men drink just to help themselves sleep... I wonder how many hoteliers should read your post for inspiration on improving their services. I wonder a lot, I should stop that really. That all sounds eerily familiar. I wonder if so many business men drink just to help themselves sleep…

I wonder how many hoteliers should read your post for inspiration on improving their services.

I wonder a lot, I should stop that really.

]]> By: chrislunch http://meish.org/2008/09/29/another-city-another-event-another-night-alone-in-another-hotel/#comment-43768 chrislunch Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:23:33 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2588#comment-43768 Since the girls were born I've pretty much stopped travelling apart from a trip to Vegas that I couldn't turn down. The Vegas trip was great, and I will now refuse to fly anywhere on business that isn't Vegas, as it's the only town that can actually work for you when you're bored, jet-lagged and cranky. I know this means I'll basically have to start a new career in the gambling or porn industries, but there you go. Otherwise, I do not miss business travel one iota. I breeze in and out of Paris in a day for a commute that doesn't feel any worse (or longer) than my daily Picadilly Line drudge from Bounds Green to Barons Court. I occasionally have to go to Hamburg. I turn down every single invitation to attend, sponsor, speak at or sit like a dumb-faced loon on a panel at any event or conference. My company recently initiated a travel freeze. I inwardly cheered. As a consequence, my life is immeasurably better. I sleep better. I'm not pestered by permaflu from crappy planes and conference facilities. I don't have a wallet stuffed full of receipts and a bank account that fluctuates month-to-month as Finance gets around to processing thousands of pounds owed to me. The only thing that's suffered is I'm getting through less novels. Get off the corporate travel treadmill. Say no. Since the girls were born I’ve pretty much stopped travelling apart from a trip to Vegas that I couldn’t turn down. The Vegas trip was great, and I will now refuse to fly anywhere on business that isn’t Vegas, as it’s the only town that can actually work for you when you’re bored, jet-lagged and cranky. I know this means I’ll basically have to start a new career in the gambling or porn industries, but there you go.

Otherwise, I do not miss business travel one iota.

I breeze in and out of Paris in a day for a commute that doesn’t feel any worse (or longer) than my daily Picadilly Line drudge from Bounds Green to Barons Court.

I occasionally have to go to Hamburg.

I turn down every single invitation to attend, sponsor, speak at or sit like a dumb-faced loon on a panel at any event or conference.

My company recently initiated a travel freeze. I inwardly cheered.

As a consequence, my life is immeasurably better. I sleep better. I’m not pestered by permaflu from crappy planes and conference facilities. I don’t have a wallet stuffed full of receipts and a bank account that fluctuates month-to-month as Finance gets around to processing thousands of pounds owed to me. The only thing that’s suffered is I’m getting through less novels.

Get off the corporate travel treadmill. Say no.

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