Trip Reports - Don't you guys get tired?

Since I found this website a month ago, I'm amazed at the number of frequent travellers. I'm young and single still, and have been a road warrior for half a decade. Every year I keep swearing that this is the last year I'm doing this. This year may very well be my last as a road warrior, as I'm planning to marry soon.

I haven't seen too many posts or reflections on "is this travel worth it"... especially from those who have kids and spouses.

I fly about once or twice a week, and I never know where I'm gonna be 2 to 3 weeks out. I pay an arm and a leg to have a gardener do my yard, which I would dearly love to work on myself I was home more often. My brand new fridge is constantly empty or have food getting stale. I try to go to the gym to work out on a consistent basis, but I never get to work out as often as I like.

Besides the increased aggravation and hassle in travel post 9/11, my travel life style affects me physically and mentally. I can't remember what it's like to have a normal work lifestyle where one goes to work and sleeps at home every night. I am constantly sleep deprived as I always stay up late the night before a flight so I can pay all the bills, back up files, and do chores before the morning flight. I keep forgetting what it's like to drive my cars, and it's always a treat to drive my own car versus a rental, no matter how nice the rental is.

For example, I just returned from a trip late Sunday night, and I'm packing again tonight to fly out tomorrow morning at 6am. I am constantly doing a "is this worth it" analysis, but the only thing that is preventing me from changing is that I love what I do, except for the travel.

Does anyone else have a "mid-life travel crisis" experiences??? Or a benefits vs. cons analysis?



[This message has been edited by UALOneKPlus (edited 10-01-2002).]

In my first year at this software company, I was responsible for training and creating partners all over Europe. I was a one man security team. My life was like one of the old BMI adverts, on the cell phone organizing a ticket to FRA and i need a hotel in Vienna tonight. I remember getting a flight to Paris and not buying a return ticket becaus I jnew I would be doing 3 other countries that week, but not knowing which. At the time I loved it, a different city every day. Then there was the socail side as well. I maintained quite a thick little black book. Then my role expanded and I took over Isreal, Middle East and Africa. Then I took responsibility for training the technical teams worldwide. Fr 2 years I loved the job. Then I was in the Hilton at Sandton, JNB. I had friends in the area, but they had gone to Zanine. I spent that night dining alone in the hotel. I couldnt go anywhere because I did not know anywhere, and JNB is not somewhere you ecxplore. That was the loniliest place in the world. I then realised I missed my friends. I had been so happy working (I had a great job) and the travel filled in the holes in my life. It also provided excuses for not commiting to relationships, that with hindsight I should have. Soon after, I slowed down. I gave others the opportunity to travel, by coming to me. I spent that summer with my freinds at the slug and lettuce on the banks of the thames in Richmond. It was a blast. That december I was promotoed and took on the global product management position. I tried to maintain my life. I was commuting to NYC. I would catch the morning flight JFk arriving in time to do meetings in LI by 2.00 then I wold catch the 21.00 flight home. I dod this for months, trying to keep those summer friendships alive. I spent a forune having girls I knew fly out to NYC for the weekend. In the end September 11 put pay to everythig. I ended up staying in the US for 7 weeks, and then did not return until Febuary. My work suffered as I was workiing NYC time but fro Manchester. I did not see daylight for ages because i still had commitments to the EU staff. i would work from 07.30 till 21.00 every day. In the end, my work became crap, and I resigned. I have been looking for the same kind of role, but have filled in the gaps with some contracting and training. I have also had a great time socially, and I am a whole lot better as a person. The trick is finding balance. I dont miss the flights, but i di miss the people I was working with. We were a very dynamic team, and there is nothing like working with inteligent, like minded individuals to stimulate and raise levels.

cest la vie

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jongar:
In my first year at this software company, I was responsible for training and creating partners all over Europe. </font>

I work in this same career area. The high tech training group that I work for is going belly up any day now due to the continuing high-tech meltdown. Can I have your old job? My email is in my profile.

That's a good question. I travel like crazy, but usually to places I'd want to visit. Many times, I'll rope friends and family to come along. My wife joins me often also, if the locale is good enough (e.g. Rio, South Africa, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, London).

Been lucky not to do the Monday-Friday Detroit-Milwaukee, Dallas, Oakland circuit like some of my colleagues. So, I don't mind, since I actually can't really sit still for long anyway.

I easy now find (FlyerTalk-) friends at places I travel to - no loneliness/being bored problems even in remote places.

I love this board and the friendships that it helped to create (still growing).

Rudi you obviously do not travel to exciting places like Harrisburg, Pennsylvania or South Bend, Indiana.

10 years ago I used to spend 1 week a month flying and renting cars. It was Ok once in a while but boring and exhausting. Lots of miles but it was not worth it for me. On Fridays when I got home I would collapse.

Gee whiz I had to comment here. Business travel appears to outsiders as glamorous, after all you are part of the jet set, right?

You described exactly what I have experienced, while it can be fun and I am still amazed at air travel, it does kill most all other aspects of your life however I will say it makes you appreciate what you do have especially when it is missing in your daily routine. I think it also makes us extremely focused people, very anal retentive, and type A people beyond imagination.

I must say though that when it ends...I felt a bit lost and out of sorts for a while as I was re-gaining what I had given up...and I became somewhat secluded since I had the chance to stay home that is all I wanted to do, so I became a homebody...kinda making up for lost time.

It is all about choice? Do the right thing because there are those precious life moments that cannot be recaptured, yet enjoy what you can now and balance it as best you can.

UALOneKPlus Great post. There is a divide on this board, rarely discussed, between those who travel for business and those who travel for leisure. When I first started posting, it seemed most of the board were heavy business travellers but in the past couple of years, the pendulum seems to have swung towards the leisure traveller set.

I was a road warrior for 7 years. I experienced many of the same things you decsribe. The person who speaks of Harrisburg and South Bend knows of what he speaks. But as Rudi put it, having a community of people to see through FlyerTalk helped a lot. I got to know people in most every city I visited, and the quality of life on the road improved greatly. Just going out to dinner once a week with some friendly folks was great!

If you really hate the travel, try to get away from it, but if you see it as a mixed blessing at all, and can get to know some of the people here on the board, your life on the road might improve greatly.

By the way, I stopped all business travel about a year ago. I don't miss it at all. I have moved into the ranks of the leisure travellers, and have to say it's a lot more fun to go to places like Chicago for the weekend than fighting it out for upgrades on the Monday 7 AM consult-a-737.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">For example, I just returned from a trip late Sunday night, and I'm packing again tonight to fly out tomorrow morning at 6am. I am constantly doing a "is this worth it" analysis, but the only thing that is preventing me from changing is that I love what I do, except for the travel.</font>

Do you ever say "no" to your management? Given the amount that you travel, you ought to be able to set down some boundaries to make life at least tolerable. I would find such conditions as you describe ablove unacceptable.


[This message has been edited by dgolds (edited 10-01-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dgolds:
UALOneKPlus If you really hate the travel, try to get away from it, but if you see it as a mixed blessing at all, and can get to know some of the people here on the board, your life on the road might improve greatly.

By the way, I stopped all business travel about a year ago. I don't miss it at all. I have moved into the ranks of the leisure travellers, and have to say it's a lot more fun to go to places like Chicago for the weekend than fighting it out for upgrades on the Monday 7 AM consult-a-737.

Do you ever say "no" to your management? Given the amount that you travel, you ought to be able to set down some boundaries to make life at least tolerable. I would find such conditions as you describe ablove unacceptable.

[This message has been edited by dgolds (edited 10-01-2002).]</font>


Thanks for your thoughtful feedback. I don't mind travelling when I'm on the road, but when I'm home it's really hard to get motivated to pack up and head to the airport again. I think once I quit I will not miss travelling one bit, except for the infrequent pleasure trip.

I have pushed back on many travel requests, vieying instead for telephone conference calls and web meetins. However, there are some meetings that must be conducted in person, so I can't really say no without hurting business.

In addition, I love my work and my co-workers, so sometimes I just have to put up with the travel to keep doing what I love. The compensation is very good too, since I'm very good at what I do, so it's hard to just say "no" to good opportunities at the moment.

Thanks again for all the feedback. It's been good to bounce this off you guys.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
I haven't seen too many posts or reflections on "is this travel worth it"... especially from those who have kids and spouses.</font>


Good observation.

It took a huge toll on my marriage. When my wife married me, we traveled only to WI. Then my life on the road began, she did not cope well at all w/me being gone for 5 days a week. I would try to get her out to wherever I was traveling to that week for the weekend. We saw quite a bit of this country on the company's dime.

I have started my own company now and do not travel hardly at all. Our marriage is now much better than when I traveled. I could not even imagine doing the traveling I did if we had kids. We still travel quite a bit for leisure, but the key word is WE.

But if I had not started my own company, I still would be traveling as it was a job I loved and it paid the bills. Life would go on.

We are now at 18+ years of frequent business of our choice travel - 150 nights a year on the road may not seem like so much to some, but we did that for more than 15 years running. Now we're down to something like a bit over 100 nights. Or we were. I'm not too sure about this year, we may be creeping back up.

Yes, it gets OLD. And it's the transitions that get harder and harder. I'm glad to see someone else express that concept, because it's been my bugbear forever.

Once I'm in motion, as it were, I can just keep travelling - cool, where are we going next? Oh, shoot, let's detour that way and stay an extra night on the road... I really do that, or did that when we drove more on business. And three days after we're home from a business trip, I'm scanning for cheap (upgradeable) fares for an overnight run somewhere. But once I'm home for more than a few days, I want dynamite to pry me loose. There's my sweet cats, and my neglected garden and my own beds...

For us, for every trip to Australia or Europe or Hawaii (of course we get to work at least 7/8ths of the time anyway wherever we go), there were 10 trips to Dayton or Indianapolis (and, to be fair, 20 to somewhat more interesting US places, but no more free time to spend of course) - and it used to be lots and lots of nights in places en route to somewhere else, like Arkadelphia, AR. Now at least we're a bit pickier about our destinations, and usually fly, which makes our nights on the road a bit different.

But I guess the main point here is in the pronouns: I don't have royal fantasies - I say "we" because my husband and I travel together about 98% of the time. Although I can imagine relationships which work with huge amounts of separation, that would never have worked for me. I have met some FTers who do make those sorts of r'ships work, and have a Lot of respect for them, but I also suspect that for every one of those relationships that works, several others eventually fail - or as Willie said, change to less travel.

Best wishes whatever you do - but watch the sleep deprivation.

My travelling is 2 or 3 days a week. I have a family that I miss when I am away. Here is what I do:

Since I moved to the East Coast of USA, I make most trips into day trips. I try to go and come back in a day rather than spend overnight. I live in a UAL hub city so that is not usually that hard.

I also get home for weekends. Even if I have to take a redeye I will do that.

I have done some very short pleasure trips on my own, including a SIN run but mostly it's business.

My family and I have done some wonderful trips also, including Oaxaca Mexico, London and Amsterdam, and Los Angeles, in the last year. We benefit from using my upgrade certs, miles and status to avoid lines and smooth the travel experience.

I could not imagine having a real job.

But if I had one, I would not want a job that was a 4 or 5 day commute every week. That would be awful and I wouldn't do it.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
Since I found this website a month ago, I'm amazed at the number of frequent travellers. I'm young and single still, and have been a road warrior for half a decade. Every year I keep swearing that this is the last year I'm doing this. This year may very well be my last as a road warrior, as I'm planning to marry soon.

I haven't seen too many posts or reflections on "is this travel worth it"... especially from those who have kids and spouses.

I fly about once or twice a week, and I never know where I'm gonna be 2 to 3 weeks out. I pay an arm and a leg to have a gardener do my yard, which I would dearly love to work on myself I was home more often. My brand new fridge is constantly empty or have food getting stale. I try to go to the gym to work out on a consistent basis, but I never get to work out as often as I like.

Besides the increased aggravation and hassle in travel post 9/11, my travel life style affects me physically and mentally. I can't remember what it's like to have a normal work lifestyle where one goes to work and sleeps at home every night. I am constantly sleep deprived as I always stay up late the night before a flight so I can pay all the bills, back up files, and do chores before the morning flight. I keep forgetting what it's like to drive my cars, and it's always a treat to drive my own car versus a rental, no matter how nice the rental is.

For example, I just returned from a trip late Sunday night, and I'm packing again tonight to fly out tomorrow morning at 6am. I am constantly doing a "is this worth it" analysis, but the only thing that is preventing me from changing is that I love what I do, except for the travel.

Does anyone else have a "mid-life travel crisis" experiences??? Or a benefits vs. cons analysis?

[This message has been edited by UALOneKPlus (edited 10-01-2002).]</font>

If you're going to get married and have kids you have to find another position. Lots of people will try and tell you that it can all be balanced, but it can't. You take on that responsibility you need to be home every night. Once-a-month travel, fine. Every week, no. You already know this.

When I worked for UA a few years back, they used to send me to WHQ on "semi-same-day trips"

This is where they would have me go on the last flight SFO-ORD in the evening, get to ORD early in the morning, do a meeting all day and fly back to SFO later that day.

I did this every two weeks for three years.....I was not happy. I felt so tired and groggy by the time I got home. (Although I flew FC most of the time since I was a Positive Space Employee, what can I say? A plane is a plane is a plane....no matter which cabin I'm in, I'd rather be at home in my bed.)

After I graduated from college, I left UA and now work for an Aviation Company. I travel once in a while, but most of my travel now is for liesure. (I see my trips as a way to get away from the stress of work and school.)

When I travelled for work, I just saw travelling as a necessary evil. I love planes, don't get me wrong, but the same thing every week is a bit tiring.

Now, with my present job, I'm thankful that I have a regular 9-5 schedule. I can go to the gym or school after work and spend time with friends and family. I no longer have a couple hour commute that entails going through security, possible air delays, and dealing with the airport traffic.

That's why I'm impressed by all the really frequent fliers on this board. I don't think I'll be able to fly as much for work as they're doing....


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SFnFlaGuy

UALOneKPlus,

This is a great topic. I travel moderately for business (150 nights away, usu. a week each trip). The destinations range from DAY to NYC to LHR (2-4-1). But they are all the same after awhile - 'not home'. I used to work from a 'regional' office in YYZ and I went in everyday I wasn't on the road and then I relocated for the same setup but in SLC. (my wife stayed in YYZ for the year I was in SLC and I only had 4 company tickets for family visits) I love my work and my clients and most of my team is pretty good. I was getting burned out from the travel and being away from my wife. So I put in to move back to YYZ. So now I travel the same amount if not slightly more. The rest of time I work from a home office in YYZ so it makes it worth while. My hours are still crazy as I work with clients in UK to SFO so my day is on from 5am to 6pm (I am still looking for ones in HKG or SIN so I can fly out). But I can run out at 'lunch' for groceries or at 6pm and have dinner ready for my wife. I do my laundry for the next trip while I am working on a contract. Life is better but she still misses me for half the year but the trips away and soon more upgrades make it worthwhile. What helps is in the trade show business there is a seasonality so July/Aug/Sept and Jan/Feb are pretty quiet compared to my on months.

When I first met my wife I was already travelling (90 days only) and she knew it was part of my career choice at the time and she accepted it (and still does). But then again I would give it up if she asked. The travel has ended up being worth it for us (the job can be rough at times). I'll get back to y'all when we have kids but I think I'll be home more.

I have a colleague who used to be a business consultant with one of the big six firms accouting (or whatever the number is down to) and quit the rat race, came and worked for my company. He did 175K every year (3 years) and covered the continents (but not the poles). Reading your description matched my talks with him.

WAS: 2 weekends at home in a month were good...overdue bills...towed cars...partied in Rio...street vendors in SIN...$10 TAG ripoff in BKK...

NOW: 2-3 weeks at home in a month is good...bills paid...car still there as of 2 weeks ago...impromptu BBQ with mates on Wednesday nights...less money...far fewer exotic expreiences...

I know this answer is non-commital but it's all got to match your goals in life. I sat thru 4 years of economics in school and the most important thing I learned is I can choose where I want to be curve of life.

Cheers.

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UA-PremEx (Soon to be 1K), DL-Gold, HH Gold

Sometimes all you can do is grab your carry-on and run!

My colleagues at work cannot understand how much I travel, as they don't travel that much. Sometimes they do for a brief period, like 4-5 weeks, but they are never consistently gone 11-12 days/month like I am.

I have seven simple rules that keep me sane, and that everybody I work with/for understands:

1. No travel scheduled less than 14 days in advance unless it is a true client emergency or a sudden bid interview for a proposal. Each of those happen about twice a year; by comparison, over half my travel is scheduled or at least penciled in on my calendar 21-28 days in advance.

2. My choice of airline. Always.

3. Only one hotel per week, except if I get in late and stay at an airport hotel the first night and then switch hotels the next day to one more convenient to the client site. Or if I'm doing a hotel run... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

4. Standard trip is Monday pm to either Wed/Thur pm. Fri or Sun travel only when it suits my purposes. Never ever ever Saturday travel for work.

5. No flights before 7am. I find that getting up at 3:30am to start a trip is a real killer to productivity by Day 3, and the stress of a cancelled/delayed flight isn't worth it either.

6. No iffy hotels like Quality, Super 8, Best Western etc. Hilton family first, then whatever Priceline spits out at 3*.

7. When travelling alone, try to not eat dinner out at least once/trip. Either bring food back to the room, order room service, something. At my favorite BOS hotel (DT Guest Suites), there is a Whole Foods Market about two blocks away and it's great.

[This message has been edited by ElmhurstNick (edited 10-25-2002).]

Great Thread! Most of my travel is for fun and pleasure with a little business travel thrown in. I wish that it was the other way around but I am happy with what I can get!

Interesting thread. I'm the opposite of the original poster in that I'm not overly fond of my job, but it's the travel that keeps me here. My trips are usually 2-4 weeks (working 10hrs per day, 6/7 days per week), and then I'm home (not working) for 1-3 weeks. Plenty of time to extend a stay if I'm in a place I like, or come home and take an award trip somewhere else. I average over 200 nights per year in hotels-alone, and have been happily married for 23 years. It CAN work. I would be miserable in an 8 to 5 job, week in/week out with no travel, even at twice what I make.

I agree it would be tough doing repetitive domestic segments every week or so....

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by onedog:
I work in this same career area. The high tech training group that I work for is going belly up any day now due to the continuing high-tech meltdown. Can I have your old job? My email is in my profile.
</font>

Exactly my sentiments. I've worked in software for many years. I enjoyed the domestic travel but never had a single overseas trip out of it. I'll bet that it would wear thin after a long time but I'd love the chance to travel for work for a few years instead of having to do all my travelling on my time and with my money.

Several years ago, I left my job in consulting because I was travelling too much. I didn't feel like I had an opportunity to be home and make friends and form relationships. In my first year, I was home a TOTAL of 17 days.

I moved to a new city, took a 9-5 (well, 8-7) office job, with the desk, the commute, the boss over the shoulder, all that jazz. And no travel.

After two years, although the job was okay, I really missed the travel. I tried to sneak in a trip for training or other purposes here and there, but I really, really missed hopping on planes and visiting places, even if just for work. So I took a new job.

Now I'm in a job where I travel about 125 nights a year. Most of my trips are one or two days in any given city, so there is a lot of hopping from city to city in a given week. There is the occasional international trip, but it's mostly domestic.

I do love my job, and I do love travelling. Do I think this had something to do with the breakup of my marriage? Absolutely. No question whatsoever. But to be honest, I'm not happy if I'm not travelling to some extent, so if that part can't be worked out, it's not right for me anyway. But for others out there, I include that note just as something to think about - heavy travel can impact your relationships severly. On the other hand, it makes some people very, very happy. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Great discussion - good to hear the thoughts of fellow road warriors. I've been traveling internationally with this company for 5 years now (usually 150K to 175K a year) - I have to say that I love it. I'm just coming on 15 days back home in the office and I'm so happy to be stepping on plane Wednesday at 6:15am. Sure those SEA-IAH-BOG-LIM-IAH-SEA in 3 days get a little old, but for the most part I'm very happy doing what I do and seeing the world.

What I do have problems with is relationships - not to get too personal, but I'm 31, attractive, educated, etc etc (not very humble :-) I guess - and I frequently meet fellow atrractive, educated, worldly women - who in general are very attracted to my lifestyle - ohhhh, but then a couple of months later - "but your never around" - "I need to be with someone who is here more" and so I plug along.....

It is a position, certainly. I don't want to stop traveling - and do so for work and pleasure (Thailand/Laos for New Years). I love collecting miles, upgrading friends and family, etc....but how does it certainly seems that it makes it harder to find compatible relations - I least I can always come home and read flyertalk!