Travel for work- what do you do in the evenings?

[Stressedgiraffe]

I need to travel for work. It's a new job only 3 months in so still finding my feet.
It homebased but with a travel element to client sites when needed.
My schedule for end of August to October means I'll be away m-f for 5 weeks at 5 different parts of England.
My company is good will pay for travel and hotel plus meal allowance but it's not great hotels premier inn/ travel lodge usually.
But what do I do in the evening? Budget is limited (dh can't work)
Should I just watch tv?
I enjoy time alone but nearly 5 weeks is going to be difficult.
Anyone got any ideas?

I belive they book hotels with dinning facilities though my last trip I ate pizza for 5 days as that was all the kitchen would cook!. I did buy fruit and snacks though. I'm not tight I just am the sole earner at home and things are tight. I'd rather money got spent at home

Take up a new hobby? Knitting, sewing, crochet etc are portable. So is learning a language. Are there box sets you’d enjoy but your family would never want to watch with you? This is your chance. Use the time to get ahead on some life admin - choose some Christmas presents and stick them in your Amazon basket; buy birthday cards for upcoming events for the rest of the year; do some meal planning. Explore some new recipes on line and build a library. Curate some Spotify playlists. Revel in having the bed to yourself. Eat lots of snacks.

Sounds just perfect

You shouldn’t be having to pay for anything yourself, though. For that sort of travel you need a company credit card, the costs are too much to ask you to shoulder yourself until your expenses claims are processed and paid.

I'd strongly recommend making it a routine to go to the hotel restaurant for dinner - or if you don't like it/there isn't one - go to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

If that kind of thing bothers you take a book or a tablet.

It gets you out of the room and you quickly become used to it. It's much much better than getting into a room servcie rhythm - your room stinks of food and you end up feeling like a pig that's sleeping where it is eating.

This sounds a bit of a crap deal. Are they putting you in hotels out of town to save money? At least if you were in a town/city centre you'd be able to find things to do.

Have some films and box sets to netflix your way through.
Sign up for an online course maybe.
Have a box of craft materials if you craft.

That sounds crap, I hope they are laying taxis to and from town so you can go out and site see. Cinema, galleries etc. in a business park there is unlikely to be any entertainment or anywhere to get proper food. I would refuse I think.b

I think thrtecis a cost saving but also trying to enable us to walk there rather than paying for a taxi to work from central places.
Might take up knitting , cross stich.

I did this for a new role a long time ago: 7 weeks in a remote hotel and I don't drive due to an eye condition. I gave myself a set of projects: learning things, walking at the local nature reserve, books and films. It passed, albeit slowly, and it was worth going home on Friday and coming back on Sunday to get a fix of real life again.

I'd also research the locations to see what might be nearby. It may be that a taxi would take you somewhere for a meander one night of the week. For example, Exeter has the Quayside, cathedral, the house that moved, Moll's coffee house etc.

I am away regularly for long periods of time on these exact type of conditions, except that I don’t even get an evening meal most of the time (although I do get a higher meal allowance usually).

Mine are never structured, but if I were away Sunday-Thursday nights, I’d create a bit of a routine.

Sunday - long trip there so just chill in room with TV.
Monday - long walk / gym / swim if facilities nearby.
Tuesday - research public transport from business park to city centre and get yourself into town for a walk or to eat somewhere cheap - street food?
Wednesday - “social” outing - get yourself on the internet and find a cheap show, last-minute discounted tickets to an exhibition or museum, free attractions (London for example will have so many options) £10 cinema ticket? I get saving but you also need to live a bit even when going away - maybe not every week but do it a couple of times.
Thursday - TV night in again in preparation for the trip back home.

If your social batteries get drained mid-week, swap and do the most demanding activity on Monday, and keep the walk or exercise for Wednesday.

Are you there on your own or with colleagues? My work trips are often in a group of 60-70 people, internationally, so lots of hours spent with them on trains, planes, and then at the work setting itself. So when the evening comes I usually really look forward to having a bit of time on my own - but when I do travel in a smaller group or on my own, I try to connect with local colleagues for one or two days a week in the city/cities I’m at.

PS to add - unless you must know everything weeks in advance, just play it by ear. Use the train ride on Sunday night to research all the above - public transport, activities, etc.

I'll be on my own. I'm a consultant so no work meals/drinks.
I'll look at events going on as well.

I love a premier inn! Air conditioned, very comfy beds, put your feet up! You could go for a walk or run- I usually do when away for work. Long bath. Read. Relax!

To be honest in your case I would read or watch tv, but when I travel for work, I usually book a hotel that has a swimming pool and spa so I can use that.

I love a Premier Inn too. And just chilling. For a night or two. All week, every week for five weeks is just a bit... grim. Especially with the choice of frozen UPF or frozen UPF from their restaurant.

Watch tv, have snacky snacks and generally lie down a lot after daily excercise. It's called "mum is on a work trip but slobs in the evening,"

Geocaching on a warm evening. Doesn't cost anything and you will likely find something within a short distance even on a business park.

Just ordered a cross stich kit.
Will have a look at audible and kindle for some new stuff too.

I travel a lot for work.

Theatre or cinema if I fancy going out.

PJs, face mask, foot mask and Netflix on my laptop if I want a night in the hotel.

Look at Holiday Inns and Crowne Plazas. They are sometimes in the same price bracket as Premier Inns and most have gyms and some have swimming pools.

when I was travelling regularly for work the days were pretty intense so I just went to the hotel after dinner (often part of the work committment). either go for a run/swim/gym depending on hotel facilities. but I slso sometimes went to a chain gym.
and if course tv/mn.
and enjoying a WHOLE bed fir myself.

Podcasts.

I’m not creative but good that you’ve ordered a cross stitch kit (try The Works they have lots at great prices).

Suduko/Crosswords/puzzles?

Jigsaws?

Work longer days, go for a run or walk, went to the local swimming baths some evenings, did some holiday shopping at the retail park, try and book a hotel with a gym or if I’m somewhere for a while I’ve joined the nearest pure gym, have dinner, wash hair and early night. Years ago I also used hotel stays to write up my professional chartership application.

You might also want to check exactly what expenses are reasonable for you to claim whilst away. Work shouldn't be funding a whole new social life for you - but whilst away on work business you can't (reasonably) access some of the arrangements you have set up at home.
So that might mean taxis into town of an evening if they're choosing to pick a hotel out of town. Or single packs of fruit / snacks / juice - if its not practical to bulk-buy & haul it all on the train. And definitely meals - if too late for the first booking, get later ones changed to B&B only, so you can pick where you eat (plus the taxi) - and sometimes that might be snacky food in your room, or a meal out. Check what you can reclaim for food - is it a set "allowance" per day / max amount per day or trip / actuals with receipt.