Solo work travel advice

[FeelingTheFearToday]

Hi everyone, next weekend I have to travel
long haul to a course for work. I will be away a week. It’s the longest I have left my family, and my first international work trip. The nerves are really kicking in…. What are your best tips
for solo travel and the nerves?

What are you nervous about? It’s easier travelling on your own than with other people a lot of the time. No one to wait for, no conflicting views on what you should do or where you should go, peace on the flight! Enjoy!

It's great.

What are you nervous about?

Being so far away from my family I think. I’m cross at myself because I was so excited but as it draws near the anxious part of my brain has fired up

Just keep busy. Otherwise you miss them!

Take a book. Take a couple of books!

Arrange times to video call your family

See if work will pay for room service if you're nervous of eating alone (or you may be going to endless dull dinners which is what usually happens)

Keep a diary and take photos for your kids

Buy souvenirs

I travel a lot for work, just back from a long haul trip actually, and left ds with dh from when he was 9 months old overnight to travel (he's 16 now). Assuming that the person looking after your dc is competent, my biggest tip is to let them get on with it while you are away and not be one of those over controlling people with a meal plan, activities list etc. Whatever the parent/adult in charge decides (apart from things which leave a mess for you to come home to) goes.
If its something like a training course that I will have free evenings and a niceish city, I look for things to do or ask at the hotel for recommendations of safe walks. This week it was busy in the evenings, but I got in a couple of nice walks, a museum visit, but unfortunatly the really nice pool in the area was shut for maintenance.
What worries you about being away?

Test your FaceTime/zoom/whatever before you leave so both sides know what's what.
Leave hotel details at home. Copy of passport to be left at home (just in case).
Make sure know the time difference.

Do you have young children?