Freelancer - overnight stays. how do I charge for this?!

[pollyr01]

I've just won some work with the company I freelance with on a project and will have to go out to UAE for 2 or 3 nights next week. As DH works long hours childcare is going to be a struggle, but aside from that how do I charge the company for overnight stays? The company will pay for flights and accommodation, food etc, but shouldn't I be charging an overnight stay fee? my contract with them is for 3 days (eg 8 hours) a week, in the UK and not on family time!...any ideas? is there a general rate for this?

Well there's how much you want to bill (ie if you consider all your down time whilst travelling and overseas to be chargeable), and there's how much they are willing to pay. You can of course charge an overnight charge based on your normal chargeable rate, but you might want to moderate this depending on how worthwhile it is employing you over a local specialist or other competitors.

In my industry I'm expected to be away overnight or long travelling hours, and I don't get paid overtime for it.

It depends on what you do as to whether you're worth the additional costs. Certainly if I were paying for your services id weigh up cheaper alternatives if the costs became disproportionate.

So you have to value yourself! Ask and see but not at the expense of your client relationship.

Generally not expected to travel outside UK - so this is exceptional! It's quite specialist copywriting so am thinking charging half hourly rate for some of the downtime...I do think it merits some additional costs as its outside the scope of my agreed contract. I guess as you say it's down to what is normally expected...