How far would you travel for work trip without a hotel?

[HappyKite2067]

Quite a quick one:

I have three training days coming up, and although my petrol will be paid for, accommodation will not. The training is 2 hours away (4 hour round trip). It’s for three days, so 12 hours driving in 3 days, should I be pushing for a hotel or is the drive reasonable?

Surely if they have to pay or give TOIL for the travel, as well as travel costs it's cheaper for them to pay accommodation? That would be the point I would make.

Hi everyone,

thank you for the responses. I already travel over an hour to work and work is on the way to the training, so for most people it’s not very far or potentially closer! For my employment they will pay petrol from work so it’s cheaper for them to pay petrol.

I actually prefer to be at home, but I’m just thinking is it doable? I might broach the hotel situation with them.

I'd have said 2 hours but that's for a day trip. No way would I do that 3 days running, and work wouldn't expect me to.

Do the maths on the three days petrol allowance v 2 nights in a hotel and tell them you’ll be more productive not spending 12 hours driving.

Is a train a possibility?

I was about to say, I've flown to London and back for work in a day which all in all is about 3.5 hours each way door to door with time at departure airport and travel at each end, but I wouldn't do it 3 days in a row!! I'd want a hotel or no deal.

This is why - they are basing need for hotel on distance from work place unfortunately

How much would cheapest hotel be and would petrol contributions cover enough to make it worthwhile?

How long are the training days compared to usual work days?

Are they paying petrol or mileage? I have an hour and a half trip each way this month and I think that’s pushing it personally, it’s just a day though. They pay mileage which is at least better than petrol. I would push for hotel as you will learn better if not exhausted.

Unless the training days are short (eg 10 until 4 maximum) and you don't have to use troublesome roads (is the 2 hours likely to be realistic at the times of day you are travelling?) then you should absolutely have at least 2 nights in a hotel.

Otherwise, it's a health and safety issue if you are driving and also you're less likely to reduce your benefit from the training due to tiredness and missing out on any evening social events. Also, if the training requires preparation to be done between the days when would you do this if you have to drive home inbetween?

We run training courses at our office that are generally 9.30 until 4/5 pm and any time people try and commute from an hour or two away they are regularly late due to traffic so miss parts of the course.

It's very short sighted of your company to not support you staying over at the end of days 1 and 2.