There are loads of reasons why tagging along on business travel with your spouse is something you should try to do as often as possible. It’s good for your relationship and stretches your travel budget, to name just two. What I particularly love about it, though, are the experiences I’ve had that could have only come with tagging along. Joining your spouse on business travel does not always have the appeal of taking a vacation, but its unique perks often result in memorable trips.
The Upgrade
Every savvy frequent business traveller belongs to a loyalty program or two (or 10). As the tag-along spouse, this is your opportunity to cash in on all those times you held down the fort while your partner jetted around racking up points.
My favourite perks are access to the airport lounge and hotel room upgrades. Flight upgrades are rare for the tag-along spouse, but I did score one en route to Europe once, which was pretty sweet.
The airport lounge, with its serene environment, food, and beverages, is a fab perk.
Steve accumulated so many air travel points in the past two years that he was able to gift entry-level loyalty status to me. This means that I can get most of the travel perks I get when travelling with him when I’m on my own. Because I often meet Steve at a business travel destination, this is a huge advantage.
On one visit to Hong Kong, we got a room upgrade at Hilton’s Conrad Hotel that was unbelievable. It was a four-room suite with two bathrooms, full tea service (and fancy chocolates), a killer view of the harbour, and every little luxurious accoutrement you could imagine.
Under-the-Radar Destinations
Business travel with your spouse sends you to all kinds of destinations – not just the ones that make it into the travel sections of newspapers and magazines. The risk of visiting these lesser-known locales on a tag-along trip is low. If the place is not to your liking—well, your airfare was on points, and you have some extra time with your spouse.
Who knew Sofia, Bulgaria would be so nice?
More often than not, these destinations have turned out to punch well above their weight. Two of my unexpected favourites were Columbus, Ohio, and Sofia, Bulgaria. It’s doubtful I would have visited these locations if not tagging along on Steve’s business travel.
Local Expertise and Connections
Steve and I lean more to the introverted side. We are not likely to strike up a conversation with random residents when we travel. Business travel, though, offers built-in connections with locals. I have valued spending time with Steve’s colleagues abroad immensely. It’s been an easy and enjoyable way to share cultural exchanges. We’ve been invited to backyard barbecues, dinners at tucked-away locals-only restaurants, and my all-time most amazing experience—spending Holi in Mumbai with Steve’s colleague and his family.
Even the best tour guides can’t compete with a local who is enthusiastic about showing you where he or she hangs out and who can answer questions you have about the culture, and what it’s like to live in the place.
Over to you? Do you tag along on business travel with your spouse? What unique experiences have you had?
If you enjoyed this post, why not subscribe to Tag Along Travel? Twice a month, you’ll receive an email with links to recent posts.
