If you are an infrequent traveler you may need some tips to keep the wife happy while you are jet-setting around the globe. Many individuals do not realize the tolls that traveling can have on married life. Occasionally your travels are going to take you to a location that your spouse would love to attend. […]
If you are an infrequent traveler you may need some tips to keep the wife happy while you are jet-setting around the globe. Many individuals do not realize the tolls that traveling can have on married life. Occasionally your travels are going to take you to a location that your spouse would love to attend. You may be servicing customers near your or your wife’s childhood homes, you may be visiting a destination that she has always desired to beat, she may simply want to spend some time with you.
After you make the decision that the spouse will be going on the next business trip, you need to review your corporate travel policies. Many companies have fairly lax rules on spousal travel. However, it could be possible that you have to pick up the differences in hotel room costs for the second person.
Traveling gives you some perspective of what the rest of the world is like. I think that having the courage to step out of the norm is the most important thing.
Most companies, however, wave this fee if you are in good standings with them. So the accommodation’s are settled what is left to meet the wife’s expectations well you will more than likely have to make some adjustments in your travel plans. Unless you work for a company that is far more progressive than any that I have seen before, you will be picking up the tab for your wife’s travel. So start looking at sites such as http://www.travelblogger.info and reviewing the travel prices that they provide. By researching early you have the opportunity to cut some significant costs from your bill.
Make sure that the spouse is in the car rental agreement and insured. If your wife is like mine she is not going to be happy cooped up in a hotel while you are in facilities all day. She is going to want to get out and about during the day. Checking this minor point will save you loads of time and aggravation. The final item of concern is your dining tab. Be exceedingly careful and research your corporate policy closely on this one. Typically you will be allowed to pick-up the room breakfast on the corporate account for the wife. However, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to expense out her lunch and dinner meals. As a matter of fact, I have seen one gentleman dismissed on this account. Now he had other issues, but this is the corporate policy that he broke that achieved the pink slip.
So, in short, you need to research where you are traveling too, you need to research when you are going to be traveling, and you need to look in depth at your corporate travel policies and don’t assume anything. Corporations have been in business for many years and most of the expense details are spelled out clearly in their guidelines. Where there is headway ask your supervisor and they should be able to inform you of exactly what will and will not be allowed to pass on your expense report.