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Torn between leaving your children behind on your next business trip or bringing them with you? As a busy public relations executive, I was undecided until I finally gathered my courage and tried it with my two boys, who are six and nine. Now I'm sold on the idea that you can combine business travel with family fun. The secret is advance planning -- and consideration for fellow travelers. Here are some pointers.
Clear the trip with your children's school. Many teachers recognize the value of a day spent traveling with Mom and Dad. But timing is everything. Make sure that your trip won't coincide with important exams or other key events for your child.
Give your youngsters input on how you travel. Assuming you have some leeway, ask your children whether they'd prefer a plane, car, or train. Why settle for an aerial view of the Rockies from a 747 when you can take in the breathtaking vistas from a glass-ceilinged observation car on the Rocky Mountaineer?
Plan for the inevitable. Even young children with a high tolerance for travel may become bored or cranky en route to your destination. Make sure you bring a spouse or other caregiver with you so your children don't become a nuisance to other passengers if you need to attend to business or chat with colleagues who are traveling on the same flight.
Know your childcare options. If you need to attend informal meals or events during your trip, it may be fine to bring your children. But if you must spend concentrated meeting time with clients, bringing children is a mistake. To avoid unnecessary stress, call your hotel ahead of time to find out whether it has a baby sitting service or any children's activities in which your little ones can participate while you're occupied with work. Sign up your kids and pay in advance to secure their participation, and you'll be able to breathe easier during your entire trip.
Traveling with her two sons and husband has given Meryl Pearlstein a chance to “live” all over the world, something she’s always longed to do. Meryl has been a writer from her earliest days on her junior high school newspaper, then working in marketing and advertising, and later as a travel publicist and travel writer. Meryl also drags her clan to restaurants throughout Manhattan where she critiques the ever-changing NYC food scene for Gayot.com. A Bostonian who remains true to the Red Sox despite her NYC residence, Meryl also writes for Fodor’s Guide to New York, and has written for www.ClubMom.com, the Boston Herald, Global Traveler, Fortune Small Business online, GQ, and New York Magazine.