New job - working out of town 3 nights per week

[ilovediznee]

Hello Disney Family! I am starting a new job (YAHOO!) and it will be a very different and challenging. I will be working out of town - leaving Mondays and returning Thursdays, working from home on Fridays. It is a tremendous opportunity and I am excited but my Type A, OCD mind wants to be organized. Our DD is going to be moving on campus in early January so she is not an issue and my husband is very supportive and will be handling things at home, specifically the 3 dogs.

I am looking for any advice that anyone who has done this before can give me. So far my friends who have travelled have mentioned these items: pack and exact duplicate of all toiletries so I won't have to pack and unpack every week, laundry bag for my hotel stuff so it can immediately go in to the wash when I get home on Thursdays, pack my medications in a pill box for the week but be sure to list all my medications on a medication form if an emergency comes up, pack entire outfits together, be sure to pack casual stuff to wear in the hotel after work, bring a stack of magazines or books I've been trying to get to, pack healthy snacks, get my car cleaned before I go and have it serviced.

Any advice would be helpful that you might add, including stuff for the house while I am not there! I want to be organized so I'm not spending my entire weekends home trying to organize for the next week!!!

Thanks - Diane

 

[soccerdad72]

Are you going to be at the same out of town location each week? If so, I would find an extended stay type of property (like a Residence Inn) that you like and get to know the staff there. That way, you can feel more like it's going to your 'weekday' home versus constantly checking into a random hotel every week.

 

[ilovediznee]

Are you going to be at the same out of town location each week? If so, I would find an extended stay type of property (like a Residence Inn) that you like and get to know the staff there. That way, you can feel more like it's going to your 'weekday' home versus constantly checking into a random hotel every week.

Hey - thanks for the response. I will be staying at the same location but at a Hampton Inn. I am going to be a consultant for a hospital and they want me located between their two locations. I AM going to see if I can get the biggest room they have, but won't be getting a suite I'm sure. I made the reservations for the first three weeks and once I get there and hopefully meet the staff, maybe they will upgrade me at no charge, but for now, just a regular room. I looked and unfortunately they won't have an extended stay where I will be, but I will look again! Thanks!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Would it be cheaper to rent a studio apartment? I don't know what area you're in, but it seems like 3 nights a week in a hotel would run $300-$500/week min. In most places you can get a studio cheaper. You'll be able to store work clothes and healthy food there, and it won't feel like you're living out of a suitcase all the time.

 

[soccerdad72]

Hey - thanks for the response. I will be staying at the same location but at a Hampton Inn. I am going to be a consultant for a hospital and they want me located between their two locations. I AM going to see if I can get the biggest room they have, but won't be getting a suite I'm sure. I made the reservations for the first three weeks and once I get there and hopefully meet the staff, maybe they will upgrade me at no charge, but for now, just a regular room. I looked and unfortunately they won't have an extended stay where I will be, but I will look again! Thanks!

I would definitely talk to the staff when you go the first week and get to know them. I don't travel for work anymore, but my wife has three or four locations she frequently travels to and she generally knows the folks at the places she stays at. It helps get better rooms, quicker check ins and just overall better service if they know you're going to be a regular.

If you haven't already, make sure you're signed up for Hilton Rewards and download the Hilton app - they have a pretty good app for frequent travellers.

 

[Micca]

Congrats on the job Diane, it's cool that you're so jazzed about the new opportunity. Sounds to me like you're well on your way to having the details buttoned down. I think being a great guest could go a long way with the staff at the Hampton Inn. No matter how much you plan, something will come up and staff who like you could really help get over the bumps in the road(Not that you aren't already that person, it's just the first thing that comes to mind.)

Also kudos to your DH for minding the homestead in your absence. I'm sure you'll be missed by him AND the dogs.

 

[dclpluto]

I would do my pill box for the week on Sunday. That way you will have a few extra days Incase you are stuck out of town.

How far away is it from your home?

 

[HopperFan]

Hey - thanks for the response. I will be staying at the same location but at a Hampton Inn. I am going to be a consultant for a hospital and they want me located between their two locations. I AM going to see if I can get the biggest room they have, but won't be getting a suite I'm sure. I made the reservations for the first three weeks and once I get there and hopefully meet the staff, maybe they will upgrade me at no charge, but for now, just a regular room. I looked and unfortunately they won't have an extended stay where I will be, but I will look again! Thanks!

DH did this for years. Check if there is a Homewood Suites (also Hilton). He stayed in one of those giving him a living room. Promise it gets quite old to not have normal sitting furniture for evenings watching television etc. He really like that they had dinners too along with free beer/wine. He tired of eating out and found they often offered at least one meal his trips he was happy with so would eat in those nights.

The staff all knew him and held him the same room every week so his autopilot to the same room each night. They always had bottled water in his fridge ready for his arrival. It made it easier to travel having the consistency of the room/staff ... home away from home.

Sounds like you got the pack/prepare all set. He did many of the same things you are planning. And make sure you are getting your Hilton Honors points. They really build up over time, especially when you jump to next level.

If no Homewood see if the Hampton has the one room suite. They have sofa seating area. We stay in a Q/Q with sofabed seating area at Disney sometimes. The layout makes it feel like a studio apt but it doesn't really cost much different. (photos below)

SAMPLES of look ... not always standout in hotel descriptions.

Hampton Inn LBV South (Queen Suite) below

OR another

 

[GreatLakes]

Are you flying or driving to this location weekly? That will make a difference. If it is flying I would get a good suitcase that you can carry on that fits everything you need for the week. You don't want to be checking baggage if you don't have to. They have them that include a collapsing garment bag so you can pack your work clothes and not have a totally wrinkled mess when you arrive. If you are driving this isn't a concern but in that case you'll want to get a reliable vehicle that isn't terrible on gas.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Hey - thanks for the response. I will be staying at the same location but at a Hampton Inn. I am going to be a consultant for a hospital and they want me located between their two locations. I AM going to see if I can get the biggest room they have, but won't be getting a suite I'm sure. I made the reservations for the first three weeks and once I get there and hopefully meet the staff, maybe they will upgrade me at no charge, but for now, just a regular room. I looked and unfortunately they won't have an extended stay where I will be, but I will look again! Thanks!

Congrats on this opportunity!

If you're going to stay in the hotel room and it's a Hilton property make sure you've signed up (if you haven't already) for their Hilton Honors program. You can get points for all those stays, you can get a discounted rate, and various other perks.

Whenever my husband travels for work he tries to stay at a Hilton property to rack up the points. Hilton branded hotels are a preferred of his company so it all works out. Hamptons are one of our personal preferred places to stay. Usually economical but still quite nice.

If you end up staying elsewhere check out if the brand has a rewards program.

Does the hospital give a monthly stipend or per diem or is it completely on you?

Is this a city where you fly down or where you drive? If it's fly and you'll be using a rental car you may want to look into the rental car companies and their rewards programs. Also if you're flying look into rewards programs of the specific airline. For example Southwest Airlines has their free Rapid Rewards program and flying weekly would certaintly rack up the points pretty darn quick.

As far as what to pack flying vs driving can make a big difference. Flying I would probably opt for travel sized toiletries so you're not having a lot of bulk but with driving you have a vehicle where there's a bit more wiggle room (especially on the oz of liquid).

 

[wvjules]

I did the Mon-Thur thing for a while. I think you and the PPs have most of it covered. If you are flying, get TSA Precheck! Even if your company doesn't reimburse you for it it is totally worth it. Also, are you required to stay in that particular hotel? If not, try to find an all suites hotel so you can be guaranteed a sitting room. And make sure you are signed up for the appropriate airline/hotel rewards programs. The points add up fast! Agree with the PP that it gets old not having a place to just sit.

 

[Miffy]

Instead of books and magazines--ebooks and emagazines. If you don't like reading on your phone, get an iPad or Android tablet or Kindle. And if you don't have one already, consider getting a membership in your local library, which very possibly has a large catalog of ebooks you can borrow.

 

[figment52]

take extra medicine in case you get held over for any reason.

 

[SueInBoston]

once you get to know the staff at the hotel, see if they will hold your toiletry bag for you so you don't have to bring it everyweek. When I used to travel, the hotel I stayed at held it for me.

 

[trip]

If you don't have it already, it may pay to get AAA to qualify for a better rate at the Hampton Inn. I would also check the price of a suite sometimes it is only $10-15 more than a regular room.

 

[RUDisney]

Make sure that you are getting your hotel points from Hilton. They add up fast and can lead to nice vacations for you and hubby/family.

 

[Imzadi]

Instead of books and magazines--ebooks and emagazines. If you don't like reading on your phone, get an iPad or Android tablet or Kindle. And if you don't have one already, consider getting a membership in your local library, which very possibly has a large catalog of ebooks you can borrow.

If you live near a large city, you may be able to get a state-wide library card for their library.

If you don't have any library near you with a large collection of eBooks or audiobooks, there are two public libraries that each offer NON-resident library memberships for $50/year. Your first 7 downloads would pretty much cover the cost of membership, had you bought them instead at Amazon. You can usually download about 10 eBooks/audiobooks at a time. You can be put on a waitlist for any eBooks not available. When the eBooks expire, no need to "return" them. The system automatically knows. You won't be able to open that eBook file anymore.

Brooklyn Public Library: It currently lists 124,994 eBooks and 28,544 audiobooks.
Scroll down to where it says Out of State Resident and click on the green button.
https://www.bklynlibrary.org/use-the-library/borrow

Search the collection: https://brooklyn.overdrive.com/advanced-search


Free Library of Philadelphia: It currently lists 29,115 eBooks and 6,214 audiobooks.
https://know.freelibrary.org/MyResearch/register/policy

Search the collection: https://freelibrary.overdrive.com/advanced-search

 

[Imzadi]

If you don't already have Skype or FaceTime, sign up for them for you and the family. Learn to use them before you and DD leave, so all of you have worked out any kinks.


You might want to consider having (non-refrigerated) food pantry items, some groceries and laundry products, shampoo, etc., delivered, or at least, gathered together ahead of time, so you only have to run into the store to pick them up. You'd still run into the supermarket for perishables like choosing your own meat & fruit. But, this may save time, so you don't feel like all your time at home is spent in stores.

Target & Walmart each have a groceries department with FREE shipping on online orders over $35. It is EASY to make the $35 minimum, when you add in laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, etc.

NO need to pay for an Amazon Prime membership. (It's not free shipping when you paid about $100 in advance in a lump sum for delivery. ) And with Amazon Prime, many items have to be bought in 6-packs or by the case. If you are not an Amazon Prime member, a lot of food & pantry items are not available to non-members.

At Target.com or Walmart.com, you can usually buy just ONE can/package of something if you want. This is great as I found that Target's store brand, Market Pantry, and Walmart's store brand, Great Value, items are equivalent in quality & taste on many items as name brand items. I was able to buy just one can try first. And the prices of these items are usually the "sale" price of name brand items, like Del Monte veggies - without having to wait for your local supermarket sales.

In addition, if you sign up for free with a rewards site, like Swagbucks.com, when you click through Swagbucks affiliate link TO Target.com or Walmart.com, you get points for shopping at those stores. Those points convert to dollars for a free gift card to various stores. Target.com or Walmart.com are two of those stores. Some restaurants where you will be staying may be other gift cards.

So when I make a $35 purchase at Target.com or Walmart.com, I get about a $5 gift card from Swagbucks. Which I then use to buy more groceries/pantry items at Target.com or Walmart.com, again going though Swagbucks affiliate link for another $5 gift card. Repeat, repeat. . .

Free shipping, items delivered to my door, plus a $5 GC from Swagbucks.

Just be aware, Target has free 2-Day shipping. But, they use UPS, which doesn't deliver on weekends. So time your purchases for Tues nite, so they arrive on Fri when you are back home.

 

[kimblebee]

I would say make a list of all the makes and models of your appliances and list phone numbers you use for repairs. Not that your husband won’t be capable of finding the make of the washing machine, but if it’s spewing water, he’ll want the information quickly.

He also may be the one who’s normally in charge of all that information, too, but it won’t hurt to have it all in one place.

Also, make sure your husband knows your favourite meal so it can be waiting for you when you get home

 

[QueenIsabella]

Are you on per diem, or does the company do reimbursement based on receipts? I ask because my DH has had to do this, and he got straight per diem. So, what he did was, find a co-worker in the area who had a spare bedroom, and he rented it for those 3 nights--I think he paid $100/week. He had the bedroom, a bathroom, and kitchen access. they weren't supposed to feed him, but sometimes they did. It worked out great--he was in MA, so he would help with the snow shoveling and other stuff around the house, and if he needed to stay an extra night, not big deal. Plus, he could leave stuff there. He could even watch their dogs if they had evening plans--he bought dog treats. It ended up being much more comfy/homey than a hotel, not to mention much cheaper.

An alternative might be to share an apartment with someone.