As a freelance writer and social media manager, I work for various clients at a time, located in all parts of the world. Being this international means I have to travel often for work, whether it’s to write about a specific event, place, or product or to meet with new clients in person.
Before working from home, I was no stranger to traveling. I was raised in New York City, where I lived for close to two decades, but was born in the Dominican Republic. I also lived in Miami throughout my undergraduate career and two years post-grad. While I currently live in the city of lights, Paris, with my husband, I’ve traveled to many countries for both work and pleasure and plan to add many more destinations to that list soon.
As a seasoned traveler, I’ve come to expect a certain level of quality from the hotels where I stay. Fortunately, Iberostar has hotels in the majority of the countries I’ve visited, from the Americas to Europe to Africa, and it is always my first choice when I am traveling abroad. In the United States, they have hotels in my two main cities: in NYC and in Miami Beach. These two cities are where I spend most of my time when I’m not in Paris.
In Spain, where I also travel to often, they have hotels in three of the major cities I have been to; in Barcelona, in Ibiza, and in Madrid. Finally, in the Dominican Republic: a dream destination, (which I usually only visit for vacation and to visit family), they have a total of six all-inclusive hotels and resorts.
DAY-TO-DAY LIFE OF WORK TRAVEL
As a real Caribbean girl at heart and an all-around city girl, the ocean room view is my go-to when traveling. And if there’s no ocean, a city skyline is a must. You may find it a bit picky of me to focus on this when all I need is a hotel room for is sleep (and in my case work as well). But to get inspired, I need the right ambiance. For someone who travels as much as I do for work, a home away from home is just what I’m looking for during my stay. And I’m not the only one who feels this way! Here’s what my fellow mentor and friend says about staying in hotels during work trips:
“I travel a lot for work, but I also travel to work remotely to change up the scenery and get inspired. I go to the same hotel three times a year for this reason. By now, I know the guy that takes reservations and checks me in. It's nice to have someone help me book the ideal room to get the best sunrise and sunset views. I love to be greeted with a familiar smile and latest update to what is new in town. I now leave a small box of chocolates when I check out as a thank you gesture. I get the customer service I need when booking a hotel." - Lisette Miranda, CEO and founder of PINC International
Working in my home office can mean no human contact for sometimes hours at a time. Whereas in one of the modern and well-equipped business lounges of an Iberostar hotel or by the swimming pool, I have a chance to pause and chat with others instead of staring at a screen nonstop. I even feel more accomplished when I get work done while abroad in a hotel. I am somehow able to fight temptations like open bars or a luxury spa or even exploring. But knowing I can reward myself with any of these things afterward makes me far more productive in my work.
At home, I tend to get distracted with multitasking and spend a lot of time cooking and cleaning or even watching Netflix while I work. Being in a hotel means paying for the time I'm spending there, which pushes me to get more done, sometimes in a shorter amount of time than I would back home. Breakfast is complimentary, and with room service plus easy access to restaurants within and near the hotel, I don’t have to worry about what to prepare for lunch or dinner or even cleaning up after myself, although I still keep my room as tidy as possible.
Escaping a cold winter in New York or grey fall in Paris to a sunny place like D.R. or my third home, Miami, gives me the Vitamin D boost I need to be more productive. I don’t know about you, but traveling for work helps lower any anxiety I may have. By working in a new or different city or country, while in a hotel setting, I find myself more relaxed than back at my home office. I make it a goal to finish all the work I have to do a day before I need to leave so that my last day can be easy, breezy and smooth sailing.
At Iberostar hotels, I get to meet people from all around the world, since they are such an international hotel chain. It helps me step out of my comfort zone, and this translates well into my writing. It also improves my ability to think outside of the box!
STAFF FEELS LIKE FAMILY
There’s also something about a hotel stay that not even the most excellent short-term rental apartment can provide you with. The bellhop at my favorite Iberostar hotel knows my name by now. The minute I walk through the doors he greets me with a “Good morning/afternoon/evening, Mrs. Olivares.” Friendly, familiar faces can make any hotel feel like a home away from home. From the bartenders to the housekeepers, the Iberostar staff has come to feel like family for me.
HOTEL PERKS AND PLEASURES
Spa Sensations Iberostar provides me with the perfect escape when I need a break from researching for my writing or when I have writer’s block. It allows me to relax and be pampered with treatments of my choice. Like easing tightness in my shoulders, soothing sore muscles, or helping to clear my mind with an anti-stress massage. Before a client meeting, I can also indulge in head-to-toe beauty treatments with hair styling, and a mani-pedi to make sure I make the best first impression possible. Iberostar spas have me fully covered!
With a hotel, you have specific guarantees that rentals cannot make, such as 24/7 customer service, breakfast, a business center, a gym full of machines to keep fit, free WiFi and a front desk/concierge for wake-up calls, general information, and emergencies, among many other perks. And, above all, cleanliness. Knowing that when I get to my room it will be impeccable, neat and with all sorts of details makes me prefer to stay in a hotel over an apartment. At Iberostar hotels, for example, I can always expect to walk into a clean room and sleep in clean sheets.
COMPARISON TO RENTAL APARTMENTS
Safety is one of the most significant issues when it comes to me booking a hotel versus a rental home. Measures of security between rentals differ widely so you can never be 100% sure that your things, and most importantly you, will be safe. Privacy is also another issue that goes hand in hand with security.
For meeting clients, a rental apartment doesn’t always meet the level of professionalism you require, but a lounge or a meeting space in a hotel does. With the amenities and services provided in an Iberostar hotel, the quality of my stay is much higher. Hotels are also far more reliable than a rental considering that the owner can cancel your reservation at any time, and worst of all, at the last minute. Whereas a hotel, like Iberostar, will always find a way to accommodate you.
TIPS
Staying in hotels for work has not only taught me valuable social and cultural skills but a few money-saving and helpful tips as well:
● Concierges in hotels can be very useful for their expertise in the city where you're staying. They know the city as well as any local, so they can give you advice on where to eat, places to avoid and sites that are worth visiting while taking into consideration your budget, time and interests.
● To improve your hotel stay, it also helps to maintain a sort of routine. It can be easy to slip into vacation mode even during a work trip. Waking up and going to sleep at appropriate times will help you maximize the time you have for eating, working, exercising, and taking breaks.
● For short trips, instead of packing toiletries, save space in your suitcase by using those provided by the hotel. If there’s something you’re missing in your room, you can always call the front desk and have someone bring it to you.
● Remember not to waste your data while in a hotel, especially while abroad! Place your phone on airplane mode and use the free WiFi provided instead. If you have WiFi calling enabled on your phone, you won’t have to worry about missing any calls.
The best part of hotel life during work travel for me is knowing exactly what to expect. A home away from home. Whether I’m in the Americas, Europe or Africa, I know I will be surrounded with everything I need and more.
GISEL OLIVARES I 23/04/2018
MAKE IT REAL NOW