Do you ever go away with your spouse if they are away on company business (UK)?

osian

My DH is going away for a couple of nights next week on business with work.

Normally I don't fancy the places he is visiting but I've always fancied visiting the city that he is going to. It's a fairly small, picturesque city and I'm guessing it would be easy to get about and have a lovely couple of days exploring with my daughter, then going out for dinner in the evenings when my husband has finished his meetings.

I'm just wondering if it would be easy to go along with our 3 year old.

We'd have to pay for our own train fares, and I'm wondering if the hotel would let us upgrade to a family room at our own expense.

Does anyone do this and how easy is it?

Hermia

I've not done this, but two things come to mind.

1) How is the hotel being paid for? Where I work you have to pay for things yourself and then submit your expense claim. I know the payments department (and the software) where I work would not be able to cope with the part-paying situation you are suggesting.

2) Is there a chance your husband may have to hobnob with people in the evenings? Would you mind eating out on your own if that happened?

Where I work you'd have to just book everything separately (train and hotel).

suki1001

Go for it!
We went to Geneva. Company did know about it. they paid for the flights.

I once sneaked into his hotel room when we first started going out.

suki1001

You could ask the hotel to split the bill. i.e. he's billed double room, you pay extra, or if it's quiet they might upgrade you anyway. It won't hurt to ask.

osian

Thanks!

I'll have to check how the bill is being paid. He used to have to pay for it himself then have to submit his expense form. Now, I have a feeling that his company have a seperate travel section who pay for the travel arrangements upfront.

I'm pretty sure he doesn't have to hob-nob in the evenings. He never has to normally. It's not sales or anything like that, he just has to do a job over two days, kind of like a consultancy type thing.

StrangelyBrown

I often take mine with me when possible. Do make sure his evenings really are free though, else it can be frustrating trying to meet up at the end of the day!

I make sure the hotel I get booked for me charges per room, not per-person and that way the expenses don't get messy.

If they want brekkie added on in the morning, just pay cash at reception.

osian

Thanks StrangelyBrown.

I think if it was just me going along it would probably be ok for me to share a room. I think the problem is with my daughter, that we'll need to have a family room and upgrade for that.

System

Me and my son went and stopped with hubby in Bristol about 4 years ago. They wanted him to work 7 days 2 weeks solid and as our son was off school anyway it worked out ok.

We hardly saw him though and i wouldnt be in any rush to repeat the experience.

StrangelyBrown

osian wrote: »

we'll need to have a family room and upgrade for that.

My company's moneysaving (read: penny-pinching) usually means I only get a Travelodge for short trips - but this works out well because they usually have 'Family' rooms for the same price as doubles so I always book them anyway!

Double bed plus single or sofa bed is fine for a 2+1 arrangement.

Rebecca01

Yes I do this all of the time with our three year old.

OH usually has a double room, so we just stay with him. We pay our own food , transport etc. so theres no extra cost to the company.

My daughter and I spend the day exploring then we meet up for tea on the evening.
Go for it.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Its allowed in the company I work for but they wont pay any extras - So if you want to upgrade for the room you pay the difference, they wont pay for families meals but will mine etc