Over the last several years I’ve had the privilege to travel for work when filming a movie away from home. While I do miss my bed on occasion, traveling to various cities does have its perks. Below I’ve listed some ideas for living when traveling for work in film.
- Figure out what amenities are included in the hotel/house/airbnb you are staying at. Do they have a washer/dryer, kitchen, kitchenette, microwave, wifi, refrigerator etc. What about pool/hot tub/gym? Knowing what your place has and doesn’t have will help you to pivot when needed. Don’t forget parking?
- Use google maps / apple maps to see what restaurants/coffee shops/bars are close by or walking distance and make a list.
- Be prepared to do laundry. I typically like to pack a bag of tide pods because they are somewhat safe to travel with as long as they are wrapped and enclosed properly. Consider bringing a roll of quarters to avoid this fun trip when you land if the washers only take quarters.
- Apply for TSA Pre-Check. If you can afford, the TSA Pre-Check is one of the best investments I’ve ever made and makes any airport experience significantly less painful.
- Consider a subscription of boxed meals. I personally use Factor75 when I travel and it helps me to eat healthy and avoid eating out for every single meal. All you need is a refrigerator and microwave to use.
- Determine how you will get mail. I typically have amazon packages shipped to my hotel pretty easily, however I do have a second mailbox for certain cities I work in a bit. I use ipostal1.
- Decide on your new workout routine. For some this comes easier than others. Depending on the city I’ve joined gyms temporarily for a month at a time and on other occasions I’ve used apps like Mind Body Online or Class Pass to book gym sessions or yoga classes.
- Research fun/relaxing things to do. I like to see if there are any movie theaters close by or things in the area that might be worth pursuing while I’m away from home.
- Talk to the locals. Join a few local facebook groups, talk to the hotel staff or local barista. Get tips for what to do in town and hear what they recommend.
- Keep your room neat and organized. Don’t forget to ask for cleaning service at the hotel front desk or consider hiring a cleaner if staying at a long term airbnb. Keeping your place clean and organized will help give you peace of mind.
