Why conference planning is so essential

A wonderful visit to Hobbiton as part of our conference travels

Yes we do go to conferences to present our research results and network with other academics, but while we are travelling and often also need transfers to the conference destinations, why not try to work a little bit of fun or adventure or leisure into the trip? 

First of all you must decide on the conference and the destination that you want to travel to. Will it be the USA or Australia or Europe next year? - yes remember that you need to plan way ahead and popular conferences normally have early closing dates for proposals.  Keep in mind places you already visited and also the importance and impact of the conferences when you make these choices. 

Second, sit down and list the passions in your life that could be included in the travel plans. These could include hobbies or adventures you dream of or simply sport events that you would like to attend or things you would like to see like the Eiffel tower or the Pyramids or natural wonders and wild animals. Also ensure that you check the places to visit and things to do in and around the cities that host the conferences as conferences are normally linked to awesome tourist destinations. 

We are passionate Formula one fans and managed to combine a conference trip with ending up the weekend in Spa - simply awesome. We also managed to visit the Montreal track. Someday, we hope to also be in the Yas hotel by the end of November to see the UAE Grand Prix (always nice to have dreams way out of reach also included in the lists). You can include tennis, cricket (how about the IPL season?), soccer, football, rugby or any other that you are passionate about. Or curious about: We were staying next to the Red Socks baseball field in Boston and also later next to the Blue Jays Field in Toronto and managed to become interested and followers of this sport although we do not have much exposure to it in South Africa.

We also managed to combine conferences with visiting an active volcano and Hobbiton in New Zealand, and having wonderful times on cruise ships, and seeing Alaska!