Business trips can be terribly boring. You’re away from your family and friends and have to spend time with colleagues and clients, who may or may not share your idea of what constitutes a good time. Being entertained while travelling is essential to stop business becoming a bore.

As business travel is often a solo experience, much entertainment revolves around amusing yourself. Here are a few ideas to keep you busy.

When in Rome…there is an awful lot to be said for letting a local plan your entertainment. If you are visiting an overseas branch of your own company or a client, you can be sure that they will know better than you when it comes to the most interesting things to do. If you can, ask a few weeks in advance whether there is something good going on while you will be in town. Perhaps a hot new theatre show or a must-see exhibition at an art gallery.

Super quick sightseeing. Many business travellers complain that they never get to see the cities they visit on business and end up stuck in an office or conference centre for their entire visit. But even here, you can get some enjoyment out of your destination. Contact the city’s tourist office before you go to find out some things that you can do during short breaks from your meetings. You’ll be surprised at what you can discover. If you’re at a business meeting in the city of London, you could take a quick tour of the medieval Temple Church, made famous recently by film of the Da Vinci Code, or have a look at the quirky Postman’s Park and its plaques commemorating acts of bravery carried out by members of the public.

Couch potato. New technology has also made it possible to avoid missing your favourite television programmes. A device called a Slingbox connects to your TV at home (or more accurately your satellite or cable box) and an internet connection. Download a piece of software onto your laptop or your PDA and you can then watch it from wherever you are in the world. This means you won’t miss your beloved Tranmere Rovers in their latest match, wherever you happen to be. Individually downloadable episodes of your favourite TV shows are also becoming a reality. Apple’s iTunes, for example, is now offering downloadable hit TV shows at a few quid a pop.

But that’s enough about entertaining yourself. If you are travelling to see clients, you may be asked to be the entertainer. But keeping your clients happy can be something of a minefield. Cathy Owen, who runs business consultancy My Corporate Muse, has some useful tips:

• “Get to know the people you are entertaining, listen to them. For example a comment during a meeting may allow you some insight into their interests or hobbies. Imagine how impressed they will be when you entertain them in a way that’s tailored to them.”

• “Do not make assumptions - not all men enjoy football! Your client may attend so as not to offend you, or make an excuse, either way it’s not a great result.”

• “If entertaining a group, include a few different elements to your entertainment so as to try an appeal to different genders and personalities.”

As a frequent traveller, you will also have been on the receiving end of a fair amount of entertainment – from gastronomic meals at the hottest restaurant in town to impossible-to-get-hold-of tickets at the latest cultural sensation. When you are sitting in one of the best seats at Milan’s La Scala opera house or watching some baseball at Yankee Stadium, the stressful side of business travel seems to disappear.

Ultimately, entertainment is down to what excites you – whether it’s slobbing in front of the hotel TV or watching an amazing theatrical performance. After all, a business trip doesn’t have to be all about work.

If you know a fabulous place to eat, sleep , relax or be entertained in while on a business trip then click here to post your nomination.