Reply to: How far do you/ would you travel for a contract?

[Robinho]

Hmm. Do you tell you clients this or just bill an extra couple of hours every day?

No, i work this out in my head to verify if the job is worth the travel before singing a contract.

[BolshieBastard]

I've done the M-F hotel for years and have no problem with it - wife loves it too!
I did a gig 66 miles from home so drove each way (80 mins) every day and that was crap - up and down the M6 isn't fun.
I finish early on Fri and am home in time to pick my daughter up from school which is great too.

Thank God for Virgin Traveller Club though - saves me a fortune in train fares!

When I first started contracting in 97, I stayed in hotels M-F for 22 months. Never again! Every time I've worked away since, I've rented a gaff as its a lot more civilised and didnt really work out more expensive.

Until recently, I was doing a 160 mile a daily return commute for 4 years. Mind, that was mainly M-T with Friday off. 35 hour week help as well.

[VirtualMonkey]

Furthest I've done daily is 2 hours through the back roads of Lincolnshire from Hull to Spalding.
Nightmare trip and permanently exhausted. I've been very luck the last 3 gigs. North Yorkshire (1h15ew), Normanton (55m ew), and now Newbury (4 hours each way, staying over two nights but 2 days wfh and leave at 12 on the day i drive back)
Don't think I'll see another one like this though so just hoping it continues

Given the choice I'd take a rate cut and work closer to home. Time witht he wife and kids is far more important to me than money s long as bills are paid.

[psychocandy]

Yeh. 1hr 45mins to London on train from where I live.

Often wondered if it'd be doable daily if it came down to it. Guess it would depend on how much onward travel once you got to Paddington as well.

But not sure how long you could cope with 2 hrs+ each way. But 2 hours on train is MUCH better than 2 hours driving - at least you can have a kip....

Season ticket for train aint that bad and still probably cheaper than a hotel every night.

[psychocandy]

I've done the M-F hotel for years and have no problem with it - wife loves it too!

Worrying ???

[quackhandle]

Never realised how driving for 3 hours a day mon-fri can take it out of you. I think I'd have been divorced by now if I had not quit the gig. Getting the train now, much nicer.

Best commute I had was at M$. Walk 5 mins (in summer/autunm so lovely weather) then free bus to TVP. Zero cost commute.

qh

[d000hg]

I just add my hourly rate to the commute time.

Hmm. Do you tell you clients this or just bill an extra couple of hours every day?

[ChimpMaster]

It's a good 60 miles for me each way along the dreaded M1/M25... but it doesn't work out too bad on most days. Frankly, after years of working away from home for consultancies, I am just glad to get home each night.... it really is priceless to be with the family and be able to live your life as normal people do.

It would take a lot of money to make me work away from home now, but that's only because I've been fortunate enough to build up a reasonable financial backing.

[TraceRacing]

I spent 6 months in China back in 2009.... wonderful....all expenses paid and £400 / day...

[MarillionFan]

Forty mins on a boat followed by either a 45 min drive or 45 min train journey, depending on which office I'm going to.

Nice !!

Ah. Bless.

[SueEllen]

How can you ever use air transport without being knackered? All that waiting around is just so sapping... if it was like boarding a train the world would be so much better!

London City Airport

[kingcook]

In an ideal world, i would do the following:

1) Have a base daily rate - this is what i'd charge if WFH
2) If required to commute, add an extra charge of £x/hr + cost of travel
3) If an overnight stay, add another charge of £y to cover the inconvenience of being away from home.

But it never works out that way. It all depends on how big your warchest is, and how many other gigs are on the market.

[Robinho]

I just add my hourly rate to the commute time. Unless it gets above above 1 1/4 hours then it goes up exponentially.

[Scrag Meister]

If it was relatively short term, anywhere is possible for the right rate.

But it would have to be stay over, the one thing I hate is a long commute.

When I was in Devon with my previous firm I was about 5 mins from door to door.

Now I'm in London it's about 45-50 mins door to door assuming the tube or bus doesn't mess up.

Anything more than an hour or hour and a quarter each way daily is not good.

[Logiebear]

For me, it is more about the money and family, the project is largely irrelevant to me.

It'd have to be a really high premium to make not seeing my kids worth it.

Definately have to agree with the above!