Embarking on a business trip involves a blend of meticulous planning and strategic execution. As you gear up for your next professional journey, these practical insights will ensure you navigate your way through the intricacies of travel with finesse. Explore 17 of our most useful business trip tips below!
1. Planning your business trip
When planning your trip, take the time to check whether you need a visa for the country you are travelling to. Visa’s can take time to come through, and you can be asked for a lot of details/documents for the process, so best to check this out before you book the flights and plan your trip. You may also want to think about giving yourself extra time to wrap up your last call or meeting before you leave for the airport, that way you can give yourself ‘buffer’ time for overrun if needed.
2. Arrive at the airport early
Arriving at the airport on time is the most important part of the trip. Leaving yourself enough time in your diary for transit, and time in the airport will ensure you are not arriving in a panic and disorganised.
3. Business etiquette
It is clear that respecting the traditions and local culture of the country you are travelling to is essential. Business etiquette is very important in order to avoid your country’s customs that are not considered as such in other countries, for example, shaking hands, correct attire etc.
4. Choosing the right seat on the plane
Choosing the right seat can make all the difference, especially on long flights. You can find many websites on the Internet that advise you on the best seats for each flight. You can reserve your seat easily when you check in online.
5. Travelling with carry-on luggage
Choosing a carry-on bag instead of a bulky suitcase is the best solution, both for time-saving reasons such as waiting for your luggage at your destination or if you lose it, and for ecological reasons, carry-on luggage is lighter and therefore consumes less fuel.
6. Non-stop travel
If you can, choose to travel non-stop, there will be less waiting time and you will be more relaxed. In addition to saving time, you don’t run the risk of having your flight cancelled, overbooking and/or lost luggage.
7. Keep the necessary documents at hand
Passports, passwords, visa documents, tickets etc keep them all handy to facilitate the check-in process. Alternatively, if you prefer have them downloaded on your phone for ease.
8. Online check-in
Take the time to check in online beforehand to organise your time in the best possible way and avoid waiting in line. This can be done way before the day you travel so you have your boarding passes ready and downloaded as well. All these details can also be added to your diary to keep everything organised and in one place.
9. Wear clothes that are both stylish and comfortable
It’s important to wear clothes that are both stylish and comfortable in case something unexpected happens: you may need to be well-dressed for an important meeting or need to dress casually for dinner. Bear this in mind when you are also travelling long-haul and pack spare clothes if needed.
10. Think about security checks
To make security checks easier, keep items like liquids, electronics and chargers together so you can get them out quickly at the security checkpoint. The same goes for bracelets, watches and belts. You can find small, plastic sealable bags in airports to use, but always better if you can pack these separately before you arrive at the airport.
11. External battery and charged devices
Make sure you always have all the devices you need to be charged for the trip, but also having external batteries to take with you is ideal for emergency situations.
12. Travel management apps
Having taxi booking apps on your phone can simplify your trip. The iPhone offers Passbook as an app to manage all the flight details or reservations in general, while for Android, you can use Walletpasses.
13. Parking
Reserve your parking spot in advance and add the details to your diary so you don’t have to waste time wandering around town and can arrive on time for your meeting.
14. Pay attention to the internet connection
Check with your company’s IT expert about all the security methods you can implement on your computer to avoid possible attacks by connecting to networks that are not considered secure.
15. Plug adapters
Remember that not all countries use the same plugs, always carry your own adapter, and make sure you have the correct one for your destination.
16. Use your time correctly
Travelling for several hours, plus jet lag, can be stressful, but sleeping as soon as you arrive is not a good solution. The best thing you can do is get used to the local time as soon as possible. Go for a walk, exercise, or get used to your local surroundings to avoid falling asleep too early.
17. Save your receipts and send them in
Keep all your receipts! You’ll need them later for your expense reports to claim reimbursement. If your company has expense management software, it can be helpful to download the app to your phone to keep track of your expenses. For added convenience, you can also take a picture of all your invoices so you don’t risk losing them.
Explore our travel admin services for your next business trip
Are you in need of a virtual business assistant to help with your travel plans? Look no further than Every Cloud Virtual Business Services. We have got your travel admin covered, as well as range of other services, which you can explore here. Get in touch to make your next business trip a stress free experience!
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