Are you all set for your business trip? Whether you are going on a business trip for the first time or are a frequent traveler, it is better to keep yourself prepared. Here are business travel tips that will help you handle your business trip like a pro. Many view the business trips as one of the worst parts of their job. The stress of policy-compliant booking, busy airports, packing, and tolerating the snoring passenger near you can be overwhelming. There are a lot of things that you need to manage on your own.
Of course, things like the travel policy of your company, how often you travel, the destination and purpose of your trips have a lot to do with how you enjoy your business trip, but most of these are aspects on which employees have little control. What is in the hands of a business traveler, however, is a strategy. Having the right strategies to approach the several steps of a business trip can make all the difference to a physically and emotionally exhausted business traveler.
Important Business Travel Tips
Booking- There are several perks to be chosen in the booking process. Seeking these tips can be useful for both reducing and eliminating travel stressors and raising luxury or comfort. In simple words, they make the bad stuff go, and the good stuff comes to you. So, one of the important business travel tips is you must start by choosing a frequent flier or airline points program that works beneficial for your requirements as well as your company’s. Mainly for those frequent business travelers, those miles can add up fast and be exchanged for many great rewards, including hotel stays, cabin upgrades, or entire flights. Also, today, more and more loyalty programs are collaborating with different credit card companies to design co-branded cards. This means your weekly grocery buying can even help you get your next flight.
Limit your luggage to Carry-on- Travel is often stressful when you worry about lost luggage or arriving late in a meeting. It is always better to bring just a carry-on with you, check-in your flight online, and head over to security at the airport. If you do not check baggage, you will not have to wait for it after landing.
Tips for packing while going for a business trip
It generally takes one or two trials before you can feel confident about what you are packing. Try to remove a few clothes after you have packed them. This will allow you to shed any type of unnecessary items you possibly will not wear on your business trip.
While packing for your business trip, keep this rule of thumb in mind:
Things to pack for a business trip for males- It is recommended to pack not more than two suits for each trip. You have the liberty to mix and match your ties and shirts for changing your look.
Things to pack for a business trip for females- Pack a maximum of 2 blazers with a matching pair of skirt and trousers. Always select neutral tones instead of busy patterns.
Choose your color theme- This is one of the important international travel tips. Packing light contributes to the color theme of your clothing. Choose dark colors, like dark black or blue, and carry color-complementary blouses, shirts, or accessories to mix and match whenever required. Remember, selecting a dark shade gives you a professional look and helps in hiding stains.
Always carry a backup- This one is important. Your backup charger is regarded to be your backup plan. From last-minute calls to replying to your emails, it will not serve you any benefit if you cannot find an outlet to charge your device. It is always better to carry a fully charged backup battery that is compatible with all your devices.
Check your flight beforehand- This is not only in the list of important business travel tips but is also applicable for all trips. There are specific times of the year when the weather can affect the departure and arrival of flights than usual. Before you leave for the airport, check the status of your flight. If your flight is delayed, then you can inform your client that you will arrive a bit late.
Additional Business Travel Tips
Carry extra business cards. You can make a great first impression and arrive fully prepared for sudden networking by keeping extra business cards with you.
Signup for regular flyer programs. Once you start to travel often for business, you will be glad that you signed up for at least one frequent flyer program to earn airline-specific benefits.
Book an extensive trip. Adding a day to your business stay can help you to balance both work and leisure on your business trip. Rest or explore places during your free time to make the most out of your business trip.
Always keep customer-service numbers saved in your phone- Keeping customer service numbers handy provides quicker access to the right people if a flight gets canceled or you need to change your hotel or reserve your car, instead of waiting in the queue once you reach there.
Join rewards program- Take advantage of your corporate travel to attain points or miles on your hotel, airline, or travel card of your choice. You must also select a credit card without overseas transaction charges.
Before you start your journey, charge all your electronic items. Your laptop, tablet, and phone all must have plenty of battery to help you pass your time productively when you are in the airport. This way, you can avoid the fight for an outlet at your gate.
Use programs that fasten up your travel. Check in to your flights online and find whether the flight is delayed or on time. Make sure you print your boarding pass before you start for the airport. Apply for TSA Pre-check and Global Entry to gain full access to faster-moving security and customs across the world.
Prefer non-stop flights. Layovers make trips lengthy. A two or three-hour stop in the middle of your trip can mean spending an additional on the road and waking up earlier than required.
Make payment for an airport lounge membership. Most airlines offer lounges with a lot of outlets, food, and quiet space for a reasonable price. You can spend your time waiting for your flight in a calm place without any hustle-bustle.
Take printouts of confirmation numbers. While no one imagines losing their phone, there are chances that it may run out of battery just now when you need your boarding pass or your confirmation number. So, to avoid this chaos, it is better to print your itinerary and keep a copy in your bag.
Pack healthy food. This is one of the vital business travel tips because travel is stressful for your body. Purchasing or packing healthy snacks will help you to keep yourself fit while traveling.
Ready, steady, and go! If you travel frequently and all too often you forget those travel necessities, carry a go-bag that is semi-packed so that you are prepared for your next trip. You can pre-pack all your important things like a toothbrush, socks, undergarments, and over-the-counter medicines.
Have patience. Last but not the least, be patient. There are times when the security lines may be quite long, and the crowds are huge at the airport. So, take a deep breath and relax.