Traveling for business can be stressful and exhausting. If you don’t plan the trip properly, then you risk underperforming – which, if your career relies on your success, can be source of further stress!
You can avoid problems with a little advance preparation. Let’s take a look at a few of the steps you might take.
What to do beforehand
First and foremost, you should think about the travel documentation you’ll need to actually get to your destination. There’s nothing more embarrassing than being unable to complete a journey because you left your passport on your coffee table. Get your travel insurance documents, boarding passes, and passport sorted ahead of time, and make sure that you check that you’ve got them before departing. Make sure also that your passport is in date.
These things apply even if you’re not travelling internationally. Trains to London are often more affordable if you book in advance. You’ll also want to think about the currency you’re going to need, as you might end up spending more by picking up extra cash as you go.
Researching the Area
It’s worth putting in a little bit of research about a given area before you arrive. Have an idea of where you’re going to eat and how you’re going to spend your leisure time. How long is it going to take you to get from your accommodation to the place where you’re doing the actual work? Is it worth scouting the area in advance, either in person or on Google maps?
What might be critical is establishing that your hotel has WiFi. If it doesn’t, you might be reliant on mobile data, which can be tricky. If you’re going to be using public WiFi, then make sure that you have a VPN that’s up to the job.
It’s also worth thinking about your exercise habits – if there isn’t a hotel gym, then you might have to either go for a run around an unfamiliar place, exercise in your hotel room, or forgo exercise altogether!
What clothes do you need?
It’s worth checking out the local weather before you head out. If it’s going to rain, and you haven’t packed a coat, then you’ll have to spend money on one. By the same token, you should research what clothes you’ll need to wear for the occasion. If you’re attending a trade event, then a branded t-shirt might make more sense than full business attire – but this varies depending on your industry. It might be tempting to plan for several contingencies, but if you take more clothes than you need, then you’ll end up with cumbersome luggage.
Why is preparation so key?
If you fail to prepare adequately, then it might be obvious to the people you’re liaising with, which will reflect poorly on you and your business. If you’re travelling frequently, it’s also worth thinking about the impact that it’ll have on your health – especially if you’re eating fast food three times a day for weeks at a time.
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