Meeting with clients, visiting headquarters, looking at property, and getting together with teams are oftentimes ubiquitous travel trips all too familiar in the business world. Whether you’re a bonafide jetsetter or just heading out on a business trip for the first time, here are a few helpful tips:
1. Sign up for TSA Precheck or Global Entry
If there’s one thing that people hate more than flying, it’s probably waiting in line and going through security. Getting TSAPrecheck or Global Entry can save you from the stress of dealing with security and hours of waiting.
2. Go out to Dinner and Schedule Free Time
Sometimes going on a business trip can consist of hours in windowless conference rooms. To combat this kind of atmosphere, make sure to take one day off and eat out instead of at your hotel. Taking time for yourself to unwind or to socialize can oftentimes take the edge off of a stressful business trip.
3. Consider Not Checking a Bag
While some people may view carry-ons as a hassle, checking a bag can add extra time waiting time and you also run the risk of losing your luggage.
4. Make Sure You Charge All Electronic Devices
Depending on where you travel, some airports dispose of devices that are unable to be powered on. Also, there’s nothing worse than your phone dying during a stressful travel day.
5. Purchase an Airplane Headphone Jack Connector
Although this is beginning to become obsolete, oftentimes older planes will play movies and airlines will charge people for headphones that come with a specific connector.
6. Bring the Right Adapters
If you’re traveling internationally, make sure that you already have the appropriate adapters already purchased. Oftentimes, finding the right adapter in the country you are traveling in can be very difficult and confusing, especially if there is a difference in language.
7. Be Careful when Booking Flights
Many people will talk about the difference between “nonstop” and “direct” flights. Despite popular belief, “direct” flights may actually stop at another airport while “nonstop” flights will not stop at all.
8. Backup Your Documents
This may seem rudimentary, but depending on where you travel you may not always have access to wifi or data. Especially if you or your company depend on services like Gmail or Google Docs, make sure you always have a way to access files offline. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to have your presentation slides and documents backed up on a flashdrive just in case something goes wrong.
9. Keep a Printed List of Important Numbers
Although rare, there may be times when your phone randomly dies, there’s no wifi, or you lose your luggage. Having a printed list of important numbers is a good precaution just in case something goes wrong.
10. If You are Tight on Time, Dress to Impress
Lastly, if your business trip involves a presentation the day you fly out, you may want to just go to the airport in your presentation attire. You never know if your flight is going to be delayed or if your cab will end up with a flat tire. Dressing to impress ahead of time can prevent you from walking into a board meeting in jeans.
While traveling can be much more complex, with these tips, hopefully your next business trip isn’t as stressful!