5 Business Travel Tips to Make Your Work Trips Easier

If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you probably already know there are plenty of great reasons to get “bitten” by the travel bug and to see the world. Some people are lucky enough to travel regularly for work. 

As of 2018 in the UK, there were around 710,000 outbound business trips happening every month. It’s not just Europe that has a huge business travel economy. Also in 2018, business travelers in the U.S. took over 463 million domestic flights. 

Traveling for work can be exciting, and it gives you the opportunity to see the world in ways you may have never thought possible. Some people even relocate for work or spend several weeks/months in one location working on a specific project. In those cases, you can look into things like an hbd for rent in Singapore or a long-term flat rental in Europe. 

Whether you’re traveling for a few days, weeks, or months, there are a few things you can do to make the experience easier on you – especially if you find yourself missing home and the people there. 

With that in mind, let’s look at a few tips for corporate travel to make your next trip away from home a bit easier to handle.

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1.Lose the Larger Luggage

Most airlines have baggage fees that they put in place if you decide to check your luggage at the gate. How much you’ll have to pay typically depends on the weight of your bag. But, it can cost you anywhere from $25-50 just for one bag, and even more if you’re checking two!

Beyond the cost, though, carrying a large piece of luggage around with you in a foreign country – or even domestically – is never fun, and can set a negative tone for your trip. Plus, if your luggage gets lost somewhere in transit, you won’t’ have any of your belongings to get you through the trip. 

Instead of checking your bag, try as often as possible to use a carry-on bag. That means packing light and only taking what you need on each trip. You’ll save money, time, and a lot of hassle if you do.

2.Pack Items That Prioritize Sleep

It can be hard for some people to fall asleep when they’re in a new place, especially if you had to switch timezones throughout your travels.

So, make sure to have some essentials in your luggage that can help to soothe you to sleep. Your pillow from home can make a huge difference, providing you with some familiarity and comfort. You can also use headphones to play white noise or soothing music, or even a sleep mask to make it completely dark when you’re trying to get some rest.

When you’re on a business trip, getting enough sleep is more important than ever. Sleep helps your mind and body to recoup from the day. When you get enough sleep, you’ll be at the top of your game for all of your meetings and other business ventures you’re traveling for. 

3.Don’t Forget to Pack Some Casual Clothes

Even if you’re in a new, interesting location for work, there’s a good chance you’ll have some down time to go exploring. So, don’t stuff your bag full of suits, skirts, or businesswear. Make sure you pack some casual clothes as well. You’ll be happy you did if you get a ‘day off’ or an evening to adventure out and see what the culture is all about. The last thing you want is to feel uncomfortable, so choose clothing that is appropriate for the country you’re in, and materials that feel good on you. 

4.Be Smart With Airline Rewards

Some people shy away from joining things like rewards programs. But, if you consistently fly with a specific airline, it can be worth it for the benefits you’ll receive. Airline reward programs offer a lot of unique perks, including: 

• The ability to gain ‘points’ or miles
• Hotel discounts
• Lounge memberships

Some of these reward programs even allow you to pick a travel credit card, which can help to keep all of your travel expenses on one card. That makes it easier to share with your workplace and get reimbursed for things, as needed. Just make sure you choose a card with no foreign transaction fees if you’re going to be traveling frequently out of the country.

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5.Try to Avoid Layovers

For frequent travelers, layovers can feel like a huge waste of time and productivity. While they aren’t always avoidable, do what you can to book non-stop flights to get where you’re going. Sometimes, even a 2-3 hour layover can make you tired or cause you to feel as though you’ve “lost” a day due to travel. Typically, nonstop flights aren’t as early in the morning, either, so you don’t have to wake up before the sun to catch your flight. 

Nonstop flights also make it harder for the airlines to lose your luggage, so while it’s not always easy to sit on a plane for hours at a time, it will get you to your destination faster, and potentially with fewer headaches. 

Take Advantage of Work Travel

It’s important to look at traveling for work as more than just something you “have” to do. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to see the world on a company dime! So, take advantage of as much as you can, even if you’re on a time crunch for each trip. Even if you only have a few hours to get some exploring done, don’t take that for granted! Immerse yourself in the culture, rather than going back to your hotel to get some rest. Remember, some locations may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

If you’ve traveled for your job for any length of time, you have probably already picked up some tips and tricks of your own along the way. But, keep these in mind to make the entire experience easier on yourself for future traveling. The easier work travel is, the more you’ll be able to enjoy the locations you’re visiting.

If you’re wanting to impress your clients when it comes to business, then there’s always things like Heathrow chauffeur service to consider. Why not give them a ride in style? It’s something that will definitely help build relationships and in those situations where it’s a high-profile client and therefore you’re needing to pull out all of the stops necessary. The more impressive you can be when it comes to offering business travel to clients and employees, the better it reflects on your business.