If you’ll be traveling internationally for your next business trip, there are a few things you can do to make your life much easier leading up to the trip, during the trip, and once you arrive back home.
Here are some things to remember before your next international business trip:
Pay any bills
Even if you’re only away for a week, it’s a good idea to take a look at your finances and ensure that anything which needs to be paid will automatically be scheduled to come out of your bank account on the right day. There’s nothing worse than arriving back home and realizing you forgot to pay for your student loans, rent, or credit card and incurred fees.
Sort out the mail
If there isn’t going to be anyone at your house, it’s a good idea to get the mail put on hold. Otherwise your house may be targeted for theft if people can see that your mail box is getting stuffed to the brim.
Another option is to get someone to swing by the house and water the plants, collect the mail, and do any other tasks necessary to keep the house running smoothly while you’re gone. If you know a teenager looking for some extra money it can be a good way to give yourself peace of mind when you’re gone.
Get all necessary visas
Be sure to check the expiration date on your passport, and remember that many countries won’t allow you to enter unless you have 6 months of validity left on your passport.
Look into any visas you might need for the country or countries you’re visiting. While Canadian citizens can enter many countries visa-free, there are still plenty of countries (such as China) where you’ll need to allow at least a few days to get a visa before you leave.
Decide how you’ll use your phone
If you’ll be taking your phone with you, you’ll probably want to be reachable. If your phone is unlocked you can easily just buy a sim card from the country you’re visiting, so you’ll be able to make calls within the country for much cheaper than if you were using international roaming.
Let your colleagues, friends, and family know which number you’ll be using, and keep that sim card somewhere safe when you return so you can use it next time.
Check your plugs
You may need either a plug adapter or voltage converter or both, depending on which country you’ll be traveling to. While you can pick them up in airports and overseas, it’s best to look for an international converter which has different plug adapters attached to it so you can use it on future business trips.
Let your bank and credit card company know you’re traveling
There’s nothing worse than arriving overseas and not having access to your money. Let your bank know in advance that you’re traveling so they don’t flag it for suspicious activity while you’re in another country. It’s also a good idea to take an extra card or two just in case and keep them in different locations.
