Many people think the idea of travelling for work sounds amazing, but if this is something you’re regularly used to, you’re probably dealing with jetlag, long flights, meetings scheduled in new time zones, and trying to make the trip as efficient as possible.
There are plenty of benefits of business travel, including meeting new people, working your way up the career ladder, and seeing the world, however business travellers are constantly pressed for time. Here are some top tips to improve your business travel in 2017:
Stay online
If you’re the type who can’t sleep on planes, or you’re taking a day flight, choose an airline that offers in-flight wifi. While this can be expensive, you’ll be able to work for most of the flight- meaning you can be productive and accessible as if you’re at home and you’ll have more time up your sleeve when you land.
Before leaving, either activate a roaming plan on your phone if you’re away for a few days or buy a local SIM as soon as you’re on the ground. This will allow you to easily stay in contact with friends, family members, and coworkers while you’re away.
Download Key Apps
If your company has an expense-claim platform app this can be hugely helpful, or there are a number of apps like CamScanner that allow you to scan documents like receipts and send them as pdfs. Receipt Bank is also a good way to record your company expenses.
For iPhone users, you can download boarding passes into the Wallet app, while TripAdvisor and Zomato are great for finding things to do or places to eat in your new area. Gmail, Google Docs, Skype, and Slack are all great ways options for staying on top of your workload, and Gmail Offline is a good way to get some work done while you’re away from wifi.
Plan ahead
It’s a good idea to pre-select your seat, particularly if you’re flying long-haul. SeatGuru will show you the best spots. Some airlines will block out the best seats so that their high-status fliers can choose from them, and then will release any remaining seats 24-48 hours before the flight.
If you have a long stopover, see if your airport has a hotel or pool you can access without needing to go through customers. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Singapore have excellent facilities so you freshen up and get some exercise in between flights.
Accessorise
Even if you’re only travelling carry-on, it pays to ensure that your luggage is brimming with all the portable accessories you need. That means portable battery packs, USB chargers, cables, plug converters, noise-cancelling headphones, sleep masks, laptop, kindle, phone, and of course, any medication that you need- along with melatonin or 5HTP to help with jetlag.
Buy Insurance
Don’t forget to insure yourself before you leave. If you’re travelling through the United States, this could be a hugely expensive mistake. Keep in mind that travel insurance won’t cover you if you’ve been drinking, so take it easy on those business lunches.
