The Ultimate Guide to Travelling for Work

Are you living the nomadic lifestyle that comes with travelling for work? Is it leaving you knackered and out of sorts? Well, it doesn’t need to. Staying organised and on top of things can change your entire travel experience, and save you from wasting time.

Let's look at the best ways to go about travelling for work:

Organise Your Travel Details In One Place

Having all your travel documents in order will go a long way to keeping you organized and on time. Tackle this problem, 21st-century style, by using an app like TripIt that keeps track of all your travel details in one place.

Some of the ‘lesser’ travel details that are often overlooked are things like where you parked your car, or your room number at the hotel. Losing your hired car will no doubt leave you gutted, not to mention - late.

Taking photos is sometimes the best way to keep track of these little details. Keep your phone handy, and make sure there’s plenty of space on your memory card before you depart.

Stay Connected

Crossing borders can be tricky for those who need to stay connected 24/7, and in the business world today, we know just how important this is.

In the midst of changing SIM cards and phone numbers, you don’t want to be uncontactable while you’re away. So, be sure to make use of VoIP services that help you stay connected by using call forwarding during your time abroad.

Make sure you speak to your mobile service provider about data roaming if you’re travelling internationally. This way you’ll be able to best make use of the VoIP services that you require.

Try Not to Check In Any Luggage

This may seem like an impossible feat, but just hear us out. Buy ‘wrinkle-free’ clothing to make sure you still look like a ledge when you rock up at your meeting in clothes that were packed in your carry-on. Pack your clothes in compression bags, to make the most of the little space you do have.

Be sure to wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane. Why? Because then they don’t have to fight for space in your hand luggage. By not checking in luggage, you’ll save yourself time and you’ll save yourself the stress of lugging around a big bag for the rest of your trip.

Book the Right Accommodation

The right accommodation won’t always be the cheapest, or the fanciest, or the one with the best amenities. Actually, the right accommodation is usually the closest hotel or B&B you can find to your place of work during your travels.

Because, when entering a new city, you often have no idea what the traffic situation is going to entail. So, if push comes to shove, you might need to walk. In this instance, you’re going to want it to be as close as possible. This will also cut down substantially on travel costs.

Give Yourself Enough Time

Having too much time is always better than having too little. Rushing from the airport straight to your meeting is never a good idea, because there are some things a bucket of hair gel and a breath mint can’t fix (no matter what your uni roommate told you.)

No matter how organised you think you are, there are plenty of things you have no control over, like flight delays and peak hour traffic.

Give yourself an extra hour, and if everything goes according to plan, you’ll have more time to explore the city or grab a cuppa before your next flight out.

Entertain Like a Pro

If you have clients to entertain, there’s no doubt you’ll want to impress them. So, do a little research - it’s easier than you think! Take a look at Tripadvisor reviews, ratings and recommendations before settling on a decision.

Be sure to take a look at the menu, too. Make sure you can afford it, and always call ahead to reserve a table for you and your special guests. Being turned away at the door will leave you far from chuffed.

A Final Thought

While following the tips above, be sure to hold on to all your receipts, and file them neatly away. Having to fork out money from your own pocket would be a very sour end to what could have been an otherwise great business trip.

Remember that things aren’t going to go according to plan every time, so stay flexible and adaptable - it’s the best way to tackle the nomadic lifestyle head-on.