Business trips are the proverbial marmite – some people love them, while others dread them! There are always many things to consider before you step on the aeroplane. And if it’s your first time, or it’s gone horribly wrong previously, then the experience can be very stressful.
Whether the trip you have coming up is the first one you have to plan, or you’ve done it before and had a terrible experience, then there are some smart things you can do to make everything easier. To help you prepare for your journey, we’ve listed the top things that will need your attention before it’s time to go to the airport.
Packing
Packing everything you need is a vital part of preparing for your business trip. Imagine if you accidentally leave your laptop charger at home and can’t use your laptop for a business meeting. It would be a disaster, right?
A simple yet effective way to combat this is to write a list of everything you need before heading out the door. This way, if you need to pack items last minute, you can do so without worrying that they’ve been forgotten.
Paperwork
It’s an obvious point to get your travel documents in order but you’d be surprised how many people get this wrong! For example, when visiting some countries, you must have a certain amount of months left on your passport. If not, they won’t let you into the country. And if you’re a frequent flyer and are running out of empty pages, then it’s time to renew your passport.
It’s vital that you check all the rules before turning up at the airport.
And make sure not to forget about visa requirements too. Depending on where you live will ultimately determine what travel agreements your country has with the one you are visiting.
So, make sure you sort out all paperwork before you book your trip. That way, there are no nasty surprises. And don’t leave home without all the travel documents you need!
Airport parking
The process of getting on the aeroplane can be stressful. You need to get there on time, then navigate check-in, security and the gate itself. And getting your car parked can be a major hassle. Finding available slots can be tricky, and parking options can also be expensive. Making sure your car is safely parked while you’re away can also be a worry! Take the stress away by sorting your parking well in advance with a great provider.
If you’re flying through Bristol Airport, then make sure you check out Bristol Airport Parking and get the best rated off-site parking closest to the airport, at affordable prices.
Hotel with WiFi
Access to reliable WiFi in the business world is a necessity, not a luxury. Therefore, you’ll need to easy access to a quality network at your hotel. Most hotels these days will have WiFi, but a surprising amount of them don’t have a decent service.
To prevent yourself from running into problems when you arrive at your hotel, check before booking that it has decent WiFi. However, if you find yourself in a position where no hotels at your destination offer WIFI or they do but it’s ridiculously expensive, then you have one more option at your disposal: a portable WIFI device. Also think about investing in a VPN. It’ll help prevent your devices being hacked and your information stolen while abroad.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is easily seen as an extra expense that’s not needed when flying, and this goes for both personal and business trips. Do not make this mistake. Hopefully, you won’t need to use it, but the reality is we live in a very unpredictable world, so as the saying goes “better safe than sorry.”
When you take out travel insurance, your devices and health should be covered. This means that you can have peace of mind throughout your trip, letting you focus on the important stuff.
Local money
In a lot of cases, using your standard credit or debit card to make purchases abroad is a mistake. This is because hefty fees are added to every transaction you make. Plus, the exchange rate you’ll get on the transactions will most likely be very unattractive.
To prevent this from happening, it is a good idea to get a travel money card or buy currency cash that can be used in the country you’re visiting before you go. Either way, do some research to find the best deal for your money.
Cultural differences
Unique rules and customs appear in every country you visit. So, if you haven’t done your research, you may end up embarrassing yourself – never a good idea, especially in front of your clients!
Let’s look at South Korea, for example. Did you know that giving or receiving an item to someone else using only one hand is seen as disrespectful? That’s why it’s worth browsing the internet to learn more about the country you’re visiting.
Current medication
If you’re on any form of medication and need to take it during your trip, it’s a good idea to stock up before you go. This way, you won’t need to worry about running out when it’s already too late to do anything about it. And wherever you’re going, make sure you check that the meds you need are available there, and are actually permitted. Many run-of-the-mill UK medications are banned in some countries.
Adapters
As we’ve already discussed, having access to the internet is crucial. But what if you have WiFi but have no way to charge your laptop or phone? Unfortunately, universal plugs are not a thing in today’s world.
This means that you’ll need to research what type of plug socket is used in the country you’re visiting. Following this, you should purchase a few adapters before going on the trip. Airports and hotels abroad may have adapters, but the majority of the time, it will be cheaper to simply buy them in your home country.
Language
Going to a foreign land that speaks an entirely different language can be difficult. Yes, it’s common for English to be spoken as a second language. However, this isn’t always the case.
Therefore, to prevent any problematic situations from occurring, it’s recommended to learn a few helpful phrases. It could help you out when a problem occurs – and in any event, speaking to people in their own language when abroad is always appreciated, even if you make a mess of it!
Final thoughts
Going on a business trip can be exciting and stressful at the same time. On one hand, you get to explore a brand-new place that can have amazing food, scenic sites and even more to experience outside of those all-important meetings. On the other hand, it can be easy to make errors that can derail your trip. The more preparation you do in advance, the less chance of things going wrong. And if they do, you’ll be prepared for it.
