If you’re a business traveler who spends a lot of time “airborne” you know that this can have a pretty negative effect on your body and mindset. Things can go off the track easily – getting caught in traffic, delayed flights, etc.
And even if everything goes according to plan, it doesn’t mean that your business trip is gonna be enjoyable. After all, business travels often require you to be on top of your game. Whether it’s doing a presentation or discussing new deals with your business partners, a long flight will not gonna do you any good.
As someone who travels pretty often, I’ve learned some simple techniques that can help you reach your destination in a good mood. Some people take these things for granted, but they can definitely have a massive impact on how you feel.
So, with no further ado, here are my 5 tips on how to make your business travel more enjoyable!
1. Planning Ahead
Leave nothing to chance! It goes without saying that you need to book your plane ticket in advance, but you also need to arrange a shuttle to be there once you land. You also need to book your stay in a hotel a few days earlier. A good advice is to deal with all the payments online so that you wouldn’t have to lose any of your precious time.
There are lots of websites that can help you with that. For example, SkyScanner is a site that can come in very handy if you want to book a plane ticket at a very affordable rate. Uber is an app perfect for getting around the city. Sites like WikiTravel, VacationIdea, and TripAdvisor are full of information about how to get around any city, without getting ripped off.
2. Fly Directly to Your Destination
In business, time means money. Direct flights might be slightly expensive than flying with few stops along the way, however, it’s a fact that they’re usually much, much faster. And if you travel frequently, even a single hour can mean quite a lot.
Not only will a direct flight save you lots of time but it will make you feel much better than you otherwise would. Your time is valuable and to make the most of your business trip, you need to arrive to your destination feeling in the right mood to make profits.
3. Stick to One Carry-On
Remember the movie Up in the Air? In this film, George Clooney’s character flies thousands of miles each month, making him a sort of expert on business travel. Well, he gave a pretty good advice to frequent flyers – always take only one piece of luggage with you!
So, why is this such a good advice? Because flying with a small carry-on with easy-to-roll wheels will save you a lot of time. You won’t have to waste any time at the baggage carousel, not to mention that you won’t have to worry that your luggage might get lost or delayed.
4. Take Photos of Your Receipts
The rule to remember is to always take photos of your receipts! Nope, not for Instagram, but for your boss’ inbox! Paper receipts can get lost easily and without them, you won’t be able to claim the expenses. Unless you want to save your company money by taking care of all the business expenses on your own, make sure to snap a couple of photos with your smartphone.
5. Money, Money, Money
Money makes the world go around, so make sure you always have some extra cash with you. Surely, credit cards are convenient but it’s always wise to have some backup. Furthermore, there might not be ATMs at every corner, so you might end up spending hours looking for one.
If you’re traveling abroad, make sure to have local currency in your pocket for emergency. Our advice is to get it from an ATM it as soon as you land. People from Choice.com have done a research on best exchange rates that backs this claim.
With a couple hundred bucks in your emergency stash, you will be able to take care of most of the problems, no matter how far from home you might be.
Featured Image by wavebreakmedia_micro
