Life’s on the up for you at the moment – you’re doing great work in a high-flying career, or maybe even running your own business, and the opportunity has come up for you to take your first business trip either at home or abroad. But if you’ve never been on a business trip before, it’s pretty normal if you’re just not sure what on earth to expect. The run-up to your first business trip can be fairly nerve-wracking, especially if you’re not used to traveling, you need to give a big presentation for the first time, or you’re meeting with an important client – with a lot riding on that meeting. So, careful preparation is absolutely key to ensuring that you can give it your best and get the results that you need. Here is a list of tips that you might find useful.
#1. Make a Packing Checklist
Being away from home means that you probably won’t have access to everything that you’re used to having, so it’s worth sitting down and doing some serious brainstorming in the few days before you set off. It’s a good idea to write a list of everything that you’ll need to bring – not just for work, but also for your own personal use. Put together a list of essentials including clothing, toiletries, and items that you’re going to need for work. As you pack, you can go through your list and check items off so you’re sure you’ve got everything you need.
#2. Choose Comfortable Accommodation
Living out of a tiny hotel room can quickly become annoying and uncomfortable when you’re on a business trip, especially if you’re staying for multiple weeks. It’s worth looking into alternative accommodation options like Blueground’s serviced apartments for rent in Boston, which offer a home-from-home vibe with a wide range of facilities and amenities including a fully equipped kitchen, separate living, dining and bedroom areas, and your own laundry facilities. In addition, these premium serviced apartments available from Blueground often work out cheaper than staying in a hotel. Plus, you can save money on associated costs like eating out, paying for launderettes, and hiring conference rooms – you’ll have the space to hold meetings right there instead.
#3. Avoid Checking Luggage
A large suitcase allows you to pack more, but it can also be a massive source of extra stress and expenses for your trip. Dragging heavy luggage through a city that you’re not familiar with can be a nightmare, so it’s a good idea to try and pack as lightly as you can. If you’re only going to be in your destination for a few days, then cabin luggage only should suffice – and, you won’t need to wait around for it to come off the carousel after you land, so you can get your trip started faster. If you can’t avoid taking checked luggage with you, then it’s worth investing in a lightweight suitcase that’s easy to push or pull.
#4. Bring Business Cards
Bear in mind that during your business trip, you won’t just be networking with existing clients and people who’re already aware of you and what you do – there will also likely be ample opportunities to network with more professionals and further spread the word about your company. So, it’s worth bringing some business cards with you. If you don’t have business cards, now is a great time to get them printed. If you’re going to be traveling abroad for your business trip, then it can be a nice touch to get your business cards translated and printed in the language – not only does this show that you really care about these little touches, but it can also open up even more connections for you.
#5. Prioritize Your Comfort
Business trips can be highly stressful – traveling, in general, is stressful, let alone when you add work into the mix – so make sure that your comfort is a top priority. During your flight, make sure that you are wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and comfortable shoes, drink plenty of water and take some moisturizer and Chapstick to help avoid your skin drying out on the plane. If you’ve got to rush to a meeting as soon as you touch down, then it’s worth taking an outfit that you can quickly change into on the top of your cabin luggage bag.
#6. Keep Important Information on You
Use your phone or make a list in your notepad to come up with a list of important information that you can keep on you at all times. Include items like your flight check-in and departure times, your hotel or apartment address, business appointments, and where you’ve parked at the airport back at home. When you’re rushing around to get everything done, having this list on you will help to relieve some stress and keep you on track.
Good luck with your first business trip!