Do you travel quite a lot for business? If so then you need to make sure that you are as efficient as possible. If you don’t put a main focus on efficiency then you may find that you end up wasting hours on end waiting around between flights or catching trains when you just don’t need to, and this can be draining when you are on the go.
If you want to work around this then make sure that you follow the tips outlined below.
Confirm your Reservation
Have you shown up to the airport, only to find that you only have a reservation and that you haven’t paid yet? This is a common issue if you book through a travel agent or if you go through a sponsor. Always confirm the reservation that you have, a few days before you travel. Confirming means going the extra step and making sure that everything is verified. If you have an airline ticket then take the time to look up the reference number along with your name so you can make sure that your ticket has been purchased. If you have a hotel reservation, call the hotel right away and make sure that any special accommodations are met. Do this with all of your car rental reservations, your train tickets and more.
It’s easier for you to fix an issue two days ahead than it is for you to try and do it all on the spot. If you intend to take a trip around the city before you check in then use a luggage storage unit. If you’re traveling to London for example, you can look into a Kings Cross locker, or a Kings Cross left luggage service. It saves you hauling bags around when you just don’t have to.
Don’t Settle for a 3-hour Layover
When booking business travel, it’s wise for you to avoid layovers that are more than three hours. If you are being asked to make a connection and you don’t have enough time for this then you need to make sure that you don’t approve the ticket. Show up two hours early if you are familiar with the airport, and show up three hours early if it is not very familiar to you. If you can do this then you are bound to get a good result out of your travel experience.
Renew your ID
If you have not traveled much in the last couple of years then make sure that you check the expiration date on your passport. You also need to check your other ID if you can. Leave yourself plenty of time so you can renew any of your personal documentation and make sure that you give some thought to processing times. If you have a passport then it is advisable for you to leave someone who is trusted with a black-and-white image of your passport photocopy. You can save a digital copy for yourself as well but do make sure that you save one for yourself. If your passport is lost or stolen, you can get the details from your page which will help you to find out where the nearest embassy is. You can also get a new emergency passport as well which is great, to say the least.
Check for Requirements
Do you have everything you need to connect to the required servers? Do you have everything you need for your systems to work? There is a chance that over the years, your IT team has beefed up their policies regarding security, so the last thing you want to be doing is using a network that is not secure. If you want to work around this then one thing you can do is use a VPN. This is very easy to set up and you would be surprised at how much extra security it could give you when you are in a foreign country.
Small Bills
Did you know that you should always leave a tip for the cleaning staff whenever you check out of a hotel? Not many people are aware of this tipping rule but it is essential. While tipping is not a universal custom, you should leave a little something for staff if they have gone the extra mile to ensure you have had a positive stay. Leave some cash in the room and always carry small bills with you. Write staff a note saying “thank you” and you will soon find that they are appreciative of your efforts. You may also need some cash for the bellhop who works at the hotel, so budget for this if you can.
Label your Chargers
If you happen to be attending a conference or even a large business meeting then there is a very high chance that a lot of people will have the same charger and cables as you. Label yours. Nobody has ever regretted owning a label maker, so take some with you and make sure that you tag everything. If you do this, with any USB bricks and things you do not want to lose then it’ll benefit you quite a lot in the long run.
Save Files
Many people use Google Docs offline when traveling. They also save website pages and articles so that they can read them later. If you want to do this then make sure that you save an offline copy. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to get the result you ended and that it becomes easier than ever for you to save your data. Categorize your files and documents too because if you save everything in one place then this can make it very difficult for you to access what you need when you need it so make sure that you remember this as it could have a major impact on your trip as a whole. Take screenshots on your phone of important flight information too, in case you can’t access them later on.