If traveling for business is often an essential aspect of your job, then you may either love getting the chance to get out of the office for a while or consider it to be a necessary evil that you unfortunately can’t get out of. Either way, traveling on business doesn’t have to be stressful or an obstacle to your productivity, and by being prepared for your trip in advance, you can make the most of your time away. By organizing your trip, you can ensure that you get all of your work done while you are there, meaning you are free to relax when you come home.
All business trips require some level of preparation, but some business trips can go on for weeks or even months at a time, meaning that you will need to make more long-term arrangements. Don’t forget that the more prepared you are for your trip, the more enjoyable it will be. To give you a helping hand, here is everything you need to know about how to prepare for your next business trip.
Check You Have All the Correct Documents
While it can seem pretty obvious that you will need to have your travel documents (e.g. passports and visa requirements) ahead of your business trip, they are often the easiest things to forget. You may be shocked at just how many people forget their passport when going away, and you don’t want to be one of them! Not only should you ensure that you have your passport, but you also need to check that your passport is valid for up to six months from the last day you travel. The six-month validity passport rule is general practice when visiting most countries and is especially important if you are going on a long-term business trip for a few weeks or months.
Get Travel Insurance
A business trip is just like any other trip that you go on, so as usual, you will also need travel insurance to protect you while you are away. You may find that your company provides you with travel insurance to cover your trip for work purposes, but you should check this with your employer before you travel. Even if your company does provide you with travel insurance, it is important that you know exactly what the policy does and doesn’t include, and you may decide to buy extra coverage for your personal items such as laptop and phone.
Find the Right Accommodation
Finding the right accommodation is often the make or break of your business trip, especially if you are going to be away from home for multiple weeks. If you have somewhere homey and comfortable to stay, you will likely enjoy your business trip a lot more, while boosting your productivity from being well-rested.
You should try and book your accommodation as soon as possible, as the best places for professionals are usually booked up far in advance. If your trip is likely to last a few months at a time, you may want to consider looking at apartments in Chicago that are available for both short and long-term lets. For example, companies like Blueground have furnished apartments that offer you a more comfortable and central place to stay during your business trip, and with their amenities you can enjoy the privacy you wouldn’t get by staying in a hotel. Their Chicago home listings provide you with a number of options around the city for your next business trip.
Talk to Your Company About Their Travel Policy
Before you head off on your trip, you should speak to your employer to find out what the company’s travel policy includes. This is important, as you may find that you can claim back any expenses for your trip. However, there may be stipulations in your company’s travel policy, meaning that you have to stay in certain places and will only get so much money towards your accommodation and flight costs. Your place of work may even be able to offer you some good tips and suggestions on how to make your business trip more enjoyable and productive.
You Will Need Wi-Fi
If you want to be as productive as possible throughout your trip, then you are going to need Wi-Fi while you are away. This not only means staying somewhere that offers Wi-Fi at your accommodation, but you may also decide to invest in a portable Wi-Fi device so that you can work while on the go. Business trips often require a lot of travel time, so being able to spend that time productively will ease your workload.
A business trip doesn’t have to be an inconvenience to you, and by being prepared, you can make your trip both productive and enjoyable.