Nothing beats a travel adventure and many of us are lucky enough to get time off work that allows us to suit ourselves and explore what our destination has to offer. However, there are others among us that get to travel the world just through what they do for a living.
If you are lucky enough to be given the chance to enjoy a business trip away, whether that’s domestically or overseas, then it’s important to make the most of the experience. Yes, there’s work to do, but if you make the right preparations you can ensure that the trip is truly memorable. Here are five tips to help you do so.
1. Get to know your surroundings
Make sure you do some research before you head off and consider what’s close by. If you’re staying in a hotel then find it on Google Maps and take a look around. You may find there are interesting attractions, bars or restaurants within a short walking distance.
Consider where any meetings are being held and plot your route between each point, including potential stop-offs you can make along the way if you have the time.
2. Invest in a lighter laptop
If you’re traveling with work then it’s likely you’ll have a laptop with you to manage emails, documents or to run through a presentation. It’s also fairly likely that you’ll be carrying this around most of the time, so consider getting something that doesn’t weigh too much.
These days there’s more choice than ever when it comes to laptops best suited for travel and you need not spend thousands on high-spec equipment.
3. Take along a power bank
There are few feelings worse than running out of juice on your phone, tablet or laptop when you’re out and about, and it’s even more annoying if you’re many miles from home or hotel room. But these days there’s no excuse for that to be an issue.
Many modern power banks are smaller than a deck of cards and carry enough charge to keep your gadgets topped up throughout your trip.
4. Consider the best way to get around
Once you have your route and calling points sorted then you need to consider how you’ll get from A to B. Public transport can be an option if you’re prepared to do the research and are confident decoding local maps, while taxis are convenient but often expensive.
For longer trips, you may consider going by car. If your employer provides you with a vehicle then you should consider the logistics of taking this with you, while also ensuring you have the right commercial vehicle insurance in place. It’s possible to get a policy tailored to your needs, giving you the reassurance of cover in the unfortunate event of a collision or breakdown. If necessary, such a policy may provide you with a courtesy rental so your trip can continue unhindered.
If taking your vehicle with you isn’t an option then you may consider renting a car at your destination. These days, you can do most of the paperwork online before you set off, which is a time saver. Speaking of which…
5. Don’t waste time
When you find a nice bar or café, it can be tempting to roll away the hours staring at the same four walls, or, worse still, waste away in your hotel room. But if you are to truly make the most of your business trip then you have to get out there and explore.
Build in your meetings and time allocated for work, but be equally as disciplined with your free time and work in as much variety as possible. You may never get the chance to visit again, so don’t use the fact it’s a business trip as an excuse for not having fun!
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