Even if you see business travel as a perk, it can still be very hard to manage. Not only do you have to still focus on work while you are abroad, but you are also forced to face jet lag and inconvenient coworking spaces. Not to mention uncomfortable hotel rooms and language barriers!
Experienced business travelers, however, know how much certain rules, key concepts, and apps help throughout the trip. Below, you will find the most essential tips and tricks that will save you from business trip struggles.
1. Check Your Business Travel Policy
You might be excited to book a flight and get to your destination as fast as possible, but there is one thing you should do first – read your company’s travel policy. This document usually outlines all the rules you and your executives should follow when you go on a business trip. Note down everything you should remember, including the exact steps you should take if something goes wrong. This also incorporates which companies and service providers you should book with and which expenses you get reimbursed for.
2. Utilize Loyalty Programs
Once you are ready to book, check out any loyalty programs that can give you advantages during the trip. As someone who flies a lot, you can accumulate points and use them to upgrade your flight experience, such as class, lounges, and other perks. The same goes out for hotels – even without points, you might get bonuses such as additional room service. If not, you can start collecting points from the next business trip.
3. Download Travel Management Apps
Struggling to keep track of your flights or hotel bookings? Wondering how to communicate with people abroad effectively? Travel management apps will help you control everything through one device – your smartphone. Some of the most important applications you can get include flight managers. They will provide you with real-time flight status information, delays, location, speed, and others. That way, you will know when your flight takes off and lands, even if it’s running late.
During that time, you can still tend to your job responsibilities. Some software allows you to find a place to work, eat, shower, and even sleep right in the airport or nearby. Other apps you might enjoy include taxi and ride-sharing services, currency converters, translators, and so on.
4. Connect to the Network Safely
Going on a business trip means you will still be working, just remotely, from the comfort of your hotel room or a coworking space. That also means you will have to find a safe internet connection – free hotel Wi-Fi networks are usually unprotected, with bad actors snooping through them all the time. To protect yourself from cybercriminals accessing your work data, invest in a good firewall and a VPN.
Getting an eSIM is also a great solution for a frequent flyer. Not only does it grant you a safe mobile internet connection, but it also reduces the hassle of buying a physical SIM card and switching it to your phone. For example, if you are heading to the United States, an eSIM for the USA is an ideal choice.
With eSIMs, if you are traveling to several different destinations, you can switch carriers as you arrive and get an internet connection. This way, you keep both business and personal data secure. However, it’s important to select a provider that meets your speed, coverage, and quality requirements. To find the best option, always do your research and do a thorough eSIM comparison before you purchase.
5. Track Your Expenses
Everything you spend on your business trip has to be documented. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get reimbursed for the hotels you book, flights you take, and food you eat. But budgeting seems like a huge hassle sometimes, especially when you are battling jet lag and trying to focus on important work matters.
That is where expense-tracking apps come in. These essential apps will save you the costs of travel and work hours. Still, don’t forget to save physical receipts and take photos of them to have a copy, just in case.
Combining Work and Leisure
Going on a business trip shouldn’t be a challenge – and these tips will help you make it more leisurely than labor-intensive. Use these tips and tricks to transform your next business trip into a comfortable travel experience.
