Nine tips for making business travel a breeze

Traveling for business, as opposed to traveling for leisure, presents its own set of challenges but that does not mean that business travel should not be enjoyable. To help relieve some of the stress of travel, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you plan your trip, pack your bags, and be on your way!

1. Pack light 
Depending on how long you’ll be traveling, you may only need one or two work-appropriate outfits and some leisure clothes. Be careful not to over pack, hauling excess luggage around will create more hassle and stress than it’s worth. Another smart tip is to wear one of your business outfits to the airport. Opt for a carry-on to avoid checking in baggage to save yourself some time waiting for it at the baggage claim after your flight.

2. Charge up
Charge your electronics overnight to make sure that you’re ready to go in the morning and that you’re not going to miss important travel information or calls due to an uncharged phone or laptop. Another option is to bring along a USB power bank to charge your electronics during travel or to have in case of an emergency.

3.  Buy a global SIM card
Buying a global SIM card is crucial for domestic and international travel because it allows you to make safe and secure calls from anywhere in the world. SIM cards, such as those produced by BNESIM, can also provide you with data so you can check your emails and stay in contact with the office. International internet and data fees can be prohibitive and hard to find, using a global SIM card will save you time and money as you navigate the planet.

4. Stay hydrated
Be sure to drink enough water before, during, and after your flight. Staying hydrated will prevent jet lag as well as other travel-related discomforts including headaches and nausea. Keep a water bottle with you or purchase one at the airport. Most airlines will also offer your water during your flight as well.

5.  Keep your essentials on hand
Pack your essential items (chargers, wallet, tickets, etc.) separate from the rest of your luggage to have them close at hand during travel. Many airlines will allow for a personal baggage such as a purse or briefcase to be carried on the plane at no additional cost. Keeping essentials with you will stop you from having to inconveniently rummage through your luggage to find small items.

6. Sign up for frequent traveler programs
For those who are frequent international travelers, you can save a lot of time and effort by registering for pre-check programs. Customs and border protection agencies usually run these programs and allow travelers to bypass long security check lines. Registering for these programs typically involve an online application, followed by a brief interview at an application center. There is a cost associated with these programs so the program may not be worth the price for an infrequent traveler, but will save a frequent flier hours of standing in security.

7. Check the weather report in your destination
One simple thing travelers often forget is to check the weather in their destination and to plan their outfits and post-arrival transportation accordingly. Dressing in layers is an excellent idea for someone traveling between very different climates, for example, departing from an area where it’s snowing and 25 degrees and arriving where it is 90 degrees and sunny. Travelers can add or take off layers according to the weather.

8. Ask for upgrades
Frequent fliers know that one of the best ways to get better seats on their flights or better hotel rooms is to simply ask the gate agent or front desk staff. Be polite and friendly, and ask if there are upgrades available and if so, if they could consider you to move up. If there are no upgrades, you will be no worse off for asking. One hint: A little kindness will go a long way with staff. Always be courteous and try not to be pushy.

9.  Add wiggle room to your schedule
When setting your travel agenda, especially in a new or unfamiliar city, be sure to add in extra time around your engagements for travel and in case of unanticipated events and be as flexible as possible when setting up meetings, check-in times, and other arrangements. Giving yourself this extra time will also help you to relax and refresh yourself after long travel hours and will ease some of the anxiety of business travel.
Business travel has a bad reputation for being stressful and a hassle, but it doesn’t need to be! Using these tips and learning a few of your own can make business travel more enjoyable and will help you to focus on the purpose of your trip rather than the details surrounding it.

Need a SIM card for business travel? Check out BNESIM.com to find the right card for you.