Traveling for business can be a source of a lot of stress and discomfort if it’s not planned right. However, if you try to anticipate your needs and make a few important preparations beforehand you’ll make the trip that much easier and you’ll be able to focus on the tasks at hand.
For the most part, these preparations are about knowing what to expect when you get there and bringing along everything you may need. After a few business trips, this becomes that much easier since you make a routine out of it.
Driving Yourself
The easiest way to travel to a foreign country is to drive on your own. It allows you to make stops when you need to and to set up your own itinerary. However, in order to do so, you’ll need to produce the proper documents.
An international drivers association issues an international driving permit that you need alongside your national one. This document is easy enough to obtain and it’s valid for a year after it’s been issued. There’s a small fee you need to cover and it works in over 150 different countries.
Have a to Go Bag Ready
Packing is usually the most annoying chore around traveling and it becomes even more tiresome when you travel a lot and need to do it dozens of times. Having a travel bag ready, with your essentials makes things easier and allows you to make a quick decision.
It’s best to start by figuring out what items you need the most and to have them ready alongside the proper documents and the tech gadgets you need for a short trip. The bag should be a bit bigger than it needs to be in case you need to add more.
Have Some Cash at Hand
Paying with your cards is easier and it may sometimes seem like the only way to pay for things these days. However, having cash on hand can also be useful if you’re in a foreign country since cards won’t be accepted everywhere and it’s easier to tip this way.
Convert some of your money to the local currency as soon as you arrive and you’ll be set for the trip to the hotel. If you’re traveling to the same country often you can even keep some cash in the local currency in your to-go bag.
Pay Attention to Business Etiquette
Business cultures vary from place to place and what’s considered customary in one country can be rude in another. This is especially noticeable during business meetings and in another social setting. Take the time to research these differences before the trip.
It’s also important to find out what the local customs are when it comes to time and punctuality. It can be useful in a business setting and the customs are very different from what you may be used to, in some parts of the world. That way you won’t be disappointed or disappoint anyone.
