Tips for Low-Stress Business Travel

I just got back from a 3-Day Business Trip to São Paulo, Brazil and I was reflecting on the fact that the trip itself was pretty stress-free outside of meeting prep of course. So I figured it might be helpful to give some tips on what I do to ensure low-stress business travel.

PACKING TIPS FOR LOW-STRESS BUSINESS TRAVEL

Packing – I don’t really enjoy packing so I do what I can to make sure I spend as little time as possible doing it and in order to make sure I do that I use the following techniques:
- Toiletries: If you have read, my prior posts on my favorite travel accessories – click here and here to check them out -, you already know I have my toiletry bag packing down to a science and since I travel so often it stays packed and at most I have to refill a few bottles
- Clothes & Shoes: I swear by packing cubes. They keep me organized and make sure I’m not doing too much (i.e., overpacking). For a 3 day trip, I bring the small one (for socks, underwear, and PJs) and the large one (for all other clothes).
- On Board Tote or Handbag: My On Board bag contains my Laptop, Cell Phones, Cords, Current Converters, Earbuds, On-Flight Toiletries so I can easily access everything I may need during my flight.
- Carry-On: For a short trip, it is just not worth it to me to wait on luggage to come across a conveyor belt or to run the risk of my checked luggage not making it. Frankly, I’m not checking luggage unless I am traveling for longer than a week.

TIPS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO WORK WHILE TRAVELING FOR BUSINESS

On-Board WiFi: I always use (and try to book flights with) OnBoard WiFi. This way I can do any last minute meeting prep/planning that needs to be done while I am in the air.

Hotel WiFi: This is non-negotiable. My hotel room must have WiFi otherwise I am not staying there. My job is too dependent on having regular communication for me to forego this amenity. In other words, it would be way too stressful not to have it.

KEEP ORGANIZED

Pre-Set Itinerary: I try to make sure my itinerary is finalized at least 48 hours in advance so that I familiarize myself with the logistics of my trip (i.e., meeting locations and attendees, transportation, etc.) and have time for any last minute meeting preparation.

Keep All Receipts: I decide up front where I will keep all of the receipts for reimbursable expenses so I can quickly submit any T&E reimbursement requests.