I’m very lucky that The Virtual Assistant business means I can travel whenever I need to and my work just comes with me.
While I’ve only had to travel domestically so far (I’m hoping 2014 will bring some international travel… and maybe even recreational travel!), I wanted to share my top 5 tips for business travel with you.
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1. Pack light
If you’re travelling for business, it’s likely that you’ll have set appointments you’ll need to make on the day you arrive. Not having checked luggage is a huge time saver – and can mean the difference between making your appointment and being late!
When I first started travelling with work, I made sure I had a bag to suit. I have two bags that I generally use:
- My ‘day pack‘ for trips of 4 days or less
- A standard cabin sized suitcase, for longer trips.
And this is what I take:
- 2-3 outfit options (this means I will do laundry while I travel)
- A small makeup case with toiletries (again, keeping it super simple!)
- My laptop and charger
- My phone and charger
- Pen and paper.
And that’s it!
Of course I take my handbag with me — so I’ve got my purse and assorted bits and pieces that I always keep on me.
When I arrive at my destination, I can pull out my clothes and toiletries and use my day pack as my laptop bag, or just use my handbag — whatever I need for that day.
2. Leverage airline technology
Most airlines allow you to check in online — or even on your mobile phone!
Checking in before you head to the airport saves you time and the hassle of queuing at the check-in terminals or the counter.
It also means if you’re running a little behind, you can get away with only getting to your gate in time for boarding… provided you’re not checking in any luggage!
The only exception to this rule is Tiger Airways… they don’t have online check-in, so make sure you arrive more than 45 minutes before your flight is due to take off. Trust me, I’ve learned that one the hard way!
3. Plan your offline time
Air travel means you get a good amount of time without the distraction of the internet — use it wisely!
You may prefer to switch off and relax, catch up on some work, or get a head start on that business book you’ve been meaning to read. On my last flight, I started drafting this very blog post!
4. Tethering is your friend
Most smart phones these days have the option of using them as a wi-fi hotspot or connect to the internet via usb.
Wi-fi at hotels is often ridiculously expensive and can be unreliable. With domestic travel, you may find that your mobile phone data is cheaper than hotel wi-fi.
This is almost always the case for me — I’ll ring up my provider and add on an extra data bundle for the month while I’m travelling, and that will keep me going for my trip. When the next month starts, the plan automatically cancels and I’m back to my usual cap — too easy!
An alternative option to investigate is a prepaid mobile broadband device.
5. Set an out of office message
Travelling adds an extra risk to your ability to work, and it’s unlikely that your normal ‘business hours’ will apply — especially when it comes to replying to emails. For this reason, it’s always important to notify your clients of your limitations while you’re away so they don’t have unrealistic expectations.
Your out of office message may just be a notification that you’ll take a little longer to reply — or you may prefer to state you will only be able to deal with urgent enquiries until you return. Choose a message that suits you and the way you’ll be travelling.
How to you manage travelling with work? I’d love to hear your tips and tricks!
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