Whether you work away from home regularly, or it is a one-off trip, it can be stressful, trying to think about everything that you need to be prepared.
When you’re planning your trip take the time to research both the dress code of the company you are visiting and the climate in your destination city. This will inform your decisions about what you might wear while you are there.
What to Pack
It can be useful to make a list of things to pack so that you can be sure that you don’t forget anything at the last minute. Things you’ll want to bring with you are:
- Phone, wallet and keys.
- Travel documents.
- Clothing to wear while you are onsite, and clothing to wear in the evenings. Don’t forget to pack both business and comfortable shoes and bring an extra change of clothes and underwear just in case!
- Toothbrush and toiletries.
- A book, laptop or tablet to stay occupied both on the plane and while you are in the hotel in the evenings.
- Chargers for your electronic devices.
- Here, you should get familiar with the rules and regulations regarding electronic devices. Each country and airline may have specific guidelines, so it is essential to check beforehand. For instance, if you are wondering, “can you take a power bank on a UK plane?”, it is recommended to review the regulations set by the UK Civil Aviation Authority or the specific airline you will be flying with.
- Notes for your meeting, and any presentations or other documents saved to your laptop. You don’t want to have trouble on the day retrieving them from a network location so it’s best to save them directly to your computer if you can.
The night before you leave, lay out the clothes you will be travelling in, and make sure you have snacks for the journey prepared, so you’re not leaving anything to the last minute.
Getting to The Airport
Always allow more than enough to get to the airport in case there is unexpected traffic or other delays. It’s better to arrive early and wait for your flight quietly with a book than to be late and miss it!
Airport parking can be surprisingly time-consuming, and availability isn’t guaranteed, so be sure to book your EWR airport parking in advance to give yourself one extra thing to worry about on the day.
Create an Itinerary
While you’re on your trip, it doesn’t have to be all work, work, work! Take the time to research the town or city that you are visiting and decide what activities you would like to do while you are there, and what restaurants you would most like to eat at.
Taking the time to relax and unwind in the evenings will make you much more productive during the day, and you’ll give yourself the opportunity of experiencing a whole new place.
Choosing Your Hotel
When choosing your hotel to try to choose one that is both in easy commuting distance of your destination and within easy reach of the activities and restaurants that you would like to visit, you don’t want to end up staying near the office you are visiting but with nothing at all to do in the evenings!
Shop around and take the time to try and grab yourself a bargain so that you can stay in a nicer room within the budget you have been allocated.
Prepare for Your Meeting
Be sure to make time to prepare for your meeting, so that you can walk in feeling confident and calm.
Identify what the desired outcome of the meeting is and be sure that you have prepared all of the information that you can to contribute towards it.
