7 Business Travel Tips

Business travel isn’t quite the same as personal (holiday/vacation) travel since you only have your weekends free to explore as a tourist. The best way to keep healthy and fit is to maintain a similar schedule as you would if you were home. After traveling for ~40% of the time over the past 2 years, I’ve discovered these 7 tips that are unique to Business Travel:

1. Connectivity matters so equip yourself with the best equipment:
Obtain a MiFi with LTE data service to have the fastest mobile data network for your laptop, iPad, etc. You can now rent a LTE enabled MiFi’s from XCom Global for over 40 international destinations. In the US, I would recommend a Verizon MiFi for the best data speeds. When booking flights, you’ll want to look for flights that offer Inflight WiFi so you can stay up to date on emails even while inflight.

2. Find a Hotel with a quality Gym:
A quality hotel gym is essential to continue to stay motivated & fit while on a business trip. The location of the gym also matters. If it’s in the basement you are less likely to go whereas a top floor gym with a view is more enticing to use.

W Hong Kong

3. Eating Healthy:
Try not to eat everything at the breakfast buffet and always try to find a nice light dinner. Vegetables and fresh juices can be key to keep your body feeling 100%.

Enjoy a Fresh Juice on the Beach

4. Utilize convenient and efficient Transportation methods:
A private driver for airport pickups and drop-offs after long international flights are worth the money if you are new to a destination. Uber can be an excellent alternative as long as they operate in the city you are visiting and your phone will work to communicate with the driver if needed. In cities such as Tokyo, you might be better off using trains as they can be faster than cars. For car rentals, utilize National Car Rental Emerald Aisle or Hertz Gold Choice to skip the rental counters.

5. Carry a change of clothes in your carry-on bag as well as an amenity kit:
You never know if your checked luggage will be delayed or lost so always pack a change of clothes in your carry-on so you can still attend your meetings on Day 1. A small amenity kit with a toothbrush, deodorant, etc. will be a lifesaver to freshen up upon landing.

6. Use TripIt Pro to centralize all booking confirmations and receive flight updates:
Using TripIt Pro will help make your itinerary easily accessible and keep you updated on any flights delays or gate changes. Searching through email confirmations can be a hassle as you already have a ton of work email.

Relax in an Airport Lounge

7. Try to Upgrade your seat at the time of booking or prior to your flight:
I always try to get a bulkhead, exit row, or extra legroom seat at the time of booking. Some airlines are now offering customers an option to bid online for an upgrade to the next cabin level (Economy to Premium Economy, Premium Economy to Business) so make sure to look into all options beyond just your airline status perks. Your bid might be reimbursable by your company as a “seat upgrade” fee so make sure you know your travel policy. I’ve successfully upgraded using bidding on Virgin Australia and Cathay Pacific.

CX Premium Economy Row 30 A330-300

What business travel tips do you have?