It doesn’t matter what type of work you are in these days, there is some chance that you may have to travel, whether it’s to attend a training meeting, a managers meeting or some type of convention. Travelling for work is a bit different than travelling for fun. For one thing, you want to keep track of your mileage and distance if you are driving your own vehicle. For another, you want to keep all of your receipts from dining and room expenses, if they aren’t being covered by your employers. These can be used for income tax purposes.
That’s not all though. Here are a few tips to make your work travel run smoothly.
Know Where You are Going
The most important thing when it comes to travelling for work is to know where you are going. Map out where you are staying, where your meeting is, the directions to and from both places from home and from each other. You don’t want to be late just because you didn’t research your travel plan. An online maps app, like Google Maps, is essential.
Don’t just look at a map though. Take some time to research the area you are visiting, this way you’ll know where you want to eat and such. This is especially important for someone with food allergies. Research your hotel and also the venue where your meeting will be held.. This way there won’t be any surprises when you reach your destination.
Book Your Room Ahead of Time
If your employer isn’t covering your room expenses or booking, you’ll want to make sure you find a good place to stay, close to your meeting venue. Book a room as soon as you know your date and times and that it’s up to you to do so.
Take some time to compare hotels and motels. Maybe you’ll find that the better and more affordable option for you is renting an airbnb.
Have an Itinerary
While it is important to have a plan for where you’ll be and when, remember this is a business trip. Until business is all said and done don’t make tourist plans. While your meeting may be happening in a fun area you’ve never been to before, you don’t want to go bar hopping and show up with a hangover to the meeting the next morning. Like they say, never mix business with pleasure.
If you want time to enjoy the sights, plan ahead to rent your room an extra day or two after the work part is done and make a plan to sightsee then.
Planning ahead and knowing where you need to be and how to get there can save you from disaster. This way you know you’ll be on time to work events and you won’t be leaving your business trip without a job!