Planning a business trip to somewhere exotic or to a well known city is always exciting. You have a lot of new destinations to explore, tons of things to do and of course a lot of memories to bring home with you. While the business trip itself can be a lot of fun, planning for it can be tricky. To help you get started with planning the perfect trip overseas, here are some of the top tips to keep in mind.
Destination, Length and Costs
There are three things you need to know before you can start planning other details for the trip: the destination you need to visit, the length of your trip and the amount of money you can afford to spend whilst there. These three aspects will help you plan better and prepare the right things to make it as smooth as possible.
Starting with a budget for the trip is always a good idea in order to keep expenses low. And, with a clear budget in mind, you can set the length of the trip accordingly. Of course, if you know which destination you are visiting, you have a head start in this regard.
Once you have this information, you can make use of online resources. Price comparison tools can help you to find a suitable hotel, airline, car hire, and anything else you need for your trip.
Compare, Compare and Compare Some More
Take all the time you need and do an extensive research before deciding to book flights and hotels for the trip. Websites like Agoda and tools like Sky Scanner make comparing flights and hotels very easy to do. You can even find exclusive deals and get reward points in return when making your reservations through these websites.
Don’t forget to check deal sites too. There are plenty of coupons to use if you are serious about making the trip as affordable as it can be. You can also rely on travel forums and specialty sites – such as sites specializing in last-minute flights or hotel reservations – to save more.
Of course, there are ways you can save on the trip even further. Choosing Airbnb over hotels, for example, can help you lower the costs of accommodation for the trip. You can also check if you can use Uber or other similar services at the destination city to get to client meetings.
Make Sure You Have a Working Internet Connection
When you have a good internet connection and a smartphone with you, you can deal with emergencies or be spontaneous about the trip easily. You can also find information on attractions to visit and use tools such as Google Translator to help make the trip more enjoyable. This is why a smartphone that you can use at the destination country and a data plan to match are among the most important things to prepare.
Take the time to unlock your phone and do a bit of research on data options and the best local SIM cards to use. With an unlocked phone, you shouldn’t have to worry about not being able to use a local SIM card to get a data connection.
Documents and Other Preparations
Let’s not forget that you also need to prepare some travel documents and get your vaccines in order. Some countries will not issue you with a visa unless you have vaccine shots from a reputable hospital – and the right papers to prove it. Other countries require you to have enough money in a bank account under your name for emergencies.
For the most part, however, you can actually get a visa on arrival. If a VOA is an option, then check the cost of getting one at the destination airport and make sure you have the right documents as required packed safely in your carry-on.
Prepare Contingencies
Last but not least, always take the time to prepare for the worst. Make sure close friends and relatives know you’re traveling. Let them know where you’ll be staying too, so they can check up on you when your cell phone is unreachable.
Don’t forget to also have backup plans should things go south. If the hotel you have reserved is overbooked, for example, knowing an alternative accommodation you can quickly book using your phone will help to save stress.
Take these tips into consideration and you’ll have no trouble at all planning a business trip overseas. All you have to do now is make the reservations and prepare for your client meetings.
