10 Tips to Take The Stress Out of Business Travel
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Business travel can be stressful. This is true whether your job requires travel frequently or if you only take occasional business trips. Try these simple tips to help reduce the stress associated with working on the road.



10 Tips to Reduce Business Travel Stress



Looking to diminish the stress of traveling for work? Try these helpful tips:



1. Advance planning: Plan your travel as far ahead of time as possible. This will ensure that you have access to the greatest availability of travel options as well as the best rates. If you delay making plans, for example, you may find yourself having to take the least convenient flights and/or having to stay in a hotel that isn’t convenient to where your business will be conducted.


2. Go through TSA Pre✓ screening: If you fly frequently, consider getting screened through the TSA Pre✓ program to save time and stress at the airport. This program allows low-risk travelers to go through a pre-screening process. You must complete an application, visit a pre-check center to complete the screening process, provide required documentation and pay a fee. Once you are cleared through this process, you’ll be given a Known Traveler Number (KTN). You’ll be able to leave on your shoes and light jacket through the airport screening process, and you won’t be required to remove your quart bag with liquids or your laptop from your bag.


3. Use loyalty programs: Register for the loyalty/rewards program with each travel vendor that you use. Not only will this help you accrue points that can be used for free or reduced-cost travel, they can also help you save time. That’s because you’ll end up creating a customer profile with your contact information and preferences (such as aisle seat, non-smoking room, etc.) that will be pre-completed every time you log in before booking travel. Keystrokes saved when booking travel equates to time saved and less stress.


4. Pre-arrange transfers: Book transportation from the airport to your hotel or other destination in advance. This will ensure that your rental car, shuttle, taxi, limo or other transportation option is waiting for you when you arrive. Otherwise, you’ll likely find yourself standing in long lines or frantically searching for a transportation provider upon your arrival. If you aren’t sure what transportation options are best, call the hotel where you will be staying and ask them for a recommendation. I do this and often find out about special discounts available only to hotel guests that I wouldn’t have learned of any other way.


5. Choose a business travel-friendly hotel: When booking hotel reservations, ensure that the property you select is one that caters to the needs of business travelers with amenities that will make things easier for you. For example, when looking for a business-travel friendly hotel, make sure that Wi-Fi is included in the room rate and ensure that there’s a business center than can handle any printing or faxing needs you might have during your stay. If you aren’t renting a car, you may also want to verify that there is an on-site (or nearby) restaurant as well as an on-site fitness center.


6. Pack thoroughly: Before you start packing, make a list of everything that you will need during your trip and mark things off as you add them to your bag. Don’t take more than you need, but take care to ensure that you don’t have to waste time shopping for forgotten items once you arrive at your destination. If you travel frequently, consider keeping a ‘go-bag’ in your closet that is packed and ready with key necessities for business travel. If you opt for the go-bag option, be sure to refill it after every trip so it’s always ready.


7. Carry-on strategy: Put at least one work-appropriate outfit in your carry-on bag so that you are prepared to meet your business obligations upon arrival if something should go wrong with your luggage. If you’re only going to be away for a few days, try to put everything you need in your carry-on so that you don’t even have to deal with the potential problem of missing bags. I am generally able to fit clothes for three business days as well as a few casual outfits into my carry-on bag.


8. Use a rolling laptop bag: Save your back by investing in a rolling laptop bag, being sure to select one that qualifies as a personal item for airline travel so you can also take a full-size rolling carry-on suitcase. I use Hedgren’s Cindy Rolling Business Tote (which I received as a review item), which is perfect for this purpose. It has a padded laptop compartment for maximum protection and is large enough to also accommodate a small projector and other business supplies. I have carried it on several airlines along with a standard-size carry-on bag.


9. Follow TSA packing restrictions: Be sure to avoid packing items in your carry-on bags that aren’t allowed on planes. Review the TSA list before traveling, and check your bags very closely to make sure that you haven’t forgotten to take something out that will cause you to be delayed at the airport screening checkpoint. I have seen many people get delayed in the screening process because they ‘forgot’ to remove disallowed items from their briefcases.


10. Take snacks with you: It can be difficult to find healthful food when you are on-the-go, and you definitely need to keep your energy up when traveling. Consider packing a few individual packages of nuts, string cheese, protein bars or other healthful choices to keep from finding yourself having to choose among bad choices at convenience store or fast food outlets while you’re on-the-road.


Plan Ahead for Productive Business Travel



Whether you’re going to a professional development conference, visiting potential customers or any other reason, following these basic tips can help you avoid some of the stresses associated with work-related travel.