Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Tips and advice for the Business Traveler

SUMMARY: Do you feel exhausted after every business travel? It is true that most of the business travels have tight schedules, and you get exhausted after that. Above that, sometimes you confront many unexpected obstacles that turn your trip completely miserable. Following are a few tips to help you complete your travel successfully. It would be a great help especially for the young executives.

Laptops

Laptops are the most vulnerable accessory for theft. Never leave your laptop away from you while traveling. If you are in the airport or onboard, carry your laptop in your lap or shoulder. Never check the laptop; always carry it as onboard luggage. You may use a leather bag that does not look like the laptop carry bag to avoid attracting the thieves.

Make sure the accommodation you are provided has got the facility to charge your laptop and use it appropriately. However, don?t forget to charge it fully before you start the trip and carry an extra set of battery.
Airport tips

Make sure that you reach the airport at least an hour before. Of course, everybody is aware of it, but problems may crop up if you plan your journey exactly keeping one hour in advance. Try to start your journey to the airport much before the planned time, especially if you are starting on a holiday, or a peak hour of the day, or if you are likely to encounter a bad traffic because of bad weather or other imminent obstacles.

Use the curbside baggage check service available for a minimum amount, and so you can avoid the long queue at the front desk, especially if you are in a hurry.

Flight delays are a common phenomenon, especially in poor weather conditions. While booking your ticket, make sure that you request for the next available flight booking if the flight gets cancelled or delayed. The airlines usually transfer you to their next flights, but are not likely to transfer to their competitor flight unless you make special request for it.
Preparing for a foreign travel

The following are the important tips that guide you prepare for an international tour.
  • Make a list of the travel documents required well in advance, and get them ready days before your travel.
  • Plan your budget according to the travel plan. Even if the company takes care of your expenses, you need to make an estimate of the expenses that are likely to come up. You can avoid the confusion in the exchange rates if you get a clear idea of the exchange rates of the country you are traveling to and the amount that you are carrying. Always ensure that you carry sufficient fund, more than what is required.
  • Lastly, buy travel insurance. This would be a security for you throughout your journey. Make sure that you opt for the important services such as the medical emergencies, lost baggage, missed flights, etc.
  • Don?t exchange the money at the airport; the currency exchange rates are worse at the airports. Also there are more chances of getting robbed at these notorious places.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Following on from your comments regarding laptop theft, I recently saw a TV show, which highlighted a common form of laptop theft at airports. When going through the baggage check you have to put your hand luggage on the travelator to be scanned for weapons etc. A thief will often stand in line with a similar laptop bag, but which is empty. Once you go through, they will plant a metal item on you, ensuring you get searched and take your eyes off your laptop. In the meantime they go through, pick up your laptop and leave theirs for you to take. You probably won't realise until you reach your destination. Thought that might help, although your tip about not carrying it in a laptop bag would help prevent this. Thanks for the rest of the article. Very useful!

Oleh Koval said...

Thank you for your comment. I am pleased to be able than help. At the laptop theft. And no one will be able to protect yourself from all the ills and all it is not possible to predict. But to avoid major risk factors can and should be.

Unknown said...

Excellent Write Up!
Business Advice