Travelling for business has its perks. Your costs are covered, you get to explore other parts of the world and if you’re a parent, you are child-free! If you aren’t prepared, a trip can also make you unproductive and be incredibly disruptive to your work week. Today we are going to dish out some lesser-known tips to make sure your trade show travel is seamless, productive and even enjoyable so you show up feeling relaxed and ready to represent your brand at the exhibition. So, pack your carry-on and get ready to ace your next trip with these unique travel hacks!
1. Plan your first meal back
Most people excitedly plan meals at restaurants while they are away, but before you leave for your trip, try planning your first meal back. Pick an all in one type of meal – lasagna, spaghetti bolognaise etc. Have it ready to go so when you’re back at home you know there’s a decent meal waiting for you.
2. Woolworths online order
Book an online groceries delivery to arrive as soon as you return. This is a gamechanger for a flawless return to reality. Think basics, milk, bread etc. Returning back from a trip you are likely to have a backlog of work to do so our focus is always on making the daily things run seamlessly so you don’t miss a beat.
3. Apps
In this digital age, there’s an app for almost everything, and travel is no exception. Before you hop on that plane, download some apps to make your life easier. Our favourite receipt tracking app is weel. This acts as a digital credit card and links directly to Xero/your accounting software so you don’t have to worry about carrying an extra card or collecting piles of receipts. It saves ours (plus an enormous amount of brain power) when you return from your trip and have to claim your expenses.
Using Uber for travel might be a no-brainer for some, but when you’re travelling and you need to get from A-B this is the easiest way to make sure your end up at the right place. They follow a map, you get a receipt without having to pull out your credit card. Perfect.
4. Pack a portable power bank
You’ll be attached to your devices more than usual so a compact power bank can be a lifesaver when you’re on the go! It’s worthwhile getting familiar with your phone’s battery saving settings. Depending on what phone you have, there are multiple levels you can utilise to maximise battery life.
5. Prepare for Murphy
Murphy’s Law states that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong”, but if you are prepared it usually doesn’t! If you take any regular medication, wear contact lenses/glasses or are reliant on any specific item carry it on you to safeguard against any lost luggage.
6. Task manager app
Having a system to capture all of your to do’s in one place is the key to not missing anything. Ideally, pick a task manager app that you can use year-round, not just while you travel. We use Asana with our team, but there are lots of different ones available. The goal is to have one that syncs across all of your devices and removes the classic post it notes/to-do lists on the back of random scraps of paper situation. An app is ideal because you can prioritise without having to re-write your list, you can delegate to others and move items into different lists as needed.
While we are on the topic of syncing your devices. You should already have a full back up of your phone/laptop in the cloud, but if you don’t, do it! That way if anything is lost, stolen or damaged, you don’t skip a beat.
7. Luggage tips
Here’s a little-known secret – mark your checked luggage as “Fragile.” This might seem counterintuitive, but luggage handlers tend to place fragile items on top. Consequently, your bag will likely be one of the first to be unloaded, reducing the risk of it getting lost or delayed during the baggage claim frenzy.
Use apple air tag to track your luggage.
8. BYO water bottle
Skip the expensive bottled water and bring your own reusable water bottle. Airports and many exhibition halls now have water fountains or refill stations, allowing you to hydrate without breaking the bank or adding to plastic waste.
9. Master travel rewards programs
Maximise the benefits of travel rewards programs offered by airlines and hotels. Accumulate points and status levels to enjoy perks like free upgrades, lounge access and priority boarding. These rewards can significantly enhance your travel experience and your details are stored so you save time on future trips.
Red eye flight tip – If you’re going straight home on your return flight, try to have a shower at the airport while you wait for your plan so you can go straight to bed at the other end. Falling into bed at the other end is priceless!
10. Pack noise-cancelling headphones
Block out distractions and immerse yourself in your work with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Whether it’s drowning out the chatter on the plane or creating a focused environment in a bustling coffee shop, these gadgets are indispensable for maintaining productivity on the go.
With these lesser-known business travel tips in your repertoire, we know you’ll be navigating airports and staying productive like a true jet-setting professional. Remember, efficiency and preparedness are your best allies on the road. We would love to hear if any of these tips help you on your next trip! Please reach out if you have any juicy ones for us too – we would love to hear them.
Yours in Exhibiting,
Jess
