Own business travel with these clever hacks

Are you a frequent business traveler? Your life may seem glamorous to many but, only you know how taxing it can turn out to be. Business travel is hectic and exhausting. It depletes energy and may leave you feeling frustrated and grumpy. It is easy to misjudge a situation, and it can leave you in a fix. Unexpected hitches can pop out of nowhere if you have not planned well in advance. Luckily, there are some smart things you can do to turn things in your favor and make your business trips rewarding.

Some vital points that can help you conquer your business travel woes


PLAN YOUR ITINERARY IN ADVANCE
If you already have your meeting dates, then you must plan your tour in advance. Scheduling and preparing for your business trip in advance will save you money and keep you stress-free. Leaving things for the last moment often leads to anxiety, and you may forget a thing or two. Improvising is important when planning a business trip to another city.

PACK SMART & AVOID CHECKING LUGGAGE
A smart traveler is a happy traveler. One of the essential goals of business travel is getting more done in as less time as possible. Packing light and carrying only what is necessary will cut down on extra bags and the need for checking luggage. For example, you can leave those extra gadgets and bulky items, bring clothes that match. Carrying a carry-on bag through the airport is easier, and you can move more swiftly. Always double check your wallet and phone.

ACCOMMODATION
Reserving a hotel room in advance will save you both time and money. Strategizing can help you grab better offers too. For instance, if you are traveling on a business trip to Hyderabad, then you have a plethora of options to choose a hotel. Hitech City is the IT hub of Hyderabad, and most professionals visit that part of the city for meetings. There is no dearth of Hotels in Hitech City Hyderabad. Rooms start at merely 799 rupees a night by OYO Rooms which is India’s largest network of branded hotels. They also have various deals throughout the year. Smart business travelers usually make most of these competitive prices and best-in-class amenities.

PAY A PREMIUM FOR DIRECT FLIGHTS
Choosing the cheapest flight is not always the wisest decision. Usually, the cheapest flight is a connecting flight, and you may end up wasting more time. Paying a little premium for a direct flight can help you save time and keep you stress-free. Also, some airlines have a point system for their frequent and loyal customers. Every time you fly on the same airline you earn some credits which can be later redeemed to buy tickets for your next trip. After all, time is money, isn’t it?

CHECK-IN ONLINE
Traffic jams, long security lines, and unforeseen circumstances can be time-consuming, and you might even miss your flight. To avoid unexpected delays, it is recommended to check-in online for your flight and overcome predictable conditions. Most airlines nowadays offer online check-in within 24 hours of your flight.

NEGOTIATE
Local service providers like taxi and auto drivers can usually figure out if a person is visiting the city as a tourist or for the first time. They may charge skewed prices, so it becomes necessary to negotiate if you do not want to spend much money.

THINGS YOU MUST CARRY
• Copies of relevant documents (print or digital)
• Power Adapter and a Case of Cords
• Cash
• Credit Cards
• Travel size toiletries
• Medicines and Hand Sanitizer
• Business Cards
• Mobile Broadband

I hope you find the above travel tips useful and they add value to your business trip. Remember these travel hacks to make your business trips less hectic, and you can enjoy traveling.

(The article is authored by Utkarsh Sahu. He is a digital strategist with over three years of writing experience for business magazines. You may connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter as @UtkSahu. He can be reached through email as utksahu@gmail.com)