Living on the road can be tough, but business travelers often have traveling down to a science. From scoring upgrades to the best way to pack a suitcase, anything that can make the hassle of jet-setting a little easier can be a lifesaver.
We found out the favorite travel strategies for the experienced business travelers but mostly for the newbies.
- Have one go-to piece of luggage that always works, no matter what kind of trip you’re taking.
If you become more efficient with what you pack you will never check luggage. Just take your roller bag with you whether it is a long trip or short one.
- Bring what you really going to need.
Think about what you want to bring and then paring that list down — by a lot. Think about the stuff you want to bring, and then only bring half, and you’re still not going to wear a good two-thirds of it.
- Bring clothes that are dark colors.
Wear dark colors that hide stains.
- Minimize wrinkles by packing dress shirts in dry cleaner bags.
To keep your business clothes looking presentable, keep them in the dry cleaner plastic because it helps to minimize wrinkles and then anytime you arrive, immediately take them out of the bag, put them into the shower, turn the hot shower on, and it’s like a steam press to get the wrinkles out.
- Pack only versatile pieces of clothing.
It might be tempting to want to pack your favorite standout pieces from your closet, but if you’re looking to pack lighter, we recommend that you bring pieces of clothing that go with everything and that you can layer.
- Charge everything the night before you travel.
Charge everything you’re going to need, and put it next to your car keys and purse or wallet so you make sure to pack it in your carry-on before driving to the airport.
- Know the difference between non-stop and direct flights.
Especially if you’re on business and going to and from meetings, it’s such a waste of time to take a day to get there and a day to get back [because of layovers]. But don’t mistake “direct” flights for “non-stop” flights when booking.
A direct flight might still stop, but you would just stay on the plane instead of having to switch planes. Always choose a ‘non-stop’ flight instead of direct.
