My first real job after graduating with my bachelor's degree was working in admissions office of my alma mater. I worked with a great team on different series of recruitment events that allowed me to travel across the region for which we were recruiting. When I graduated, I did not picture myself in a job that required travel and I was surprised by how different work trips felt in comparison to my personal trips. Sadly, I only got to travel for work for 6 months before the COVID-19 pandemic officially began. However, I do want to share my advice for making the most of work-related travel.
#1 - Pack Light: It's best to pack just what you need when traveling for work because you don't want to forget anything important as you prepare to return home. Clearly label or separate pack your personal belongings from any work-specific items to help you keep track of everything. One thing I like to do is make a packing list. Depending on how I'm feeling, I may jot down a list on a piece of paper or use one of the many note taking apps I keep on my phone. You know how you sometimes get that feeling that you forgot something? I get that feel all the time and I started making lists to ensure that I did pack everything I needed. Maintaining a packing list also helps me decide what size bag or luggage will be required for my trip and prevent me from overpacking by taking unnecessary items. When you're on-the-go, you need to make it as easy as possible to get around and lighter baggage is a big help.
#2 - Join Rewards Programs: This is a must! If your company books everything for you, this may not be quite as beneficial. However, my job offers reimbursements and I get to book hotels, rental cars, and flights on my own. Depending on how some companies set up their rewards programs, you can still collect points when using your company card or account. This is the primary reason why I have any points for my Enterprise rewards! I started my Hilton Honors account because those hotels are widely available and within my work's budget. My job also has a relationship with Southwest Airlines to some extent, so that's the preferred airline when flying. What's great about Southwest is your points never expire, so this makes work travel really good for saving up those points!
Don't forget to sign-up for rewards programs for restaurants or any other business you may encounter regularly when traveling for work. If you're like me and love a good deal, this can come in handy for getting free meals, snacks, or special discounts that you can use when you're not traveling for work.
#3 - Plan for Down Time: Whether it be you're waiting in the airport for a long time or there is an extended break in programming at a conference, you should expect and be prepared for a lull in activity. Use that time to recharge your electronics and yourself. You don't have to take a nap, but at least take a moment to rest and enjoy a mental and physical break. For some, this may mean going back to a hotel room or sitting in an area to do some people watching. Other people may use this time to read, listen to music, catch up on personal calls and text messages, or do some exploring around the area. Personally, I like to go back to the hotel room, but I normally carry a deck of standard playing cards with me almost everywhere I go in case I'm with a group of people and we want to play a quick card game for some fun and laughter. If you have an itinerary or event program to reference, make sure to look over it to determine when you'll have down time so you may plan accordingly.
Those are my 3 tips for work-related travel! I tried to keep them simple so that you may implement them into your own routine or upcoming work trip plans. These are also very general and can be applied just as easily to your personal trips. No matter where you go for work, consider these tips as your get ready to take that trip for work.
Feel free to leave comments below, tweet (@KimiThoughts), or leave a post/message on Facebook (@KimisTravelThoughts) and share your tips for a positive work-related travel experience!