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Your First Business Trip
You knew the day would come and it’s finally arrived. You’re being sent on your first business trip.
- Wondering what to pack?
- Do you make the plans or does the company?
- How will you know how to make your way around a new city?
You could fly by the seat of your pants or use your professionalism and organize in advance for a smooth sailing business trip, even if it is your first.
Most companies plan the logistics for you, but just in case your company leaves all the details up to you it’s time get started.
- As soon as you know your destination and time frame book a flight. Choose a flight with the shortest amount of air time. You don’t want to spend an entire day puddle-jumping from one airport to the next. When possible, select a direct flight. Don’t hesitate on scheduling your flight, the longer you wait, the higher the cost. Keep your company’s bottom line in mind (or not).
- Making reservations at a hotel should be next on the list. Hop online and look for hotels that cater to business warriors. Hotels near airports and in business districts of major cities no where their bread and butter lies and greet business men and women with open arms and all the amenities needed. Available internet access is a must with businesses speeding down the information highway.
While searching find out if the hotel you’re considering offers any kind of transportation? A shuttle to major business areas can be a real plus.
Finally, look for hotels that offer great customer service.
- Whether you’ve made the arrangements or the company you work for has; it’s time to learn about where you’re going. Once again, the internet can play a big part in your journey to discovering the location you’re headed for. Look for possible transportation options. In major cities taxis are always available. You might want to take the time to find out an average cab fare, just to be prepared. And, even better, there’s Uber–or something similar–in nearly all destinations around the world. Again depending on location, if a rented car looks to be your mode of transportation, make the reservations well in advance. Check out restaurants in the city. Will you need to make plans and reservations to wine and dine a client? You’ll want to have a good grasp of places to entertain clients in a new city.Learn all you can about your business destination.
Packing For Your First Business Trip
Once all the reservations and plans have been taken care of it’s time to think about what you’ll pack.
Use your organizational skills and come up with a BTL or business trip list.
The last thing you want on your first business trip is to be caught with your pants down. That may be going a bit too far, but it’s not inconceivable that your luggage could be lost and you’ll find yourself without clothes.
By planning ahead, even in the case of lost luggage you could manage to get by with smart packing and essential planning.
Break your BTL down by thinking about what you’re going to need, but always keeping in mind “pack light.”
Carry-ons should hold top priority items like your laptop and case, the mouse for your computer, extra batteries or power pack.
Flying is not the breeze it was pre 9/11. It’s wise to give yourself plenty of time and have your ticket or boarding pass ready. Don’t forget to carry one other piece of ID with you such as a passport, driver’s license, or identification card.
List your business needs, things like business cards, the contact information, and the trip itinerary are absolute must haves. You’ll know what needs to go and what can be left behind.
The final listing within your BTL should be clothing and personal items.
Again, think light, small, and convenient. Wear your power suit on the plane, just in case you luggage is lost.
The length of time you’ll be gone determines what to take.
If you can mix and match, take one suit and several shirts and ties that work well together. You’re saving a lot of space.
Try rolling clothing rather than folding [Video Below]
Tuck items within others. Take only what’s needed and necessary.
Impress yourself, your peers, and clients by planning ahead. Be organized, prepared, and most of all have a prosperous, productive first business trip.
Get the Business Travel Edge with Heroic Adventures Business Series
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Phi Phi Islands Excursion by Ferry Boat
One of the most glorious tours I ever took while on vacation in Thailand was a Phi Phi Island Ferry.
When I was in Phuket, on the coast of Thailand, it’s hard for me to even describe how incredible it was, as if I was in the most idyllic spot on earth, all for an experience that was affordable.
Phuket is already spectacular, but taking a ferry trip remains simply unbelievable. Let me tell you what’s in store and believe me, by the end of my tale you’ll be booking a seat.
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Great Tools, Apps and Gadgets for Planning a Holiday
Planning a holiday used to mean a trip to the travel agent to see what package holiday deals they had on this season. Nowadays we have the Internet, which has literally opened, up the world to us. There are an infinite number of places to visit, so here are some things I have used to help me plan trips.
Best Website: Trip Advisor
This website has revolutionized the way we book and plan our holidays. The most important feature is the accommodation reviews, which are pretty unbiased, unlike certain websites which sell rooms where there seem to be less negative reviews. You need to keep an eye out for fake reviews still, which can be done by Continue reading
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Chiang Mai the Perfect Place for a Long Holiday
Chiang Mai is the northern capital of Thailand. It is nowhere near the beaches that the country is famous for in the southern islands like Koh Samui and Koh Phang Nang. It is nowhere near the seedy nightlife found in cities such as Bangkok and Pattaya.
It is quite literally nowhere near these places not just by distance but also in many other ways. Some of these things are what makes Chiang Mai the perfect place for a long holiday.
Doi Suthep: Making Chiang Mai feel like a Mountainside Town
Doi Suthep isn’t the most spectacular mountain, or the highest. But it is right next to Chiang Mai. The city is so small that it has a kind of small town feeling. This combined with a mountain backdrop on one side makes it feel like a lovely mountainside town. On the other hand you also get the benefits of a city such as modern malls, three opened within the past couple of years.
At the top of the mountain is a wonderful temple with stunning views over the city. If you can find a place to stay with a view of the mountain, you will really appreciate it. We changed rooms 4 times to earn the best view in our building. Now that we have the view we want, we will keep the apartment even when traveling elsewhere. Which brings me nicely onto accommodation…
Value Accommodation
At any time other than December and mid April, you will easily find excellent value long-term accommodation in Chiang Mai. When I say excellent value I really mean it. We pay $150 a month for a spacious, clean, modern studio apartment. It has a balcony with great views of the mountain, which we enjoy most at sunset.
You can even pay less than this. Continue reading
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5 New York City Highlights
New York is one of the greatest cities on the planet – here’s what to do on a trip to this fantastic place.
There is nothing quite like the excitement of planning a trip to New York. The hardest part is knowing exactly how big a bite you will be able to take out of the Big Apple due to not only it’s size but the amount of attractions it boasts. It can be daunting to try and narrow down what to see and what not to, and trying to fit too much in will just leave you exhausted and not enough time to enjoy what you are seeing.
Before you go to the USA you will need to prepare – here’s a quick guide how: