Though traveling for business is a pretty straightforward process, there are some common mistakes that we see people frequently make while away. Unfortunately, these mistakes can turn your trip into a not-so-enjoyable experience. But if you’re aware of these common mistakes ahead of time, you’ll know what to look out for and can devise a game plan to ensure that you don’t end up making these mistakes yourself.
From underpacking to not checking visa requirements and more – here are 5 business travel mistakes that you should avoid:
1. Underpacking
One mistake you’ll want to avoid is underpacking for your business trip. While away, you’ll be attending meetings, conferences, and dinners. This means that you’ll need to pack outfits for each event while also packing some casual clothes for you to lounge around in after a long day.
When in doubt, we recommend bringing more clothing than you think you’ll need. It’s better to have too many outfit choices than not enough. Not sure where to begin when it comes to packing? Write out a list of each event you’ll be attending along with the outfit you’ll wear to each event, and then place these items in your suitcase.
2. Not Using Technology to Track Your Expenses
Gone are the days of tracking your expenses with pen and paper. Instead, ensure you’re tracking your expenses using your electronic devices. Using technology to track your expenses is super simple, and there are many apps out there that can help you accomplish this task.
You can read all about some of our favorite apps for tracking business travel expenses, along with the features of each of these apps, in our blog.
3. Forgetting to Make Reservations in Advance
Business travel is on the rise, so more and more people will be planning to take business trips. Flights and hotels will fill up fast, and you could be in trouble if you forget to book early.
Once you know that you’ll be going on a business trip, we suggest that you start looking to make your reservations ASAP. The longer you wait, the more likely that you’re going to miss out on getting good deals, and you could also potentially have a hard time finding flights and hotels with availability.
4. Not Checking Visa Requirements
One thing that many business travelers forget to do is check their destination country’s visa requirements. This can prove to be a huge mistake as you need a visa to visit many international destinations. Failing to obtain a business visa to a country could mean that you even have to cancel your trip altogether. When in doubt, ALWAYS check what visa requirements you’ll need to follow for your business trip.
5. Not Working With a Corporate Partner
One final mistake business travelers tend to make is not working with a corporate partner. Corporate partners such as Swift can make your business trip go much smoother. Some things that we can help with include:
- Completing all necessary paperwork.
- Working directly with the appropriate foreign consulates.
- Keeping you abreast of the progress of your visas and passports.
- Expediting visa and passport services available to meet a variety of timeframes.
- Ensuring that your applications are completed according to the latest regulations.
If you have an upcoming business trip and need a passport or business visa, Swift can help! You can get the application process started on our website. If you find that you have any questions along the way, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our knowledgeable team. We would be happy to help! No matter where you plan on going in the world, we’ll get you there!
