Business travel is an excellent way to get out and see the world, all while creating meaningful connections with others. However, we understand that preparing for a business trip can be an extensive process. There are many tasks that you need to get done, usually in a short period of time, and it can be hard to remember everything that you need to do. The last thing you need to worry about is ensuring that you’re packing everything you need, without bringing along too much with you.
Packing light is a major key in ensuring that you have a successful business trip. Not only does packing light allow you to move from place to place more quickly and efficiently, but it also saves you valuable time. We know that you have a lot to consider when preparing your trip, which is why we wanted to put this guide together. Our hope is that you learn how to master the art of packing light for your upcoming business trip, so that you can carry this information with you for years to come.
How to Pack Light For Your Upcoming Business Trip
Plan Your Outfits
We highly suggest planning all of the outfits that you want to bring along with you. Write a list of all the meetings, conferences, business dinners, and activities that you will be attending while on your trip. Then, go through your closet, and put together outfits for each of these events. This ensures that you’re only bringing clothes you’ll wear, rather than taking along extra items.
Pack Items That You Can Wear More Than Once
While planning out your outfits, try to find items that you can use more than once. Many articles of clothing are actually quite versatile, and can be used in a combination of different ways. For example, you can wear a pair of plain black pair trousers more than once, utilize a jacket in numerous outfits, and showcase the same tie on different occasions. The more items that you bring along with you that can be worn multiple times, the better off you’ll be.
Limit Yourself to a Carry-On Bag
When you bring a huge suitcase along with you on a business trip, you are probably going to pack more than you actually need. Instead of dragging along a large piece of luggage, try to fit everything into a carry-on bag. Not only will this help you minimize the amount of clothing you bring, but a carry-on bag will also save you time and make it easier for you to get from place to place.
Only Bring Two Pairs of Shoes
While traveling for work, you are usually either partaking in a business-related activity, or have some free time to explore your destination. This means that you really only need to bring two pairs of shoes; one pair of shoes that you can wear with all of your business attire, and another pair that you can wear with casual outfits. As a bonus, you can wear the casual pair of shoes onto the plane, saving you space in your luggage.
Use Packing Cubes
An excellent way to save some space in your luggage is to use packing cubes to organize and sort your clothing. Packing cubes allow you to maximize the room in your suitcase, and fit as much as possible inside. The best part is that packing cubes are typically very inexpensive, and can be used over and over again, for your next business trip, or even for a leisure trip.
Roll Your Clothes
Many people tend to fold their clothing before putting it into their suitcase, even though that’s not the most efficient way to pack. Instead of folding each article of clothing, roll them. This ensures that all of your clothing is tight and compact, and leaves you more room for shoes and accessories. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can fit in your luggage when you choose to roll your clothing instead of folding it!
Limit Accessories
Accessories can be difficult to bring along with you as they can be fragile. If you’re trying to pack light and only use a carry-on bag, shoving your accessories into a cramped space may cause them to break. Instead of bringing a lot of miscellaneous items with you, try to limit your accessories to only what you can wear onto the plane. This way, you can worry less about items breaking or losing them in transit.
Utilize Compression Bags
A popular travel hack that we have adapted is to use compression bags while packing. Compression bags allow you to fit a significant number of items into your suitcase, so that you have no problem bringing along everything that you need. Even if you don’t plan on bringing a whole lot with you, when you use compression bags, at least you’ll have some extra room in your suitcase to take home souvenirs.
If you have an upcoming business trip and need to obtain a passport or business visa ahead of time, we would love to assist you. Our team of professionals has been helping business professionals with their travel documents for years. We understand that your time is valuable, which is why we try to make the process as seamless as possible so that you can focus on preparing for your trip. Once you’re ready to get started, visit our website. From there, you can begin your passport or business visa application. No matter where you’re going, we’ll get you there!
