Business Travel Hacks

Travelling can be hard and 2019 taught me a lot, I was away from home across the UK or abroad on business trips more than I was at home. Being away so much and travelling to multiple locations I have picked up some essential travel tips, many I wish I'd known before it was too late! I want to help my connections out with some of the tips I wish I had been given when I first started jetting around the world.

1. SplitSave from Trainline is a lifesaver. Travelling around the UK by train is expensive, especially when booking last minute and by the end of the month, you are left with a hefty bill. SplitSave allows you to save money when travelling by finding some great ticket combinations, usually even allowing you to stay on the same train but booking singles between destinations. If you haven’t travelled this way before I strongly advise you to give it a go. Read more it here.
2. Travel late the evening before your meeting. It can usually cost you more to get an on-peak morning train ticket than it will for a train ticket and hotel the evening before. Plus, if your train is inevitably delayed there are no awkward explanations when you are late for that important meeting as you’re already there.
3. Take an extension cable everywhere with you! A lot of hotels still don’t have plug sockets close to the side of the bed and maybe only have one in the whole room. This is also great for when you are overseas, taking one adaptor and an extension cable will give you more UK sockets. Long cable mobile chargers are also worth investing in too, I have a couple of 3m ones.
4. Travel in a 3-piece suit. Luggage costs can send your overall flight cost sky high so travel light and wear your heaviest items to travel in. You can get away with hand luggage only as you only need pack shirts, socks and underwear. You also don’t need to iron your shirts as neatly or if in a rush if you have waistcoat on! Plus, you look super smart.
5. If you do need to pack up everything, leave your shirts in your bathroom when you arrive. When you have a shower the steam from the heat removes the creases. This one has saved me many times!
6. Try to always take an extra shirt, socks and underwear you really never know when you will have to stay another night.
7. Keep a portable charger on you! Most business happens on our mobile phones and when this runs out of battery, the business has to be paused. Charge en-route and stay connected.
8. Buy a clear toiletry bag for your hand luggage. There is nothing worse than having to pay for a plastic bag every time you have to go through security for your toiletries. This will speed up the process and will see your sailing through security.
9. If you take a long-haul flight you will most likely get a travel kit, take this and put it in your case. It has most of the essentials and comes in very handy when you forget your own.
10. Jet lag is a pain but something that can be helped with the right remedies. Melatonin supplements have really helped with my jetlag in the past to get to sleep and not feel groggy the next day compared to sleeping tablets (it is only available in the US). B12 supplements are also great for keeping up your energy and helping you go for longer the following day. Drink LOTS of water on the plane, it makes a huge difference.
11. When flying, always book your flights directly through the airline, unless there is a crazy deal elsewhere. Going through the airlines itself means they will be more likely to alter your flight if plans change. If you book through 3rd parties, you are likely to find flight changes are a lot less flexible.
12. When booking long haul flights, consider searching from your local airport even if you know the flight doesn’t go directly from it. You will often find an internal flight as well as the flight to your destination it’s the same price as the flight from the airport that will fly to your destination. You then save on travel to that airport.

If anyone is interested in how I find the easiest way to travel, please get in touch and I will be happy to help! These small tips can make travelling that little bit easier and much more stress-free! I am sure there are many better hacks than this too, I am keen to learn so please comment on the article with them.