How to Survive Business Travel During the Holidays
Even on a good day, business travel can still present its usual, unexpected challenges. After all, business travel is never easy–and when done during the holidays, it can take a quick turn to the tragic.
However, there will be instances when you just can’t escape travelling during the holidays. If this is the case for you, here are some tips to make your trip easier.
Business travel during the holidays doesn’t have to be that bad (photo credits: Johannes Rapprich)
Surviving Business Travel During the Holidays
1. Take the road less traveled. The best and most direct path may not be the best route during the holidays. Take note that depending on where you’re traveling, trains seem to be less used compared to other means of transportation. Take special care to avoid main hubs to reduce your travel time and avoid stress.
2. Cash in on your rewards. If there’s a best time for your rewards, it’s during the holidays. Use those frequent flyer and loyalty points to your advantage during this season to help you get to where you’re going, and more comfortable, at that.
3. Make technology work for you. Capitalizing on the many available travel mobile apps can give you a leg up in business travel during the holidays. Aside from apps to help you find your flight or prepare your business itinerary, you may also make use of the gadgets that every traveller should never do without, such as a power bank, which is great if ever you get stuck in the holiday rush and needing to make an important call.
4. Skip check-in lines. Go ahead and skip the long queues at the check-in counter by checking-in online.
5. Remember to pack light. If you can, stick to a carry-on bag that you can take with you on the plane. This helps you in cases when there is a delay or cancellation, and you’re not stuck having to wait for hours for your baggage, or run the risk of losing them especially if you’re on connecting flights.
6. Ship the rest of your stuff. If you have important documents and other materials you need once you get to your destination, it’s better not to take them with you on the road. Veteran business travellers would advise for you to ship them to your hotel or to the place where you’re meeting other people. Having your stuff shipped is more reliable and it allows you to be more mobile without being weighed down by so many things.
7. Have cash on hand. Nothing can get things moving faster than a little green, so make sure to have some cash handy. This is also especially useful if the credit card system is down, or if you have to travel to places where credit cards are not accepted.
8. Have a contingency plan. Business travel during the holidays is bound to encounter snags, so you have to have a backup plan. Flights, for example, can be delayed or cancelled, so don’t push your luck. Make sure you have a flexible hotel option where you’re going, and prepare for worst-case holiday scenarios.
9. Enjoy. Business travel during the holidays, you’ll find, is not at all that bad once you know what to expect and how to prepare for it. The frenzied excitement during this season may even inspire you to take in the holiday spirit despite the hectic schedule of traveling for business.
10. Make sure you have Gorilla Expense. Take the pain out of travel and expense reporting by having an easy and simple tool to help you keep track of your expenses. Make sure these are covered by Gorilla Expense so you can focus more on the things that matter.
