If you traveling for business, you clearly have a lot of things to think about. Obviously, the first thing that will be on your mind most of the time will be business itself. But you don’t want to neglect other important aspects of your trip, either. One missed train can potentially cause a catastrophe if you have an important meeting planned.
To prevent this from happening, plan ahead. These days, pretty much everything you need to know about getting around in other countries is available online. So if you make a concerted effort to map out how you will get from one place to the next on your trip, you will save yourself a lot of potential headaches.
4 key considerations when traveling for business
1. Planning flights
Especially if you’re traveling for business from North America, it is essential to plan air travel in advance. If you book a ticket less than 21 days before a flight, the cost could easily go through the roof. You can prevent this by securing something at least a couple of months in advance, when fares will still be reasonable and good options plentiful.
Once you arrive at your destination, you will need to get settled as quickly as possible as you will likely have meetings coming up soon. You don’t want to take chances with potentially sketchy taxi drivers, so it is a good idea to book an airport transfer in advance. If you work in finance, for example, and have to travel to Milan, you can book a transfer Italy in advance and not have to worry about getting to your hotel when you arrive at your destination.
2. Inter-city travel
There are also several things that you should keep in mind with regard to inter-city travel. If your company is sponsoring your trip, they may be taking care of this for you. But if they aren’t, you should do a bit of research before you leave. Keep in mind the following points:
- Inter-city trains are generally reliable in Europe. Depending on your destination, it would be worth your while to look up what other people are saying about their domestic trains.
- It is always a good idea to book tickets well in advance of your trip. In some countries, trains can book up months in advance. You don’t want to find yourself suddenly stuck when you arrive.
- Keep in mind that unusual circumstances can cause trains to stop functioning in some places. In France, for example, railroad strikes are common. And with climate change, natural disasters are increasingly causing delays.
- Domestic flights in other countries can be hit or miss. Some airlines have good reputations for being safe and reliable, and others don’t. Both safety issues and frequent cancellations are things that you should look out for.
3. Getting around in urban areas
As a business traveler, you don’t want to skimp on things like urban transportation. If you have enough money to be successful in business, you shouldn’t have to wait for buses in countries where you might not even know the language.
So do yourself a favor and find a rental car to get you around while you are in urban areas. Unless you are in a city that has notoriously bad traffic, this is probably the way to go. Just be sure your license is good for the country you are traveling in! There are plenty of rental agencies in most places that offer reasonable rates on a variety of car types. And when it comes time to go to the airport, call GetTransfer to give you a ride.
4. Plan wisely for a successful trip
Again, traveling for business is stressful enough by itself. You have to think about your important meetings, impressing the clients, and keeping track of all the details while you are likely jetlagged and confused by a foreign language. So don’t cause yourself even more confusion by trying to navigate foreign transportation systems. Do things right and we’ll in advance and you will be sure to have an enjoyable and successful business trip.
