As anyone who is a 9-5 road warrior will tell you, travel for business is vastly different than traveling for leisure. Since I travel about once a month on a business trip, I’ve perfected a routine that helps me make these trips both productive & as stress free as possible. Below are some business travel essentials that have really helped me streamline my biz travel routine.
1. Rolling Briefcase/Overnight Bag – I am absolutely obsessed with my Samsonite wheeled briefcase. It has enough room for files, my noise canceling headphones, laptop, liquids bag, two dresses & a pair of high heels. Carrying this bag means that I’m not lugging multiple pieces of luggage through the airport or train station. It’s also professional enough to roll into a meeting & tuck under the conference room table. This bag has sign handedly changed how I travel for one or two night trips.
2. Bose Noise Canceling Headphones – I once was on a flight going somewhere for some client. Every person in my row on both sides of the aisle had the telltale black Bose Noise Canceling Headphones case in the setback pocket in front of them. Much like my beloved rolling briefcase, my Bose Noise Canceling Headphones (I use the Quiet Comfort 15 ones) has changed the way I fly. If I forget them, I dread my flight. Sometimes, I put them on, turn them on & don’t even plug them into anything – they still do a pretty good job of dulling the sounds of travel. But plugged into my iPhones white noise app? Magic.
3. TripIt – For someone like me who travels a lot of places for a lot of different clients, an app like TripIt is absolutely fantastic. For those unfamiliar, it’s a travel organizing app. When you book your flight/hotel/car/tour, you forward your confirmation email to the app & they automatically organize it for you. One of the reasons I love it, is because I can see – at a glance – if I’ve booked everything I need for a trip (I always seem to forget the rental car!). The best part? TripIt is free to download!
4. Status & TSA PreCheck – This is going to be the most controversial item on this list. Some people will disagree with me, but since I achieved the status on U.S. Airways I haven’t looked back. While I don’t get upgraded too often, I love being able to pick any seat on the plane (including the highly coveted exit-row-seat-with-no-seat-in-front-of-it) for no additional fee. I also really like being able to get on the plane before everyone else, so I can zone out & ignore the often stressful, blood pressure raising experience that is the general flying public boarding a plane.
TSA PreCheck is like flying in the 1980s again. I leave my shoes & jacket on, laptop & liquids in my bag, one simple step through a metal detector & I’m on my way. I know many people grumble that you shouldn’t have to pay for PreCheck, but, unless you’re invited by your airline, you do. And, for all the time you save at the airport, it’s really worth every penny. If you travel internationally, throw in Global Entry & you’re good to go.
5. Wrinkle free dresses – Remember how I told you that I can fit two dresses in my rolling briefcase? That’s because I only pack wrinkle-free dresses when I travel. They’re not only super forgiving, they’re awesome to be balled up in suitcases. Surprisingly, some of my favorites come from Kohl’s, but any sort of poly-blend sheath dress will work for you.
6. Extra charger – If I had a $1 for every time my phone died in the middle of the day while I was on a business trip, I’d have enough money to buy a second phone to have on stand-by. I’ve finally armed myself with a few external chargers & I think I have things down pat. I just got this one for the holidays, & I can’t wait to test drive it on a business trip to Phoenix in a few weeks.
Do you travel a lot for business? What are your favorite tools of the trade?
What helpful gadgets or tips should I add to my list?
Leave a Reply