Thanks to modern technology, it’s easier than ever to avoid the need for business travel. With video communication technology and cloud collaboration software, it’s possible to conduct most of your business from the comfort of your office. This will be a relief for those who don’t enjoy the prospect of travel. Still, it is sometimes necessary to get out of your office chair and onto the plane to another town or city. It can be good for building your business, and you may pick up a few hints and tips from how other businesses operate overseas.

Here are some tips for stress-free travel.

1. Book your flight early

By booking your flight early, you can take advantage of any discounts the airline has to offer. This will also negate the last-minute rush to secure a booking. The airline should also notify you in advance of any changes to your flight information.

2. Organise a meeting in your hotel

Stay at a hotel that accommodates business meetings, as well as your personal needs. Take a look at the services provided by Anchorage Marriott Downtown as an example. Conducting your meetings from a hotel is very useful, as you will have less need to transport yourself around an unfamiliar town, provided your clients are willing to come to you. Time-keeping will also become less of an issue, especially if you are prone to getting lost in new places.

3. Pack a travel bag

You shouldn’t need a lot of luggage, especially if you are only travelling overnight or a short period. Still, you do need to remember your essentials, and these should be kept in a travel bag, just in case the rest of your luggage gets lost en route. Your essential items will include travel documents, your passport, a phone charger, and a toothbrush – after all, you don’t want to meet your client with bad breath!

4. Get plenty of rest

If you are meeting your client soon after getting off your plane, try and get some rest on the plane. This will leaving you feeling refreshed, and ready for what’s ahead. If there is time between your flight and your meetings, take a nap at the hotel. Stress can make any of us tired, so getting a little sleep will ensure you don’t spend most of the meeting yawning, no matter how dull it may be.

5. Download as many apps as you can

There are apps for everything these days, and you don’t need all of them. Still, you should consider TripIt, which will help you with your travel itinerary, as well as any apps for booking hotels, Uber for getting from A to B, OpenTable, to find an eating place to entertain your clients, and an app for whatever airline you use, so you can have easy access to flight information and your mobile boarding pass. Oh, and perhaps a game or two, and the Kindle app, to keep you entertained in your downtime.

Final thoughts

These travel tips should reduce your stress, and make your trip that bit easier. If you have any other bits of travel advice for our readers, be sure to let us know.