For a young person going on a business trip for the first time, excitement about the things to do in the new country or city comes to mind first. This is all good; however, not being prepared to face reality in the destination can be an eye opener. If you don’t prepare well, you may find yourself without food or ways of transportation.
So, you have your air tickets and serviced apartment booked for two months. What are other things you need to think about?
- How to get around the area. Actually, how to get from the airport to the apartment, and how to get from the apartment to the office and other places. The agent who booked your flight can help you rent a car from a company, like Enterprise, so you will have someone who can take you to the apartment from the airport.
If you will be staying in a place where there’s tons of public transportation, like New York City, there’s no need to rent a car to get to the office or to tourist spots, like Broadway. However, if you’re going to a place like Raleigh, North Carolina, then you’ll need to drive to get to places like Duke University or the cinemas. In some cases, you can get regular complimentary transportation from the serviced apartment.
- Food to buy. Don’t only think about chips and chocolates. You’ll need ingredients to make a sandwich or be able to cook a decent meal. And don’t forget to buy water. Do this on your first day after you drop your bags in the hotel or apartment. Buy food that will last you for at least a few days. Those who are used to eating at home or in the university’s dorm cafeteria may be surprised to find themselves starving once they found out there are no restaurants near the hotel.
- Get a mobile phone or a local SIM card. This is necessary if you’re coming from another country. Sometimes, the host office provides this to the employee assigned to them. If this is not the case in your situation, you can buy a prepaid phone or SIM from a local store.
- Keep your receipts. Usually, a business traveler would need to reimburse his or her expenses, and for this process you may need to provide a scanned copy of your receipts.
