On the Road Again: Tips for Packing for Your Business Trip

For some, business trips only occur once in a while. For others, they’re an ongoing part of the job. Either way, it’s helpful to be ready to leave quickly, pack efficiently, and have everything you need when you arrive at your destination. Let’s take a look at a few tips for packing for your business trip so you can confidently get to where you’re going.
Plan Each Outfit
First things first—plan your outfits from head to toe for each day you’ll be away. Choose everything you’ll need, including jewelry and shoes if necessary. Don’t forget that you may want comfortable clothes to wear as you travel back home. Opt for as much wrinkle-free clothing as you can, and bring pieces that fold easily into a carry-on bag. This leads us to the next point.
Always Carry Things On
While you may need to bring several luggage bags in some cases, if you can limit yourself to a carry-on bag, please do. It simply makes life easier. You’ll have your luggage with you at all times and won’t have to worry about retrieving anything at the baggage claim area. Invest in a high-quality piece of luggage for your carry-on bag. If you travel often, low-quality bags will need constant replacing due to tears and broken zippers.
Limit Your Shoes
You may have the best shoe collection in the whole company, but bringing several pairs with you makes carry-on difficult. If you can wear one pair of shoes that works well for the entire business trip, do so. If not, try to get one or two more to coordinate with all of your outfits so that you don’t end up at the baggage claim area just to collect a shoe bag.
Protect Your Papers
As a business traveler, you most likely have papers with you. Business cards, pamphlets, and other documents can bend easily. So, use zipper pockets on your luggage and laptop carriers to protect them. You’ll be handing out your business cards quite a bit, so consider creating some fun and useful business card holders for easy access and a layer of protection.
Be Mindful With Toiletries
Remember to pack toiletries in your carry-on bag that are approved sizes for air travel. Use the soap and shampoo at the hotel to simplify things. If your hair is finicky, go ahead and pack a travel-size conditioner so that you aren’t miserable while styling your hair in the morning. All hotels offer hairdryers, so don’t waste space on one. If you wear make-up, keep it minimal when packing for your business trip so that you can fit everything in your bag.
Traveling for business isn’t stressful as long as you’re always ready to go and are willing to leave a few things behind. Keep things simple and enjoy the journey. Safe travels!