Feb 26, 2025
Travelling for business can seem like an exciting adventure — especially if combined with personal travel and leisure. However, it may feel less charming and more exhausting for frequent travellers. Efficiency is key to successfully balancing business objectives with personal time. We hope our collection of best business travel tips will help you make the most of your business trip.
We’ve gathered simple travel hacks and practical advice to make your journey more comfortable, safe, and efficient. We’ve assessed key factors that impact the quality of business travel and made explicit guidance for each. Let’s dive straight into the first tip!
This document outlines the rules and procedures applicable to business travel, including where to book a trip, who approves it, and which costs you can claim as business travel expenses — along with the process for doing so.
Pay close attention to the details, as policies may vary depending on the country you visit or the duration of your business trip. For example, the company may not permit an overnight stay on short business trips of less than 10 hours.
If you’re travelling abroad, check with your mobile network operator if they offer internet services in your destination country. You can also purchase additional data packages for the specific region.
Alternatively, consider installing an eSIM application on your smartphone. It provides an internet connection and roaming without changing your physical SIM card.
Some apps can be incredibly useful when travelling for work. Having them on your smartphone can save time and help organise your trip. Today, almost every travel challenge can be solved with an app, from payments and maps to translations and city guides.
Make sure to download these apps before your trip begins:
Start packing your travel bag at least a day in advance. Leave it open in your room and gradually add essentials as you use them throughout the day.
Such an approach helps you assess your needs and gives you time to rethink your packing list. As a result, you’ll be less likely to forget essential items like chargers or toiletries, which are often forgotten when packing in a rush.
We also recommend keeping your passport, ID, and boarding pass in a separate, easily accessible pouch to avoid delays at the boarding gate and get to your seat more quickly.
Be prepared for emergencies. Even climate shifts and differences in tap water composition can cause problems. Therefore, it is always wise to include antidotes, anti-nausea tablets, and absorbents — just in case.
If you travel to a country with a hot climate and intense sun, remember to take sunscreen to protect your skin.
When travelling internationally for business, remember that plug types and adapters can vary between countries, which may cause issues when charging your gadgets. We recommend checking the socket types used in your destination country in advance.
A direct flight may cost slightly more than one with layovers, but it offers several advantages. First, it significantly reduces travel time, which helps maintain your well-being. Layovers can be exhausting, requiring more time to rest and recover after the journey.
Additionally, choosing a direct flight eliminates the risk of missing a connection due to delays, ensuring a smoother and stress-free travel experience.
If you prefer to sleep or work throughout the flight, a window seat is ideal to prevent disturbances from other passengers’ movements.
On the other hand, if you like to stretch your legs and stand up frequently, an aisle seat allows you to move around without inconveniencing others.
If you know the exact addresses of conference halls, offices, and other facilities you’ll be visiting, consider booking accommodation nearby. This will save you time on commuting and make your trip more time-efficient.
Since it takes up little space yet fits all the essentials for a few days, it’s optimal for short-term business trips. You won’t have to check it in, wait at the baggage claim upon arrival, and risk losing luggage — possibly the most unpleasant journey scenario.
If you’re travelling without checked baggage, always use online check-in to skip queues. This saves valuable time, allowing you to enjoy your time at the airport by shopping, having coffee, or simply taking time to relax.
Keep items such as liquids, electronic devices, and metal objects together to quickly put them on the security conveyor in one go.
Choose comfortable clothing over fancy attire. Opt for outfits that allow free movement—both for comfort and safety—ensuring you can sit comfortably throughout the flight.
Additionally, wearing excessive jewellery during your journey is not the most practical choice, as you will likely need to remove it during security checks. For the same reason, we recommend selecting trousers that don’t require a belt.
Loyalty programmes can significantly enhance your travel experience. As a member, you can enjoy benefits such as free flight upgrades, hotel discounts, access to exclusive airport lounges, and other perks. These not only add extra comfort to your trips but also help you save money.
Some airports are known for their excellent lounge zones, accessible only to members of various loyalty programmes. There, you can unwind on comfortable sofas, enjoy a peaceful environment, and indulge in complimentary snacks and drinks before your flight.
Our final advice is to carve out some free time to enjoy yourself. When the job is done, take time to explore — stroll through the city, visit historical landmarks, and try the local cuisine. With Bolt, you can always rely on an affordable ride-hailing service to move freely around over 600 cities worldwide.
Every journey is an opportunity to experience new things and broaden your horizons. Allow yourself some free time and take the chance to immerse yourself in the local culture.
