Are you in the process of booking a business trip? Do you hit the road often, or is this one of the first trips you are taking for work-related reasons?
For some people, business travel is every bit as exciting as taking a personal trip. Others, however, do whatever they can to avoid this. They would much rather stay in their office, relying on technology to connect with people in other parts of the world.
If you find yourself staring a business trip in the face, it’s time to understand what you should and shouldn’t do when making your arrangements.
With all this in mind, let’s examine five mistakes when booking a business trip you should avoid:
1. Booking the Wrong Flight
This can mean many different things. From booking a flight on a wrong day to choosing the wrong airline, there are plenty of mistakes lurking.
Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to avoid this mistake. Rather than jump the gun and book the first flight that matches your requirements, take their time to compare all the options to get the best price using one of the amazing internet travel tools available right now.
Booking the wrong flight will put you in a bad spot before you ever leave home. Is that a risk you want to take?
2. Flying When You Could Drive
This isn’t always a possibility, but it’s something you should consider. If you’re able to drive to your destination, there’s no point in booking a flight, heading to the airport, and wasting time.
Tip: if you’re going to drive, consider the benefits of renting a vehicle. If your company is okay with this idea, you might as well take advantage. It’s better than putting wear and tear on your personal vehicle.
3. Choosing the Wrong Hotel
This often comes into play when you’re in a hurry to book a hotel. Rather than learn more about the many hotels in your destination city, you assume that one is as good as the next.
The best way to avoid this mistake is to make a list of the three to five best hotels in the city you’re visiting. From there, compare what they offer to your list of must-haves.
There is nothing worse than being stuck at the wrong hotel for an extended period of time. Not only can this take a toll on your ability to get enough rest, but it may kill your productivity as well.
4. Forgetting About Your Diet
You don’t have to plan out every meal in advance, but you should realize how important it is to eat healthy while you’re away from home. If you begin to eat poorly, it can hinder your ability to think clearly and feel your best.
There are many snacks from around the world that you’ll want to try. Just make sure they are healthy, as eating too much junk food will have you feeling poorly in no time at all.
5. Overspending
As a company owner, you may not have to worry about getting in trouble for overspending on a business trip. Even so, doing this will have a negative impact on your budget.
You know you are going to spend money when traveling. There is no way around this. However, you need to set a budget and stick to it no matter what it takes.
It’s easy to spend, spend, and spend some more when traveling. As tempted as you may be, don’t let things get out of control. You don’t want to look back on your trip and regret that you overspent. Creating a travel budget will help you avoid this mistake.
Final Thoughts
These are the types of mistakes you want to avoid when booking a business trip. It’s not always easy to do so, but the right approach from the start will keep you on track.
Furthermore, once you have a system that works, you can rely on it time after time.
When was the last time you took a business trip? Did you make any of these mistakes? Did any others pop up and slow you down? Share your top business travel tips and advice in the comment section below. Your feedback can help other business travelers avoid costly mistakes.