A Quick and Painless Guide to Packing for a Business Trip

For some people, flying for business matters is like second nature. In 2018, folks in the US took 463.6 million business trips within the country. This figure is expected to rise to 493.7 million by 2022.

Imagine it’s the first time for you to go on such a trip and you were presented with the task of putting together luggage good enough for days’ worth of travel. That length of time at another place or country can seal a deal or win an important contract for your company.

With the weight of the matter on your hands, here are tips that can lighten the burden and help you pack the essentials for an all-important trip of, say, three days. 

Passport, Visa, Itinerary

For overseas travels, never leave home without a passport, visa, and all other applicable travel documents. Print an itinerary in case the immigration officials ask about your business in their country, your return details, etc.   

Business Attire

Before you start packing your clothes, come up with a color theme. Smart and safe choices for a business professional or formal attire are whites, blacks, blues, and grays. 

For men, dark-colored suits, ties in simple designs, and white button-down shirts complete the look. Women can go for patterns, prints, and solid colors for their tops and pair them with modest skirts and slacks. Subtle jewelry is fine.

Do these to prevent overpacking:

• Mix and match.
• Wear dark hues for bottoms because they hide stains really well.
• A dry-cleaning service near your hotel is most helpful.

Shoes, Socks

Bring at least two pairs of shoes. The first pair is your formal footwear, which can be loafers and oxfords or flats, mules, and heels. The second pair is for comfort when you go sightseeing, shopping, or traveling home. 

For your socks, you can get away with a pair and a spare. Roll them into a ball to save space. Certain types of socks and underwear can quickly dry overnight, so you can wash them at the hotel.

Nonwork Clothes

You are free to pack sweaters, shirts, shorts, dresses, jeans, and lightweight workout clothing. It’s also up to you to sleep into your favorite pajamas and have a good night’s sleep. What’s important is to have comfortable clothes to slip into after a hard day’s work.

Travel Iron

With the right material and folding technique, your clothes can be wrinkle-free. Still, you can free up space for a portable iron so that you can appear presentable in your freshly pressed clothes. The gadget sells portability, so you can easily find one that fits the palm of your hand. 

Toiletries

Grooming is part of the package, and it saves time to have your tried-and-tested products in your vanity kit. Pull up a checklist to ensure you have your toothpaste, gel, shampoo, soap, cologne, perfume, facial cleanser, night cream, shaving cream, moisturizer, lotion, and a whole lot more. 

Where to Put These Liquids:

• Carry-on bag for toiletries in 3.4 ounces or smaller containers that can fit into a quart-sized resealable bag.
• Checked bag for containers with sizes that go beyond 3.4 ounces. 

Laptop and Accessories 

You are allowed to bring your laptop on the airplane, but that means taking it out for a security check at the airport. Thus, you need to store it in your carry-on bag for quick access and compliance with the law, along with these relevant accessories:

• Laptop charger
• Portable charger or power bank
• Headphones 
• Laptop docking station

A power bank will serve as supplemental juice when a plug socket is out of sight; you still need your laptop charger to load your device completely.

Headphones, like the noise-canceling ones, will help you get by long flights and commuter trains. Depending on the model and make, you can connect the headset to your phone or computer. It’s also possible to use the mic for calls. 

What if your headphone refuses to pair with your laptop? You need to plug its USB cable to the computer. What if another thumb drive or camera is using the port? A USB multiport hub like this expands the potential of your laptop as a host of numerous peripherals critical to your work wherever your business takes you. 

With the mundane tasks out of the way, you can focus on the essential to make your marketing pitch or presentation a success.

Additional Things  

• Use cubes to pack and organize your stuff inside the suitcase.
• Bring a film or DSLR camera to capture scenic spots.
• Enhance sleep with a neck pillow of breathable material. 
• Pass the time with a book, plus you learn something new.

The list is hardly exhaustive, as the elements that make a pleasant and productive trip can vary. 

If you are to name one thing that you always pack when traveling, what would it be and why?