Packing Light for Your Next Business Trip – The Essentials
The best business travel agencies know, learning how to pack lightly for trips is an essential business skill, making travel easier and theft less likely. When packing for business trip, how can you fit a week’s worth of items into a single, handy carry-on container?
Tips for Packing Light
- Pick the right bag(s).
Space-efficient items that fold such as sunglass, or pack flat such as specially designed totes, carefully positioned into well-designed carry on luggage such as the Travelpro Crew 11, Briggs & Riley Baseline Domestic, and similar soft-sided 21-22-inch wheeled carry-ons, ensure optimal use of space, easy check-in, security screening and navigation. - Know neutrals are your friend.
When selecting clothing, remember: Black goes with everything, and khaki comes in a close second. Adopting a mix-and-match travel wardrobe with neutrals can help you make the most out of limited suitcase space. Stick to the ‘five-of-each’ policy: 5 shirts/pants/undies/socks/etc. - Pack space efficient pieces.
Choose lightweight items that aren’t bulky, including pieces that do double-duty. Notorious space hogs, pack a max of 2 shoes: 1 multitasking pair for business, 1 comfy pair for workouts/outings. - Never check your bag.
Avoid checking your bag whenever possible. This greatly speeds up travel, allowing you to walk right off the plane, skip the long wait at the baggage claim, and go right into a meeting or hotel. Carrying on not only minimizes hassle, but saves money, making this practice not only convenient, but among top corporate expense management solutions. - Used ‘checked bag money’ for laundry services.
It may be a little pricey, but it’ll help get you through with minimal clothing. Your travel expense policy guidelines should indicate reimbursement potential for this. - Store liquids in tiny containers and think thrifty.
Fill necessary liquids into 2oz. traveler bottles. Call the hotel in advance, leaving complimentary toiletries like shampoo, soap, and toothpaste behind when these are provided as part of your stay. Likewise, keep cosmetics lean. You’re not on the runway. - Pair down electronics.
Chargers and cords can take up a lot of room, and electronics pose a significant theft risk. Unless you absolutely can’t live without it, try to pair down electronics to 1-2 essential items, leaving the rest at home. - Do save space for things you love.
Such as a book, magazine, or Kindle. - Do bring backups of essentials.
Corporate travel agents will be quick to tell you, you can never have too many high-res copies of your driver’s license, passport, visa, and credit cards on the SD card of your phone or computer. These copies can be a lifesaver in the event of theft/loss. - Continually think smaller.
Every few months, take another look at items parked in your business ‘go bag.’ If you haven’t used them the last couple times you traveled, lose it.
Lighten your load with the help of trusted business travel services. Contact GTI Travel today.