With the world opening up again, more and more companies are able to send employees overseas for business purposes. However, it’s not just about booking the nicest, highest-tech hotel available; there’s a range of factors which you’ll need to consider before travelling. Follow these steps before hopping on your flight.
Do your research
First and foremost, it’s important to have a clear understanding of some of the laws and customs in your destination country before you travel for business. For instance, if you’re travelling to Singapore, you should avoid packing chewing gum for your trip, as it’s illegal across the country in almost all instances. The last thing you want when attending your next conference or event is to inadvertently create a cultural faux pa, much less break a law!
You should also be clear on what the visa requirements are for your intended destination, including those of any stop overs and connecting flights you may have. Doing so could save you a significant amount of hassle and stress on your trip.
Consider how to pay for things in advance
Simply using your credit or debit card whilst overseas could incur significant currency exchange fees, so you should think about the best and most effective way for you to pay for items whilst you’re over there. This will commonly come in the form of a specific foreign card, but there are other options.
If you wish to send a sum of money overseas ahead of your trip, using international money transfers could be the best option for you, as they’re fast and convenient to process and can offer competitive exchange rates across a wide variety of currencies.
Organise all your vaccinations
Your health is of paramount importance when travelling, so being up to date with your vaccinations well in advance of your departure will hold you in good stead. You should aim to have these completed at least eight weeks prior to your flight.
Most countries will require you to have proof of COVID-19 vaccination ready also, so you should organise your International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate.
Make sure you’re covered by travel insurance
Travellers should always look at taking out insurance to cover them in the event of an emergency overseas which could them in a desperate situation. Many countries don’t have a healthcare system like we do in Australia, so you’ll want to avoid scrambling for the money you need if you fall ill.
Individual policies will require you to confirm whether you’re travelling for business purposes. However, it’s worth finding out about your business’ insurance policy to see whether it can cover you whilst travelling for business purposes.
Think about potential modes of transportation
It’s not just about getting to your destination; you’ll also have to think about how you’ll travel between your hotel and other business commitments. If the country has a robust public transport system, such as the London Underground, you may find this to be the most suitable option.
If you need something more private, though, Uber for Business can be used to book trips for multiple employees on the one account and make life simpler for getting from A to B (provided it’s offered in your destination country).
