International Business Travel

PMKeates said:
[*]Keep some foreign currency in your wallet. I carry 16 in mine, it's probably overkill, but I'm unlikely to get stuck unable to buy something.
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Really?

It's definitely overkill and probably slightly impractical as well unless you have a really tiny wad, or a really big wallet.
 
DRZ said:
Do you travel a lot on business? Want to share any tips/stories?

About to travel on business for the first time? Ask away!

I've been 'lucky' enough to travel an awful lot with my current employer. I know some people personally from here that travel a lot, one hated it, the other quite likes it.

Me? I'm sat in Oslo airport, bored to tears but glad to be here as it marks a bit of a milestone for me. I spend about a week to 10 days a month abroad, averaged out over a working year. I've been as far as South Africa so far with work :)

Biggest gripe? Hotel rooms with no power outlets near the bed. Why?!?!
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Worst places to sit than Oslo airport. A nice big pack of Bumse Mums and a Jo Nesbo thriller and you're golden.

I used to travel a bit years ago. Thought I was the bees knees for all of the first month. Wasn't for me thanks. I can just about handle a train journey. Now if I can get the fly private like the new girlfriend does, I'm willing to listen.
 
I hate planes, and flying in general, never really had a great experience, jet airways was quite pleasant when I traveled to Asia, nice food on the plane, but after 12 hours i'd watched everything there was to watch, and entertained myself to the max before I started going a little insane.
 
I always carry bribe money with me, never take large amount of cash otherwise they will take the lot, 40 or so dollars in notes usually gets you out of many situations and the wheels turning.
 
Lots of good points, taxi drivers will rip the bag out of you if you let them. Sure its expenses but its disrespectful too. Some places will actively welcome you telling them a price even if its too low. Failing that fight for the meter.

Particularly in india, where I am at the mo.
 
What do you travelers do for a living? I'd like a job with travel (for a while) but always get stuck with desk jobs that require the odd trio up/down the M1.
 
I travel to Paris a few times a year, my colleagues travel extensively though. One is in Indonesia at the moment, coming home via Dubai and another will be in Norway for the rest of the week.

Airports are a nightmare but once you're there, the food is always good and on expenses, the beer is expensed and you can have a good time.

I wish I could do it more. Prophet - I work in Purchasing for a large multinational.
 
I usually go to the US once a year or so. Not that often really.

The worst thing is patchy or slow WiFi in hotel rooms. Also I can't sleep sitting so flights can be tedious.

Another thing that annoyed me was that entering the US if you have a connecting internal flight you will need to recheck your baggage. Didn't know this the first time.
 
if you are travelling outside europe - check and double check...then triple check if you need a visa...even if you are just on a transit flight(s)......
 
Surfer said:
if you are travelling outside europe - check and double check...then triple check if you need a visa...even if you are just on a transit flight(s)......
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Yep, and if you extend your stay confirm if you need a visa extension or not.

I outstayed my Visa in Luanda by one day, a company 'fixer' came to the airport with us, vanished with passports, 30mins later we had paperwork which stated the visa had been extended.

Going through passport control we got stopped, pulled to one side and sent to the police, i was ******** my pants at this point.

Turned out they couldn't understand why we had extended the visa, our stay was covered under the original visa dates, which wasn't true, it took an hour for them to decide this!

We got through security, into the Lounge and watched the seconds tick by before we could get onto the plane.

Total nightmare.
 
I have to say I'm so used to travelling now its become second nature to me. Done a fair bit of Business travel too with the company I'm with was good times. I still hate waiting in airports to board though, even when sat in the nice Business lounge I get bored very quickly.
 
Firestar_3x said:
I'm sure they don't agree or approve with airport security personnel pulling you into a room and trying to extort money out of you.

But needs must.
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I'll expand on my original question. Do they know and approve of employees paying bribes to people (airport security etc), do they totally disagree with it, or does it go under the radar?
 
panthro said:
I'll expand on my original question. Do they know and approve of employees paying bribes to people (airport security etc), do they totally disagree with it, or does it go under the radar?
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Yes they know, i travel with my boss on and off, they accept that needs must, you have no other option at the end of the day.
 
Firestar, you must work in the energy industries (Oil?) by the sounds of it!

I used to enjoy travelling about, but after a while each hotel feels the same and i spend too much time in doing the same routine:
Car-Airport-airplane-airport-taxi-hotel-taxi-customer-taxi-airport, or some minor variation of the same its just soul destroying. Especially now I have a little one at home. I even enjoy my actual "Job" part of my job, but days of travelling for a couple of hours of meetings always screams waste of time for me. :(
 
So i'm 21 and have been working for one of/the largest IT organisations in the world, and i've done a lot of travelling during my first year with the company including: America, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands.

My protips include:

  • Sign up for as many loyalty schemes as possible the reasoning for this is two fold: 1) Free stuff 2) Lots of members clubs offer discounts/free stuff at the big hotel chains (BA member = Free squash at hiltons).
  • Try to carry as little as possible on your shoulders, get a wheeled suit carrier that you can attach your laptop bag/briefcase to.
  • This may be controversial, avoid travelling in a suit at all costs (1 day trips excluded), if you've got a good suit carrier you need not worry about it creasing.
  • Good Luggage is an investment not a commodity.
  • Always always pack one more shirt than you think you'll need - Spillages/Tearing/Acts of God do happen
 
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