Packing Tips for the Business Traveler

When you travel often on business, you don't always have the energy to be methodical about your packing—but you really need to. Being stranded in an unfamiliar city with important meetings scheduled is frustrating enough, adding a wardrobe or insurance malfunction to the mix and it can really hurt your ability to focus on the task at hand.


Here are some tips to help make packing an easier, more organized task.



- Make a list: Start the list about a week before you need to leave on your trip and write down everything you can think of that you will need. Then, leave the list out and accessible so you can add more items as you remember them during the week. Use your list to complete your packing and try to give it quick look to make sure you aren't missing anything.


- Mix and match: It's easier to travel when you pack light. In order to do so, bring clothes that you can mix and match and that all work well with the shoes you wear on the plane. This will allow you to pack light without sacrificing variety in your wardrobe.


- Bring something comfortable to wear: Unless you plan to fall immediately into bed after your meetings, you might want a more comfortable outfit along on a multi-day trip. Bring something light with a comfortable pair of shoes to match.


- When traveling internationally, take copies of your international health insurance policy. You never know when you might need to reference your insurance documents in order to take advantage of coverage benefits or prove that you have the insurance, so make sure you keep a copy of your policy documents with you.


- Put identifying information inside and outside your luggage: Put your name and cell phone number on a tag both outside and inside your luggage. This way, if the tag falls off your luggage, you can still be contacted if it is found. For safety reasons, it's best not to put your hotel or home address information on the tags.


- Bring maps and local information: Make sure you have some maps of the area around your hotel and the city you are visiting. This way you will be better prepared for your drive and will know exactly where you can go for food, drink and supplies around your hotel.

It's important to ensure that you remain comfortable when you travel for business, but it's also important to travel light and be prepared for all your trip has to throw at you. By taking a well-thought out, methodical approach to packing you can achieve the best of all worlds.