Very Important Documents: Check. CrackBerry: Check. Crease-free pantsuit…okay, you’ve done this a million times, but it can still be tricky packing light and extra smart on business trips. WORKS put together this guide to everything you’ll need on your next overnight.
1. Multi-plug adapter. The bloody hotel room only has one socket, but your phone, iPod, and laptop need charging. Oh, and your hair’s wet. But that doesn’t matter, because you’ve bought your multi-adapter and can plug the whole lot in. Hooray! (Alternatively, this six-way charger gadget is a sweet briefcase addition.) (http://www.callpod.com/products/chargepod)
2. A crisis clutch. “An emergency bag slipped into your carry-on luggage is an essential,” says Gill Upton, editor of thebusinesstravelmag.com. Include: a travel-size shower-gel/shampoo combo, earplugs, spare undies, tampons, baby wipes (for makeup removal, greasy hands, and armpits—in emergencies), a comb, a hair elastic, a pair of black tights, and a flash drive containing encrypted copies of all your work info, the important numbers from your cell, scans of your passport and travel documents, and (if necessary) the numbers of local embassies and hotel details. And make this emergency bag a pretty clutch; it’ll keep things compact and you’ll have a party bag on call.
3. Retractable Ethernet cable. Wi-Fi is a mighty thing—but that doesn’t mean it’s always fast and/or functional. A retractable cable doubles your chances of getting a connection when you need it.
4. Resistance bands. You could bring your running shoes…but are you really going to get time to jog? Resistance bands allow you to tone and stretch out a body that’s been cramped at a meeting table/rushing around an unknown city all day.
5. Color-themed clothing. Upton offers a good business-travel wardrobe-packing rule: “If it doesn’t go with at least two other items—it doesn’t go in. If the theme is navy, then just pack other accessories that complement navy. It extends your working wardrobe and means you only include useful items.”
7. GPS tracker. For finding venues, hotels, emergency gas stations, Internet cafes, and for exploring in your free time. Don’t assume that your hire car will have one. A compact one with a pedestrian mode is a good investment.
8. Fizzy vitamin C. The perfect solution for: “public transport mouth” (a.k.a. that hairy tongue you get after a long flight/car ride), crappy-tasting water, unexpected hangovers, and when you’re flagging by the end of the trip. Pack three tubes—everyone else will scrounge yours.
9. Mini Dictaphone. Great for last-minute thoughts, notes, memos, and to-do’s, and easier to grab and use than pen and paper when you’re rushing about and don’t have both hands or a flat surface free.
And whatever you pack, it’s a great idea to take a digital photo of everything (as well as the outside of your bags) to minimize headaches from insurance wranglings and luggage that goes missing… Bon voyage!
Source: NicoleWilliams.com
