If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.
Getting your business trip packing list just right isn’t always easy. There are so many different elements that need to be balanced, such as casual clothing versus business attire, electronics, key documents, etc. Getting all your business essentials together for your next trip, especially international business travel, can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re going through some essential business travel tips to help you get your work trip packing list just right.
The Ultimate Packing List for a Work Trip in 2022
Our business trip packing list brings together all the travel essentials in one place to help you stay organized, no matter what your destination is. We’ll run through some of the basic items you’ll need to keep and some extra personal items that can make the trip easier.
Paperwork
Depending on your destination, you might need a fair amount of paperwork. Some of the important ones are listed below, but always double-check with requirements the destination may have as it varies from place to place:
-
Passport
-
Driver’s License
-
Photo ID
-
Business visa (if necessary) and/or proof of entry, work permit, etc.
-
Supporting documents from work for the purpose of travel
-
Contracts and memos needed for meeting
-
Travel Insurance
-
Boarding pass
Read More: business travel tips
Electronics and Accessories
Traveling often means long wait times, flight delays, and more free time than you might have expected initially. Traveling with electronic devices enables you to travel easily, be productive, and balance your time as needed.
Laptop
Your laptop is the most crucial part of your business trip, that much is certain. But while you might remember to pack it, make sure you keep peripherals and accessories with you too. That includes chargers that work with electronic sockets in your destination, Bluetooth accessories, and anything else you may need.
Laptop sleeve
Laptop sleeves are especially beneficial for a heavy laptop, but they can also work for lighter ones. Your travel bags often get jostled around and bumped, which is where laptop sleeves come in. They can protect your devices, and you can also keep peripherals or accessories depending on the type of sleeve and bag you’re using.
Noise Canceling Headphones
Depending on how you’re getting to the destination, good, high-quality headphones can really help. You can get some sleep on noisy flights and trains if needed with them. Plus, you can use them to take meetings on the go or listen to music and podcasts during long flights.
WIFI
Having wi-fi access is crucial, so look into ways to get internet access before you leave for your trip. Most major phone carriers offer roaming deals, but those can often be expensive. Don’t just rely on hotel rooms for the internet. You can get internet cards or a wireless card to use on the trip to ensure you have access to data and the internet.
Wallet and Money
Keeping your wallet is, of course, crucial. But you also should check whether there is a specific business card you need to be using on the trip. Keep some cash on you that you can use in emergencies if required and emergency credit cards.
Women’s Outfit Packing List for Work Trip
For women, it’s important to pack things that balance work dress code and comfort while traveling:
- Dress clothes for any business meeting planned, with at least one pair of matching dress shoes to go with the different outfits
- Workout clothes and athletic shoes in case you want to use the hotel gym
- Bathing suit if there’s a hotel pool
- Yoga pants and casual clothing for the travel period
Men’s Business Attire Travel Packing List
Men need to strike the same balance between work clothes and casual attire as women and pack items that work for business meetings, such as:
- Collared shirts
- Suit jacket
- Tie
- Casual polo shirts
- Dress shoes
- Atheltic shoes and activewear for hotel gyms
Toiletries
Getting your toiletries to fit with TSA-approved guidelines is always a challenge. Save space by using smaller pouches to store your personal care items and check for travel-sized toiletries where possible so you can pack for a business trip faster and don’t forget essential items.
- Travel-sized plastic bottles that you can wash and reuse as needed for trips
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Floss/interdental brushes
- Shampoo and conditioner in travel-sized plastic bottles
- Skincare items
- An eye mask is an often forgotten item, but it can help you get some shut-eye as an eye mask is effective at blocking light.
Read More: international business travel
Other Essential Items for Your Business Travel Packing List
You can pack faster if you know what additional items you’ll need for your business trip. These items don’t take up much space and can be taken on a carry-on or in checked baggage.
- Breath Mints to take at regular intervals in between business meetings
- Office supplies such as post-its, pens, highlighters,
- A packing cube for shorter trips. You can also get multiple packing cubes if you’d like to take more items but are having trouble fitting them in
- Business cards
- Notebook
- Healthy snacks
- Reusable water bottle with a built-in filter. Remember that the TSA has a liquid limit for toiletries, and that also extends to liquids that you may be traveling with, such as water, soda, and juice. Don’t fill the reusable water bottle before you leave. Instead, fill it up after you’ve gotten through security to save time.
Packing for Business Trips – Hand Luggage Only Flight
If you’re trying to save some time during your travel, take only a personal item and/or a carry-on bag with you. Carry on luggage doesn’t need to be checked in, so you can get your boarding pass faster and make it through security without much hassle. Plus, you’ll be able to quickly get out of the airport if you’re not waiting for baggage on the carousel.
For up to a three-day business trip, hand luggage gives you just the right space since you take only what will fit in the bag. However, don’t forget to check airline requirements for carry-on bag dimensions to ensure you can take it on the flight with you.
Packing for an Overnight Work Trip
For overnight work trips, you might be able to get away with a small carry-on bag or even a travel backpack.
This might be harder to do if your work attire consists of dress shirts and suits, but with some travel pack hacks and neat folding, you may be able to fit all your items in a small bag for a short business trip.
Use a packing cube to try to optimize space, and try not to overload your bag.
Packing for a Long Work Trip
If you’re planning a longer trip. If your hotel room has the space, you can hang up clothes easily and even take items for personal time to support your well-being.
Try to think about items you absolutely need and take into consideration baggage allowances that the airline might have. If it’s an extended trip, it might be better to pack more, so you don’t have to buy too much stuff throughout the trip.
Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today.
Image: Depositphotos
