30 tips for better business travel
From what to pack to when to visit the loo...
What can be done to make business travel more bearable? Here are some suggestions from silicon.com staff and our favourite frequent fliers. And if you think we've missed any useful tricks, email us with your own top travel tips at editorial@silicon.com
Pre-book your seats, print and keep the confirmation as online booking systems can fail, leaving you in the enviable position to prove you are on the flight and in the right seat. -- Phil Young, head of IT operations, Amtrak Express Parcels
Ask for a specific seat when checking in. Make a note from past travels on a route or, if you're travelling to or from the US and know the plane/airline, use seatguru.com - even the best business or first class seats can vary by being close to or far from galleys, toilets or even other seats. -- Tony Hallett, editor, silicon.com
Check the rules for bringing in telecoms equipment such as a personal VPN device as some countries place restrictions on their 'import'. -- David Supple, head of IT and creative services, Ecotec
The most effective way to avoid travel problems is to stay at home. Is your trip really necessary?
-- Martin Brampton, columnist, silicon.com
Never put your laptop in your hold luggage, even if you're not using it during your flight. The tender ministrations of the baggage handlers have dispatched more than one of my laptops to the great repair shop in the sky. -- Jo Best, senior reporter, silicon.com
Get a big wallet that takes passport, tickets and receipts all together in one place. -- David Supple, head of IT and creative services, Ecotec
Buy a light travel bag that holds a change of clothes, laptop, charger, phone, pen, paper and has a handle, shoulder and backpack straps. -- Rob Bamforth, analyst, Quocirca
Take your own Ethernet cable with you - plenty of hotels now have ports for broadband but either run out of cables or other guests have broken them. -- Tony Hallett, editor, silicon.com
Carry a couple of USB memory sticks because half the time you won't be able to connect your laptop to whatever projection system you're using and the only way to show off that vital presentation will be to stick the USB stick into the system's USB port. -- Steve Ranger, business editor, silicon.com
Pack paper and pen - they have a longer battery life than your laptop and are more multi-functional. -- Rob Bamforth, analyst, Quocirca
Always carry some cash - sterling or US dollars. -- Chris Broad, head of IS and technology, UK Atomic Energy Authority
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