Business Travel Tips

Posts Tagged ‘international travel’

The answer to this question is ‘yes’, if you are traveling international. Traveling international may require additional documentations to travel a foreign country.

A passport is travel document and that is issues by the passport authority in your native country. This travel document is required and allows you to leave and return. Citizens of all countries requires a passport to leave their home country and return. But there are some exceptions.

For example, the citizens are European Union does not require a passport to travel to countries under European Union. If you are US citizen, you will need a passport to enter an European Union Country. But you may not need a passport to go between European Union countries after you land in the first country.

American citizens are now requiring the necessity of a passport more than ever. For example, few years ago, an american citizen or a canadian citizen do not need a passport to enter their respective countries. But now things have changed. To fly or drive out of United States you will need a passport.

Starting from July of 2008, the U.S. government started issuing U.S. Passport Cards. These are wallet-size cards and are convenient and less expensive. These cards cannot be used for air travel.

If you are traveling with children or infants, they too need a passport and other travel documents as adults. So while planning for travel do not ignore Children or infants if they are traveling with you.

Your passport has validity time period and after the expiry date it is not usable. So ensure your passport is current and has a validity of minimum of 6 months.

Before your travel please check with the airline or your travel agent or someone reliable what other documentations are required in addition to your passport. If you make assumption or some one misguides you, your trip will be ruined or delayed.

To avoid last minute delays of trip getting canceled, plan your trip well in advance and also get the right documentations.

Traveling to a new country on a business trip is an opportunity to learn about a new culture. The following is a check list that can help you with the travel:

• Get your passport much in advance
• The country you are visiting may need a visa. Get your visa well in time before your travel date
• Try to make travel reservation well in advance so that you don’t have to pay a full price.
• If you are traveling to a non-English speaking country, get your hotel bookings in a international hotel such as Marriott, Holiday Inn, or Hyatt. Otherwise communication can get somewhat difficult when you arrive there.
• Be aware of things you want to take with you for your travel and see that you have enough luggage bags to carry all your stuff
• If you use your local cell phone in an international country, you may need to pay roaming charges and it can get very expensive. Alternative could be a VOIP solution or a unlocked phone for which you can buy a SIM from a local store there.
• Before the travel date, make yourself familiar with the airport you will be arriving (you can find information in internet) and arrange your ground transportation well in advance. Getting taxi’s in a foreign country can be dangerous and so better be well prepared to avoid hassles.
• If you have a local friend or a business associate seek their help and guidance much in advance
• If you are going alone and do not have much local help in that country, make sure you have the complete address and telephone number of the places you will be visiting and also get it translated in a piece of paper before travel. Try to find someone who can help you with this before travel.
• Last but not least, respect the laws and tradition of the country you are visiting.