Travelling for work- Tips?

[Moonlamp]

I start a new position on Monday, one which will require me to be away from home most weeks, sometimes for a few days and sometimes for the whole week.
Of course, I've done training courses away before, but does anyone who travels for work regularly have any hints or tips as to how to live in hotels successfully?

(It's all UK based)

I know friends who travel a lot for work are quite careful about what they eat, they'll often have veg soup as a starter to get some veg in and not have bread or carbs. So they don't fall into chips with every meal hole.

Also poached eggs for breakfast rather than full English...

If same hotel try and get a discount on the gym.

Hotel gyms are usually free of charge.
Good point though - many hotels only have tiny fitness rooms but they have agreements with some nearby gyms, you need to ask for it though, normally not advertised.

Loads of good advice here
I have a waterproof case that fits the overhead locker size so I don’t have to check it, but if it does get moved to hold my stuff doesn’t get wet while on runway trucks etc (think mines North Face).
I travel with disposable bamboo cutlery, including chopsticks, for random takeaway meals. Plus teabags and a Bodum mug.
toiletries in a clear zip bag, make sure you have decent sanitary protection and blister/rub plasters/roll on as they are a pain to find abroad
i carry a small torch or sometime small bike lights you can clip onto your bag for safety at night.
Have a nice wallet/folder for shoving receipts in for expenses. Put them all in one place! If you set up a designated email address ‘travelmyname@gmail’ etc you can make all bookings etc through that and usually link it to your corp email expense system.
photocopy passport, driving license, insurance docs etc and leave somewhere obvious at home!
download some tv/films/books before you go

Make sure to keep all receipts and claim expenses regularly!

I always pack outfits, BUT add an extra fresh white t-shirt (or whatever generic top would work best for your travel wardrobe) in case I spill my morning coffee, have to stay on an extra day etc.

I also bring a little bag of mini sauce sachets, salt, pepper, sugar etc. so that if room service or takeaway food needs pepping up I'm prepared. You can buy selection packs off ebay.

Whenever I get into a new hotel room, I always check, first job:

• does the door(s) lock properly, including the balcony if there is one
• do the kettle, shower and bedside lamps work
• is the bed clean and (in Europe and NYC) bedbug free

Much easier to ask for a new room before you've unpacked!

Oh and never use a hotel iron without testing it on a bathroom towel first.

Please tell me where these rooms are! Every hotel I’ve stayed in is roasting!!

I don’t take a spare outfit but post-volcanic ash cloud eruption I always take at least one extra pair of clean knickers and socks / tights.

If you check into a hotel room and it has a connecting door, just turn around and go back to reception and ask for a different room. The noise coming through from the other room is much worse than if its a wall.

Use one of the spare towels and roll it up to use as a draft excluder under the door to the hallway. It keeps the noise down

Leave the lowest light on in the bathroom and mostly close the door so that you can see where you are going if you have to get up in the night

Always unplug an alarm clock as some people take delight in setting it to 3 am and leaving it on for the next guest

Be careful to have down time. I used to travel regularly and it was easy to start work early (hotel by office), meetings all day, catch up on emails after normal end of day then quick change. Out to eat and then bed....repeat.
Make a routine to exercise or get outside for a walk.
I used to pack/unpack in the same order wherever I was, reduced the likelihood of forgetting anything/ leaving things behind.

I travel for work a lot (including overseas) and these are the things that work for me.

Plug in nightlight; similar to those sold for child rooms. Some hotel rooms are pitch black an it's not fun if you want a wee in the night.

Rubber door stop wedge for use overnight; useful for a woman on her own.

Sellotape, clothes pegs and a stretchy travelling clothes line. Yep, I know that you may well not was anything but they really are multifunctional.

Pack shoes in freeby hotel shower caps.

Conditioner. Hotel shampoo is OK for a few nights away but conditoner is not always provided and when it is you wonder why they bother.

Extra long charging lead.

All the above ideas are great especially having some slippers or similar as the bedroom floors can be minty.

A bit of safety advise.

If you have a spy hole in your door and it looks like it's been tampered with ask to change rooms or plug the hole with tissue. If not it gives a binocular view in to your room from the hall way.
And yes it's been done on purpose.

Only happened to me once just glad I knew about it.

Another thing! And this is a general travel tip. Check the emergency evacuation map on the back of the door. I’ve been evacuated once due to fire, and twice have evacuated guests from hotels I’ve worked in. It’s good to have your bearings and to know where the stairs are.

from a safety point of view, some people like to be near a lift rather than at the far end of a lonely corridor.

I have a set of travel cutlery and some chopsticks in my bag. Sometimes after a day of dealing with people you just can't be fussed with going out and eating, and it's nice to get a supermarket salad or a chippy tea and a bottle of wine and just veg in front of the telly. Yes I know room service exists, but the menus are generally a bit shorter, and there are only so many omelettes or steak frites you can eat.

Get really familiar with the expense policy for your work. What is allowed to be expensed? What isn't (e.g. booze without food purchase)? How much can you spend? Get a system for keeping receipts and be disciplined about claiming stuff back regularly.

A couple more thoughts. I should have thought harder before I posted. Apologies.

If you are given the option of allowing items to be charged to your room, on check in you might want to refuse this. I have twice had expensive bar bills fraudently charged (by a total stranger) to my room. It was quickly deducted but it is the sort of hassle you can do without.

Room safes are not always quite so safe. Unscrupulous hotel staff (NB: I am not suggesting most hotel staff are like this) can have access to them. In addition, I once had a safe breakdown, with my passport stuck inside, on a day I was due to fly back to the UK.

Dresses and tights take up less space for packing than trousers and tops……although you can usually wear trousers twice with a different top. Definitely think about what goes with other items to avoid packing multiple cardigans / jackets / shoes etc! I can do a 3 night trip comfortably with a hand luggage sized case including work clothes / running or gym kit/ a set of casual clothes for evenings and trainers. (And laptop bag separately)

Orangello which travel steamer do you use? I’m thinking would make a good gift for someone who sometimes has to travel but prefers not to iron 😄

Mine is this type, but there are tons and they pretty much all do the same job.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolipo-Clothes-Handheld-Clothing-Lightweight/dp/B0B6C8ZM4Q/ref=sr_1_18_sspa?crid=OD4ELHVIDCTN&keywords=travel+steamer&qid=1697123239&sprefix=travel+steame%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-18-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

Honestly thank you all so much for these replies, some really useful stuff on here which I will definitely adopt.
Today is 'get sorted and pack' day.

I'm so scared about the whole thing. It's a big change, but I threw my hat in the ring for the job- and here I am! Gosh.

Travelfashiongirl is your friend for great clothing packing lists for a variety of destinations. Agree with the half packed bag. Consider getting an online exercise program like Les Mills On Demand (my current one) or Centr (one I used to use) to support exercise while you're travelling. Make sure your work is willing to pay your laundry bill, or invest in anti-stink workout gear and hang it to dry between sessions. Also, laundry sheets are great for doing a quick wash in a hotel sink, and gym gear dries fast.

Don't forget spare glasses!

Work out whether you prefer a rucsac or wheelie case, and get a really good one with a laptop compartment. I have an Eastpsk Tutor which is ideal for a couple of nights.

Also, book light. So many hotels don't have reading lights by the bed!