Does anyone travel abroad for work?

[Peckhaminn]

I've recently taken a new position and it requires travelling for conferences which we organise and have to travel to ensure everything goes smoothly. These happen every other month and I've never travelled on my own especially for work. We are away a week at a time. I am petrified to say the least. Has anyone got any advice?

Sorry @Heronswater, I misread your tone. I’ve read a lot of dining alone threads in particular where people seem to have no sympathy for anyone feeling anxious about giving it a go and I unfairly thought you were coming from the same place. Sometimes I think these sorts of threads attract posters who like to advertise just how comfortable and confident they are with eating out / travelling / going to the cinema alone rather than helping someone who hasn’t done it before feel more confident. This thread looks to have been a supportive one thankfully!

Marketing and sales great for travel, but unless you work for a super glam or luxurious industry you'll end up in a conference hall in Leeds most of the time.

Find out what is the done thing with food and drink. Like how they expect to eat and what sort of budget.

Yes abroad abroad in one of the Nordic countries for work. DH managing 7 yo and 3 yo with the help of morning and after school clubs as usual plus FT nursery also as usual. No difference to usual routine. Have never stopped travelling pre or post kids except covid. Key to this obviously is DH - long May he live happy and heartily.

am an academic by the way so travel is conferences or fellowships usually

Read up on policies around eating out, travel etc so you know how much you can spend. If you don't have a company credit card then learn up front how they want you to do expenses.

With regards to the actual travel logistics, its the same as going on holiday - remember your chargers, your adapters, everything you'll need including outfits for the evening.

There's nothing else to it - just have a clear travel itinerary and plan for when you arrive.

Worked all over the world in my 20s and my top tips would be.

Take printouts of the hotel and conference address in local language.
Get a wallet just for work trips and snap a photo of receipts as soon as you can to keep on your phone.
If you can, get a credit card and keep it just for work trips (even if you have a work card) it amazing the things that crop up unexpectedly that you might have to pay for.
Print boarding passes and booking confirmations -great having them on your phone but better to have paper just incase.
Invest in a good travel bag and wash bag with mini bottles and pots so you have all your usual skincare etc with you.
Noise cancelling headphones are a godsend.
Sign up for airline and hotel loyalty cards, if you travel often and can stick to the same brands you'll amass points quickly which you can use on weekends / holidays.
Force yourself to go out to eat, there will be days when you just want to get room service and sleep but the sooner you get over not wanting to go to restaurants alone etc. the more you'll enjoy your time.
If you are travelling long haul get an iPad and download films etc to pass the time.

Not anymore, but I did many, many years ago. The biggest challenge was the language barrier. I generally had to travel on no notice so didn’t have any time to prepare. Sometimes we would leave on a few hours notice. The internet was in its infancy so looking things up online or getting directions online wasn’t something that was possible. With online maps, the ability to order transit by app, and google translate, imperfect as it is, it would be so easy.

Oh and kindles. You don’t even have to worry about bringing enough English language books to get through a whole trip anymore. Think back to the days before smartphones and tablets. Your book was your lifeline at the airport and on a plane. Get to a hotel with nothing but the local language on tv and your book is your only wind-down after a long day working. Finish your books early and you just have to hope to find something at the airport in a language you know. I’m not a fan of romance novels or cheesy murder mysteries, but I read more than my fair share because they were the only choices.

I similarly did lots of work related travel before C19, one plus point of the pandemic is a much lower requirement now.

I'd echo all your comments and add a recommendation for Bose Quiet Comfort headphones, your own personal first aid kit and plenty of any regular meds with prescription plus battery for phone/ipad.

Also I found it useful to have a specific bag/case/wallet for work travel and some items basically stayed in the bag all the time. Its amazing how after a few trips you learn to pack light if it means traveling on hand luggage.

If you have to book your own travel check for your corporate codes to use with chains/airlines and also check the expenses refund timelines (ideally you would have a corporate amex or similar for this). Also check airline policy on hand luggage - most schedule airlines are more generous.

Make friends with the hotel staff at regular venues. They often have discretion for upgrades and regular rooms even if its a new chain and you don't yet have top tier loyalty.

@Peckhaminn that sounds exciting! I’m a journalist who is looking to move into a different sector, I’d love to travel more with work. Hope you like your new job!