Many people would love to travel abroad and experience various cultures, but they never really get the opportunity to do so. If you are fortunate enough to be able to travel internationally for work, it is almost as if you have the best of both worlds. You get to see and experience new ways of life, all the while getting paid for it. At the same time, you need to make certain allowances for a lifestyle that constantly has you on the go. With that in mind, here are five tips to follow when you constantly travel internationally for work.
Make Sure of the Company Reimbursement Policy
When you travel internationally, you have to be careful to separate personal from company money. If you do not do this, you might find that you are spending much more money on each trip than you can afford to. Check to see what your company will reimburse and then stick to that policy as much as possible.
Get Paid on Days You Travel
Traveling internationally can take days in some cases. You should be getting paid for this. Many people work on the plane and must do other things to get prepared to hit the ground running upon arriving at their destination. Work hard to make sure you are still receiving your salary as you travel.
Make Sure You Have Proper Documentation
. You will want to be prepared for this. If you are passing through customs, professional security clearance, and are surprised to have a charge that you know wasn’t committed by you stay calm. There are tools to help prove your innocence. Whether you have a common US name like John Smith or something less common like Xotchil Peña consider they may have found someone else who wasn’t you. Most governments and businesses will use entity extraction as a way to make sure they don’t confuse people. There is some great software available that is customizable and will recognize variances. Different countries use different acronyms, alphabets, pseudonyms, and you don’t want a silly mistake costing your trip. Ask them to run it again.
Check on Per Diem Amounts
You need to live while you are overseas, so you need to make sure that your basic needs are being taken care of. This amount can vary from one location to another. As such, before you leave on any trip, make sure you know what your per diem amount is. This will help you stay within that budget so that you do not spend any personal money.
Use Loyalty Programs
As you travel, use your loyalty programs if your company permits it. Just think about how many hotels you stay in, and how many airlines you fly on. Within reason, try to stick to the same brand so you can really rack up the points.
These five tips will help you get the most out of your international travel. Remember that this is a lifestyle that affords you great flexibility. Take time to enjoy every place that you, but also spend time to make sure you are ready for each trip from a financial and professional perspective. This will go a long way towards making your travels go that much more smoothly.
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.
