Packing your suitcase. A drama for many a traveler every time they go on a trip. What do you take with you? What will fit in your suitcase? Many travelers struggle with packing their suitcase. A work trip is different from a vacation, where you need different things. That’s why we give you a hand with the tips in this blog.
Packing your suitcase
Some people start collecting things to take on a trip a week in advance, others do it last minute. I belong to the latter category and always pack my luggage at the last minute. Since I travel a lot, it gets easier and easier, because certain things you always take with you.
When I have a trip where I travel to many different places or travel a lot by public transport I prefer to take my backpack with me. It’s just a bit nicer when you have to walk bits and pieces. My backpack is very compact, as I don’t like lugging around a lot of stuff and don’t need much. Even 8 months in Asia I could do fine with my backpack with 10 kilos.
Besides vacation outfits, appropriate shoes and beach towel, a workation requires just a little more gear than a regular vacation. The work part of the workation says it all, it’s a work trip. Therefore, below we list our tips for packing your workation suitcase.
Packing work gear for your workation
If you are going to do your work in a different place, you don’t have all the stuff you have at home or in the office. But you don’t have to be inconvenienced by that. You can even go to a workspace, which sometimes have complete office equipment, including workstations with ergonomic desk chairs, monitors and keyboards. Think carefully beforehand about what you need for your work and do research on where to find it at your destination.
Herewith our tips for in your workation suitcase
- Powerbank: if you work from another place, there is not always an outlet nearby. Or you don’t always know in advance exactly where you will end up and whether you can easily charge your laptop.
- Earphones/headset: preferably noise-cancelling. Then you can work quietly in many places. You can hear everything well in video meeting, and vice versa they hear you well too.
- Cable for internet cable: in case you need a reliable connection or if the wifi doesn’t work somewhere.
- Spare corded earphones: sometimes you just have the misfortune that your wireless earphones don’t work, so always take a few spare corded earphones with you.
- USB flash drive: in case you need to store something externally or want to print something out somewhere.
- Selfie stick/ tripod: this one is not necessary for everyone, but it helps if you want to take nice pictures.
- Mouse & mouse pad: some people find this works nicer than your touchpad.
- HDMI cable: might come in handy if you want to connect your laptop to a screen.
- Lanyard for your phone: while traveling, you will undoubtedly take more photos, so it is safe to have your phone on a lanyard so it is less likely to fall.
- Laptop and charger: this seems redundant to say right?
If you have forgotten something, it is often not a disaster. At your destination, you can probably buy something or borrow something from someone. But in less touristy destinations, stores selling office supplies are not present, or you will pay the high price for some items.
Clothing advice for when working remotely
I’m really not going to give you a list of what clothes to bring. If all goes well, you can do that just fine by yourself. But when packing, keep in mind that you are going on a work trip. Make sure you are dressed presentably when you have video meetings. Some clients may laugh at your hawaii shirt, but not everyone will. You want to be taken seriously in your work, so you have to make sure of that yourself.
Check the weather forecast at your destination a few days before departure. Tune your clothing accordingly. When traveling, it is always helpful to bring many layers so you can easily adjust to the right temperature. If you’re going for a tropical destination, don’t forget your swimwear and sunscreen. If you are going to a cold destination then thermal clothing is essential and good waterproof shoes.
The practical preparation of your workation
Besides all the work stuff you need to bring, there are also some practical things you need to take care of before departure. Still too often entirely simple things are forgotten. Have you thought about:
- Formal permission from your employer? Just leaving is not allowed, make sure you arrange this nicely at work.
- Need a visa? Check the entry conditions of your destination. (insert link)
- Is your travel insurance in order? Keep in mind the right coverage for your destination and your valuables.
- Check your phone bundle! Within EU there is nothing wrong and you can even create a hotspot if the wifi doesn’t work. Outside the EU, it’s best to buy a local SIM card or temporarily increase your bundle.
- Have your customers been informed? That’s neat and sometimes required from your employer. Although they really shouldn’t notice that you are working from a different place, because you provide a good workplace.
Ready for take off! If all goes well, you now have everything you need packed and all practical matters well taken care of. Time to start enjoying your workation. Need inspiration for great workation locations? Read more blogs about great workation destinations.
