Business travel checklist

This checklist was honed through 20+ years of business travel and saves me regularly; I hope that it will be useful for you too. – Kristof

Packing checklist #

Clothing #

• Shirts (one / day + 1, more if hot climate)
• Undershirts (one / day + 1, more if hot climate)
• Boxer briefs (one / day + 1)
• Nightwear (or just add +1 undershirt & boxers)
• Socks (one pair / day + 1)
• Warm clothing (if cold climate)

Papers #

• Passport (or other ID, as needed)
• Plane / train ticket printed (or car papers)
• If required: e-Visa and/or insurance printed
• Hotel reservation printed (so you have the address without Internet)
• Vaccination certificates (yellow fever, hepatitis, covid, etc as needed)

Money #

• One dematerialized credit card (NFC in phone)
• One physical credit card (not all your cards, one is enough)
• Small local cash (enough for airport taxi, just in case)
• Cash to exchange (only if no trust in local ATMs. EUR/USD, only new notes)

Higiene and stuff (in transparent bag) #

• Medicines and/or vitamins (all days)
• Toothbrush & toothpaste (old school toothbrush, not electric)
• Minimal shaving equipment (remember: no battery in checked luggage)
• Cleanser, moisturizer, etc (what you use)
• Mini shower gel, combined body & hair (most hotels have it nowadays)
• Travel-size perfume (samples work for 3-5 days if you want to go minimal)
• Hand sanitiser (in cabin luggage)

Tech accessories #

• Earbuds (I prefer in-ear for airplanes)
• Charger plug for phone(s) & notebook
• Charger cables for phone(s) & notebook
• Any non-standard chargers (fitness tracker, older notebook, etc)
• Small power bank (but remember: no battery in checked luggage)

Business #

• Suit (trousers and jacket)
• Leather shoes
• Leather belt (same color as shoes)
• Ties (just pack one anyway, ok?)
• Cufflinks, tie pin, pocket squares, cravat (what you use)
• Business cards
• Gifts (if any)

TODOs #

The day before the trip #

• Check in online
• Print stuff (hotel booking, tickets, e-VISA)
• Software update notebook and phone(s)
• Sync music, films & book to phone / notebook / tablet
• Pack notebook (and charger)
• Pre-book taxi / arrange airport transfer

The morning of the trip #

• Disable home alarm clock (to keep your family's love 😃)
• Pack phone(s) (personal, company, whatever)
• Pack tablet (or book)

Just before stepping out of the door, re-check: "P.S.: PaPa" #

• Phone(s)
• Sunglasses
• Papers (passport, e-VISA, tickets, hotel, money)
• Packs (all, remember the count)

When going out for sports #

Common for every sport #

• Towel (one more if there's a sauna)
• Shower gel (definitely body & hair)
• Small money

Swimming specific #

• Swimwear
• Swimming cap (sometimes it's required)

Martial arts specific #

• Workout shorts and t-shirt
• Knee pads
• Gum shield (or any other protection you use)

Gym specific #

• Workout shorts and t-shirt

Squash specific #

• Squash racket
• Shorts
• T-Shirt
• Squash shoes (white is expected)
• Socks
• Boxer briefs
• Squash ball

Iaido specific #

• Gi
• Hakama
• Obi
• Undershirt
• Knee pads
• Bokken / Iaito
• Sword oiling and cleaning kit (if using a steel iaito)