Preparing for an international business trip can be much more stressful than a domestic trip. Along with arranging an itinerary, packing your essentials, and coordinating your flights and hotels, you also need to worry about being jet lagged, maintaining proper etiquette, and acquiring the proper visas and other documents needed for travel.
When you travel abroad for business, you are essentially an ambassador, representing both yourself and your organization. You run the risk of appearing naïve, or offending the people you want to impress, without the correct preparation.
However, understanding another country’s culture goes much deeper than learning its tipping practices. Even a simple smile during a greeting, an ingrained American custom, can make you seem fake or artificial to people from some countries.
Follow these helpful tips to ensure your next international trip is a success:
Don’t wait until the last minute to plan. If this is your first time traveling out of the country, make your travel plans at least two months in advance to give yourself enough time to gather the necessary travel documents. If you need to apply for or renew your passport, the routine processing time in the U.S. can be up to six weeks. You may also need to obtain visas if you are traveling to certain countries.
It’s important to plan your travel well in...
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