If you’ve got a business trip to go on in the near future, whether you’re off to a big networking conference or you’ve got some more private meetings to attend, or you’re just scoping out the nearby competition, you need to plan things just right.

And if you’re a small business owner who wants to live in luxury for a couple of days, or you want to look and feel the part of a true professional, we’ve got some planning tips for you to consider. Because you’re going to need a proper itinerary to work with during a time like this, and that’s harder to put together than you might first think.

Pick the Right Hotel

The hotel you stay in is going to make a big difference to how your business trip goes. It needs to be a comfortable place, close to where you need to be (or close to main transport links), and you it’d be best to get breakfast or buffet options included in the package. After all, you don’t want to be rushing out first thing in the morning to find a cup of coffee and a pastry to eat! Not when you’ve got an already busy day ahead of you.

You might want to keep in mind that you can book a business hotel for your trip. These are places to stay that know you’re a professional with a few extra needs, and you’re catered to for your short and busy time there a lot better than you would be in a standard hotel.

Know Your Route Around the City

If you want to make good time while you’re in another city, you’re going to want to get to know the best route around. You’ll need to come up with a little walking tour of your own devising, and or you’ll need to get to grips with the underground system or the bus stops, to ensure you’re not wasting moments or going back on yourself.

You might also want to buy yourself a data package for your phone here; a new bundle of internet data to rely on will allow you to make use of your phone’s map function, wherever it is you are in the world. If you get lost, or all the streets look the same to you, this routing option will be indispensable.

Give Yourself an Extra Day

If you’re going to be rushing around a lot, and making a lot of presentations, or using a lot of energy to impress a select few higher ups, give yourself an extra day. Use this day to wind down before you get back home again, and especially before you’re off to work again! With an extra day for winding down, you’ll be able to put your findings and your results together, and make a plan for where to go next.

An effective business trip is one that allows you to move freely, but doesn’t push you either. Plan it right!