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Ah, the plight of the business traveler. So many frequent flyer miles… so many episodes of “Homeland” backed up on your DVR.
While I don’t feel all that bad for anyone logging elite status with his or her airline of choice (I’m suffering from a severe case of wanderlust this January…need to do some traveling of my own soon!), I do recognize the challenges intrinsic in packing appropriately for trips that contain elements of work and fun. A business conference in Las Vegas, for instance, or client meetings in Orlando.
So I checked in with Portavi founder Hitha Palepu for a packing primer.
In her role as a vice president at a pharmaceutical company, Palepu is on the road at least half of the year around the world. She’s logged hundreds of thousands of miles with her trusty carry-on, including excursions to India, Russia and all around the United States, flying in everything from huge Boeing 777’s to tiny puddle jumpers. From her experiences, she developed an uncanny talent for bringing just the right clothes and accessories for any trip.
That’s why she started Portavi (in Latin, “to carry”), a consultation service helping travelers pack efficiently and stylishly.
Below, her tips and tricks for packing for your next work hard-play hard business trip.
DO get your shoes shined a couple of times during the trip.
In addition to looking polished for the day’s meetings, workshops and conferences, it also helps clean and disguise any transgressions from the previous night at the bar or on the dance floor.
AVOID colored drinks.
In addition to the obvious cranberry juice and day-glow Midori, this includes whiskeys and other dark liquors. It would be terrible luck for your last clean white shirt to get in the way of someone’s last-call Guinness.
PACK an instant stain remover.
Like the Tide To Go Pen. Just in case a spill does happen. (And let’s face it – it probably will at some point).
DO invest in non-iron clothing.
Who has time to iron their clothes on three hours of sleep?
BRING dryer sheets.
You can rub them on your clothes to remove cigarette smoke and other unpleasant odors. It works like a charm.
