A very specific response to this from a Londoner who travels within the UK and Europe for Business: 1. Totally agree about the train. If you are staying in central (ish) London and need to travel to central (ish) Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam (or Disneyland Paris if it’s relevant} then the train is MUCH faster than a flight. Plus no limits or worry about baggage. 2. Certainly avoid budget airlines if you’re not paying. Ryanair especially basically sees it as a personal defeat if anyone manages to get a bag classified as carry-on. Their business model depends on over-charging people for having a bag 1cm bigger or 1 ounce heavier than the limit. If you are pushing your luck, then avoid a wheelie suitcase. I’ve never been challenged with a carry-on backpack or leather shoulder bag up to about 30l even when they would definitely not fit in the cage of doom. 2a. Dont’t assume that, even if your carry-on is compatible, you will be able to take it as a carry on. On full flights, some airlines will limit the number of carry-on bags, as there isn’t enough space in the lockers for everyone to take it. So join the front of the line for boarding. You won’t be charged for hold baggage, but it is very annoying. 3. For London specifically, I don’t agree with you about the different airports. London is a big city with 5 airports. They are all accessible by public transport & unless you have screwed up your timings there is no need to take a taxi to any of them. Which one(s) are most accessible to you depends almost entirely on where you are starting from. For me it is much easiest to get to Gatwick, then Heathrow, then City and so on. If I lived 2 miles further north then Stanstead would be easiest, followed by Luton & Heathrow. There is no one “best” London airport. But Luton is a shit hole. 4. If you are travelling to and from the UK as part of a business trip please bear in mind the impact of Brexit. It is still totally unclear what difference this will make to US visitors moving from UK to EU and back, but we know that the confusion will cause headaches at immigration for the foreseeable future. Personally, I’m hugely relieved to have dual citizenship (UK and Ireland) so can just show the most convenient passport when asked.
Tip: when you book the hotel for 1 day earlier, inform the hotel that you will arrive the next morning. Otherwise they can cancel your reservation as a no show.
I’ve always liked Derek’s presentation skills. Great voice, tone and pace; very articulate; doesn’t waste words. 👍 I’ve got some business travel tips I’ll post later.
@@woltersworld Nah. Just a different style. As discussed with Prof. Wolters there are multiple ways to be effective, and your subs love your enthusiastic often frenetic delivery. 👍
You should mention the issue of voltage conversion too, not just the plug adapters. Tell people to check the acceptable voltages listed on their devices to be sure. Most portable devices today can take worldwide voltage, but not 100%.
One of the things you forgot to mention is cell service. I travel internationally at least once a month ( not this last year). I have a UK sim card which I can use throughout Europe. I use it in England, France, and Austria. That way clients don't need to call me on a U.S cell number. Of course, you need an unlocked phone to do this. If I am in a country like Jordan or somewhere in Africa, and I am there for a week or more. I will get a local sim card.
I bought a portable hotspot device with a VPN. It was wonderful to have wifi everywhere and not having to use the public wifi. I would say the airline lounges were getting full, even flying off season. They are getting more picky who they let in now. I was turned away before. Great video.
Completely agree about only taking carry-on luggage. For example Schiphol airport really has issues finding enough staff after the quiet times during the height of the pandemic. The shortage is so severe that there are horror stories of just a single guy having to offload an entire plane, causing wait times for passengers up to an hour at the luggage belt. So yeah, never check in a bag if you dont absolutely need to.
I too agree with this and I researched each airline's specific requirements regarding size and weight. I vacuum packed my clothing to make things easier to pack. You can always wash a shirt in the shower and hang dry it if you want to wear it again... I even did that in New Orleans [it was the end of June and it was 95*F with a heat index of 121F].
Thank you Mark and Derek for an excellent video! I am European (British) but everything you said I agreed with. One footnote on European railways. Despite the long-term effects of Covid-19, European railways (led by Austrian State Railways) are reintroducing overnight 'sleeper' trains between major centres.
Thanks for pointing that out! The overnight trains can be a great way to save time and money combining accommodations with your transit between cities!
It's a mixed bag, while the Austrians are expanding, Thello just announced their Paris-Venice won't resume, and the Spanish decided the same. There's a very small chance the Lisbon-Hendaye might resume, but the rest seems cancelled forever. A number of new entrants are trying to organise new connections to Spain and Italy, however, they still have a lot of work to do, not in the least get rolling stock.
Baggage tip from an ex-baggage handler: Get a case with 4 good wheels. They rolled down the hold. If you have 2 wheels, no wheels or poor wheels, they bag gets literally thrown down the hold (length of plane) with the expected damage and wear that entails.
Here are some international business travel tips. *greetings* - You don’t need to learn a new language but please at least research the correct greetings and how to say them. *salutation titles* - At minimum learn the correct foreign titles; Herr Nowitski, Madame Macron, Señor Nadal... *gifts* - Research business gift giving, what to give, when to give them, if they are even appropriate. I’ve received nominal gifts from international partners and didn’t have anything to reciprocate. *dining etiquette* - Research this before you travel abroad; “breaking bread” is very important in business. You do not need to teach yourself continental style but at least be aware of dining norms or taboos especially in Asia and the Middle East. You’re not gonna lose business by sticking your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice but you’ll be a distraction for sure. *biz cards* - Some countries appreciate business cards printed in their language. I’ve never done this but am aware.
I wish you added some tips on how not to become a victim of pickpockets and other safety-minded considerations like that. That kind of thing is a lot more widespread in Europe.
Maybe it doesn't apply to business travel as much since usually you won't spend time at tourist attractions. You'll be at fancy lounges and hotels and then back home :D
Business culture can greatly differ between countries, even neighbouring countries who might seem quite similar at first glance. For example the hierarchy in The Netherlands is mcuh more relaxed than for example Germany. In The Netherlands its completely normal to just use a persons first name when you adress them, Germany is much more formal so you generally use their last name, preferably with their title if it applies. So in the one country "Hey Mark" is fine while in the other "Hello Dr. Wolters" is much more common. You might want to check these things before going in to a meeting.
A lot of European airports have fast track (for security lines) also, often sold on the airport car parking website for some reason. Usually around €5-7 and sometimes you get a free voucher for a newspaper, coffee or towards duty free
I guess the duration of your business trip decide if you have to check your luggage or not. For three weeks in Egypt a carry on was simply not large enough 😁
I would tend to agree if you are traveling with lots of equipment, but would also point out that for a trip like that you’ll pretty much need to do laundry or have your suits dry cleaned while there. We did 3.5 weeks in South America with carryons, but that was certainly NOT business travel!
@@mr.meanstotravel I brought 4 different suits and 10 shirts, as in outdoor temperature of above 50 centigrade and the only aircondition in Cairo taxis is to open the windosws, we had to return to the hotel, take a shower and change between meetings and the hotel's cleaning service simply couldn't keep up and I knew that from previous experience. On leisure trips I would have needed much less clothes.
@@wncjan wow yes that’s extremely hot, not surprised you’d be going through shirts quickly! I think the warmest business trip Derek went on was Singapore in July but he was only there a few days. 🥵
I love the convenience of Global Entry. Got that as soon as it became available because I used to have 2-3 times a year I'd be re-entering the US & you don't have to deal w/ the long customs lines. With the carry-ons too, definitely true that they care more about making you check your carry-on in Europe than in the US.
I was that person who had to change into a business suit and freshen up in the boutique hotel’s bathroom in Madrid before going into the office. That pre-booked room the night before would have been a game changer. Digging around in my suitcase was not the best moment tbh, as I didn’t think to have my first day’s wardrobe handy.
If using publicly available USB charging sockets buy a 'Charging only' USB cable that has NO data wires connected inside. Yes, if you look around they exist (easily checked, plug the cable between 2 devices and neither should be able to detect the other). This will stop 'snoopers' who have physically hacked into the sockets (or Airport network) from reading your device like a data stick/thumb drive. Yes it happens. They can also load a bunch of Malware or 'illegal' files onto your device for someone else to find.
Plugs: For me, the easiest way around the plug issue for my computer is to carry two cords: one 110v with American prongs and one 220v volt with European prongs. Both work in your AC/DC converter. And the American prongs work in Japan.
It's not about saving money, but LCC-s tend to be on time. With Ryanair, I have over 90% probability to get there in time. With legacy carriers I had more than once lost my connection and had to sleep over somewhere midway, or recombine flights across Europe just to get there late in night. Before C19 I had on average 4 flights a month. Ryanair and WizzAir rule!
That’s interesting, I hadn’t heard that about the issues around delays on legacy carriers. I think generally though I’d still prefer trains for travel within Europe, at least if you’re traveling between major hubs.
Interesting! Using London as an example, it takes sooo much longer to get in or out of the city to a Stansted or a Luton airport than to LCY for those short flights you’re talking about. I’m surprised to hear a perspective that it might be a time saver for business travelers 😯
@@MeansToTravel London might be a specific case with 6 airports. However, most of European cities have just one or two airportswithin 50km range. If you fly to Dublin or Budapest, you are flying to the same airport as with a legacy carrier. In Kuala Lumpur KLIA and KLIA2 are in vicinity of one another (one train stop). Look carefully at departure and arrival times. It is more time efficient sometimes to travel Ryanair (probability of delays included) or some similar airline, than to travel a legacy carriers.
I get lounge access with priority pass with one of my credit cards, I get delta lounge access via my company's amex card. Good luggage is a must, just upgraded to a Briggs and Reilly carry on, this is great, so much better that my old bags.
You may have implied this with your suggestion regarding adapters, but I want to amplify your suggestion. The way to solve two problems at once (outlet adapters and lack of electric plugs) is to carry one good plug adapter and a travel-sized power strip. These often also provide USB ports and voltage protection. This way you only have to adapt one plug to power all your devices. Also, don't forget the three-pronged adapter, too, since most power strips are three pronged. Add an extension cord (plugged into the adapter) if you need more outlets.
I've heard complaints from folks with pre-check / global entry that the designated lines get turned into regular lines as soon as things get crowded. Have you experienced this?
Thanks for the good video on business travel to Europe and the uk, if you'd like any detailed advice on the uk please contact me. Would you be able to do a video on business trips to the USA? I've spent a lot of time in America and had a place there in the past but more tips and hints would always be a good thing 👍
Oh, pretty please. I'd love a perfect response to "But what can you do that an american couldn't do better???" at us-immigration ;) The "where do i start" that comes to mind instantly wouldn't really fly i guess ;)
I tend to like business trips to an extent. It can definitely be stressful at times, but if approached in the right way I think they can be super rewarding both personally and professionally.
@@cianomalley7049 he did! Derek and I met at our undergraduate business school’s freshman orientation! 🥰 Derek has a double major in Finance and International Business.
A very specific response to this from a Londoner who travels within the UK and Europe for Business:
1. Totally agree about the train. If you are staying in central (ish) London and need to travel to central (ish) Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam (or Disneyland Paris if it’s relevant} then the train is MUCH faster than a flight. Plus no limits or worry about baggage.
2. Certainly avoid budget airlines if you’re not paying. Ryanair especially basically sees it as a personal defeat if anyone manages to get a bag classified as carry-on. Their business model depends on over-charging people for having a bag 1cm bigger or 1 ounce heavier than the limit. If you are pushing your luck, then avoid a wheelie suitcase. I’ve never been challenged with a carry-on backpack or leather shoulder bag up to about 30l even when they would definitely not fit in the cage of doom.
2a. Dont’t assume that, even if your carry-on is compatible, you will be able to take it as a carry on. On full flights, some airlines will limit the number of carry-on bags, as there isn’t enough space in the lockers for everyone to take it. So join the front of the line for boarding. You won’t be charged for hold baggage, but it is very annoying.
3. For London specifically, I don’t agree with you about the different airports. London is a big city with 5 airports. They are all accessible by public transport & unless you have screwed up your timings there is no need to take a taxi to any of them. Which one(s) are most accessible to you depends almost entirely on where you are starting from. For me it is much easiest to get to Gatwick, then Heathrow, then City and so on. If I lived 2 miles further north then Stanstead would be easiest, followed by Luton & Heathrow. There is no one “best” London airport. But Luton is a shit hole.
4. If you are travelling to and from the UK as part of a business trip please bear in mind the impact of Brexit. It is still totally unclear what difference this will make to US visitors moving from UK to EU and back, but we know that the confusion will cause headaches at immigration for the foreseeable future. Personally, I’m hugely relieved to have dual citizenship (UK and Ireland) so can just show the most convenient passport when asked.
Tip: when you book the hotel for 1 day earlier, inform the hotel that you will arrive the next morning. Otherwise they can cancel your reservation as a no show.
I’ve always liked Derek’s presentation skills. Great voice, tone and pace; very articulate; doesn’t waste words. 👍 I’ve got some business travel tips I’ll post later.
He is more put together than me, that is for sure.
@@woltersworld Nah. Just a different style. As discussed with Prof. Wolters there are multiple ways to be effective, and your subs love your enthusiastic often frenetic delivery. 👍
@@woltersworld Copa de oro
Great job Mark and Derek! Perfect topic to have you chat about!!! 😀👏👏👏
Thanks Eliz! Great video with Jocelyn over on Means to Travel!
You should mention the issue of voltage conversion too, not just the plug adapters. Tell people to check the acceptable voltages listed on their devices to be sure. Most portable devices today can take worldwide voltage, but not 100%.
That’s a great point Johnathan! Thanks for sharing!
One of the things you forgot to mention is cell service. I travel internationally at least once a month ( not this last year). I have a UK sim card which I can use throughout Europe. I use it in England, France, and Austria. That way clients don't need to call me on a U.S cell number. Of course, you need an unlocked phone to do this. If I am in a country like Jordan or somewhere in Africa, and I am there for a week or more. I will get a local sim card.
Me too.
The Hotel tip was incredible! Wish I thought of that.
Y'all are brilliant 👏
No Jocelyn, YOU are brilliant! Great video with Eliz! 👍🏼
@@mr.meanstotravel ok, we ladies are the most brilliant 🌞
@@WoltersWorldEats 😂
I bought a portable hotspot device with a VPN. It was wonderful to have wifi everywhere and not having to use the public wifi. I would say the airline lounges were getting full, even flying off season. They are getting more picky who they let in now. I was turned away before. Great video.
Completely agree about only taking carry-on luggage. For example Schiphol airport really has issues finding enough staff after the quiet times during the height of the pandemic. The shortage is so severe that there are horror stories of just a single guy having to offload an entire plane, causing wait times for passengers up to an hour at the luggage belt. So yeah, never check in a bag if you dont absolutely need to.
Wow. That's horrible. Poor guy
I too agree with this and I researched each airline's specific requirements regarding size and weight. I vacuum packed my clothing to make things easier to pack. You can always wash a shirt in the shower and hang dry it if you want to wear it again... I even did that in New Orleans [it was the end of June and it was 95*F with a heat index of 121F].
Love the filming of such a variety of places, customs and foods. You guys are great at this! Such a treat for this Tennessee girl!
Thank you Mark and Derek for an excellent video! I am European (British) but everything you said I agreed with. One footnote on European railways. Despite the long-term effects of Covid-19, European railways (led by Austrian State Railways) are reintroducing overnight 'sleeper' trains between major centres.
Thanks for pointing that out! The overnight trains can be a great way to save time and money combining accommodations with your transit between cities!
It's a mixed bag, while the Austrians are expanding, Thello just announced their Paris-Venice won't resume, and the Spanish decided the same. There's a very small chance the Lisbon-Hendaye might resume, but the rest seems cancelled forever. A number of new entrants are trying to organise new connections to Spain and Italy, however, they still have a lot of work to do, not in the least get rolling stock.
the asian lounges are the best! i love them!
Baggage tip from an ex-baggage handler: Get a case with 4 good wheels. They rolled down the hold. If you have 2 wheels, no wheels or poor wheels, they bag gets literally thrown down the hold (length of plane) with the expected damage and wear that entails.
Thank you for the heads up. I had not thought about that. Cheers!
Two of my favorite You Tubers!!
😀😀😀😀😀
Awww shucks! 🥰
Here are some international business travel tips.
*greetings* - You don’t need to learn a new language but please at least research the correct greetings and how to say them.
*salutation titles* - At minimum learn the correct foreign titles; Herr Nowitski, Madame Macron, Señor Nadal...
*gifts* - Research business gift giving, what to give, when to give them, if they are even appropriate. I’ve received nominal gifts from international partners and didn’t have anything to reciprocate.
*dining etiquette* - Research this before you travel abroad; “breaking bread” is very important in business. You do not need to teach yourself continental style but at least be aware of dining norms or taboos especially in Asia and the Middle East. You’re not gonna lose business by sticking your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice but you’ll be a distraction for sure.
*biz cards* - Some countries appreciate business cards printed in their language. I’ve never done this but am aware.
Great Great tips. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you so much! 🙏🏼🔥
I wish you added some tips on how not to become a victim of pickpockets and other safety-minded considerations like that. That kind of thing is a lot more widespread in Europe.
Wolters world did a whole you tube video on that.. search travel safety on his channel....
@@katiepop3442 You mean 7-8 years ago? Yeah, it's time for a refresher.
Maybe it doesn't apply to business travel as much since usually you won't spend time at tourist attractions. You'll be at fancy lounges and hotels and then back home :D
Business culture can greatly differ between countries, even neighbouring countries who might seem quite similar at first glance. For example the hierarchy in The Netherlands is mcuh more relaxed than for example Germany. In The Netherlands its completely normal to just use a persons first name when you adress them, Germany is much more formal so you generally use their last name, preferably with their title if it applies. So in the one country "Hey Mark" is fine while in the other "Hello Dr. Wolters" is much more common. You might want to check these things before going in to a meeting.
A lot of European airports have fast track (for security lines) also, often sold on the airport car parking website for some reason. Usually around €5-7 and sometimes you get a free voucher for a newspaper, coffee or towards duty free
This is a great tip! Thanks for sharing! 🙌🏼
Elite hotel status will get you in you in early at hotels
I guess the duration of your business trip decide if you have to check your luggage or not. For three weeks in Egypt a carry on was simply not large enough 😁
I would tend to agree if you are traveling with lots of equipment, but would also point out that for a trip like that you’ll pretty much need to do laundry or have your suits dry cleaned while there. We did 3.5 weeks in South America with carryons, but that was certainly NOT business travel!
@@mr.meanstotravel I brought 4 different suits and 10 shirts, as in outdoor temperature of above 50 centigrade and the only aircondition in Cairo taxis is to open the windosws, we had to return to the hotel, take a shower and change between meetings and the hotel's cleaning service simply couldn't keep up and I knew that from previous experience. On leisure trips I would have needed much less clothes.
@@wncjan wow yes that’s extremely hot, not surprised you’d be going through shirts quickly! I think the warmest business trip Derek went on was Singapore in July but he was only there a few days. 🥵
Why is there cologne's flag at 12:00 👀
I love the convenience of Global Entry. Got that as soon as it became available because I used to have 2-3 times a year I'd be re-entering the US & you don't have to deal w/ the long customs lines. With the carry-ons too, definitely true that they care more about making you check your carry-on in Europe than in the US.
Global Entry is great, I just renewed mine about a month ago!
Totally agree Nick!
I was that person who had to change into a business suit and freshen up in the boutique hotel’s bathroom in Madrid before going into the office. That pre-booked room the night before would have been a game changer. Digging around in my suitcase was not the best moment tbh, as I didn’t think to have my first day’s wardrobe handy.
Yeah, I’ve been there before! Only found out about the book a night early fairly recently, but was a game changer on a trip to Paris!
Awesome video guys!
Thank you so much Erik! 🙏🏼🔥
Very informative and entertaining, you guys work well together. Cheers from your favourite Kiwi.
If using publicly available USB charging sockets buy a 'Charging only' USB cable that has NO data wires connected inside. Yes, if you look around they exist (easily checked, plug the cable between 2 devices and neither should be able to detect the other). This will stop 'snoopers' who have physically hacked into the sockets (or Airport network) from reading your device like a data stick/thumb drive. Yes it happens. They can also load a bunch of Malware or 'illegal' files onto your device for someone else to find.
Very helpful!
Thank you
Amazing tips guys.
Thank you so much Eric! 🙏🏼🔥
Thank you for wonderful video! It is really interesting and useful! Plus motivate to travel!
If I want to make videos for my business UA-cam channel while traveling in Europe, do I need to get a business visa for each country?
Plugs: For me, the easiest way around the plug issue for my computer is to carry two cords: one 110v with American prongs and one 220v volt with European prongs. Both work in your AC/DC converter. And the American prongs work in Japan.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharng this!
Great video
Thank you so much! 🙏🏼🔥
It's not about saving money, but LCC-s tend to be on time. With Ryanair, I have over 90% probability to get there in time. With legacy carriers I had more than once lost my connection and had to sleep over somewhere midway, or recombine flights across Europe just to get there late in night. Before C19 I had on average 4 flights a month. Ryanair and WizzAir rule!
That’s interesting, I hadn’t heard that about the issues around delays on legacy carriers. I think generally though I’d still prefer trains for travel within Europe, at least if you’re traveling between major hubs.
Interesting! Using London as an example, it takes sooo much longer to get in or out of the city to a Stansted or a Luton airport than to LCY for those short flights you’re talking about. I’m surprised to hear a perspective that it might be a time saver for business travelers 😯
@@mr.meanstotravel A third of my legacy carriers flights had been delayed between 30 and 60 minutes.
@@MeansToTravel London might be a specific case with 6 airports. However, most of European cities have just one or two airportswithin 50km range. If you fly to Dublin or Budapest, you are flying to the same airport as with a legacy carrier. In Kuala Lumpur KLIA and KLIA2 are in vicinity of one another (one train stop). Look carefully at departure and arrival times. It is more time efficient sometimes to travel Ryanair (probability of delays included) or some similar airline, than to travel a legacy carriers.
TIMES IT LYERS
I get lounge access with priority pass with one of my credit cards, I get delta lounge access via my company's amex card. Good luggage is a must, just upgraded to a Briggs and Reilly carry on, this is great, so much better that my old bags.
IF YOU WANT ADVENTURE GO TO EL SALVADOR
You may have implied this with your suggestion regarding adapters, but I want to amplify your suggestion. The way to solve two problems at once (outlet adapters and lack of electric plugs) is to carry one good plug adapter and a travel-sized power strip. These often also provide USB ports and voltage protection. This way you only have to adapt one plug to power all your devices. Also, don't forget the three-pronged adapter, too, since most power strips are three pronged. Add an extension cord (plugged into the adapter) if you need more outlets.
Global entry is a face recognition now! No finger scan!!
I've heard complaints from folks with pre-check / global entry that the designated lines get turned into regular lines as soon as things get crowded. Have you experienced this?
The older woman with the light blue suit sure gets around
Bruges is beautiful ❤
Hey Mark how about doing Sardinia sometime!!! 😶
I would love to:)
The Eurostar is expensive, London Paris
🤘🤘🤘
Thank you so much! 🙏🏼🔥
Take earplugs for long flights.
Thanks for the good video on business travel to Europe and the uk, if you'd like any detailed advice on the uk please contact me.
Would you be able to do a video on business trips to the USA? I've spent a lot of time in America and had a place there in the past but more tips and hints would always be a good thing 👍
That’s a great idea for another video on US business travel! 🤔 Mark?
@@mr.meanstotravel thank you 😁
Oh, pretty please. I'd love a perfect response to "But what can you do that an american couldn't do better???" at us-immigration ;) The "where do i start" that comes to mind instantly wouldn't really fly i guess ;)
You always save money on the cheap airlines, I dont get how the bus is related to that.
Try taking a flight out of London Stanstead Sunday morning. Add on the 100 pound cab fare. So that makes the cheap airlines not so cheap
@Means to Travel hey Derek, do you enjoy going on business trips?
I tend to like business trips to an extent. It can definitely be stressful at times, but if approached in the right way I think they can be super rewarding both personally and professionally.
@@mr.meanstotravel that's pretty interesting
@Means to Travel did you do a business degree in college, or how did you get to where you are today
@@cianomalley7049 he did! Derek and I met at our undergraduate business school’s freshman orientation! 🥰 Derek has a double major in Finance and International Business.
Along tithe adpters would be great
*your, not you on 2:25
What about visiting FKK clubs?
I like this title better. Please don’t fix it.
Wish I had a job that’d involve business travel to Europe!
Hmmm… am I short or is Mark just really tall? 🤔
*Don't not Don'ts on 6:34
Lol @8:37-8:38 😛