Dorie's Business Travel Checklist

Hitting the open road. Photo by Andreas Feininger.

This week, I’m facilitating an overnight client strategy retreat in Western Massachusetts.  That means I have to pack – s0 I’m bringing out Dorie’s Business Travel Checklist, which I’ve developed over the past several years of extensive schlepping for work. I hope you fellow road-warriors find it helpful. You won’t need every item for every trip, but it’ll help ensure you don’t forget something crucial (international converter plugs, anyone?).

Dorie Clark’s Business Travel Checklist

1. If you have a cat…
   1. Change litter
   2. Dry food
   3. Wet food
   4. Clean water
   5. Leave out to-do list for cat-sitter
   6. Ensure thermostat is set to appropriate temperature
2. Laptop and charger
3. Backup laptop
4. Sync phone/PDA
5. Bring any relevant files
6. Wi-Fi air card
7. Check if cell phone will work where I’m going
8. Webcam
9. Videocamera (if needed)
10. Converter plugs if country uses a different type
11. Phone and charger
12. GPS device, charger, and holder
13. Digital camera and battery charger
14. Papers with info on flight, hotel, car, tickets to attractions, etc.
15. Tape recorder, if speaking, plus extra batteries
16. Speech notes and topic, if presenting
17. Extra business cards, if speaking
18. Sign-in sheets, if speaking
19. umbrella
20. Reading materials
21. Bring book or newspapers
22. Kindle and charger
23. iPod, headphones, and charger, and car playing device
24. Download new audiobooks and sync iPod
25. Netflix (if I want to bring DVDs)
26. guidebook
27. sunscreen
28. baseball hat
29. if foreign: passport and currency
30. Check weather report online beforehand (re: clothing)
31. socks
32. underwear
33. bras (for ladies) or undershirts (for men)
34. PJs
35. T-shirts
36. Dress shirts
37. Belt
38. Shorts
39. Dress pants
40. Sweaters
41. Coat/scarf/hat/mittens if needed
42. Sneaker and gym clothes (if there will be a chance to work out)
43. Bathing suit (if there is a pool/hot tub)
44. Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss (under 3 oz)
45. Deodorant (smaller than 3 oz)
46. Extra contacts, contact case, glasses, lens solution (under 3 oz)
47. Purell (under 3 oz)
48. Moisturizer (under 3 oz)
49. Nail clipper, tweezers
50. Concealer
51. Hairbrush
52. Lint remover
53. Feminine supplies, if needed (for ladies)
54. Dramamine, if needed
55. Tylenol/Advil
56. Any prescription medicines
57. Pre-print boarding pass if possible
58. Change sheets for house-sitter
59. Do dishes and remove from dishwasher for housesitter
60. Change voicemail message on office phone
61. Email clients contact info if I will be out of range
62. Pay any bills that are due
63. Remove trash for house-sitter
64. Lunch and/or dinner (if there will be a long flight)
65. Clif Bars for snacks
66. Various types of shoes, if needed (dress shoes, sneakers, etc.)
67. Holiday gifts, if relevant
68. Leave check for catsitter
69. Travel reading light (if I’ll be staying in a room with someone)
70. Eye cover (if I need to sleep on flight)
71. International Drivers License (if international and I will be driving)

What does your travel checklist look like? What have I left off?

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