The Don'ts of Business Travel to Europe - Wolters World
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Date: 2022-02-04
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Comments and reviews: 10
John
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 its relevant then the train is MUCH faster than a flight. Plus no limits or worry about baggage.
2. Certainly avoid budget airlines if youre 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. Ive 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. Dontt 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 isnt enough space in the lockers for everyone to take it. So join the front of the line for boarding. You wont be charged for hold baggage, but it is very annoying.
3. For London specifically, I dont 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, Im hugely relieved to have dual citizenship (UK and Ireland) so can just show the most convenient passport when asked.
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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 its relevant then the train is MUCH faster than a flight. Plus no limits or worry about baggage.
2. Certainly avoid budget airlines if youre 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. Ive 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. Dontt 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 isnt enough space in the lockers for everyone to take it. So join the front of the line for boarding. You wont be charged for hold baggage, but it is very annoying.
3. For London specifically, I dont 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, Im hugely relieved to have dual citizenship (UK and Ireland) so can just show the most convenient passport when asked.
reply
mrPmj00
I love traveling too (I love Paris, Belgium, Montreal, Caribbean, coastal US cities) but it ain't free and stocks are one way to make money.
, AMAZON:
Yep, I bought a ton on the dip. It's getting cheaper relative to its current earnings (half compared to last year.
. With the Delta virus coming at full speed ahead, pandemic sales will make a comeback.
Amazon's not going anywhere so I know that eventually it will come back.
Fidelity considers Amazon as a large growth company (probably because as big as it is, it still only has 7% of the retail market)
buying via Amazon Smile donations donates some money to my favorite charity too!
Get on board or be runover, it's up to you.
reply
I love traveling too (I love Paris, Belgium, Montreal, Caribbean, coastal US cities) but it ain't free and stocks are one way to make money.
, AMAZON:
Yep, I bought a ton on the dip. It's getting cheaper relative to its current earnings (half compared to last year.
. With the Delta virus coming at full speed ahead, pandemic sales will make a comeback.
Amazon's not going anywhere so I know that eventually it will come back.
Fidelity considers Amazon as a large growth company (probably because as big as it is, it still only has 7% of the retail market)
buying via Amazon Smile donations donates some money to my favorite charity too!
Get on board or be runover, it's up to you.
reply
Sander
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.
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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.
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Joseph
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.
reply
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.
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Bruce
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.
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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.
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Don
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.
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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.
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Sander
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.
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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.
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Rade
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!
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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!
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Patricia
I was that person who had to change into a business suit and freshen up in the boutique hotels 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 didnt think to have my first days wardrobe handy.
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I was that person who had to change into a business suit and freshen up in the boutique hotels 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 didnt think to have my first days wardrobe handy.
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Global
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.
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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.
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