What Do I Need For A Business Trip In Paris?

As far as business trips go, when you get the opportunity to spend some time in Paris - business or not - you jump at the chance. Paris is full to the brim with exciting history, a breathtaking landscape, and a culture that can make even the most uncultured of people feel classy and sophisticated. With French being considered one of the best languages for business this could also be a great opportunity to flex your linguistic skills and benefit future business. But when it comes to business trips to Paris, what do you need? Is there anything you should be doing to prepare, and where can you find this information? Luckily, we’ve put together this guide on everything you’ll need for a business trip in Paris.

Book your accommodation

For a short visit to Paris, your best choice of accommodation will likely be a hotel. However, if you’re planning on an extended business trip, say, for a month or two, a hotel will turn into an extremely costly expense. Not only will you be confined to the same few rooms in a hotel for a long period of time, but you’ll also have to find food, which could work out very costly indeed.

 

Instead, why not look for apartments to rent in Paris? Apartment rental companies like Blueground offer furnished apartments that will make your stay much more pleasurable. Unlike a hotel, you’ll have the luxury of your own fully-fitted kitchen, a separate living and sleeping area, and enough space to avoid the claustrophobia kicking in. Additionally, renting an apartment rather than paying for a hotel will work out to be considerably cheaper. The average cost for a one night stay in a hotel in Paris is around €100, meaning if you were to stay in a hotel for a month, you could be paying at least €3100! However, with a rented apartment - on a lease by month basis - you could be paying as little as €1350 per month.

 

With that much of a saving in mind, you can also look at other benefits of choosing a rented apartment over a hotel room such as:

        -        Laundry services

        -        Pets allowed

        -        Elevator

        -        Air conditioning

 

You can also benefit from a fully fitted kitchen, meaning you won’t have to find somewhere to eat every day and therefore, can save money by buying delicious and nutritious food to cook.

Learn some French

It’s almost a must when travelling to a new country - especially if you’re travelling for business! Take some time before your business trip to learn some common words and phrases. It’s likely that your associates would have invited you knowing they will need to speak English, but it’s common courtesy and will go a long way.

Explore French cuisines

Snails, slugs and frog’s legs aren’t the only cuisines on the menu in France, and you should take some time now to learn what other specialities to expect on the menu should you venture out to a restaurant. Trying them now will enable you to have an idea of what to expect and ultimately, avoid any cuisine you don’t like.

Research the weather

France generally enjoys cool winters and mild summers, but it’s always a good idea to take a look at the weather before travelling. If you’re planning a longer trip, pack a mix of clothing that will allow you to keep warm if it’s cold and vice versa if the weather is nice.

 

You should also pack a couple of suits to wear to business meetings. First impressions matter, and could be the decider when it comes to making that business deal you’re after!

Budget your time away

It can be difficult to know how much spending money to take away with you on a business trip, especially if you don’t have a business card to put all of your expenses onto. Research how much daily activities are such as public transport, eating out, the cost of groceries, and even the odd pint of beer at a bar so that you can factor everything in. Remember, if you do choose to rent an apartment, you’ll have more spending money because of the money you’ll have saved on a hotel!

Take some time to explore!

You’re going to be in the most romantic city in the world, so take some time to explore! Be sure to see the Eiffel Tower, and don’t miss the Louvre museum or Notre Dame!

Stay safe

Finally, as the world adapts to a new normal after the pandemic, it’s still important to stay vigilant against the virus. Take plenty of PPE and maintain social distancing to keep yourself safe!