Richard Moross spends a lot of time in the air. The founder and CEO of MOO, a design company that specializes in business cards, travels internationally at least once a month.
CNBC asked the road warrior to share his best travel hacks and favorite resources. Here's how he stays productive on the go.
1. Adjust to the local time before your trip
"I always start adjusting to the timezone I'm traveling to a day in advance, moving mealtimes and bedtime accordingly," Moross says. "When you eat can dramatically affect your body's transition to a new time zone."
The CEO also uses Melatonin, an over-the-counter sleep aid, to combat jet lag. It "helps reset your circadian rhythm and gets you on local time quicker," he explains.
2. Get connected and powered up
"Data and power are essential on the road," Moross says. He doesn't go anywhere without his GlocalMe global data roaming device: "It's a WiFi hotspot with a virtual SIM [card] that can connect to the local country network and allows you to buy 4G data at cheap local rates."
He also uses an Anker Powercore 2100 battery charger, which provides a week's worth of battery power for his phone or tablet.
Bring along a quality pair of headphones and "you've got a portable office that you can operate for a whole week from just about anywhere," says the CEO.
3. Take advantage of credit card rewards
"Air miles are the world's largest unofficial currency and act as both weapon and reward for the frequent traveler," Moross says. "I remain fiercely loyal to my airlines and hotels of choice to maximize comfort, speed, familiarity and long-term rewards on the road."
Read more about how to pick the best rewards credit card, and look into the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which many consider the best travel credit card ever.
One of the perks that comes with the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA pre-check. "If you travel outside the US more than four times a year and don't yet have Global Entry, get it," says Moross. "It will change your life."
4. Use apps to live and eat like a local
"Citymapper is excellent for getting around a new city, with city-specific insights on getting from A to B that would rival even the most seasoned taxi driver or tour guide," says Moross.
As for where to eat, he uses FourSquare and Yelp to find restaurants: "They're great if you have a yearning for a midnight snack or a local delicacy.
"Pro tip: 'Favoriting restaurants' on downloaded Google Maps also makes offline navigation a cinch if you want to avoid the roaming charges."
5. Avoid foreign transaction fees
An easy way credit card companies make money is by imposing fees and extra charges for foreign transactions.
"Foreign exchange fees are the banks and credit card companies dirty little secret," says the CEO. "If you travel regularly, you need a better solution for card and cash payments."
Moross's solution is Revolut, an overseas spending card. "It's essentially a prepaid Mastercard that gives me the interbank exchange rate. I load it up with Pounds Sterling, as I live in the UK, and can use it in almost any country in the world and pay no foreign exchange fees, including when taking money out of ATMs."
6. Dress for the occasion and invest in quality luggage
"Whilst I dress sharply for meetings, I always fly in sweatpants and slip on sneakers. Eight hours in an aluminum tube in tight shoes and slacks is no way to travel," says Moross.
When it comes to packing, it's worth it to invest in nice luggage. "I'm in love with my Rimowa," the CEO says. "Rolling your clothes will also not only help you fit more stuff into your bag, it will help reduce the wrinkles and folds when you get there."
If something does arrive wrinkled, there's an easy fix. "Put it on a hanger and hang it in your hotel bathroom with the door closed. Turn the shower temperature up to max and fill the room with steam. This should remove most of the wrinkles," he says.
7. Pack a stack of business cards
"Well-designed business cards can say a lot about a person and their company, and leave a lasting impression with the recipient," says the CEO.
In addition to standard business cards, he brings along a set of more personal cards, featuring photos of neat places he's visited or great restaurants he's dined at: "They make excellent talking points and are a great way to recommend a place in a foreign city."