Travel requested by client

[Sub]

I would certainly question this. Ok for local expense claims but if I'm in a foreign country at their behest they pay for everything. 3 meals a day. coke. hookers. the lot.

Of course that can be questioned as everything else, just needed to be done before making a trip.

[TheFaQQer]

Get receipts for the travel clinic and prescription - they are not covered free by the NHS and the Malarone will cost about £70 for a 2 week trip.

I ordered from Express Pharmacy before - https://www.expresspharmacy.co.uk/tr...laria/malarone - £53 for a two week trip.

If you're ordering from somewhere that allows you to buy individual tablets, bear in mind you need 7 days after you leave the malarial area as well as a couple of days in advance. Trqavelpharm may be cheaper if you only need it for a couple of days.

[CoolCat]

OK, I'd check if they have travel rules, try to book the same flights (and same class) as the permies, definitely book the same hotel, make sure you have a loyalty card for the airline and the hotel (sign up now!)
By being in the same hotel, then you are sharing a taxi/rental car, etc. Clients appreciate contractors who work with them on this.

If you're off to Africa, check if you need any jabs or anti-malaria tablets
Destinations - Fit For Travel
If so...
You'll then need to book yourself into a travel clinic at your local GP surgery to get the jabs/prescriptions. The yellow fever jab is the most painful one you might need, and if you need anti-malaria, ask them for Malarone, it's the best, but it may give you weird dreams.
Get receipts for the travel clinic and prescription - they are not covered free by the NHS and the Malarone will cost about £70 for a 2 week trip.

If you're off to South Africa and staying in the cities, you don't need anything, but should you choose to head up to e.g. Madekwe for a safari at the weekend, then you would need jabs etc.

Do you know which country and city you are off to? I've done a bit of travel in Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia so might be able to give you some insight/tips.

Re "at your local GP surgery" more than likely the queues at an NHS GP will be too long, just go to a private clinic in London, or near one of the regional airports

[WTFH]

Re "at your local GP surgery" more than likely the queues at an NHS GP will be too long, just go to a private clinic in London, or near one of the regional airports

Your opinion differs from my experience. Travel clinics are normally held once a week at NHS GP surgeries. You need to book it in advance - if you're going away for school holidays you may need to book a couple of weeks in advance. It won't be a doctor but most likely a nurse practitioner.
You don't just turn up, take a ticket and wait, you have to pre-book.

The more clued up GP surgeries actually send out a questionnaire (or have one online) which you fill in prior to attending, which speeds up the whole process.

[billybiro]

They have asked me to go but mentioned that I would need to pay the trip myself and they would reimburse me.

No.

It's "shoe on the other foot" time.

If the client thinks this is acceptable, I'd counter by insisting that the client immediately pay me up front, in a single lump sum, my daily rate for the entirety of the rest of the contract and I'll "reimburse" them by working for those days.

Watch as the client balks at even the suggestion of this. Explain that this is exactly what the client is expecting of you regarding these travel arrangements.

Tell them you'll only do it if they pay for everything up front.

[unixman]

Call me an IR35 wimp but I wouldn't touch it. Far too IR35y.

[l35kee]

Call me an IR35 wimp but I wouldn't touch it. Far too IR35y.

Travelling to a workshop?

[northernladuk]

Call me an IR35 wimp but I wouldn't touch it. Far too IR35y.

I'd say that's way down on the list of things we could call you.

[unixman]

Travelling to a workshop?

Travelling anywhere, for any reason, at the request of the client (other than local client offices). Too cautious perhaps, but ymmv.

[Lance]

They have asked me to go but mentioned that I would need to pay the trip myself and they would reimburse me.

Be very cautious and check your contract.
I am always fine with paying up front as long as the contract has clauses for expenses. At the very minimum you want to be able to bill for 'expenses agreed in advance'.
That way you'll need an email agreeing for flights, hotels and subsistence for the trip, preferably with the locations in the email. That email will mean you have a leg to stand on if they don't want to pay.
Also make sure you understand their expenses policy (some may tell you that's for perms, but I wouldn't fancy your chances of them agreeing to pay more than they would for a perm).