The Ultimate Guide for Business Travel: Tips for Air Travel, Hotel Stays, Car Rentals, and Eating Out
Greetings, globetrotting entrepreneurs! In this warp-speed world of business, travel is inevitable. Trade in your fears of imprudent in-flight WiFi charges, overpriced room service, and rarely on-time airport shuttles for an arsenal of practical tips and advice that only an experienced business traveler (that’s me) can provide.
The Art of Air Travel
Air travel is a quintessential part of business travel scenarios. Spotting the quickest queue, the lightest lunch, or the quietest corner at a bustling airport can almost be considered an Olympic sport.
Tip #1: Loyalty programs are your best friend. “Business” and “rewards” are two words that were probably meant to be together since the dawn of competitive markets. Airlines offer some pretty sweet deals for those frequent flyers; think premium lounge access, expedited check-in, and, oh yes, free flights!
Tip #2: Pack smart. Simple yet revolutionary. Combining outfits, limiting toiletries, and investing in good quality, lightweight luggage can help you transition from boardroom to boarding without breaking a sweat (or your back).
Hotel Stays – Ultimate Comfort or Needless Luxury?
Not sure about you, but the first thing I check when booking a hotel? The WiFi speed. Second, pillows. All the “stuck-for-eight-hours-in-a-conference-room” stress will melt away if you have fast internet and a comfy bed waiting up at the hotel.
Tip #3: Again, lean on loyalty. Sign up for hotel memberships to get access to early check-in, late checkout, free upgrades, and ahem, did I hear someone say room service discounts?
Tip #4: Essential amenities over luxury. Don’t get swayed by the rooftop pool or mini-bars if you know you’ll be out for meetings post your early morning emails. Prioritize free WiFi, business center facilities, and proximity to your meeting venues.
Car Rentals – A Route to Freedom?
Riding in style or stuck in traffic (in style)? Either way, navigating through car rentals can sometimes be as complex as your corporate framework itself.
Tip #5: Compare rental rates from different websites and book in advance. You don’t want to be stuck in a foreign city in the middle of the night haggling rental rates!
Tip #6: Check with your company if they have partnered with any car rental services. Corporate deals can cut down your travel expenses significantly.
Eating Out – Managing Macromolecules and Meetings
Yes, the business lunches, the client dinners, the meetups at cafes. You eat, you talk, you negotiate, and then, you eat some more!
Tip #7: Keep an eye out for corporate-friendly restaurants in your travel city. These places understand the need for comfy seating for long hours, often have free WiFi, and usually offer discounts for corporate clients.
Tip #8: Eat healthy! It’s easy to lose track of your diet while traveling. Salads are your best bet for quick, healthy meals between meetings and that way, you avoid dozing off in the finance update session.
Now that you are loaded with this exclusive advice, take a moment to revel in the future of no more travel snafus! Here’s to channeling your inner George Clooney from ‘Up in the Air’ on your next business trip!
