If you're traveling to attend a Green Sheet seminar or to meet a client, here are a few savvy travelers' tips.
Before You Go
Make copies of all the credit, debit, and phone cards you will carry with you (as well as a copy of your itinerary) and leave them with someone you trust. If anything is lost or stolen, you will have all the information in one place.
Pick up a map either before you go or at a rental car desk. Even if you're not driving or you're depending on someone else to chauffeur you around, you still need to be familiar with your surroundings.
Put your WORK phone number and address on your luggage tags. Besides adding security, if your luggage is lost there's usually a better chance of the airline reaching someone at a work number than a home number.
Bring a list of important phone numbers and addresses with you. Don't assume the number you need will be in information or a phone book.
If parking at an airport (especially long-term parking) write your parking location and shuttle stop in a day planner that you carry with you. Searching for your car in a dark parking lot is not the way to end a long day of traveling.
Rental Cars
If you plan to fly in after 4PM, try reserving an economy car. Then hope they are out of economy cars and have to bump you up to a mid-size for the economy rate.
When the rental agent asks about gas, you will be given three options: fill the tank yourself, prepay based on the agency's rate, or return an empty tank and incur a per gallon charge. Usually your best (cheapest) bet is to fill the tank yourself.
Before you reserve a car, check with your employer and your credit card company to find out about insurance. You may be able to save the hefty insurance fee charged by the rental company but be sure you are covered otherwise. If not, it could cost you dearly.
If you are picking a car up at the airport but you did not arrive on a plane, be sure and tell the agent so you can avoid some of the airport taxes.
Accomodations
You may have noticed a trend lately-hotel guests are receiving "free" cell phones with their rooms. Beware, it's kind of like the mini-bar: It's free until you open it. The actual phone may be free but the calls are not.
Expenses
Travel with a day planner with a pocket so you won't lose receipts. If you should lose one, hand write a new one before you forget.
Record your mileage the minute you get in your car so you won't have to guess. Make sure you have a trip meter on your car.
With some planning, business traveling actually can be fun!
