Cheap travel options, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and discount travel packages all can be utilized to make business travel more affordable. Many business people believe that face to face meetings are critical for closing a deal or maintaining ongoing client relationships.
The following are tips from Rhonda Abrams on how small businesses can save money on travel:
Travel early in the year. January and February are often cheaper times to travel so long as your destination is not a popular winter spot. Do your best to avoid holiday weeks when more people tend to travel.
Look into alternative airports within reasonable driving distances. Low cost airlines often offer fly from secondary airports, forcing down the prices of all airlines flying out of that airport. Select the option check nearby airports when searching for airfares on travel Internet sites.
Examine airlines cancellation and change policies. Business travel typically gets changed or canceled more frequently than leisure travel. American Airlines has just introduced fares where for a modest premium customers can make changes to future flights without paying onerous change fees.
Search hotel prices via travel Internet sites to find the best available selection and cheapest prices.
Pay business expenses with a credit card (or sign up for one) that provides that give you miles and/or rewards.
Make yourself aware of all costs, including such things as Internet access and hotel parking, before booking a hotel.
Be willing to try moderately priced, business oriented hotels that typically provide free extras including Wi-Fi, breakfast, parking, and sometimes even free appetizers and drinks in the evening.
Only use your cell phone when traveling for business in the United States. Hotel calls can be expensive, even for local calls.
Use smartphone apps to call home when outside the United States. With Wi-Fi access, such apps allow you to call or text home for free. Skype is popular for video calls, WhatsApp is great to send Wi-Fi texts and Viber is useful in making free Wi-Fi phone calls.
If traveling to a spread out metro area, rent a car. If staying close to a city center, use public transportation or taxis when there is a time constraint.
Redeem frequent flier miles for expensive trips vs. using them for cheap leisure travel. It usually is far more costly to fly cross country mid week on little notice than it is to reserve a flight to Disneyworld well in advance.
Remember business travel can be a great means to maintain and deepen professional relationships from a distance.
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