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By admin, August 14, 2010 6:47 am

Women today travel constantly and that too all over the world. Most manage to successfully juggle a professional life with a private one. Statistics reveal that almost 50% of business travelers are women and the number continues to grow each day. Travel at short notice means being organized and ready to go. Be smart and plan well ahead.

Keep on tab a list of baby sitters who would be willing to pitch in, even overnight if required. Keep a small book handy in which you jot down things like what the kids eat, their schedules, important phone numbers, likes and dislikes, as well as numbers of the doctors and list of medications including known allergies.

Keep a travel bag always packed and ready to go. Pack a combination of clothes so that they will tide you over irrespective of the weather in your destination. Wear easy to maintain and dark colors on trips. They don’t show stains, are wrinkle free and will drape well.

Always eat lightly and foods that are cooked avoid raw salads and water as well as ice. It is wise to snack before a flight and also to try and sleep during flight. This way you will arrive at your destination refreshed. Be sure to drink plenty of bottled water during travel.

Set up a schedule to call home at time zones that work for you and your loved ones. Make it a point to get mementoes for your family members as also the baby sitter and others who pick up the slack while you are away. It shows them that you care.

Put safety first always place a “do not disturb sign on your hotel door and if nervous place a chair under the door knob like they do in movies. Keep your cell phone on and fully charged by you at all times and carry protection in the form of pepper spray, an alarm, or if you are trained and licensed a small weapon with its safety on. In most cities the police organize training classes for women to learn how to protect themselves and what one must do in an emergency. Try and make time to attend these.

Avoid dark lanes and abandoned roads. Never talk to strangers or accept food or drink from someone you don’t know. While traveling never leave food or drink unattended. Be vigilant at all times.

Choose a hotel with care. Choose to stay at well established hotels or small inns and B&B where the proprietors are generally family people. Always e-mail and fax details of your staying arrangements and travel plans to your home as well as office.

Always carry important documents, money, traveler’s checks, and passport in a money belt worn around your waist.

Always act confident and move around in groups there is always safety in numbers.

If unwell go to a state run hospital. Never to a private clinic.

Never travel with valuables like jewelry and always carry a small flashlight and medical kit with you.

For safety reasons arrange with your family to take appropriate action if you do not get in touch with them as planned.

Avoid room service and eat in the hotel dinning room. Also never reveal details of where you come from or your travel plans to anyone.

Be vigilant and smart and you will be able to travel often and safely.

About the Author: Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for Online Travel Planning, the premier website to find help on Travel including topics on online travel directory, online travel planning, air tickets reservation, cruise travel, travel insurance issues, world travel, travel guide, vacation packages, travel agents, travel agencies and make hotel reservation, car rentals and more. He also freelances for the premier Airport Parking site.

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By admin, August 8, 2010 6:37 am

Planning your business trip wisely will free you from lots of trouble.

Inadequate airline seats, long lines, heavy traffic, and unavailable hotel rooms are just some of the problems a business traveler might encounter. Despite the emergence of e-commerce, businessmen still travel more often for sales and business shows.

Hector Milla Editor of the “Best Hotel Deals” website — http://www.BestHotelDeals.biz — pointed out;

“…Here are some tips to make your business travel a successful one:

1. Plan your business trip long before you leave the office.

2. Always prepare a travel bag with complete necessities to be used on any emergency trips.

3. Bring some ready to eat foods, it will save you a substantial amount of money, considering the high cost of foods in hotels.

4. Be sure to have a buffer time between your flight and your scheduled meeting.

5. Choose aircraft that has better seats with ample leg room.

6. Put all your valuable materials in a small carry-on bag.

7. When calling your main office, use the 800 numbers as much as possible because it’s much cheaper.

8. If you’re a businesswoman, it is important to dress well. Additionally, you must bring casual clothes for your free time…”

Not all hotels have inexpensive telecommunication systems from their rooms, so always choose your hotel’s business floor, for these rooms are made especially for business traveler. These rooms should have dual telephone/modem lines, fax machine, and free communications between rooms. In order to save money on calls, use your calling card and place calls through your country’s long-distance carrier or find a pay phone in the hotel’s lobby. If available, use a nearby business center for your fax needs since fax service within your room will probably cost more.

These days, a business traveler has to bring a lot of electronic equipment such as; cell phones, electronic organizers, laptop computers, etc. Here are some suggestions on how to keep your expensive business items safe:

1. Put your laptop inside a bag that will not indicate that there’s a laptop inside. The same works well for other equipment such as camera, electronic organizer, etc.

2. Don’t expose your laptop to x-ray scanners at the airport security check, rather have it checked manually. X-rays could damage your electronic equipment.

3. Don’t place your laptop on the aircraft’s overhead bins; instead place it near your seat or under the seat in front of you.

4. Always bring extra batteries for your equipment.

“…Today’s business travelers are enjoying much comfort compared to their counterparts a few decades ago. Low airfare, plenty of airlines to choose from, communication equipment (especially cell phones and laptops) make modern day business travelers more efficient. Even on a business trip, parents can always be with their family members and co-workers can still get in touch with their office work, at least virtually…” added H. Milla.

Further information about the cheapest rates on hotels all around the world by visiting; http://www.BestHotelRates.me

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By admin, August 6, 2010 6:36 am

Planning your business trip wisely will free you from lots of trouble. Inadequate airline seats, long lines, heavy traffic, and unavailable hotel rooms are just some of the problems a business traveler might encounter. Despite the emergence of e-commerce, businessmen still travel more often for sales and business shows. Here are some tips to make your business travel a successful one:

1. Plan your business trip long before you leave the office.

2. Always prepare a travel bag with complete necessities to be used on any emergency trips.

3. Bring some ready to eat foods, it will save you a substantial amount of money, considering the high cost of foods in hotels.

4. Be sure to have a buffer time between your flight and your scheduled meeting.

5. Choose aircraft that has better seats with ample leg room.

6. Put all your valuable materials in a small carry-on bag.

7. When calling your main office, use the 800 numbers as much as possible because it’s much cheaper.

8. If you’re a businesswoman, it is important to dress well. Additionally, you must bring casual clothes for your free time.

Not all hotels have inexpensive telecommunication systems from their rooms, so always choose your hotel’s business floor, for these rooms are made especially for business traveler. These rooms should have dual telephone/modem lines, fax machine, and free communications between rooms. In order to save money on calls, use your calling card and place calls through your country’s long-distance carrier or find a pay phone in the hotel’s lobby. If available, use a nearby business center for your fax needs since fax service within your room will probably cost more.

These days, a business traveler has to bring a lot of electronic equipment such as; cell phones, electronic organizers, laptop computers, etc. Here are some suggestions on how to keep your expensive business items safe:

1. Put your laptop inside a bag that will not indicate that there’s a laptop inside. The same works well for other equipment such as camera, electronic organizer, etc.

2. Don’t expose your laptop to x-ray scanners at the airport security check, rather have it checked manually. X-rays could damage your electronic equipment.

3. Don’t place your laptop on the aircraft’s overhead bins; instead place it near your seat or under the seat in front of you.

4. Always bring extra batteries for your equipment.

Today’s business travelers are enjoying much comfort compared to their counterparts a few decades ago. Low airfare, plenty of airlines to choose from, communication equipment (especially cell phones and laptops) make modern day business travelers more efficient. Even on a business trip, parents can always be with their family members and co-workers can still get in touch with their office work, at least virtually.

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By admin, July 31, 2010 6:40 am

1.  Packing light : Packing for a business trip can be stressful. One of the best things to do is to pack light and ensure that you pack only the essentials.

Don’t carry more than you need, like, extra clothes, etc. You can always buy clothing at your destination. If you forget your toothbrush and toothpaste, most hotels offer free toothbrushes and toothpaste. Use the hotel laundry. If you are staying for a few days, or a week. Roll clothing into cylinders when packing. It takes up less space and helps reduce wrinkles. Pack clothing that is as wrinkle resistant as possible, such as polyesters blended with other textiles, wool blends, microfibers, silk and rayon.

2. Pre-book your airline seats, if possible, choose your favorite seat

Pre-book your airline seats. Print, and keep a copy of the confirmation as a “just in case”. Ask for a specific seat when checking in. Even the best business or first class seats can vary. Some are farther away than you might like to be, from the galleys, toilets or even other seats. Be sure to choose or request your preference and requirement at the time of booking or checking in.

3. When choosing a destination, consider flying into a smaller airport : Alternative or secondary airports can be less expensive and less crowded. For business travelers, this might be an ideal option, especially if you’re a frequent flyer.

These airports have fewer flights, less overbooking and fewer delays than larger airports. The lines at security checkpoints are also relatively smaller, which reduces time spent online.

However, these smaller airports do not cater to all destinations. We strongly urge you to call the airport and the airline to check before making your booking.

4. Arriving Early at the Airport : Always arrive early at the airport with time spare; it’s the better way to go, rather than getting there at the last minute and taking the risk of missing your flight.

Given today’s security precautions, last minute airport arrivals can be a disaster. Better to be a few hours early than late. Waiting until the last minute, in some cases, may often lead to missing your flight.

5. Choosing your hotel : When choosing your hotel, be sure that it’s within your budget, of course, but that it meets your requirements, especially because you’re traveling for business. Most hotels offer business centers and conference rooms, too.

Check-out hotels that cater to business travelers and offer facilities that will make your trip less stressful. Hotels that cater to business travelers will have Internet, computers fax machines and photocopiers. Also, check the distance of your hotel from the clients you’ll be meeting, or office you’re scheduled to work out of. Traveling from venue to venue can be very stressful. Call the concierge and ask for the distance between their hotel and where you need to go, as well as the modes of transportation available to you. Call your hotel ahead of time to ask if they will provide personal items such as an iron, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, a clothing steamer and a hair dryer, as well as the fee for having them do your laundry.

6. Carry electronic documents, if possible : Rather than carrying heavy stacks of brochures or presentations, take electronic documents on your laptop and, or your keychain drive.

It’s advisable to carry the documents on CD’s, USB drives, flash drives or zip drives, and have them printed at a local printing store, or at the hotel. This would help you in avoiding carrying excess luggage and running the risk of losing your documents. You’ll also have a back-up electronically saved.

7. Use calling cards and check your cellular service for roaming charges : Phone bills can be a major expense when you stay at a hotel. The best way to curb this expense is to use calling cards and, or your cell phone.

The cost of calling colleagues, your boss, friends or family and checking your voice mail can become exorbitant if you’re using the hotel phone. Consider a calling card and use the phone in the hotel lobby. Cell phone companies always offer new rates. They also have roaming charges. Check to be sure you’re getting the best deal; some providers now include long distance charges in their monthly fee. Also, find out what the roaming charges will be from where you’re going.

8. Alerting your bank and credit card companies : If you start using your cards in foreign countries and you haven’t told your bank and credit card companies, there are chances that your card might be frozen as a means of protecting you from identity theft.

Banks suspects your transactions are fraudulent. Prevent this problem by telling the issuer in advance. This is a general security precaution followed by the majority of banks. It’s better to inform them beforehand.

9. Carrying adaptors and convertors : If you’re traveling to a foreign country, remember that you might need special voltage adaptors for electricity.

Special plug adapters might be required to accommodate both electrical plugs and telephone jacks. Most luggage stores carry adaptors and convertors, as do electronic stores. Find out what you’ll need before you head out.

10. Staying safe during your business travel : Closing deals and meeting with potential customers and clients, is of the utmost importance to business travelers, of course. Don’t forget safety must be a priority, too.

Before leaving home, make copies of your travel documents, passport, airline tickets, travel insurance, credit cards, license, and itinerary, etc. Keep your eyes on your carry-on bags and luggage. Don’t put them on the conveyer belt to be scanned until the person ahead of you clears security.

We hope these tips for business travelers helps better prepare you for your next trip. Before heading out, book business class flights or first class flights on CheapOair.

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By admin, April 29, 2010 3:33 am

When you are considering traveling, there is one thing that is crucial to get right, choosing the right hotel for your needs. Whether you are traveling for business, pleasure, or with family and children the hotel that you choose can either make or break your trip. A hotel that may be suited for families, may not be the right choice for your purposes.

Traveling for business usually means being away from family, working long days, working long nights, and meeting after meeting. Because schedules are so rigorous on this type of trip, it is extremely important to choose a hotel that specifically caters to your needs. These needs may include a spa to relax after a long day, a room that caters to your need to continue working, a great gym facility, or an on-site restaurant.  The goal here is to make the trip bearable and productive all at the same time. Below are a few checklist items to make sure are available at your hotel.
What To Look For

* Internet Access:

This may be, undoubtedly, the most inportant item to check off your list when looking for a hotel. As a business traveler you will be spending a lot of time with your laptop attached to your hip, so finding a hotel that provides you a chance to hook up to a wireless internet connection may make this easier.

It is easy to find out if the hotel offers this service, just ask.  The hotel clerk will make sure that you are booked  into a room with a reliable connection. Other questions that you want to be sure to ask are: Is there a business center to work from? Is the internet connection wireless? How much is it going to cost to use this service?

When the hotel offers wireless service, you will know that you have found a great deal and a great stay.

* Work Area In the Hotel Room

After coming back to your hotel from a long day of work and meetings, and finding out that you may have to work into the night in your room, it is crucial to know that you have a comfortable place to do this work. Many hotels offer a separate seating area with a large desk and comfortable chair. When you know that you will be sitting for long periods of time, a comfortable chair is definitely a must. One hotel chain that specifically caters to business travelers and provides a comfortable work area is Embassy Suites. Embassy Suites in San Diego Bay-Downtown, is a hotel that specifically offers great business accomodations with high speed internet access, integreated business services, trouser press, seating Area with sofa, and a business center.

* On-Site Restaurant

Hotel restaurants are usually not suitable for a family with raucous children, but are perfect for business travelers who need the much needed alone time. If it is a really great restaurant you will be able to do some of your work while spending time in the restaurant as well. Most likely you are too tired to hunt down a local restaurant just to grab a bit to eat, so having one on site cuts down on these frustrating situations. An on-site restaurant also provides a great meeting place for clients and colleagues that you may need to meet with while in town.

* Fitness Center

If regular exercise is your routine, it can be quite disastrous to disrupt this routine.  If you don’t stick to your regular fitness routine, it can also affect how well you perform on the job as well. If this is a high priority for you, look for a hotel that offers it, and make a point of using it. It is also important to try to stick to the same time schedule that you would workout at home. A perk about business traveling is that you are usually alone, and this makes it easier to hit the gym without the guilt that you are leaving someone back in the room alone.

* Rewards Program

Most business travelers travel quite often, so it is ideal to stay at a hotel that offers a membership rewards program. Today, more hotels are part of a larger chain or family, so many hotels offer the same points and perks. You may not be the one paying the bill, but if you prove yourself to be a repeat guest the hotel will get to know you and may provide you with upgrades, like a nicer room, or that free internet access that you’ve been looking for. Also, shopping for a good deal on a hotel will prove to your company that you are a great asset to them and are trying to save them money. When you know the hotel that you are staying at because you’ve stayed there before, you undoubtedly will have a more enjoyable stay and will return again.

* Avoid Kid-Friendly Hotels

If the hotel you choose also proves to be good accomodations for family travelers, it isn’t always a bad choice for a business traveler. Although, if the hotel offers an in-house water park and an arcade, prepare yourself to hear little footsteps running up and down the halls throughout your stay. This may prove to be detrimental to your work completion.

Also most kid-friendly hotels won’t have the perks that you will need to be successful on the trip, like internet access, maybe a gym, or an on-site restaurant.

Whatever type of hotel you choose, make sure you are as comfortable as possible. You may not feel like you are at home, but choosing the right hotel that caters to your specific needs will prove to be a benefit to you in the long run. By using the checklist points above, you can rest assured that the hotel that you choose will help you be successful on your important trip and you will feel confident to return knowing that you were taken care of.

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By admin, February 4, 2010 10:09 am

You are out to spend a few weeks on a business trip far from home and you are thinking of the best transportation options that you can have. One thing that you consider is to get an airport car rental. Getting a car hire service poses many advantages and you want to see if this kind of transportation solution will actually work for you. Here are some of the best reasons why an airport car rental is in your best interests…

1. With an airport car rental, you can be assured of reliable transportation right form the airport.

Since you will be out on a business related trip, you want things done the right way. You can only do this if you have a reliable means of transportation. With an airport car rental, you do not have to consider the problem of getting transportation once you arrive in your destination. You get to have a car to drive once your plane lands. You do not need to deal with taxi services nor do you need to bother anyone to drive you to your destination.

2. You get to save your valuable time.

Your business objectives require you to be very efficient with time. You do not want to waste even a single minute. When you are faced with transportation problems in a far away location then your time can be wasted on hailing taxis, on arranging people to drive you, or even on taking public transportation. With an airport car rental, you do not have to deal with any of those. You simply hop on the rented car and drive on your own to the hotel room or to the business venue.

3. The company is going to pay for it, after all.

One of the best reasons to go for an airport car rental for your business trip is the fact that your own pocket will not shoulder the expenses. You know that the company is willing to pay for a car hire service so why not grab that opportunity. Instead of playing it heroic by driving your own car or using public transportation, you can easily get a car hire service. Companies can even have special dealings with car hire agencies so they might even have discounted rates. That way, you do not have to feel guilty that your company will have to shoulder the expense for your business trip.

4. You can focus on your business without having to deal with transportation problems.

With a business trip into consideration, you can focus much on your main objectives when you have your means of transportation solved. You do not have to worry about getting to your needed location during the entire duration of your business stay. You do not have to call in for taxi services any time you need to go somewhere. If you are already familiar with the place, then you can simply drive yourself form one venue to another with an airport car rental service.