15 money-saving tips for business travelers
IN THE AIR
1. Refundable air tickets: While the lowest fares on most airlines are non-refundable, some airlines have more lenient policies than others for passenger-initiated changes and cancellations. On Southwest you may cancel a reservation and apply the funds paid for that ticket to any future ticket within the next year with no charge.
Booking on one of these airlines is an insurance policy against fare changes. If the price goes up, you're already locked in at the lower rate. And if the price goes down, you can always cancel that reservation and rebook the same itinerary at the lower rate.
2. Connections and alternate airports: if you are willing to make a connection or use an alternate airport it can lead to great savings.
3. One-way air fares: With the elimination of many fare restrictions it often pays to price your trip as two one way flights in addition to a round trip on a single carrier.
4. Combining trips: I often save air fare by combining two business trips if possible. By triangle-ing a trip to two destinations, it might mean one less flight and one less air fare to pay.
AT YOUR HOTEL
5. Contracts and negotiated rates: It's wise to check prices on discount hotel booking sites, with fewer unsold rooms, business travelers will increasingly find the best deals in the rates negotiated by their employers or the sponsors of a convention or meeting.
6. Avoid city centers
7. Corporate apartments and suite hotels: Such properties frequently offer lower rates than full service hotels which must bear the costs of restaurants, bellhops, the valet, and many other amenities.
8. Check individual night prices: I always check prices for individual nights as there could be a savings if you are willing to switch hotels in the middle of your stay.
9. Day trips and red-eyes: Another way to minimize hotel costs is to take day trips or fly an overnight red-eye flight whenever possible.
10. Avoid conventions and peak travel periods
11. Laundry: On longer trips I have often saved money by carting my dirty clothes down the street to a laundry or drycleaner rather than paying those ridiculous hotel prices.
ON THE GROUND
12. Public transit from the airport: If you don't have a lot of luggage, taking public transportation to and from the airport can mean big savings.
13. Optimizing car rentals: Car rentals can sometimes be the most economical alternative.
14. Off-hotel parking: On my recent trip I saved $10 per night over the hotel parking rates by parking in a garage down the street.
15. Skip the airplane: In some areas of the country, the train is a viable alternative to air travel.
Regards
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