Travel Light Make the most of--and spend the least on--business trips.
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Time away can be quite costly for a startup business owner, sobe sure to weigh the needs and benefits of travel. Is aface-to-face meeting necessary? Are you likely to close thatdistant prospect? If the answer is yes, make those trips brief,infrequent and inexpensive.
If you plan the trip yourself, start with the Internet; siteslike Travelocity and Expedia can help you comparison-shop for thelowest fares, make reservations and purchase tickets. Or trycalling your favorite airline. Ask for the lowest fare available,then ask if you can save by connecting through the airline'shub. Can you save by using alternate airports? Staying over on aSaturday night? Flying specific days of the week? Policies andairfares differ from airline to airline, so shop competingairlines.
The key to keeping costs down is advance planning. The bestdeals on airline tickets usually are those purchased seven to 21days in advance. Even some hotels offer lower rates when bookedearly. If you're too busy to hunt down low prices, "have atravel agent make your arrangements," advises Carol Thorp ofthe AutomobileClub of Southern California. "Agents can usually findbetter deals-they'll put together packages that includeairfare, lodging and car rental. They can save business travelerstime and money."
In any event, schedule your appointments only after you havemade your travel arrangements. At the same time, get hotelrecommendations from people you'll be visiting. Call hotelsdirectly (don't use a chain's toll-free number), and askfor the lowest room rate. Then ask if they offer commercial ratesor other discounts. Another option is visiting a hotel broker, whooften gets the volume discounts enjoyed by major corporations andcan save you the cost of calling hotels to compare rates.
Finally, sign up for frequent-flier programs if you haven'talready. Each time you fly, show your card at the ticket counterand ask for a free upgrade. When you check into a hotel, ask for abetter room and try to negotiate for free local calls, meals andairport transportation. It can't hurt to ask.
