Gone are the good ‘ol days when travelling on a business
trip meant travelling first class all the way—at least for smaller
businesses. With the economic pressure
on, now more than ever it’s important to get the most out of your money when
away from home.
So how can you minimize the amount of money you spend while
on a business trip? Here are a few tips to get you started:
1.
Drive
instead of flying—Look into what the time and price difference would be for
driving to your destination rather than flying. If it’s less than five hours
away, it might be worth it to conserve money.
2.
Check
nearby airports—It might be possible to fly into a nearby airport for much
cheaper and then take a shuttle to your destination.
3.
Don’t
check your baggage—If you’re only going away for a few days, why spend the
extra money on baggage fees? Pack as lightly as possible to fit your belongings
in a carry-on sized bag.
4.
Use
loyalty points for hotel stays—Depending on how often you travel, you might
be able to earn free stays here and there by using a loyalty card at the major
hotel you normally stay in. If you’ve got multiple employees travelling, points
will build up even faster.
5.
Find a
good continental breakfast—Many hotels, especially large hotels, will offer
a free continental breakfast. Try to stay in one of these hotels—that way you
won’t have to go out for breakfast. If you can’t find one, try bringing along
some portable food like cereal, granola, or yogurt.
6.
Spend
less on food—Skip the expensive parts of town and eat food from cheaper
venues. Or, if you’ve got the option, try cooking your own food. This may not
be as tasty as the first-class meal you could get at a fancy restaurant, but it
will save you a bundle.
7.
Don’t
rent a car—Try to stay in a hotel within walking or biking distance to
wherever you’ll need to be. That way, you can walk, bike, or use public
transportation to get there.
8.
Peruse
Groupon—Check out discount websites like Groupon.com to see if there are
any good deals going on before you travel.
