If you're a road warrior, these travel tips will help reduce the
stress of your journeys.
1. Choose your Travel Modality Wisely Planes, trains or
automobiles: what's the choice to be? While air travel is
clearly the only way to go for long journeys, shorter trips of a
couple of hundred miles might be faster via train, bus or auto.
When making your decision, consider time spent traveling to and
from airports, plus time spent lining up for check in, security
and departure. Also consider the effects inclement weather can
have on your travel choice. It's no fun hearing the announcement
that your plane can't land due to poor visibility and you'll be
returning to your departure airport.
2. Consider Alternative Airports If you're flying, consider
alternative airports that are outside the city you're going to
visit. As a rule, these airports have fewer flights, less
overbooking and less delays than their larger counterparts.
3. Obtain an International Drivers License If traveling outside
your own country, an international driver's license will be more
readily recognized than your locally issued driver's license.
The cost is not prohibitive and in most regions, the licenses
are easily obtained by showing your local driver's license.
Inquire at your local Automobile Association.
4. Get Your Maps Before You Leave Home Travel is less stressful
if you know how to get around. Before leaving home, obtain maps
of your destination city. One approach is to visit web sites
such as City Search (http://www.citysearch.com/) and print out
maps. Place your printed maps in plastic folders for protection
against the elements. Trying to read a road map while standing
on a rainy street corner has its obvious disadvantages.
5. Carry Electronic Documents Rather than Hard Copy Rather than
carry heavy stacks of brochures or sales letters, take
electronic documents on diskettes and have them printed at a
local printing service. Similarly, if you are working a booth in
a trade show, it's a good idea to carry electronic documents in
case you run out of the stack you shipped from the office.
6. Find Hotels that Cater to Business Travelers Hotels that
cater to business travelers will have Internet capabilities and
offer access to business machines such as faxes and photocopiers.
7. Remember Adaptors and Converters If you're traveling to a
foreign country, remember that you might need special voltage
adaptors for electricity. You might also need plug adapters to
accommodate both electrical plugs and telephone jacks. A good
travel store will be able to help you decide what's needed.
8. Use Calling Cards When you're staying at a hotel, the phone
bill can be a major expense. The cost of calling your family,
checking your voice mail and checking your email is best handled
by using a telephone calling card or a corporate credit card.
9. Check your Cellular Service Cellular phone companies
regularly offer new rates. Check to be sure you're getting the
best deal -- some now include long distance charges in the
monthly fee. If your business travel will take you to small,
out-of-the way towns, your digital phone might not work. You
will need an analog or dual digital/anlog phone for such trips.
10. Protect Yourself Against Theft Before leaving home, make
copies of your travel documents (passport, airline tickets,
travel insurance, credit cards and itinerary).
Take copies with you and leave a copy with a contact at home.
Take special precautions for your electronics. See what your
local travel store has to offer in terms of protective luggage.
You can purchase laptop cases that disguise the fact that
they're used for laptops, or laptop cases that look old and
battered. And of course, you already know how fast and savvy a
pickpocket can be. Avoid carrying important documents in your
purse or hip pocket.
About the author:
June Campbell How to Write Business Plans, Business Proposals,
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