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Business Travel Made Simple

The nickname for frequent business travelers - road warriors - says it all.

Business travel may seem glamorous to those who get to stay at home, but if your job requires frequent trips out of town — you know just how stressful it can be. The commercials showing the teddy bear a little girl packs for her dad's trip hit close to home for many traveling on business.

Experienced travelers develop their own ways of dealing with these pitfalls. Here are some suggestions for your next trip :

* Get packing - Carry-on luggage is the way to go. It lets you get out of the airport and on your way much more quickly. To maximize your packing space and make getting through airport security a bit simpler, use travel size toiletries and clothes that can do double duty. Be sure to keep up with the latest dos and don'ts for carry-on items.

* Choose the right hotel - A good night's rest means you'll be alert and on your game the next day. Hotels close to popular tourist destinations may mean a noisy night for the business traveler. Check reviews to make sure that there were no complaints about loud neighbors or partying in the halls. Besides a peaceful evening, a quiet room can mean an uninterrupted telephone conversation with your boss, clients, your spouse, significant other, parents or friends back at home. If it sounds like you're having a party in your room on a business trip, you may lose more than a night's sleep.

* Stay in touch - While you're on the road, it's important to stay in touch, both with the office and with your family. Before you book a hotel, make sure it provides the business services you need. Will you have access to a fax machine? A printer and photocopier? If you need to hold an impromptu meeting, is there space available in the hotel?

A business traveler's computer and cell phone are lifelines when they're on the road. Make sure you will have Internet access in your room, and make sure you know how much it's costing you. Also, you shouldn't have to unplug the desk light to have access to an outlet for your phone or computer charger.

* Stay healthy - Eating on the road can take a toll. Living on fast food or rich restaurant meals can mean added pounds and other health problems. Make an effort to make good food choices on the road. Sure, that sweet roll looks good, but oatmeal will give you more energy throughout the morning. Try to fit some type of exercise into your day, whether it means taking the steps up to your hotel room instead of the elevator, or spending some time in the pool or on the treadmill.

The more you travel, the more you'll develop your own "tricks of the trade." Just remember that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of business.

More about business travel around the Web:

US Dept of State - Travel & Business

Tips & Tools For Corporate Travelers

also see in Business -> Business Travel

also see in Technology -> Cyber Cafes | WiFi Hotspots