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