6 Travel Tips for Business or Fun!
Summertime is here! Well, not quite yet to be exact, but it is past Memorial Day and the sun is shining, barbeques are being fired up, people are wearing white pants again and planning their summer vacations. Whether for fun or for business, we are sharing some travel tips to ensure that whatever your plans are, you experience nothing but smooth sailing. (See what I did there?)
- Pre–screening – Enjoy the luxury of an expedited screening process. No more building in that extra time to stand and wait in line, certain travelers who have been pre-screened can expect shorter wait times. Visit http://www.dhs.gov/comparison-chart to see if you qualify for any of their Trusted Traveler Programs offered by the Department of Homeland Security and if so, how to apply. The TSA’s website at tsa.gov, will also show you a list of airlines participating in their pre-check program.
- Carry On, Carry On, Carry On – Gone are the days of free checked bags with a majority of airlines. Avoid paying high fees for checked bags and streamline your packing into a carry on size. Rolling your clothes, packing shoes that can be worn with multiple outfits and utilizing your personal bag are all examples of minimizing your luggage. You can also check ahead with your lodging to see what they have there that you can utilize. Use a larger personal bag that can still be stowed underneath the seat in front of you and fill it with your toiletries (keep in mind, that they need to stay at 3.4 oz. or under).
- Book In Advance – When booking flights, economically it makes sense to book more than two weeks prior to travel. It’s always best to avoid the last minute booking if you can.
- There’s an App for That – Many travel booking sites have mobile apps available to learn oany last minute deals on hotels. A majority of airlines have mobile apps as well. Sign up for flight alerts to get status updates for your flight.
- Do you have a Receipt? – Keep track of all of your expenses while away. Instead of digging through your wallet or purse for crumbled up receipts, travel with an envelope or folder to neatly stow away all of your receipts for meals, supplies, gas, etc. Don’t forget to also get itemized receipts where applicable. Your admin will thank you come time to run that expense report. This may seem to apply to business travel, but it can also be applied personally as a means of keeping to your own budget.
- Enjoy! – No matter where you are going, for business or pleasure, take time to soak in your surroundings and enjoy your time!
