Tips for Business Travelers

As a travel writer and editor, I do a lot of business traveling. Even as a travel professional, as much as I plan and research, I'm still at the mercy of airlines, hotels and other providers, just like everyone else.

Here are 10 business traveling tips that help me travel smart:

Travel Light
Especially with the range of baggage fees now charged by airlines, be sure you get the largest approved carry-on and fit everything inside. Checking baggage also wastes valuable travel time and increases the possibility something could go wrong. Use Fedex or UPS to ship needed things in advance instead of checking baggage.

Plan Ahead
Check the weather, check for political issues if you are traveling abroad. If you make reservations online, call and confirm.

Prepare Your Phone
Today's smartphones really are essential for business travelers. They combine your email, phone, address book and schedule.

Know your mobile phone plan and what it allows. Know your roaming terms, also be aware of data fees when roaming. Check into your international coverage and rates and be sure you are on the best program if you travel out of the USA.

Be Loyal
To gain the most points or miles, its best to stick with the same providers. Try to concentrate your travel on a single airline, to maximize points. Many programs are linked, hotels and airlines and car rentals, so you can be sure to always accumulate the most mileage possible.

Carry Some Cash
While you should always be aware of your personal safety, cash is still king. You may be surprised what a $20. bill, slipped discreetly to a desk clerk, baggage handler, even check-in agent can accomplish. Cash also allows you to get lower prices. Also carry local currency if you are traveling abroad.

Know Airline Details
Be sure to have all the airline numbers programmed into your phone, along with any special frequent traveler or elite level contact information. If you find yourself at the airport facing canceled flights or other problems, sometimes the best solution is to find a quiet corner and get on the phone to the airline instead of waiting in line for an overloaded agent.

Know Your Options
Check on alternative hotels and even cities if you are re-routed or delayed. Know the flight rules if your flight is bumped or canceled, you may be entitled to be booked on another carrier, but you need to know the rules and also whether there are other options on other carriers.

Be Friendly and Respectful
This may be the best advice I can offer. People on the front lines of the travel industry, people who deal with the public, put up with a lot. If you are friendly, nice, and have respect for them and what they do, you may be surprised as to what they will do for you.

Bring The Family
Whenever possible, bring the family along. Your spouse can do things with the kids while you are working, then spend time as a family after work is finished. You can also extend a business trip to enjoy the area with family.

Use video conferencing and other technology to stay in contact if bringing family isn't practical. Many new phones and laptops offer video conferencing, as does Internet phone provider skype.

Be Flexible
Keep a zen-like attitude and try to remain calm. No matter how angry you get, usually the situation won't change. Keep an open mind and deal with obstacles as they come up, learn from the experiences so they don't occur again.

Learn While You Travel
Check into local museums and cultural activities at your destination. Instead of drinking in the hotel bar, spend a few hours at the local art museum or visiting historic sites.

Even if your schedule doesn't permit museum visits, do some research ahead of time so you will see things in person you have read about or researched. Whenever I travel, I like to note places I pass or neighborhoods I visit. Then later, I can review guidebooks or websites, and I remember the locations I passed or visited.