10 Things You Can Do to Make Your Business Trips More Affordable (and More Enjoyable) 

Despite video conferencing software and newer messaging technologies taking the business world by storm, going on trips is still an inevitable part of doing business. You may be visiting suppliers and factories in different locations, doing sales visits to some of the best clients in your portfolio, or flying to a potential client to do a pitch. Either way, you still need to travel as a part of doing business.

Business trips have gotten a lot better over the years. The flights and amenities available today mean you can be flexible with your schedules and enjoy a bit of comfort at the same time. You also have apps and other technologies helping to make business trips more convenient. There are even more ways to save on your business trips, and we are going to discuss some of them in this article.

Be Smart with Your Schedules

One of the best ways to save on your business trips is by combining multiple trips into a series of stops. Rather than flying back and forth to different destinations, you can take connecting flights and get everything done in one seamless sweep.

You don’t have to go through the complex process of choosing the best flights to take when you want to string several business trips together. There are apps and web services that can help you identify the best route to take to visit several destinations.

At the same time, you now have more hubs with access to more flights. When planning a business trip to several cities in Canada, for instance, you can find direct flights to Ottawa and flights from Ottawa to cities like Montreal and Toronto to save money.

Compare Your Options

This tip is true for every part of your business trip. It takes a while before you get used to finding deals and taking advantage of special offers, but you have to start somewhere and the best way to start is by taking the time to compare your travel options.

Using the previous example of going on a business trip to Canada, it is easy to discover that flyporter.com has the best flights at great prices, including flights to Ottawa. You can then use other tools to compare hotel rates and accommodation deals.

Once again, this takes some getting used to. The more you compare travel deals, however, the better you will be at finding great ones to use. You’ll start understanding the quirks of booking flights and accommodations for business trips too.

Know the Quirks

Speaking of quirks, knowing how to get the best deals and other details about preparing for business trips is really useful. For example, you should know that booking flights on a Tuesday afternoon will result in you getting the best prices for the available options.

It’s strange, I know, but ask any experienced travellers and you will discover a long list of weird patterns like this one you can benefit from. Another good example is hotel rates and how you can find cheaper, better rates when there are no cookies for the booking sites to track.

Apps have their quirks too. There are special deals that pop up at certain times. There are even mobile-exclusive deals to help you save up to 30% on the same flights and hotels. The more you explore these special offers, the better you will be at saving money when planning for business trips.

Look at the Alternatives

It is also worth noting that you have more options than you used to when it comes to business trips. Aside from the usual business hotels, you now have boutique hostels and Airbnb places to book. There are villas for when you are traveling with the whole team and you want to keep your travel expenses in check.

In the case of villas and Airbnb properties, you also have the option to cook your own meals; these properties usually come with a fully functional kitchen. Before the trip, research the area and find places to go for groceries. You can save an enormous amount on meals alone.

Commercial flights are easy to find, but you should not write off chartering a private jet just yet. Similar to villas, you can actually save money – and a lot of time – with a private jet when you are traveling with a large group. The fact that you can rent a private jet by the hour makes this particular alternative even better.

Look for Benefits and Stay Loyal

While on the subject of alternatives, make sure you also take into account the reward and loyalty programs from top airlines and hotel chains as you compare prices and deals. You have to weigh the costs and benefits yourself, but there is no doubt that reward points are worth pursuing.

Two flights may cost the same, but that doesn’t mean they offer the same amenities and benefits in return. If one of those flights offers free baggage and an in-flight meal, you know you are getting more for your money, which means you are getting the best deal.

The same can be said for loyalty points and rewards. Even when the alternative is slightly cheaper, going with the airline or hotel chain whose loyalty program you use allows you to earn more for the money spent. In the long run, you may be looking at a substantial saving in the form of free upgrades, free nights, and other bonuses.

Travel Light

The best way to travel, especially when you are traveling for business, is traveling light. Unless you are going on an extended business trip, you can easily fit everything you need for a few days in carry-on luggage.

Traveling light has its advantages. You don’t have to wait for your bags to show up on the carousel, plus you don’t have to worry about paying more for excess baggage. Some airlines will also give you extra discounts if you choose not to have a checked in bag. These little things add up.

Traveling light gives you that extra flexibility throughout the trip. You can visit more places, make more stops, and be flexible with the modes of transport you use as you move from one task to the next. Some of my closest business colleagues even go as far as flying round-trips whenever possible; this is something that can only be done when you travel light.

No Amount Is Too Small

One last tip to keep in mind when it comes to saving on business trips: no amount is too small to save. The extra $10 you spend on a taxi ride or the excess baggage fee you pay for bringing more luggage than you need can really add up to a substantial amount when you start putting them together.

All you need to start saving is some apps and a more active stance towards finding ways to make your business trips more cost-efficient. You already have the tips and tricks we covered in this article to help you get started. By taking the time to explore your money-saving options, finding the best deals to claim, earning discounts on your flights and accommodations, choosing the right options to use, and going the extra mile with travel quirks, it gets easier and becomes more rewarding.

What are your favorite tips for more affordable and enjoyable business trips?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.