If you use credit cards a lot, get one that gives hotel or airline points. Caveat: I always pay off the balance every month so I can't tell you which ones have favorable interest rates. There's also usually an annual fee. But, we've charged everything from septic tank replacement to my son's tuition on hotel-affiliated cards and just spent 4 free nights in London and 2 in Cardiff.

Try to focus your loyalties on one hotel and one airline if your travel permits and if you can do it without costing your employer more money. Elite status gets you bonus points and shorter lines.

Even if you can't get Elite status, keep accumulating points anyway. It took me 4 years to redeem my first airline miles but it was to bring my son with me to a business trip to Bermuda. Just keep an eye on miles that may expire if the account becomes dormant and keep in mind that it may be harder to redeem points for travel you want if you don't have Elite status.

And hang around on FT! I got "instant" Gold on Hilton through a temporary promotion I learned about here, whcih got us into an Execuitve Lounge in the Cardiff Hilton with free breakfast, perpetual coffee and drinks, and a magnificent view of Cardiff Castle.