Best Travel Tips for 2004 (win $500)
 

Members posting their best travel tips for 2004 here (these travel tips could be about general business travel, frequent flyer/hotel/credit card programs, and even about a particular program, etc.) will become eligible to win $500 (USD), just in time for the holidays. No limit on the number of tips you may post here, but only one winner.

Final list will be posted online and featured in InsideFlyer magazine.

Good luck.

Tip #1 On business travel, always use your ATM card rather than your mileage-earning credit card for any cash advance in local markets. Credit cards have added additional fees (cash advance) that make it very expensive to have access to money when you travel. It's not the ATM fee that you have to consider, it's the cash advance fee.

When traveling on business, always eat at rewardsnetwork restaurants. And don't forget to order dessert!

Consolidator Fares
 

Consider using a travel agent that specializes in a particular region and can offer consolidator fares when travelling between continents. You can save a bundle, get more flexibility in change rules, upgradeable fares, and still get airline miles. Booking online is not always the cheapest when it comes to international travel.

rental cars
 

Rent a car at the closest place to the airport that is not at the airport so you dont have to pay airport taxes. You can get to these places by taking your hotel shuttle to your hotel then later have the shuttle driver drive you to the off airport rental car place.

If you have to catch a flight you are about to miss and the gate is far away, use the airport shuttle things.

When in business hotels, you can take the plastic bags they provide for you to use their laundry service to put your laundry into and take it home with you. But don't leave the plastic bag with clothes in it lying around in the room, or your clothes might get cleaned, and you might have to pay a lot.

Currency Exchange
 

Use your ATM at the arriving airport, better yet if you have a debit/ATM card with points and get your country cash from an ATM.

Upon your departure, use all of the coins and denominations too small to exchange at the Duty Free. They will count out your coins and deduct it from your credit card total.

Nick Yourself Shaving?
 

Antiperspirant will stop the bleeding. (It has the same aluminum oxide as a styptic pencil.)

Paris IC Offer
 

I want to nominate someone else for what was probably the BEST OFFER OF THE YEAR!!!! Thank you RJB for the Paris Opera House 2 for 1 + Upgrade this year: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337223

I think he should win just for the amount of money he has saved for hundreds of flyertalkers this year. I saved over $6500 on my trip (not including the alcohol consumed!).

Gary

When another traveler violates one of those unwritten rules of travel etiquette that EVERYONE knows (reclining a seat onto your knees, failing to have pockets empty in time for a security check, stowing a bag in YOUR overhead bin, etc.), train yourself to respond first (and second and third) with patience, kindness, and charity. More likely than not, the offense is not intended, and even when you encounter a truly inconsiderate moron, your forbearance will usually help the situation for everyone around you, and the indignation you might have to swallow will be healthier for you than bile, however righteous.

Hotel Points
 

(if on business travel) Eat at the hotel restaurant and order room service, they all count up towards more hotel points for the stay. (if on personal travel) As a previous poster mentioned find an IDINE restaurant and try something new but still get points :)

Always make sure your FF# for the airline who is operating the flight is in your reservation at ticketing and check-in. This will minimize your chances of receiving SSSS on your boarding pass. Change your FF# only when you're inside security.

If you use any hotel services that cost money, such as the bar, restaurant, or even the gift shop, charge them to your room instead of paying cash or even using your credit card. You will receive more hotel points for the increased final bill at checkout and you will still get the miles on your FF-linked credit card.

Do your Buisness Traveling like your on an all inclusive vacation!

Travelling on buisness can be alot of stress trust me I've gone through it try to keep it most convienent and rewarding to YOU as possible :D.

Try to use self checkin' - less lineups and some airlines offer rewards which means your FF mile wallet just got fatter

Prepare all the neccessities you need for your work and leisure foldered up so you don't run into trouble.

ALWAYS use a rewards credit card it's money GIVEN for you to spend so enjoy :)

Choose hotels, ect that fits you and your work, try booking a hotel that gives you all the flexibility you need for work including free high speed internet, voice message, photocopiers, ect. Think of it as the airline lounges.

And last - nothing beats home! If you can't be at home try to get as most of it as you can, after a long day of meetings its good to relax in your hotel and call home and have a chat with your family, let them know how your doing and ask whats going on at home.

Make money, achieve objectives
 

No matter what your status, when on business travel make money or achieve the objective for your company.

A simple rule, but with profound ramifications for your ability to demand and justify upgraded future travel. It is the Zen-like root from which the might travel tree grows.

....ummmmmmmmmm..........