Business Travel Tips – Episode One

Travelling for business may be somewhat less necessary than it was a decade ago, what with the digital connectivity tools that are widely available to most of us these days. But there are times when you really have to travel, to meet others face-to-face, in order to get your work done most effectively. Here is one suggestion that will help insure that your travel is not only effective, but efficient and (relatively) hassle free.

Choose your means of travel to fit the distance and the season

For long-haul trips – over 200 miles or more, air travel is almost always the only sensible choice. But shorter trips can be more effective if you consider other alternatives. Not only can it be cheaper, but when you consider the time it takes to drive to the nearest airport, park the car, get to the terminal, check bags, clear security, etc. it might even take less time. Recently I was delayed at the airport for nearly 3 hours, catching a plane that actually only spent 50 minutes in the air. By the time I boarded, I would have been at my destination if I had driven from home.

Taking the train is a great idea, if you are fortunate enough to be travelling to a destination served by an accessible train line. Business class seating on the train is a lot more comfortable than most coach airplane seats. Many Amtrak trains and international train lines provide Wi-Fi and electrical outlets at your seat so you can connect to the internet and get things done. Weather, with the exception of blizzards, is rarely a factor in train travel – you won’t get delayed or diverted because of gusting winds or strong thunderstorms when you ride the iron horse.

Auto travel requires more work on your part (or not so much if you have business travelling companions who can share the driving). A great bonus is having satellite radio, or an iPod (or other MP3 player) connection though your auto’s sound system. There are dozens of excellent business related podcasts (e.g. Harvard Business Review’s IdeaCast, The BBC’s Bottom Line, Duct Tape Marketing) that you can bring along with you to make that automobile trip a learning or creativity-enhancing time for you.

The “mileage free” policies of most major car rental agencies makes it cost-effective to consider renting a car for a business trip, rather than putting more wear and tear on your own vehicle. You will almost certainly get a well-maintained, low mileage, very clean automobile. Most metropolitan areas have multiple locations for car renting, so it is often unnecessary to be near an airport to be able to get a car easily. Bonus thought, if you are thinking about buying a new car, check with your local rental agencies to see if they have a make and model you are interested in, and combine your business trip with a great road test of what might be your next auto purchase!