Business Travel Planning

Over the last eleven years of traveling the globe I have learned many different lessons about business travel. Whether you are a seasoned travel expert or a recent college graduate getting ready for that first trip, I am sure that you will learn a few things from my dissertation below.

Business travel is weary on the family and can cause hardships that are difficult to put into words. When you are out of town, life around your house carries on in every sense. Your grass continues to grow, your power continues to flow, your kids have recitals and ball practices, and your spouse has meetings. Don't forget the small things and check in with your family members. Your not being around means that they have to do the things that you normally accomplish.

During your travel make sure to make time to take care of yourself as well. You will be eating at fine restaurants all over the world. You will get to sample local cuisines that you have never before had. Your body will suffer from the overload of food and beverages. Make time to go to your hotels gyms between work hours and dinner. Simply working out for 30 mins. each afternoon should keep you in fighting form for the meetings that you have coming up during the trip. It will also limit the perpetual expansion of the waste line from the foods that you are eating.

For meetings and arrival times, make sure to plan on showing up fifteen to twenty minutes before your meeting time. Showing up late to meetings is unacceptable for both your clients and for your company.

Always dress for success, never show up to your meetings in anything less than a Shirt, Tie, and Coat. Showing up in less than that attire for many companies is a sign of disrespect. While they may be sporting the latest in Golf apparel you need to sport something more along the lines of Donald Trump.

During the travel stages of your event plan on staying in mid-level accommodations. Never try to hit your company up for first class accommodations. The mid-level accommodation shows that you are willing to save the company money while not sacrificing your personal well-being. The mid-level accommodation will provide you with acceptable bedding and laundry services and a good night sleep.

As a final point keep in mind that you are representing your company. Conduct yourself at all times as if you were trying to win that coveted job spot. Because just as you interviewed for your current job. You are interviewing your company for future business with your clients.

Charles Cater

Accommodation & Travel Tips

BEFORE YOU GO

Do a hotel research on the net looking not only for the cheapest rates but also considering the amenities and services provided, location, possible references from other people. Travel guidebooks can also be very helpful for choosing the hotel that suits you best. Be as much flexible with your trip schedule as possible. For example, business class hotels often have lower weekend rates.

As soon as you reserved the room(s) online, document all information about the hotel(s). The easiest way is to print out the whole page off your computer screen so you will have a clear statement that you can use as evidence in case of misplacing or incorrectly entering your information by a hotel clerk. Take a copy with you, make another one for your relatives so they will know when and where you are going to stay so they can contact you in emergency cases.

WHEN CHECKING-IN

Learn the proper check-in and check-out times. Confirm the amenities and services the hotel provides. Ask for directions, a local map. Get a card with the hotel's name, address and phone number so you can show it to a taxi driver or a passer-by in the street if you get lost.

Some hotels may provide extra services that you may not know about unless you ask for it:

- laundry service,
- hair dryers,
- voltage converters/ adaptors,
- newspaper service,
- complementary meals,
- access to fax machine, copier, printer, computer, Internet connection,
- cable TV, rental movies, video games,
- portable beds, baby cribs,
- complementary shuttle service to airport,
- rental safe for your money, jewellery, documents,
- telephone access charges,
- fees for using mini-bar,
- guided tours, excursions.

AT THE HOTEL

Safety should be a priority for everybody and you have to take some precautions. We devoted a whole separate page to travel safety including hotel safety measures so we will skip this part here. When you go out for the day, leave your key at the reception desk. Confirm closing time. Some hotels do lock up at night and you're expected to keep the key if you stay out late.

BEFORE LEAVING YOUR HOTEL

Check out your room for left-behind items. If you need extra time for staying over the regular check-out time (usually it ranges from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m), make a request in advance or the hotel may charge you an additional night.

Review the hotel bill making sure that all charges are accurate.

We wish you a successful and safe trip!

Romantic Travel Resolutions

A new year always means a chance for a new start. You and yours can begin this new year by making some travel resolutions together, regardless of your time and budget restraints. Put aside those new travel habits and make some new ones! Let this be the year that your travel designs focus on fun, fantasy, and festivities!



(1) we are going to plan a real vacation. No, it doesn't have to be an around the world cruise or first class getaway (but if you can afford it, what are you waiting for?) It does have to be an honest-to-goodness vacation, though. No cell phones, no laptops. Mark the dates on the calendar and keep it like you'd keep any business appointment. The business of romantic travel, though, is a fun four and an activity that the one of you can plan for months.



(2) we are going to involve each other in the trip planning. All often, four partner gets the job for planning a trip...and that task quickly becomes a bore. Plan your trips together! Anticipation is half the fun. Visit a travel agent. Collect brochures. Buy a guidebook. Rent a video about your destination. Search the web for information.



(3) we are going to do something we have rarely done. Here you can be as mild -- or as wild -- as you dare. Go whitewater rafting. Rent a houseboat. Take a hot air balloon ride. Spend the night in a local bed and breakfast. Learn to scuba dive. Dance the whole night away under the stars. The choice is yours.



(4) we are going to take four mini-vacation every month. Whether it's for the night or for the night out, plan four tiny slice of a vacation every single month. The only rule: you must pretend you are on vacation. Book a night at a local bed and breakfast. Call your local hotel and find out their non-peak nights (in business-oriented cities, it's usually Friday and Saturday) then plan a short romantic getaway.



(5) we are going to go to at least four festival. Special events take place at about every community around the world. Whatever your interests -- from square dancing to sandcastle building -- you'll find a festival celebrating with a day or one of fun and food. If you don't have the time or budget to go far, contact area chamber of commerce or tourism offices within a day's drive of your home for their calendar of events. If you can, extend your trip into a long weekend. If you have got the time and resources, check out a quantity of the major fun festivals: Carnival, Mardi Gras, Rio's Carnivale. Don't forget your costume!

Essential Travel Companion

Digital cameras are a household gadget nowadays. Everybody is slowly realizing the advantages of storing all their photos and videos digitally, rather than maintain a physical copy. With the advent of this new phenomenon, the next issue on everybody’s minds is to protect their gear. This calls for some research to find the right camera bag for you.

When we say camera bags, the first brand that comes to the mind is Crumpler. Crumpler has carved a niche for itself in this field by designing the trendiest and hip camera bags. Its products have sold out world over and are still going strong. Many critics might argue that Crumpler bags compromise on quality but that is definitely not true. The DA120 is one of the sturdiest camera bags and has also been rated by several web sites as one among the top 10 camera bags. The keystone and sinking barge models seamlessly blend style and oomph with protection and security. There is abundant padding on the sides to protect gear from shocks and they are also equipped with tough material that can definitely not be cut open by the ordinary thief.

Domke bags are more for the professional photographer. It has custom made bags that can be split into several compartments and can store up to several lenses, chargers, batteries and a camera in a single bag. They have been a long time favorite of several photographers the world over. But the major drawback with Domke is that its waterproof capabilities are not very enviable. This is a major downside. If you are a forest photographer, then you have to ensure maximum protection from the elements, especially from rain. There are several bags that have been designed for this purpose, the most popular one being the M-Rock Denali bag.
M-Rock recently announced its specialist outdoors camera bag. It has rain protection flaps and thick inner lining with non-permeable foam material that strives to ensure maximum protection from rain. The Denali also has several other compartments that are designed to accommodate CD players, chargers, water bottles and even binoculars. It is the ideal travel companion.

Delsey has gone the extra step to ensure the perfect blend of protection, style and functionality. Its latest release, the Delsey Gopix, is amazingly easy on the shoulder. The best aspect about Delsey is that every single part that is used to make the bag is tested under vicious conditions before being sent into the manufacturing plant. This ensures maximum benefit to the buyer and also increases its lifetime.

The final verdict. Crumpler and Lowepro are seated firmly in the driver’s seat, being the leaders in this category. Domke bags are not very suitable for extensive outdoor conditions due to poor rain proof capabilities, but are still regarded as favorites among amateurs and professionals alike. Delsey and M-Rock are slowly but surely rising as major players, but must trudge longer to catch up with the leaders, who are undoubtedly, Crumpler and Lowepro.

Your Choice Of Honeymoon Hotels

Making your honeymoon memorable could be the best reward I can give you, as newlyweds after a long preparation and hectic scheduled before and during their wedding. There is no better way than going to honeymoon hotels and spending time together as a couple.

King Pacific Lodge - British Columbia, Canada

If spending private moment with each other and away from many people who could cause distraction, the King Pacific Lodge should be your choice. Located in British Columbia, Canada, this honeymoon hotel is secluded from the masses that will surely complete privacy for both.

Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli - Lake Garda, Italy

The peace, beauty and grace, these are things you can get at the Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli. This is a historic farmhouse built in 1892 by Feltrinelli family. It became a hotel in 1997 after Bob Burns bought the house and gave him a new life. That provides the perfect spot for honeymooners and features stylistic coherence between the 19th century and the modern structure.

Thomas Henkelmann Homestead Inn - Connecticut, USA

This luxurious 4-star hotel has a combination of a type of first class service, impeccable comfort, and gastronomic delights to tickle the senses of every guest. This 18th century structure has been a premiere landmark of Greenwich, Conn., and serves as one of the places to host a honeymoon experience good.

The Palms - Turks and Caicos, Caribbean,

If you want superior service, along with great amenities, stunning locations and luxury accommodation, The Palms Turks and Caicos answer all these questions. Services include: luxurious suites, magnificent garden, gourmet dining, ocean view from the beach of Grace Bay, marble floors, exclusive spa, serpentine pool and Messel Ballroom.

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Tanzania, Africa

For those who have visited Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, they have found paradise on earth. Each of the 10 tree houses is in place and above mahogany trees with a unique touch of nature. The houses are built with local wood and palm leaves. The grand opening covers the elegance of the room. All areas of the tree houses are a combination of bed linen in pure cotton, natural fibers, and contemporary furnishings. Guests served with pan-African cuisine.

There are other hotels around the world that is suitable for honeymoon getaways. The Dar Rhizklane in Marrakech, Morocco, The Dylan Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Esperanza in Baja California, Mexico, Aman-i-Khas in Rajasthan, India, and Le Taha'a Private Island & Spa, Taha'a Island, French Polynesia some of them.

Maui Vacation Rentals Versus Maui Hotels And Resorts

Whether traveling to Maui has part of a honeymoon, a business trip, family vacation or romantic getaway, you're sure to find that you have unlimited options. When it comes to these choices, many vacationers automatically think of activities and attractions that have access too. While a Maui vacation will give you just that, there are other options you have to do, one of them is where the plan to stay. If you have recently decided to make a trip to Maui, you will find that you could stay at a hotel in Maui, a Maui resort, or vacation rental in Maui.

When it comes to choosing where to stay, there are a number of people who have some difficulty making a decision. In fact, you may be one of those individuals. If so, there is a way you can go about making a decision as easy as could be. You are urged to examine the advantages and disadvantages of each. Essentially, this means you have to closely examine Maui vacation rentals and hotels and resorts on Maui.

Perhaps it is best to examine Maui stations as they usually tend to be the most popular among travelers. In Maui, many vacation resorts are considered five star resorts. Holiday Resorts are designed to give you everything you want or need during the holidays. Although there is a good chance that you want to go out and experience all that Maui has to offer, do not have to. In many cases, you will find everything you could ask for right at your resort in Maui.

As mentioned earlier, Maui resorts tend to vary from one locality to another. Despite the variations, you will find that there are a number of services and amenities that are common among the majority. For example, almost all Maui vacation resorts have pools on the site, in fact, many resorts have more than one pool. Saunas, whirlpools, fitness centers, beauty parlors, golf courses and upscale restaurants on site are just some of the many facilities that can be found in most holiday resorts in Maui. If you make the decision to visit a beach in Maui resorts, is likely to have access to all those mentioned above and the ocean at your feet.

Another popular choice among Maui vacationers are traditional hotels. A traditional hotel is just that: a hotel. When staying at a hotel in Maui, you'll likely find that given a limited number of "extras", extras that many Maui vacation stations offer. Depending on the hotel decides to stay in Maui, there is a good chance that you may have access to a pool, a gym, a laundry room on site and a restaurant but that's usually about it. The purpose of a hotel, unlike a resort, is basically to give you and your traveling party a place to stay. Hotels are ideal for tourists who have vacation all planned out and is looking at the price of overnight accommodation.

While a Maui vacation resorts and hotels are popular choices among Maui vacationers, there is another option that has begun to increase rapidly in popularity. That choice is Maui vacation homes. Maui Vacation, also commonly known as Maui vacation rentals are houses that you and other tourists can rent for your holiday accommodation. If you want to stay by the ocean or stay inside, there is a Maui vacation rental is right there for you. With a large number of Maui vacation homes, you are sure to find exactly what you're looking for.

One of the reasons why Maui vacation homes are so popular is because they offer privacy. Instead of worrying about who are in the hallway from you, because maybe in a hotel or center, you can concentrate more on yourself and enjoy your Maui vacation. If you are on vacation on a budget, you can find standard, Maui vacation homes affordable and luxury vacation homes. Luxury vacation homes tend to offer you all that a home should, as well as swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, and additional "extras".

As you can see, there are a number of benefits to staying at a Maui hotel, resort, or vacation home. Perhaps the best way to decide which of the settings in the right one for you're taking the time to examine what they need and want out of your next Maui vacation.

Royals Put Malta Hotels Back On Map

For a Mediterranean island with good weather all year, a friendly local English speaking population and facilities to rival that of any of its competitors, Malta is an island often surprising that many people forget about planning a vacation in the Mediterranean.

Malta missed some of the tourist destinations of their own government in 2005, but a recent visit of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh resulted in four days of positive media coverage in the biggest market of the island - the United Kingdom - and in more than 50 other countries attending the meeting of heads of government, including Canada and Australia.

The Queen began her official visit to Malta before opening the meeting and was warmly greeted by the islanders environment.

Malta was ruled by the British for a hundred and fifty years, and became independent in 1964. But the island has retained many British characteristics, including driving on the left, and British visitors account for nearly half of the tourists on the island.

The George Cross ranks with the Victoria Cross as a decoration for bravery - and Malta was awarded the Cross in 1942 by King George VI of the island's resistance to German attempts to occupy the island of Malta is under attack almost constant since June 1940.

Just as the challenge of developing the tourists away from other Mediterranean islands like Mallorca and Menorca, Malta has had to face the additional challenge of new holiday destinations in the former Eastern bloc opening, such as Bulgaria and Croatia, which tend to be cheaper .

Brighter Future

But when the Malta Tourist Board has failed miserably in the market appeal of the island to the mass tourism sector with some success in recent years, the Queen's visit has come at the right time for hotels and tourism companies expect a good 2006.

Tribune Properties, a UK based company specializing in properties abroad including a comment from Malta:

'Malta is not a high priority in the list of vacation destinations for many British people compared to the Spanish Costas, Canary and Balearic Islands. The visit of the Queen showed Malta in a very positive light and hope that tourism officials of the island will be able to make travel and hotel reservations and holiday increase in the coming months. Given the history of the promotion of Malta 2006, but if you see an increase in visitors, will be in spite of official promotions, and not because of it. .

More good news for the Malta holiday industry came in October with the announcement that the low cost airlines had been given the right to fly to the island.

"This will help both the hotel and property industries in Malta 'add Tribune. "With the cost of reaching the island down, Malta has seen its share of the short stay holiday substantial increase in European market, increasing local employment and benefiting the overall economy.