Hotel Booking for Business Travel

Ever get to a hotel only to learn that they don’t have an internet connection? (When was the last time you used dial-up?). Or need to run off a few last minute copies of your presentation only to find there is not a copy machine in sight? This is a know-before-you-guide to making sure you have everything you need for a successful business trip.

First mistake, don’t assume that higher priced hotels have better business services. The truth is it is actually the budget brands that cater to the business traveler. From self-service business centers to complimentary wireless internet, they are more often better equipped to accommodate the road warrior. Many, including Hampton Inn, Garden Inn, La Quinta and Holiday Inn Express offer complimentary wireless internet.  Be sure to inquire about this service before making a reservation. For hotels that charge for internet, ask them to waive it. In many cases, they will waive this charge in order to confirm your booking. As for business center services, try to locate a Kinko’s or copy center near your hotel. They often have better equipment and will charge you far less.

If you are staying in a hotel that has concierge services, use them! When you plan on entertaining clients or need to purchase a special gift, the concierge is trained to have the inside track on the best places to go – even difficult to come by event tickets. They are also an excellent resource for everything from directions to secretarial services or even that very well earned massage after a long day.

A Clean Hotel Room

While traveling a hotel room is considered to be your second home with some exceptions – strangers might have slept there, and the hotel staff may not be as peculiar about keeping the room clean as you are. You might prefer to stay at a hotel as you get all the comforts and time to relax when someone else is there to do all your work. But, in terms of sanitization, a neatly made bed does not equal a germ-free room.

A recent study conducted by the University of Virginia found that people infected with a cold who spent a night in a hotel room left contagious germs on nearly 35 percent of objects they touched. Are you prepared for a dirty bedspread, a scummy toilet or even a bed bug infestation? It’s highly unlikely that a slightly soiled bathroom floor will put your life in danger, yet an unclean hotel room could affect your health. Here are a few tips that will help you to make sure that you get a clean hotel room on your next trip.

European Escapes

Unlike earlier, it’s really essential to plan and prepare your next trip to Europe. The old days of hopping on trains at will, arriving in town, searching for a spot in the hostel and visiting museums on a whim are past.  Europe today, may have places where that is possible, but the hot cities and popular towns are packed, hostels are booked in advance through the Web, trains need reservations, buses are limited and some of the best museums require advanced booking. Here are a few basics that you need to keep in mind while planning your next trip to Europe:

Learn to tell time
Learn to tell time and have a clear concept of what time is actually 20:15. People who don’t know this difference can actually miss a train, bus or their watching their favorite show.

Have a plan
Instead of planning your daily schedule in the morning, it’s better to plan your trip way in advance.

Taking the train? You might need a reservation

Even with a Eurailpass, every train is not available for jumping on and off at will. The superfast trains in Germany, France, Spain and Italy need reservations. Many night trains also need reservations.

Plan ahead if you’re taking the bus

In Europe, buses are luxurious with video entertainment systems and TVs and refreshments. And they are crowded. Make sure to make reservations at least a day in advance to get on the bus you want.

Warning: ferries fill up fast

Where the land ends and the water starts transport shifts to ferries. These must be booked at least a week ahead of time to insure space.

And so do the top museums

Most of the top museums including Michelangelo’s David, the Uffizi, Villa Borghese, the Alhambra that now require advance reservations.

Hostels: reservations required

Today the hostel reservation system has met the Internet. Now it is the traveler that plans ahead and makes an early reservation that gets the best hostel spaces. The popular cities like Venice, Nice, Barcelona, Stockholm and Copenhagen get booked up weeks in advance.

Read on for more details…