Business Travel can get boring and lonely at times but let’s face it, if you can benefit from your work somehow, it will put a little smile on your face.  The next time you travel via work, there are a few golden rules that you follow to ensure that you have a better trip that’s a little less stress-free and more convenient for your schedule.

Book through your credit card – If your business allows you to book with your own personal credit card, do it by all means!  You can rack up so many points for free tickets and rewards, it’s not even funny.  Be sure to check out an airline miles credit card based site to look for the right credit card that you can benefit from.  Once you get enough miles for a few plane tickets (which shouldn’t take long), you can take your family on vacation for next to nothing.

Try and schedule yourself - If at all possible, try and make your own schedule.  If your business just gives you airline tickets and you have no ways around it, that’s fine but if you can book at your own schedule, then do it!  There are plenty of websites out there that will help you pick and choose your own flight that will be the best for your schedule.  Ask your boss if it’s possible to do this.

Treat all time like business – When you’re not working and you’re at the hotel, try and network with other people that are in the same line of work as you.  Who knows?  If you network with the right person, you can both share your own ideas and potentially start something.  It’s always best to treat a business trip as a 100% business trip.  Instead of watching TV or hanging out in your room, go out there and explore the potential of meeting people with the same interests.

Pack your own food – Airport food is generally expensive.  If you can either eat before you go or eat after you land, you’ll save a few bucks.  I’m not sure if your business will reimburse you for food but if they don’t, pack your own food but make sure you know what you can and can’t bring on a plane.  Packing a lunch alone can save you a few dollars on your trip.  Every dollar counts!

These are just a few rules you should follow if you travel via business a lot.  I highly recommend you follow the first step, you’ll be thanking me later.  Credit cards are a great way to maximize your spending.   Just think of it, if you could get an airline mile for every dollar spent, think of how many miles you could potentially have?