1. Get up and move on long trips.

It’s commonly known as “Economy Class Syndrome”, but it happens to travelers in business and first class as well. Its technical name is deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot that develops in the legs and can travel to the lungs or the brain. Doctors believe that a combination of conditions contribute to the syndrome, including sitting in cramped conditions for 10 or more hours, low cabin pressure, low humidity and dehydration. You are especially at risk if you smoke, have high blood pressure, or have a history of cardiovascular problems.

Get up and walk up and down the aisle at least every two hours, and be sure to remain hydrated. Remember, coffee, tea and alcoholic beverages actually contribute to dehydration. Drink water and fruit juices instead. The best way to give you an extra advantage is to book an aisle seat with extra leg room.

2. Keep your eye on airline fees.

Save your company a bit of extra money by being aware of hidden airline fees. Shop around for the best rates and package deals if you need to rent a car or are traveling to multiple destinations. While boarding an airplane, keep your bags below 50 pounds.

3. Take full advantage of what your hotel offers.

When you are away from home you do not have your usual connections, your hotel can help you. Perhaps you need a printer at 2 am, or reservations for a business dinner at an appropriate restaurants. At home, you would know exactly where to go, but when you are traveling, you need answers from a reliable source. A business class hotel can provide these answers and more.

Most business travelers know whether their hotel offers high spend internet and wifi connections, but hotels that deal with business travelers often take those services to a far higher level. The front desk clerk or concierge will often go above and beyond to be sure that you have everything you need for your stay, from a replacing a cell phone charger to arranging pickup and delivery of important papers.

4. Make the most of layovers.

Your best case scenario may not include any layovers, but that’s not always possible. If you find yourself in a foreign airport with time to kill, make the most of it. Many airports around the world feature special lounges and amenities for frequent and business class flyers. You can take advantage of a hot shower, a massage or a nap; plug in to recharge your laptop and cell phone batteries; put your feet up in a massage recliner. Working out may not be an option, but a brisk walk between terminals can serve the same purpose – and get your blood flowing and your brain working again.

Not traveling business or first class? Many airports offer “pay per visit” access to the business/first class lounge that will still allow you access to all the amenities offered to business and first class travelers.

5. Pack smart for safety and comfort.

Spend as much time thinking about your safety as you do about packing the right tie or blouse. Keep a “go bag” ready to go with your current prescriptions, over the counter medications that you use frequently, your health insurance information and an abbreviated medical history. Pack your own amenities kit for the plane trip, too. Bring travel socks, eye shades, an inflatable pillow and mints, as well as travel size moisturizer, toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash.

Five Additional Quick Business Travel Tips:

1. If you travel to the same city frequently or for extended periods, look into corporate housing instead of hotel stays. The savings could add up in just a few trips.

2. When using a pay phone at the airport, avoid isolated or poorly lighted locations, and face outward while you’re on the phone.

3. Check to see if your credit card or personal insurance covers you while driving a rented car and save the expense of rental insurance.

4. Ask at airport check-in if there are exit row or bulkhead seats available. They’re usually the last ones assigned and there’s a good chance you’ll get a better seat without the cost of requesting a specific seat.

5. Be sure to keep a photocopy of your passport and ID back at the hotel. It will make things immensely easier in case of loss or theft.

Watch the video related to business travel safety tips

SDBTA is committed to enhancing the travel profession by sponsoring educational and informational programs for its members, and by providing top-rated speakers to address travel-related issues, concerns and current “hot topic” items. SDBTA is an excellent venue for the sharing of travel-related information and professional expertise, and is an organization focused on perfecting the science of business travel management. National Business Travel Association SDBTA is an affiliation of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA), whose members represent major corporations and travel suppliers throughout the United States. Along with SDBTA, the national organization provides members with information on the latest technical and service advantages within the industry, as well as current legislative issues involving travel costs and safety matters affecting business travel.

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Craig Elliott -
About the Author:

Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics concerning travel and vacation planning including Discount Travel | Air Travel

The Alps
This impressive mountain range is ideal for hikers who wish to revel in the many cultural delights of Europe whilst enjoying some outstanding scenery. The larger peaks such as Mont Blanc (the highest mountain in Western Europe) are particularly popular with experienced hikers but can also be dangerous due to the risk of avalanches and sudden changes in weather conditions. A popular resort is Chamonix (France) which is an ideal base from which to hike across the popular mountains of Aiguille de Bionnassay, Aiguille du Midi and Dômes de Miage.

Yosemite National Park
The incredible scenery of Yosemite in California is perfect for all hikers, from beginners upwards. Experienced hikers can take a cable car up Half Dome or head up to the top of Yosemite Falls and enjoy phenomenal panoramic views from there.

Iceland
Hot springs, dramatic caves and cliffs, impressive waterfalls and the unique, vibrant Nordic culture has given Iceland a reputation as one of the world’s premier hiking destinations. During the months of June and July, hikers can enjoy almost constant daylight and witness stunning ‘near’ sunsets lasting for hours around the midnight twilight, when the sun stays just above the horizon before rising again.

The Rocky Mountains, USA
These mountain ranges are a haven for hikers. Camping holidays are hugely popular in this wilderness and there is no shortage of outstanding scenery, with clear blue lakes, snow capped peaks and beautiful forests attracting millions of tourists to the Rocky Mountains every year.

Gorges du Verdon, France
This is the second largest canyon in the world (after the better known Grand Canyon) and undoubtedly one of the world’s great hiking Destinations. Explore this deep gorge with a boat ride along the Verdon River by starting off at the stunning mountain village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie before finishing off in beautiful Castellane several days later.

New Zealand
The colours and natural light of New Zealand are so distinctive to these islands that New Zealand has sometimes been described as the world’s best country for hiking. The dramatic mountains, rivers, lakes, volcanoes and marvellous clean beaches are popular with hikers from around the globe, particularly British tourists.

Blue Mountains, Australia
Just a short drive from the city of Sydney, the Blue Mountains contain exceptional rock formations and caves, such as the Three Sisters and Jenolan Cave and beautiful waterfalls including the Wentworth Falls and Katoomba Falls.

South Africa
The view of Table Mountain is one of the finest in Africa and is relatively easy to reach. Deep in the rural wilderness of this country there are many hiking routes and organisations that provide appropriate safety equipment and resources. The scenery here is much greener and more temperate in its appearance than that of the rest of the continent.

Norway
Dramatic fjords, a rugged coastline and magnificent mountain walks make Norway a premier destination for hikers during the spring and summer in particular. The very long days between May and July allow even more time to enjoy the wonderful scenery here.

The Amazon rainforest
This is a unique destination for hiking, with its superb range of wildlife and stunning tropical plants. A paradise for nature lovers and also ideal for those who don’t mind the high humidity and consistently high temperatures.

Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, purchasing travel insurance can help save you money. It is the same principle that applies when you buy something of value like a car or a classic piece of jewelery. Should anything happen, you do not want to lose your investment in one day. Most likely, you would want that car or ring replaced at full purchase value. If you have purchased air tickets, you would want to protect that investment as well. Who wants to lose money especially in these dire economic times?

Ways that Travel Insurance Can Help You Save Money

There are at least three situations where purchasing travel insurance can help you save money:

• Cancellation of flights – If you or the airline decides to cancel the flights you are booked in, your airfare will be partially covered by travel insurance. Say if you spent $4,500.00 worth of air tickets for you and your family, and suddenly the airline closes down for business or cancels a flight for any reason, you do not lose all of the $4,500.00 because travel insurance will reimburse that amount. Of course the airline will probably refund you the money if it is their fault, but having travel insurance will compensate you for the inconvenience and trouble. Also, if you cancel the flight yourself, travel insurance will get you back your money.
• Loss of luggage – When you purchase travel insurance, make sure it covers lost luggage as well. Imagine landing in some foreign country with none of your luggage! While most airlines are efficient about recovering lost luggage and delivering them to your door, don’t rely on that efficiency. There have been instances where luggage was never recovered.
• Medical problems – You may be in perfect health when you leave for vacation but you increase the likelihood of getting exposed to viruses or bacteria either in the plane or in your country of destination. There’s also the chance that you could accidentally drink the local drinking water or eat contaminated food. Medical visits in some foreign countries can cost an arm and a leg so you wouldn’t want to spend all your vacation money on doctor’s visits! If you have travel insurance that covers expenses for brief hospitalizations, medicine and emergency situations, think about how much all these could add up if you didn’t have travel insurance.
Tips for Purchasing Travel Insurance
• Ask your insurance provider – If you have an insurance company that insures your car, house and other property, they may also offer travel insurance or they may work with a partner or affiliate who does. Because you are an established customer, they may offer you travel insurance at lower rates. It doesn’t hurt to ask. In fact, in some instances, you may be better off going with your existing insurer than purchase separate insurance from the travel agent who books your flight.
• Go for the whole nine yards – What this means is if you are traveling with the family, you might be better off buying family travel insurance instead of separate insurance policies. It also means that because traveling with children entails more risk than traveling alone, you may want to consider travel insurance that offers comprehensive coverage; that is, plane fares, luggage, and health and medical visits.
• Multi-trip travel insurance – If you make more than one trip every year, you might be better off purchasing an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy. This would save you the hassle of purchasing travel insurance several times during the year. Some travel insurance companies will usually sell you a 12-month package that is renewable yearly and this is a huge convenience if you travel a lot during any given 12-month period. The single biggest advantage of buying an annual policy is that you don’t need to worry about arranging for emergency medical coverage.
• Compare packages and prices – As for most major ticket items, it pays to shop around for insurance. If you know you will be travelling six months from now, don’t wait until the month before your travel date to do some bargain hunting. Start now so that you are not rushed about reading the fine print and you can make a more informed decision about the kind of travel insurance that is ideal for your situation.
Remember to do the cost analysis if you are ever tempted to skip travel insurance. Even if your ticket is discounted, say you paid $600.00 to go to the Caribbean. Travel insurance will cost about $85.00 to $100.00. If you are forced to cancel your trip, you lose $600.00 (restricted and discounted tickets are usually non-refundable or non-transferrable) versus the $100.00 you paid if you had purchased travel insurance. If you want to save money, put travel insurance on the top of your list.

Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the choices fine resorts have to offer. You can be by yourself and lie back in a lounge chair, breathe in the sea air, soak up the sun, read good books, or watch the ever-changing view. Cruise ships are required to follow strict environmental regulations that ensure that treated sewage and wastewater from showers, sinks and kitchen galleys are discharged properly at designated offshore perimeters. In fact, cruise line waste management is so highly regarded that cruise lines are often consulted by state governments on pollution abatement and sewage control. Cruise ships are like floating resorts with all the amenities fine resorts have to offer.

Passengers are invariably assigned to lifeboats or similar survival craft. The total capacity of all the survival craft on board will exceed the total number of persons on the vessel. Passengers become friends; they are never just cabin numbers. Unlike other larger ships, they are proud of the intimate world they offer, where modern-day conveniences sail in harmony with traditional values.

Statistically, cruise ships are safer than hotels and resorts when it comes to fires and violent crime. However, it is in your best interest not to abandon common sense just because you board a cruise ship for a wonderful vacation. Staterooms will receive upgraded soft goods, Shear Butter bathroom amenities from L’Occitane, flat screen TVs and DVD/CD players, and Bose Sound Docks for use with iPods, which can be borrowed at no charge from reception. Wireless connectivity in public areas is promised for all three ships.

Staterooms on many ships are even equipped with televisions. While most ships now have telephones in passenger cabins, you can also call someone on shore through the ship’s radio operator while at sea. Staterooms on all of today’s modern cruise ships are equipped with satellite televisions and in some cases in-cabin internet connections. And, you can make phone calls from most ports.

Everything you’ve heard about cruise ship dining is true. At each meal, you’ll find a varied selection of appetizers, salads, soups, main courses and desserts. Everything you’ve heard about cruise ship dining is true. At each meal, you’ll find a varied selection of entrees (appetizers, salads, soups, vegetables, and desserts, too), and each day the selection will be different.