As the economy fails to right itself at any great speed, small businesses and those who are self-employed are struggling to keep their operating costs down. Travel can be a huge expense if you need to move around regularly in your line of work; here are a few tips for cutting down on your costs:
Avoid the Inner City
Hotel prices and travel costs within large cities can be huge, especially if you take your own car and park (space is tight, so parking incurs big charges). Look for hotels outside of the city centre with good travel links. Some large chains offer good deals, but similarly small privately owned B&Bs can have great deals too. Use global travel management companies’ service, look for last minute deals on corporate travel websites to get cheap hotel rooms.
Eat More Economically
Food can be a huge expense when travelling, and there may be a certain amount of unavoidable business entertaining that you have to indulge in. However, there are ways to keep your food bills down. Look for hotels which offer packages where food is inclusive, and consider taking food with you if possible. Snacks such as cereal bars can be enough for a quick breakfast, and if your hotel has a kettle (more than likely) you could take soup sachets which would provide an easy supper. Admittedly it’s not the most glamorous existence, but it does allow you more time to get work done and more money to spend on entertaining clients.
Cash-In Your Loyalty
Points that you have collected from supermarket shopping or from previous travelling can be used to get a cheaper deal. Vouchers are also a good way to make savings, and there are some great websites and online deals that you can download and use during your travels. Booking online can also cut costs. If you are redeeming loyalty points, make sure you do it in good time before your trip as some companies need to send you your vouchers in the post before you can use them.
