Ten Tips from Savvy Business Travelers

It only takes a few extra minutes and a little forethought to make your business trip more productive and comfortable. But unless you travel a lot, you probably haven't discovered some of the ways to improve your trips. These 10 tips will turn you into a seasoned business traveler:

• Consider alternative airports. Fly into an airport that's just outside of your destination city. Typically, you'll experience fewer delays and overbooked flights if you avoid a city's main hub.
• Charge your equipment. In airport waiting areas, check the wall space directly under the windows overlooking the tarmac and near support beams: it's often equipped with electrical outlets. You can recharge your laptop and cell phone batteries while you're waiting for your flight.
• Become a frequent flyer. Concentrate your air mileage with one carrier to earn elite status and enjoy the perks that come with it: early boarding, seat upgrades, and prime positions on standby lists.
• Know where you're going. Before your trip, go to Yahoo! Local Maps or CitySearch for maps and driving instructions. Tuck them in your briefcase for a fast getaway.
• Choose an aisle or window seat. On an airplane, don't sit in the seat in middle of the row if you want to use your laptop — you won't have enough elbow room.
• Bring a cell phone headset. Driving in an unfamiliar city can be complicated. A cell phone headset will keep your hands free while you check in with the office.
• Test your dialup connection. Dial into your corporate network before you leave to make sure you'll be able to remotely access e-mail and network files.
• Stay at hotels that cater to business travelers. Hotels that have fax service and rooms with Internet access make it easier to work when you're on the road.
• Make copies of your passport. For international travel, always bring two copies of your passport and three extra passport photos. This saves you from turning over your passport to customs officials for photocopying and simplifies visa application.
• Carry an international driver's license. Police officers who don't speak English are far more likely to recognize this document than a state driver's license.