People who take business trips frequently already know there are certain aspects of travel that should be planned thoroughly to avoid common mistakes. Business travelers typically have a schedule to maintain. If you don’t make your travel plans properly, you can run into long lines, lack of airline seats, heavy traffic, and even unavailable hotel rooms. The following are a few handy tips to help avoid these pitfalls.

First, plan your business travel as soon as you know the trip is a commitment. This will help to ensure you have a place to stay and airline tickets that aren’t excessively expensive. You should seek to save money even if you are being reimbursed by your company. So compare the available airlines and hotels to find the best overall deal that meets your business travel needs.

When permissible, fly to your destination the day before your first meeting. That way you don’t run the risk of missing the meeting if your flight is delayed, and you can also arrive fresh and well-rested for the meeting instead of fatigued and wearing wrinkled clothing. While packing, bring a suit and all your necessities in a carry on bag in the event that your suitcase is sent somewhere else, or simply lost in transit. Even if not your fault, you ought not show up to a meeting in jeans and sneakers.

When embarking on a business trip, leave your valuables at home to avoid potential robbery or lost items. Speaking of which, carry a credit card instead of cash so that you have receipts for all your spending and avoid the risks associated with carrying cash.

Concerning food, find a hotel room that has a mini-fridge and then purchase a few snacks and drinks at a local grocery store. This may save some unnecessary restaurant time (unless that is your preference) and is certainly less expensive. Hotel food can be steep as well; if you only have a certain allowance to spend each day, you may easily exceed your business budget by eating out three meals a day. On a similar note, try to book a hotel with complimentary breakfast so you can save money on at least one meal.

Choosing a hotel with free Internet service from your room is a valuable option to remain connected to the outside world without needing to make phone calls or travel to a different location for online access. If you don’t have a laptop, then at least locate a hotel with a complimentary computer service in the lobby.