Posted by: Charles DuBow on June 19
If you rent frequently, stick with one brand to take advantage of preferred customer or business traveler programs. If you aren’t pressed for time, save some dough by renting in town rather than at the airport.
Enteprise.com The No. 1 car rental company in J.D. Power’s rental car survey for the fourth consecutive year, scoring highly for convenience and clear contracts.
Sixt.com A great site for inexpensive European rentals.
Carrentals.com Aggregates 10 companies in the U.S. and Europe for lowest available prices. But beware of additional charges from the rental companies.
Posted by: Charles DuBow on June 19
When your plane is delayed, flying starts to feel like air roulette. What you need is a hug. Airports aren’t offering those yet, but they are making it easier for you to pamper yourself. Here’s how.*
IF YOU HAVE
30 minutes
Eat
Wolfgang Puck Express Thin-crust pizzas, rosemary rotisserie chicken, and more. 13 airports.
moka lounge has cheese, wine, and chocolate tastings with video podcast commentary. Grand Hyatt DFW, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
French Meadow Bakery & Café Enjoy organic food from a rare on-site bakery airport. Treat yourself to butternut squash ravioli or an organic Bloody Mary. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Sleep
MetroNaps Ergonomically designed “sleep pods” at Miami (Jetsetter Spa), Singapore (Plaza Premium Lounge), and Heathrow, London (Urban Retreat).
Plaza Premium Lounge Lounges with napping areas, food, and showers. Five in Asia, plus Vancouver.
Indulge
XpresSpa Ten-minute treatments at eight airports:massage, nails, waxing, and facials.
Massage Bar No privacy, but instant relief. Get a 15- or 30-minute massage.
:10 Minute Manicure Manicures in 10 minutes; teeth-whitening in 15. Six airports.
Showers Nicely sized private shower and vanity combinations at Narita International Airport, Tokyo.
Urban Retreat The Harrods spa offers facials and men’s cuts in 15 minutes. A valet will make your slept-in clothes look and smell great. Heathrow, London.
IF YOU HAVE
1 hour
Eat/Drink
Vino Volo This wine bar offers a flavor comparison “vino chart” for beginners but also has a decent selection for wine lovers. Five airports.
The Wine Tower Bar A high-end wine bar. Radisson SAS Hotel, Stansted Airport, London.
Post Bar This beautiful 24/7 bar features an underlit honey onyx bar, runway views, and signature cocktails. Changi Airport, Singapore.
Work Out
The Athletics Club Fitness machines, pool, sauna, steam room, and shower. Hilton Chicago O’Hare.
24 Hour Fitness This airport (not hotel) facility has showers, locker rooms, dry sauna, cardio machines, and more. Las Vegas McCarren International Airport.
G-Force Health Club Pool, Jacuzzi, and gym available on an hourly basis. Dubai International Hotel, Dubai International Airport.
Health Club at Regal Airport Indoor and outdoor pools, Jacuzzi, and a steam room. Hong Kong International Airport.
Kempinski Hotel Airport Fitness room, pool, sauna, and whirlpool. Munich Kempinski.
Sleep
Dubai International Hotel Book a truly luxe room at the airport hotel. dubaiairport.com.
Yotel Tiny, efficient “cabins” with flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and 24-hour in-cabin service. Heathrow and Gatwick, London.
IF YOU HAVE
2 hours
Eat/Drink
Gordon Ramsay Plane Food Enjoy a meal inspired by the renowned Boxwood Café. Brioche French toast with treacle-cured bacon and fried oysters for breakfast; braised pork cheeks with honey and cloves for later. Heathrow, London.
Bonfire Restaurant Todd English’s South American-inspired steakhouse. From lobster tacos to empanadas and Kobe burgers. Logan International Airport, Boston.
Mister G’s Steakhouse This upscale replica of a 1938 gentlemen’s social club features seafood, steaks, and more. Hyatt Regency, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
IF YOU HAVE
6 hours +
Sleep
Ambassador Transit HotelSix hours at Changi Airport, Singapore.
Westin Four-hour blocks. Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
*prices, locations, and hours at www.businessweek.com/go/sb/travel
Posted by: Charles DuBow on June 19
Need to be productive en route? Take the train. On most Amtrak routes, four people can spread out at a table, use their cell phones, and actually do some work.
Amtrak All routes have business-class cars and participate in an awards program, and most have cell phone-free cars. The Boston-to-Washington, D.C., Acela Express is geared specifically for the business traveler, with adjustable lighting and large trays, and ClubAcela lounges. www.amtrak.com.
RailEurope Formerly Europass, it offers single- and multiple-country passes. www.raileurope.com
Railteam This European high-speed network wants to snare the airlines’ business. It offers corporate rates, and if you miss a connection between network trains, you can hop on the next one. In Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria. www.railteam.eu
Japan Railways Group Runs the country’s Shinkansen, or bullet train. At least six per hour operate between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations. www.japanrail.com
MTR and Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation offers train services throughout Hong Kong, the North West New Territories, and to major cities across mainland China. Express trains to the airport run every 12 minutes throughout the day. www.kcrc.com
RZD/Russian Railways operates services to 16 countries in Europe and Asia and offer 20-50% discounts to passengers traveling in a group of 5 or more people. There are regular express trains running several times a day between Moscow and St. Petersburg, and Russian Railways has recently launched a luxury Trans-Siberian Express train that runs from Moscow to Vladivostok. www.eng.rzd.ru
Indian Railways combines local flare with modern day amenities. Some trains run century old scenic roots, but travelers can purchase tickets online and enjoy traveling in air-conditioned cars some of which even have cooking facilities. www.indianrailways.gov.in
TVG high-speed trains will whisk you off to your destination at record speeds of 350 miles per hour. The French trains travel from Paris to London, Zurich, Frankfort, and other destinations in eastern France, western Germany, Switzerland and Luxemburg. You can book tickets as early as 90 days prior to departure. www.tgv.com
Shinkansen or the Bullet Train runs through Japan at 180 miles per hour, making stops in all major cities. The trains also run with high frequency—6 trains per hour between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka Stations during daytime hours. www.japanrail.com
P&O Ferries operate ferry crossings to Spain, France, Belgium, and Holland. Fares depend on the destination and duration of travel, and you can check out the website for special offers. Day trips to France start around $50. www.poferries.com
Tallink Group runs ferries between Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Germany. A one-way ticket from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia will cost between $50 and $60. During the summer months there are five daily ferry crossings between the two destinations. www.tallinksilja.com/en
Chinese Railways connects nearly every city in China. There is no English language version of the official railway website but you can find schedules and book tickets through independent travel agents and websites. www.chinamor.cn.net
Posted by: Charles DuBow on June 19
With some budget hotels offering free in-room Wi-Fi, ergonomic work spaces, high-thread-count linens and rewards programs, you might want to consider trading down, at least for short trips. In any price range, Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz can be good places to start. Hotels.com finds rates on more than 70,000 properties worldwide; Priceline lets you request particular hotels. The reviews at TripAdvisor.com sometimes include ratings of business services. Lastly, hotels’ own Web sites often offer specials—good ones—not found elsewhere.
Economy (average price $75/night)
Microtel Inns & Suites are rated by J.D. Power & Associates (like BusinessWeek, a part of McGraw-Hill) as highest in its class for overall satisfaction thanks to cozy rooms, comfy beds, ease of booking, and speed of checking in and out.
The Days Inn chain has hotel locations in all major U.S. cities and some international business capitals. You can book a one-night stay in Chicago for $130 and in Beijing for $50. The hotels also offer package deals which include airport shuttle service, parking privileges, and accommodations for a fixed discount price.
The Hôtel Campanile chain is a popular choice if you’re traveling in Western Europe on a budget. A single right stay in Paris will cost around $150. If you take advantage of package discounts such as the three-night stay for the price of two you can pay as little at $80 per night.
The Tulip Inn chain is part of the Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts, which runs both luxury and budget hotels in most major European cities (with the surprising exception of London) as wells as a few locations in Africa and the Middle East. The cost of a one-night stay in a standard room is around $130.
Mid-Scale(average price $120/night)
The big player here is Hilton Garden Inn, with Hyatt Place and Best Western making a concerted effort. Hilton Garden took top honors in the J.D. Power poll, with 24-hour business centers, restaurants, and lounges. Hyatt Place offers 42-inch flat-panel tvs, separate work and living spaces, and free Wi-Fi.
The French hotel chain Novotel wants to cater to business travelers. Staff will help facilitate your business meeting by arranging everything from furniture to food according to your preference. You can get discounts if you book 21 days in advance or take advantage of a “city breaks” offer, over 40% off a two-night stay in select cities.
The Italian boutique hotel chain Jolly Hotels has locations in all major Italian cities as well as throughout Europe and in New York. Room rates start around $220 per night. The hotel’s business services include video conferencing, a copy center, as well as computer and cellular phone rentals. The conference rooms are merrily named after Italian Renaissance masters including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
Crowne Plaza Hotels attracts business travelers by offering the services of an in-house meeting director to help plan business meetings, as well as a company loyalty rewards program. One feature of the program is a “Travel Arranger,” which helps travel managers book multiple reservations while keeping track of each traveler’s preferences for accommodations.
Upscale/Luxury (starting at $150/night)
Embassy Suites is an upscale hotel that cares about business travelers. Rooms start at around $150 a night; it’s worth trying to get a corporate rate. Luxehotels.com, a Web site for independently owned luxury hotels, offers business traveler packages that include upgrades, free Internet access, and continental breakfast. The leading hotels of The world, also an association of member hotels, guarantees rates in U.S. dollars. It has its own loyalty program at lhw.com.
The Four Seasons has famed luxury accommodations with standard rates around $395 per night. The hotel’s business services include meeting rooms with wireless Internet and up-to-date audiovisual presentation equipment.
Sofitel is the luxury chain owned by Accor (also the owner of Novotel). A one-night stay at the Hotel Sofitel Chicago, which recently received an eco-friendly award by the Audubon International, will cost around $300.
Shangri-La is a chain of luxury hotels with locations in Asia, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. A one-night stay in Beijing will cost you around $200. Executive suites at the hotel include not only sleeping accommodations but also space to hold meetings.
Peninusla Hotels has three domestic locations (New York, Chicago, and Beverly Hills) and five locations in Asia (Hong Kong, Tokyo, Beijing, Bangkok, and Manila). Guestrooms are equipped for utility with high-speed Internet, wireless, two-line telephones, and for luxury with marble bathrooms and oversized executive desks. The business facilities include private and semi-private offices and secretarial services.
Posted by: Charles DuBow on June 19
The big travel sites are hustling for business travelers, but there are other good options.
AccessFares.com sells discount first-class and business-class tickets for international destinations on most major airlines.
Airlinequality.com offers extensive airline reviews and ratings.
Low-cost-airline-guide.com searches fares on budget airlines in Britain and Europe.
Kayak.com compares and displays prices from across the Web, often finding deals other travel sites don’t have. Fare alerts for flexible travel dates.
Vayama.com lets you book international travel on flights originating in the U.S. Includes fares from discounters ranging from posh L’Avion to no-frills Ryanair. Book four days in advance.
Wegolo.com finds deals on about 75 budget carriers to 700 destinations, combining different airlines’ outbound and inbound flights to get the lowest price. Flights from 12 states.
Yapta.com lets you “tag” prospective trips on domestic carriers and sends alerts when fares drop. The site tracks prices even after you’ve bought your ticket, so you can claim any refunds or credits.
orbitzforbusiness.com and expediacorporate.com provide managed travel services. For about $7 per transaction, you get access to corporate rates, online tools to keep spending in line with travel guidelines, and a real live person to guide you through it.
Seat61.com is a how-to guide to train and boat travel all over the world. It sorts information by country and continent and includes helpful links to schedules and ticketing agencies.
TripAdvisor.com gives recommendations about flights, hotels, and travel packages. You can also read customer accommodations reviews, travel advice, and browse links to travel sites relevant to your destination.
SeatGuru.com helps optimize your comfort while flying with helpful tips. The site has detailed plane layouts that show which seats will give you the most legroom and where you can plug in your power cord.
WebFlyer.com helps you make the most of your frequent flier miles by aggregating information about the deals, promotions, and merchandise that you can get with your miles. It also offers a membership program that extends miles past their expiration dates.
Concierge.com features articles about destinations world-wide as well as blog posts and advice from experienced travel writers. Last fall, site surveyed business travelers and came up with a list of the best hotel chains, airlines, and airports.
Uptake.com (Kango.com) helps travelers search over one thousand websites for travel destinations, hotels, and entertainment. If you’re flying to an unfamiliar city on business, this site is a good place to find things to do in your free time.
Fodors.com posts hotel and restaurant reviews as well as travel tips specific to your destination. You can find advice for business travelers, including tips on how to stay connected during a flight, on the site’s Travel News section.
SideStep.com looks for the cheapest flights, hotels, and car rentals. The website also has a daily “Top Deals” and “Last Minutes Deals” section.
Businesstravellogue.com is an online business travel guide with advice about everything from fitness on the road to how to charter a private jet. Quick but comprehensive travel info about major business capitals is also listed on the site.
cFares.com is a membership travel site that searches offers from airlines, wholesalers, and travel agents for the cheapest flights. Membership costs $50 per year, but the price might be worth it for frequent fliers.
