Everyone’s looking to book cheap travel, but when it comes to business trips, how is this possible? We’ll look at some cheap travel hacks for business travelers so you know what are good websites to buy an airline ticket, where to book flight and hotel cheap, and the best frequent flier hacks. Traveling for business doesn’t have to be a headache. Keep reading to find out top tips.
How to book flight and hotel cheap
If you’re wondering how to book flights and hotels cheaply, sometimes you can get more reasonable prices when flights and hotels are booked together. A bundled package can help keep costs down, but this isn’t always the best option when it comes to business travel because these packages are often geared towards leisure travelers.
Business travelers have different needs and requirements when it comes to flight + hotel, so it’s important to assess what those needs are so you can book cheap flight and hotel. Business travelers generally look to take the first flight out of the day or the last flight of the day on Sunday to be ready to go Monday morning for meetings. They also look for hotels that are close to their meetings, which doesn’t necessarily mean in the center of the city. Sometimes it will be more convenient to stay in a quiet area outside the city center where you can easily park and get a good night’s rest rather than in the middle of all the buzzing city center.
Read more about 6 hotel features that business travelers really care about.
Use a business travel management software
Because business travel requirements are often different from leisure travelers, it’s important to use the right booking tool to get the job done. A business travel management software gives you the ability to book flights and hotels cheaply because they have negotiated special travel deals that allow them to offer a range of discounts on flights and hotels, as well as car rentals and trains. Try using a business travel management software like GetGoing and you can save up to 25%.
What are the best frequent flier hacks?
Frequent fliers know more than anyone that booking at the right time is key to getting good deals – book too far ahead of time and the prices won’t be competitive, book too close to the departure date and you may be paying premium fares because the lower fare tickets will have sold out. There certainly is a happy medium between being overly cautious and being a procrastinator when it comes time to booking.
According to Travel & Leisure, for international routes it is advisable to book two months in advance, and for domestic travel, two to three weeks in advance. Early birds: we’ve got good news for you: according to Skyscanner, the best time of day to book flights is at 5 am, and if you’re feeling extra ambitious, 5 am on a Sunday is really the way to get the best deal. Of course with business travel, you don’t really have a choice about when to travel, but when you do have a choice, the best months with the lowest fares are January, February, August or September.
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Think twice about checking a bag
Not only can checking a bag rack up the price of an airline ticket, but it also can be a hassle to arrive early to the airport and wait on line to check your bag and then wait on the other end to pick your bag up from the carousel. Choosing not to check a bag can save time and money. You may also be able to save on transportation costs as well, since ride-sharing apps can implement surge-pricing when there are large groups of passengers exiting the airport at once.
What are good websites to buy an airline ticket?
As a business traveler you can use OTAs like Skyscanner, Kayak, and other well-known flight booking websites to book a flight, but sometimes it’s best to work with a company that specializes in business travel. This could be a specific business travel platform like GetGoing, or it could be working with a Travel Management Company. Depending on your travel volume and how many airline tickets you book per month, the best option for you may differ.
Read more about the difference between an Online vs. Offline Travel Agency.
Flight + hotel and more
We’ve looked at good websites to buy an airline ticket for your next business trip, frequent flier hacks, but beyond flight + hotel, there’s more. What about trains and car rental? Trains are a great option within Europe, they can be cheaper and can cut down on wait time at an airport.
Discover the 10 best business travel train routes.
To rent or not rent a car
Renting a car can also be a great way to travel cheaper because it is one single form of transportation. That is to say you don’t need to worry about getting a ride from the airport, purchasing a plane ticket, and booking a rental car. You can simply rent a car and drive to your meeting destination, and all you need is a hotel room and you’re set for your business trip.
When possible stay at the same hotel chain
When it’s possible, staying at the same hotel chain is a great way to travel cheaply, especially if you are a loyalty program member. You will get all sorts of benefits and accrue points for free stays, discounts and upgrades. Plus, when traveling often, staying at a chain can be comforting because you know what to expect, as hotel rooms and amenities will be similar no matter where you travel.
Integrate your efforts to book cheap travel
To book cheap travel for your next business trip, there are many different avenues, websites, travel management platforms and ways to go about it, but by following the tips outlined in this article, you’re bound to come out ahead. Think on a holistic level, every little bit of savings can make a difference.
Top cheap travel hack: save money with just one platform
Book your flights, hotels, rental cars and rail tickets in one place and manage your trips with our all-in-one platform. Get to know GetGoing and schedule a demo today!
