Travel Expense Management

Book flights, hotels and cars on Web sites that do it best There are plenty of travel Web sites that promise the best/lowest/cheapest, but some are better than others. Airline sites, for example, might not show all available inventory but prices can be lower than on aggregator sites. The best online services will search all sites.

I recommend:  For speedy air searches, use SideStep, Kayak, and Mobissimo (rated best for international carriers). Check Hotels.com and Hotwire.com for hotel deals. For a fast scan of rental car options from several companies, check out BreezeNet. For an online managed travel program, look into the American Express program for small businesses. Also check out Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity — each has an online business booking program.

Maximize frequent flyer/frequent guest/frequent driver benefits Loyalty has its rewards. Fly the same one or two airlines; become a familiar guest at the same handful of hotels, rent from the same car company and you'll stack up the rewards. Just be sure to choose those that work best for the way YOU travel.

I recommend:  Check out airport Web sites for your primary departure and destination cities — who flies in and out, and how often? Visit the most logical airline Web sites and join the frequent flyer programs. Enroll in the Cendant TripRewards program to earn when you stay at Days Inn, Super 8, Travelodge, and other moderate properties. Join the Marriott Rewards or PriorityClub Rewards programs to earn points and miles from their broad-ranging family of brands. Check out Budget Rental Car's Budget Business Program , The Hertz Business Account Program and the Avis Corporate Awards Program.

Ease the pain of flight delays and cancellations Airport delays are at an all-time high. To avoid boring and nonproductive downtime at the gate, log on: many airports now offer free wireless internet access. And there's another alternative: you don't have to be CEO of a Fortune 500 company to gain entrance into those exclusive airline clubs.

I recommend:  Check out Wi-Fi Free Spot for domestic and international airports with free wireless access. Look into the airline clubs operated by your favorite carriers, or join Priority Pass, a one-size-fits-many program that gets you in to over 500 airline clubs around the world.

Stay safe and healthy on the road Business travel is stressful, unhealthy and sometimes downright risky. Violence against travelers is making the news. Laptop theft is on the rise. Road warriors know how to protect themselves; you can do it too.

I recommend:  Look into several ways to secure your laptop against theft. If you travel to international hot spots, subscribe to destination updates that will alert you to potential danger. Check into an emergency medical evacuation plan and peruse travel health information.