Business Travel Tips

Dreamscometrue

Hi All,

I'm starting a new short contract next week:j and I'm looking for some travel tips. It's quite far from home so I'll be staying in a hotel. I'm also a student so will take the train using my student railcard and pay for expenses with a cashback credit card. I've already booked several nights at a hotel through topcashback and can see that the 10% has already tracked. I've also booked through hotels.com which will give me a free night after 10 nights stay. I bought a three 1GB data card through topcashback to use with my laptop MIFI dongle and this has also tracked. I don't usually eat much for breakfast so may just buy myself some milk and a box of cereal to eat in the room rather than forking out £7 for the hotel breakfast. The other thing I will do is pack toiletries which stay packed and will just need topping up. I'm not sure what I'll do for dinner. Might sometimes eat at the hotel, other times look for cheap restaurants and perhaps sometimes buy non cook food from M & S or elsewhere or maybe some bread, fruit, cheese and pate. I haven't worked for a while so need to try to limit expenses. I will be claiming the expenses through my Limited Company and the accountant will give the yay or nay. Does anyone have any more tips? Thanks.

DCFC79

If you were to eat bread with pate, cheese the you would need a knife to cut the bread/cheese and to spread the pate so whether you take a knife and other bits for that. Plastic knives are cheap from the supermarkets. If it were me though I'd rather get stuff that wouldnt require any chopping, spreading etc

getmore4less

don't get hotels because you can get cash back and the odd free room.

Look for cheap hotels.

Might be a problem if you have no transport you may be limited.

Holiday inn express on the 2 for 1 rate can be very cheap aand include breakfast.

Breakfast can be a good meal to have it can cut out snacking.
look for a greasy spoon caffe.

Wetherspoons can be a good choice for meals, the breakfast is value and Tues is steak night and the large mixed grill will really fill you up.

dseventy

I have done this many a time over the years (now I pay people to do it).

I usually only booked a hotel for a few nights. When I was in the place I was working I would look for other cheaper accomodation. There are usually pubs or small B&Bs that offer cheaper accomodation (£30 a night) that can be cheaper if you negioate a long term lease.

D70

Dreamscometrue

Thanks, I will look out for the 2 for 1 offers. The hotel was a bit pricey this week as I've only just received confirmation of the start. I can get this cost down a bit when booking ahead but will look into B&Bs too. I've been using Trivago etc to compare costs and to be honest there is nothing super-cheap for the area as seen on the net. The hotel I'll be staying at is in a great location for work and travel with excellent reviews. It's described as budget but that doesn't mean cheap! Once I've had a couple of days in the office I'll feel comfortable with booking ahead which will get the cost down. Saturday night prices seem to be extortionate and I will need to stay some Saturday nights but don't yet know when!

InsideInsurance

First of all, are expenses included or not in the contract? On the basis that you are trying to scrimp then I am guessing they arent but best to make sure first.

In addition to looking at Hotels.com speak to the places themselves and see what deals they can do if it is a longish term arrangement. Make sure you also look into any frequent stayer programme they have which again may not be valid via Hotels.com

A former colleague is currently working up in nottingham and they gave him immediate top tier membership which gives him a full breakfast for free and a happy hour of free drinks with snacks (including hot snacks like pasties and chicken etc). That along with the discount it was much cheaper than booking via a third party and having to pay for all food.

Breakfast is not a meal to scrimp on. The old diet advice of have breakfast like a king, lunch as a prince and dinner as a pauper is the best way to go for a lot of reasons and given how cheap a large breakfast is compared to a dinner it also makes sense for your wallet.

getmore4less

Definately agree with the above look to get onto the loyalty program at an elevated level for an extended stay deal.

Once established in the job(wek or two) you can also look at people looking for short term lodgers.

SOme places that are business will tend to have cheap rates weekend but others that are good location for social can be more expensive at weekends.

If it is the sort of place that takes on young people that can work quite well

Also there are the £10-£20 deals in the low end chains but these can be too clinical,

Devere venues can be good if there is one handy

Don't forget you can always go home or just go somewhere else where places to stay are cheaper than on the work patch.

Dreamscometrue

I did speak to the hotel immediately after my interview to check on long-term deals but it seems they don't do anything upfront and I would need to check periodically. I already have the loyalty card but yes, it's not accepted with hotels.com. I'll be paying my own expenses which will go through my own Limited Company, I'm a contractor. I will be obliged to stay every other weekend once I get going as I will be on-call every other weekend and going home will not be an option as it is an 8 hour return journey - not good if a serious problem crops up! I will probably just stick to cereal for breakfast, I couldn't stomach a full buffet and I'm usually fanatical about healthy eating and exercise.

mountainofdebt

What about using https://www.airbnb.co.uk?

Dreamscometrue

mountainofdebt wrote: »

What about using www.airbnb.co.uk?

That could be a good option for the occasional Saturday when the hotel price shoots up. I ideally need to have a desk as I'm also studying for a degree with the OU.

Tiddlywinks

Depending on the area, renting a room in a house share or becoming a lodger may work out just as economical and would also give more creature comforts.