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What You Need to Know about Business Travel Expenses

Of all the things which business trips include, travel expenses are always one of them. If they are always there, are there ways you can use these ever-present items as an asset for your business? You bet you can! You can not only write-off many of these expenses, you can plan your trip to include some things that are to your best advantage.

Maybe this picture looks all too familiar to many. Many hotel rooms with that “office away” look become more and more common. Now you can think of it as a large dollar sign for using in your taxes. Finding and using tax tips will make not only doing your taxes more enjoyable, it will make planning your business trips more like fitting useful pieces of a puzzle together. As you become familiar with what is deductible on your taxes, you can take advantage of that knowledge in your trip planning. Find out what kind of workplace expenses are deductible and take advantage of them, especially if those include your workplace away from home. You can even plan to do some things as part of your trip to take advantage of the tips you learn.

Planning trips for summer is exciting, but taking advantage of other traveler’s wisdom may make them even more so. Whether you are traveling during the summer or overseas for your business, be sure to do a little research into tax tips that might be available or even just tips to make your trip more enjoyable.

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A Taste of History and Helping of Luxury: The St. Regis Grand Hotel in Rome

Acqua at Peck Slip - Main Room

Image by ZagatBuzz via Flickr

Luxury hotels in Italy are by far the jewels of the world. When you find one, you feel lucky. Just make sure you have the finances to spend a vacation in one of them–especially given it’s located in a city filled with so much history as Rome, Italy. Such is the case for probably the most important landmark in Rome, located near St. Peter’s Basilica of Vatican City.

It’s called the St. Regis Grand, and it’s probably the best luxury hotel Italy has ever seen. This place can make one of the supermodel markets of the world, Milan, blush with envy. Back in 2005, the hotel was placed on the Gold List for Conde Nast Traveler and had undergone a recent restoration. Believe it or not, every single guest room, at measurements of 380 square feet, and every suite, at 985 square feet, comes with a unique personality, something you don’t see every day with hotels, not to mention an ambitious design style meshing looks of the Empire, Regency, and Louis XV.

You want prime-style first-class eating? The St. Regis Grand’s signature restaurant, the Vivendo, gives you exactly that. With Italian cuisine at its finest, you have the heart of Italy right there. Forget your Olive Gardens and Macaroni Grills–if you want real Italian food, try the Vivendo. One other tremendous feature of the hotel is its celebrity catering. If the paparazzi are chasing you, request the Diplomatic Entrance with private driveway, foyer, check-in, and elevator. The photographers will be taking pictures of the wall, thanks to the help of the St. Regis Grand.

So let’s say you come across the desire to visit Rome, Italy. Maybe you want to see the Pope, the Coliseum, or the Pantheon. Or maybe you’re with your wife on a honeymoon, enjoying the splendor of Rome, Italy. Be sure to check out the St. Regis Grand–where Rome was born.

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Planning Your Business Trip to Houston

Aerial view of the Barbour's Cut area on the H...
Image via Wikipedia

While many people like to believe that a business trip is like a vacation, it isn’t. Many business travelers are stuck staying in the same old, impersonal hotel room day after day, and there is hardly any time to see the sights of the Houston area when you are done. However, if you plan before your business trip to the Houston area, you will be able to do away with the impersonal hotel room and find time to enjoy your trip to Houston. Here is a look at what you can do to make your next business trip to Houston fun.

Eliminate the hotel stay. Hotels can feel stuffy, impersonal, and cramped. If you are looking to stay for a lengthy period of time in the Houston area, it might be a good idea to consider looking for one of the Houston apartments to rent. These apartments offer personalized living areas as well as extra room. The best part is that most rental apartments are cheaper than hotel rooms.

The second thing you need to do to make your business trip fun is to plan out your activities for the time you will be in the Houston area. While it might be hard to fit in trips during the day while you are working, there are numerous activities that can be enjoyed in the evenings and on weekends. One of the most popular activities for business travelers is seeing the professional sports teams play in Houston. Houston has a an NBA team and a MLB team that play right in the heart of Houston. Houston also has a great theatre district that is ideal for business travelers who are looking for something to do after work. There are also wonderful museums, restaurants, and parks all around the Houston area that you can enjoy.

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Tips for Business Travelers

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Are you a “road warrior” who logs lots of miles on business trips? If so, look to these helpful tips that can help you pack smarter and help eliminate travel-related hassles.

  • Unless you must meet with a client immediately upon arrival in your destination city, wear comfortable clothing for your flight and change into a suit or business attire later.
  • As a frequent business traveler, quality luggage is a must. Invest in a good set of hard-sided luggage, which resists tears and stains better than soft-sided luggage. Luggage should be waterproof and have wheels for easy maneuvering.
  • If you can just take one carry-on bag, do so. This saves you from having to wait at the luggage carousel when you get off the plane.
  • Have an envelope handy to keep all your receipts in as you go about your business trip. If you can, log expenses onto an expense report during your trip so that it will be all ready to submit when you get back to work.
  • If you are traveling overseas, familiarize yourself with customs of the country you are visiting, especially with respect to business etiquette and tipping.
  • If you’re traveling with a laptop, find out what type of Internet connection is available at your hotel (wi-fi or high-speed) and plan accordingly. If it’s a high-speed connection, consider packing your own ethernet cable, just in case the hotel does not provide one.
  • Another tech tip for business travelers is to bring a USB flash drive along and backup any presentations or vital information on the flash drive. This way, if you have computer trouble during your trip, you can simply bring the flash drive to your client’s office and show them the information on one of their computers.
  • Be sure to sign up for all the frequent flyer programs and hotel clubs. This can result in significant savings on airfare and accommodations, up to and including free flights and free nights at participating hotels.
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