Don’t Waste Money on These Travel Expenses

by Maria Bashi · Apr 28, 2017

When traveling for business, you never want to find yourself spending just to spend. Instead, it’s imperative that you know your budget inside and out.

While there is nothing wrong with overspending from time to time, such as to entertain an important client, you don’t want to get into the habit of doing this on a regular basis.

Even if you have a clear idea of how much you should be spending, it’s easy to get out of control when you’re out of the office and have an expense account at your disposal.

Fortunately, you can bring yourself back to reality by focusing solely on the expenses that are most important to your success.

Here are five travel expenses that you can probably avoid:

Rental Car

There are times when you have no choice but to rent a car, such as if you need to make long trips after touching down in your destination city.

However, don’t assume that this is your only option. Depending on your reason for traveling and the location of your hotel, you may be able to avoid this altogether.

For example, most Gatwick Airport hotels have a shuttle service, with Expedia providing information on the finer details of each one.

When the shuttle doesn’t work for you, it’s possible to rely solely on public transportation. Yes, it will cost some money, but probably not nearly as much as renting a car.

Skip the Five Star Hotel

There is nothing better than the thought of resting your head in a four or five star hotel, such as the Langshott Manor Hotel. As tempted as you may be to go all out and book a room at one of these establishments, it’s probably not in the best interest of your budget.

Instead, you should seek hotel deals that give you everything you want in terms of amenities, all without breaking the bank.

Think about it this way: when traveling for business, you probably won’t spend much time in your hotel room anyway. For this reason, it doesn’t exactly make sense to book a room at a five star hotel. Like many business travelers, you’ll be on the go all day. The only time you make it back to your hotel is when it’s time to sleep.

Dining Out

It’s easy to get into the habit of dining out when you’re on the road. While this has some benefits, such as convenience, you don’t want to take this to extremes.

For example, limit yourself to one meal out each day. The rest of the time, opt for a quick bite at your hotel.

The more you eat out the more money you will spend. On top of this, you will find it difficult to stick to a healthy diet that keeps you energized.

This doesn’t mean you should avoid dining out with clients and prospects. It simply means that you should limit how many times you do so when you have other options.

Airport Shopping

Are you looking to kill time before boarding your plane? While some business travelers find a quiet spot and get some work done, others look at this as an opportunity to go shopping.

The biggest airports have a variety of stores, allowing you to purchase almost everything imaginable. Of course, being that you’re in an airport, the prices are typically higher than what you would pay anywhere else.

Along with stores, airports are packed full of restaurants. As noted above, don’t get into the habit of eating out. This can take a big bite out of your budget.

Gas Station Stops

Are you traveling to your destination by car? Are you renting a car once you reach your destination? If you answered yes to either question, you know you’ll spend some time at gas stations. After all, you have to refuel every now and again.

Here’s the problem that many travelers face: they stop for gas but end up spending too much money on other items, such as snacks.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from the inside of the gas station. Instead, pay for your fuel at the pump and then move on. This will ensure that you’re not tempted to spend money on items that you don’t particularly need.

Expensive transportation

We have all been there, being in a rush to get the airport and ending up paying for an overpriced Uber ride. When we don’t research all the options we have in advance, we end up making expensive mistakes. A good way to save a lot of money during your trip is by booking cheap airport parking near the airport, this way you can save a lot of money and guarantee a timely arrival to your destination.

Track Everything

How will you know if you are overspending on travel expenses? The answer is simple: you need to track everything.

Not only is this necessary for your expense report, but it’s something you need to do for your personal knowledge. With this data in hand, you’ll have a better idea of the mistakes you made in the past and how to avoid the same in the future.

Conclusion

When you hit the road for business, you may find yourself spending money every chance you get. This isn’t a good approach, as it can get you in trouble with your company while also taking your mind off the task at hand.

It’s important to understand what you should spend money on, as well as expenses that you should avoid at all costs. With the right approach, you’ll always find yourself making informed decisions.

Do you travel often for business? Do you find yourself wasting money every now and again? If so, share your tips for saving money while you’re on the road. You never know when you could help somebody else avoid the same trouble.