3 posts from June 2009

 Since most companies nowadays cut down expenses starting with the business trips  , it only makes sense to figure how to save both on airfare and accommodation.

Even during recession, business travel  is a must. After all, we need to keep doing business and even find more ways to advertising products and expend the markets. When it comes to traveling for business, it’s best to find deals for the airfare, accommodation and car rental.

Business travelers should be aware of the frequent flyer programs  offered by various companies. There are several choices, including redeeming miles and using miles credit cards. The choice is yours and it really depends on the type of traveling the company is interested in.

And then, there are the promotional codes which can save a lot of money. For example the Travelocity coupon codes  are a good choice if you are interested in the specific package deals they offer. However, they are always running different seasonal promotions so you just need to keep your eyes open. In many cases, you’ll be able to save on airfare, accommodation and car rental, which is a plus for any business traveler. Especially if you decide to travel during the off season, you’ll be able to find a lot of great deals, although in some cases you can find good offers during the season as well.

The largest city in Colorado, Denver is an excellent destination for those who enjoy outdoor activities. As soon as the spring leaves room for summer, you can pack your hiking gear and head to Denver. Even late spring is pleasant with all the trees in full leaf by late April. Do expect some heat waves by late June and during the entire month of July.

When it comes to planning your budget, the bulk of it is definitely taken by the airfare and accommodation. Thanks to the airport (airport code DEN) being a base for Frontier Airlines and a hub for United Airlines, finding cheap flights to Denver  is not that hard. Just remember to book in advance if you want to fly during the high season and, if your dates are flexible, make sure to fly mid-week and not during the weekend. If you prefer to rent a car, it’s important to know that parking at DEN  makes your life really easy especially when you book in advance.

Choosing the perfect place to stay among the hotels in Denver  can break both your vacation and your budget. Thankfully, you can find cheap hotels even in downtown so you won’t need to use the public transportation or rent a car either.

As for the fun part, Denver is filled with museums and galleries and of course there’s the Denver Mint (which can be toured). Do some research and find when the museums offer free entrance so that you can save some money.

But most visitors come here for the outdoors. So pack your hiking gear and head out. You can visit the Butterfly Pavilion or check out Washington Park (you can also play sports here, such as soccer or tennis). If you happen to visit Denver during winter, there are many sky resorts where you can enhance your skills.

No matter when you visit Denver, you’ll end up right smack in a festival anyway: from the Indian Market in January to the Cherry Blossom Festival in June or the Great American Beer Festival in October. Each month there are at least 3-4 festivals happening here.

San Francisco is particularly known for its famous landmark – Golden Gate -, liberal community, beautiful views and great cultural diversity. Tucked between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific coast, San Francisco   offers everything a traveler is looking for. The climate makes it a lovely destination year round.

The city is served by three airports, but the most important one is San Francisco International (airport code: SFO). So finding affordable flights to SFO  is not that hard, especially if you choose to fly mid-week.

If you’ve ever been confused about airport parking then join the club, although parking at SFO  seems to be tackled easier than you might think. It’s a good idea to be more organized, and you’ll soon realize that by booking ahead you can just drive in and know exactly where to go. If you’re like me and you start worrying about what you’ll be facing when you arrive at the airport then do yourself a favor and book ahead.

Then, of course you will need a place to stay. When it comes to choosing the accommodation, you need to take into account your preferences. If you like to have privacy – bathroom, shower in the room – and maybe even TV and AC, then you should look for cheap San Francisco hotels  which offer such facilities. If you prefer to actually sleep at night, try not to look for hotels in the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood, which happens to be not only the most popular among tourists but also the nosiest.

On the other hand, if you only need a place to sleep and don’t care if you need to share the facilities, the San Francisco hostels  might be the perfect choices for you. Most also offer private rooms but it’s hardly likely to have a TV in the room. Do make sure to read the reviews as you don’t want to end up in a party hotel if your plans include getting some shut eye.

When it comes to checking out the city, walking is the perfect way to do it. It only costs you …energy (and a good pair of walking shoes). Just make sure to get a map as you really don’t want to end up on a terrain you cannot exactly tackle (the famous steep streets). There are superb walks in every neighborhood so that should keep you busy for couple of days. And to keep the budget low, make sure to check out the parks as well. Plus, you can buy some treats in the markets and then go for a picnic in one of the parks.