Biz tip: Low-cost and hassle-free travel

Anita Campbell, guest blogger for SBA and Smallbiztrends owner, offers these tips:

• Sign up for cloud email and documents so you can carry your emails, photos, graphics and documents with you.
• Use noise-cancelling earphones to reduce stress and work no matter how many cranky kids are seated nearby or loud flight announcements are made.
• Consider alternative methods of ground transportation like Uber when you don’t rent a car or if good taxi service is lacking.
• Eat a big lunch late in the afternoon, as lunch is considerably cheaper than dinner. Snack for dinner. Eating grocery store food instead of restaurant food can be cheaper and healthier for some meals.
• Make business the “primary” travel purpose and you may be able to deduct it. You can mix business with pleasure, but be sure you don’t deduct for the nonbusiness part of your trip.
• Use a translation app for your international travel. The TripLingo app provides a number of travel phrases and provides instant voice translations in up to 19 languages.
• Get a micro projector if you give sales presentations and need to show your screen to a group.
• Pack an additional backup battery charger. No matter how many phone chargers you think you need, it’s too easy and too inconvenient to run out.
• Pack efficiently to double your space inside a suitcase or briefcase: Roll clothes in plastic bags, place smaller items inside larger items, and explore the PackPoint app to plan for extended trips.
• Always email yourself your full itinerary (including confirmation numbers), along with a copy of your identification and your passport in advance. If your wallet or case gets lost or stolen, you have access via email to recover them.
• Not all seats are the same on every plane or the same flight. Open up SeatGuru.com, a free service, when making seat selections.
• Join the rewards programs for hotel chains that offer free breakfast, WiFi and free nights, as well as with airlines that offer free checked bags and flights.