10 ways to reduce your travel cost

10 Ways to Reduce Your Travel Costs
When times are tough, keep travel cost down while maintaining good customer relationships.
Together, We Will Take Your Business Where You Want to Go
At Tweed Cruise & Travel, we are dedicated to our customers, understanding your needs and helping you reach your business goals. Our customers tell us we distinguish ourselves from the competition by offering thoughtful, collaborative planning and development to bring you the right tools for your success. We regard each customer as a true partner, working together to deliver advances in travel technology that challenge the status quo.

We’re pleased to offer our valued corporate customers a dynamic, interactive resource – When the pressure is on to reduce costs, companies often reduce their travel budgets first.
When times are tough, however, maintaining good customer relationships becomes even more important, especially for the long term. So keep travelling, but keep it simple.

Here are our top ten ways you can save money on your travel budget while keeping your customers happy:


1. Book online.
www.tweedcruiseandtravel.com.au can offer your company an easy to use website to book your simple requirements. Accommodation, Car hire and Travel Insurance. If your travel plans are not too complicated, book the trip yourself using your company’s online through our website. As we can access your travel details, we can assist if your travel plans change or need amending. There’s also an environmental payback for booking online. As almost everything is electronic including tickets, itineraries and car vouchers, there’s a lot less wasted paper. Print only the items that you require.

2. Currency exchange tips. Currency commission rates are fairly consistent from vendor to vendor, with a cash passport – prepaid card, the company nominates the amount to be loaded on the card to be used by the travelling employee. It is safe and convenient. You can view and print out a transaction list to keep accountability easy and straightforward. The card can be purchased in all the major currencies and used as a merchant facility or Eftpos, with cash withdrawal via any ATM.

3. Review your class of travel policy. Be aware of the differences in the various fare class policies. The range of fare options generally increase the further back on the plane you go so, by opting for a more cost effective but slightly less convenient option, you will be able to maintain your schedule of client visits as well as travel more often than your previous class policy – keeping your client contacts healthy and within budget!

4. Be aware of baggage allowance. Carriers have different allowances for checked and carry-on luggage as well as for different classes so before you travel, we can advise you on allowance to prevent being charged for excess baggage.

5. Be sure the trip is necessary before booking. Booking costs and especially cancellation fees can be significant, so ask yourself ‘Do I really need to make this trip?’ before you book. Booking in advance can save costs too.

6. Stay in a nearby hotel. There are several benefits to staying in a hotel in close proximity to where you’re doing business.
• You can sleep in longer!
• You may be able to take advantage of the corporate rate of the company you are visiting.
• If you have a regular corporate account, you might be upgraded at no extra charge
• You have the option to invite the client to breakfast rather than an expensive dinner!
• You could walk to the office or if the hotel provides it, take advantage of the free local business park shuttle service.

7. Meals. Do you really need 3 courses? Unless you’re entertaining, do what you would do at home. Also, check the menu for service charges as some bills don’t itemize them. Leave a tip only if a service charge is not included. Before eating at a restaurant, review the room service menu as it is often cheaper to eat in your room. Discourage room service for other incidental items as these will incur an additional charge. Finally, whether it’s a meal on the plane or a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, take advantage of these ‘free’ meals. If you’ve been invited out as a business guest, why not go!

8. Hire a car. We check all the available rates for you before you book, hiring a car locally may be more cost effective than you think, especially if you’re staying for a long period of time and your hotel offers free parking. Remember to optimise the available car deals and save on taxi fares.


9. Hotel – We can arrange a corporate rate for your company and this will be available for all employees. You might be able to use the rate of the company you are visiting and we can also check the hotels cheapest rate before you book. Also, understand the tariff and rules of each. We tell you if they are inclusive of breakfast and taxes and look at multi-night offers in case they include more benefits.

10. T&E daily allowances. We provide your account manager with a detailed statement of account of the entire employee’s travel. One for the Corporate Travel Manager to consider! The ultimate way to manage costs is via a daily allowance that gives you precise control of what is spent. Anything over the allowance is the employee’s responsibility.