#it was mostly written in the airplane and then i cleaned it up earlier today

[leeds-side-streets]

Business Lifestyle: Business Travel

Through time, I have read a great deal of business travel posts. The majority of the information I tried at one time or another. What worked, I kept. What flopped, I did not try again.

So based on my hard-learned experience, I have compiled some terrific business travel advice in this section that I hope will make being on the road for work a bit less of a pain, and if not fun... at least a bit more enjoyable.

In actuality, I wish I had had these business travel articles / hints when I first started travelling for business a thousand years back. Because at first, it was kind of fun. Hotels with clean sheets on a bed everyday I did not have to make up. Meals delivered to my door I didn't need to cook.

But after some of these, it just didn't look as much fun anymore. Getting from here to there simply became too much of a hassle. That is why I hope that this will differ from lots of the other business travel articles since it provides you practical advice which will be real support to you. Some can save you money. Others will save you time. Still others will save you anxiety (these are my favorites!) .

1. Don't check your luggage at the airport.

Seriously. Just do not do it. What is going to happen if you appear at your destination, but your luggage do not? How are you going to create that all-important demonstration on your jeans and t-shirt? Pack lightly and use the sort of luggage that's wheels.

And while we are on the topic of bags, think about keeping one packaged and ready to go at a minute's notice. I read about this suggestion years ago in one of these business travel posts. I began keeping little bag with cosmetics, toiletries, and a change of clothes in my car so that if I must jump in the car and go somewhere, or head to the airport, I am prepared at a minute's notice.

If you will need an additional bag (or a new set of luggage), I want to recommend you attempt eBags.com. They have high quality bags at reasonable prices. Follow on the link below to check them out.

2. Stay healthy.

When you are traveling, it's easy to get run down, tired, and sick. So it is important that you continue to eat right and exercise to maintain your health quotient up and your stress level down.

Stay in hotels with a pool or gym. If that is not possible, consider going for a jog or a walk in the morning or at night (instead of leasing the in-room movie!)

Additionally, be mindful of what you are putting in your mouth. Business travel is no justification to indulge or get off your normal routine. Do not overeat and avoid foods that you wouldn't ordinarily eat. (Trust me, late-night room support desserts could be killer!) Consider carrying your own healthy, portable snacks for those times when the late night munchies hit you.

Another thing... wash your hands frequently. - it is no wonder so many folks end up getting sick when they travel. You may also consider carrying alcohol wipes or hand sanitizer in your briefcase or handbag.

And while you are at it, make sure you take a small bag with over-the-counter drugs with you so you do not have to run out to find some if you should fall sick while you are traveling. Include pain reliever/fever reducer, antacid, vitamins, as well as any other OTC medications you use frequently like sinus tabs, etc..

3. Bypass large airports and hubs.

I've traveled through some of the biggest airports in the world, and there's absolutely nothing glamorous or cool about it. Oh sure, they have a great deal of flight options, and trendy restaurants and shops - but if you have seen Chili's, you've seen them all. Big airports have a great deal of congestion... individuals and airplanes. Check-in and security lines are a nightmare.

Instead, reserve the smaller or regional airports whenever you can. For Example, fly into or from Newark rather than JFK. You may (or may not) need to drive a little farther, however you'll save so much time and brain damage.

4. Make the most of frequent flier and loyalty programs.

If possible, try to use the identical airline all of the time and register for their frequent flier program. (Like American's"Advantage" app or Delta's"SykMiles.") Each program has its own benefits, but a few include getting to board earlier, notification of specials, air miles that may be traded for a ticket or upgrade.

In addition to American's"Advantage" program, I also have a membership for their Admiral's Club. If you're unfamiliar with this, it is a place inside major airports where members can go between flights to use their facilities. A number of them are fairly posh. Many have restrooms, restaurants/bars, comfortable chairs, free snacks and beverages, internet and computers, soothing environment. These kinds of clubs are really geared to the business traveler. Believe me, the silent alone (compared to the chaos outside) is well worth the $400 annual membership fee for me. I almost do not mind layovers! If you must fly significant airports, then seriously consider checking into your carrier's inner team. Before you pay the membership fee, however, check with your credit card company. Some (mostly platinum cards) offer free entrance into these regions.

Members normally have their own area to check in and drop off, saving you plenty of time waiting in line.

5. Have iPhone, will travel.

I discovered this a couple of months back when my family and I were traveling in Los Angeles. Desperate for instructions, I grabbed my iPhone to test Mapquest on the internet, and found I actually had a map icon on my screen. Cool! Didn't know that was there! All I needed to do was type in my place and destination and it gave me step-by-step visual and written instructions! A cool small portable GPS/phone/web browser! And I thought it was only for calling and playing my videos! 

Since that time, I have learned that other kinds of phones have this feature also, so be sure and check your owners manual and operating instructions to be certain that you don't find yours by mistake, too. If it does not carry this attribute, consider purchasing a phone that does when it is time to replace your old one.

6. Try to fly direct.

This looks like a no-brainer, but in our attempts to save money, we often wind up with one, sometime a couple of layovers at a roundtrip. Direct flights may be more expensive, but think of what you will save in time and frustration! Let your travel agent know that you'd like direct flights over layovers whenever possible.

But if you are somebody who books their own flights, and you are interested in saving money, among the greatest booking websites.

7. Just do not go.

This is the largest money-saving tip from some of the business travel posts you have ever read! Once possible, opt for having a conference call or video conference rather than hopping a plane. While it might not be suitable for all business scenarios, use it if a face is not a necessity.

8. Provide your business to business-friendly resorts.

Make sure that the hotel you book caters to business travelers. Late check-in policies, free in-room internet, soundproof rooms, conference rooms, free newspaper, gym... these are all amenities that may make your travel far more comfortable.

Lifestyle Business Best Practices for Finding/Negotiating With a Manufacturer on Alibaba

In regards to manufacturers in Alibaba or India mart which you can work with for your muse, how can you find them and eventually negotiate with them? While these business-to-business online marketplaces can be trusted, you can not say the exact same for the suppliers which could be found there. There is no guarantee that not one of them is a fraud. That is why it's imperative you know the best practices in conducting business together to avoid getting scammed and prevent any other inconvenience that might arise.

1. Conduct your research

There are three major factors in finding a manufacturer in an online market: cost and quality of the goods and the trustworthiness of the seller. If you wish to concentrate on the purchase price of the item, you will need to discover the market price which suits your budget. On Alibaba, the recorded prices for Chinese buyers tend to be lower in contrast to non-Chinese. You might want to check out the products using Chinese language then interpret it afterwards into English.

2. Verify all of the important information about the manufacturer

So you agree with the cost and the quality of the item. There's just 1 problem left.

You are not too sure about the supplier. The next thing you will need to do today is to confirm the provider's identity and their manufacturing/trading capability. Indiamart and Alibaba will be able to help you assess the trustworthiness of the provider that you are dealing. However, you can also do your own research using other online or offline procedures to validate the provider, like asking for their bank's reference letter or assessing their financial credit reliability.

3. Search for Producers that are long-term associates

While the durability of a producer's membership in Alibaba isn't a guarantee of the trustworthiness, the fact that they passed an A&V procedure increases the odds of a positive and safe trading experience. If they've been a member of this website for several years, you can have a fantastic look of their trade history, letting you see if they're a reliable trading partner. Naturally, in addition, it helps if you look for customer feedback or any complaints led to the provider that you're managing. This may take plenty of time and effort on your part. But bear in mind that while there are lots of reliable and safe manufacturers in the market, there are also numerous fraud and hackers negotiators disguising as providers. It's crucial that you learn how to differentiate who is genuine and who is not.

4. Try out a sample first

If you're interested in purchasing a bulk order, which you likely will, you might choose to purchase a sample merchandise first. Bear in mind that you will need to look at the quality of the solution and ensure it is really what you're looking for to prevent any inconvenience. You could also check what the previous clients are saying about the goods to acquire extra reference and guarantee.