The Business Travel Almanac

I wish this book had been around when I was a management consultant! This handy guide gives the straight dope on where to stay, where to eat, where to plug in the laptop and the cell phone charger, and where to kill a few hours stuck in the airport -- for all of the most important business destinations (and aircraft configurations!) across the country. Keep a copy in your briefcase and one on your assistant's desk!

I had no idea you there was so much to know about business travel. There's a ton of information crammed in to 400 pages. Really useful stuff.... And some random things too, which keep it interesting - I didn't know Miami Airport had a pool or that there was a golf course at Long Beach Airport. Also, there's some genuinely useful information on public transportation options at airports and the cities. I'll never take a cab into NYC from Newark again.

I am not sure when, but sometime between 1996 and 1998 e-mail surpassed the telephone in the value it gives my business. When I travel, the phone is a convenience, but e-mail access is a necessity. Therefore, when I investigate lodging options, one of the first things I check is whether there is Internet access. Web availability, including wireless options, are listed in this book, supplementing what could be considered the standard, yet essential travel information. The second chapter, the first with content, deals with mobile technology issues such as how to chose and use items such as cell phones, PDAs and laptop computers. If you are experienced in their use, most of this chapter will be of little value, as it is very basic. Other chapters deal with travel options, such as a list of the major air carriers, major hotel chains, rental car companies and chains that offer business services and supplies. The most interesting section was the description of what is now allowed and disallowed in airline carry on luggage. This is without a doubt the most critical must read list any traveler could have. The remainder of the book is a list of the fifteen cities considered most significant for the business traveler. Each entry is a general description of the city, detailed airport information, a map of the general area, hotel listings, convention center locations, restaurant descriptions, and local travel options. You most likely will need only a small amount of the available information, but in these situations too much is far better than not having enough. Concise, yet complete, this book is an important weapon in the arsenal of the road warrior, right behind your computer and toothbrush.

This book should have been written a long time ago. There's nothing like it. It's full of stuff that you won't find in a typical travel guide. For instance, you'll find phone numbers for car services in every major city, taxi prices to downtown and information on where you can find a restaurant in an airport without having to walk for miles. I also like the "Rules of The Road" section that tells you how fast you can drive and if there are any quirks about parking. Particularly useful is the information on where you can find a Kinko's, an Office Depot or a Radio Shack. There's also a good selection of hotels and restaurants. If you travel a lot, this will make your life easier.

A wealth of information, incredible research and detail. What ever you would need when traveling is there, web sites, phone #'s, maps, hotels, rental cars, airlines, business services centers with addresses, common sense tips, everything in one place. Wish I'd had it available when I was traveling. A great gift for anyone who does any traveling.