Categories
Travel

Top Tips For Saving Money On Your London Business Trip

Whether you’re traveling to London for the first time on business, or you’re doing it again to meet with your business partners in your office across the Atlantic, you know one thing for sure: it’s an expensive city to visit. The pound is stronger than the dollar, and prices are high in London, way more than the rest of the UK. Whatever your business name, you like to think that when it comes to saving money, you win at that game. So even if you’re going somewhere like London, you want to come up with creative ways to save money on what most businesses would splurge to get.

And the fact is, even though London’s one of the most expensive cities in the world, there are some great strategies for saving money. It’s all about getting creative and using your savvy business skills you already have. Here’s how.

1) Get a great deal on flights 

When it comes to saving money on flights, there are several ways to save money. The first is signing up for a flights discounts website, such as Travel Zoo or Scott’s Cheap Flights. If your trip is a few months away, chances are there will eventually be a cheap fare to London. It’s a city that had another record-breaking year of tourists visits in 2017, with 30.1 million of them visiting from January to September. And that means that people are always dying to go, and you’re bound to find a great price.

Additionally, you should take a look at discount airlines such as Wow Airlines and Norwegian Air. They offer sales often across the Atlantic. Last but not least, use apps such as Hopper and Skyscanner to track flights; you’ll get a notification on your phone anytime the price goes down.

2) Score some travel points with a card 

As a business leader, you’ve already got a variety of costs to cover. From hiring lawyers like Aaron Kelly for your legal needs to paying a web designer for your new website, you’re investing in what matters. So why not take advantage of this fact and pay for your costs with a card that gives you something back? If you plan on going on many business trips, think about investing in a card that gets you miles or hotel points.

According to NerdWallet, the best travel credit cards of 2018 include: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card, Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card, The Platinum Card from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, and United Explorer Card. Considering that the average person in the US has 3.1 credit cards, you can choose a few that work best for your business.

3) Save on accommodations 

One of the biggest costs in London is paying for hotels. In July 2017, the average cost of a double London hotel room was 193 euros–which ends up being over $227 a night. Multiply that by the whole time you’re staying in the city, and it can add up. One idea is to call the hotelier yourself and see if you can get a good deal. According to The Balance, it’s smart to use the same hotel and save money that way: “One of the more effective strategies for saving money is to hold the bulk of your events throughout the year at the same property. Hotel sales managers are looking to achieve certain revenue numbers that they are likely to show more flexibility to a client who they know will return throughout the year vs. a one-time client.”

Additionally, think about staying somewhere that isn’t a hotel. For example, Airbnb can be more comfortable, and if they provide you with a kitchen, you can save on food costs.

4) Live like a local 

Finally, when it comes to other costs such as going out with clients to a bar or taking them out for dinner, take advantage of deals around like London. Check out Time Out and The Londonist to find out where the best deals are. In a city where the cost of a pint is double the global average, finding the right places using these resources can make a huge difference in your travel costs.

These are some of the best ways to save money on your business trip in London. What other strategies do you use to save money while traveling for work? Let us know how you make the most of business trips in the comments.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *