I'm just now unpacking only to repack for business trip two of five over the next month. Last week, I wrote a post about whether or not business travel is worth it if it's 'just a hobby'. The latter is a phrase I dislike immensely because sometimes hobbies can lead to a more fruitful path. Regardless, this week it's about how to make business travel a little more frugal which is hilarious since I'm packing to go to a resort. On an island. For an actual conference. I'm assuming that all pity for me was lost roughly three sentences ago.

Airlines are reporting less travel as companies research ways to save money but with employees actually high-fiving their corporation's decisions. It seems that gone are the days where little thought was given to how much was being spent by employees since they would be reimbursed anyway. Now there's caution from all sides: travelers, employers and the travel industry. Each trying to work together to continue a functioning economy that is based upon how people make their livings and for so many making their living requires travel to conferences and meetings. So it's giving up a little on all fronts to keep things as close to normal as possible.

At first it was a non-issue for me. My travel and the amount I spent doing such remained status quo as did the amount that I would be reimbursed. That is until I realized that with banks and lenders hurting, I was only hurting myself by not being cautious when it came to the amount I spent during trips. Why yes, I do get the money back but even in a strict voucher policy in a time when my personal business trips are still coming fast and furious along with an accompanying credit card bill, well I started to reel things in a bit. I started to look at how I could save more on the things that cost me most - flights, hotel and even *gulp* meals.

1. Comparative Shop for Flights: Where companies always spend the most is on airline tickets and often tickets are booked for a last minute meeting or conference. Here's a secret: If you don't book by 21 days prior to your trip, the price goes up exponentially. I am relentlessly teased by friends, family and coworkers for treating Southwest like it's a gift from some Deity above. It's just that it's the one airline where you get what you pay for. There's also no fee for things liked checked bag or curbside check in and last minute trips can cost upwards of $400 less than what any other airline would charge. The key here though is to do a little comparative shopping using a site like Kayak.com (which includes every airline EXCEPT for Southwest) and then looking at what Southwest will provide. At times the differences can be staggering. The best part is that if you do end up finding an airline that you love and use frequently, the points add up pretty quickly and you'll have yourself a FREE ticket for a vacation. It's win-win.

2. Orbitz is your friend: Quick story; a few weeks ago I had planned a trip to DC and my company found me a hotel that was $259 a night. In DC in the Dupont Circle area. I decided to check out Orbitz to see if there might be something a little cheaper since the procedure is to pay for a hotel out of pocket and then expense it. And there on Orbitz was a hotel DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET from the one I had been booked for for $129 a night with free wireless. And so that people aren't thinking I went from the Four Seasons to the Days Inn. The first hotel was a Hilton and the second was the Westin. The moral of this story is to use Orbitz and again to comparative shop. Also be sure to check out specials on hotel properties that you frequent. I just stayed for $99 at a posh Kimpton Property just for booking during a one day sale.

3. 3 oz is more than enough hair product: I very, very rarely check my luggage. In fact in the two years that I've been traveling like a maniac, I've checked my luggage exactly twice every other time I carry my luggage on board. I started doing this because in the time that I stood waiting around a baggage carousel, I had sprouted seven gray hairs. Now with airlines charging $15 (It hurts every time I think about it) to check a piece of luggage which is hilarious given that overhead space on most airlines is ridiculously small. But if you don't have to check then don't. I once had someone tell me that she always had to check her luggage because of her giant makeup collection and I drew blood biting my tongue from telling her how ridiculous that premise is. In reality though, the amount of product that people are allowed to carry on board is more than enough for five days away. Trust me, I've tried. Also pack only what you need and even I'm learning that seven pairs of shoes for two days is a little much.

4. You have to eat but you don't need to spend a lot to do it: When I first started traveling for work my schedule was such that I would have meetings mid-morning leaving the first half of the morning for the gym and lounging around in my pajamas and testing out lipgloss. During that time I would order room service. Newsflash! Room service is ridiculously expensive. I don't care how much you're allowed to spend on meals, it's expensive and let's be honest, in most hotels it sucks. Try going to nearby restaurants and getting out a bit. Most meals are

Rereading the above forces me to notice how obvious it all might be but it's just adding up the little things and trying to find ways to cut corners as with any sort of spending problem. Though I'm seriously hoping that this doesn't go on forever as the joy of traveling for work loses it's allure after one too many nights at a Comfort Inn.

A few more tips on frugal business travel from Finally Frugal, American Small Business News and Money Under 30 as well as tips for deducting business travel expenses from NuWire Investor.

Heather B. writes about the bright side of business trips at No Pasa Nada.