| You've been working from home these past six | | | | forget your key when you leave your room. |
| months and it's time to take a break. Come on, you | | | | * Make sure there's no charge to use the Internet |
| know you deserve a vacation, even if it's for only a | | | | before you use it. Have you noticed that the more |
| few days. You can't control everything that will | | | | expensive the hotel, the more outrageous the |
| happen while you're out of town, but you can take a | | | | Internet charge? Considering that you're paying a |
| few steps to make your trip run more smoothly. | | | | small fortune for a room, it seems that the hotel or |
| * Before you book a hotel room, find out if it's next | | | | resort could throw in free Internet service. |
| to a main highway. (If you're staying at a resort, | | | | * Skip the mini-bar unless you're willing to pay $4.50 |
| don't worry about it.) If when you arrive at your | | | | for a candy bar or $18 for a freakishly small bottle of |
| hotel and realize that it is located along a highway, | | | | wine. |
| make sure you ask for a room that's on the opposite | | | | * Before you check out, do a clean sweep of your |
| side of the building. You'd think that the person at | | | | room. Don't forget to look under the bed and in the |
| the front desk would do that automatically. Think | | | | bathroom. If you like to unpack and store everything |
| again. | | | | in drawers, double check that you're not leaving |
| * After you use your room key, store it in the same | | | | clothes behind. |
| place each time. Whether you put the key in your | | | | Whether you apply these tips to personal trips or |
| wallet, purse or briefcase, you'll be able to find your | | | | business trips, the key is to look forward to leaving |
| key when you need it. Also, you'll be less likely to | | | | town instead of dreading it. |