Travel may no longer be torturous as it was centuries ago, but it can still be laborious and fatiguing. At the very least, it is often frustrating.

By Dr. Barbara Gilliss

Travel. The word comes from the French: travail, which means "labor," "anguish," and "fatigue," which, in turn, comes from the Latin: trepalium, an instrument of torture! Well, travel may no longer be torturous, but it can still be laborious and fatiguing. At the very least, it is often frustrating. And the most frequent causes of travel frustration are excess expenditures of time and money.

Here are a few suggestions which may help ease your travel stresses. First, establish some policies and budget constraints to help you clarify where travel fits into your over-all business plan. Then be very clear about the purpose and expected outcomes of each trip and the maximum amount of time and money you are willing to invest to make it worthwhile. Examine all aspects of your trip and determine how you can make it happen within your parameters.

It may help you to know that the bases for a per diem budget (everything outside the cost of arriving at your destination and getting home) is roughly 45% for hotels, 25% for meals, 25% for ground transportation, and 5% for miscellaneous (phone calls, whatever). Decide where you may make trade-offs. For example, a couple of cab fares might preclude needing to rent a car. An "entertainment" dinner might suggest a cheaper hotel. And so on. Examine your time constraints also. Can you stay over a weekend for a better air fare? Does your schedule allow you to schedule flights in advance to take advantage of discounted fares? Plan your trip as a whole to determine how best to stay within your budget and time constraints.

Checking with your account to determine what expenses may be deductible could help stretch budget some. Putting everything on a credit card could maximize your cash flow - given float time between spending and payment (providing you pay in full and avoid finance charges). Choose your credit card carefully. Company cards can provide useful tracking of your travel expenses, plus they often provide insurance - for rental cars, for example, or for ease in obtaining refunds. They also provide you with some security - ease in replacement if stolen, and ATM access to cash so you won't have to carry much at a time.

Some "travel oriented" cards can get you "free" mileage and good rates with adjunct suppliers, but they often charge annual fees and high interest on unpaid balances. Be careful, too, of feeling locked into certain providers and paying higher than competitive fares to accumulate those miles. Know that FAT (frequent air travel) miles can be a hassle. You need to obtain a member number in advance and make it known at the time of reservation (submitting boarding passes later can work, but they are sometimes lost). Free seats are limited and coupons must be requested before you can make or be certain of reservations, then expire if not used by a set date. Free miles are definitely worth it - if you know how and are willing to spend the time to get them.

Saving time and money in obtaining flights can be a fancy tap dance, in any case. Although travel agents must now charge you a fee for their services (airlines stopped paying them commissions some time ago), they can quickly identify the cheapest routing (where carriers are competing for market share), the least-frequented (cheaper) airports with easy ground transportation to your destination, most frequently delayed flights, excessive stopovers, package deals for cars and hotels, specials, last-minute changes, sticky rules for "discounted" tickets, rules of "non-refundables"), and so on. Plus they supply you with your tickets and itineraries.

On the other hand, if you feel comfortable with these intricacies, or with asking a lot of questions until you get satisfactory answers, jump on the phone or on the internet and go to it. The airlines have Web sites from which you can select flights, and sites such as www.travelocity.com and www.expedia.com offer comparisons and well as good discounts, especially if you are willing to take last-minute or highly restricted tickets.

Many hotel chains and car rental agencies also have Web sites or can be contacted by phone, if you prefer to make your own reservations. Be sure to ask for "corporate" rates, which may require early reservation and/or restrictions such as minimum stays or certain days of the week. For hotels, consider location carefully. Would you be better off near the airport with shuttle service and cheaper rates - or perhaps need a car- or closer to town with easier transportation and a wide variety of restaurants? Do you want kitchenette facilities to eat in some of the time, or would you be happy with the hotel's continental breakfast? Will a small room do or do you need a suite for meeting space, and perhaps business services such as faxes, etc.?

As a woman traveling alone, you should also consider security (driving alone at night vs. a taxi; a well-lit lobby vs. the dimly lit entrance to a motel room; the assistance of a bellman with your luggage and a hotel safe for your jewelry; and so on. You should also get firm commitments regarding the accommodations you are agreeing to at the time of your reservation. Unfortunately, women traveling alone are subject to getting the least comfortable space if reservations are tight. Be sure to demand what you were promised, if there has been a change.

Being clear about your purpose, your time and budget constraints, what you want and need, what to ask for, and what you are willing to accept, should go a long way to help you avoid as much travail as possible as you travel. On the other hand, when you travel you have less control over almost any situation that you normally have. So be prepared for some frustration.

Wear comfortable shoes; carry on your person copies of your ID, credit cards, emergency phone numbers, an inventory of your belongings, and extra cash; carry on the plane everything you would need for one night without your luggage; leave room in your suitcase for shopping (!), and... bring your sense of humor, a good book, a couple of energy bars, and a positive outlook. Good Luck!