Best in Business Travel

• Use Skype. “It will save you a ton on phone bills when you’re chatting from a hotel room or a lounge,” Schukraft says, “and you can use it to forward all your calls.”
• Use the right credit card. Translation: one that earns points toward airlines and hotels. Says Schukraft, “You can save big in places like Paris, where hotels can cost 300 euros or more a night.”
• Sleep when you can. Traveling internationally--and all the time--can take its toll on your sleep schedule. So Schukraft advises using an eye mask, flying in first class with fully reclining seats (if it’s in your budget) and not staying awake for the complimentary meal.  --L.H.   

Best Hotel Chain Value
Hyatt Place
Here’s a great example of a new hotel concept (launched in 2006) that actually lives up to its hype. The chain was named “Top Mid-Scale Full Service Brand” in the J.D. Power and Associates “2008 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index”--a  remarkably fast ascent to the top of the list. So what’s to like? Attractive décor, down-to-earth pricing and thoughtful amenities: a 42-inch flat panel TV; comfortable, functional work areas; cushy sleeper sofas and insanely comfortable beds. There’s even free Starbucks coffee in the lobby. 


Best Airline Value
Virgin America
The 21-month-old Virgin America only has a handful of routes so far, mostly linking Boston, New York City and Washington, DC, to the West Coast. But already there’s a lot to like. Besides low fares, there’s high comfort on brand-new Airbus A320s: Every seat has a power outlet, and the interactive in-flight entertainment system lets you watch films, listen to thousands of MP3s and watch TV on demand. You can even use the system to order food and drinks, which you can charge to a credit card. (It’s a cash-free cabin.) The carrier now offers Gogo in-flight internet service, too.


Best Frequent Flier Program
Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan
It’s always heartening when an airline that rates high in customer satisfaction also has a terrific frequency program. That’s the case with Alaska Airlines, which scores well in consumer surveys. Plus, its Mileage Plan won a Freddie Award for “Program of the Year” for the fourth time. (It also won first place in the “Best Website” and “Best Elite-Level Program” categories for 2007.) We like the program’s flexibility: Members can give their points to friends or family, and companies can purchase miles to give to employees as an incentive reward. We also like that there are more than a dozen airlines to choose from for mileage earning and award travel.


Best Rental Car Value
Zipcar
Zipcar is growing in popularity as a cost-effective, convenient alternative to traditional car rental companies that have yet to match the nifty Zipcard, which acts not only as a key to the car but also as a way to charge gasoline purchases directly to Zipcar. So far, there are locations in 52 cities across North America and the United Kingdom, and a fleet of 5,500 cars including BMWs, Volvos, Mini Coopers, Priuses, pickups and various SUVs. There are no obnoxious hidden fees, and frequent individual and corporate users get discounts on hourly and daily weekday rates, which start as low as $6 per hour and $50 per day. Rates include fuel, parking, insurance and maintenance.


Best Site for Travel Deals
Airfare Watchdog
Because many business travelers fly on short notice, using a travel website that features time-sensitive deals makes plenty of sense. Unlike its rivals, Airfare Watchdog relies on real people--not computers--to identify deals, which are often unadvertised or unannounced. The team researches the fares before posting them, ensuring seats are available at the sale price. They can even search for fares on Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, which don’t load their fares on any online reservations system except their own.