I travelled for three years teaching Linux Administration seminars and another on Web design. By my past schedule dates and ticket stubs I did over 200 one-day and two-day seminars in about 80 different cities across 35 states. The two-day seminars were a breeze since the week only allowed working Monday-Thursday and only required two different hotel stays. The one-day stuff took its toll though since that required five or six hotel stays and anywhere from five-to-ten flights plus a lot of car rentals to hop around a state or tri-state area.
My secrets to enjoyment were to:
1. Register for EVERYTHING. Hotel points, frequent flyer points, car rental points, credit cards tied to hotel or flyer miles ... everything. If your company is paying your way, especially on reimbursements and per diems, you can rack up half a dozen flights and two weeks worth of hotel stays in 6 - 12 months worth of real business travel. Before you know it, you've got a two week, all expenses paid vacation in your back pocket. Even if you don't hit the top levels in many of these rewards programs, only a few thousand points or miles will be good to get you bumped to first class accomadations every single time you travel.
2. Pack light. You've got to figure out a way to reduce your life to two carry-on bags: one 18-22" roller and one shoulder-strap laptop bag. You'll enjoy travelling a lot more if you're not standing in baggage claim wondering what city your luggage is in.
3. Check town car and limo rates in major metro areas. In many instances for long distance, one-way transport, town cars and limos are only marginally more expensive than taxis, if not even cheaper.
