Any ATOTers travel a lot?

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: ManSnake
Don't mind traveling as long as the per diem is good. My last gig in Portland I had $65 per diem.

Per hour or per day? The IRS has a per-diem allowance for consultants that is a percentage of your total rate, but I believe for '06 it's drastically reduced. A lot of consultants have $10-$20/hr of per-diem (tax free) pay.

[edit]BTW, Portland is a great city. I'd love to spend some time there.[/edit]

 

[ManSnake]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: ManSnake
Don't mind traveling as long as the per diem is good. My last gig in Portland I had $65 per diem.

Per hour or per day? The IRS has a per-diem allowance for consultants that is a percentage of your total rate, but I believe for '06 it's drastically reduced. A lot of consultants have $10-$20/hr of per-diem (tax free) pay.

Meal per diem (per day). Everything was negotiated into the contract with the client. My firm bills me out at an insane rate. But then again, I am doing M&A work...

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: ManSnake

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: ManSnake
Don't mind traveling as long as the per diem is good. My last gig in Portland I had $65 per diem.

Per hour or per day? The IRS has a per-diem allowance for consultants that is a percentage of your total rate, but I believe for '06 it's drastically reduced. A lot of consultants have $10-$20/hr of per-diem (tax free) pay.

Meal per diem (per day). Everything was negotiated into the contract with the client. My firm bills me out at an insane rate. But then again, I am doing M&A work...

Nice. I'm indirectly doing M&A work at the moment; consulting with the larger accounting firms for Sarbanes-Oxley, and a component of that is M&A related. Very indirect I'd say

 

[zoiks]

I've flown to Japan and Singapore at least 15 times. Europe as well but not as much.
I've flown quite a bit domestically too but only to live 10 states perhaps.

 

[GasX]

I burned out on business travel the year I flew 100,000 miles on Continental. The upside was that when you fly that much, you pretty much get a big leather chair up front for every flight...

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I burned out on business travel the year I flew 100,000 miles on Continental. The upside was that when you fly that much, you pretty much get a big leather chair up front for every flight...

Damn man! First/business class does make a world of difference, but unfortunately in my case I have to often fly one of those tiny planes barely with seats barely suitable for a child. I can't even stand up in the ridiculous things.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I've been fortunate to only have to do 1-2 business trips per year...they're usually week-long trips... With the occasional 2-3 training sessions....

If I travelled more than that, I wouldn't like it. It isn't very healthy for relationships either. Makes it rough when you're away from your honey...

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I burned out on business travel the year I flew 100,000 miles on Continental. The upside was that when you fly that much, you pretty much get a big leather chair up front for every flight...

Damn man! First/business class does make a world of difference, but unfortunately in my case I have to often fly one of those tiny planes barely with seats barely suitable for a child. I can't even stand up in the ridiculous things.

A few tips:

If at all possible, always fly the same airline and always stay at the same hotel chain. When you are really using one company a lot, they take care of you. I was a "diamond" member of Hilton for a while. That represents their top 1% of customers (in nights stayed). If I checked into a Hilton and they did not have a room for me, they would build a new wing.

Nowadays, I am a schmoe just like everyone else in cattle class. It doubly sucks because I have to fly to Holland from time to time and htta is a long flight in the little chair...

 

[dartworth]

What part of Cleveland do you stay in?

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: dartworth
What part of Cleveland do you stay in?

I had a loft downtown when I was there more frequently, but since I travel less to that location I typically just stay at the Hyatt Regency at the arcade between Superior and Euclid. My client's office is right down the street from that.

I don't get away from downtown much when I'm there, but I used to go to Little Italy a lot, the restaurants on Sixth, Lee Road (I think that's the street), etc.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I burned out on business travel the year I flew 100,000 miles on Continental. The upside was that when you fly that much, you pretty much get a big leather chair up front for every flight...

Damn man! First/business class does make a world of difference, but unfortunately in my case I have to often fly one of those tiny planes barely with seats barely suitable for a child. I can't even stand up in the ridiculous things.

A few tips:

If at all possible, always fly the same airline and always stay at the same hotel chain. When you are really using one company a lot, they take care of you. I was a "diamond" member of Hilton for a while. That represents their top 1% of customers (in nights stayed). If I checked into a Hilton and they did not have a room for me, they would build a new wing.

Nowadays, I am a schmoe just like everyone else in cattle class. It doubly sucks because I have to fly to Holland from time to time and htta is a long flight in the little chair...

I'm Gold with Delta and Diamond with Hyatt, and I agree with you; however, sometimes I find my desire to stay with the same companies doesn't always work in my favor, especially when flights are concerned.

I have about four free domestic flights right now with all of my points, etc. Hope to use them someday.