Travel can be an intimidating and expensive process if you let it be. As a frequent traveler, I would love to share some tips with you than can take some of the mystery out of travel while also saving some of your hard-earned money!

With a lot of you braving the trek to Atlanta for the upcoming Foot Forward Summit in August, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to share ideas. If you have additional suggestions for your fellow nail professionals that I haven’t mentioned, please leave them in the comments below!

First, let’s tackle the travel itself. The sooner you book your flight the cheaper it will be. Try a site like Travelocity or Expedia to search a lot of companies at once. This could give you an idea which airline has the best rate. Atlanta is a hub for Delta, so be sure you take a look at that airline. It is also a focus city for Frontier, Southwest, and Spirit. Some of these airlines are not found on discount sites, so you would need to look at pricing directly on the airline’s official site.

Sometimes flights can be cheaper if you travel on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday. #BFFmel and I will be traveling in to Atlanta on Thursday before the summit to experience the city a bit as well as get nails and toes done! Shop around on flights, then make a commitment. The longer you put it off the more the rates will go up, sometimes as much as $50 a week.

If you will be traveling to or from the summit by plane and intend to have product in your suitcase, a small simple printed note should help in the case of a search. Here is an example of what you might want to include, print, and place in your checked bag:

Dear TSA,

Thank you for your diligence in protecting our country. Just as that is your job, nails are my job and the products contained in my suitcase are for that job. I am traveling to and from a professional training event. Should you have questions about any of these items or require an SDS sheet for anything, please do not hesitate to contact me at [your phone-number].

Sincerely,

Nifty Nailtech

Be brave and share a hotel room. If you stop by the Event created on the NAILS Facebook page for the summit, you can post a request for a roomie to split expenses with. Make sure to negotiate things like room temperature and smoking or non-smoking ahead of time to be more compatible with the person you select.

Some hotels offer a discount for paying ahead of time, so do some shopping around while considering that as well. To get the host hotel discount you will need to call directly with the event info. If you prefer a more home like environment, try Airbnb for lodging ideas.

Getting from the airport to the host hotel and back again could be easier with a shared ride. Here are some suggestions of you should go solo:

Distance from hotel: 28 miles
Drive Time: 40 minutes (conditions may change with traffic)
Limousine - $75
Super Shuttle - $35
Subway/Rail - $2.75
Taxi - $65

With the limo, taxi, or an Uber, you can share the expense. Again, use the Event on NAILS Facebook page to post your arrival time and find a buddy to split costs. If anyone is renting a car and wants to play Uber for a day, post your cell number and the price of rides to help cover your rental car and fuel.

This has been a lot to take in, so be sure to watch for the follow up blog with ideas on how to save money while you are in Atlanta! Safe travels and see you soon!