Chapter 8: Best Mini Vacas on the Cheap with your iPhone!

Hello All. Before I begin, I would like to share a picture of my best friend during my last travel delay of 2 1/2 hours:

All hail to the lifesaver of the day: Michelob Ultra!

Now...Let's begin with my new favorite thing on the planet. A travel service (which comes along with a new handy iPhone app) called "airbnb". 

airbnb is a website that connects travelers looking for eclectic places to stay around the world (instead of a hotel). It lists bed & breakfasts, lofts, eclectic vacation rentals, etc... The best part is that travelers stay in local spots, instead of touristy areas. Hosts of these rentals post pictures of their space and charge per night. Here is a picture of a loft in Bellevue, Washington for approx. $120/night.

Because airbnb also has an iPhone app, travelers may book their stay right from their phone. I think this is perfect for the spontaneous jetsetter! Also, the prices vary to serve a traveler on any budget!

Check it out www.airbnb.com or download the airbnb app to your phone.

In the future, if you choose to use airbnb or have used airbnb before, please post your comments and ratings below!

Happy Traveling!

Preface: My Travel Bug Story (BizTravelGirl@gmail.com)

Hello and welcome to my blog...

My name is Amber. I would like to share my knowledge of traveling efficiently and comfortably around the world with those who may land a new career (which may throw them into a suitcase) or anyone who wants to learn more about smart traveling techniques. You're probably asking yourself , "what makes her such a smarty pants?". This preface will tell you a little bit about me before we begin...

I caught the travel bug at a young age. When I was 14 years old, someone entered my name into a program called "People to People" (to this day, I don't know who recommended me). This program, developed by Dwight Eisenhower, allows children to be ambassadors for the U.S. and travel around the world while learning about other cultures. My first trip overseas was to Australia and New Zealand for 3 weeks. It was quite the trip for a small girl who hadn't even been to Mexico. At the age of 18 I traveled around Europe and every year thereafter, I have tried to visit one new country/continent a year.

After college (and a few sales jobs later), I fell into a career that required 80% travel around the West Coast and Pacific Northwest (alongside a few trips to the East Coast and Florida - the corporate headquarters location). I practically lived on a plane! I knew the flight attendants, became an A-list member on Southwest Airlines and racked up many points on other airlines, became an Emerald Club Executive Member with National Car Rental, caught every germ possible, endured screaming babies on either side of my seat, missed flights, sat for hours on delayed flights, dealt with a lost bag and everything else in between...

At this point, I have learned through my experiences, other people, magazine articles, and my own crazy made up methods of how to travel efficiently, safely, comfortably, and like a business man....

I hope this small excerpt gives me some credibility and helps with your journey(s) around the world. Now let's start: A GIRL'S GUIDE TO TRAVELING LIKE A BUSINESS MAN.