If you’re a busy business traveler, keeping up is a tough task. We’re here to help, by compiling some blogs that you may find interesting. Grab an iPad or laptop and enjoy reading these 5 blogs for the busy business traveler:

• Road Warriorette: Advice, insight and observations about life on the road.
• Gulliver:The Economist’s correspondents inform and entertain business travellers with news, view and reviews.
• The Middle Seat Terminal: Tracking and unpacking the world of travel.
• Upgrade: Travel Better: Living the First Class Life…At Coach Prices.
• The Cranky Flier: A consumer travel blog from a self proclaimed “airline dork.”

What business-travel blogs are you a fan of? Share in the comments.

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At Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, every guest is a VIP. That’s why specious rooms, free high-speed Internet and complimentary hot breakfast come standard. And now we’re proud to be the first mid-scale hotel chain to serve breakfast on classic diningware at select locations. It’s just our way of making your meals feel special while also being environmentally responsible.

Visit countryinns.com/summer for more details and terms and conditions.

When is it OK to pack the spouse and kids for your next business trip?

For many frequent business travelers, mixing work and play can afford much-needed family time. But only if:

1. They want to go and will have something to do once they get there.
2. You’ll have some time to spend with them.
3. It doesn’t take away from the business goals of the trip.
4. The people you’ll be meeting won’t feel awkward or burdened.

Business Travel as a Family Affair
Amy Weirick, who travels about 10 times a year for her Columbus, Ohio-based public relations firm, invites her husband along half the time and her two sons two or three times a year. “It’s great to give the kids travel experiences beyond the family vacation,” she said. “They get a real sense of what I do for a living, which they may not have understood otherwise.”

The upside of traveling with the family is spending quality time together in a new and interesting environment. The downside can be limited flexibility to adapt to changes in your business schedule and feeling mentally exhausted from being “on” all the time.

It is important to maintain boundaries between business and family time and find out in advance the company policy for bringing family members along. Most companies know that spouses sometimes tag along to desirable locations. Usually between frequent flier miles and shared sleeping quarters, the cost for a spouse to accompany a traveler is small. Staying in a Country Inns & Suites hotel, with extras like free breakfasts, family-friendly swimming pools and locations convenient to top tourist attractions, makes it easy and affordable to enjoy quality time together.

Taking the family demands some advanced planning. Definitely wear comfortable clothes when traveling with children—you may have diaper mishaps and spills. You might even pack a change of clothes in your carry on if you’re going to a meeting directly after family time.

Do some research ahead of time in case you need to purchase attraction tickets in advance. A minor league baseball game; a visit to the local science or history museum, zoo or aquarium; and tours of historic sites are a few family-friendly options.

When a client or association gives the green light to bring the family, there can be another more subtle benefit. Depending on the situation, mingling with colleagues, clients and their families can convey a shared sense of family values, exchanging the gloss of corporate speak for a more authentic experience.

Traveling with the spouse and kids is something most clients can identify with, notes Weirick. “It’s good for clients and other professionals to see how important family is to me,” she said. “It helps them understand what really matters, which isn’t just the bottom line.”

All travel is not created equally. If you know the system, there are plenty of ways to do things better, faster and cheaper than other travelers. Sometimes it’s as easy as asking or doing a little advanced planning.

Loyalty Counts
There’s no reason not to join the free loyalty program for the hotel, car rental company and airline on your agenda. With Club Carlson^SM your hotel stays can quickly add up to points redeemable for free hotel nights, airline miles and even gift cards. Once you achieve an elite level, you’ll also be eligible for benefits such as room upgrades and late checkouts.

Likewise, by opting for the same airline each time you fly (when it’s possible) you’ll build up mileage points for future flights. But these days, what is even more appealing to travelers is that once you earn elite status, you can take advantage of perks such as waived baggage fees and upgrades for you and a companion.

The Airline Seat Shuffle
Even if you don’t have elite status, you can still try and get your favorite spot on the plane. When you make your reservation, go ahead and select the best seat available at the time. If you prefer a different seat, pull up your itinerary on the airline website using your confirmation number. You should be able to view the open seats on the plane and change seats if you’d like. You can do this as many as four or five times leading up to departure and move your seat to a better one. Elite status members are upgraded 24 to 48 hours before a flight, leaving their seats in coach up for grabs.

And if you’re wondering which seat to jockey for, take a look at SeatGuru to see detailed seating charts organized by airline. SeatGuru alerts you to seats with obstructions, those that do not recline, etc.

Breeze Through Checkpoints
Standing in line can be frustrating. Many airports, thankfully, now have separate lanes for different types of travel. If you get in the expert traveler lane, chances are you’ll get through faster. Just make sure you know the TSA guidelines and have your ID ready.

Another option is to pick a different checkpoint. People generally funnel from the ticketing counter to the nearest security line. If you know the lay of the land, you may find that a short walk leads you to a wide-open checkpoint.

Just Ask!
Sometimes, all you have to do is ask and you can get the VIP treatment without an extra penny. When you book your hotel room, ask about transportation from the airport. You may find that a car service sedan is the same price as a taxi. Also, let them know if you prefer a certain floor or view. If your flight is full, ask about compensation options for switching to a different flight. Many travel perks are available just by asking politely. You might be surprised by the answers you get!

Let the weekend fun continue! We’re wishing you and yours a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July. If you’re looking for a place to get out of town soon, visit www.countryinns.com to discover our hotel packages for great destinations all across this Country.

Happy Fourth of July!