Traveling for business can be fun, but it can also be expensive. Between hotels, transportation, food and incidentals, it can really add up fast. It’s important to be careful with a company’s money and not spend it unnecessarily. We asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) for ideas on the best ways to save money during a business trip. “Going out of town to secure new partnerships or take meetings can be key to growing your business. What’s the best way to keep expenses down when you’re traveling? “ How to Keep Traveling Expenses Down Here’s what YEC community members had to say: 1. Find Cheaper Hotel Stays “Accommodations is a great place to start. For longer stays, I always check out Airbnb as a cheaper alternative to hotels. Usually, you can find a great deal. For shorter trips, I’ll browse Hotel Tonight the day before to find last minute hotel deals.” ~ Ben Lang, IT Kit 2. Don’t Overspend on Food “When you eat out of town, unless you’re wining and dining clients, go easy on the grub. Pack a handful of healthy, high protein snacks that will keep you energized and feeling full so you resist the urge for overpriced burgers. And, take advantage of hotels that have free meals included. This way, you’ll save money and stay focused on landing the deal.” ~ Sam Davidson, Batch 3. Experiment More With Virtual Meetings “Sometimes, traveling is necessary, and sometimes, it’s really not. If you are meeting a potential new investor or thinking of partnering in a new industry, then a face-to-face meeting probably is unavoidable. However, many other types of meetings don’t require a plane and a hotel room. Virtual meetings and video calls can be just as effective, just be sure you prepare. It can take some skill to pull off a good virtual meeting. In the end, you will find that it’s a much more cost-effective way to get the job done.” ~ Blair Thomas, eMerchantBroker 4. Use Rewards Cards “Start making the most of any business rewards cards and accumulate points that can fund these trips, rather than costing you money. Many airlines, hotels, and car rentals are part of these programs.” ~ Angela Ruth, Calendar 5.…