Nikol Hasler travels a lot for work. A lot.

So she did up a little video on how she uses Boingo, and where she can use Boingo. Enjoy!

While traveling, it is possible to come up with green alternatives and to make the world a greener and better place. A few tips are:

• Water purification tablets: Instead of carting around water bottles - and the waste that they create - use tablets. With the tablets, people are able to purify available water for drinking. Recently, a  friend was climbing Machu Picchu in Peru and noted that all the other tourists would bring water bottles, and just leave them on the mountain side. Many of the most treasured tropical paradises on Earth are among the places most imperiled by climate change, and most vulnerable to tourists’ consumption.
• The Three R’s: When in your hotel, keep in mind the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. Reuse your linens and towels; if you’re only there for two nights, for example, you cut back on your laundry by 50 percent - painlessly. Ask the concierge if the hotel participates in any recycling programs; if so, find out how you can contribute.
• Hybrid rentals: Renting a car? Get a hybrid. Now’s the perfect time to test-drive that Prius you’ve been thinking about buying. If you’re in a rural area, investigate local walking and biking trails and eco-tours; if you’re in a city, draw up your own walking tour with the help of a travel guide. Nothing gives you a better feel for a country than exploring it on foot.
• Canteen it: Stopping to picnic? Forgo plastic bottles, and instead opt for water canteens, or, better yet, your own filter: Clear-to-Go makes water bottles that filter out 99.99% of impurities from any water source, making water safe to drink. Make sure to refrain from littering, and to leave your surroundings as you found them - especially if you hope your children will find them in the same condition you did!

As written by Kim Mickenberg, Communications Associate at Earth Day Network.

As a tireless business warrior and traveler, this time of year can be a bit perplexing with the April 15 breathing down your neck.

Here’s a list of the 11 most overlooked tax deductions for 2008 and some clarity around what business travelers can deduct on their taxes this year:

1. State sales taxes: This write-off makes sense primarily for those who live in states that do not impose an income tax. You must choose between deducting state and local income taxes, or state and local sales taxes. There is big savings here if you’ve purchased big-ticket items in the last year.
2. Reinvested dividends: This isn’t really a deduction, but it is a subtraction that can save you a lot of money. If, like most investors, you have mutual fund dividends automatically invested in extra shares, remember that each reinvestment increases your “tax basis” in the fund. That, in turn, reduces the taxable capital gain (or increases the tax-saving loss) when you redeem shares.
3. Out-of-pocket charitable contributions: It’s hard to overlook the big charitable gifts you made during the year by check or payroll deduction. But the little things add up, too, and you can write off out-of-pocket costs you incur while doing good deeds.
4. Student loan interest paid by Mom and Dad: Until recently, if parents paid back a student loan incurred by their children, no one got a tax break. To get a deduction, the law held that you had to be both liable for the debt and actually pay it yourself. But now there’s an exception. If Mom and Dad pay back the loan, the IRS treats it as though they gave the money to their child, who then paid the debt. So a child who’s not claimed as a dependent can qualify to deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest paid by Mom and Dad.
5. Moving expense to take first job: If you moved more than 50 miles, you can deduct the cost of getting yourself and your household goods to the new area, including 19 cents per mile for moves during the first six months of 2008, and 27 cents per mile for job move-related driving after June 30 (plus parking fees and tolls) for driving your own vehicle.
6. Military reservists’ travel expenses: If you are a member of the National Guard or military reserve, you may earn a deduction for travel expenses to drills or meetings. To qualify, you must travel more than 100 miles and be away from home overnight.
7. Child care credit: A credit is so much better than a deduction—it reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar. Until a few years ago, the child care credit applied to no more than $4,800 of qualifying expenses. The law allows you to run up to $5,000 of such expenses through a tax-favored reimbursement account at work.Now, however, up to $6,000 can qualify for the credit, but the old $5,000 limit still applies to reimbursement accounts.
8. Estate tax on income in respect of a decedent: This sounds complicated, but it can save you a lot of money if you inherited an IRA from someone whose estate was big enough to be subject to the federal estate tax. Basically, you get an income tax deduction for the amount of estate tax paid on the IRA balance.
9. State tax you paid last spring: Did you owe tax when you filed your 2007 state tax return in the spring of 2008? Then remember to include that amount with your state tax deduction on your 2008 return, along with state income taxes withheld from your paychecks or paid via quarterly estimated payments.
10. Refinancing points: When you buy a house, you get to deduct points paid to obtain your mortgage in one fell swoop. When you refinance a mortgage, however, you have to deduct the points over the life of the loan. That means you can deduct 1/30th of the points a year if it’s a 30-year mortgage—that’s $33 a year for each $1,000 of points you paid. Doesn’t seem like much, but why throw it away?
11. Jury pay paid to employer: Some employers continue to pay employees’ full salary while they are doing their civic duty, but ask that they turn over their jury fees to the company coffers. The only problem is that the IRS demands that you report those fees as taxable income. You’ve always had a right to deduct the amount so you weren’t taxed on money that simply passed through your hands.

A good tax software package like TurboTax or online tax service like TurboTax Online, can help make it easy to get all of these deductions and more.

And … just how much of that business travel can I deduct?: Go out on the town with your clients, pick up the bill and get a tax deduction. What could be easier? Just make sure that the outing is business-related. In other words, any payments you deduct for travel, meals and entertainment must be ordinary and necessary in your trade or business. In general, entertainment expenses must be directly related to, or associated with, the conduct of your trade or business.

Travel expenses include those for ordinary and necessary travel away from your home for your business. You must meet two conditions to take the travel expense deduction:

1. Your duties must require you to be away from home (your regular place of business, regardless of where you maintain your family home) substantially longer than an ordinary day’s work.
2. You need sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while you’re away.

If your trip meets these requirements, you can deduct a wide variety of travel-related expenses, including costs for:

• Transportation (using a plane, train, bus or car) between your home and your business destination, including taxi, commuter bus and limousine fares
• Shipping items such as samples or display material
• Maintaining your own vehicle if you use your car or truck for business travel
• Tolls and parking
• Rental cars
• Meals and overnight lodging. You may deduct only 50% of the cost of business meals

Other deductible expenses include costs for dry cleaning and laundry care, telephone calls, use of fax machines and tips. For more information on travel, see IRS Publication 463: Travel, Entertainment, Gift and Car Expenses.

Entertainment expenses fall into a broad category and include any activity generally considered to provide amusement or recreation. Some examples include hosting clients at social, athletic or sporting clubs, theaters, yacht trips, hunting or fishing, vacations and the like.

And if you are on the road traveling, and just have not had the time to get your taxes in, you can always use TurboTax’s free online extension filling service.

Tips and information above provided by Scott Gulbransen from TurboTax. Follow Scott on Twitter @prgully, and get more tax tips from TurboTax on Twitter @turbotax.

1. Get advice from a travel health professional. Four to six weeks before departure, consult a travel medicine specialist for the most up-to-date immunization, malaria recommendations and consultation to prepare for a safe and healthy trip. It’s important to get your immunizations early, as some of the vaccines take time to effectively protect you.
2. Protect yourself from disease-bearing insects. Wear protective clothing and use products containing 20 to 30 percent DEET, the insect-repellent permethrin and bed nets.
3. Never go barefoot, even on the beach.
4. Make sure your water is purified. Do not use tap water when brushing your teeth.
5. Consume only well-cooked food. Fruits and veggies? Peel it, boil it or forget it!
6. Pre-fill your prescriptions, as they may not be available at your destination. Take extra, in case your trip is extended. In some countries counterfeit medications can be a problem. Carry medications in their original packaging and pack in your carry-on luggage.
7. Don’t swim in rivers, lakes, ponds or streams. Well-chlorinated pools and salt water are usually considered safe.
8. Take a basic first aid kit. Include medications for pain relief, such as ibuprofen and Tylenol, topical preparations for minor skin wounds and infections, and medications for allergic reactions (like Benadryl). Consider presumptive treatment (Imodium and an antibiotic) for traveler’s diarrhea. Discuss the appropriate antibiotics for your destination with a travel health specialist.
9. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of medical problems among tourists. Avoid riding motorcycles or wear a helmet, and don’t drink and drive. Wear a seat belt and only travel during daylight hours.
10. Purchase travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation. Most medical insurance plans aren’t accepted when you travel internationally.

As told by Michelle Reesman, R.N., Executive Director for Passport Health Colorado. Ressman holds a certificate in Travel Health from the International Society of Travel Medicine, and is an avid traveler, outdoors enthusiast, a certified sailboat captain and holds advanced scuba diver certification. She has worked in medicine more than 20 years.

1. Don’t believe everything you hear. That goes from Uncle Mark telling you that timeshare doesn’t work because he was never able to trade to go anywhere else (perhaps because he owned in Kansas?) to the salesperson telling you that you’ll always be able to trade at anytime, for any place. Location is key. If you want to trade or exchange into different locations, especially high-demand locales like Hilton Head in the summer, the French Alps in the winter, etc., you need to own in an high-demand, year-round area like Las Vegas or Orlando.

2. Avoid anyone, especially a salesperson or a sales manager who uses the words free, perfect, always, and/or never. Generally speaking, if things seem too good to be true, they are.

3. Do your homework ahead of time. Have some general ideas about timeshare and be truthful about how much you spend for vacation accommodations, such as:

• In 2006 the average cost of a 2-bedroom timeshare was $15,500.
• Most, if not all timeshare resorts allow you to exchange or trade off to another member resort.
• Location is KEY in determining how “good” any particular timeshare is … unless you are purchasing point-based timeshare, where location no longer factors into trading power at all.
• Go back 2 or 3 years and determine how much you spend for your vacation rooms and include the hidden room tax

4. Keep an open mind. If you are going to go to one of those timeshare presentations for the gift (dinner, cash, theme park tickets, etc.) or just because you are required to go in order to receive the discounted hotel room, then do yourself a favor and at least go in with an open mind and let the salesperson do his/her job. On the other hand, if you have already determined that timeshare is not for you, for whatever reason, then why would you want to waste your valuable vacation time by listening to something you don’t want? After 2 or 3 presentations, you should be able to determine if timeshare is a good idea for you. If so, then purchase one. If not, then just stop wasting your time!

5. Don’t purchase any type of timeshare as a real estate investment. Even if the timeshare is deeded, it should not be considered a financial investment, but an investment in your future vacations. If you buy a timeshare today for $15,000, use it for the next 20 years and sell it for only $7,500 (half of what you paid for it), ask yourself how much you’ll be able to get for your hotel/motel receipts over the same 20-year period.

6. Don’t assume anything. Many timeshares are deeded in perpetuity. Many are not. Many timeshares operate on a “points-based” system. Often, those points are not inflation proof. Always ask questions and don’t be afraid to say “no” if the product doesn’t suit your needs or wants.

7. Don’t cave in to high-pressure sales techniques. A high-pressure sales person or sales manager is high pressure for one or two of two reasons: Ignorant or they don’t believe in their own product. Don’t confuse high pressure though with the fact that in all cases, you will be asked to purchase on the spot. Focus on these points:

• Do you understand the product?
• Do you like the product and/or the particular resort?
• If you had it, would you use it? Meaning do you plan or intend to spend that amount of money “anyway” on vacations? (Note the word “plan.” You can’t predict the future of course, but you can and should plan.)
• Focus on the long-term. In the short-term, you will not be saving any money.
• Compare apples to apples when talking about cost and value. You may not be saving money even in the long term, but are you having a better vacation staying in a spacious 2-bedroom villa in a quality resort compared to a 400 square foot hotel room?

As told by Lisa Ann Schreier from Timeshare Insights. Schreier is also the author of two books on timeshare, including “Surviving A Timeshare Presentation … Confessions From The Sales Table” and “Timeshare Vacations For Dummies”.

1. Everyone has a black bag and those cute little ribbons we tie to our luggage fall off. Buy a bag in a color or pattern so that no one will accidentally take your bag. Plus, it will be easy to spot on the carousel.

2. Get used to it — the quart-size clear bag is here to stay. Invest in one that won’t fall apart after three uses (save the sandwich bag for your lunch). When you are not traveling, you can use it to store things in your purse or beach bag.

3. Always throw a small expandable bag in your luggage. You never know when you’ll need it — and it can hold some of those extra items you buy on your trip home … 3-foot Toblerones anyone?

4. Always “break in” new shoes before traveling with them. But just in case, carry a back-up in your purse (Come on, the 4” stilettos are not that comfortable no matter what we tell him).

5. Remember before you dress for your flight you’ll have to do the security “strip tease.” That means shoes and all outerwear (jackets, cardigans, zippered hoodies, etc.) will have to come off before you walk through the metal detector. Don’t wear a jacket with 20 buttons that takes 5-minutes to get off. Slip-on shoes are also a must, no lace up boots! Keep your dress simple and easy.

6. You would never take your shoes off at the end of the day and put them on a stack of freshly washed clothes, right? Why do it when you pack? Put shoes in drawstring bags to keep your clothes clean and to protect your shoes from scuffing. Plus the bag can double as a laundry bag for undies and socks on your return trip.

7. To keep ourselves wired, we travel with too many chargers – laptop, iPod, cell phone, etc, etc. Try using a specially designed charger bag to keep all these cords in one place – and tangle free!

8. Train and airplane tables are rarely cleaned, wipe them down with a disinfecting hand wipe before using, plus this little effort will make your whole area smell fresh.

9. Flying can make feet swell and security checkpoints require you remove footwear, make sure to bring a pair of slip-ons or flip flops to wear during the flight, and never walk around without some form of shoe on. Have you seen the floor in the bathrooms?

10. A nice travel pillow is a must for plane, train or automobile. But, if you don’t have enough room in your carry-on for a pillow make sure to bring your own disposable pillow-case for the airplane pillow since they are almost never cleaned.

As told by Jessica Good, Owner of Passport Boutique

Long known for Disneyland and not much else, Anaheim has recently grown to become a major hub for sports and entertainment for Southern California. While we’re huge fans of the Magic Kingdom, those wishing to venture beyond its walls will find the L.A. Angels of Anaheim, the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, performances from major artists at the Honda Center, and a variety of high-quality cultural, shopping and dining options popping up all over the city.

Muzeo – The Muzeo is our favorite new cultural institution. Since opening in 2007, the Muzeo has featured a number of prestigious and provocative traveling exhibits, some of which make their only U.S. appearance here. The MUZEO complex encompasses Anaheim’s original Carnegie Library (built in 1908) and a new state-of-the art gallery space. Running through January 9, 2009 is Under African Skies: Journeys of the Past, Present & Future. For more information, visit www.muzeo.org or call 714-95-MUZEO.

The Anaheim Ballet – One of Orange County’s best-kept secrets, the Anaheim Ballet serves as a haven for talented dancers from throughout the region. Its well-established educational and outreach programs draw in some seriously talented dancers who might not otherwise have the chance to train and perform. With contemporary presentations of classic performances, the Anaheim Ballet prides itself on engaging even novice ballet fans. On December 6, 2008, the company will perform everyone’s favorite holiday confection, the Nutcracker, with two performances that day. For more information and to see if the Anaheim Ballet is performing while you are in town, visit www.anaheimballet.org.

Anaheim GardenWalk – GardenWalk is the new dining-shopping-drinking-dancing-bowling complex located within the Anaheim Resort District. It has a movie theater, too. Just a few blocks from the Hilton Anaheim and the convention center, our favorite places to visit at GardenWalk are Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion restaurant (try the Lakanilau Roll with seared Kobe beef and dymanite crab…wow!), 300 – a swanky bowling alley with good food and great beverages, and Heat Ultra Lounge, the biggest and best nightclub in the area. The shopping is not quite on par with the dining and entertainment, but new retail stores are opening regularly. Visit www.anaheimgardenwalk.com for more info.

Hilton Anaheim – A great place to stay if in town for conventions, or to have fun is the Hilton Anaheim. Located next to the Anaheim Convention Center and a couple of blocks from Disneyland Resort, the Hilton Anaheim is in the final stages of a massive, $60-plus million renovation. With brand-new guestrooms, a state-of-the-art 25,000-square foot fitness center, a sleek new lobby and our new Mix Restaurant & Lounge (set to open in December), this is not your father’s Hilton. For the absolute best views of the Disneyland fireworks show, grab a beverage and take your seat in our 14th floor Executive Lounge. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the park, the view is outstanding and you (probably) won’t have to worry about stepping on small children. If you do decide to get your “mouse” fix, you can purchase your Disneyland tickets in our lobby. To book a stay at the hotel, visit www.anaheim.hilton.com, call 800-222-9923 or check out our blog at www.hiltonanaheimblog.com.

Hope to see you in Anaheim soon!

Andy Keown is the public relations manager for the Hilton Anaheim and blogs about the hotel and destination at www.hiltonanaheimblog.com.

Know the Risks – Different countries’ health and safety risks change all the time. Just recently, we’ve seen spikes in malaria in the Bahamas and yellow fever spread in Brazil far beyond the regions previously considered risk areas. Educating yourself before you go will help ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip. Products like International SOS’s country guides will provide you with the most current information on everything you may need to know, including travel tips and information on health risks, medical care standards, and security alerts.

Plan for the Unlikely, But Possible – Take measures ahead of time to ensure you know how to best safeguard your health and safety when traveling to foreign lands. Find out what immunizations you need and ensure that you get them. Leave detailed copies of your itinerary with friends and family back home. Purchase a translation dictionary in the language of your destination. Enlist the services of a travel assistance company who can help you locate credentialed medical or security providers. This includes the ultimate failsafe of evacuating you when the medical or security situation puts you in harm’s way. These bits of planning will make all the difference when the unthinkable happens.

Back it Up – Ensure that you have access to your vital documents even when abroad. Scan in copies of your passport, driver’s license and credit cards and email them to yourself at an account you can access from the Internet. Invest in a service that will provide access to your medical records online no matter where you are. Ensure that your emergency contacts are listed in multiple places.

Stay Connected – A country’s security and health status can change at a moment’s notice. Sometimes you cannot rely solely on governments to keep you informed. Companies like International SOS provide e-mail medical and security alerts from the time you book a trip until you safely return home.

Rely on Experienced Professionals in Emergencies – Whether you forget your blood pressure medicine or are caught in the middle of a civil uprising, remember that you are not alone – your assistance company should be able to help you deal with anything that arises. Your passport was stolen and you are unable to communicate with local police? They can translate. In the middle of a natural disaster and need to get home? They can help you evacuate and repatriate. Travel assistance companies are experienced in helping travelers with whatever they need. Make sure you carry your travel assistance company’s phone numbers with you wherever you go – if you need them, you’ll be happy you did.

As told by John G. Rendeiro, Jr., Vice President, Global Security and Intelligence for International SOS Assistance, Inc. Rendeiro has more than 25 years of experience keeping the U.S. State Department’s travelers and expatriates safe around the world.

1. Take a single-destination trip. Instead of a driving trip incorporating several stops, head for one destination. Cities where attractions are accessible by foot or public transportation can help cut costs.
   Examples: In Grand Junction, Colorado’s major western slope vacation destination, for instance, a $1 shuttle runs from major hotel areas to downtown attractions. In Telluride, Colo., visitors have no need for a car at all once they arrive, thanks to the town’s free shuttle bus system and the world’s only energy efficient free gondola.
2. Consider going all-inclusive. Staying at one resort that offers a multitude of services, amenities, and activities can mean significant savings. For families with children (or adults!) who like to try their hand at many activities – and then get tired or bored – it can be especially helpful. Dude ranches are increasingly popular all-inclusive options for singles, couples, and families, and can range from rustic adventures on working ranches to world-class resorts. Example: Dude & Guest Ranches of Grand County, Colo.
3. Bypass the rental car. If you won’t absolutely need a car when you arrive at your destination, use public transportation to get there when possible. Airport shuttles, buses, and trains offer good alternatives. If you’re in an area where you’d be using taxis frequently, however, compare costs to determine if a rental car would be more economical. Better yet? Try vacationing in places where you can walk to everything. Even in the wide reaches of the American West, walkable towns abound. Examples: Ouray, Grand Lake, Telluride, Colo.
4. Get out of your car. Even if you are taking a vacation by car, think about constructing a trip that isn’t all driving. Go hiking, bicycling, or horseback riding. You’ll save money and likely lose a few inches, too. Examples: Mesa Verde Country, Colo., Southwest Colorado Travel Region.
5. (Don’t) follow the crowd. Off-season doesn’t have to mean winter in New England. Many U.S. destinations offer plenty of off-peak and shoulder-season rates in late spring, early summer, and late summer. Ski resorts generally offer significant savings before Christmas and in January and early February. And no matter where or when you travel, be sure to ask about any discounts. More lodging properties, restaurants, and attractions than ever are offering discounts this year thanks to a sluggish economy.
6. Create your own meal plan. Bed and breakfast inns and many hotels include breakfast. Spend a few minutes in the morning making sandwiches, or pay a visit to the local market, deli, and/or produce stand to make a fun, inexpensive lunch.
7. Take it a step further and incorporate agritourism, one of the tourism industry’s fastest-growing sectors, into your family vacation. Kids (and adults) enjoy learning first-hand how and where food is produced. Buying straight from the source saves in the big picture, too: You eliminate food’s travel and transport, and lessen your carbon footprint. Example: Delta County, Colo.
8. Think outside the (lodging) box. Bed and breakfast inns, historic inns, and rentals of condos, townhomes and houses all can offer interesting, value-priced accommodations. In many areas, hostels are no longer just for the college crowd. Home exchanges are becoming popular vacation options, and some Web sites listing exchanges also list homes in which the owners are open to renting part of their homes without an exchange. Also consider trading homes with a friend or relative, or house sitting.Even if you want to forego a tent, cost-saving camping options include rental cabins, yurts, or RVs (borrowed, rented, or owned – as long as you don’t eat up the savings by driving too far). Bring food and linens and “rough it” so you can splurge on an activity while there.
9. Visit loved ones. Staying with friends or relatives is a time-honored money-saver. Just be sure to treat them to a nice meal out and spring for a grocery shopping trip while you are there — and pick up after yourselves.

As told by Colorado travel expert and member of the Society of American Travel Writers, Gaylene Ore, president of Ore Communications in Granby, Colo.

1. How often do you travel: I have to be disciplined because I have a family and a business here in New York. I usually travel about 8 days per month whereas in my ‘previous life,’ I used to travel 20 days per month.

2. Favorite Hotel: I spend my professional life ever challenging my list of favorite hotels so this is a difficult question. The best way to answer this question is to defer to my most recent hotel stay at Nimb hotel in Copenhagen. Another one of my all time favorites is Como Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri in Bali - a truly amazing setting. It’s a place where you can really rest your mind.

3. Dream Trip: Namibia - I want to see the red dunes, surf on the coast, and take a safari. I’d also love to see the German ghost towns.

4. Worst Travel Story: I was working for Michelin in the early 90’s and was on a sales trip at a gold mine in the Philippines. Suddenly, some guys with guns came in and took me to a bungalow and kept me hostage and warned me I wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while. There was no explanation given, so the reasons remain unclear. The fire arms were pretty scary - especially hearing them the distance - but what was more terrifying was my roommate, an enormous flying cockroach. In the end, the guards found it so funny that I was so overwhelmingly afraid of this cockroach that they actually let me go after one night. I am forever indebted to that cockroach.

5. iPod travel mix - My passion for music is equal to my passion for hotels, so much so that I created a Web site dedicated to soundtracks for your travels called Tablet Tunes. My favorite mix on that site is Volume 3, with songs from Blur, Sigur Ros, Mylo, and many others. You can find the full list here.

After spending countless nights on the road in dreary, indistinguishable hotel rooms, Laurent Vernhes co-founded the Web site www.TabletHotels.com. The objective of TabletHotels.com is to be the definitive destination for global nomads who seek more than just a place to sleep.