The Best Business Travel Websites

By Charles DuBow, Business Week Travel Blog

The big travel sites are hustling for business travelers, but there are other good options.

AccessFares.com sells discount first-class and business-class tickets for international destinations on most major airlines.

Airlinequality.com offers extensive airline reviews and ratings.

Low-cost-airline-guide.com searches fares on budget airlines in Britain and Europe.

Kayak.com compares and displays prices from across the Web, often finding deals other travel sites don’t have. Fare alerts for flexible travel dates.

Vayama.com lets you book international travel on flights originating in the U.S. Includes fares from discounters ranging from posh L’Avion to no-frills Ryanair. Book four days in advance.

Wegolo.com finds deals on about 75 budget carriers to 700 destinations, combining different airlines’ outbound and inbound flights to get the lowest price. Flights from 12 states.

Yapta.com lets you “tag” prospective trips on domestic carriers and sends alerts when fares drop. The site tracks prices even after you’ve bought your ticket, so you can claim any refunds or credits.

orbitzforbusiness.com and expediacorporate.com provide managed travel services. For about $7 per transaction, you get access to corporate rates, online tools to keep spending in line with travel guidelines, and a real live person to guide you through it.

Seat61.com is a how-to guide to train and boat travel all over the world. It sorts information by country and continent and includes helpful links to schedules and ticketing agencies.

TripAdvisor.com gives recommendations about flights, hotels, and travel packages. You can also read customer accommodations reviews, travel advice, and browse links to travel sites relevant to your destination.

SeatGuru.com helps optimize your comfort while flying with helpful tips. The site has detailed plane layouts that show which seats will give you the most legroom and where you can plug in your power cord.

WebFlyer.com helps you make the most of your frequent flier miles by aggregating information about the deals, promotions, and merchandise that you can get with your miles. It also offers a membership program that extends miles past their expiration dates.

Concierge.com features articles about destinations world-wide as well as blog posts and advice from experienced travel writers. Last fall, site surveyed business travelers and came up with a list of the best hotel chains, airlines, and airports.

Uptake.com (Kango.com) helps travelers search over one thousand websites for travel destinations, hotels, and entertainment. If you’re flying to an unfamiliar city on business, this site is a good place to find things to do in your free time.

Fodors.com posts hotel and restaurant reviews as well as travel tips specific to your destination. You can find advice for business travelers, including tips on how to stay connected during a flight, on the site’s Travel News section.

SideStep.com looks for the cheapest flights, hotels, and car rentals. The website also has a daily “Top Deals” and “Last Minutes Deals” section.

Businesstravellogue.com is an online business travel guide with advice about everything from fitness on the road to how to charter a private jet. Quick but comprehensive travel info about major business capitals is also listed on the site.

cFares.com is a membership travel site that searches offers from airlines, wholesalers, and travel agents for the cheapest flights. Membership costs $50 per year, but the price might be worth it for frequent fliers.