wi-fi (9)

There is nothing worse than having to navigate through some of the world's busiest airports whilst lugging around a heavy laptop as well. Enter EeePC from Asus. This low cost (USD300-700) computer allows you to surf the web (wi-fi), review documents and send emails. Not only does this little gem compete with normal laptops on price, the small dimensions (22.5cm (W), 17cm (D) and 2-3.38cm (H) and 1kg weight make it ideal for the business traveller. The latest model (EeePC 900) features an 8.9 inch screen, 12-20GB hard disk and built in webcam. Great for keeping in touch with the office or home. Whilst it certainly won't replace your laptop for long business trips (the keyboard is slightly small) and lacks the power for full scale presentations, it is ideal for the short business trip or using whilst commuting.

Got yourself an iPod Touch? Well now you can download Google Maps from iTunes which will allow you to access Google Maps on the move and pinpoint where you are on the map. GPS whilst having your tunes! It works particularly well in high-density places such as Singapore where wi-fi availability is high.

Going on business to Sheffield? Why not take the train to Doncaster and then another train from there instead of going direct. Trains to Doncaster take only half the time and the train provides wireless internet free. You'll arrive there in a shorter amount of time, have more trains to choose from and utilise your time on the journey.

JD Wetherspoons pubs and bars offer free wi-fi connection to their customers. Just enter username 'Spnsored' and password 'Service' when asked.

There are two very good hotels on Financial Street in the new business district. The Ritz-Carlton is in a modern glass building and has only recently opened, it has everything you’d expect from the brand and is exceptionally clean and new. There is a pool in it with a projection screen that shows films and there are also TVs in the bathrooms. The hotel can also send a car to pick you up from the airport. The other good hotel here is the Intercontinental, which was the first hotel in this area – although still quite new. The service is impeccable and there is free internet.

Just five minutes from the Central Business District, but away from the main tourist throng, the Park Hyatt has a superb location right on the edge of the water at Sydney harbour. They have a full business centre and wireless internet access in all the public areas. They also have a 24-hour butler service and the rooms are really comfortable.

If you want to be in with the media and creative set then I suggest you book a room at the New Majestic in Chinatown – it is a bespoke hotel in which each room has been designed by local names from the theatre, cinema and fashion industries. There is wireless broadband internet access in all the rooms and there are huge free-standing bath tubs and plasma TV screens.

Forget the big stuffy international hotels and book yourself into the Christian Lacroix designed Petit Moulin in the Mariais. It is a charming little hotel in a 17th century building that used to be a boulangerie and still has the old signage. There is wireless internet in all the rooms, and you are right in the heart of a very trendy district full of design shops and art galleries – getting into town isn’t difficult and the extra minutes spent traveling are well worth it for staying in such an original place, with none of the hollow impersonality of larger hotels.

The new place for doing business is the Bandra Kurla Complex; the Grand Hyatt is five minutes away and is very good, with an Italian restaurant that serves excellent pizza. The area’s a bit grungy but the hotel has its own ten-acre plot and once inside it has everything you’d want – including faxes in the rooms and Wi-Fi.