Rent or Rideshare? It's one of the most common decisions every road warrior makes — and the wrong one costs you time, money, and energy. Bryan Buckley breaks down exactly how to decide, every trip, every city.

The 5 Key Factors: Rent vs. Rideshare

1. Cost — Rideshare isn't always cheaper. Factor in surge pricing, parking, gas, and insurance before assuming either way.
2. Hassle — Rentals come with upsells and return inspections. Rideshare is simple pickup and drop-off. Pro tip: grab rental car damage protection through Alliance Global Assistance for $9/day.
3. Destination — Research traffic and transit before you land. NYC is a rideshare city. Other destinations demand a car.
4. Danger — Uber carries $1 million liability coverage in the US. Background checks exist, but so do reported incidents. An important factor, especially for solo travelers.
5. Freedom — Rentals give you spontaneity. Rideshare means a 10–15 minute wait. Know your travel style.

Uber vs. Lyft 84% of drivers work both platforms — so choose based on availability. International travelers: Uber only outside the US.

Rental Car Company Rankings Based on a survey of 10,000 road warriors — and only 31 points separate first from last. Pickup time matters most.

• Hertz — Best airport locations
• Enterprise — Most US locations, best for avoiding fees
• Alamo — Best for unlimited miles, millennial favorite
• National — Skip-the-line Emerald Club, choose your own car
• Avis — Best for international rentals
• Thrifty — Best value and online check-in
• Dollar — Best rewards program, no blackout dates
• Budget — Cheapest in the industry

Bryan's Personal Strategy

Rideshare when: Leaving from home, downtown big cities, single-destination trips.

Rental when: Multi-city routes, hauling colleagues, last day of the trip with luggage in tow.

Bryan's go-to: National Car as an Executive Elite member — pick any car on the lot, including access to the newest vehicles.

Twenty years on the road leaves a mark — and Bryan Buckley isn't hiding it. In this episode built specifically for the Seasoned Road Warrior, Bryan gets honest about what business travel looks like at 56, what's changed across all six energy habits, and two personal disclosures that reshaped everything.

The Six Energy Habits — Seasoned Road Warrior Edition:

1. Move — It's no longer about peak performance. It's "do something, anything — not just nothing." Intentional movement, fitness center or not, every day.
2. Fuel — Whole Foods, grocery stores, and a simple four-word mantra: Make The Healthiest Choice. The road doesn't make you eat poorly — your choices do.
3. Rest — Bryan switched hotel chains for better sleep. That's how seriously rest is taken now. Rested means sharper, more effective, and more present in every area.
4. Perform — Smarter, not harder. The Big 3 planning principle keeps priorities clear and performance high — even on the road.
5. Develop — Reading on flights, an iPad mini loaded with books, and a growing spiritual practice that now anchors every road trip.
6. Connect — Five kids at five different life stages. FaceTime, daily texts, and three consistent questions: What was your boom, your bummer, and your blessing?

My Biggest Road Change — Alcohol Bryan spent a career justifying his drinking. Corporate dinners, happy hours, company cards. After honest conversations with his wife and a counselor, he made a complete change — on the road and at home. Coming up on five years of sobriety, he shares the truth behind the decision.

My Biggest Road Challenge — Migraines Gallbladder surgery. Rotator cuff. Prostate cancer. All hard. None of it compares to living with severe neurological migraines on the road — averaging two to three injections per day. Bryan gets raw about flexibility, reliance, and the perspective chronic pain forces on you.

📚 Resources mentioned:

Elite Road Warrior

Elite Business Travel Boss

The Road Warrior After God's Own Heart

All available on Amazon now

In this episode, host Bryan Buckley shares his hard-won wisdom about one of the most critical decisions for any business traveler: choosing the right hotel. Drawing from his own rookie mistakes (including a first business trip that nearly had him eating plain bologna sandwiches with stolen condiments), Brian breaks down the seven essential factors that can make or break your hotel stay.

What You'll Learn

The 3 Primary Hotel Selection Drivers:

• Budget Driven
  • Making decisions based solely on allocated spending (with tips on how to navigate this challenging approach)
• Chain Driven
  • Loyalty to a specific hotel brand like Marriott or Hilton
• Rewards Driven
  • Maximizing points and benefits through credit cards or booking sites

The 7 Key Factors for Choosing Business Travel Hotels:

1. Hotel Location
   • Proximity to clients, customers, or conference venues
2. Hotel Amenities
   • Four critical amenities to enhance your stay:
     • Restaurant
       • On-site dining convenience
     • Bar
       • Social meeting space (with cautions about overindulgence)
     • Fitness Center
       • Essential for maintaining Energy Habit #1: Move
     • Kitchen
       • Control your nutrition and save money

Pro Tips Shared in This Episode:

• Check restaurant menus immediately after check-in to avoid reactive food choices
• Apply the 1:1 drink-to-water ratio at hotel bars
• Visit the fitness center before going to your room to plan your workouts
• Stay at hotels with kitchens to maximize control over your nutrition (Brian lost 10 pounds in one month using this strategy!)

Special Announcement

Episode 100 is coming! Register for free giveaways and celebration content from past subject matter experts at eliteroadwarrior.com/097

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 15: Maximizing Your Home Away From Home
• Free Resource: Top 10 Business Travel Hacks Guide
• Hotel booking comparison site (link in show notes)

Connect with Bryan:

• LinkedIn: Bryan Buckley
• Website: Elite Road Warrior
• Instagram: @EliteRoadWarrior

The Six Energy Habits Framework:

• Physical: Move, Fuel, Rest
• Mental: Perform, Develop, Connect

Episode Takeaway: The longer you travel, the more these seven factors matter. Take control of your hotel stays and make choices that support your physical and mental energy, allowing you to eliminate burnout and exceed results as an elite road warrior.