2014 arrived with extreme cold, with record snow fall and the worst winter travel conditions we have seen in years. Though the weather is out of our control, travelers can prepare for a safe and wonderful trip with our top travel tips for 2014. Here's looking forward to April showers and May flowers!

1. Remember to cancel your room if your flight is cancelled or rescheduled.

Luckily, all FedRooms hotels allow you to cancel your reservation up until 4:00pm (some later) on your expected day of arrival.

2. Join and take advantage of loyalty programs.

Many hotels offer amazing benefits and perks to frequent travelers. Membership is free, points are earned over time and some properties even offer exclusive benefits and programs for corporate travelers. There's no reason not to join!

3. Get social.

Connect with FedRooms and our hotel partners on social media forums to keep up with the latest industry news.

4. Download travel apps.

GSA's Office of Charge Card Management (OCCM) is in the process of developing a SmartPay app (expected to launch later this summer) so cardholders can access charge card best practices and tax exemption information directly from the GSA SmartPay website.

5. Remember 3-1-1.

3-ounce bottles or less, in a one quart plastic bag, one bag per passenger at the checkpoint.

6. Save all of your receipts.

Be sure to document all components of your trip to ensure proper itemization and prepare for possible audits.

7. Back up important documents in electronic form.

Better safe than sorry!

8. Keep an emergency stash of money.

If something happens and you lose your wallet, you will need to have a back-up stash to hold you over.

9. Leave your toiletries at home or use smaller bottles.

These take up less room, are lighter and you can reuse them. If you use plain bottles, make sure you label them with a pen that won’t wash or rub off. You don’t want end up with body wash in your hair!

10. Take advantage of those "hidden" spaces.

For example, place small items inside your shoes or the pockets of shirts or jackets you pack.

11. Don't pack what you can get at your destination.

Most FedRooms hotels have a hair dryer in each room, along with many toiletry items. Leave that extra space in your bag for some souvenirs!

12. Pack extra bags in your bag.

Packing a duffle bag in your luggage gives you extra space to bring things home with you or to separate your dirty laundry.

13. Beware of hidden costs.

FedRooms guarantees that travelers won't be caught by surprise with hidden fees, so the rates that you see are the rates that you will be charged.

14. Call your bank and let them know if you will be traveling abroad.

Most banks and credit card companies keep track of spending patterns and may interpret an unexpected overseas purchase as credit card fraud. Make sure that you call and notify them so you do not get locked out of your account.

* Have we missed any? Join in the conversation by connecting with us on Facebook, we’d love to hear from you!

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What is your role in FedRooms?

I am the new Manager of Marketing and Communications for CWTSatoTravel, which manages the FedRooms program. Through this role, I support the FedRooms team by creating external communications materials and spearheading all marketing initiatives.

What do you love about working with FedRooms?

I really love that when I’m working on FedRooms projects, no two days are the same. I am lucky to be a part of such a wonderful team that I look forward to interacting with whenever I go to work in the morning.

What are three words that best describe you?

Passionate, dedicated and creative.

Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, I love watching and cheering for my favorite sports teams – the Penguins, Pirates and of course, the Steelers! I also play in an intramural volleyball league.

What is something on your bucket list?

I love going on adventures and am a bit of an adrenaline junkie. I have been to 16 countries from the time that I was in high school until now, and have crossed a couple of things off of my bucket list already including hiking up the Great Wall of China and sky diving in New Zealand! The next thing on my bucket list is zip lining through the rain forest.

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"I just loved the Blennerhassett in Parkersburg, WV!  Fedrooms was great at agilely adding them in time for our business trip there.  Little did I know – there was a side story on the hotel…  It’s been the location for several ghostly sightings…. One of my colleagues had a similar experience during our trip – where the elevator opened on the 2nd floor without anybody seemingly having pressed the elevator button on her trip up/down…  Doing some research the hotel is a favorite for ghost tours in the area!"

- A happy (perhaps frightened) FedRooms customer from the Office of Inspector General, Dept of Housing and Urban Development