Traveler's gazette: a potpourri of handy travel tips for conventioneers.

The early bird gets the worm couldn't be truer when it comes to registering for meetings and conventions. People who sign up early save money, can attend more events, get better rooms and can make the most out of networking, says Nancy Dunnan, editor of TravelSmart, a newsletter for business travelers.

To encourage its members to register for its annual convention in advance, the National Medical Association blocked hotel reservations until members had actually registered. "[In the past] We'd have all the hotel rooms booked, but few people regisiered," says Pat Norman, director of meeting and travel planning for the Washington, D.C.-headquartered organization.

Here are other reasons you should sign up early: 1. The sooner you register, the better a convention registration rate you get. 2. Most conventions arrange for special airfare and hotel rates, but these deals are time and space limited. The longer you wait, the more you pay. 3. Your chances of being locked out of flights and rooms at the on-site hotel are greater if you delay. 4. The earlier you register, the better your chances of not having to share a room. If there are other major conventions going on in the city at the same time, you may be strapped to find a hotel room near the headquarters hotel, convention hotel or in the area. 5. Latecomers get locked out of special workshops, dinners, seminars. The most popular events will offer limited seating and fill up quickli. 6. Prearranged off-site activities will also offer limited space. 7. "By making plans early, you can also start networking early," says Dunnan. Call up colleagues to find out if they will be attending and arrange get-togethers. 8. Parents attending a convention usually have to arrange for child care, either at home or at the meeting. And if there are special children's programs at the convention, your child may get locked out if you wait until the last minute. 9. The sooner you make your travel plans, the easier travel becomes. For instance, you don't want to worry about getting your passport validated--if you need it--at the last minute. 10. Finally, knowing the itinerary in advance helps you when packing.

Off-site or on-site? Before you make your hotel reservations for your next convention, consider several factors--the right choice can even boost your career.

"I think it behooves the attendee to stay at an on-site hotel," says Diane Johnson, convention sales manager at the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. For instance, "the on-site hotel is probably the best place to network," she says. "It's where all the action is. You're where all the meetings will be held, the banquets, workshops and seminars."

It's also safer for female travelers, says Stacey Ravel Abarbanel, author of Smart Business Travel How to Stay Safe When You're on the Road (First Books, Chicago). "You're surrounded by people you know, people who will notice if you've failed to show up for events, she explains.

But there are several reasons to consider staying offsite. If it's a major convention with numerous other events going on at the same time, the hotel resources may be scarce. The business center may be packed, telephones tied up, the hotel staff overworked and messages and faxes left for you may get lost. In short, you may not be able to stay in touch with the office or get work done.

For Clifford Brown, a partner in the New York law firm of Jackson, Brown & Powell, his hotel choice depends on the kind of convention he's attending. "For a Jack the Rapper-type convention (an annual music industry event known for being overcrowded), I would stay off-site. You can get work done and you don't have to worry about the noise," he says. "But I recently went to a conference for black entertainment and sports lawyers. I stayed on-site. It was at a resort hotel and in this case, you wanted to be where the action was."

Fifty-three percent of conventioneers say they constantly worry about what's going on back at the office, according to a recent study by Hyatt Hotels. Dwight Hudgins, owner of Impatiens Designs Inc., a landscape architecture firm in Plainsboro, N.J., stays in constant touch when he's away. "There's the pager, cellular phone [in carl, flip phone, answering machine and service," says Hudgins, who also checks in with clients regularly. "If they [clients] know I'm in touch, they feel secure," he says. Hudgins also makes sure everyone in his firm knows where to reach him.

This abundance of technology has made it easier for Hudgins and others to stay in the office loop. Hotels are also doing their part. Many have business centers equipped with fax machines, phones and computers, and/or may offer complete business services, including secretaries. Usually, frequent-stay guests can use these centers free of charge.

For example, Hyatt's Business Plan floors have a separate work center offering faxes, no phone access charges, printers, copiers, workstations and even free breakfast. The concierge can also tell you where area business services, such as Kinko's Copies, are located. Most major conventions also set up a special communications room equipped with various business services.

There are other new high-tech innovations that make it easy to stay in touch. Inflight calling systems on Delta and USAir shuttle flights to Boston, New York, and Washington allow those on the ground to phone and fax passengers. A new global communications service from Comsat uses a briefcase-size satellite telephone, with Mobile Link to let users make calls from anywhere. Or try using Sharp's hand-held fax machine. The OZ-9520FX Wizard Pocket Communicator creates and sends faxes, transmits and receives modem messages. On the other hand, FollowFax from Alphanet Telecom provides call forwarding and forwards faxes.

But while you want to stay in touch with the office, don't bombard your employees with phone calls. They have work to do, just like you!

More Americans are taking their children along on business trips, according to the U.S. Travel Data Center in Washington, D.C. More than 42 million business travelers took a child to a meeting in 1993, an increase of 34% over the past five years. Some convention groups like the National Medical Association recognize that these gatherings are often the family's annual vacation.

But it takes planning to make sure your child is occupied while you're working. Check with convention organizers to find out if they have made special provisions for children. Some conventions will set up babysitting rooms. Also, call the hotel directly to learn about any programs they may have geared toward children and teens.

Investigate carefully before using a hotel service, says Bill McCoy, senior editor in charge of travel at Parents magazine.

1. Find out the cost of the program, which typically can range from $25 to $40 per day. And if necessary, find out about babysitting services, which cost from $5 and up per hour. 2. What are the hours and months of the program? Some services are only open during the summer, while others may be open all year. 3. The staff should be experienced in early childhood education, child development and/or recreation. 4. Someone on staff Should be trained in CPR, first aid and lifesaving. 5. What's the kids-to-adults ratio? There should be at least one adult per every six kids; the younger the children, the more adults. 6. What are the age requirements? 7. Who can pick up your child? "The rules shouldn't be lax," says McCoy. "Only you or your spouse should be able to pick up your child." 8. Can parents take part in the activities? You should be able to spend time with your child when you can. 9. How will they handle an emergency? "They should contact you right away," says McCoy.

If the hotel doesn't have a children's program, most will arrange for babysitters, as does the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco. "And the concierge can put together a list of children's activities off-site," says Caroline Craig, hotel spokesperson.