Disney raising prices, airfare is higher, even the political issues) coupled with a massive oversupply. 

have a friend with a development project in Joplin Missouri ,who has bought a car to leave near an airport to save on car rentals. but on other properties id need to plan for airfare and car rentals hotel etc.

I have always invested closest to home so all the little emergency things can be handled locally our network of Contractors Plumbers,Electricians are also all local. out of state plan on at least 4 tripts in the first year if renovating Air fare X4 Hotel /Motel Rental Cars all can drag you into a negative cost cycle. unless the size of the deal makes Travel expenses irrelevent add them to your buget forecasting. 

The only deduction is the cost of your lunch with Ashish.Here is a good common sense test: would a reasonable person pay for airfare, hotel and whatnot just to interview a potential new CPA?

Pay for their airfare, food, etc. so there is no cost to them.

I want to get a clearer idea of what travel expenses I can write off, but I don't want to get into a gray area of risky tax practices, so here's my question: If I'm in town for a week, can I treat the first three days as a work trip and the rest as personal time, and write of the airfare and business costs with confidence that I'm not muddying the waters?

If I will be investing thousands of dollars I really think the cost of airfare and a brief stay can't be compared.

If this is a one time shot then fly your friend in but remember housing him costs, transportation daily to work, food costs, airfare etc.

For a few hundred bucks, hotel & air fare... you can immerse yourself in a pool of hundreds of sophisticated and accredited investors.Step #2- Follow up with all the people you met and strengthen the relationship you started. 

And make sure to visit the property-could be well worth the airfare.