Business Travelers’ Pet Peeves
According to a survey published in USA Today, what irks business travelers' the most when they are on the road are: * Flight delays 51% * Being away from loved ones 33% * Not getting a restful sleep 30% * Airport security 27% The USA Today survey was taken before the Christmas Day 2009 'underwear bomber' incident, so airport security may rate a lot higher now, but the overall pet peeves will probably remain the same. Our own survey taken at SmartWomenTravelers.com showed similar complaints; balancing home with work and travel as women's biggest complaint and flight delays as the next highest travel issue. What are some ...
A Spa In Your Hotel Room
It’s challenging to find time for ourselves, especially when we split our time between home and travel. When you’re out of town, it’s all too easy to focus all of your time on work, dinners and hopefully a bit of work-out time. With the spa ideas below, you’ll enjoy an evening of quiet bliss, away from it all! You’re already away from home, so get over the guilt of not being available to your family. Giving yourself the gift of quiet time will present you with new ideas and insights, and you, your family and your work will be better ...
Pearls of Wisdom from a Frequent Business Traveler
Research shows that 40-50% of business travelers are women. Many times each year, women dash out their front doors, luggage wheels spinning behind them, waving goodbye to their loved ones as they head out on another business trip. I am part of this statistic. Last year I traveled 48 weeks of the year. During these 48 weeks, my husband managed the home front. My kids are grown now, but for the majority of their lives I have been a traveling businesswoman. I’ve learned a lot over the years on what works well and what doesn’t when it comes to keeping the ...
Top 7 Tips for Packing Your Suitcase
It’s taken me several years to perfect the suitcase packing, and I’m almost there! I still take too many books and magazines to read, but otherwise have a very compact suitcase that is easy to lift into overhead bins, rental car buses and car trunks. Here are some tips that have worked for many experienced female travelers: 1. Decide on a color-of-the-week so that only one pair of shoes is needed. I work around one color scheme: Black and gray for the week so that I only need black shoes, or brown and tan with brown shoes. If I leave for the ...
Travel Gem for February 8th
New travel apps for (most) everyone! Blackberry users get Trip-It; iPhone users get Siri. The popular Trip-It app became available to Blackberry users on January 20th. The Siri Personal Assistant for iPhone users was released on February 5th. Both are of great value to folks on the go. Learn more about TripIt’s free mobile apps for BlackBerry, Android and iPhone at www.tripit.com/uhp/mobile. Siri... [Read more]
When You Open the Hotel Mini-Bar, What Do You Grab?
I’m curious as to how many people partake of the goodies in a hotel mini-bar. For those that do, is it out of desperation for food or drink after arriving into a hotel room late at night with a growling stomach, or is it an easy and quick snack or beverage that you routinely indulge in? Enough people must obviously grab food and drinks from the mini-bars as the hotels would most likely not have them... [Read more]
Travel Gem for February 5th
Have your kids build a postcard collection of your travels by picking up a few postcards at the airport upon arrival (bring postcard stamps from home). Each day, write a few words about where you’re visiting, what you love about your family, and any other journal-type of writing. Mail one every couple of days, or at least once per trip. Have your kids save these postcards in a binder with clear plastic... [Read more]
What Happens to Your Miles When You Die?
Many of us save our air miles and hotel points for that special international trip or for retirement when we dream of having lots of time (and hopefully money!) to travel. In a perfect world, the day we expire is the day we’re on a trip enjoying the last of our rewards. But chance are, there may be a few miles, or million miles, in your account when you head to your permanent vacation spot in the... [Read more]
Travel Gem for February 4th
An easy way to have a ‘picture’ of the important pages of your passport is to take a photo with your camera phone. Not only will you have a backup copy of your passport, but when filling out traveler forms you can get your passport number from the photo rather than pulling out (and risk losing) your passport. Read More →
Featured Smart Woman Traveler: Cassie Parks
Q: Why are you on the road and how often do you travel? A: Lately my travel is about once a month. As The Shift Your Life Coach, www.shiftyourlifecoach.com I travel mostly for business to speak and promote my coaching services. However, I have vowed to myself this year will include more “just for fun” travel as well. Cassie Parks Q: Where else do you like to visit and do you use any travel websites... [Read more]
Travel Gem for February 3rd
Hang on to your stuff, says senior Gate Agent! Check your seat, seat pockets and overhead bin before leaving your flight. It is amazing how many items are left behind on a plane. If you discover your items missing before the next flight boards, there is a great chance of your item being recovered. However, after the flight has boarded or left the gate, your chances of recovery diminish. If you do forget... [Read more]
Travel Gem for February 2nd
When you want to keep the liquids and gels at a minimum but still want your shaving gel, use the hotel’s hair conditioner instead. The conditioner will soften up the hair for easy shaving and let you leave one more restricted items at home. Read More →
Pearls of Wisdom from a Frequent Business Traveler
Research shows that 40-50% of business travelers are women. Many times each year, women dash out their front doors, luggage wheels spinning behind them, waving goodbye to their loved ones as they head out on another business trip. I am part of this statistic. Last year I traveled 48 weeks of the year. During these 48 weeks, my husband managed the home front. My kids are grown now, but for the majority... [Read more]
Travel Gem for February 1st
Don’t be caught without a phone number or address while you’re driving! You can’t find the restaurant where you’re supposed to be meeting your best friend or biggest client, nor do you have their telephone number. Don’t panic. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road and use Google’s information number (800-466-4411) (store this number right now in your mobile phone!). Provide... [Read more]
Travel Gem for January 29th, 2010
To involve your family in your business travels, find local foods from your destination and make a meal with your kids before or after your trip. A local cookbook is fun to pick up also. It’s fun to create new meals with your family, and your kids will be trying new foods, learning about local cultures and food combinations from around the world. Read More →
Travel Gem for January 28th, 2010
Hotel room curtains letting the light in at night because they won’t stay closed? Do not be sleep deprived or feel unsafe. Travel with a ‘chip clip’ or other plastic clip that can be used to clip together the curtains (or small role of duct tape). Read More →
