Road Warrior Tips for the Extended Stay Traveler

Tag your Bag

Putting a name tag on your suitcase is a simple enough idea, but here are some variations that the regular traveler should consider. After all, who wants to be on the front end of a trip and be chasing down lost luggage?

Most of us put our contact information on our luggage. That is fine, so long as that address is where you want lost luggage delivered when it is found. Road Warrior uses two exterior tags, one with home or business contact information and another with the address and hotel room number (if available) of the hotel I’m staying at. The address of any Extended Stay Hotel can be easily found on the company website.

One word about baggage tags. Given the treatment of luggage at some airports, bag tags do sometimes come off bags. Take a couple of minutes to write out your destination address and other contact information and put it right inside your suitcase, where it is easily seen if the bag is opened.

But what about those carry on bags? Do they need tags as well? Actually, they do. There are a surprising number of identical carry on bags on the market, and with overhead bin space at a premium, you don’t always get space right above your seat.

Losing a carry on bag at the start of your trip can be a disaster, so put your contact info on these bags as well. Road Warrior suggests that contact information for all your bags include your cell phone number, as well as your destination and home address. That way if someone accidentally grabs your bag, there is a chance the fellow traveler will call looking for a lost bag.

Traveling is hard enough, so be sure you insure a great trip by keeping your luggage safe and booking a hotel reservation in a comfortable room at an Extended Stay Hotel.

November 17, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Avoiding Painful Travel

Saying that pain should be avoided is pretty obvious. Figuring out the best ways to accomplish this, however, takes a little help, so Road Warrior went to an expert at WebMD’s Back Pain Health Center for a little advice. As with any Internet advice, including Road Warrior, always check with your doctor or other professional before undertaking any changes in routine.

Here are some of the ideas our WebMD friends provided. First and foremost, stay relaxed and do things that are comfortable. You won’t get rid of backache by doing a bunch of painful exercises in a tiny hotel room. A large, comfortable room at one of our Extended Stay Hotels will help to reduce the stress of business travel that can keep that backache going.

Second, do gentle stretching and strengthening exercises in your most comfortable position. If sitting feels good, stretch with your hips bent. If standing is better, think about walking or other straight hip exercise. Remember, keep it comfortable.

If you must spend a lot of time in your car, take regular breaks to stretch and walk around. Don’t wait until you feel you need to stop; build in some rest time along the way. Drivers with seat heaters can deliver soothing warmth to lower back muscles by applying heat from time to time.

Daily stretching exercises, especially when traveling, can mean the difference between a great trip and a miserable time. WebMD has some helpful ideas and even provides pictures so you get the most from your effort. Click here to visit their site, and then click on “How do I exercise to reduce low back pain?” Road Warrior learned a few new tricks; you may as well.

As always, you should seek the advice of your physician with any concerns you have regarding a medical condition, as this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

November 14, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Travel Shouldn’t be a Pain

Ever reached for your suitcase in the airport and felt that sharp back pain? If you have, you might expect an uncomfortable few days on the road. Road Warrior has some ideas that might make your business travel a little more comfortable.

For most back pain sufferers, applying heat or cold helps relieve the pain. If heat is your preference, here are some ideas. Put a damp hand towel in the microwave for 30 seconds, adding more time if necessary. Place the warm towel in a plastic bag and apply to the appropriate area for 15 to 20 minutes, rewarming the towel as needed.

If cold is your preferred treatment, stop by the corner grocery and pick up a couple of bags of frozen peas. Because they confirm to almost any shape, they deliver plenty of cold to just the right places. If you don’t want to head to the store, put a damp hand towel in a plastic bag in a freezer for 15 minutes. Then apply the bag to the painful spot.

Hopefully you are staying at an Extended Stay Hotel since all of our hotel rooms have both a microwave and a freezer. After all, making you as comfortable as possible is what Extended Stay Hotels are all about.

Road Warrior has more ideas to help keep your business and pleasure travel painless, so come back again soon.

November 13, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Last Minute Hotel Deals for Week-End Travel (10/31/2008 and 11/1/2008)

We've just published our last-minute deals for new bookings for this week-end only. Check out Our Week-End Deals section by clicking here. Book now and get a great rate at favorite destinations like Orange County, Chicago, Seattle, or Washington, D.C.

* Orange County, CA - Rates from $51.99/night
* Orange County, FL - Rates from $39.99 a night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $43.99 a night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $47.99 a night
* Washington, D.C. Area - Rates from $47.99 a night

October 30, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Safety First

Someone once said that it is always “better to be safe than sorry.” We couldn’t agree more, especially when it comes to safeguarding our valuables when traveling.

Protecting our money, credit cards, and other valuables is not something most of us think about until we find that we have been pickpocketed and are scrambling to set things right.

A future Road Warrior blog will offer some ideas about dealing with a loss while traveling, but for now, let’s consider the “ounce of prevention” that is so preferable to the “pound of cure.”

First and foremost, when in a new place, be inconspicuous. If you’re attracting the attention of other travelers, you are also making yourself known to pickpockets. Thieves often choose the person flashing the most cash, wearing the most expensive clothing, or laughing the loudest in crowded bars or hotels.

To limit losses, carry only the cash and credit cards you need, leaving the rest in a secure place, like the free safety deposit box provided at the front desk of every Extended Stay Hotel. If you are traveling in pairs, split valuables between you and keep them in several locations on your person.

For men, front pants pockets are better than back pockets, since most thieves want your wallet and not to look you in the eye. Women travelers should wear their shoulder bags with the strap diagonally across their body.

Here’s a tip for those of us who love long walks along a crowded city street - walk against the pedestrian traffic. The clever pickpocket wants to slip up behind you, something made almost impossible by walking against the flow.

Whether we're on the road for fun or business travel, let’s be sure we remain one step ahead of those who would steal from us.