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Travel Etiquette
April 26, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
With strict security measures and record lines at airports, the amount of time travelers need to spend in airports is unprecedented. Hours must be spent waiting in airport terminals before flights and during layovers. This increase in airport time has led to an increase in airport annoyances, especially ones caused by fellow passengers. Daily Candy has even created a lexicon for a few of these travel pet peeves. New technologies help pass the time and can increase travel efficiency, but when used by inconsiderate travelers they are also quickly added to the list of aggravations. While waiting lounges in airports are now equipped with better connectivity and reception for gadgets, we must keep in mind that these devices need to be used with care and consideration so that everyone can have a better travel experience.
Passengers aren’t the only ones dealing with how to handle new technologies. In early April the Federal Communications Commission ruled to uphold the ban on cell phones during flight. The agency has been considering lifting its ban on cell phone usage on airplanes since 2004 and will continue to research the issue. The discussion mainly focused around the safety issues concerning cell phone use during flight, however the feedback they received supporting the decision revolved almost exclusively around the etiquette issue. Many were deeply relieved that the continued ban would keep cell phone noise pollution at bay and wouldn’t ruin future flights. This shows just how severe a problem the general lack of etiquette has become, particularly regarding cell phone use.
With new electronic devices coming out every week, the sources of audible disturbances are becoming more robust and diverse. Some distractions, such as loud podcasts played on laptops and blaring mp3 players, can be avoided by the simple precautions of high quality earphones and volume control. Other noise, such as important calls, may not be avoidable since business travelers are now more tethered to their cell phones than ever. Doing work during travel time is often a necessity with more time waiting in airports meaning less time to take care of work at the office. But this too can be made into a minimal interruption if handled properly. The best etiquette seems to be keeping audible interactions to a minimum and bracing yourself for future travel announcement regarding the usage of your mobile gadgets.
Indianapolis 500
April 24, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Speed junkie roadwarriors, your wait is almost over. On May 27, the Indianapolis 500 will roar in on its traditional Memorial Day weekend. Next month, this 500 mile long event will take place for the 91st time. The Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana is home to all of the excitement, so make sure to get a ticket and set your travel plans. While in town, make time to celebrate at the festival preceeding the race or just take in the great sites the city has to offer. Extended Stay Hotels offers three great locations near the Indianapolis 500 and seven altogether in the greater metropolitan area.
Women Business Travelers
April 23, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
According to a recent article in the International Herald Tribune, female travelers now account for 40% of all corporate roadwarriors. Women have quickly become a force to be reckoned with on the road and travel businesses are now taking notice. Yet many women still do not feel they command the respect their male counterparts enjoy. Are these companies offering the right attention to entice this valuable audience?
Not long ago, American Airlines tried what has been seen as an ill-conceived attempt at attracting these travel-savvy women. They created a purple hued website (the color has now been changed) with what many saw as patronizing advice. While some of the information there may or may not have been useful, the attempt to grab the female travel market appears to have backfired. Companies will be successful when women feel they are treated just as well as men, not differently, notes the Tribune.
The Tribune piece does admit that there are differences between the travel preferences of men and women. One of the differences is that women are more interested in the hotel basics such as clean rooms and safety precautions. Women also put more emphasis on certain room amenities such as free local calls. But in the end, it turns out that nearly all the things women want, like more leg room in coach on airplanes, are just what any traveler wants. There's no need for special treatment, just good service. And that seems to be precisely the point many women are making regarding AA.com.
The Herald Tribune article goes on to mention some other travel portals that have been successfully catering to women travelers, including Women-traveling.com, Womenstravelclub.com, and Journeywoman.com. We'd also like to think that Road Warrior Tips is a valuable travel advice portal, for male and female roadwarriors alike.
Travel Widgets
April 19, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
A laptop computer is a staple on most business trips. It allows you to organize work, make travel arrangements, and connect with friends, family, and colleagues. This faithful companion is arguably your most helpful travel tool, but beyond the functions you normally use, it can do even more than you might imagine. Adding travel widgets can maximize your laptop’s usefulness during your business travels. Widgets are web gadgets that are easily accessible because they appear on your screen and are organized on your Mac OS X Dashboard or on your PCs toolbar. Travel widgets for both Macs and PCs can be downloaded from the Internet and can make your travels easier on a variety of levels, from navigating local traffic and transportation to getting weather updates. They can even to help you feel closer to loved ones on your trip.
A number of websites are devoted to the now popular world of widgets. Imagine being able to navigate in a new place with ease, find faster routes at frequently-visited locations, organize work contact information, and dress for the elements without even going beyond your desktop. Some notable travel widgets for Mac can help you do things like navigate the BART system in San Francisco or do a business card search that helps you search by name or even card color. A similar world of widgets awaits Windows users like a traffic check plugin or a widget that can help dispel travel blues by letting you kiss a picture of a loved one before bed.
While there are seemingly endless directories of widgets to be found on the Internet, including many that are extremely useful for travel, some of the ones you want may not be formatted for your operating system. Never fear, there are programs out there to help with this dilemma too. For instance, the Amnesty Generator can take any Google Gadget, or almost any type of web widget, and make it work on Windows Vista. Taking the few minutes to download one, or a bunch, of these fun and practical travel widgets can make your business trip that much more pleasant and efficient.
Packing Light
April 17, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The days of frequent flyers zipping in and out of airports with nothing but a carry-on are all but over. The TSA restrictions on liquids and gels have increased the number of bags airports need to check, which in turn leads to longer lines, more lost baggage, and an all around longer trip. But there is hope in the old stand-by tactic of packing light. It is a solution to the now common airport hold-ups and is becoming a necessity for today’s business traveler.
Packing light can be the difference between having to check your bag and taking it on the plane with you. It can also improve your trip since lighter bags are less physically taxing to carry and enable more efficient travel. Today’s tools for packing light range from simple approved toiletry bottles to the latest lightweight gadgets that help you stay on top of business.
The TSA 3-1-1 guidelines make it important to find the perfect travel-sized toiletry bottles and jars to speed along your trip. Pouring your lotions from bottle to bottle takes time and may cause some to get contaminated. A great solution is Kiehl’s personal grooming products for men and women because while many companies find it too expensive to constantly give out sample sizes of their products, Kiehl’s will always give you a sample of whatever you request. You can travel with regulation sized products without sacrificing your personal comforts.
One gadget that is light to pack and can help keep track of your work is The Scanalizer from NeatReceipts. It is the size of a ruler and can scan receipts and business cards which can then be organized into an expense account spreadsheet or used to send follow-up emails after a trade show. This is ideal for keeping your luggage light, paper-free, and organized. The Olympus DS-40 digital voice recorder is also useful for packing light. It has a detachable mic and is only 4.37” x 1.48” x .63” large. It can make recordings that can be turned into podcasts, giving you the ability to quickly send colleagues audio from the meeting.
Digital Photo Gadgets Can Make the Difference
April 12, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Perhaps the hardest thing about being a road warrior is leaving your friends, family, and home behind on many of your trips. And while you might have to be away, you don’t necessarily have to leave everything familiar behind. In terms what you can bring yourself, short of strapping your kid to your luggage, there are innovative digital photo gadgets to help take along more of the comforts of home.
One of these gadgets is the Brookstone Digital Photo Keychain, which is a modern-day locket that can be updated with new pictures. For even more high-tech pictures from home, you may also want to look at the devices you already have. For instance, many of the popular iPods already come with photo album capabilities.
Another great portable light weight (but maybe not so pocket-friendly) digital photo gadget is the Sony Vaio Notebook TX Series starting at only 2.84 lbs. with lots of memory to store photos that you can organize, share, edit, and even set as your background and screen-saver. Since you probably already need a laptop for work, it can serve double duty and keep you close to family and friends with photo albums. And through email, you can get the most recent pictures from loved ones as well as sending them photos from your travels.
In the end, it’s all about bringing a little bit of comfort along with you. For instance, you can take the Philips PhotoFrame on your longer stays and hang up all your pictures with one frame, making your hotel room a little more welcoming. Extended Stay Hotels provides many amenities to make your stay feel more like home, but these digital gadgets can help add an extra personal touch.
Kentucky Derby Races In
April 11, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The Kentucky Derby coming up on the first Saturday of May. Tickets are on sale now and you can brace yourself for the "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" at Chruchill Downs racetrack. If you’re not attending the race, you can just come in for the two weeks of the Kentucky Derby Festival preceeding the race and soak in the atmosphere, history, and experience of the race for the roses at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Extended Stay Hotels has four convienient locations in Louisville , St. Matthews, Dutchman, Hurstbourne, and Alliant Drive which are perfect for Kentucky Derby lovers. Enjoy the spirit of the Bluegrass Region!
Pet Travel Evolves
April 9, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Pet travel has been evolving and now there are even more options for the pet lover on the go. There are many new services that can give you peace of mind when it comes to traveling with or without your pet. For instance, pet directories are available online, letting you locate resources your pet may need at your travel destination. This is the way to go to get help with many of your travel inquiries like airline pet safety or even emergency pet services. Other online pet services like petsmo.com offer directory services with the added bonus of pet message boards where users can post pet travel inquiries or tips. If you do not find what you need online, try asking the hotel desk. They may be able to recommend services, such as a pet sitter. This way you can be sure your pet is cared for during the day while still enjoy their company at night.
Not every trip is pet perfect. If you decide not to take your pet on your next trip, there are lots of other options. Companies such as FETCH! Pet Care offer a range of services from in-home overnight sitting to pet taxi. This business has lots of locations and there may be one near you, but if not there are definitely many more places offering these kinds of services than ever before. You may even be able to work with your own employers to get these services. FETCH! has made a one of a kind partnership with Caregivers On Call which includes pet sitting and dog walking services as employee benefits. This shows that other businesses are starting to understand, just as Extended Stay Hotels has, that pets are an important part of the family and must be included.
Podcast Audio Tours
April 5, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Audio walking and historical tours are now personal and handy. This is big news for the frequent traveler who would like to finally learn something about the destinations in their blurry whirlwind journeys. The tour experience is now liberated from the constraints of hot sweaty groups of tourists straining their ears and following the leader. Along with the convenient MP3 form, audio tour podcasts are media files that are available streaming on the internet or for download to your portable media player or iPod. They provide excellent value for your money and give you the freedom to do your own thing.
There is a wide variety of audio tours to choose from. The city walk personal tour is one that usually lasts 45 minutes to an hour and literally instructs you where to walk and tells you about what you are seeing. Some even include a map. An educational audio tour usually instructs you in your wanderings around a museum, educational center, or specific historical landmark tourist destination and is sometimes provided directly by the tourism office of your destination, or the website of the actual institution you are visiting. There are audio tour downloads available for no cost at all through podguides.net, where users can even generate their own podcast.
For those who don’t have time to walk around, historic or informational audio guides provide you with a detailed background of your destination, or give commentary and expert advice on various travel topics for before you depart. There really is something for every interest level and busy schedule when it comes to personal audio tours on your portable media player.
Travel Deductions
April 2, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April is a month when taxes are on everyone's mind. As you pay the government for 2006 and consider the financial outlook of 2007, you may want to keep ideas in mind for future deductions. For instance, a recent San Jose Mercury News article discusses the possibility of deducting vacation expenses. The article notes that one way to do this is to, "Vacation somewhere you can take continuing professional education courses. If you are required to complete continuing education courses for your job, try to take them somewhere you wouldn't mind visiting anyway. Such travel is deductible, so find that course in Florida and bring the family along." While you may consider deductions for strictly business trips, you can also do this for leisure trips as long as you're willing to roll up your sleeves and do some work while you're at your chosen destination.
