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New Passport Regulations Effective Oct. 1st

September 28, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Effective Oct. 1, 2007, U.S. Citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda must present a passport or other WHTI-compliant documentation to enter or depart from the United States. This ruling, officially enacted last January as part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, was suspended after an overwhelming surge in passport applications. Unfortunately for any Road Warriors who were counting on this respite, once again you will have to be very mindful of longer wait times to receive a passport. However, it may be worth biting the bullet and going through this long process now because it’s only going to get longer. The good news is that you will probably only have to go through it once since the passport renewal process does not seem to be as affected by the back log.

Commute Times

September 26, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Commute times in the morning are getting earlier and earlier. Many commuters are finding that they have to leave earlier in the morning than they ever have before just to beat massive wait times in traffic, and ward off road rage. This marks a significant shift, affecting everything from coffee shops to major corporations, and business travelers should take note.

One in 8 people are now leaving by 6 a.m. to get to work and the number will go higher. This aptly named "commuting creep," is changing people's lives in many significant areas such as when they receive their morning paper, what TV programs they watch, where to get coffee, carpooling, family time, fitness routines, and traffic-signal timing. For business travelers this means that when you are heading out for that meeting be sure to check the traffic report and be wary of extra traffic even in the early hours of the morning.

Fortunately, Extended Stay Hotels has convenient locations close to many corporate headquarters so commute times don't have to be a headache. Being closer means that you can spend your time doing more important things than sitting in traffic.

Fast Breakfast Ideas

September 21, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Weather you're on a business trip or at home, many people are crunched for time in the morning and may skip breakfast. As we all know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day for children and adults, giving our metabolisms a boost, helping us focus, and even warding off unwanted pounds. Just because you’re rushing to that morning meeting or trying to get the rest of your family ready for the day doesn't mean breakfast can't fit into your morning routine.

Having a fast breakfast can be healthy and even portable, letting you eat well even while on the run. It can either be made quickly in the morning, or the night before, and it doesn’t need to have a lot of ingredients. Try scrambled eggs in a whole-wheat wrap, instant oatmeal, or a hard boiled egg made the night before with a piece of fruit. Children can eat the same fast breakfast as you do, which saves even more time than if you had to make different meals.

Making your own food while on the road for business can be as convenient as when you're at home. Extended Stay Hotels has a kitchen in all suites so with a little preparation it’s easy to fix your own meals and still get to that meeting on time.

Biweekly Meetings

September 18, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Picture this: you get an email stating that the recurring meetings at the client's office will take place biweekly. What does this do to your schedule? How often are you expected to make the trip? It could be twice a week or every other week. This little bit of ambiguity could make a big difference and end up causing a lot more or a lot less traveling than expected. Granted, in this world of instant communication, a quick call or email could clarify the matter, but if it is so unclear that each meeting attendee must double check, that becomes very inefficient. Why can't there be one definition of biweekly?

There are ways to avoid this. While biweekly has multiple definitions, there are other words that do not. Semiweekly clearly denotes twice a week. Fortnightly is every other week and would be hard to confuse. It may not be the standard, but at least it is readily understood. Then at least you are being clear.  And if a coworker or colleague uses biweekly, never assume you know what they mean.

And the same holds true for bimonthly, meaning twice a month or every other month. And while semimonthly could work as a twice a month alternative, there is no apparent alternative for the other definition of bimonthly. It’s not only the definitions that can be a problem. These are words that no one can even agree how to spell, let alone what they mean, with variations including bi-weekly and bi-monthly. While all this may not be a huge deal, it certain does affect business and communication. Simply put, the conflicting meanings of biweekly and bimonthly mean that they are no longer useful terms when trying to get everyone on the same page for meeting schedules.

Car Organizers

September 14, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

If you're a Road Warrior in the actual "Road" sense, you may be spending a lot of time in your car. For lots of people their cars are like a mobile office. Your car or rental is a vital part of doing business, so it is best to make the most out of the small space and ward off clutter.

Car organizers can help you store and keep track of all your important office supplies for doing business. For example, for convenience on the road the Higher Ground Laptrap computer case folds out to a complete work surface with plenty of storage. You may also want to try the Swing Away Driver Organizer which has 8 pockets for everything from your PDA to those important files, and swings from the front of the seat to the back, making room for passengers. Similarly, the Case Logic Center Console Organizer holds just about everything but doesn't hang on the seat. Once you get to your destination, don't forget to feed the meter once you arrive at your destination with the Parking Meter Alarm keychain that also hold 10 quarters to keep your change organized and avoid having to run out of a meeting early.

Lastly, being equipped with a portable AAA-certified Emergency Roadside Kit can keep other car tools organized to help you get to your destinations, safe and sound.

Denver Hotels and Travel Guide

September 13, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Exploring the mile-high city is easy and rewarding whether on business or pleasure. Take the time between meetings to drive or ride to Denver's many cultural and natural gems.

Getting Around:

  • The MallRide bus goes from one end of downtown Denver's popular 16th Street Mall to the other, with many stops in between, for free. It’s a fast and easy way to get around downtown Denver, take advantage of all the shops, restaurants, and nightlife, without worrying about parking.

Seeing The Sights:

  • The Denver Mint is a great place to see how the bills you work so hard for are made. Take the kids for some history or stop by to see the many misprinted dollars that don’t make it into your wallet.
  • Red Rocks Park and Amphitheare is only about a 30 minute drive from the city and is a great spot to take in nature and maybe a performance.

Culture:

  • Make a trip to the Lower Downtown Historic District (LoDo) of Denver for its history and great shops and restaurants.
  • The Denver Art Museum done by famed architect Daniel Libeskind, has added the new Hamilton Building which is great for all kinds of art lovers.

Where To Stay:

  • Extended Stay Hotels offers 15 convenient locations in Denver complete with kitchenettes in each suite and laundry facilities at each hotel to make your stay more comfortable.

    Passport Processing

    September 7, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

    In our previous post we mentioned the new passport regulations and subsequent longer processing time. Well Road Warriors will be none too pleased to know that wait times have become longer. Even the expedited service is slow.

    If you have paid for expedited service, the wait time can be about three weeks, up from the three business days to process that officials used assure. There is no real way to tell how long expedited service will take so Road Warriors have to check the State Department web site for an up to date estimate. A regular application now takes around 10 to 12 weeks. Road Warriors should arm themsleves with all the passport information they need and leave room for plenty of wait time.

    Travel Health

    September 6, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

    While hitting the road it can be extremely hard for any Road Warrior to keep up a healthy routine. We tend to grab for anything quick when busy working and away from home. While it is no secret that eating fast food is not the healthiest thing, often times it’s the high calorie beverages we drink that are often overlooked but make a big difference.

    High calorie beverages can pack on the pounds just like food can. Even worse, beverages for the most part don't even satisfy hunger like food can, so it is easy to just keep drinking and loose track of all those extra calories. Try to stay away from drinks with lots of sugar, milk, and corn syrup. Even seemingly healthful drinks such as juice can pack a lot of calories. Calculating the total calories in a bottle and not just the serving size can give you a more accurate picture of what you are really taking in.