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Best Travel Perks
March 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
It can be a drain to be a constant nomad for the sake of business. But hey, it's not all bad. There's a reason you became a road warrior in the first place, right? Sometimes it's nice to take a step back and look at the travel perks and the reasons you’re happy to be exactly where you are.
Fortune’s Stanley Bing put together a list of the things he likes best about business travel. Here's one of the items on his list:
"Not talking with anybody until you get there, and even then maybe
not for a couple of hours. In the silence there is a Zen repose."
I think one of my favorite parts is walking out of that last meeting or dinner and knowing that you're done for the day and free to relax…or site-see.
What's your favorite part of business travel?
Portable Memory
March 26, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
There are laptops as thin as folders and it seems like hard drives are doubling in capacity each month. When innovations are being made at this speed, you know that the next best thing is just around the corner. And sometimes, it’s already available. Here are some useful new gadgets you may want to add to your road warrior wish list.
Portable Hard Drive
Files and programs are larger, taking up more space than ever before. Plus, pesky computer crashes threaten to wipe out information in the blink of an eye. So what’s a tech-loving person to do? Get more Gigabytes, of course. This amazingly large portable hard drive doesn't even need it's own power adapter; it runs solely off USB power. Back up valuable presentations and reports on this hard drive that’s so portable it fits in a shirt pocket.
WiFi Memory Card
Getting pictures from a camera to a computer, a printer, or the Internet can sometimes cause a logistical issue. You may not have the right software or hardware to get files from one source to another. Worry no more! Eye Fi, a wireless memory card, can transfer the information without ever being plugged in. It can use any available WiFi access to transfer photos.
Spring Travel Plans
March 25, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Spring has arrived! March came in like a lion and perhaps this weekend it will be going out like a lamb. Take this opportunity to go on an adventure and enjoy getting out in the nice weather. Check out these last minute Extended Stay Hotels deals to popular cities. Plan a fun weekend of museum hopping, a shopping trip to find your new spring wardrobe, or a relaxing couple of days by the ocean, lake, or pool.
- Los Angeles, CA
- Orlando, FL
- Chicago, IL
- St. Louis, MO
- Philadelphia, PA
Keep an eye on these weekend savings posts each week to get all the details on which cities have great deals.
Health Gadgets
March 24, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Being tired makes you more susceptible to sickness and few things can exhaust you more than traveling. But there are ways to stay healthy while on the move. Check out some of the latest health-related gadgets:
Sleep Tracker
Wake up refreshed even if you can’t quite get a full night’s sleep. How? This device can monitor your sleep and wakes you up during a point in your sleep cycle where you are almost awake anyway. Just set a half hour window of time and the alarm will wake you up in time for that important meeting, feeling healthy and more alert.
Nausea Relief
If you get car sickness but need to travel for work, this can become a difficult predicament. Show up to that important event healthy and feeling your best with this wristband that helps gently reset stomach rhythms back to normal with an electronic pulse.
Eye Massage
Rest your eyes and promote increased circulation with the Eyesseuse. This eye mask and massager would be a great addition to any carry on baggage and make eyes less bloodshot after those “red eye” flights.
Please note, the Road Warrior Tips team found these health products online but have not tried them. This is not an endorsement.
Temporary Housing
March 19, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Most of us will need temporary housing at some point in our life. On account of such events as job relocation, purchasing a new home, and extended family visits, the need to be away from home or between homes is not uncommon. There are several options for temporary housing in such circumstances,and one option in particular, staying at an Extended Stay Hotels suite, may be more reasonable than you think.
For a limited time, Extended Stay Hotels is offering a promotion of $200 off the bill for anyone staying in one of its suites for over 30 days. You don’t need to scour Craigslist for a sublet or pay by the night for a tiny hotel room. And Extended Stay Hotels is designed with you in mind. Enjoy a furnished suite with kitchen and laundry facilities on-site, saving you the expense and time of eating out and lugging clothes to the laundromat. In addition, all Extended Stay Hotels suites feature WiFi Internet access, free personalized voicemail, and expanded cable. At a couple hundred dollars less than the already affordable rate, now is the time to investigate the Extended Stay Hotels temporary housing option.
Visit Suite Savings for more information on this first time ever $200 off promotion.
Travel Myths
March 17, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
If you purchase a rental car with a credit card, do you still need supplemental insurance? Can your cell phone bring down a plane? Many travelers may think they know the answers, but these travel facts may actually be travel myths. Yahoo! just posted a very interesting story pointing out where urban legend has clouded what we know about travel. For instance, there are no studies proving correct the common thought that recycled cabin air leads to sickness. In fact, the recent finding that shows the cold virus spreads quickest outside in winter suggests otherwise. For more info on travel myths, check out Forbes, About.com, and ABC News.
Wireless Modems
March 13, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
In the last post, we discussed protecting your information when using a WiFi hotspot or Internet cafe connection. However, there is a way to avoid this entirely. Wireless modems are increasing in speed and reliability. Monthly wireless plans are still expensive but most carriers now provide enough bandwidth to be used daily. Hardware costs are often subsidized by signing one or two year contracts. Yet with these new modems, you can carry your own wireless Internet access in your pocket rather than relying on spotty WiFi coverage.
PC Magazine has an interesting article reviewing some of the new USB modems and wireless PC cards. Some even have memory card readers built-in. AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint all offer devices and networks that will get your laptop online at broadband speeds. According to their tests, AT&T has recently leapfrogged the competition as the fastest, but Verizon and Sprint have more extensive coverage in America. If you go abroad, AT&T may allow you to get online but it is cost-prohibitive ($20/MB) as some iPhone users have found out the hard way.
Meanwhile, T-Mobile currently sells a much slower wireless GPRS card (equivalent to dialup) as their high speed network is being delayed by 3G. However if you're in a pinch and already have a phone internet plan, you can take the SIM card out of a cell phone and use it with your laptop -- for no additional charge. That is significantly cheaper than a brand new $50+ monthly contract through the other carriers. You just won't be able to use your cell phone at the same time.
So the carrier and hardware you choose may depend upon what work needs to get done and where you’re headed. Whichever you choose, business travel becomes less of a challenge when all it takes to get online is a USB or PC card port and a wireless modem.
Internet Safety
March 12, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Many of us duck into Internet cafes and WiFi hotspots in order to get Internet access and catch up on work while traveling. Yet this seemingly innocuous pit stop can be dangerous if you don't take precautions. It’s unfortunate that we live in an age of hackers and identity theft, but this is a reality we all must face. Fortunately, a little awareness and caution can go a long way in protecting your passwords, information, and identity.
To protect yourself at a WiFi hotspot, verify that the connection you are signing onto is indeed the Internet access provided. If the network name is not obvious, ask an employee or a fellow customer (assuming they look trustworthy). This will prevent signing onto an evil twin connection set up by a nearby hacker. Also, be careful with any information sent while signed online since you are on an open network.
Connections are generally safer at Internet cafes, but it is important to keep in mind that the computer itself is communal. Be sure to log out of email and any other page you need a password to access. Also, you may want to clear the Internet history, cache, and cookies so that the next person isn't able to access the sites you viewed.
For more information, check out this very useful Yahoo! article.
TSA Diamond Lanes
March 5, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Long airport security lines are something every business traveler has gotten used to. But you may not have to deal with them much longer. TSA diamond lanes at security are designed so that travelers can categorize themselves into the line that suites their travel style best. Slower moving families can go in a family lane, and zippy business people can go in a faster "black diamond" lane.
The TSA is experimenting with a new system of Diamond Lanes that will allow travelers to choose from one of three lines. The system is similar to that of ski slope categorization where green circles indicate lines for families, blue squares are for casual travelers, and black diamonds are for experts like Road Warriors. They are currently being tested at Salt Lake City International and Denver International Airport. If all goes well they may spread all over the country and ease the woes of being stuck behind that traveler who hasn't gotten their laptop out and has triple knotted their shoe laces.
Because this system is based on how fast travelers deem themselves to be, and is not dictated by the TSA, it is up to us to read the signs and not just go for the shortest line. With this system, shortest doesn't always mean fastest anymore.
Easter Travel
March 3, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Whether you're going for business or pleasure, Easter travel can be rewarding for the whole family. There are lots of exciting events happening all over the country to celebrate the coming of Spring.
Miami Metrozoo Egg Safari - March 22-23rd, the zoo is alive with the spirit of Easter. There will be egg hunts for kids 12 and under, face painting, mini-carnival games, rock-climbing, an appearance by the Easter Bunny and various prizes.
Richmond Easter Parade - On Easter Sunday head to historic Monument Ave. for music, arts, crafts, children’s activities, and food. The two major highlights are the Pet Bonnet, and People Bonnet Showcases on the Main Stage at Allen Ave.
Asheville Easter Egg Hunt - March 15th, bring that family to the Bojangles’ Easter Eggstravaganza. Every child will receive an Easter goody bag full of surprises, and it's all free.
Washington DC White House Easter Egg Roll - March 24th, join the first lady to rolling hard-boiled colored eggs down the lawns at the White House. The egg roll is one of the largest public events at the White House.
