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Good Odds for Air Travelers
January 30, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
As 2009 began, America’s air travelers were amazed when a US Air jet fell into the Hudson River without any loss of life. In fact, according to USA Today, there were no deaths from crashes by U.S. air carriers in 2007 or 2008, a feat never before accomplished.
Road Warrior wondered how air flight safety odds stacked up against other sorts of disasters and consulted - and this is the website’s real name - TheLongestListOfTheLongestStuffAtTheLongestDomainNameAtLongLast.com.
So here’s the deal. You have a 1 in 100 chance of being audited by the IRS and a 1 in 10,000 chance of getting a hole-in one. If you worry about dying in a natural disaster, relax as your odds are 1 in 3,300. Your odds of dying in a plane crash are 1 in 500,000.
In case you were planning on joining Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, the odds of you becoming a billionaire are a whopping 1 in 10 million. You probably don’t want to know your lottery odds.
Though we don’t have the official numbers, it is fair to say that you have a very good chance of getting a spacious, comfortable hotel room every time you stay at an Extended Stay Hotels location.
Road Warrior Packing
January 28, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Packing efficiently for an extended business trip can not only save space in the car or on the plane, but it can also save busy travelers valuable time. If done properly, smart packing can contribute significantly to the overall success of the trip.
Of course, every Extended Stay Hotels(sm) location has on-premise laundry facilities, so guests can enjoy the conveniences of home whenever they travel. Still, no one wants to spend every second of their precious time during a trip doing laundry. Here are a couple of tips to maximize your traveling efficiency.
Instead of folding your clothes, roll them before packing. Rolled clothing takes up less room, meaning you can pack more. As an added bonus, your clothing actually ends up less wrinkled after it's been rolled. Pack the inside of your shoes with items like socks and underwear. This not only saves space, but it can keep shoes from getting crushed.
To look and feel your best on the road, pack wrinkle-resistant clothing, typically polyester, wool blends or microfibers. Finally, coordinate the color of your clothing to minimize the need for duplicate accessories, like belts and shoes.
A well packed traveler is a happy road warrior, so pack well and be happy.
Save 20% on Week-End Stays in Select Cities
January 22, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Check out our last minute deals for new bookings this week-end (January 23rd and 24th) and next week-end (January 30th and 31st). Visit our Week-End Deals section by clicking here. From there, you can book and save at least 20% for stays this week-end or next at your favorite destinations, like New Orleans, Houston, and Seattle.
For Arrival dates 1/23/2009 and 1/24/2009
* Phoenix, AZ - Rates from $43.99/night
* San Jose, CA - Rates from $47.99 a night
* Miami, FL - Rates from $83.99 a night
* New Orleans, LA - Rates from $63.99 a night
* Baltimore, MD - Rates from $55.99 a night
For Arrival dates 1/30/2009 and 1/31/2009
* Providence, RI - Rates from $51.99/night
* - Rates from $39.99 a night
* Salt Lake City, UT - Rates from $39.99 a night
* Chesapeake, VA - Rates from $47.99 a night
* Seattle, WA - Rates from $39.99 a night
Gadgets for Road Warriors
January 21, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
In January (2009), Las Vegas hosted the annual Consumer Electronics Show, the launching pad for all things techie. Since there have been numerous articles about the latest products, Road Warrior thought you might be interested in a couple of new offerings to improve business travel.
Two things that drive people crazy are traffic and getting lost. One of the major handheld GPS makers has come up with a model that uses voice recognition, searches for the best gas price and even tells you of traffic delays ahead. As if that isn’t enough, this beauty gives you an alternate route.
If you hate packing all those cords to recharge your electronics, there may be a solution. New foldable power mats only need one cord and charge up to three devices at once.
Road Warrior, for one, is always happy to find new ways to make business travel more convenient. Of course, nothing helps the business traveler more than the convenience and comfort of a spacious Extended Stay Hotels suite!
Travel Tip - Track Your Miles
January 19, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Many of us road warriors are frequent fliers, which means we've racked up tons of miles in various airline loyalty programs. Unfortunately, the “life expectancy” for miles has been shrinking, and in many cases, you have between 12 and 24 months to use or lose your miles. Blackout dates and limited booking windows only compound this problem.
However, recently, airlines have started making their loyalty programs more generous in order to entice cash-strapped travelers. As has always been the case, there are special conditions that you need to navigate in order to take full advantage of your rewards.
Avoid the unwanted discovery that your miles are worthless by reviewing all your miles twice a year. Make a note to do this at the change of Daylight Savings each spring and fall. At the same time you do this, visit the website for each loyalty program and note any changes to the policy. The website FrequentFlier.com now offers a new downloadable service, MilePort, which helps those of us in multiple loyalty programs keep track of every mile.
Healthy Travel
January 14, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
It’s the new year and many of us have made resolutions to get in better shape and be healthier. This can be a tough challenge for road warriors. Here are a few ideas to help you stay healthy during your 2009 travels.
Eating healthilyy is probably the greatest challenge for the health conscious road warrior. The first thing to keep in check is the snacks. Peanuts, potato chips and chocolate bars are not food groups. Snacks are fine, but think about apples, carrot sticks and raisins.
Most restaurants tend to “supersize” both your portion and the bill, making you heavier and your wallet lighter. That's why Road Warrior advises health-conscious travelers to take advantage of the well-equipped kitchen in each Extended Stay Hotels suite. Since most Extended Stay Hotels are conveniently located near a local grocery store, you get to save money, eat healthy, and you can even keep the tip!
Throughout your trip stay hydrated. Drink water through the duration of the day and avoid beverages like coffee and alcohol that actually cause you to lose body fluid. Some road warriors keep a sport bottle of water with them at most times.
If you travel a great deal on airlines that provide meals and want some variety, consider requesting a vegan or vegetarian meal. They often have fewer calories and are easier to digest while traveling.
For this New Year Road Warrior wishes you great trips to enjoyable places and hopes that Extended Stay Hotels are part of your travel plans for 2009 and beyond.
This Week-End - Phoenix, Atlanta, DC Hotels from 20% off
January 13, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Check out our last minute deals for new bookings this week-end (January 16th and 17th) and next week-end (January 23rd and 24th). Visit our Week-End Deals section by clicking here. From there, you can book and save at least 20% for stays this week-end or next at your favorite destinations, like Denver, Chicago, and New Orleans.
For Arrival dates 1/16/2009 and 1/17/2009
* Fort Lauderdale, FL - Rates from $55.39/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $35.99 a night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $39.99 a night
* Albuquerque, NM - Rates from $31.99 a night
* Houston, TX - Rates from $43.99 a night
For Arrival dates 1/23/2009 and 1/24/2009
* Sacramento, CA - Rates from $43.99/night
* Las Vegas, NV - Rates from $43.99 a night
* Cincinnati, OH - Rates from $35.99 a night
* Memphis, TN - Rates from $39.99 a night
* Washington, D.C. Area - Rates from $51.99 a night
Avoiding a Common Travel Health Risk
January 12, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The leading medical website, WebMD, warns that long flights can double the risk of blood clots, a potentially life threatening problem. There are some things that you can do to reduce risk, like getting up and walking around every two hours during a flight or long drive and wearing a pair of “compression socks” during travel.
Compression socks give greater support to your legs, thus increasing the flow of blood and reducing the likelihood that clots will form. Remember, it isn’t the airplane that causes the problem, it is the lack of movement. Whether you travel by car, train or airplane, get exercise and consider a pair of compression socks. They can be found at most top travel stores.
Fortunately, many Extended Stay Hotels are equipped with exercise rooms. Even those hotels without gyms offer large comfortable rooms with plenty of space for stretching that will keep you limber and productive.
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.
Special Lanes for Road Warriors
January 8, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
For most road warriors, airport security procedures are a real pain. This is especially true if you get stuck behind a newcomer to the world of travel. They usually just aren’t up for the challenge.
Take heart. The Transportation Security Agency is coming to our rescue. A new program called “Black Diamond Self Select Lanes” is being instituted across the nation. Black Diamond equipped airports offer travelers three lanes through the security process.
“Expert” - Look for a black diamond. This lane is for the experienced travelers who require no assistance and know what is expected.
“Casual” – Marked with a blue box, this lane is for the infrequent traveler.
“Family/Medical Liquids” – Likely to be the slowest line, this lane will be marked with a green circle.
Road warriors will hopefully find this a positive change as more Black Diamond Lanes are added beyond the current 49 airports.
Be a Prepared Traveler
January 7, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Problems become catastrophes mostly when you aren’t prepared. Let’s face it. There will be problems on your next trip. Make sure you are up for the challenge. Here are a couple of ways to “Be Prepared.”
Load your cell phone with phone numbers like your airline, your Extended Stay Hotel, car rental agency, credit card contacts and your ride home. Then write this information down on a piece of paper. Cell phone batteries often die at just the wrong time. Be extra safe and give the list to someone you can call from the road or email it to yourself just in case you can’t find the paper list.
Load your cell phone and paper list with the phone numbers of airlines serving your destination and home airports. If you hear that your connecting flight has been canceled, jump on the phone and be the first one to reserve an alternate flight.
Sometimes being stuck at an airport just can’t be avoided. Before you leave, download a map of your connecting airports and print a list of the amenities, shops and restaurants at each location. At least you can be comfortable.
Challenges don’t have to ruin your trip if you are ready for them.
