Avoiding Painful Travel

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

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.

Travel Shouldn’t be a Pain

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

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.   

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.

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

Packing Tips for Road Warriors

August 21, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Road warriors take pride in packing skills, and for good reason:  Being able to efficiently pack for a lengthy trip, at a moment’s notice, is an art.  Over the years, more tricks are learned while the bags get lighter, as only the necessities make it into the suitcase.  Here are a few more tips that may be helpful for road warriors or anyone else packing a suitcase:

Roll clothing that doesn’t wrinkle: While most business clothes need to be treated carefully, roll anything that does not; it’s by far the best way to fit more into a small space  and it makes it easy to pinpoint specific items without sifting through piles.

Have toiletries ready to go: Instead of pilfering from your bathroom, pack a second set of toiletries and leave it in your bag.  After a trip, refill as needed and put it back in your bag.  When you need to pack, you’ll be happy to have one less thing to worry about.

Choose neutral colors: this one seems easy, but can be tricky if you don’t plan ahead.  Build your travel wardrobe around one or two colors and stick to it.  The more colors you wear, the more accessories—such as belts and shoes—need to come along.  If everything corresponds with everything else, then you’re all set, even if your trip is extended by a couple days.

Top Travel Mistakes

August 15, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Some things you just have to learn from trial and error;  others can be made easier if someone else points out the potential pitfalls.  Many road warriors have learned the hard way about dealing with a canceled flight, or choosing the right car for city driving. 

Here are some interesting articles sharing these travel mistakes, and the lessons that can be learned from them:

Some travel foibles can be avoided if you just know what to look for.  Have you made a travel mistake, and what‘s changed as a result?

Mobile Office

July 8, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

You need to print out 20 copies of your PowerPoint presentation for your next meeting, yet you’re on a business trip and don’t have access to a printer.  At one time, this may have been a serious dilemma; today, it is no longer an issue.  Inc.com had an interesting article about Kinko’s and other similar stores that can comprise the road warrior’s mobile office.

So, where can you go?  Fortunately, you may only need to go as far as the lobby.  Many Extended Stay Hotels have business centers available to guests.  The front desk may also be able to help with pointing you to other business resources, such as the nearest Staples or Office Max.  Printing can be carried out at FedEx Kinko’s,  and the UPS Store. Alternately, you can submit an order to an online printing company and have the product delivered the next day. 

Smaller electronics, as well as an abundance of stores and websites providing services such as copying, printing, and mailing, render the concept of a physical office as a thing of the past, and pave the way for a more advanced future.

Green Meetings

June 3, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

No matter how many articles we read about web conferencing being the way of the future, nothing is going to replace the traditional meeting.  There are some meetings and conferences that are more productive when everyone is face-to-face.  And with an ever more global business world, this often means traveling to a predetermined destination, whether it be the main office or a convention site.

However, with the current state of the environment and the rising price of fuel, there is incentive to keep both the carbon footprint and cost of the meeting low.  Here are some ideas on how you can achieve both:
Pick a central location to ensure that you and your clients cover the shortest amount of distance possible.  If you can eliminate airfare by setting it less than a few hours away, all the better.

  • Cut down on paper when you can--Email PowerPoint presentations to participants and make documents available on a website.
  • Only invite the people who need to be there.  This may be difficult, since you don't want to exclude colleagues, but they will be grateful.  There's nothing worse than wasting someone’s time at an unnecessary meeting. Plus, you have to spend more money to get them there!
  • If the meeting is not near the hotel, hire a shuttle bus.  In the end, it will be a lot cheaper than all those rental cars, and more eco-friendly too.

Trade Show Presenter Guide

December 19, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Presenting at that all important trade show, conference, or expo is a great opportunity to share your expertise and promote your company. It’s the reason for many business trips. Choosing the right trade show to speak at ensures an efficient use of travel time and is crucial for winning new business, making meaningful connections, and influencing the influencers.

  • Pick wisely – When finding a trade show to present at, be sure you will be reaching the right audience. Stay away from brand new trade shows, as they are untested venues. Keep up on which shows are growing the fastest so that you can be on the cutting edge. And don't be too quick to rule out conventions in seemingly unrelated fields, they may open the door to new uses for your products or services.
  • Create buzz - Promote the fact that you're presenting at an expo just as you would your products or services. Your expert status as a speaker at an influential trade show can bring in potential clients and offer new value to your current business.
  • Train your team – Exhibiting is also extremely important at a trade show and presenting and exhibiting often go hand in hand. Running the booth and selling at a trade show goes hard and fast, with limited time to catch the attention of attendees. Make sure your staff is prepared and has goals in mind. 
  • Get in with the organizers – Again, while preparing your speech, also spend time preparing your booth. Consider partnering with the trade show`s management team to get help with developing an appealing booth, scheduling staff, and creating a marketing campaign prior to the exhibition. Trade show organizers want your business to come back next year so they should be willing to lend a hand.
  • Take a break – Finally, to make your presenting experience a seamless and virtually stress-free undertaking, consider getting a room to relax in that’s a little ways away from the hustle and bustle of the conference. You may want to stay at one of many Extended Stay Hotels conveniently located near convention centers across the country.

Convention Center Travel Tips

December 17, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

As business travelers begin planning their travel schedules in 2008, the conference schedule looms large.  Trips are planned around the convention centers that are playing host to this trade show or that one.  While you’re making that list and checking it twice, keep in mind some of these basic yet important convention attendee tips.

  • Set Goals – We’re all aware that conferences cost money.  So what are you going to do there to make the most of the experience?  Whether you want to collect a certain number of business cards or attend specific seminars, having a plan will help you maximize value.
  • Schedule Meetings – At a trade show, time can get away from the best of us.  By setting up meetings ahead of time, you can be sure to have time to talk with vendors of interest or industry press in attendance.
  • Take Notes – There’s a lot of information passed around at meetings, whether it’s in a workshop or out on the show floor. Capture as much of it as you can. Have pen and paper on-hand to jot down some take-aways at the conference or at the end of the day.

And for information about industry trade shows and hotels nearby, visit Extended Stay Hotels’ trade show information page.

Tax Deductions

December 6, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

As the end of the year fast approaches it is important for business travelers to consider what tax deductions they are eligible for. Business travel deductions can save you and your company big money once it's all added up, so keeping track of everything you spend is always a good practice.

Receipts are crucial for travel reimbursements and the unreimbursed travel expenses that qualify as tax deductions. Whether you’re a small business owner, or a frequent business traveler, keeping track of even the small expenses can count. Take the "nothing is too small" mentality, and keep track of not only the more obvious things, like parking receipts, but also what you're spending on laundry service, snacks, and tips.

And of course, keep a mindful eye on the IRS guidelines for business travel expenses.

Holiday Finances

December 5, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Holiday time is in full swing and this means more and more people's pockets will be suffering from a present buying and traveling hangover. Holiday finances can be particularly tricky, because when we are enjoying ourselves and get in the spirit of giving, it can be easy for even the most fiscally responsible Road Warrior to overspend. Thankfully, it's now free and easy, to keep track of your personal finances online.

With the help of the Internet you can save money by both better organizing your finances, which helps you budget travel better, and by not paying extra for money managing services. Try Mint.com which was given distinction by the prestigious tech blog TechCrunch for its innovative personal finance application. It is a free site that tracks bank and credit card transactions and alerts users to upcoming bills, low balances, and specific spending habits. Mint can help make sure you don’t miss paying bills, even when you're traveling and aren’t home to get them. Categorize your spending and see pie charts and breakdowns every month. It also continually searches for better deals on credit cards, bank accounts, and more to help users find ways to save money. If you like to organize your reciepts to keep track of your spending, Shoeboxed.com is a great way to tally up expenses. It is great for keeping track of the holiday spending this month and then the rest of the year it’s perfect for tallying travel reimbursement or vacation budgeting. It also marries social shopping with financial breakdowns since you can browse through items that other users wanted to share to get inspiration from other shoppers, which can be useful this time of year for present buying.

Paying close attention to your holiday finances can help you budget, save, and enjoy this time of year without all the stress.