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.
Safety First
October 30, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Someone once said that it is always “better to be safe than sorry.” We couldn’t agree more, especially when it comes to safeguarding our valuables when traveling.
Protecting our money, credit cards, and other valuables is not something most of us think about until we find that we have been pickpocketed and are scrambling to set things right.
A future Road Warrior blog will offer some ideas about dealing with a loss while traveling, but for now, let’s consider the “ounce of prevention” that is so preferable to the “pound of cure.”
First and foremost, when in a new place, be inconspicuous. If you’re attracting the attention of other travelers, you are also making yourself known to pickpockets. Thieves often choose the person flashing the most cash, wearing the most expensive clothing, or laughing the loudest in crowded bars or hotels.
To limit losses, carry only the cash and credit cards you need, leaving the rest in a secure place, like the free safety deposit box provided at the front desk of every Extended Stay Hotel. If you are traveling in pairs, split valuables between you and keep them in several locations on your person.
For men, front pants pockets are better than back pockets, since most thieves want your wallet and not to look you in the eye. Women travelers should wear their shoulder bags with the strap diagonally across their body.
Here’s a tip for those of us who love long walks along a crowded city street - walk against the pedestrian traffic. The clever pickpocket wants to slip up behind you, something made almost impossible by walking against the flow.
Whether we're on the road for fun or business travel, let’s be sure we remain one step ahead of those who would steal from us.
Thanksgiving Travel
September 18, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
It may be very early, but do you already know where you’ll be for the holidays? If so, you may want to consider booking a flight if you’re flying to your destination. You may not quite be in the holiday mood, but getting a flight early -- very early -- can leave more money for the presents you’ll be lugging with you. Airfare has just started to come down after hitting summer highs and analysts are saying that it will be on the rise again. Here is an idea of where airfare is right now for Thanksgiving travel dates.
In addition, now is the perfect time to start thinking about taking days off work before or after the holidays. You can get major savings if you’re buying now for off-peak travel days. And you’ll be giving your company plenty of prior notice.
If you are planning to drive, this is the time to consider your alternatives. To avoid the hassle of driving, you could plan to take the train or fly. You would avoid traffic and the stress of holiday driving. But this is really only an affordable option if you decide early, so give it some thought.
And while you’re booking an early bird plane ticket, consider getting an Extended Stay Hotels suite with some of the money you save. After all, it’s nice to see family, but it’s also nice to have your own space.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to make your travel plans.
Social Media for Roadwarriors
September 9, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
If you're like many web savvy people these days, you have a Facebook page. Or at least a LinkedIn profile. Even when road warriors are away from home, social media is a great way to stay in touch with family, friends, and colleagues. Here are some of the latest trends and options to help you stay in touch while you’re on the road:
You might soon be able to update your Facebook profile from the airplane. American Airlines just announced a new service: in-flight broadband, an airline perk we can appreciate. Now if only there was a little more space to set up the laptop…
You may soon be able to use gaps in your travel schedule to network with a new service, called Meeting Wave. It lets you set up meetings with other people in the area, whether they are in your industry or simply fellow business travelers.
Along the same vein, you can keep in touch with all your business contacts through LinkedIn—even if you don’t have access to a computer; a new program lets you update on the go. Check out this mobile version of LinkedIn, available for your Blackberry or Palm.
Road Warrior Skills
July 15, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
What does it take to be a road warrior? You may know better than most—but for those starting out in a career that involves a lot of traveling, here are some traits that can help you to succeed. Feel free to leave a comment and add your own insight into what it takes to be a road warrior.
Adaptability: The idea of the trip that goes off without a hitch is becoming more and more elusive. Plans may change, so it helps to be flexible. Your schedule may be crazy and you may not be in your own bed at the end of the night, like if you’re on a red eye flight. It’s all in a day’s work.
Organization: Being organized means you can look sharp without having to lug your entire wardrobe. Organization also keeps you from panicking when something important is lost or misplaced during your trip.
Patience: Flights will be canceled, trains will be delayed, and security lines will be long. Getting lost is hard to avoid in an unfamiliar city. Taking it all in stride and realizing that things will work out if you just give it a little time is the only way to stay sane while constantly on the road.
Cheap Summer Vacation
May 27, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Sometimes the early bird gets the worm, but other times last minute deals can lead to even bigger savings. How does a traveler know when to plan and what else to do in order to enjoy a cheap summer vacation packed with entertainment? Here are some travel tips that can help you save this summer:
- Book plane tickets for mid-week, if possible. And avoid flying on Sundays at all costs.
- Take a vacation either at the very beginning or end of the summer.
- Picnic or eat in as much as possible; restaurant bills can add up fast.
- If driving, leave very early in the morning to avoid gas-guzzling traffic jams.
- Book months in advance (or, alternately, just a couple days) in order to avoid high prices.
Now is the time to start looking into vacation plans. And even with rising fuel costs, a summer getaway can fit in the budget. Reward yourself with an enjoyable and relaxing summer vacation.
Hotels Near Disneyland
May 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
While economic woes may be keeping some at home this summer, being domestic is by no means a major trend. Nowadays, vacations are just a little closer to home, focusing on national, rather than international, travel. In fact, Disney recently reported that park ticket sales are strong and they expect both Disneyland and Disney World to be popular destinations this summer.
However, a Disney park can still be a pricey vacation; unless you set, and subsequently stick to, a budget. While staying at the Magic Kingdom can be inordinately expensive, finding a hotel near Disneyland at a reasonable price can make a family vacation affordable. Plus, staying outside of the park can make seeing other highlights of the area easier. A Southern California Attractions Pass can get you into Disneyland, as well as Knott’s Berry Farm, Sea World, and the San Diego Zoo. And you can purchase a three day pass for less than buying the tickets separately (Orlando has a similar deal with the Go Orlando Card).
To make the trip convenient and comfortable, Extended Stay Hotels has accommodations close by in the Anaheim and Orlando areas.
Kids Travel Free Deals
May 6, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Keep the summer vacation within your budget by finding deals for younger family members. Often, restaurants will have a 'kids eat free" policy and airlines will sometimes even, through promotions, let kids fly free.
While traveling this summer, keep an eye out for restaurants with a "kids eat free" policy. At some TGI Fridays, kids eat free on Mondays; and at Joe's Crab Shack, eat for only 99 cents. On Tuesday evenings, kids eat free at Denny's and Bennigan's with a coupon. To find non-chain restaurants with similar policies, visit Kids Eat Free and search by state and town.
For lodging, a family will have lots of space in an Extended Stay Hotels suite. And if there isn’t a "kids eat free" deal nearby, just use the suite’s kitchen for a meal or snack. By seeking out the family travel deals, summer vacation can be fun and affordable.
Travel Sized Supplies
May 1, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
If you're like many business travelers, checking luggage is a luxury you can't afford due to time wasted at baggage carousels. However, there are times when you just want to bring along your favorite shampoo, salad dressing, or toothpaste. The good news is that you don't have to check your baggage and still get your go-to items, all without having to buy a new full-sized bottle at each destination, only to then leave behind at the end of the trip.
Minimus is a new website that sells airport-approved bottles and packages of hundreds of items for a few dollars or cents apiece. Everything fits TSA requirements in every way. And even for the non-liquid items, having a small container of something you don’t need much of can save valuable space and reduce the weight of your luggage.
