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.
Survival Kit for Traveling Adults Part 2
January 2, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Recently, Road Warrior suggested packing a survival kit and covered items to keep busy travelers entertained. Now let’s keep them healthy and well fed.
Keeping your hands clean is a key to staying healthy while traveling. While most travelers know about and use waterless hand sanitizers, you should be aware of a 2006 Center for Disease Control study alert. The bottom line is that alcohol hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol work very well. Those with lesser percentages, however, did not fare well at all.
Healthy snacks, like crackers, nuts, dried fruit, and lots of water are also a good idea. Keep in mind that some snacks, like chocolate, can leave an awful mess if they melt. Dehydration while traveling can be a real problem. Since you can't get through TSA security with a full water bottle, take an empty water bottle with you and fill it once you are in the boarding lounge.
If travel sometimes leaves a bad taste in your mouth, literally, carry a supply of finger-tip toothbrushes. Oral B makes some called “brush ups,” but be sure to use your hand sanitizer before you stick your finger in your mouth.
Whether traveling for fun or for work, Road Warrior hopes you keep your travel survival kit handy and have a safe, healthy trip.
Survival Kit for Traveling Adults
December 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
In an earlier blog, Road Warrior described what to include in a travel “survival kit” for children. With the new year just a day away, hints on items to make air travel easier for adults are in order.
Noise seems to multiply during travel, as does its ability to annoy us. To help shut out unwanted noise, consider packing earplugs in your carry-on items. Some fellow road warriors, usually those who favor high-tech gadgets, listen to what is called “white noise” on their IPod or MP3 player. Check Google for sites with downloadable “white noise” files.
Here are some other items for your travel survival kit. Eyeshades are great if you nap on the plane. Don’t count on the airline for entertainment; bring along a good book, a puzzle book, DVD player or music player. Also, don't forget that using electronic gadgets means you may need to pack extra batteries. If you are traveling with a friend, bring games or cards.
Be sure that your cell phone is fully charged and, given the potential for lost or broken phones, pack a backup calling card. Of course, unlimited local calls and personalized voicemail are always free at any of the nearly 700 Extended Stay Hotels nationwide and in Canada. Two other items that you should never do without on travels of any length are a small flashlight and some extra cash.
Plan ahead and make your next business or vacation trip a real pleasure.
Organized Travel
December 29, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Managing holiday travel is all about, well, management. That means you have to be organized. It also means that a list of things to do is a good idea. Here are some suggestions for your list.
The day before leaving, reconfirm all your reservations. Check that departure times haven’t changed. If you reserved specific seats, reconfirm them. If you are flying a first-come, first-served airline, set an alarm for 24 hours before departure to grab an early boarding assignment.
Dealing with checked luggage, especially during the holidays, can be a giant pain. This might be a good time to try something Road Warrior mentioned in an earlier blog, ship your bags ahead using a service like UPS. The address of your Extended Stay Hotel is easily found on the company website.
One final thing before you leave for the airport. Does your carry-on luggage meet the TSA requirements for size and content? If you aren’t sure, go to the TSA website (www.tsa.gov) and click on the “for travelers” button at the top.
Just like the Scouts, Road Warrior is very big on “being prepared.”
Week-End Hotel Discounts Starting at 20% off
December 17, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Check out our last minute deals for new bookings this week-end (December 19th-21st) and next week-end (December 26th-28th). 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 12/19/2008 and 12/20/2008
* Denver, CO - Rates from $34.39/night
* Atlanta, GA - Rates from $35.99 a night
* Chicago, IL - Rates from $39.99 a night
* New Orleans, LA - Rates from $63.99 a night
* Austin, TX - Rates from $39.99 a night
For Arrival dates 12/26/2008 and 12/27/2008
* Little Rock, AR - Rates from $43.99/night
* Los Angeles, CA - Rates from $51.99 a night
* Orlando, FL - Rates from $39.99 a night
* Las Vegas, NV - Rates from $35.99 a night
* Charleston, SC - Rates from $55.99 a night
Travels with Children
December 12, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
If you will be traveling with youngsters this holiday season, planning ahead is not an option, it’s a necessity. To do otherwise pretty much assures a lot of noise, tears, and general discomfort for everyone.
A good first step is to pack a proper travel survival kit. That staple of childcare, kid-friendly food, is your first item. Take favorite snacks, but avoid things that melt or spill. When picking toys or games, consider the number and size of their parts. Dealing with lost parts is even less fun than a totally bored child.
Books and puzzles are fun, but don’t forget plenty of pencils and an eraser. You can even make your travel games educational; just don’t tell the kids. Have everybody try to find the letters of the alphabet in order on billboards, cars, or signs. Keep on the lookout for an Extended Stay Hotels(sm) brand, like Extended Stay America or Extended Stay Deluxe. That “x” is a hard letter to find.
Road trips can be fun, especially when you take enough breaks. Regular stops keep minds clear, spirits high, and are most relaxing when spend in a spacious hotel suite at a comfortable Extended Stay Hotel.
Avoiding the Crowds
December 10, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Since Road Warrior is concentrating on travel during this hectic holiday season, here are a couple of suggestions on avoiding at least some of those crowds.
Most every metropolitan area has several airports within a reasonable distance of each other. Through most of the holiday season certain of these airports and hotels will be crazy, while others nearby will be less crowded and less stressful to get through. As you plan flights, go to www.alternateairports.com and find your primary arrival city. In the very next column you will find a list of alternate cities. This website even gives you the airport codes and the distance between your primary city and the alternate.
Since this process will likely direct you to an airport you have never used before, consider taking a look at www.ifly.com. This user friendly website provides everything from maps and directions to ground transportation options.
Road Warrior hopes that when you arrive at your Extended Stay Hotel, you are well rested and ready for whatever business travel or pleasure activities you are planning.
Holiday Savings Available Now at Extended Stay Hotels
December 10, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Savings off our already guaranteed lowest Internet rates. Save $200 off a stay of 30+ nights, $100 off 15-29 nights, $50 off 7-29 nights, or $20 off 2-6 nights.* With plenty of great rooms to choose from at nearly 700 Extended Stay Hotels, you can afford to travel!
Save $200 off a single stay of 30+ nights
Save $100 off a single stay of 15-29 nights
Save $50 off a single stay of 7-14 nights
Save $25 off a single stay of 2-6 nights
*Offer good for one reservation booked online by 1/31/09. Valid for a single stay. Reservations are based on availability and must be made online at extendedstayhotels.com. Rates, amenities vary by brand and locations and are subject to change without notice. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Promotion discount is dependent upon stay dates, and will be applied at the property upon check-out. This offer is not valid for current or pending reservations.
Picking a Good Airplane Seat
December 6, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Most experienced travelers have had that awful experience of picking a bad airline seat. You know which ones these are. They don’t recline, or they are right next to the galley or lavatory, or worse yet, they have limited legroom. Road Warrior sees no reason to increase your holiday travel stress by spending uncomfortable hours in the air, so here is a suggestion that might help.
When you are ready to pick your seat, be sure you have the website Seatguru.com open in its own window on your computer. This great site shows the seating configuration for almost every airplane flown by nearly every major airline in the world. Each seat is rated so you don’t end up sitting where you can’t see the viewing screen or where the seat doesn’t recline. Should there be a change in your flight, initiated by you or the airline, be sure to reconfirm that you still have your great seats.
Experienced travelers deserve a little comfort when they travel. That’s why so many stay at Extended Stay Hotels. Road Warrior hopes that a quick peek at Seatguru.com will mean a great trip right from the very beginning.
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.
