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.
Efficient Travel
September 25, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Travel is all about being efficient. Don't do in 2 meetings what you could do in 1. Don't spend more time in line at the airport than you have to. Share cabs with coworkers whenever possible. It's all about saving time and money and having a clear goal. There are other ways to promote efficiency in traveling. Namely, but booking an efficient place to stay.
With an efficiency suite, you can get up in the morning and make your own coffee just how you like it before bolting for that important meeting. It takes less time and costs less money than stopping at a local Starbucks. At the end of a long day, if you don't have a client dinner, you can come back and have a bite to eat quickly instead of waiting an hour for service in a restaurant or for delivery. When you need to get some clothes clean, you can bring them to the efficient on-site laundry facility instead of hunting down a nearby Laundromat. There are many options when your hotel offers more than just a room.
Having some space to yourself with efficient amenities can add a whole new level of convenience to your travel plans.
Travel Opinion
September 16, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
What have people been discussing in the world of travel lately? When you are on the road, it can be hard to keep up on the news, let alone opinions, even though we all have our own. So, to keep you in the loop, here are a couple recent travel commentaries of note:
Consumerist: US Airways Abandoning Passengers is Not a Compensation Issue
If you get stuck on the runway or your flight is delayed or cancelled, what are you entitled to? Not much, according to this article from the Consumerist. The argument is that if airlines had to pay for delays, they’d have more incentive to get planes in the air on-time rather than safely.
Business Daily: Mobile Phones Take a Step Into the Air Travel Industry
Airlines, including Air France and Emirates, are starting to allow mobile phone usage on planes. This is a trend to watch and may come to the US…perhaps for a fee like everything else on planes these days. While most people in a recent MSNBC survey are against passengers talking on their cell phones during the flight, it would be a useful way to stay in touch during business travel.
Alternative Travel Options
September 5, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
This week, our focus has been on alternative modes of transportation. Airplanes require a lot of fuel and are becoming increasingly expensive and inconvenient. Cars are environmentally unfriendly, they don’t let you have any down time since you or a colleague has to drive, and they don’t seem to be a much better solution. You’re the business traveler; you tell us.
Cell Phone Etiquette
August 27, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Are you constantly annoyed by obnoxiously loud cell phone talkers? Do you wish there was a set of guidelines for people to follow, out of courtesy for everyone else around them? Your wish may be answered: Here are some etiquette faux pas that Mobile Commandos listed recently. The next time you happen upon someone that can’t seem to control the volume of their phone voice, perhaps you could point out this article to them.
However, these rules shouldn’t be necessary: If everyone dealt with phone calls the way they wished others would, things would be a lot easier, especially for travelers. That includes not interrupting conversations for phone calls, keeping the volume of voices and ring tones down, being considerate of others, and just having an overall awareness of how to conduct oneself on the phone. It also involves not texting or calling without a hands-free set while driving, which can be a hazard to everyone on the road.
Travel Guide Options
August 12, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Do you have funny, or just plain bizarre, travel stories? If so, you aren’t alone: Slate recently had an article about travel guides that have the strangest stories, topics, and advice. It's absolutely amazing that some of these, like The Lonely Planet Guide to Micronations, were actually published. For more of the truly bizarre, there are always guides—such as Weird America—that can point out all the unique destinations. And there are funny travel guides that are both entertaining and informative.
On the other hand, here's an article on the best of travel guides, according to Courant. A paperback book isn't the only way to get your travel information—there are also interactive online travel guides, such as the U.S. travel guide provided by the New York Times.
With so many travel guides to choose from, surely everyone can find out what they want to know about any destination in the world. Where do you go for your travel information?
Travel News Roundup
June 26, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
There are many travel articles these days, discussing how to get deals amidst rising gas prices. They prove that, with a little research, there are still deals to be had. Knowing the ins and outs of the travel industry can make a difference in the price of your trip.
5 Ways to Fly Cheap
CNN offers some insider information on the cheapest time of day to buy a plane ticket, along with the advantages of travel packages. Armed with these helpful tips, travelers can find that perfect bargain.
10 Sizzling Summer Airfare Bargains
Any traveler looking for location suggestions will love this MSNBC piece noting 10 exciting and inexpensive vacation destinations for the summer. Each suggestion includes specific ticket prices and sales to grab while they’re still available.
Returning Rental Cars
Finding a gas station before you have to drop off the rental car can be a pain, but this article explains why it’s the right choice. This one piece of travel advice can save you the hefty $8 per gallon fee rental car companies have started charging when they’re returned with empty gas tanks.
Personalized Travel Guides
June 12, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Flipping through a guidebook for an entire region when you’re only visiting one city can be a frustrating way to plan a trip. Carrying around more guidebooks than you need is cumbersome and time-consuming. Instead of spending time searching through unneeded information, you may want to consider building a personalized travel guide for your next trip.
Creating a travel guide could be as easy as compiling Internet resources and printing out the information you will eventually use. Go to travel meet-ups to get tips on your destination, or read travel blogs from other people who have been there. Gathering all these resources can give you all the information you need and none of the information you don't. Plus, it's free!
It can also be done by a service such as Offbeat Guides, who will put together a travel guide for your destination, designed around your interests. It offers options such as a weather report and festival calendar tailored for just the time you will be there. They also boast the most up-to-date attraction information. Cut out the research and get a guide meant just for you and your trip.
