So I do a little bit of traveling for my work. I travel approximately 6 weeks from September through November and 2-4 weeks in March and April. I travel far away, so I frequently use planes and rental cars. This past trip especially has encouraged me to share my insight on travel and how to make it pleasurable, fun, but most of all productive. I do not claim to be a professional traveler, but I have been doing this for four years now, so I've picked up some stuff.
I will start with the planning and implementing and go from there, some of these sugesstions are more important than others:
1. Booking flights/hotels: Kayak, Orbitz, Priceline, all of those providers are great way to find flights but are not necessarily the cheapest way. What these sites do for us is search multiple airlines/hotels and gives us options. Booking directly through the Airline or Hotel is usually the same cost, and they offer protection. For example, if you book through orbitz and your flight is cancelled, theres no notification except on the flight screen. If you book directly through let's say US Airways, you get a text, email, phone call the second it happens. Plus you have more protection for cancellations and monetary replacement.
Planes: One-Stop is cheaper than direct, if you can afford to miss a flight or get delayed, it's worth the saved money.
Hotels: Know the city you are going to! Know the danger areas, the places with food close by. If you're going to a major city, consider the suburbs, cheaper and safer. IMPORTANT: Never stay on the 1st floor if you can avoid it. People can see you from the lot, you can see them. Nothing is worse than headlights from a businessman coming in at 2am shining in your window. You can request at the hotel counter to not have a 1st floor.
2. Airport Parking: Living in Charlotte, Long Term parking is $4.00 a day. Parking in Boston is $24 a day. Therefore plan ahead in your route to the aiport if it is going to cost you a lot of money. When I lived in Boston I always parked at the T-Stop for $5.00 a day and took the subway to the airport, little extra time, lots of saved money.
3. Airport Navigation: No need to get to the airport two hours early, sitting around an airport stinks. An hour early max. Know which Gate you are going to and if all the terminals connect, that way shorter lines at security can save time. If the terminals don't connect, sorry looks like you gotta wait in line.
Security, nothing is worse than being behind some person in security who has no idea what to do. As I am waiting in line I move all my items that go into the bin into one pocket, that way when I get up there I just unload everything in one action. My Shoes are already off, belt, glasses, everything people. If you have a Jacket, it goes in the bin, if you have a sweatshirt that zips up, goes in the bin.
4. Airport Bars: Ahhh mimosas and bloody marys, the best part of an airport, if you can afford it. But here's some tips. Don't get hammered before you get on the plane, they may not let you on, I've seen it. Also, that means you're going to have to pee, and if you have a middle or window seat, that means pissing off the person next to you, which I guess is better than pissing on them :)
5. Zones: Zones are key. Know what Zone you are. If you have luggage that will go in the overhead, and you're the last zone, expect EVERYTHING to be full. Grab a yellow ticket and leave it outside the plane, pick it up when you land in the boarding area. Trust me, otherwise your trying to jam it in, and everyone backs up behind you, then you realize it wont fit and you'll have to do what I just explained, but fight your way back to the front of the plane, not worth the headache.
6. Ettiquitte: Sit quickly, if your row is full, buckle up, if not, wait, because someone will be by to sit in the empty seat. And don't talk to the person next to you about your kids or how great your life is, us travelers are frustrated we can't teleport where we wanna go and we don't wanna hear that garbage, we really don't. Leave quickly, remember where your overhead items are, get out quick, everyone behind you wants off.
7. Rental Cars: You've landed, yay! Now you need a ride. This is important, forget gas mileage, safety or anything, you want speed, power, looks, color, and accessories. Red, and white cars scream rental. A red Chevy Impala is always a rental car. I go black and blue. If the rental guy offers you a car and you don't want it, say "what else ya got?". Me? I choose my car based on three things, no white or red cars, satellite radio and Ipod plug in.
8. GPS. You need one, get one. Buy one, its worth it. My GPS has free traffic indicator for life. It's perfect, lets me know whats up ahead so I can plan.
9. Food. If you get per diem like I do. Eat cheap, that way you actually make money on food.
10. Receipts. Keep track of everything you bought, even if you don't need to, this helps for budgeting and planning for later trips.
11. Promotions. Take part in every promotion. I'm a frequent flyer at three airlines, have hotel points at Marriott, Hilton, and Holiday Inn. I have a TGI Fridays Card, and grocery cards at 12 different stores. Know where you're going, because if you travel like I do, the free stuff just loads up.
Hope this was helpful, next blog post. Meetings 101.
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