Travel Tips for the Business Traveler 

Listed below are approximately 200 travel tips that we have assembled from a wide variety of sources (including from personal experiences and highly-experienced road warriors). 

Today's business traveler is faced with a myriad of options and obstacles to help him/her to best perform their job, maintain health and safety while keeping in communication with family and office, watching costs and enjoying the trip. Optimizing each requires both careful and thorough planning and a go-with-the-flow-on-the-road attitude.

To best plan, read every tip on here, select the ones that best fit your needs/profile and implement a travel plan/checklist (and useful data as described herein) into your PC for pre-trip review and on-the-road viewing (with memory stick backup). Your EWA Travel Counselor is always available to provide assistance, too.

To best enjoy your trip experience (including the various challenges), relax and go-with-the-flow. For example, when traveling in Spain (or elsewhere) and you order a vino tinto and the waiter comes back with a vino rojo, pick up the glass and say to the waiter, "Gracias".

Note: some of the tips listed below contradict other tips indicating the diverse preferences of business travelers. Your travel plan/check list, certainly, will be unique, also. Travel smartly, safely and enjoy and be rest assured that with EWA, you never travel alone.

Also, we have many additional travel tips in these sections:  Safety  Health  Baggage Handling   Q's and A's   If you have a travel tip that you wish to share with EWA travelers, please click here. 

Pre Travel/Luggage

  1. Don't buy cheap luggage. Cheap luggage dies quickly, that's why its cheap! As you all know, good luggage lasts - and yes it bears scars over time, but it is worth the investment. I went through all sorts of cheap stuff in the past, but since going to TUMI - I've never looked back. TravelPro is also great, but only their top of the line stuff. If you're like me and do everything you can to not check your luggage this tip is obvious. If you have no choice, it is painful to see $700 luggage scratched or lost - but if there is damage, the airline will give you a replacement - of cheap luggage for free. Take that cheap stuff, sell it on Ebay and use the money to get yours fixed!
  2. Visit www.the-strap.com and get a personalized luggage strap. If you check bags, you can spot yours from across the baggage claim area, no more messing around looking at the tags on dozens of other bags.
  3. Get your tape measures…carry-on bags should be no more then approximately 22x9x14in.
  4. Place any breakable items, like perfume or cologne, in plastic baggies prior to packing. This way, if they break your clothes are spared the mess!
  5. Don't pack any valuables in your checked bag. That means the $500 digital camera goes in the carry-on. Security personnel can and will break open locks to screen baggage, so use a special TSA-approved padlock, sold in luggage stores and online (the TSA Web site, www.tsa.gov, has a list of brands). Security personnel can open it with a special key, and the lock alerts you afterward if your bag has been opened. If you believe something was taken from your bag, contact the airline, call the TSA at 866-289-9673 or download a claim form at www.tsa.gov.
  6. Worried about wrinkles? If you are staying for more than 1 day in a particular city, just pack dirty shirts. Send them to the hotel laundry, and you will enjoy perfect shirts with no ironing, no special packing.
  7. Carry a couple of protein or meal replacement bars. They'll save you when you miss a meal, get nothing to eat on the plane, or have to wait to eat when changing time zones.
  8. I always pack a flashlight. I have a nice mini-maglite that my husband gave me (wouldn't want to get caught on the 30th floor in a blackout). Also, I always take a traveler's atomic alarm clock with me, in case the hotel alarm clock doesn't work.
  9. Always carry pocket packs of tissues and antibacterial moist hand wipes (I like the Nice 'n Clean 20-pack). Both are handy for restrooms and many other places.  Keep a toiletry bag and--for women--makeup bag filled with travel-size duplicates of what you use at home. These are always ready to go, and you don't have to worry about forgetting something. When an item gets low or used up, make a note to replace it when you get home. I also have travel appliances like a curling iron, blow dryer, and clothes steamer, depending on where I'm going. All these occupy the same shelf in my linen closet to facilitate packing.
  10. Put into your carry-on(s), anything you will definitely need the next day, e.g. change of underwear, socks, shirt, toiletries, pjs. I assume that my bags wont arrive with me. (happened 3 times this past summer). Yea the carrier might give you a little money to purchase a few items or refund you for doing so. But what a hassle and especially if you aren't familiar with that city or country, be it their sizes or where to buy. Also if you have a meeting you might not have the time to go shopping before, or in case you arrive on a Holiday or Sunday, not all countries are stores opened on those days.
    This way at least you have an additional day of supplies that by then hopefully your bags have arrived. If not at least you weren't running around like a chicken w/o its head on, and can go about purchasing what you need in a slightly less stressful mindset.
  11. Save almost empty cans of shaving cream, spray starch, etc, and bring them on trips. Use them the three or four times you need them, then toss them. Makes the bags lighter, and gives you room to bring stuff back.
  12. Learn to pack light (it's an art) and carry your bag on the plane. If you must check your bag, put a label on the inside as well as the outside, and include your destination, not just where you're from. That way the airline has a better chance of finding you.
  13. Pack essential items such as eyeglasses and medication, expensive or irreplaceable items and a day's worth of clothing -- or at least a change of underwear -- in your carry-on.
  14. Carry a supply of common cold remedies, analgesics, etc. There's nothing worse than realizing you need a cold medication or something for aches and pains and having to try to hunt it down while traveling.
  15. Carry Imodium:-this (or pepto) is perhaps the most important non-prescription drug you can carry, particularly overseas. A blister pack of the 2 or 3 remedies you most commonly use at home should fit easily in with your toiletries and allow you to take care of yourself easily.
  16. Photocopies of important identification, such as passports, should be carried on every trip just in case and can greatly speed up having temporary documents issued at the embassy or consulate overseas should they be lost or stolen. I also carry a list of emergency phone numbers for the various CC companies, medical travel insurance, etc. should they be required. I've also left a duplicate set at home should they be required. For complete instructions on replacing a lost passport, check the U.S. State Department's guide at travel.state.gov/travel/lost_passports_abroad.html.
    Camera's, watches, underwear is all just stuff and can be fairly easily replaced but losing your identity while abroad is a much more serious situation, especially in the heightened security conscious world post 9/11 we live in.
  17. Reduce the creases in your clothes during transport: don't fold your clothes, convolve/roll up the clothes and put the clothes into the luggage. Even suit trousers look much better afterwards if rolled up and not folded.
  18. Know which items are prohibited (check the TSA Web site, www.tsa.gov) and pack accordingly. Place personal items and toiletries in see-through plastic bags so security agents can see what's inside without pawing through them. If you're traveling with gifts, don't wrap them -- they'll just be unwrapped by screeners. Don't pile books on top of one another -- spread them out. Chocolate, fruitcakes and peanut butter also look suspicious on an X-ray.
  19. Your film will probably be okay going through the X-ray machine in your carry-on bag, but don't pack it in your checked baggage -- the more powerful X-ray machines will damage it. But if your carry-on will pass through the X-ray more than five times, ask to have the film hand-checked.
  20. Call your credit card company & let them know you're traveling so they don't cancel your account for fraudulent activity - or block it.
  21. Carry a copy of Rule 240 with you when you fly, see the link below for some of the major's copy of 240: http://www.mytravelrights.com/travellaw.cfm?ai=3  Also, be knowledgeable about your rights as a passenger: http://www.mytravelrights.com/rights.cfm?si=2
  22. Get organized. I print out every confirmation, directions from airports to hotels to meetings, etc and put them in a report cover in the order I need them. Show up at the airport parking lot, the confirmation for that reservation is on top. Tear it off, and it's the e-ticket next. Tear that off and toss it and it's the rental car one, then directions to the hotel, then the hotel reservation, etc all the way back to the airport and another copy of the e-ticket. Everything in one place, in the order you need it.
  23. Go to www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet and print out a wallet-size currency cheat sheet that tells you how much 10 euros, yen, etc. is worth in dollars so you won't get blindsided.
  24. Many places don't accept travelers' checks anymore. Instead, take your ATM card with you and withdraw money as you need it. The exchange rate is usually better than going to a currency change place, and the machine spits out the money in the currency you need. Beware of the transaction fees, though. And make sure your PIN is four digits or less, since many foreign ATMs will not accept longer PINs. Locate ATMs in advance by going to MasterCard and Visa's ATM locators (www.mastercard.com and www.visa.com), which allow you to search for ATMs by country, region, city, etc. They also have info on 24-hour and disabled access.
  25. E-mail yourself your itinerary and e-ticket confirmation so you can access them at a cyber cafe if you lose them. And set up a free e-mail address ahead of time at Yahoo.com or Hotmail.com so you can sign on.
  26. Before you leave home, check by telephone or online to see if the plane is on time. Besides contacting the airline, you can find out a flight's status within a two-hour window by airline, flight number, city, airport, etc., at www.flightarrivals.com. Also, www.fly.faa.gov publishes a map of U.S. airports color-coded to indicate flight delays. 
  27. If you have one of those black nylon suitcases, wrap it with a colorful suitcase belt, and tie an old scarf to the handle so that it can be easily identified from 50 other similar cases.
  28. Carry a hospital quality surgical mask when you travel on long flights. If you are feeling like you are coming down with something airborne, it will shelter the people around you. If you aren't sick, it could prevent a sickness. Also works great for masking those bathroom odors.
  29. Carry a pack of peppermint gum around... it really is a panacea. Keeps you awake during dry meetings, helps to settle an upset stomach, prevents your throat from becoming dry if you don't have an Aquafina on your belt, and, of course, freshens your breath after a five-hour transcon.
  30. Plan your time and travels in unfamiliar cities/airports wisely. Call ahead or ask colleagues to find out if traffic will be an issue between the airport and hotel, or hotel and working location. Learn if your hotel offers a complimentary airport shuttle (some near the airport don't, some far from the airport do). And get a rough estimate of walking time between connecting points in new airports. B1 to C1 is a longer walk at MSP than C12 to G18, believe it or not.
  31. I decided years ago that I wouldn't pack (mentally or physically) until a couple of hours before my flight. I am fully engaged with my family as long as I can. When I return, I have a zero recoup rule, so I'm not away from my family any longer than I have to be. (90% of my travel is international, and always includes weekends) If I arrive before noon, I go straight to lunch with my wife. I spend the evening with my kids, and have often gone straight from the airport to Little League games, carpooling or other family activities. All this makes the trip as short as possible for them. My family loves the miles like any other, but they want me around more!

 

Communications and Other Electronics

  1. For free domestic/international phone calls, download Skype and when traveling keep in contact with family, friends, & work colleagues - both ends need a broadband connection and also has both conferencing & Instant Messenger capabilities. And it works on Windows, MAC, Linux, & Pocket PC 
  2. Program in each of the phone numbers you may need for your travel into your cell phone, along with your account #: AAA Emergency Road Services, Hotel, Favorite Car Rental Services, Airline, Your Attorney, Your Parents, All places you will be visiting. It is always such a hassle to remember which city you are visiting, plus the name of the places, and then to call directory assistance, then be connected, and hope it's the right number. This way, you are immediately connected to exactly where you need to be connected to. Additionally, we use an AT&T phone with mMode.. it has built in mapquest, so we just punch the airport address in, plus where we are going, and we have a map!
  3. A cheap pc cam can really ease the travel burden with the children at home. Just quick movie of mom or dad when they are traveling will delight the kids. Before a trip, take a moment to show the kids where you are going, talk about time changes, currency, languages, etc. It really make them feel better than mom/dad is on a trip that they usually get. For the younger kids, buy two copies of the same book, this will allow you to take one and read to your kids at night. They are so happy about this. USB video WebCams - Cost like $20 or $30 now, but if you have small kids at home that miss you can video conference with them before bedtime or whatever to make them believe they still have a mommy or daddy.
  4. For digital camera users - write your name and phone number(s), including mobile, on a sheet of paper, then take a picture of that with the first photo on your camera. If your camera gets lost, whoever turns it on will see on the display who owns it, and (if they're honest) you get the camera back.
  5. The wonderful thing about using a local prepaid GSM SIM is that all incoming calls are free (except in the US, of course). Unlocked phones can be purchased for cheap over the internet, even cheaper from eBay. Use the Prepaid GSM web site as a starting point for prepaid GSM services. If you'd like to have a SIM just for emergency use or to use before you can buy a prepaid one in-country, check out Mobal. For $20, you can get a SIM that basically never expires without any fees, and you can make calls from all over the world. Charges are placed on your credit card each month.
  6. Don't bring your physical DVDs when you travel with their bulk, risk of loss or damage, etc. Rip them onto your hard drive with DVD Shrink.
  7. One of the MOST useful gadgets I've found is my Kensington Wi-Fi Plus wireless signal detector. I took it with me on a recent international trip, and was able to find a wireless signal in places I didn't expect. That made staying online at high-speed much, much easier. It's well worth the USD$29.95 (MSRP) price, and it attaches easily to your computer bag with a key chain loop. 
  8. For internet access on the road, use a service that has access numbers everywhere. My favorite is Tempest Telecom because they have access numbers all over the world, reasonable rates, and no monthly or minimum charges. You only pay for what you use, even if it's once a year.
  9. Program your cellphone with A1-Wife, A1-Hubby, etc If you are ever in an accident, and someone finds your cell phone, it will be the first number they see.
  10. If you are traveling internationally and will need to make overseas phone calls invest in an inexpensive *unlocked* cell phone and SIM cards. We recently used this system in Europe and it saved us a fortune in long distance charges. All incoming calls are free. The SIM cards came with pre-assigned numbers we could give to associates in the states so that they could reach us when they needed to. Already have an next generation AT&T, Cingular, or TMobile cell phone? For most phones, you can do one of the following: a) pay someone online ($10-30) to send you the proper unlock code b) unlock it yourself with programs you can find online
    or c) contact your phone provider for unlock details. Examples: Most Nokias can be unlocked for FREE with software found on http://www.unlockme.co.uk/unlockme.html     T-Mobile will unlock any phone for any customer that has had an account for >90 days. Just call them and you'll receive an email with the instructions like this guy. Note: Not all phones will work in all countries because not all phones support all GSM frequencies. Look up the specs on your phone manufacturer's website and then check here to find out if there is a provider in the country you are planning to visit that supports one of those frequencies. This is how you can make sure that your phone (and the foreign carrier's pre-paid SIM card) will work for you *before* you fly. Finally, these SIM cards may be bought online but are often cheaper if you purchase them abroad.
  11. Purchase a small/portable wireless access point (like apple Airport Express) and carry it with you for use in your hotel. Benefits: A) If your hotel doesn't have wireless access you don't have to be chained to the little desk in the corner of the room. B) If your hotel does have wireless access, but still has an Ethernet port in the room you are likely to get much better and reliable reception from your own device. C) You can turn on strong encryption to protect your information while en route on the wireless network. (Don't discount this... it's very easy to collect all of the wireless traffic from a location for later inspection).
  12. When I travel, I carry a memory stick around my neck. This has a scanned image of my passport, the relevant business visa, itineraries/confirmations, and emergency information. I also carry relevant software files related to my engineering consulting work. The same is carried as hardcopy on my carry-on and as files on my laptop, but if the laptop crashes or my carry-on is lost or stolen, the critical stuff is around my neck on a virtually weightless memory stick.

 

Airport Check in and Security

  1. Travelers are advised by the airlines to check in one hour prior to departure for domestic flights and two hours for international flights and to show a government issued, photo ID.
  2. To avoid the check-in counter, go online to obtain your boarding pass. 
  3. If you're at the airport and a major delay or cancellation was just announced, or if you miss a connecting flight, don't wait on the already snaking line of disgruntled passengers to get your problem solved. Just get to the nearest phone and call EWA or your airline's toll-free number. Chances are you'll find a new seat on a new flight faster than you would if you waited on line for airport personnel to help you.
  4. Increasingly, thieves worldwide are targeting tourists. Even in the most peacefully appearing countries, even the most seasoned travelers are advised to take extra security precautions: avoid wearing expensive jewelry and watches, keep your passport locked in a safe (copy a duplicate to carry), keep track of your luggage, make certain to keep all valuables and medicines in a carry-on bag and always check out the local safety precautions.
  5. Check out wait times at security checkpoints before you leave at waittime.tsa.dhs.gov. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration site reports average and maximum wait times at concourses across the country -- historical data only, but it can be helpful in planning.
  6. Before approaching security, empty ALL contents of your pockets into a ziplock bag that you have placed in an easy-to-reach pocket of your briefcase or purse. (and don't forget that watch)! I haven't set off an alarm in over two years.

  7. I carry my photo ID, a credit card and a few bucks in a clear id tag hanging around my neck....I often find myself traveling without any pockets and digging for these items repeatedly is annoying...also, there is little chance of my losing the items by missing my back pocket when I put them away, or their getting lost in my big carry-on bag...My id necklace is nicely beaded and I have a couple of different colors to match my traveling outfits.....this is simple, but very practical.

  8. Carry your cell phone, pager or PDA on the way to the airport so you can receive updated flight and travel info from your airline or travel provider. Most major airlines, including American, United, Northwest, Delta, Continental and Southwest, will send you updated flight information, including gate changes and flight status, via phone or e-mail. 
  9.   If your airline permits it -- and many now do -- print out your boarding pass at home up to 24 hours before your flight and go right to your gate. Or check in at an automated kiosk using a credit card or frequent-flier card. If you're checking luggage, use curbside check-in rather than at the counter. 
  10. Know your shortcuts. I can't stress how many times this has saved my chronically late self from complete and utter failure. A couple good ones - the NW E-ticket check-in and security checkpoint on the C to G connector at MSP, instead of at the main terminal, and the DTW security checkpoint inside the Westin. Or, if you don't like to be crunched for time...
  11. All exit rows are not created equal, be sure to ask for the reclining exit row seat, or look at the seat map and be sure. If a plane has 2 sets of exit rows, the first set generally don't recline - which means more legroom & recline in the second set. Also, with Bulkheads - some bulkhead doors seats have the door in your legroom, so if you like bulkhead window seats, this may be a challenge for you - check seatguru.com for your flights.
  12. If you have carry-on bags, think about getting a seat assignment toward the back of the plane. You board first and have easier time stowing your bags.
  13. Dress for success at security checkpoints. Remove all outerwear before screening. Wear slip-on shoes, because you'll probably be taking them off too (you might be safe with sneakers, but don't count on it). Metal barrettes, jewelry, belt buckles and even under wire bras can set off metal detectors. And lose the belly-button ring. 
  14. Make the Customer Service Manager and/or an agent you see frequently for your favorite airline at your home airport your friend. You might not get free upgrades or tickets, but you will certainly find yourself rebooked and on your way to a new flight while everyone else is waiting in line. And if you are ever in a bind at the airport, they will be there to help you.
  15. In my experience, the #1 rule is to BE NICE TO THE STAFF. This is especially true when something goes wrong. When something does go wrong, find out who actually has the authority to do something about it and deal with them. There is no point wasting effort with someone who has no ability to help. Two examples: 1) I was standing by for an earlier flight.... they said they'd try to get me on - the flight was fairly full, but "maybe" a seat in the middle somewhere. Someone else came up ranting... literally pushed his way on in front of me. The GA threw her hands up and made a sort-of apology. I said, "I don't know how you put up with this all day." I was rewarded with a FC seat on a flight about 1 hour later (still 4 hours earlier then my original flight). 2) Traveling with my family - including two (then small) children. Flight was oversold, and an earlier equipment change had rearranged our seat assignments. I asked politely when we checked in whether they could at least have us 2 and 2 - didn't think we could board if the kids were not each with a parent. The GA took my boarding passes & said she'd see what she could do. A few minutes later, another passenger came along with the same complaint - but he had 4 tickets in first class. He screamed at the GA for the better part of 45 min. He got his seats together - in coach. I got (his, I suppose) in First.
  16. It's been said before, but I have to say it again... Be really nice to the people who are helping you on your trip (from the parking attendant at the airport, to the counter agent, security screener, gate agent, FA, etc). Ever since learning how to relax I've never had a bad trip...
  17. If you are making a same day return, check in at the nearest open counter at your arriving airport for your return flight. That way if your meeting runs long, you don't need to sweat getting to the airport. (Particularly important to guarantee an "A" if you are on Southwest)
  18. When traveling to a destination, always check out nearby airports. This will help you make last minutes alternate travel plans - in case you miss a connection or want to take advantage of being bumped. You can look at the Departure board and see when the next flight is - and maybe the airline will put you on that flight instead of the one many hours later. Some examples: Bay Area - SFO, OAK, and SJC are all near by (and Sacramento is about 75 miles away). DC Area - BWI, IAD and DCA are all nearby NY Area - EWR, JFK, LGA (I have personally flow into JFK when the EWR flights were delayed, delayed, delayed). A corollary - some airlines treat nearby airports as the same airport for pricing, so you can fly into and out of different airports if it works better with your travel plans.
  19. Get a lounge membership. I really don't see that as a luxury. It gives you several more hours of productive work time at the airport instead of the noisy gate area.
  20. Extra time in-between flights? Often you can use the executive lounge of an airline for a one -time use fee, usually around $25.

 

In the Air

  1. Last year, I skeptically tried an herbal formulation called "No Jet Lag", which is a tablet. You take two before takeoff, two before landing, and one at regular intervals during a long flight. I left JFK 6:30pm to LHR, arrivng 6:30am; left 8:45 for TLV, arriving around 3:30pm local time (8:30am NY time), picked up a car, drove 30 minutes to the office, and went right to work, with no loss of energy and no tiredness.
  2. Every time he lands after a long flight, professional golfer Gary Player walks 18 holes, even if he's not teeing off. Love of the game? No, "it's the light," says the 64-year-old Mr. Player who has flown some 12 million miles during his career. "I'm a great believer in sunlight to combat the time change." Light, when used correctly, holds the greatest potential for helping travelers adjust to a new time zone, says Philip Scarpa, medical officer for the Kennedy Space Center. In fact, NASA occasionally quarantines astronauts prior to launch and douses them with light to help prepare their body clocks for space travel. It's "like fuel," adds Charles Czeisler, co-director of Harvard Medical School's Division of Sleep Medicine. "It shifts you to a later or earlier hour." When headed east on an overnight flight, seek sun or artificial-light in the mid to late morning at your destination, but wait until late afternoon and early evening when headed west. 
  3. If an airline pillow has already been used, turn the pillowcase inside out. It's likely a little cleaner on that side.
  4. Pack lip balm for lengthy flights.
  5. Need to alleviate ear pressure when flying? Place a hot cloth in cup and hold it over your ear. Try it, it works!
  6. Always leave your shoes on until after the craft reaches 10K feet or the seatbelt light goes off. If an accident is going to happen, odds are it is on take-off or landing and you will need those shoes. If you stop in front of me to put them on, look out, you are going to roll. The same idea but put your shoes back on at least two hours before you land. I forget the term, but any clotting in your legs will be compounded by feet swelling. This is how people have strokes when they walk off of a plane. Then there is the safety side of it, you want your shoes on when you bail out of a plane.
  7. Fresh, clean socks are extremely valuable after an international flight... even if you're in the same clothes.
  8. Check out airline seating charts at www.seatguru.com. Everything you ever wanted to know about airline seating -- including leg room, seat width, pitch and proximity to the bathrooms -- for 21 airlines is there. Armed with this info, ask for a change of seats once you get to the gate. Remember that bulkhead seats give you more space, but you may be sitting in front of the restroom. You can also ask for roomier emergency exit seats if they're available and you're willing to assist in a potential evacuation.

  9. If you get on your flight, you're starving, and dinner is . . . pretzel mix. If you're lucky think BYO. Pack a protein snack -- cheese and crackers, or trail mix in a plastic bag. And bring a bottle of water -- it's expensive at the airport. If you decide to grab some food at the airport before your flight, look at a services map before you go through security, since the only thing on the other side may be a McDonald's and a newsstand.

  10. If  the guy in the seat in front of you has reclined his seat so far back your knees are in your face and he won't compromise, whip out your Knee Defender (www.kneedefender.com), a plastic device that snaps onto your tray table and controls how far your nemesis can put his seat back. Some folks have been known to aim their fresh-air nozzle directly at the noggin of the offending passenger as an incentive to un-recline, but we cannot condone this antisocial behavior. 
  11. Learn how to sleep on the plane. People who can sleep on planes have a big advantage over those who can't: we can take red eyes, we can work later in more comfortable surroundings instead of working on the plane, and we are not as tired and grumpy. Sleeping doesn't require you to carry heavy stuff in your carry-on, and you can do it before the seatbelt sign is turned off and right up until the plane reaches the gate. And no matter what time it is, people don't think you're weird: they just assume you must be adjusting from a different time zone. Pack special noise-reducing earphones to mute engine racket (Bose makes a nice set; www.bose.co.uk/noise_reduction/qc2_headphones) and wear a blindfold. One by Flight 001 comes with a plastic insert so you can alert the flight attendant if you want to be awakened for meals or the duty-free cart (www.flight001.com). Another product, the Dream Helmet (www.dreamhelmet.com) is a combination blindfold and pillow that looks goofy, but effectively blocks out all sound and light. Some people swear by sleeping pills such as Ambien (prescription required). Add in the airplane's headphones on the "boring music" channel (there are restrictions on when you can wear your own headsets) and the sensory deprivation is pretty good. 
  12. Try to get two blankets (or one blanket and your coat) and wear one over your legs and one over your top half. This ensures the FA's can see your seatbelt and won't wake you to tell you to wear it, and it also gives you a little more freedom of movement. 
  13. If it's a long flight, make sure you have a bottle of water in your seatback pocket so you don't have to wake up much to slake your thirst in a few hours. Relax, breathe deeply, meditate or do relaxation exercises if you know how, and sleep. Your brain will thank you for it.
  14. Bring your own pillowcase, or even your own mini-pillow. One new stretchable model by Bucky molds to the shape of your body and comes with a snap that allows the pillow to be attached securely to luggage, backpack or carry-on. (www.bucky.com).
  15. You can reduce your chances of getting painful (and sometimes fatal) DVT (deep-vein thrombosis), which results when blood clots develop in the leg during or after a long-haul flight. Forget about sleeping during the flight; get up at least once an hour and walk through the cabin for a few minutes. Drink plenty of water and wear loose-fitting clothes. Wiggle your toes, make ankle circles and do other stretching exercises in your seat periodically, or bring special prerecorded workout tapes. Those at high risk should consider wearing compression stockings and discuss anticoagulation therapy with their doctors.
  16. Plan ahead and bring headphones from home -- they'll be more comfortable, anyway. Noise-reduction earphones also work well for movies: You can actually hear the flick without the engine roar. The Bose set has a collection of plugs and adapters to fit various airline sockets .Etymotic Research earbuds are the BEST solution for listening to music in a noisy environment. They are very compact (unlike the bose) and have no active circuitry. The design of the earbud is such that it gives a 30 - 40db cut in background noise by blocking the ear canal. Whenever I use these on a flight I simply cannot hear any of the background noise. The best part is that they are some of the best sounding headphones on the market.
  17. To keep yourself entertained on those long flights:
    1. Bring your laptop/DVD player/whatever with you
    2. Carry a universal power adapter, such as the iGo Juice
    3. Subscribe to NetFlix! Watch the movie, and then mail it back on arrival. By the time you get home, there's a new one waiting for you!
  18. Lock your carryon valuables/bag, especially if you travel in premium cabins and sleep during long intercontinental night flights.

 

Upon Arrival

  1. When joining a single queue, look for booths where two agents are processing visitors rather than. That line should move twice as quick.
  2. Use your ATM at the arriving airport, better yet if you have a debit/ATM card with points and get your country cash from an ATM. 
  3. Upon your departure, use all of the coins and denominations too small to exchange at the Duty Free. They will count out your coins and deduct it from your credit card total.
  4. Always call your wife and kids upon arrival to your destination...
  5. Always check the departure area or the area near the ground transportation buses or pick-up areas for the luggage carts... Why pay $2 - $3 for a cart when there are often a ton of them sitting just a few feet away.

 

Rental cars

  1. Rent a car at the closest place to the airport that is not at the airport so you don't have to pay airport taxes. You can get to these places by taking your hotel shuttle to your hotel then later have the shuttle driver drive you to the off airport rental car place

    If you are renting a car and there is "no availability" for a 1 or 2 day rental... try submitting the reservation request again ... only do it for 5 days. Often there will be availability. (You can always return the car early)... You just need the reservation!

  2. Find the best price for the cheapest grade (e.g. subcompact) .. Then upgrade at the rental counter, you will usually be able to get a really nice premium car  for $5-$20 over what you paid for the subcompact.
  3. WANT THE BEST CAR? It's simple: ASK for the car with the lowest number of miles. The counter agent has mileage information for each car on his or her computer screen. You don't have to accept the car that the agent or the computer chooses for you. This is especially true for weekly or longer rentals. Check out your car before you drive it off the lot. If you are dissatisfied, ask for another one. If you don't like the smell of smoke, request a non-smoking car.
  4. Assert your rights. According to industry convention, car rental agencies cannot downgrade you if they do not have a car of the size you reserved. They must upgrade you at no additional cost, and if they don't have any larger cars, they should send you to a competitor and pay any difference in the rate applied.
  5. Most car rental companies have more mid-sized or large cars than small ones. By reserving a compact car at a cheap rate, the chances are that when you arrive and a compact is not available, you'll be upgraded to a larger car, free of charge.
  6. Don't fall for the agent's hard sell on their different "refueling options." (Most preposterous: "pre-purchase a tank of gas and bring the car back empty!" Driving around a strange city on a low tank of gas? No, thanks.) Be safe and save money by allotting enough time to stop and fill up the car yourself before returning it.
  7. Before purchasing the insurance when renting a car, check out if your company, credit card, or personal insurance covers you.
  8. Join any rental car expedited-renter process that you need, even if it is simply for one rental. First-rental processes sometimes still require a signature, but especially at large airports, there is frequently a separate booth or counter agent tasked to handle these rentals. You will be able to skip the main line, sign the paperwork, and head to your car.
  9. Another rental car rule: never use a third-tier rental agency for any reason. The cheaper the car is, the faster you should run away. If it looks too good to be true, it is too good to be true. If you decide to break this rule, bring your lawyer, your own car insurance agent, a mechanic, and a magnifying glass so you can find which part of the fine print they will use to try and slap a $2,000 bill on you. And yes, a Ford Focus is a full-size car. See: engine, four tires, steering wheel. It's full-size. Do you have a problem with that?
  10. If you are renting from a company that lets you pick from among several cars in the parking lot (e.g. National), pick the one with the highest license tag number, it is the newest.

  11. Avoid Being Dinged for Rental-Car Dents  (Especially at Enterprise) The next time you rent a car, inspect the vehicle with great care - front, back, sides and top - before getting behind the wheel. Make sure that the rental agent notes even the smallest scratch on the rental agreement.

 

Hotels

  1. Always, always check out the escape route from your hotel room to the nearest exit. Figure out where you need to go (while you can't see in case there is smoke) in case (God forbid) there is a fire in the hotel. This is incredibly important and something not a lot of people do.
  2. Exceptional offer at IC LeGrand Paris  This may be of interest if you are going to Paris this year:
    http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic...lp/depart2.html  It was aimed at Amex card holders but I don't see why anyone else should not be able to book. Basically, you get: Two nights for the price of one Guaranteed junior suite upgrade from any class of room, even the cheap and poky classic rooms, Club access (so free breakfast and drinks) A free massage. I booked the cheapest possible room in the hotel for two nights (a pre-paid rate). My credit card was only charged for one night. A couple of days later, the confirmed upgrade to a JS was showing on my PC account.
  3.  If you ever show up at a hotel and are told that the place is oversold and they do not have a room for you, simply say "Oh, no rooms? Very well, I'll just stay here in the lobby then," and proceed to lay down on one of the couches. You might even go brush your teeth in the lobby bathroom and change into your night-time clothes, for effect. This is guaranteed to get the hotel to find an open room for you for the night!
  4. When I always arrive in a new city, I always take the effort to visit a big hotel concierge with my to-do list. Depending on their suggestions, maps and insights as a local are great and they appreciate the $5-10 tip as well. What they save me on lunch or transportation covers that already not to mention time running around a strange place.
  5. Tip the concierge on the way in.
  6. Ever been at a hotel and needed to print something? Rather than paying the extreme hotel charges for printing (sometimes $2 a page), FAX the document to yourself at the hotel. Hotels often do not charge for incoming faxes (check first). Online fax services such as efax.com are cheap and easy to use.
  7. If you use any hotel services that cost money, such as the bar, restaurant, or even the gift shop, charge them to your room instead of paying cash or even using your credit card. You will receive more hotel points for the increased final bill at checkout and you will still get the miles on your FF-linked credit card.

  8. If you have a favorite room/floor, email the hotel manager a week or two before your trip to ask if this can be requested. Hotel managers are very accommodating and when I requested a specific room for my honeymoon in Shanghai- I got an email and phone call from the manager confirming my request
  9. Start collecting the excess travel shampoos, lotions, sewing kits, etc. that most hotels provide for free. Place them in a sack at home and when full, donate to a nursing home for bingo prizes or to a homeless shelter. What most of us take for granted can be a rare treasure to someone who rarely travels.
  10. Stay in a hotel that uses WIFI or bring your own WIFI access point with you. If you bring your own, always use encryption such as TKIP or AES! 
  11. Outraged by overpriced internet charges in big hotels? Just try to lobby or near a window. These days, there is a free wireless network almost everywhere; you just have to turn on your PCs wireless search and try to find it.
  12. When you need the local telephone or fax number of a hotel, don't incur a charge by calling 411 directory assistance - call the hotel chain's 800 reservations number. Don't know the reservations number? 800-555-1212 (800 directory assistance) is still toll free. 
  13. If you're staying in one place for a week or more, stay in an apt. rather than a hotel. You can save money on meals by preparing simple meals. In big cities, you can get good food to go and eat it at your leisure at home. It's not just about saving money on meals. Sometimes apts. compare well on a per night basis and your stay can be more like the pace back home. Also a better sense of how locals live rather than being in a hotel which are designed to make you feel like back home (European hotels serve American-like breakfasts which are nothing like what the local fare).
  14. If your flight leaves at the crack of dawn and you don't relish the 4 a.m. wakeup call to get to the airport in time stay at an airport hotel the night before. Bonus: Many offer sleep-park-and-fly packages that can be considerably cheaper than airport parking lots. And they often include a ride to the airport. For a list of hotels offering parking packages in the United States and abroad, go to www.parksleepfly.com.
  15. Trains in London are the way to go. Stay in a hotel near the airport and ride the train in; you lose some time but then again you'll save a lot in hotel cost.
  16. Here's a fantastic hotel deal if you're visiting New York City. Stay at the 3 star Hyatt Regency Jersey City The hotel is located across the Hudson River from downtown Manhattan, and has fantastic views. It's one stop away from downtown Manhattan by subway (PATH). Trains run every few minutes and the Exchange Place station is right outside the hotel, so it takes 10 minutes or less to get to downtown Manhattan. This hotel has gotten generally excellent reviews and I'm very happy with everything every time I stay there - it's definitely the best hotel deal I know of! Normally, rooms at this hotel go for $150-$250/night.

 

Restaurants

  1. Considering that most Idine restaurants reward 10 miles per dollar, try for versatility by dining at these rather than the hotel restaurant. Most hotel cards only reward ~3-5 points per dollar spent compared to the 10 with each IDine. You will get your share of hotel points, but IDine is one of the premier ways to maximize your airline miles.

  2. Especially when traveling in developing, eating some yogurt every day will help to keep your stomach and digestive track happy and healthy. Packaged and processed yogurt is available fresh and safely from stores in almost every country. This is especially important if you are taking antibiotics that may kill the good flora in your stomach. Try it... you will be amazed at how rare travelers diarrhea becomes.
  3. I get/got always fed up with those business lunches in the evening. The night became longer and longer, the people more and more drunk, the bill larger, etc. Today I make invitations for breakfast buffets instead:
    - no additional expenses = the breakfast buffet contains everything including drinks
    - no alcoholic drink issues
    - no nights that seam to never end
    - no clothing issues: people come as they will be dressed later in the office, too
  4. For gifts, in Europe look for cheeses (aged ones will keep), liquor, wine, canned gourmet items, dried fruit, and condiments. In Asia and Latin America, be on the look out for spices, salsas, teas, soaps, chocolate, and other local products. When you get home it is a wonderful way to relive your adventures and share your trip with family and friends. These items also make great gifts! (Try to keep to packaged goods though to avoid problems at customs.)
  5. As a general rule of thumb, food gets more expensive as the day progresses. Eat out for breakfast and take the lunch specials or fixed price menus but avoid dinner unless you have a dinner meeting out. Buy at a local market and enjoy dinner in your room or in a park, maybe watching the sunset or ocean waves. I've bought bread and local cheese and wine for a great outing in the park, under the Eiffel Tower before.
  6. Go where the locals would go. In Paris and Tokyo, avoid restaurants which have English menus. In New York City, avoid eating in the midtown unless price is a non-issue. Great restaurants are located also in the upper east side and in downtown. In Los Angeles, consider Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach rather than Beverly Hills or Santa Monica.
  7. I never use iDine. At least for me - most of the restaurants on iDine are the kinds of places you try to impress a date...with the size of the bill...Instead, I ask the bell boys (not concierges - they often are 'commissioned') then cross reference with hotel front desk people. However, you often have to ask around since it is unusual that people working in a hotel live near it! Assuming you are not in a really dangerous country - go out in the daytime when you have some spare time and walk a 3 block radius around the hotel. You can often find something decent there - if nothing else a convenience store where you can buy drinks 5x cheaper than the mini-bar. If you travel to a destination very often - find a local taxi driver who speaks your language. The ones who have learned foreign tongues are also ambitious enough to want to build a client list...and these guys also are awesome sources for finding great restaurants, shops, etc. Frequent customers usually get a discount...

 

Frequent Flyer Reward Programs

  1. Earn enough miles to be elite on at least one airline to utilize the 'fast line' though security. This way no matter what airline you fly, you will get through the line first. 
  2. If your airline offers complementary upgrades to Elite status passengers (and you have Elite status) don't give up if you don't get automatically upgraded. I periodically check within 24 hours of the flight for availability in FC. If the booking engine shows a seat available I immediately call reservations and ask for it. If an upgrade isn't available on the auto run I can typically get one before the flight takes off.
  3. Join every frequent flier/guest/renter/whatever program you come across. It may seem like you have to be a world traveler to get real benefits, but the points can add up fast. In addition, members of these programs often get special offers, upgraded amenities, or preferred treatment. It generally doesn't cost you anything to join, but the benefits can range from small to enormous!
  4. Your time is worth a lot more than extra FF miles: you will probably end up disappointed if you pass up the most favorable routing (e.g., a nonstop flight) in order to fly a less-favorable routing for mileage-earning purposes. 1 flight delay, and suddenly the whole plan seems like a really, really bad idea.
  5. As soon as you cross 25,000 flight miles, you will receive your first "Elite Status" card. This card gives you the right to be a loud, obnoxious jerk at the airport. When you enter the airport, have the card out and ready - you'll need to shove it in the face of the counter agent, the security guards, and the gate agent to make people aware of your importance. Remember to allow the word "elite" to go to your head: you earned that upgrade, so make sure you aggressively demand it! You will achieve best results if you have a few beers in you when you arrive.
  6. Consolidate your FF program memberships. Rarely is there a need to join more than 3 - one for each global alliance.
  7. Be creative with routing for award travel. f the agent tells you there aren't any seats available to get you to the destination you want to go to on an award ticket - get creative. My wife and I have traveled to South Africa many times on award tickets - usually using Northwest Airlines WorldPerks miles. The Northwest agents always want to check award availability via Amsterdam and frequently say there is none. But there are other ways to get to South Africa using WorldPerks miles. One way is to travel via Kenya, but my favorite is to travel via Argentina. WorldPerks miles can be redeemed on either Copa or Delta for travel to EZE and from there on to JNB or CPT using Malaysian. Sometimes it is difficult getting seats on Delta to EZE, but Copa seems to have lots of availability. Malaysian ALWAYS seems to have availability to JNB/CPT from EZE - their first class is GREAT. 
  8. When booking award travel as an elite ff member.. be sure to take advantage of waitlist privileges offered by airlines. For example... get the outbound and secure a less than desirable date for return. Secure a seat of the flight regardless of class. You can always waitlist for a better date and or preferred class of service. I have almost always gotten the dates / flights that I wanted with a little "wait listing" and patience.  
  9. When trying to use miles to upgrade a flight for multiple passengers.... consider splitting the record when wait listing. Often seats become available for 1 passenger at a time. If you have more than 1 in a record... your request gets passed over. If you split the record... you may be able to score single seats as they come available with better odds of upgrading the entire party. Check partner airline availability... check partner airline availability... check partner airline availability .... if you primary carrier shows no availability.
  10. If you have orphan miles in a partner ff program where you have no status and you are elite in another program.... First check to see if you can use your orphaned miles in the partner ff program first. Save your miles in your elite program for when there is ONLY availability for elite flyers. There are different levels of availability for elite travelers... hence, use the lowest valuable currency to secure the desired seat.
  11. If you travel to Asia on business and pleasure, use Hyatt. Earning Hyatt free nights and redeeming them at the Grand Hyatt - Roppongi Hills or some similar Grand Hyatt nets you a gigantic return on investment.
  12. Do all your holiday shopping (or any shopping, for that matter) through airlines' frequent flier web sites. Continental's Shop OnePass and Northwest's Mall seem to be the most comprehensive, including retailers like Barnes and Noble, Circuit City, Best Buy, Sports Authority, Gap, and so on - enough variety that you can find something for anyone and with reputable stores. By simply linking to these merchant's sites through the airline you get 2-5 miles/dollar (on top of your credit card miles) and sometimes other deals like free shipping. Especially for big purchases like electronics or with big families the miles add up fast and easy.
  13. Maximize your miles. If you don't travel often, consider earning miles in one or two programs instead of accruing slowly in multiple programs. "If you have too many programs going on, you may never accumulate enough miles in any of them to make it worthwhile," Heim said. Don't forget to look for bonus mile promotions, many of which are online-only.
  14. Be flexible. Mondays and Fridays are typically the toughest days to find frequent flyer seats. Travelers who can bend their schedules around have the best chances of landing a free flight.
  15. Plan ahead. Airlines can open their seats as early as 331 days in advance, according to Consumer Reports. But even a few months ahead is better than waiting until the last minute. 
  16. Stick to your plan once you book. Many airlines no longer allow you to hold a frequent flyer award reservation for up to 30 days, Heim said. "They've cut that back to two weeks -- 14 days with American, Delta and United, and US Air gives you three days to change your mind," he said. "Continental and Northwest don't give you any window at all."
  17. Don't count on unrestricted awards, but don't rule out double-the-mileage offers. Black-out dates may be gone and most major carriers no longer impose time limits on mileage, but seats are far from available in many cases. At the same time, some passengers are paying up twice the amount of miles for a particular time, which may not sound like a value unless the airline raises its threshold or becomes insolvent. It's better to use them than lose them, even if you have to spend more to do what you want.
  18. Mileage upgrades may be difficult. Consolidator tickets, deeply discounted fares and some Internet-only specials often are exempt from upgrades, according to Consumer Reports. It pays to ask before buying since those fares are typically nonrefundable.

Local

  1. Consider parking at an off-site lot, which can be cheaper than the airport's lots. Before you leave, find out where they are (www.longtermparking.comlets you compare discount options at airports across the United States and in the United Kingdom). You can sometimes print out a discount coupon. Consider joining a parking affinity club, which can guarantee you a space during busy travel times.
  2. It may not be an option for early or late flights, but if scheduling permits, consider using mass transit: Metro to Reagan National; Metro/bus combos to Dulles; or Metro/bus, Amtrak or the MARC train to BWI. Details: www.metwashairports.com, www.bwiairport.com. 
  3. All three Washington-area airports offer limited free parking for pickups. In addition, BWI has a "cell phone lot" just inside the Daily B surface parking lot at Aviation Boulevard and Elm Road where you can wait for arriving passengers to contact you. The Arrival Waiting Area, across from the Daily A garage, also offers about 50 spaces where drivers may wait with their vehicles until making cell phone contact.
  4. -Utilize public transportation as much as possible if you can - in places like London, Amsterdam, New York, & DC there really is little reason to take a cab as the public transportation is quite good.
  5.  In Los Angeles, if you are staying in the LAX airport area, consider staying at the Renaissance. The hotel shuttle runs every 10 to 15 minutes, so hop on the shuttle, check-in and relax, then walk to Hertz to pick up your car. This way you can reduce the number of times lifting your heavy suitcase.
  6.  If you are visiting Hollywood from overseas, consider SFO/BUR route. Immigration in SFO is less crowded compared to LAX, and BUR is more convenient to Hollywood.
  7. In most big cities (except LA) you don’t need to rent a car. In Tokyo, get yourself a “PassNet,” a pre-paid card which can be used for all subways and private railways. It’s fast and easy, and no need to worry about making mistakes with coins. In New York, one-day subway pass is only 7 dollars; it’s easy to use, and makes your expense report easier.

 

International

  1. GLOBAL VILLAGE ETIQUETTE  Whether you're doing business abroad, vacationing in a distant land or simply welcoming guests from another culture, with a little research and preparation, accompanied with some sensitivity skills training, you can make a lasting and favorable impression instead of a disastrous one. You never get another chance to make a first impression! In fact, wipe out the word "foreign" or "foreigner" from your vocabulary because in the dictionary it means "alien" or "not belonging". Better to refer to others as "visitors or guests." Ten suggested protocol rules on social interaction to keep in mind:

    1. Be patient when building trust in establishing relationships. Other countries take much longer than Americans and observe a greater formality than we do. You wouldn't want to ask someone from Great Britain their occupation on first meeting.

    2. It is courteous to ALWAYS stand when you are introduced to another human being - no matter the culture.

    3. Before receiving or meeting an honored guest from abroad, prepare by. Researching such data such as their population, ethnic and religious composition, official languages, geography, especially the capital and major cities, their government structure, national leaders and political parties. Not only will you appear informed but your guest will be complimented because you took the time to learn something about him/her.

    4. Conversation should avoid all sensitive subjects including religion and politics, (Example WWII with Japan). The pride that one has in one's culture and tradition are safe topics.

    5. Slow down your speech and don't raise your voice because you think they cannot understand you. Have you noticed how people just talk louder to be understood? Volume doesn't usually increase comprehension. People with foreign accents are not necessarily hard of hearing.

    6. Even though most people around the world speak English, it's often difficult to understand us, especially if we use slang, buzz words, idioms, jargon, and lingo. One of my assistants would often tell the Italian Consulate, "Sherri's on another line but she'll give you a "buzz back". She never realized that the Italians might think I wanted to take them out for cocktails on the town... It's smart to eliminate phrases like "It's raining cats and dogs" or someone who eats them in their country may just run to the window to watch the miracle!

    7. If interpreters are used, they should meet with the person they are interpreting for in advance to learn their language patterns, any special terminology and especially numbers which could change the whole dimension of things. Remember, interpreters are not translators, so the terms should not be confused. There is an entire protocol regarding the use of interpreters - where they stand, sit, etc.

    8. Non-verbal interaction cues are extremely important. "Yes" or an affirmative nod often means "yes I hear you" in Asian cultures, not "yes I agree". By looking at the interaction through American eyes, you might think you just closed the deal of the century. You must understand that by avoiding the word "no", some Asians believe they can avoid creating any disharmony and harmony is a cherished value in this culture.

    9. Never slap someone's back, the "good old Joe" American routine. Touching and rules of social distance etiquette vary in other cultures.

    10. Protocol is the lubricant that allows two or more moving parts to come together without friction.
  2. For international trips, look for special deals such as round-the-world or circle fares. These fares, such as the OneWorld Explorer or OneWorld Circle Pacific (and Star Alliance equivs) often work out cheaper than the point to point fares (especially in business and first class) and you can earn a lot more miles/point/status for your money. I often find I can pay for business class RTW or Circle fare for not much more than a point-to-point economy/coach fare, and earn my top tier elite FF status at the same time. And you can almost always get a First Class RTW or Circle fare for less than the business class point to point fare. A carefully constructed Round The World itinerary can earn top tier elite FF status in many programs. This can easily be done using the business class OneWorld Explorer fare and the Star Alliance equiv.
  3. My next tip is about languages. I long ago realized that I may never become completely fluent in any language other than English. But it really bugs me if I cannot be polite to people by speaking their language when I am a visitor. So in the vein of all the great tips about being polite and smiling, I go a step further and learn at least how to say "please, thank you, good morning" etc. in the local language. This goes a very, very long way in many cultures, starting with French. Lots of Anglo-phones have had difficulties in France with travel issues. One thing that many of us learn is that starting off with a simple "Bon Jour Madame" will get you far better customer support than any alternative. It shows respect for their culture and proprieties and it shows that you at least tried to learn a bit of their language. This even saved me quite a bit of trouble with Canadian immigration at YUL once. They were in full "hassle the Americans" mode one day and I saw them take apart some Americans in front of me. When I got up to the counter I started off with "bon jour Madame" and she smiled and continued in French. After a while I had to switch back to English and she said "no problem. At least you tried to learn our language". I have learned the tourist basics in over 20 languages now. It's not hard. Just study a bit on the net at websites such as http://www.travlang.com/languages/indextext.html and you can learn a few good phrases before you arrive in country. This is probably my number one tip for international travel, especially if you are conducting business as your customers will appreciate it too.
  4. When visiting abroad, don't be tied down too much with a language guide. It helps to learn some key courtesy phrases in the host language that are universal in any situation:
    - Hello - Do you speak English? - How do you say this (point to object) in (host language)?
    - Excuse me - Please - Thank you - Goodbye. When requesting something, even if you do have a language guide, most of the times you'll just need the key word, followed by "Please."
  5. Buy Prescription Drugs Overseas: Prescription drugs in Asia are still an amazing deal. The key is to shop at a reputable, name-brand store (there are Boots Pharmacies even in Bangkok). Just bring your drug bottles or prescription so that you can get the correct item. If you have any questions regarding authenticity of a particular drug, most companies have websites where you can check serial numbers.
  6. LONDON  For an unforgettable dining experience go to Mezzo in Soho. The decor is like Batman's Gotham City (futuristic along with '20s overtones) with a staff outfitted in military uniforms. Expensive but worth every shilling. In fact, London is the world's most expensive city for the business traveler with hotel rates surpassing even Tokyo, Madrid and Moscow.
  7. COPENHAGEN You can bicycle around the city for free. At various places around the city you simply put a 20Dkr coin (about $4) in the lock to release the bike. When you finish with it at another free bike point, you retrieve your coin.
  8. Paper is one of the heaviest things to carry around. If you carry a small digital camera or even a camera phone, it can take good quality pictures of pages up to 8.5x11. For everything other than expense report receipts or volumes of on the plane reading, just take a picture of it instead of bringing it with you. Big memory cards are cheap these days and you can always offload the images to your laptop, another memory card, PDA, USB flash memory stick or even iPod! It also works great for copies of items you don't want to lose like credit cards/passport pages/drivers license but make sure you keep those password protected. Of course you can print the pages later at the office. It's really useful for keeping business cards, a restaurant recommendation you found on a magazine on the plane, etc.
  9. If planning to leave your luggage at an airport left luggage facility, consider carrying one of those light weight plastic storage bags folded up in your luggage. They take up very little space, but when opened out you can fit multiple smaller bags and carry-on items into the one large bags. Many airport left luggage facilities charge per item left, not by size or weight. So stuffing 4 smaller bags into one large bag can save a lot of money. On one visit to Hong Kong where our party of seven was to spend the daylight hours while on route from Europe to Australia at the end of a 3 month RTW vacation, we wanted to leave seven people's carry-on bags at the airport for the day. Storage cost was HK$50 per item. So I purchased one of these light-weight plastic storage bags at one of the airport shops for HK$30 and stuffed everyone's carryon bags into it. So our carry-on storage cost HK$80 for the day instead over several hundred if we had left them as individual items. Its going to be even cheaper if you plan ahead and bring the bag with you. It does not have to be tough or durable, just BIG.
  10. Traveling in Europe with American-style carry on bags? Use the "left luggage" facilities at most airports. These days, European carriers are strictly enforcing the WEIGHT of "hand luggage" which is brought on board to as little as 6kg-10kg. Trust me, that rollaboard you have carried on your last 50 domestic flights in the USA weighs more than 6kg. Just arrive early, go straight to the left luggage counter (it is usually possible to find out where this is on the airport's web site. After checking your bag, to go check in for your flight. If they ask, you can say you have no luggage. This is the ONLY time they will make you check the bag. Now return to the left luggage area and retrieve your bag. When you get to the gate, there will be plenty of space for your American sized carryons since everyone else will have checked in their large items! This may seem like a lot of trouble...but it is a lot less trouble than waiting around at your destination for checked bags.
  11. Make sure your passport has plenty of blank pages at the end. Russia is a bad place to be in when you realize there are no more squares for stamps in your passport. 
  12. Save Giveaways and Old Clothes for gifts on trips to Developing Countries:
    Many of us parade through endless conferences picking up innumerable pens, pads, flashlights, t-shirts, and other "give-aways." These make great gifts when visiting developing countries in Asia, Latin America, or Africa. The pens, calculators, time pieces, and other office items make great school supplies for children who may not otherwise be able to afford them. It is much better to save them and give them away than to throw them away. Just fill an inexpensive bag with the items and check them through to the end. Hopefully you can give away the bag also!! Clothes items bound for the trash or garage sale also make good give always overseas. Just wear that marketing t-shirt instead of your nice one and give it away when you are done. There are lots of people in need who would be very appreciative.

 

BUSINESS CARDS

  1. Take your time. It's impossible to convey respect if you fling your card at someone.
  2. Remember that the left hand is considered unclean in the Islamic world. Even in many non-Islamic areas of Africa and Asia, the tradition has evolved of using the right hand in preference over the left.
  3. In some parts of Asia (notably Japan), presenting a card with two hands conveys respect. When using both hands, hold your card by the two upper corners.
  4. When you receive a business card, immediately take time to read it. This is a good time to repeat the person's name, especially if it is in a language you're not familiar with.
  5. While you may write on your own card, never write on someone else's business card.
  6. Ideally, you should store your business cards in a small case. If you don't have a card case with you, put your cards in a front or side pocket.
  7. It's only polite to have your card translated into the local language. One side of the card should be in your language, the opposite side in the local language.
  8. Bring plenty of cards. In some countries, you will need two for each one-to-one visit, since the secretary will keep one card.

 

REDUCING YOUR COMPANY'S AIR-TRAVEL COSTS

  1. Take advantage of seasonal sales. 
  2. Purchase two excursion tickets on separate airlines versus one full fare coach ticket. If you buy one ticket from Mega Air and the other from Maxi Air, you have stayed completely within each airline's rules. Never purchase back to back tickets on the same airline. 
  3. Use upgrades to travel at less than full fare. Many major airlines offer special deals for upgraded travel. EWA, frequently, offers upgrades for a small service charge. 
  4. Round-the-World Fares Alternatively, you can string together a few trips and take advantage of round-the-world fares. Stick to routing that doesn't involve backtracking and your per-mile travel cost can drop dramatically. For example, combine trips to London and Tokyo into one round-the-world fare. Two separate first class round-trips from Los Angeles would total about $8,500 for business class. The round-the-world fare is less than $4,000.

  5. Senior Fares Working into your 60s has its advantages. You can use senior fares (for people 62 and older) on business trips. Continental's Freedom Passports give seniors a year of first-class travel for $3,499. A companion of any age can purchase at the same price.

  6. Flying close to a holiday and want the cheapest fare? Try flying on the holiday itself!

  7. Purchasing Miles for Upgrades. Corporations can buy miles on airlines' mileage programs and assign them to traveling employees to use for upgrades.

  8. European airlines are becoming highly competitive with new discount airlines grabbing significant market share. When traveling within Europe, the discount airlines are often cheaper than train travel. EWA Travel Counselor has full access to discount airline fares and is able to perform e-ticketing.

 

REDUCING HOTEL COSTS   

  1. Make use of EWA corporate hotel rates.
  2. If you're calling on a major corporation, ask if you can book at their discount, often as much as 50 percent.
  3. Some hotels offer 50 percent second-room discounts for business associates traveling together. Sometimes you can get them for the asking; other times use ongoing promotions, such as Inter-Continental's Business Options.
  4. Did you know…making a local or international call through hotels' in-room telephone service is really expensive. For cheaper rates, use a long distance calling card!
  5. Are you continually traveling to the same destination? For cheaper rates, check out corporate housing on extended stays of more then a week. You can go home for the weekends and still keep the lower rates!
  6. A true bargain hunter's work is never done. When you check in to a hotel, ask if there is a rate lower than previously quoted. When you check out, go over your bill carefully (as many as 40 percent contain errors). Don't lose the benefit of a bargain rate through billing errors.

 

WELL-DRESSED FLYER   

  1. The three essentials to be considered when dressing for airline travel: 1. Our bodies always expand in the in-flight low air pressure. 2. We're subjected to a range of temperatures during flights and travel between different climates. 3. There's an outside chance we may need to be dressed for an emergency. Due to the high-altitude environment, our bodies expand after takeoff. Wear loafers, tennis shoes or dress shoes that are a half-size too big, with cushion inserts. Then, at cruise altitude, take out the inserts for another perfect fit. You'll want to keep your shoes on when you walk around the aircraft as the floors are often wet (condensation, leaky carts, spills). Tight shoes can cause serious injury to the delicate veins in your feet. This can lead to swelling and, in the worst cases, blood clots. 12 out of every 60 deaths in the air are due to pulmonary embolisms resulting from blood clots. Cozy shoes also enable easier movement during emergencies. If you wear high heels, for example, you will be required to leave them before jumping on an escape slide (they can puncture it).
  2. Think Layers. The air travel experience requires that you endure a wide range of temperatures. Airports and airplanes have hot and cold zones, stuffy and drafty areas. Often, there's a substantial contrast in climate between the land that you depart and the place where you arrive. Layered clothing can be your saving grace. A couple of critical clothing tips for extraordinary circumstances: Don't hurt your chances of survival in the event of a cabin fire. While polyester, acetate and nylon clothing will ignite, natural fibers (cotton, wool, silk, hemp, linen) merely smolder, giving you more time to respond and a better chance of survival.
  3.  The best way to increase  in-flight comfort is to fly business or first class. If you are assigned a seat in coach,  volunteer to sit in one of the emergency-exit rows. These rows have more leg room than a regular row and often have fewer seats. This row is also a safe haven for those who prefer a kid-free flight experience, as children are not allowed to occupy exit rows. (Another good way to avoid small children is to avoid bulkhead rows, which are often occupied by families.) Be aware, however, that seats in emergency-exit rows sometimes do not recline.
  4. If you're choosing between several flights, inquire as to how full each flight is and then select the least crowded. Once you arrive at your gate, ask the agent to place you next to an empty seat if one is available. If the flight is not full, the agent can often accommodate this request.
  5. A wide variety of special meals, often, are available. You can indicate your meal preference at the time you make your reservation with EWA Travel.
  6. Dehydration--which can cause sore throats, muscle aches, and dry eyes--is a concern when flying. Be sure to have a plentiful supply of bottled water and moisturizer for dry skin. It also helps to abstain from alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which promote dehydration.
  7. Low cabin pressure can cause your feet and lower legs to swell. If you slip your shoes off during the flight, you'll find it easier to put them back on after the cabin doors are opened upon landing, when pressure equalizes once again. To minimize swelling, periodically rotate your feet at the ankles, elevate your feet if possible, and walk about the cabin. This will also help keep your muscles and joints from getting stiff before that important meeting.
  8. To minimize the effects of jet lag, sleep experts recommend resetting your watch to the local time of your destination as soon as you board the aircraft and observing that time strictly. To help adjust to new sleep times, some travelers take melatonin, a drug that is now distributed in health-food stores in the United States. While some travelers have had success with melatonin, be aware that it has also been linked to certain health risks. Consult your doctor before deciding to take melatonin or other sleep aids when traveling.

 

CHILDREN AND BUSINESS TRIPS 

  1. More business travelers are avoiding airport good-byes and taking their children on business trips. Last year, one or more children accompanied parents on 12 percent of all business trips, up 5 percent from 1995, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. Reasons for the emergence of this trend:
    * Airline fares and hotels are significantly cheaper when a Saturday night stay is involved.
    * Hotels and airports have responded to the surge in children's travel with a variety of programs and facilities catering to families.
    * A healthy economy is making it possible for families to afford the extra air fares, side trips, day care and other expenses involved in taking children along on business trips.
  2. "There's a resurgence of the family. Business people, when they travel, don't want to miss out on family life," says Deb Cornick, publisher of Have Children Will Travel, a quarterly newsletter. "In households with only one parent, taking the children along on business is often a better option than leaving them home", she says.
  3. Some companies are accelerating the trend by picking up expenses for family members on business trips. "They're doing this to attract employees; it's an added perk. Planning is the key to successful business travel with kids", Cornick says. In addition to helping kids cope with the anxiety of leaving home, parents can identify resources to keep their children safely occupied and happy while they're doing business.
  4. Corporate polices on spousal travel have become steadily less restrictive since the late 1980s, says Peter Packer of Runzheimer International, a travel industry consultant. More than half (53 percent) of all U.S. companies in 1996 permitted employees to bring along their husbands or wives on business travel (the companies don't, however, pick up the extra tab). That's up from 31 percent in 1988, according to Packer.
  5. "Many hotels have expanded their capacity for nanny-ism," Shellenberger says. At the big chains, promotions keyed to brand names popular with kids are common, as are free meals and other discounts. Kids' programs are especially common in resorts, Cornick says, but as children's travel becomes more prevalent, they are being incorporated into hotels in most large cities. Of particular importance to business travelers, many hotels provide on-site day care or referrals to local baby-sitters and day-care centers.
  6. "One thing with drop-in care at hotels, the staff may not be licensed day-care providers," cautions Barb Hamilton of the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care. She suggests that parents call Child Care Aware, a nationwide referral center that can put them in touch with local resources. Their number is (800) 424-2246. Many of the services specialize in long-term child care, Hamilton said, but some will accommodate drop-ins for a day or two. One advantage of children's programs at hotels is that they provide kids with the chance to interact with other kids, Cornick says. The best programs divide children into smaller groups according to age and engage in various activities. For older kids, these can involve tours of nearby cultural or historic sites. "They do a lot more than just planting the child in front of a video screen," Cornick says. Many kids look forward to splash time in the hotel pool, and some hotels provide lifeguards.
  7. While hotels respond to the increase in family travel, it's the airline industry that has the biggest role in spurring such demand, according to Shellenberger. "There's almost no choice for a small-business man but to go on a weekend," he said. "A midweek fare for travel coast-to-coast costs $2,000. If you go with a Saturday night stay, two can travel for $1,000, leaving $1000 to pay for the fun things." Affordable and easy doesn't mean it's always a good idea to include children in business travel, Cornick says. "Some trips don't lend themselves to taking a child along. If you're going to be too busy to interact with the child, it's better going alone."
  8. Perhaps the most daunting task in planning to take children along on a business trip is finding reliable day care. Ruth Neal of the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care recommends that parents identify au-pair organizations in their destination city to arrange for a babysitter to come to the hotel. Another option is to contact Child Care Aware, a nationwide referral service that can put parents in touch with trustworthy local child-care providers anywhere in the United States. Their number is (800) 424-2246.

 

Check our Staff page to learn the geographical areas of our Travel Counselor expertise. Examples of our area expertise: 

MEXICO   In Mexico, business is personal. It's not only what you know, but also whom you know and how well you know them. The greater the distance between you and a business person's heart and mind, the more difficult it is to achieve your goals. It's much more important to be a friend of the family than a baron of business.

Christopher Payne, resident manager of the Presidente Inter-Continental Cozumel, says there's no such thing as a "strictly business" relationship. "If it would be strictly business, in my personal opinion, it would be bound for failure." The "family-ization" process begins when you say hello. Introductions in Mexico are never taken casually. When you are introduced to a group, greet each person separately and individually and do the same when you depart.

Generally speaking, people tend to be demonstrative. Men shake hands in greeting, but after just a few meetings, you may be given the slap on the back or hug of a compadre (a pal or buddy). Women often pat each other on the forearm or shoulder.

Offers You Can't Refuse: The family is king, and it is a high honor (and good business) to be accepted as an honorary member. One major faux pas a visiting business person can make is to refuse an invitation to meet a business associate's family. A business deal may have been agreed upon verbally and then an invitation made "to take lunch or dinner." If the visitor begs off, the refusal is met graciously, even understanding you but the atmosphere has subtly changed. In the days to come, the visitor discovers it's difficult to get a final confirmation on the verbal agreement. Delay follows delay and, ultimately, the deal may fall through completely. No one seems to know why, but "the timing just isn't right."

Getting in Synch: Much has been said about Mexicans and their sense (or rather, their lack of sense) of time. It's true, in ordinary dealings, punctuality isn't always a priority in Mexico. But when executives are dealing with their northern neighbors, meetings go like clockwork and agreements can move swiftly. If in the course of your business dealings you encounter a "manana" attitude, it is more likely due to a lack of interest in your proposal than a different concept of time. There is a cultural reluctance to say "no" directly. Putting you off until "tomorrow" is the more polite course of action.

RUSSIA  As international specialists, we frequently travel overseas to become more knowledgeable of key destinations where our clients often travel or to discover new destinations to feature. Our latest trip was to Moscow and St. Petersburg. We just missed Moscow's 850th birthday celebration. In preparation for the event, the whole city is getting a facelift. Most of the building facades are being restored along with a number of showplace art, religious and commercial projects. The Christ the Savior Cathedral is being rebuilt at a staggering $300 million price tag. The 'kitschy' Peter the Great statue costs another $20 million. No more mammoth swimming pool just outside of the Kremlin. Now, it's Manezh Square, an underground shopping mall. The nearby GUM, once Russia's showplace department store, now is little different from a US mall with specialty stores such as Nike and Levis. The Marriott Grand Hotel Moscow just opened on Tverskaya Street and offers a wealth of amenities to the business traveler.

If Moscow is the urbane hub Russia, St. Petersburg is its soul. The Hermitage, alone, is worth the visit. One evening in St. Petersburg we had a business "meeting" at a local pub/billiards spot which began at 1:00 AM. Our talks continued into the wee hour of 5:00 AM, when we became stranded on one of St. Petersburg's islands due to all the city's bridges being drawn for ships to pass.

The "New Russians of Moscow" are the privileged class who often live in new US-style complexes sprouting around Moscow. Many are involved with corporate "security". This is the almost universal practice where they obtain monthly "security" payments from most businesses. Russia is the only country we know where every business tries to downplay its success. The most lucrative businesses are usually hidden in run-down buildings and have the barest minimum of furniture and computer equipment. No wonder! Each month, the local New Russian comes by to get his "security" payment and to check the books. As one of my Russian friends told me, "it's just like paying rent". Tourists needn't fear these proceedings. New Russians know that there is an easier way to "earn" their living.

Expect to pay high prices when dining out. When you "charge it" in Russia, double-check the receipt before you sign it. Also, check your statements carefully as one common trick is to change the charged total after you've signed the real receipt.

There is a new expansion at the Pulkovo Airport Complex in St. Petersburg, plus, a three-star hotel. When traveling within Russia, take the train. It's more convenient, less expensive and safer than flying. The overnight Moscow to St. Petersburg service offers the choice of either two or four-berth cabins.

Russia is a very diverse nation with each region maintaining its own traditions, customs and even languages. More than 100 dialects are spoken in these subcultures, an important point to remember when you seek to bond with your Russian contact. It pays to learn as much as possible about that person's particular community before delving into business discussions. The Internet is a good source of info. Also, Russians are very curious about Americans so be prepared to answer many questions on life and business in America.

 

 

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