Travel Tips

Hello from Ireland! I’m having a fabulous time here , and have been eating lots of delicious food – recaps soon!

My flight from Boston to Dublin on Thursday was my 31st flight this year, all of which were for personal travel, not work. It has been a busy year, and I’ve been lucky to have been able to visit a number of different countries – on both short and extended trips. (I need to get working on some carbon footprint offsets!) With so many trips over the past few years, I have pretty much got packing and the act of traveling down to a science. Here are some tips that have helped me along the way.

For flights, pack your own food

One of my favorite plane foods is an egg, cheese, and spinach sandwich on whole wheat, it is both light and nutritious. I love this as dinner on long haul from the US to Europe – I can eat at my leisure, and avoid the usual ‘chicken or beef’ options. This also allows me to sleep when I want instead of having to wait for the meal service and for my tray to be removed. It’s also healthier!

Limit booze

While it can be tempting to have a couple drinks on the plane (especially if upgraded to business where alcohol seems to flow like a river) limit it to 1 or 2 tops. You’ll feel better when you disembark, and the next day

Pack carry-on only

This is a breeze in summer months: accumulate small bottles from hotels and drugstores, fit all liquids into a plastic bag, and roll your lightweight clothes to fit into a small rolling suitcase. Not as easy in winter, but it can be do-able depending on the destination and activities you have planned. Wear your bulkiest stuff. I love my big Longchamp bag for a good sized carry-on ‘purse’ – I usually get by the 1 bag only rule with this and a rolling suitcase.

When something goes wrong, be helpful and nice

Recently when I was headed to Charleston, SC (via Philadelphia), I arrived at the airport to find my 6PM flight to Philadelphia had been canceled. It was a Friday evening, and I’d checked in advance and knew that this was the last flight to Philly of the night that would allow me to connect with the Charleston flight. I was directed to the long line of passengers who’d also had cancellations, and used my Blackberry to look up flights through other airports that would allow me to connect on to Charleston. I realized there was one through Washington DC in the next half hour.  When we got up to the desk, I nicely explained we were on the cancelled Philly flight but suggested that we could take the flight through DC (which left in 20 minutes at that point!) instead. I think they appreciated my calmness and willingness to help – as I was handed a Business Class boarding pass within seconds!

If you fly a lot, join FF programs, stick to an airline or an alliance (check out Oneworld or Star Alliance)

This can make your life seriously easier when traveling, and cut costs in the long term, as you will gain access to lounges (free snacks and a relaxing place to hang out – or blog ) before flights and build up points for free flights& upgrades – though usually after many paid trips.

What is your favorite travel tip?

In the Aer Lingus Lounge before the flight!