January 22, 2011
With my years of flying and achieving status on various airlines, I’ve gotten very spoiled with the first class upgrades. What I appreciate most about being in first class is the typical calm and quietness that you do not usually have in the coach section. Sure, the wide seats and extra legroom are fabulous, and the service is always great, too. Though to help me de-stress from weekly flights, treks on rental car busses, rushes through airports and long days of work, I need calm.
Today I’m taking a ScotRail train in Scotland from Aberdeen to Glasgow, about a 3-hour train ride each way. I’ve had a long week at work with 15-hour typical days. It’s the weekend, so time to see more of Scotland – with six hours on a train, and several hours of being tourist in between. I debated . . . coach or first class seat? (A first class seat costs about 75% more than coach.)
I plan on writing during these six hours and getting a little sleep on the return after a long day of sight-seeing in Glasgow. I’ve had several coach seats on ScotRail on previous trips of this same length and the cars can get very full, little kids are restless in their seats, and people are bringing food on of all kinds of smells. (Similar to coach on an airplane, ey?)
Ok, no brainer. First class today!
I’m now sitting in a small first class section of the train, just 8 seats. So far, it’s my own private car. I’ve been offered a selection of fruit, rolls, cookies and juice. I have a nice comfy seat with lots of legroom, and a big table to work on, complete with a lamp for ample lighting. A power outlet is inches away.
Ah, perfect! Calm, quiet, relaxed – all the things I need. The extra fare paid for this is priceless. I love going first class!
Posted by Carol Margolis under Travel |
January 20, 2011
I always laugh after I send out my Pearls of Travel Wisdom newsletter every two weeks. Why? Because I get numerous “Out of Office” emails from on-the-road business travelers. When I read the emails, I feel a sense of companionship with my fellow road warriors. And I wonder about some who are always out of the office. Do they ever have their “Out of Office” turned off?
Here’s a few that I received today:
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Posted by Carol Margolis under Pearls of Travel Fun, Random Thoughts, Travel |
January 15, 2011
I’ve got countless hotel frequent stayer cards. My husband has his collection, too. And now our dog, Toby, is starting to collect his. For every 5 nights at Preppy Pets Suites, he gets a free night. Not bad for a reward program! And when using his free night, he still gets full points for the night on his next award card. That’s a better award program than what we’re getting! His stays include free bowled water and free wi-fi. Though the wi-fi is for us, really. We can watch Toby’s playtime with friends via Preppy Pet cameras while we’re traveling the world.
Toby isn’t as ecstatic about the free night as we are, as he’d prefer to be at home and not at the ‘Suites’ at Preppy Pets. He’d better hope they don’t start offering double points as we might just leave him there a fewdays longer. (Just kidding, Toby!)
Is your pet also collecting ‘hotel’ award points?
Posted by Carol Margolis under Hotel Living, Pearls of Travel Fun |
January 11, 2011
The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is always a great source for new cutting edge travel products. This year the 2011 show did not disappoint.
Wireless technology is only getting better. Much more communication is coming between computers and smartphones/cameras/tablets. Added this year is wireless connectivity between appliances and cellphones but really, do you want to know that your refrigerator door is open when you are a thousand miles away from home?
Very big news is the exciting 4G technology for cellphones. Verizon had an impressive demonstration of just how blazing fast it can be. Well, in optimal circumstances, of course. But even in general usage, 4G promises significantly improved reliability. Hands-on at the show, 4G will give us flawless access to websites. The demos for live TV were flicker-free and fresh.
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Posted by Carol Margolis under Current Affairs, Shopping!, Travel, Web/Tech |
January 10, 2011
With two weeks actually at home over the holidays, I had time to reflect on my travel for 2010 and start to wonder what my travel will be in 2011. This was the first two week period that I’d been home since January of 2009. Oh, it was so wonderful to be home!
I traveled 49 weeks last year, all but one for business, flying 225,000 miles. This year is starting to shape up to be the same, with 25 days of travel in January alone.
I didn’t want to leave my home this morning to head to the airport knowing I’m not home again until the night of January 31st. I’m so torn. I love traveling and love the mileage and points, but I also love being home.
This got me thinking – just how much business travel is too much? For me, I’d be happy being home one week a month, two weeks once in awhile.
This would give me:
- Time enough to buy groceries and actually eat up the food before I need to leave home again.
- Time to catch up with friends.
- Time to see the neighbors and re-introduce myself.
- Time to actually see the maid who cleans our house.
- Time to get familiar again with what side of my car has the gas tank.
- Time to go to the gym that I pay a monthly fee for.
- Time to relax a bit.
What about you? How much business travel is too much travel to you? And what would you do with a bit of extra time at home?
Posted by Carol Margolis under Random Thoughts, Travel |
