Sometimes I just want to hibernate in my hotel room because there’s discomfort on the other side of the door. I may feel perfectly safe and at home within the walls of my hotel but don’t want to venture out into the streets where the culture is different; the foods are mysterious and the words are not understood.

Yes, hard to believe that I can have these anxious feelings, but I do. Have you ever felt the same?

What I’m not going to let happen though is for this initial anxiousness to ruin a visit to somewhere that I’m sure must be wonderful, or why would I have traveled there?

My tried-and-true ways to squash the unease are these:

• Head out the hotel door and start walking (ask the hotel front desk or concierge about the safety of their hotel vicinity). Once I walk a few blocks and start to enjoy the store fronts, peak at a few restaurant menus and see friendly-looking faces, I already feel 100% better. On my first walk, I usually keep to one or two streets so that I can be confident that I can make my way back to the hotel.
• Make a pact on where I’m going to eat. I’ll say to myself “I’m going to walk two blocks and then eat at the very first restaurant I see after that point.” This has been a wonderful way to try restaurants and foods that I normally would have passed right on by without making such a definitive pact. Oh, I might have my 2^nd thoughts at first, but a pact is a pact and this approach at swallowing my fear ball has never let me down – and I’ve enjoyed really wonderful foods. (A pact may need to be broken if the appointed restaurant only serves scorpions and cicadas, as my friend Pat encountered in Beijing since a fundamental rule of mine is NO BUGS!)
• Take a ride on a hop-on, hop-off bus if the city offers such a service to explore its highlights. At first I’ll plan on riding the full circuit without getting off, just to get the lay of the land. Though with 100% certainly, I always jump off at a stop that just looks too good to pass up, even knowing I could come back later. Hop-on, hop-off boats are also great! Here’s a great place to start to see if there’s such a tour where you’ll be visiting.

By now, my anxiousness has turned into excitement and I’m off and running! My pre-arranged plans, talks with the hotel concierge, chats with Twitter or Facebook friends and TripAdvisor recommendations for Things to Do (here’s my list from Singapore) and now I’ve got too much to do in too little time. Fear ball conquered!

What are your tips for moving from A to B (anxiety to bravery)?

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com. Watch for my new book, Business Travel Success – How to Reduce Stress, Be More Productive and Travel with Confidence, being published by Morgan James in early 2012.

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.

Basic Tips for Pet Travel

The most basic first step to preparing to travel with pets is to first make sure your pet is comfortable spending time in a pet carrier. All airlines require the use of an approved carrier, and the carrier will also make your pet more comfortable being away from home. Both your pet and its carrier need to be well marked with secure ID tags that include your name, your pets name, your address and all emergency contact phone numbers. It is also advisable to attach a photo of your pet to the carrier as well as carrying one with you at all times.

Many airlines prefer carriers that are approved by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It may be a wise investment, especially if you do a lot of flight travel with your cat or dog, to purchase a carrier that is approved by IATA.

If you are on business travel, be sure to schedule extra time into your travel plans so that you are not feeling rushed. Travel with dog and travel with cat requires extra time and patience; feeling rushed to get to your first meeting of your business travel by a certain time will leave both you and your pet feeling anxious and under undue stress.

When scheduling your flight and your pet’s flight, be sure to make every effort to make sure you are traveling on the same flight or flights as your pet. This will ensure that you are aware of all flight changes, and will limit the opportunity for your pet to get lost. Ideally it is best to schedule non-stop flights whenever possible. Avoiding travel during peak dates and times will also help limit unnecessary delays or confusion.

Finally, in an effort to make your pet as comfortable as possible during your travels, consider limiting the amount of food up to six hours prior to your flight to help keep queasiness at a minimum. You can include a comfort object of some sort in the carrier, but avoid anything that could accidentally pose a choking or strangulation hazard. Providing your pet with some cool water in the form of a frozen hamster bottle drip, or ice cubes placed in your pets water dish, is also a good idea.

Major Airline Pet Policies

Many of the major airlines have strict pet travel policies, which are very important to be aware of before booking your personal or business travel to include your pet.  Here are some of the key terms and conditions for a few of the world’s major airlines.  Be sure to visit the website or contact the customer service department of any airline you are considering using before finalizing your travel plans.

Delta Airlines — Pets may travel as carry-on, checked baggage or cargo, depending on the type of animal. Extra fees do apply, and there are some limits to the number of pets that may travel with you. Approved carriers are required and all necessary planning for international travel must be pre-arranged by the pet owner.

United Airlines – Small, vaccinated cats, dogs and household birds of at least 8 weeks of age may accompany an adult person as carry-on luggage. An approved pet carrier must be used, and your pet will need to be stowed in a carrier under the seat in front of you. Arrangements must be made in advance for the pet’s travel, especially as there are a limited number of pet spaces per flight, and pet carrier fees will apply.  Pets may also travel as checked baggage in a kennel, or as cargo if unaccompanied. Out of safety for your pet, cargo travel will not be available when the travel temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

British Airways – Pets may travel with British Airways World Cargo in the aircraft hold. Flights from Germany, Austria and Denmark are unable to accommodate pets. British Airways works in cooperation with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), which allows travel with cat and travel with dog from some countries to enter the UK without the typically required 6 month quarantine. Certain conditions must be met and there are rules to the type of carrier that must be used (their website does include a pet container calculator).

Continental Airlines – Continental Airlines pet travel program is called PetSafe® and does not allow pets as checked baggage. Pets will travel as cargo and are trackable online using Continental’s cargo web site. In some markets small pets may be able to travel in the cabin as carry-on luggage for an additional fee. These markets include flights within the U.S. and flights on Continental Connection by Gulfstream International Airlines. All pets must be contained in an approved pet carrier and will be subject to the rules and regulations of the destination country or city in regard’s to health certificates and vaccinations.

KLM – Royal Dutch Airlines – Small cats and dogs (up to 6 kg or 13 lbs, including the weight of the carrier) may be transported within the cabin as carry-on luggage, and must fit under the seat in front of you.  For flights that are under two hours, pets may also travel in the hold of KLM flights. Approved carriers must be used and an extra fee will be incurred. For larger animals, freight transportation is also available.

And also important is to reconfirm your reservation with your airline in the days before your flight to make sure you have everything in order and there are no scheduling or other changes that may adversely affect your pet’s travel. You do not want to be turned away at the gate if your reservation does not have the correct information included.

For more information on various airlines’ rules for flying with pets, check out this resource page.

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.

I was at my bank the other day opening an account. The financial services advisor I was working with was asking about my business. She asked about the t-shirt I was wearing. “Is that your business?” she asked, pointing to the logo on my shirt. “Yes,” I replied, “Smart Women Travelers is one of my businesses.”

Then came the barrage of questions: What do you do, where do you travel, and what’s your favorite place?

As I kept answering her questions: I help travelers travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment; I travel all over the world; the Greek Islands are my favorite place, I could see that my new account was going to take longer than I hoped to get set up.

Then she said the words you may also have heard before: “Wow, you really have the dream job!”

My initial thought was “Are you kidding? – I traveled all or part of 50 weeks last year!”

But I didn’t react out loud. I thought about it while she was busy filling out the endless bank forms.

The downsides can be many. I miss:

• Being home at night with my husband.
• Walking our dog around our neighborhood each night.
• Sleeping in my own bed, my full-size bottles of liquid, and my refrigerator full of fresh foods.
• Being able to meet up with friends during the week.
• Having all 7 days of the week to get things done, instead only having 2 or 3 or no days.

Though the upsides are amazing. I have:

• Visited 49 of the U.S. States (tiny Rhode Island is the only one still on the list).
• Been to countries all over the globe.
• Friends in many cities and many countries.
• The opportunity for my husband to often travel with me.
• Stayed in some beautiful hotels, visited breathtaking sites and eaten amazing food.
• Enjoyed wonderful red wines along some of the most beautiful waters on the planet.
• Miles and points sufficient to take my entire family on vacation.
• A refrigerator door full of magnets from most places I’ve been and I’m so grateful every time I look at them.

So yes, I guess I do have the dream job.

It can certainly seem this way from someone else looking in. And it looks that way to me, too!

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.

Want to lessen your packing time? Here’s a smart way to arrange your closet that will significantly cut down on the time spent selecting which clothes and jewelry to bring along. Add your tips for smart packing advice in the comment section below.

To receive a free copy of our ebook, 70 Secrets to Safe Travel — Because Your Life Can Change in a Heartbeat, and for more travel savvy info to help you travel smarter, safer and with more enjoyment, visit SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Resume of a Frequent Traveler on Smart Women Travelers.

Not getting a restful sleep

Pilots, flight attendants and travelers definitely have challenges getting consistent good sleep. Hotel noises, waking up and not knowing where you’re at, and varying pillows and mattresses do nothing to help induce a solid night of zzzzz’s.

I love the scent of a spritz of lavender spray or, my favorite, Zen’s Purple Garden lavender sachet on my pillow. Lavender scent is known for its sleep-inducing qualities.

To block out hotel noises, I sleep with a pillow speaker attached to my iPod. Soft playing relaxing music helps me nod off without hearing doors close, elevators moving and people talking.

Quieting the mind an hour or so before bedtime also helps getting down to the business of falling asleep. For those of us (too often, me) who are online or working until the last minutes before bedtime, we need to give our minds time to relax instead of jumping into bed with worries about the undone to-do list looping through our brain. Tip: ask the hotel for a shut-down call about an hour before your desired sleep time.

Airport Security

I left the least fun pet peeve until last. Airport security is a necessary evil, so find the most enjoyable way to get through it as fast as you can!

Wear security-friendly clothes on travel day. For women: slip-on shoes, a sweater-set, no big metal jewelry or buttons, and no belts or collars that need to be all situated again on the other end of security. If you wear a jacket, you will most likely be asked to remove it, but sweater-sets don’t usually get tagged as undress items. Men: wear slip-on shoes as well. If you’re wearing a jacket, move all the items (wallet, coins, keys) from your slacks pockets in your coat before you get in line, and place your jacket in a TSA-bin. Be ready by having your belt and shoes off as well.

Look for the savviest travelers to get in line with. Avoid families with strollers at all costs, teens (they usually have drink bottles that they forget to take out of their bags), and tourists with lots of souvenir bags. Look for people with the above security-friendly clothes so that they go through security just as fast as you. A full line of people wearing big boots, sneakers and jackets and you’ll be in line way too long!

Happy traveling … and say good-bye to your travel pet peeves!

* Flight delays 51%
* Being away from loved ones 33%
* Not getting a restful sleep 30%
* Airport security 27%

The USA Today survey was taken before the Christmas Day 2009 ‘underwear bomber’ incident, so airport security may rate a lot higher now, but the overall pet peeves will probably remain the same.

Our own survey taken at SmartWomenTravelers.com showed similar complaints; balancing home with work and travel as women’s biggest complaint and flight delays as the next highest travel issue.

What are some ways to help alleviate these pet peeves so you can enjoy your journey more?

Flight delays

Book flights for early in the day as much as possible. Planes are usually at their starting airport for the day and the crew has had sufficient hours between trips. As the day progresses, any earlier flight delay can cascade down to the next flight, which may be yours. In the summer, afternoon showers in the south can delay flights and affect the entire system.

Before booking a flight, use FlightStats.com to see the on-time percentages. Follow Vegas odds in this case…the higher the on-time percentage, the better a chance your specific flight will arrive on schedule.

Being Away from Loved Ones

Before leaving home, involve your kids in your upcoming trip so that you can share in the experience of your travels together. This will help relieve some of the guilt about being away from home, but also make it a fun learning experience for your kids as well.

Tips for involving your kids in your travels:

* Bring along one of their favorite stuffed animals (something small!) or their Flat Stanley and take a photo of their toy in the city you’re visiting.
* Cook foods together that reflect the culture of where you’re traveling to, and research online for interesting facts about the city’s customs that are fun to share with your kids.
* Have each child do daily writings in a journal and you do the same. Share your writings upon your return home.

When it comes to your spouse, touch base daily. If you say you’re going to call home at a certain time, do it. Even if something comes up, at least call at the designated time, explain what’s come up, and set a later time to talk. When the dependablepart is an issue, then wondering, doubt and assumptions start. Talk about their day and the events at home rather than sensationalizing your trip. Use video cameras (Skype video is great!) to feel more connected to your loved ones.

Email or phone your friends to keep these relationships strong. Create a plan to reach out to at least one friend a day to say Hi and see what’s new with them.

Later in the week, I will offer my tips for surviving the last two pet peeves, Not Getting a Restful Sleep and Airport Security.