January 13, 2012
Gold status? That’s all I am? Just because I’ve never forgotten my pants or lost my keys? 50 weeks on the road last year and only Gold? I’m dejected. J
I had to take the quiz a second time. Just gotta get to Platinum!
No go. I only reached Silver the second time – after I fibbed a bit and said I have forgotten my pants. Arghh!
Head over to CNBC’s Quiz: How Much of a Road Warrior Are You? and check your road warrior-ness.
And if you reach Platinum, share your answers!
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.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Pearls of Travel Fun |
November 23, 2011
Courtyard by Marriott has been redesigning their lobbies around the county. I recently got a chance to visit an updated Courtyard, and the changes were very welcoming. The first thing you’ll notice is a large interactive touchscreen where you can learn about the weather, news, and attractions around town. The seating and decor are all updated and inviting. Outlets for my laptop were easy to come by, and a casual fare Bistro had taken over the space previously occupied by the breakfast nook.
I no longer felt the need to just retire to the room as soon as I got back to my hotel!
I wasn’t done with my Marriott experience yet. Flying out of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental airport (Terminal E), I got to experience Courtyard Marriott’s new Airport Lobby Zone. What they are doing is giving business travelers their new Lobby experience in the middle of a busy terminal. Comfortable seating and a few outlets let me recharge (my body and my laptop) before flying out. Outside of Houston, the Airport Lobby Zones are also in Phoenix and Baltimore through December .
To celebrate the Courtyard Lobby redesign and the Airport Lobby Zones, Marriott is giving away two free nights to any continental U.S. Courtyard! This contest is open just to Smart Women Travelers and our blog (Pearls of Travel Wisdom) readers, and it’s really easy to enter.
- Post a comment below and tell us what you look for most in a hotel lobby.
- “Like” Smart Women Traveler’s on Facebook. (now optional, see below)
That’s it! The contest ends on December 9th, 2011 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern, and the winner will be contacted by email shortly. (UPDATE: A slight change to the rules. You must post a comment to be eligible, but now “Like”ing Smart Women Traveler’s on Facebook is optional. If you “Like” us on Facebook, you are now entered for a second chance to win)
Courtyard by Marriott has offered these nights for the contest. They’ve invited me back for a complimentary stay, as well. Maybe I’ll see you in the lobby!
(UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Kyle. He likes good coffee and people watching, and will soon be enjoying two free nights at a Courtyard by Marriott of his choice.)
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 2011.
Posted by Carol Margolis under General, Pearls of Travel Fun, Travel |
June 20, 2011
Like to journal your travels but don’t want the weight of the journal? I like to write in a travel journal to keep track of where I’ve been, who I met, where I stayed and ate and anything else of interest. But I often do not want to carry the travel journal with me due to the added weight. When I leave it at home, I instead buy a few postcards and make my notes on the back of these. I slip these into my journal when I get home.
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.
Posted by Carol Margolis under New Travelers, Pearls of Travel Fun, Random Thoughts |
April 14, 2011
Wearing jewelry is a great way to have a different look each day during your travels. When interchanging outfits to create a different look from clothes worn earlier on your trip, adding a colorful necklace or dangly earrings can make you look and feel like the outfit is all brand new.
But isn’t it maddening to open your jewelry pouch and find the necklaces have become a tangled mess in transit? Even worse, after untangling them once, they get all tangled again on the return trip home. The necklaces might still be sitting on top of your dresser right now waiting to be unraveled. Then you can finally put them away in their proper place.
Here are a few suggestions to keep your jewelry tangle-free, so you can wear it without frustration as well as keep it in place both away and when heading back home:
Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Pearls of Travel Fun, Shopping!, Travel |
April 9, 2011
Hey all you kings and queens of the road – would you like to share one or two of your funniest travel stories with business travelers around the globe? If so, I need your story now! My upcoming book, where I share tips and tricks learned over 25 years of business travel, is heading to an editor at the end of April. Some of the best tips are those learned from the funny things that happen along our journeys.
Details are at http://bit.ly/dq1NQe.
If your story is included, I’ll send you a free copy of the book when it’s out later this year.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Pearls of Travel Fun, Travel |
April 8, 2011
I was recently asked by Matador Network on my must-have items that are always with me when I travel. Matador Network is the most read independent travel magazine on the Web. Whether I’m carrying a backpack or a tote bag with my laptop and gear, I always bring the items in this post: What’s In Your Backpack Carol Margolis?
What are your never-leave-home-without items when you’re traveling?
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.
Posted by Carol Margolis under Pearls of Travel Fun, Travel |
April 7, 2011
I’ve seen one bag, two bags, red bags, blue bags.
Old bags, new bags, black bags, black bags
(and black bags, and black bags).
Some are thin and some are fat.
Some are crammed in the overhead bin – take that!
But I’ve never seen bags like this!
Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Pearls of Travel Fun, Travel |
March 14, 2011
Even while on business trips, many of us are posting our updates on Twitter. Here’s a great sweepstakes that will keep you tweeting!
Travelers can now enter the Keep on Tweetin’ Sweepstakes today through April 14 for a chance to win $10,000 AND get free inflight Twitter access on participating flights, thanks to Gogo Inflight Internet. And it gets better…Keep on Tweetin’ Sweepstakes participants are eligible to come back EVERY DAY from March 14 – April 14 to enter for a chance to win. Travelers can either enter from the ground at gogoinflight.com or from 30,000 feet by breaking out their laptop or mobile device inflight.
Enter at gogoinflight.com. And send a tweet to @smartwomentrav when you’re in-flight!
Posted by Carol Margolis under Games, Pearls of Travel Fun |
February 23, 2011
It’s hard to explain to anyone who doesn’t travel a lot what our lives are like. We go days, weeks even, without seeing our kids and spouse. We drop in on friends when it’s convenient for us, like birds flittering down to land every once in a while to get grounded again. We have refrigerators that hold bottles of water and green masses of mold, and full sized bottles of shampoo confuse us.
We spend more time with colleagues and strangers of the opposite sex than we do our own spouse (no, not in that way, but at meetings, over dinners, seatmate times on a flight, co-commiserators over a delayed flight). You see the same people on the same flights, week after week, and know them better than you know your siblings.
Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Pearls of Travel Fun, Television & Movies, Travel |
February 15, 2011
If February 14 didn’t meet your expectations, Cambria Suites is offering the opportunity for a do-over with its second annual Valentine’s Day Redo Contest. The all-suites brand from Choice Hotels invites consumers to share stories of their Valentine’s Day gone wrong for a chance to win one of three vacation prize packages at the Cambria Suites property of the winner’s choice. The grand prize includes airfare for two, a three-night stay in a premier suite, a $1,000 Visa® gift card, a $150 dining credit for the hotel’s bistro and a personalized welcome package.
Between February 15 and 28, people can enter the contest by submitting their personal story in 200-words or less on the Cambria Suites Facebook page. Whether a significant other forgot about the day or best friends got into a fight, entries should demonstrate why people deserve a Valentine’s Day redo. Winners will be chosen based on their story’s originality, creativity, and adherence to the contest theme.
Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Games, Hotel Living, Pearls of Travel Fun |
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:
Read more of this article »
Posted by Carol Margolis under Pearls of Travel Fun, Random Thoughts, Travel |
