On our recent trip to Cancun, I decided to switch up my personal item. Instead of using my usual work purse on the plane and packing my vacation purse and beach bag, I chose to use the beach bag and fun purse during the actual travel. Makes sense, right? I’m bringing less stuff, which is always the goal, right? Uh, yeah, unless neither of those bags actually close. That’s right, I brought two bags into the airport that didn’t zip, snap, or close in any fashion. (Pictured: my adorable oilcloth beach bag–great for the pool, bad for the plane!)

Before I talk about the issues, let me defend my thinking. Besides the lighter packing, having an easy access bag is very convenient on a plane. Normally you have to lean over (which you may or may not be able to do in a cramped airplane), mess with zippers, and fight with your stuff before you finally find that one item you need. With an open bag, you just eyeball your belongings, stick your hand in, and grab the thing you need. However, I’ve decided that the problems that arise are just not worth the convenience.

How often did this create a problem? Well, first, while going through security, a couple of small things fell out of my purse into the bin. No big deal, I just grabbed the bin and moved out of the way like normal. Then on the plane, I (or Home Warrior) had to constantly monitor the bags to make sure they were reasonably upright so nothing fell out, especially during takeoff and landing (because no one wants their stuff sliding down the plane…..). Then once we arrived in Mexico and were waiting in the customs line, again, we had to constantly monitor the bags to make sure they didn’t fall over. And then going through the final customs line (where they scan all of your luggage), a few small things fell out of my purse again. And this time there wasn’t a bin. Oops. At this point I was worried Home Warrior would never travel with me again! Sorry, Honey!! (And other people in line……)

So the moral of the story is: make sure your bags close in some way before using them for travel. Zipping is the most secure, but snapping is better than nothing. And if your bag has multiple zippers, for example a large compartment and then a smaller side pocket, make sure both are zipped before sending it through the X-ray machines. Not only is this ideal for keeping your items contained during transit, but it’s also more security against thieves.

So next time we travel for vacation, whether it’s flying or in the car, I will make sure my bags close. Or Home Warrior may decide not to come with me…..

Readers, have you ever made a silly travel mistake on vacation?

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These days, there is no shortage of hotels aimed at the business traveler. But just because a chain says they know what road warriors want doesn’t make it so! One place that gets it right—Hyatt Place. You can tell they know what works for business travelers from the moment you step inside. The nice people at Hyatt Place gave me a room for the night in their Austin location to check out the hotel and new a.m. Kitchen Skillet breakfast.

Room. The room was large and incredibly comfortable. It’s divided into two sections—a sort of living/work space with a kitchenette, and the bedroom/bathroom. In the living area, the sectional sofa had more seating than I have at my own house—it was huge! I sat there for a while working, and really enjoyed it. There was a lot more room to spread out than normal. The king size bed had plenty of pillows (yes!!) and was nice and supportive. The bathroom was nice, with a cool wallpaper and large walk in shower.

Green features. In all new Hyatt Place properties built, there is some type of energy management system in place. In the particular location I visited, you have to put your room key in a slot by the door in order to control the AC. When your key isn’t in there, the AC automatically goes up a few degrees because it knows you’re not in the room. This does two things—it keeps your key in a handy spot by the door so you never forget it, and maintains an efficient temperature in your room. It’s very cool.

Technology. Hyatt Place hotels offer free wifi all around the hotel, including your room. They also have a business center with computers and printers, or you can hook your own system up to a printer if needed.

Outside. There was a gorgeous pool that I (sadly) didn’t have time to enjoy. Next time, though, I will make it a priority! For those with energy to burn, there is a nice workout facility as well.

Breakfast. I loved the new a.m. Kitchen Skillet! A definite, tasty improvement to their breakfast setup.* (Check out my full review here.) There is also a selection of snacks available in the gallery, as well as bar offerings.

Service. All of my interactions with the staff were efficient, quick, and courteous. Just what a tired road warriorette needs after a long day!

*I don’t think the a.m. Kitchen Skillet is available in all locations yet, but should be soon.

All in all, I had a great stay at the Hyatt Place. Plenty of room to spread out in a comfortable, attractive space, free wifi, and delicious food—what more do you need?

It’s a terrible, terrible thing, but it happens. Cars are broken into, purses are nabbed, pockets are picked. If you’re at home, having your purse or wallet stolen can be bad enough. But it can be really, really hard to deal with on the road. Here are some steps you can take to minimize the impact of theft, regardless of where you are. (Pictured: SentrySafe H2300 0.36 Cubic Foot Fire-Safe Waterproof Chest in Silver Gray, available from Amazon for $39.97.)

• Only keep essential credit cards on hand. When my purse was stolen a year ago, it had seven cards in there. Ouch. Now I only keep my debit card and my miles card in my wallet at all times. I really just don’t have the need for the other cards, although YMMV. (The other cards are kept home in the safe.)
• Make photocopies of all cards. I have copies of the front and back of each of my credit and debit cards in the safe at home. Also, in my suitcase pocket I leave a list of phone numbers for the cards I keep with me. This way if my wallet or purse is stolen on the road I have the most critical numbers on hand.
• Make a copy of your drivers license and passport. These are also in my safe at home!
• Leave valuables at home. Sometimes after a bunch of trips in a row, I get lazy and forget to clean out my purse. But seriously—if you truly have something irreplaceable, don’t bring it with you on a business trip. Read more of this article »

Three weeks ago, I was in San Antonio. It was a short trip, just overnight. After a long day at the office, I pulled into the hotel parking lot, ready to get up to my room and relax. I grabbed my suitcase, dropped my purse on top of it, and headed for the door. As I neared the edge of the parking lot, I was so focused on the air conditioning that I almost stepped on something. Luckily, out of my peripheral vision I saw a white blob on the ground and darted around it. Stopping to get a closer look I realized it was a used diaper. Ugh.

Last week, I was in Miami. It was a productive, if rainy, trip. On the way home, I got to the airport, pulled into the rental car return, and started organizing my things to take them out of the car. While walking around to the passenger door, I kicked something. Looking down I realized it was one of those flossing sticks–used. Ick!!!

Lately, it seems like I have been seeing gross stuff on the ground everywhere. From random trash to diapers to floss sticks, there seem to be more and more people just not throwing things away. Now I know none of my readers would ever just throw trash on the ground, but here is a gentle reminder for everyone else: Please put your trash in trash cans!! It won’t take you that much time, and could save someone else from a gross moment.

Readers, have you seen anything on the ground lately that surprised you?

I know I say this every year but….. has it already been a year?? Today is Road Warriorette’s third blogiversary. It seems like a blink of an eye, but 366 days, 52 weeks, 12 months have already passed. This year has been a whirlwind of excitement, including becoming a Boarding Area Featured Blogger and attending Blog World Expo in November, and traffic has doubled. Yay! Can’t wait for next year!

Just for fun, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of my favorite posts and some of the best discussions….

Is it rude to recline your seat while flying?

Happy Freaking Birthday

How to remember where you parked

Plane Etiquette Round Up

Top Five Secrets of Business Travel

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Ah, the second trimester. The supposed “golden time” of pregnancy. You are finally starting to show, so people know you’re pregnant instead of wondering if you ate too much for lunch. Maybe your energy is coming back, and you require fewer naps. For some, the second trimester is when you start feeling much better. (For others, it’s just three more months of sickness. I didn’t start feeling a lot better until about halfway through, and then I was like a whole new—hungry—person.) Regardless, traveling during this period of pregnancy does require a few adjustments. Here’s what helped me get through:

Eat often. Once I started feeling better, I was hungry All. The. Time. During one trip, I got to the office and not only was there no on-site eating option, there was no time built into the schedule for a lunch break. Not okay. Now I make sure the food situation is figured out before I arrive. Also, make sure before you fly that you have enough snacks to tide you over until landing. In fact, bring extra in case you’re stuck on the plane longer than expected.

Use the restroom every chance you get. One of the super fun parts of pregnancy—frequent trips to the loo. Make sure you take advantage of every opportunity you have. It’s no fun holding it on a flight where too much turbulence means no one can get up for two hours!

Sit in the aisle. Easy access to the lav plus a little extra room to stretch and move your legs are two good reasons to sit in the aisle. I’m sure there are others as well.

Get up and walk. Whether flying or on the ground, get up every hour or so to walk for a few minutes. During flights, this helps to avoid any potential blood clot issues. Also, walking will help you avoid getting stiff and make your back less likely to hurt later.

Ask for extra pillows. You will probably need more pillows than the hotel gives you. I usually need five—one for my head, two for my back, and two for my front. Of course, nothing is as good as my huge maternity pillow, which I have been taking with me on longer trips.

Don’t be afraid to preboard. On days where you feel especially slow, go ahead and preboard. It will give you that extra time to get settled without worrying about impatient people glaring at you for holding up the line.

Compression socks. I didn’t realize how badly I needed compression socks on every flight until it was too late. I was in Florida for two weeks, and my ankles puffed up on the flight there and never really deflated. Finally I stopped in a drugstore to get a new pair. Even on short flights your ankles can swell, so just wear the darned things so you don’t have to worry about your shoes not fitting when you arrive.

Go slowly. You’re not in a race! Move at the speed that is comfortable for you. Faster people will go around you. It helps to build a little extra time into your schedule so you don’t have to hurry.

Now that I’m in the middle of my final trimester (wow time passes quickly) I’m dealing with a whole new set of travel challenges. But that’s a story for another day! Look for that post sometime in the future….

(Newly pregnant? Click here for tricks to surviving travel during your first trimester.)

Readers, what are your best tricks for making travel easier during the second trimester?

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This week, I flew to Miami. On the flight, I noticed an uncomfortable (but obvious only to me) wardrobe malfunction—the underwire to my most important undergarment had broken through the seam and was stabbing me. Now, for those of you who have not experienced this, it is extremely annoying. Especially when you’re trying to pull a suitcase and giant bag through the never ending hallways of MIA. The entire time I was walking to the rental car facility, and the darn thing was poking me in my arm, I was thinking, “Okay. All I have to do is ask the hotel if they have a mending kit I can use. Hotels have those, right? Especially nice ones?” But of course, it slipped my mind as I got to in the car, found the hotel, got up to my room, and changed into my PJs. Ugh. The idea of putting my clothes back on and going down to the lobby was extremely unappealing. Then, I had an epiphany. I had my knitting kit! And my knitting kit contained…… a needle and thread!!! I sewed up the seam, and all was well.

However, I may not always have my entire knitting kit on hand. So I have decided to add a mending kit to my “Stuff I Take On Every Trip” list. They are tiny, available everywhere, often for under $5, and typically include needles, different colored thread, and tiny scissors. (Check out Amazon and Hobby Lobby for tons of options.) Because buttons fall off, seams tear, and underwires poke through, a mending kit is a great thing for all travelers—men and women alike—to keep in their suitcase. Mine will be kept in my toiletry kit so I have it with me on every single trip.

Readers, have you had any wardrobe malfunctions on the road? How did you deal with it?

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You see them on almost every flight—a sleeping baby or bouncy toddler sitting on their parents’ lap. The recent stories about turbulence injuring flight attendants and travelers, the pilot who got disoriented and sent his plane into a dive, and lap children being the most unsafe passengers on a plane have got me thinking. What’s the deal with lap children?

First, the reality. Buying an extra ticket is expensive. Car seats often don’t fit into small airplane seats. And even if a child does have his own seat, will he really be buckled in the whole flight? Or will his parents set him up on the floor where it’s more comfortable?

Anyone without a seatbelt on, at any time, is risky. Turbulence can happen at any time—it’s not only for takeoff and landing. And if there is an impact, regardless of how much a parent my try to protect their lap child, the laws of physics could make it impossible to keep them safe.

Why are lap children allowed in the first place, if there are so many risks? It all harkens back to an FAA regulation passed in the fifties that said everyone on a plane had to have a seatbelt—except for children under 2. Of course, as the Time article states, in the fifties there were no car seats in cars either, so it may not have seemed such a big deal . But now that there is such an emphasis on safety, especially child safety, many wonder why the rules don’t change. According to the FAA, they have done the math, and if they change the regulations it will make families less likely to fly and more likely to drive, which is statistically more dangerous.

Readers, what do you think? Would changing safety regulations regarding lap children solve anything?

(For safety tips from the FAA, check out their new child safety page.)

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If you’re traveling right now in the steamy parts of the country, you may be wondering if your current wardrobe will get you through the season. Folks, it is hot right now. (Unless you’re in Boston, which I heard was delightful over the weekend. I’m jealous, as it was 100 degrees on Sunday. Anyway.) Dressing in the summer is an art—there are always those women who look cool and collected, no matter how high the temperature. Unfortunately, I am not those women. I have to work hard to maintain my cool in the heat. After a few years on the road during the hottest months, I have a pretty good strategy for dressing without overheating. The keys:

Lightweight fabrics. So important!!! The lighter the better. Look for cottons and linens with a bit of stretch, in a lighter-colored fabric. The con is that they wrinkle more easily, but honestly a little ironing time is worth it to me to stay cool throughout the day. My tops are as thin as I can get them without being sheer or too revealing.

Layers. Offices and airplanes tend to be very chilly this time of year, so cardigans and pashminas are a must. Once outside you can remove layers as needed.

Bike shorts. On travel days that I wear a skirt or dress, I always wear bike shorts underneath. Just in case there’s an unexpected up close and personal interaction with the TSA….. They also help reduce any accidental chafing. For non travel days, those worried about chafing should try something like Body Glide or Monistat Soothing Care.

Peep toes. They’re not appropriate for all offices, but something about peep toe shoes makes me feel cooler. It’s probably an illusion (how much ventilation can that small hole really offer?) but I’ll take it!

Here is my main summer (business casual) travel wardrobe: Read more of this article »

Readers, last night on a flight from Dallas I witnessed an interesting etiquette situation, and I want to get your take on it. A petite woman had found her seat and was looking for a place to stow her large backpack. Two rows in front of her, a tall guy was muscling his rollaboard into the overhead bin. There was plenty of room next to his bag, so she very politely asked him for a hand. “Excuse me,” she said. “Could you please help me?” He started to say yes, but then stopped. “Oh, my buddy is going to put his bag there. Sorry.” He then sat down. The three or four of us that witnessed this kind of gaped at him. The man behind him said, “Friend, that might come back to haunt you.” The woman was forced to go to the back of the plane to find a spot for her bag.

Honestly, I go back and forth with this. In the moment, it felt incredibly rude. But thinking about it later, I wonder: does it make sense to save a spot for your friend’s bag, even from someone who was on the plane first? Or does the person on the plane first deserve the spot? The ironic thing was that the buddy, who did indeed place his rollaboard in that spot, was sitting next to the woman who had asked for help.

Readers, what do you think?

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