This contest is closed.

If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know that I recommend compression socks for anyone who takes long flights. (That goes double for pregnant people!) They really do help keep my ankles and feet from swelling, not to mention reducing the threat of DVT. Even though I own several pairs myself, I am always on the lookout for a new pair, as long as it’s CUTE. Before, I’ve only been able to find black, boring, ugly compression socks. Until now!

Introducing Nabee Socks: compression socks for men and women, backed by science, with adorable designs. It is a brand new company, with the founder Brian Park getting funding through Kickstarter. (If you have a minute, check out their Kickstarter video—I love it.) Nabee Socks use graduated compression that improves blood circulation, provides additional leg support, and prevents conditions like Deep Vein Thrombosis. They sent me some socks to review, and here are my thoughts.

First, the four designs are fabulous. I had a hard time choosing my favorite, but finally picked the pink argyle Frou. (Although it was really a toss-up between Frou and the striped Waldough.) While I really liked looking at them, I kind of dreaded putting them on—I have muscular calves, and it is a struggle to get most compression socks on. These, however, were much easier than any pair I’ve ever dealt with before. I was actually able to get them on my feet and all the way up my calves!  A very exciting moment. Once they were on, I certainly felt compressed, but in no way uncomfortable.  I also really like the seaming around the toe—it’s very comfortable and doesn’t irritate. I’ve worn them on several flights now, and the swelling is significantly less than without them. Also, I wore them a couple of times when I had long days with lots of standing, and my feet hurt way less than normal. In addition to being a great product, I really like the philosophy of the company—upbeat, positive, backed by science, with a 100% money-back guarantee. There are four designs available for women, and one design (for now—more are coming!) for men, and they are all $35.

I am super excited to partner with Nabee Socks for a contest! The winner will win one pair of Nabee Socks of their choice. In order to enter, please leave a comment answering the following question: What is the longest flight you have ever taken, and where did you go? The contest starts today and goes until midnight on Monday, May 6, with the winner picked randomly. As always, only one entry per person.

My answer to this question is easy: the longest flight I’ve ever been on is definitely the one from DFW to Tokyo—14 hours total. It’s just one of three flights that get me from home to Manila for a total travel time of 25 hours. Of course, I’m lucky because every time I’ve taken that flight I’ve been upgraded. The flight that seemed the longest (even though it wasn’t) was the time I flew the reverse, from Tokyo to DFW, an 11 hour flight that I spent in coach.

Good luck!!

This contest is closed.

After 18 months of research, Hyatt has recently come out with a new array of offerings geared toward the frequent traveler. The new features are tailored to guests’ individual preferences, and include a service providing frequently forgotten items, healthy new menu options, and upgraded bath amenities. I have experienced all of these firsthand, and I think road warriors and warriorettes will benefit tremendously! (I’ll be doing an in-depth review this week, so stay tuned!)

To celebrate, we are doing a contest and the winner wins one free night at a U.S. Hyatt Place! To enter, please leave a comment answering the following question: The bulkiest item I have to pack and can’t live without is_________. (And let’s be more original than, say, “my computer,” because everyone needs that!) The contest runs through Monday, April 22 at midnight CDT and the winner will be chosen randomly on Tuesday April 23. As always, one entry per person.

The bulkiest item I can’t live without is, no question, my curling iron. My computer is on that list too (of course!) plus my makeup. I’m not sure what it says that 2 out of 3 items are grooming related…..

Good luck!!

This contest is closed.

The Road Warriorette contest bonanza continues!

Friends, I have discovered one of the most helpful apps for a business traveler. Ever. You may think I’m exaggerating, but I promise I’m not. Question: how many conference calls do you take a week? Five? Ten? Twenty? How many of those are while you’re on the road? For me, it’s at least half. And half of those I am literally in transit from one place to another, driving, walking, or in an airport. Dialing a conference call number and then entering a long passcode can be tricky when you’re at your office, and darn near impossible when you’re driving.

Enter MobileDay. This amazing app gets the info from the calendar on your phone, alerts you when it’s time for your meeting, then dials the number and the passcode for you. It’s amazing, and attending meetings while on a trip has never, ever been easier. It’s free, and everyone should download it immediately! (Click here to download)

To celebrate the launch of this fantastic app, we are giving away an OtterBox iPhone case (for either iPhone 4 or 5). To enter, between now and Monday, December 3 leave a comment answering the following question:  What is the strangest thing you’ve done while on a conference call? A winner will be chosen randomly from the entries on Tuesday, December 4. As always, only one entry per person. (And please, keep it family friendly!)

(If you’re not familiar with OtterBox, they are incredibly durable phone cases. I have one and even though I drop my phone all. the. time. it never gets damaged.)

I think we’ve all driven, gone through airport security, and boarded a plane while on conference calls. But the strangest thing I’ve ever done while on a conference call is grout my kitchen backsplash. Hey, when you schedule meetings for 7:30pm, expect some multitasking!

If you want to know more about MobileDay, check out the video below.

Good luck everyone!

This contest is closed.

In honor of the new Plantronics Voyager  Legend headset, Road Warriorette will be featuring some sponsored posts on behalf of Plantronics and has been compensated for her contributions.

Plantronics has recently released the much anticipated Voyager Legend headset! It’s being touted as the “world’s smartest headset”, and includes features such as smart call routing, precision audio, and caller announce and voice commands. To celebrate the newest member of the Plantronics family, we are giving away one Voyager Legend headset to a lucky reader!

How to win? It’s simple! Between now and Monday, November 12, write a comment answering the following question: How do you bring your business and personal life together during business trips? A winner will be chosen randomly from all of the entries on Tuesday, November 13. As always, only one entry per person.

When traveling for work it’s so easy to get stuck in the go-go-go mode. Bringing your business and personal life together can be really hard when you’re on the road a lot! But you’re not just a worker bee, so make sure you pay attention to the rest of you as well. Here are some of my tips:

Stay in touch. Make sure you keep in touch with the people you love. The Home Warrior and I talk every day I’m gone. I will also make a point to talk to my sisters, mom, and best friend when I’m gone for longer periods of time. Just because you’re away doesn’t mean you can’t maintain regular conversations! If you’re pressed for time, multi-task—chat while you’re getting ready for bed or unpacking (this is where a headset like the Voyager would come in handy!).

Take some time for yourself. Just because you’re traveling for work doesn’t mean you don’t get down time! While you’re on the plane is a great time to do something just for fun—read a book, watch a movie, listen to music, knit… Or take advantage of a layover and get a chair massage. Just a few minutes doing something you enjoy can help you maintain balance.

Make sure you get your work done! At the same time, it can be so easy to let time slip away while you socialize with coworkers or wine and dine clients. Those things are certainly important, but save time to do your actual work as well. Presentations don’t write themselves, as I have unfortunately discovered. (But don’t worry—the Voyager has a sophisticated noise canceling feature, so even if you’re out you can still take that work call. The office will never know!)

See the city you’re in. So many of us don’t ever look beyond the office and our hotel room, but all cities have something to offer! Try to eat out at a local restaurant, and taste a local specialty. If you have a little extra time, cruise by an interesting attraction or take in some scenery. It will help all of those towns you’ve visited stand out from each other, and remind you that there is more to life than work.

Click here to see official rules for the sweepstakes.

Good luck!!

This contest is now closed.

Contest craziness at Road Warriorette continues!!

I love fall—the cooler weather, sweaters, cider, fires in the fireplace…. Another reason to love fall? The Free Night Fall offer from Country Inns & Suites! Here’s the deal: book and stay any two or more consecutive nights (at the Free Night Fall rate), Sunday thru Thursday, and you’ll get a certificate for a free night! The promotion runs through November 30, and it sounds like a great deal to me.

In honor of the Free Night Fall offer, we are TWO readers two free nights at a Country Inn and Suites of their choice. How to win? Simple, as always. Leave a comment answering the following question: Where is your favorite place to travel during fall? The contest runs through 11pm CST on Wednesday October 31, and the winners will be randomly chosen on Thursday November 1.

Legal stuff:

• “Free Night Fall” launched October 1st and runs through November 30, 2012.
• As a reminder, this is a part of our Free Night Fall promotion, where your readers can have an opportunity to win an additional free night in our giveaway. Details and official rules can be found here.
•  Each free night voucher is valid for one free night, standard room, double occupancy at any North American Country Inns & Suites of the winner’s choice. The voucher expires one year after the issue date. The full terms and conditions are located on the room night voucher.
•  Entrants need to reside in the US or Canada and must be at least 18 years old.
• One entry per person.

I actually have a tie for my favorite place to go in the fall. The obvious choice is somewhere like New England  (or anywhere Not Texas) where the leaves change. I went to Pennsylvania once in the fall and driving through the mountains was amazingly beautiful. But the non-obvious choice is Napa Valley. The Home Warrior and I took a fabulous trip there a few years ago during October and it couldn’t have been better.

So, Readers, where is your favorite place to visit during the fall? Good luck!!

Road Warriorette received a free night stay at Country Inn & Suites.

Boarding Area is giving away two seats on the upcoming Star MegaDO 4. And not just any two seats, but two seats next to the original frequent flier, Randy Petersen! Randy is the founder of FlyerTalk, InsideFlyer, MilePoint, and of course, BoardingArea. This is the ultimate trip for frequent flier junkies! For info on the event, check out the official page here, and the MilePoint MegaDO forum here.

The prize:

A reserved aisle or window seat next to Randy Petersen on the upcoming StarMegaDo 2012, hotel accommodations, and $250 for personal expenses!

To enter, write a comment answering the following question: What’s your best advice for someone just starting to chase miles and points? The Road Warriorette winner will be selected at random and will then be part of the Boarding Area wide-contest.

• You can also enter the on any of the participating blogs, listed here.
• You must include a valid email address.
• Open to everyone 18 and older.
• You can submit one entry per blog.
• Contest comments entry period ends 11:59:59 pm MT October 7, 2012.
• Winner Selection: Two (2) winners will be chosen in a random drawing on Monday, October 8, 2012 from all eligible entries received during the Giveaway Period, as posted in the comments section of participating BoardingArea.com partnering blogs. The random drawing will be conducted by Randy Petersen, whose decision is final and binding in all respects. The winner will be notified via email within two (2) days after the selection is made. Each winner will have five (5) business days to reply confirming his/her acceptance of the giveaway seat. Failure to reply in the indicated time frame will declare that the seat has been refused and forfeited for all time and the first alternative entry will be chosen in random drawings as outlined above and provided the opportunity to claim the seat giveaway.

Read the entire list of contest rules here.

Good luck!

Fairfield Inn and Suites is celebrating their silver anniversary! During September they are giving guests a chance to win weekend getaways. The promotion is almost over, but don’t despair. To celebrate their 25 years, they are giving away a $250 Fairfield Inn and Suites gift card to one lucky Road Warriorette reader!

How to win? It’s simple, as always. Leave a comment answering the following question: What are the two things you can’t live without during a business trip? The winner will be drawn at random on Tuesday October 2. As always, only one entry per person please.

There are a bunch of things I can’t live without on a business trip, but the top two are pretty easy: my iPhone and pashmina. Both are multi-functional and have saved me many times on many different trips! So what are your two things?

Good luck!

The great National Car Rental promotion One Two Free is back! When customers rent twice from National, they get a third rental free. As simple as that! To celebrate, we are doing a contest where travelers can share their travel experience and win a Traveler Truth Prize Pack—including a Swiss Army WT Wheeled Tote, a Swiss Army WT Deluxe Garment Sleeve, and a $100 AMEX gift card. It’s valued at $499!!

How to win this awesome prize? National is putting together the Top 10 Business Traveler Truths, and they know that if anyone can speak the truth about business travel it’s Road Warriors! To enter the contest, post a comment with your top “rule of the road” for a work trip. I will work with National representatives to pick the best comment, and the winner will receive the Travel Truth Prize Pack. Pretty sweet, right? Plus, the winning truth will be compiled into National’s Top 10 Business Traveler Truths, which will be featured on their Facebook page and shared with travelers far and wide! We will draw the winner on Wednesday, September 19 and announce on September 20. (As always, only one entry per person.)

And if that weren’t enough, as a bonus for Road Warriorette readers, anyone who is currently an Emerald Club member can get one free rental credit. All you have to do is email your Emerald Club membership code to OneTwoFree@ehi.com with a screengrab of your comment, and mention “Road Warriorette” so they know where you posted. This means that you will only have to rent one more time to get a free rental! If you’re not a member yet, you can join immediately here (for no cost) to participate.

Road Warriorette’s top business traveler truth: Don’t overpack!!  Choose coordinating items and maximize accessories to save money and time by carrying on your suitcase.

Good luck!

Home2 Suites by Hilton, the award-winning, all-suites extended stay brand, is celebrating one year since opening the doors to its first hotel, and introducing guests to its innovative “hip and humble” concept. Many guests have already made Home2 Suites their go-to home away from home, coming back every time they have to visit one the seven destinations across the United States where it has locations. The brand already has nine new hotels under construction and more than 70 in the works including Canada.

They have a lot of great features, including free breakfast, free wifi, in-room kitchen facilities, outdoor spaces, and more. My two favorite items are that it is pet-friendly (yay!) and has a number of sustainable features.

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of Home2 Suites by Hilton opening, we are holding a contest. Hooray! The winner of this contest will get a three-night stay for two in the Home2 Suites by Hilton property of their choice, roundtrip airfare, and money for food. Wow!

Now you’re probably all asking, how can I win? It’s simple, as it usually is here on Road Warriorette. Simply leave a comment answering the following question: What is your best tip for someone going on their first extended business trip? We will draw a winner at random next week. Only one entry per person.

Since I am on my first extended business trip right now, this contest seems very appropriate for this week. I will post my best tip next week, once I have the experience to back it up!

For more first birthday fun, check out Home2 Suites by Hilton on Facebook and Twitter (@Home2Suites)!

Thanks for entering!!!

Happy 25^th Anniversary, Emerald Club! National’s loyalty program was the first of its kind when it was started 25 years ago, and they are celebrating their 25^th anniversary this month! To help them commemorate 25 years, we’re doing a contest!!

In the comments, tell us about what you were doing 25 years ago. In college? First grade? Traveling the world? Getting married? Tell us! One winner will be randomly selected to win a $25 AMEX gift card and a “Go Like a Pro” kit filled with everything you need for business travel! It includes a National tumbler, a National embossed leather writing pad, a National pen set, a weekend duffle bag, and a driving kit. (Winner will be drawn randomly from entries on Thursday, March 22. One entry per person.) For another chance to win, check out the National “Blast from the Past” contest on Facebook!

Twenty-five years ago I was in kindergarten, having a great time exploring the woods behind our house. I had a cat and my best friend lived across the street. Life was good!

So Readers, what were you doing 25 years ago?

Road Warriorette received a $25 gift card for doing this contest.