Dear Hilton Garden Inn,

You know normally I love you. But my experience a few weeks ago was not that awesome, and I want to give you some constructive feedback.

I was staying at the location near the Raleigh airport. Initially, everything was great. The property is lovely, surrounded by trees (with fall colored-leaves! We don’t have those in Texas). The room was very comfortable, with a couch and a high-quality desk chair. All of the employees were very kind and gracious. So far so good, right? I worked for several hours after check in, went to dinner, came home, worked some more, got ready for bed, and realized….. my time of the month had started a few days early. Normally I am very prepared for this sort of thing, but with all the traveling I did in October and November my emergency stores were completely depleted. No problem! I thought. I will head down to the little store on the first floor and pick some up. The little store had everything I could imagine—every type of medication, contact cases, nail files, nail clippers, tweezers, etc. But you know what they did NOT have? Feminine supplies. Not one. Not one measly little two-pack case of tampons or single pad. Thinking I must surely be mistaken, I crouched down and looked behind the packets of tissues and band-aids. Nothing. Finally, I went and found someone to ask. The poor kid (who was maybe 19) was apologetic, and embarrassed, but told me no, they didn’t have any.

At this point, I was extremely frustrated. Partially with myself (why didn’t I remember to put more tampons in my bag??), and some of it was probably hormonal. But I was highly irritated that I had to go up to my room, get my keys and purse, and go find a convenience store. It just baffles me that a hotel store that is well equipped enough to have nail clippers and tweezers did not have feminine supplies. Hotel chains talk a good game about appealing to female business travelers, but all of the women-only floors and yoga mats seem inconsequential when you don’t have this basic necessity.

Thank you for your time,

Road Warriorette

(Sorry, male readers!)

A year ago, I had just moved my blog over to Boarding Area, was getting ready for and recovering from my trip to Manila, and preparing for my younger sister’s wedding. It was a busy month! It was also my first month of trying to post every day, so choosing the most important posts from that month is a challenge.  Sorry for the long list, but hopefully you will appreciate some of my early advice….. and rambling.

When reading Long Flight Comfort, it’s not hard to see how anxious I was about the 26 hour flying time to Manila. I tried a lot of things to make the flights bearable, but not all of them were successful. Check out the winners and losers!

I seemed to go through a purse obsession. What am I saying? My life is a purse obsession! Explaining the contents of my purse and what it looks like was a lot of fun. And I am still hunting for my next purse…..

I also went to Chicago for my sister’s bachelorette party and had my most embarrassing travel experience. Sigh. I still cringe when I think about that.

After receiving a question from a reader, I tried broaching the subject of moms who travel for business. That was a hard one!

And finally, one of my favorite topics. I spend a lot of my time here on Road Warriorette coaching people about the best way to get through airport security. Anyone who doesn’t travel often should read this post! Heck, it could be helpful even for those of us who do travel often…..

Thanks for revisiting the past with me!

In a recent discussion with a friend, she posed the following question to me.

“I was traveling with my boss last month, and we both asked for upgrades. Luckily we both got them. But it made me wonder–what should I do if I get the upgrade and my boss doesn’t?”

My instinct would be to at least offer it to my boss. Traveling with your boss should have you on your best behavior already, and giving her your upgrade certainly seems like the polite thing to do. But is it necessary?

Readers, what do you think?

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It is that time of year again! The frantic busy-ness of the holiday season can drive even the most organized soul into freaking their freak. I am definitely not the most organized soul, so I am halfway to the crazy house already. Hopefully, this gift guide will give you some ideas for your favorite Road Warriorette. Last year’s Gift Guide is full of suggestions, and here are a few more things I would love to find under the tree.

Travel jewelry holder

For the past few years I have simply used a small makeup bag for my jewelry. It’s compact, but everything gets tangled up. A travel jewelry case would solve all of those problems. There are great ones available from Delight, and I also love this recycled sari case from TravelSmith.

Noise canceling earbuds

While full size headphones are nice, the extra space they demand can be tough to find. Noise canceling earbuds give you the best of both worlds–easy to carry with great sound. These Klipsch earbuds received high marks from CNET.

American Airline upgrades

Allow your favorite traveler to fly the best way possible: first class! You can purchase American Airlines upgrades here, and other airlines offer them as well.

Portfolio

In addition to a laptop, business travelers need a good portfolio. Take notes, keep papers together, and look polished all at once. They’re also available in a range of prices. I like this one from Barnes and Noble.

Cashmere pashmina

I know a pashmina is on last year’s list, but this year I’ve decided I want a REALLY  nice one. And it doesn’t get nicer than cashmere. So soft, warm, and cozy. I have been drooling over these from Nordstrom, and really hope Santa puts one under the tree.

iPhone 4

The ultimate travel tool. Phone, music, email, GPS, camera, and whatever else you need all in one. I can’t wait to get mine!!

Amazon giftcards

Give the gift of choice! Everything under the sun is available at Amazon, but I usually buy books for my Kindle when I get their gitftcards.

Travel versions of her favorite toiletries

Sephora and 3floz.com have wide selections of travel toiletries available. Many of us won’t splurge on something nice for the road, so you do it for her! My favorites are Phyto and Philosophy.

Packing cubes

The gift of more space! It’s not a sexy gift, but packing cubes are incredibly helpful. I highly recommend the Eagle Creek ones, which you can get online or from REI.

Collapsible containers

Don’t eat badly on the road! Bring snacks with you and then simply collapse the snack holder so it travels back home easily. I like these by Progressive International, but Rubbermaid also makes some good containers.

Business Travel 101 is a weekly series about making that first business trip as easy and successful as possible. Packing, security, comfort, and etiquette are all factors that, with a little planning, can contribute to a smooth and efficient trip. If you think of a topic I should include, email me at RoadWarriorette@gmail.com.

One of the easiest way to facilitate smooth travel? Not checking your suitcase. Not only will you avoid checked-baggage fees, but you will save time at the front and back ends of your trip. It will also force you to streamline your packing list.

First, let’s discuss the suitcase itself. Key features to look for:

• A bag that will fit US (and ideally European) guidelines for carrying on.
• Light, yet sturdy.
• Good pockets.
• Quality construction.
• Easy to navigate in crowded airports.

A few brands that I like are Ogio, Briggs & Riley, and Tumi. I know these brands are not inexpensive, but trust me when I say that if you are traveling all of the time, a good bag is worth the investment. I have used the same Ogio bag for four years, week in and week out, and it is still in excellent shape. A great review of top rated brands can be found here. Your suitcase doesn’t have to be pretty (although I have to say I love this one from Tumi, and think it is very pretty) but an identifying feature is helpful so that it stands out in the sea of black.

What to pack for a four day trip (choose your travel clothes from this list):

• Two bottoms, one comfortable for travel (i.e. slacks and a skirt)
• Coordinating suit jackets if needed
• Four tops that coordinate with both of your bottoms
• At least one light jacket or sweater (unless you need a heavier jacket)
• No more than three pairs of shoes, including a pair of flip flops
• Enough undergarments, including socks/hose
• PJs
• Something to work out in
• Toiletries (see my toiletry list here)
• Chargers (phone, laptop, etc)

Packing tips:

• I bring my own shampoo/conditioner, because I travel so much if I use whatever random products the hotel puts out my hair gets mad; a couple of great sources are 3floz.com and Sephora.
• Eagle Creek packing cubes are helpful for the small items (underwear, socks, hose, etc); they will help you save a ton of space.
• I have three small bags for my toiletries–one for liquids (that gets taken out at security), one for non-liquids (toothbrush, deodorant, etc), and one for make-up. This allows me to fit them in my suitcase wherever they will go instead of taking up a lot of room.
• Use spare contact lens cases for small amounts of liquids, such as face soap, moisturizer, eye makeup remover, etc.
• Also check out the Packing and Packing Tips sections.

I am often asked if I am treated differently when traveling because I am a woman. Do I feel pressure to fit into a man’s world, especially as so few business travelers are female?

The first thing I do is correct whoever I am speaking to. Women make up almost half of business travelers, and the number is growing every year.

The rest of the question deserves a little more thought.  I don’t feel any pressure to fit into a man’s world. I do my job, do it very well, and am well able to take care of myself on the road. I know that women of earlier generations had to deal with this pressure on a daily basis, and I am so grateful to them for the barriers they have broken and the strides they have made. In general, the only way I am every treated differently is with regards to safety. For example, many hotels have policies against placing single female travelers on the first floor if there is direct access outside from the room. I understand and appreciate this concern for my safety, but I would prefer to be given the option rather than told there are no rooms available. Once, a colleague decided to travel with me at the last minute. I was staying in a well-known hotel chain, and she was told there were no rooms available. Once I arrived, I spoke to a different person and was told that there were in fact rooms available, but these rooms were on the first floor and the hotel had strict guidelines in place to not put women traveling alone in those rooms. My colleague should have been alerted to the policy and the reason behind it, and then given the option of whether to book a room or not.

One non-safety related way I have been treated differently is with airlines. I have noticed that airline personnel are often surprised to see a young woman as an Elite traveler. I have often gone to try for an upgrade or standy, and  been told there is no way I will get it as there is a long list. And then I go to the front of the list and get it because of my status. Sometimes it irritates me that they stereotype so quickly, but often it just amuses me.

What about you, readers? Are you treated differently because you are a woman?

Recently, I have had two conversations with two different people. The first conversation, a month or so ago, was with my mom. “Why don’t you do  an intro to business travel thing on your blog?” she said.  Then, more recently, I was asked what my best tips are for making travel easier. With that, the idea for a new series was born! I am going to include “best of” tips for packing, security, safety, etiquette, comfort, and anything else I can think of. If you think of a topic that new business travelers need to know about, let me know in the comments or by emailing RoadWarriorette@gmail.com.

This week’s Business Travel 101 tips are general tips about making travel as easy as possible. For people who don’t travel often or haven’t traveled in a long time, the very idea of packing up and flying to a new place, while representing yourself as a competent professional, is daunting. Keep the following in mind, and your first business trip will go much more smoothly.

• Check the latest guidelines. Before your trip, go online to TSA.gov and your airline’s website to find out what the current guidelines are about security, what you are allowed to carry-on, and how big your suitcase can be.
• Print out critical information. You may think, I have access to all of my plane, car, and hotel reservations on my phone or computer. I don’t need to print them out! I promise, having that info in hand for your first few trips will save you some serious headaches. One time I did not print out my info, my computer for some reason wouldn’t connect to the internet at the airport, and I had to spend an hour calling various Marriott Hotels in the area looking for my reservation. NOT a fun time. Even after traveling for four years, I still print out my information if I am going to a new location.
• Carry-on. This is one of the big ones. You will save so much time (and money) if you simply carry on your suitcase. It is very possible to pack for four days easily, and for over a week with some practice, into a rollerboard.
• Be ready to go through security. Have your ID and boarding pass ready for the agent, have your laptop and liquids bag readily available to pull out of your bag, wear shoes that are easy to take off and put on. And don’t stand by the x-ray machine once you’re done, putting your shoes and watch back on. Grab your stuff and move it to a bench. This is one of my serious pet peeves. If everyone simply moved out of the way, security lines would go so much faster!!
• Be comfortable. Flying is not the time to wear too tight pants or spiked heels. If what you are wearing isn’t comfortable on the ground, there is no way it will be comfortable at 33,000 feet with pressure changes. There are ways to look good and be comfortable, and sacrificing comfort for style is not worth making your flight miserable.
• Bring things to entertain you. I always bring my iPhone for music, my Kindle, and knitting. Some people really enjoy Sudoku or movies. Whatever, as long as it passes the time for you. This is especially important if you get anxious about flying.

A little bit of planning can make a business trip, or any kind of trip, as trouble-free as possible.  Readers, what are your tips for effortless travel?

Sunday night Home Warrior and I went over to his brother’s house to watch the Cowboys game. At some point, I started paging through my sister-in-law’s August copy of Real Simple. I have to say, I love Real Simple. Not only do they include cute, affordable clothes (often that are great for traveling), in this particular issue they included a “Fifteen Minute Hotel Room Workout.” They say this workout can be done anywhere, beachside, poolside, bedside, with only a stopwatch and two bottles of water. I like the different exercises they use, and will be incorporating this routine into rotation. The “Easy Yoga Workout” also looks promising, but if I were doing it would add more poses.

Finding time and motivation to work out is hard, especially when you’re traveling for work. Late meetings, delayed flights, and quick trips can eat up any spare time you might have had. But anyone can fit in 15 minutes! It will make you healthier, feel better, and more alert. What’s not to love?

As for the Cowboys…… hope they can get those penalties under control for the next game. Talk about a disappointment.

Looking over my posts from the last couple of weeks, one could reasonably guess that I am looking forward to fall. One would be right. September is the time in Texas when you know that fall is coming, and so have to balance the desire to wear sweaters and boots against temperatures that still are often in the 90s. One way to balance this is to wear transitional sweaters–they are not the cable-knit, bulky items worn in December and January, but thinner, more shirt-like sweaters that are comfortable in an air-conditioned office or plane. Here are a few of my favorites!

This faux wrap from Ann Taylor is pretty, interesting, and should be soft against the skin with its cotton-bamboo-wool blend.

Banana Republic has a lot of sweaters right now, and I like the colorblock, the contrast trim, and especially this long sleeved open cardigan. It would be perfect on a plane, and layered with sophisticated basics could definitely be work-appropriate. Love the deep blue color.

I recently received this question from a reader:

Now that fall is coming, and cooler temperatures with it, I am ready to pull out my boots. I have several pairs of knee high boots, and since they are comfortable would like to wear them while traveling. Is this a good idea?

Hmmmmm. This is a great question! I, too, am ready to wear my boots. (Of course, the cooler temps have not yet visited us here in Texas.) On the one hand, it makes sense to wear them while traveling because if you packed them, they would take up a lot of room in your suitcase. They are also warm, incredibly cute, and when it’s snowing outside may be the only option. On the other hand, they are not super easy to get on and off and so could hold up the security line.

If (and this is a big “if”!) you are very adept at taking them off, and they don’t require a lot of lacing or buckles, I say go for it. It may help to practice taking them off while standing, so that you are prepared to do it quickly and easily. Just make sure that you pick them up, along with all of your other stuff, after the security line and take them to the bench to put back on. You don’t want to make people wait while you balance on one foot trying to zip up!

Today’s guest post is from Nicky Warner, a young professional who believes in working hard and looking good. She loves writing and blogging, and always has something to say about the latest workwear and fashion trends. Follow Nicky on Twitter @Dressed4Success.

Whether I’m on a business trip or heading to my favourite holiday destination, I love the fun and convenience of air travel; I doubt the novelty of flying will wear off for me anytime soon. I do however have one gripe, and that is the issue of choosing travel shoes.

Sore, stiff feet make the jet-setting experience decidedly less glamorous, and when it comes to travel shoes I often find myself tempted to lace up a sturdy pair of womens safety shoes or Terra footwear boots and leave it at that. Looking into advice on travel shoes however, I’ve picked up some useful tips that will help me make smart choices:

• Flex that Foot. Travel shoes should be lightweight and flexible, allowing you to move your feet freely. This will help prevent cramps and swelling during the flight. I recommend a pair with adjustable straps. Stylish, athletic-style options like the Mephisto Allrounder are a great example of travel shoes that look chic while allowing for maximum comfort.
• Keep your Cool. If you’re feeling hot and bothered in your travel shoes, cooling gel insoles can work wonders. Compression stockings from the local chemist will also aid circulation and reduce swelling.
• Strictly Business. If you’re headed directly to a board meeting and simply have to wear formal shoes, choose something with a low heel and good arch support. Alternatively, wear your comfortable travel shoes and keep the formal pair close at hand in a stylish travel shoe bag.
• Keep Moving. Do regular foot and ankle stretches, especially on longer flights. Take a walk up the aisle if you can, but if you have to remain in your seat, you’ll be thankful you chose good quality travel shoes.

Investing in a good pair of good-looking, versatile travel shoes means you can put your best foot forward the minute you land. Wishing you all happy travels – and happy feet!