I looooove water. It is my favorite beverage, hands down. For years I bought cases of bottled water to enjoy. However, several years ago I became cognizant of how wasteful bottled water is, and started using a water filter (my current favorite is by PUR). The next item I needed to find—a refillable water bottle. For the last few years, I’ve used SIGG aluminum water bottles. They are great, except for two things: they need to be handwashed, and they take two hands to open. So I’ve been keeping an eye out for something new.

On recommendation from my sisters, I tried the Contigo Addison water bottle. Y’all, this bottle is amazing. It is made of BPA-free plastic, it’s leak proof, shatter resistant, and is top-rack dishwasher safe. Yes!!! Plus, it is so freaking easy to use with one hand—just push the button and the spout pops up. Drink from it like you would a straw, then press the spout back down. The part you drink from is protected, so it stays clean when the spout is down. This would be great for travel—just drop it in your briefcase or personal item and refill once you go through security.

They are available at lots of places—Target, online and in stores ($12.99), the Contigo website ($12.99), and Amazon (one for $12.22 or 3 for $33.80). I got mine from Costco, and paid $19.99 for three—so if you have a Costco membership, this is clearly the way to go. They are available in a variety of colors (blue, yellow, green, gray, purple, and orange are the ones I saw). So pick one up and stay hydrated on your travels!

Readers, what is your favorite water bottle? Do you take one with you when you travel?

November 2011:

• I did a super fun Business Traveler Interview with Aliza Sherman and Danielle Smith.
• After suffering from a sinus infection, I gave tips for avoiding them.
• I went to Blog World, and figured out how to pack for a conference.
• Transitioning to Fall Wardrobe

November 2010:

• Learn what happens when you don’t stay home when you’re sick with The Tale of Typhoid Mary
• I rediscovered my love for sweater dresses.
• The TSA started their extra touchy-feely pat downs. Fun times!

November 2009:

• Recommendations for what to pack on a fun trip.
• DFW got the first Sephora vending machine. Swoon.

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Business Travel 101 is a series from a couple of years ago about making that first business trip as easy and successful as possible. I’ve re-tooled the series, and now it’s more comprehensive than ever! It covers everything a new business traveler needs to know for that initial trip, including essential tips for packing, security, safety, etiquette, and comfort.

When you spend a large part of your life on the road, it is inevitable that some of that time you will not feel that great. Whether it’s a headache, sinus infection, allergies, pregnancy, or something else, we all have to travel when we feel bad. I have flown with allergies, a sinus infection, headaches, ear infections, cramps, a broken foot, food poisoning, a reaction to a flu shot, and of course, throughout my pregnancy. While business travel is not always fun, it is even less fun when you’re not in top form. It is important to take care of yourself during these times so that you can work as efficiently as you are able, while not making yourself more miserable than you already are.

And a caveat: if you are contagious in any way, PLEASE DO NOT FLY!! I know that your meeting/convention/training/trial/whatever is very important, but getting a plane full of people as sick as you is not the answer.

• Hydrate. Drinking sufficient water is even more important when you don’t feel good. My pharmacist told me when I’m feeling bad to drink enough ounces of water to equal half of my body weight. So for example, if you way 150lbs, you should drink no less than 75 oz of water.
• Emergen-C, Emergen-C, Emergen-C. If I am feeling under the weather at all, in any way, I start taking the Emergen-C. Obviously if you have issues with Vitamin C then this is not for you. But for the rest of us, it could give you what you need to feel better. As a bonus, it also gives you energy. I take it every day anyway, but I will double up when I’m feeling bad.
• OTC/prescription meds. Make sure you have whatever medicines you need with you. I always have ibuprofen and Pepto Bismol, and when I had my ear infection I also had Afrin and the antibiotics the doctor gave me. If you forget something you can purchase many things on-location, but not everything.
• Be comfortable. Take anything that will make your flight more comfortable. Even though I don’t usually bring a pillow on domestic flights, when I’m not feeling my best I will bring my Bucky so I can rest more comfortably. I also bring a larger pashmina than normal to use as a blanket.
• Wear/bring comfy clothing. All clothing that you travel in should be comfortable, and that is even more important when you feel bad. My super-comfort clothing is all very soft, with usually one layer being tunic length. For some reason wearing a longer shirt or sweater makes me feel cozy and taken care of.
• Go easy on yourself. I know that I am usually the “Get out and see the city!” girl. But when you don’t feel good, feel free to stay in your room, order room service, and watch Grey’s Anatomy.
• Give yourself extra time. When you are moving slowly, it gives you a little peace of mind to know that you have extra time to get places.  Just ten extra minutes at the airport, leaving five minutes early for the office, can give you the time you want to move as slowly as you need to.
• Treat yourself, just a little. If you normally drink Diet Coke but getting a real Coke will make you feel a little bit indulgent, do it. For me, getting a big cup of Earl Gray while in the cold, cold airport comforts and warms me.

Readers, how do you handle traveling while feeling bad?

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One year ago….

• TSA crossed the line….again.
• I fell in love with navy and discovered the awesoness of gel soles.
• On my journey to more miles, one strategy worked (a miles credit card) and one backfired (trying for a travel voucher).
• Movie streaming apps on my phone changed my life. No joke.
• The Top Five Travel Necessities: Things I Wear is still very true, and something I consult for packing all the time.

Two years ago…..

• I answered readers’ question about traveling to rainy destinations and plus-size travel outfits.
• The TSA announced some updates to its liquids carry-on rules.
• I got super excited about flats, boots, and travel wallets.
• Andi Fisher from Misadventures with Andi wrote a great post about healthy eating on the road.
• Readers voted, and decided the correct term is “rollaboard” instead of “rollerboard”.

Three years ago…..

• The Home Warrior and I had a fantastic trip to Napa.
• I wrote about the importance of sleep on the road.

As we approach cold and flu season, I get a lot of questions from people about how to avoid getting sick while traveling. A lot of what I do is normal preventative stuff: wash your hands often and thoroughly, cover your mouth (with your arm) when you sneeze, take your vitamins, and don’t over do it if you feel run down. Here are a few extra things I do when I’m traveling:

• Stay hydrated, inside and out. I drink tons of water this time of year—way more than normal. I also use a saline spray to keep my nasal membranes moist. Lip balm and hand lotion round out the hydration team.
• Wipe down surfaces. It sounds ridiculous (or anal retentive. Or paranoid. Whatever.) but I wipe down the tray table before I use it during cold and flu season. (Bonus: use a paper towel to open bathroom doors.)
• Vitamin C. I take Emergen-C regularly, and double up October-February. Not only do I stay healthy, I get a nice energy boost.
• Sanitize. Keep a travel-sized hand sanitizer with you and use often.
• Get as much sleep as you can. It’s not always easy during work trips, but enough sleep can help you avoid getting sick. Try to plan your schedule so that you can get as close to eight hours a night as possible.
• Keep certain meds on hand. I keep Dayquil Cold and Flu, ibuprofen, Pepto Bismol, and Tylenol PM with me at all times, just in case.

Readers, what are your tips for staying healthy while on the road?

This post contains affiliate links.

My name is Terri, and I write a yoga blog at FindingDrishti.com. Since Road Warriorette and I share yoga-ing, traveling and now mommy-ing in common, she asked me to write a guest post while she is snuggling and bonding with her new baby. Being a seasoned business traveler myself, I began my yoga practice around the time when my airline miles became more important to me, which is by no coincidence AT ALL.

5 Go-to Postures to Undo Plane Stiffness

Unless you have loads of upgrades to sit first class every time, you’re probably back in coach with your knees hitting the seat in front of you, your neighbor’s elbow encroaching in your space, and your body horribly slouched to find a comfortable position. By the time you get off the plane, your back and your legs feel pretty wrecked. (Same goes for super long flights and delays.)

A yoga session provides the perfect relief. It gets the blood moving and brings your body back to the length it was pre-flight. All you need are some common hotel items as makeshift props as noted and a clean surface. These are my favorite postures to do when I feel cramped and stiff after a flight.

Upward-facing dog. Photo Source: yoganonymous.com

1. Upward-facing dog. The chest-opening action of upward dog pulls your shoulder blades together on your back and creates length from your head down through your spine. The key to undoing some of the “crunch” along the vertebrae is to press into your hands and lift your knees off the ground, as pictured. Keep lengthening, pulling shoulders away from the ears, and you may even feel some nice “pops” along your spine as gravity gently pulls down your hips. Opening the chest also counterbalances slouching.

Supine twist. Photo Source: athleta.net

2. Supine twist. The opposing action of arm/head in one direction and leg twisting in the other while lying down is seriously yummy along the back and through the mid-section. Make sure to do both sides evenly. This twist can also help with any indigestion and bloating you may feel post-flight (and post-airport food).

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We’ve all had mornings go horribly wrong, whether you’re at home or on the road. Hyatt Place is doing their part to make mornings just a little bit better by introducing their new a.m. Kitchen Skillet. It’s always been free, and now it’s been upgraded! Enjoy breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, fresh fruit, waffles, pastries, juice, toast, and cereal, along with Starbucks coffee.

Signature Sandwich

I went this morning to a local Hyatt Place to check out the new a.m. Kitchen Skillet, and my stomach was very happy. Not only were there many more offerings than in the past, but everything I tried was delicious. My first taste test was the new Hyatt Place Signature Sandwich, a potato roll stuffed with egg, apple wood smoked bacon, and sliced Gouda cheese. It was very, very tasty. I also sampled one of the rotating sandwiches, the Santa Fe Bagel, which is a whole grain bagel thin topped with ham, egg, spinach, tomato, and chipotle mayo. Other rotations include the Classic Muffin (English muffin, egg, ham, cheddar), the Sunrise Croissant (croissant, egg, spinach, mushrooms, and muenster cheese), and the Southwest Biscuit (egg, pepper jack cheese, tomato, turkey, roasted green salsa). I think they all sound pretty darn good! One item they are very excited about is the new steel-cut oatmeal, with multiple

Toppings!

delicious topping options.

Besides the great food, two things stood out. First, the modern yet comfortable décor—it looked fresh without trying too hard, and my poor pregnant body was able to sit for a long time without getting stiff (no easy feat these days!). In addition, the service was incredibly gracious and helpful. Every guest who walked through the main area was greeted personally, and many people were given a quick tour of the breakfast area. One woman came in late, when they were already cleaning up, but the hostess told her to let her know what she wanted and she would go to the back and grab it for her. Great service!

Even with a fantastic breakfast, mornings can still get a little crazy. That is why, in honor of the new a.m. Kitchen Skillet, Hyatt is running a contest on their Facebook page featuring Morning Meltdowns. Share your worst meltdown, and you can win 10 free nights from Hyatt Place!  Click here to check it out.

Readers,  what have your worse travel morning meltdowns been? Has anyone checked out the new Hyatt Place breakfast?

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with MS, and she has to give herself regular injections of medication. She also travels for work regularly, and came to me for help. “How do I travel with these things?” she asked.  “Do I have to take them out of my suitcase at security? Am I even allowed to take them on the plane??” I immediately headed to the TSA website to find out. They have a pretty specific page about medications and how to travel with them. Here is what I found out:

1. You ARE allowed to take through injectable medication, or medicines with syringes, as well as a sharps container. In fact, the medication does not have to be labeled (which I thought was weird, but oh well).
2. If it’s okay if they go through the X-ray machine, it’s easiest to just leave them in your suitcase when going through security. Of course, I don’t know the rules about her specific medication. I told her to ask her doctor how X-rays would affect her prescription, because again, this is easiest.
3. If you don’t want them to go through the X-ray machine, you have to take them out and request visual inspection.  As with everything else, have your bag of medicines ready to hand to the officer at the metal detector.  You may be asked to unpack your medicine bag. If that’s the case, you will be required to handle the unpacking and repacking of your medicines and associated supplies. If they can’t clear them visually, the medications will have to go through the X-ray machine.

It seems like TSA is (surprisingly) making it as easy as possible to travel with various medications. However, I would recommend printing out the information page from the TSA website just in case not all officers are familiar with the guidelines (especially at smaller airports).

Readers, any advice for my friend? Have you ever had to travel with unusual medical supplies?

Yet another reason to love San Francisco. Not only do they have delicious food, great shopping, incredible culture, stunning scenery, and an enviable proximity to Napa Valley, they now have a new feature in their airport I hope will spread across the country: a yoga room. That’s right, in SFO Terminal 2, there is now a dedicated yoga and meditation room. From FlySFO:

“When we began to remodel Terminal 2, one of our goals was not just to bring the glamour back to air travel, but to also make the entire experience less stressful and more enjoyable,” said Airport Director John L. Martin. “With the opening of the Yoga Room, SFO has taken another giant leap forward in providing our travelers the opportunity and space to relax and decompress on their own terms.”

It’s inside security, and free to use for all ticketed passengers. They ask that you remove your shoes, turn off your cell phone, and be silent as you practice or meditate. Mats are even provided! Yogis are led to the room by the icon shown above, of someone in lotus. I can’t wait to check this out next time I’m in the Bay Area. This story from Bay Area NBC has even more info, and pictures of the new yoga room.

I’m not quite sure how this happened. In November it was a sinus infection. In December it was bronchitis. And in January, I managed to get food poisoning. So now I am traveling, yet again, feeling under the weather. The thing is, this is a trip for fun, not work, so I want to feel my best. Unfortunately, my best isn’t all that great these days. Oy. Upset stomachs can be caused by all kinds of things, but regardless of the reason, it’s a terrible way to fly. If you have to get on a plane, though, there are ways to make it more bearable. Here are my tips for traveling when your stomach doesn’t feel great:

• Stay hydrated. It’s important to stay hydrated whenever you travel, but even more so when you’re not feeling well.  When I went to the doctor for this food poisoning, he said one of the problems was that I was dehydrated. Once I forced myself to drink more liquids, I felt much better. During flights, drink at least 8 oz of water or juice for each hour of flight.
• Stay away from caffeine. Caffeine will dehydrated you, which is compounded in the air, so it’s best to avoid during flight times. Of course, if a Coke is the best way to settle your stomach, well, that’s probably okay. Just maybe stay away from the shots of espresso.
• Don’t fly on an empty stomach. Even though food is probably the last thing you want right now, flying without eating will just make it worse. Eat a little something, preferably bland, prior to getting on the plane.
• Take snacks. Snacking periodically throughout your flight can keep your stomach calm (or as calm as it gets). On my flight today, I will have peanut butter crackers, pretzels, and saltines. I plan on getting a Gatorade once I get to the airport to take on my flight, and drinking juice and water during.
• Bring medicine. There are all kinds of medicines for upset stomach on the market—you probably know what works best for you. I like Pepto Bismol, but that’s just me.
• Get an aisle seat. If you have to run to the lav, it’s a lot easier to get up and go then to ask your seatmates to get out of your way.
• Keep a bag handy. Just in case the worst happens, keep an airsickness bag handy.

Readers, what are your tips for traveling when feeling under the weather?

*Remember, Road Warriorette is not a doctor. Please consult your doctor before trying to treat any illnesses.