The first of what I’m sure will be many stories/learnings from my two week conference……

Where there is a conference, there is free stuff. Whether it’s papers, books, bags, water bottles, coffee mugs, or some other random tchotchkie, it doesn’t matter. Every time I’ve been to a conference, regardless of length, I have ended up cramming freebies into my suitcase before my flight home. Inevitably, some get left behind in the hotel room (sorry maids!!). This is especially true after the two week conference I just attended. I purposely stayed away from the exhibit hall so I wouldn’t get too much stuff, and I know I missed out on some cool items (smelly candles? hand carved necklaces? dangit!). So moving forward, I am going to strategically leave some extra space in my bag for the freebies. It may be junk, but it may be something I really want, and I want to have room for it! I recommend you do the same.

Readers, what is the weirdest thing you’ve ever gotten from a conference? In the last year I have gotten a fly swatter, a paper mustache on a stick, and an inflatable airplane hat. Useful? Ah, not so much. But fun! And memorable, which I guess is the idea…..

(Don’t forget about our awesome contest!! Win a vacation for two from Home2 Suites by Hilton!! Open for one more week.)

For every trip I take, as I walk out the door and turn to lock it, I always think, “Okay. As long as I have XXXX and XXXXX, I am okay.” For most work trips, that is my cell phone, wallet, and computer. Sometimes I will add my passport to that list, depending on where I’m going. For vacations, it’s usually my swimsuit. But there are always 3-4 things that are absolute necessities, and everything else can be purchased once I arrive if need be.

A friend of mine evidently does not follow this rule. She travels by car for work often, sometimes two or three different locations in a week. Lately, her luck has been pretty bad and she has forgotten something major three trips in a row. And one of these was a two leg trip. For one set of meetings she forgot her computer and it didn’t really matter. That’s fortunate! I have a trip where I don’t need my computer maybe one in every thirty. But for the second trip, she had to forgo the majority of her sleep one night and drive home to get her computer, then drive back that same night. Eight hours round trip. Ouch! You would think she would learn her lesson after forgetting her computer twice, but no. A few weeks later she forgot her phone.

I highly, highly recommend that you get into the habit of thinking about those top two or three things you need as you walk out the door. Whether it’s your briefcase with your case files in it, your computer, your date book, or something else–if it is a required necessity, don’t forget it! If you are in the habit of forgetting things, put a sticky note on the door so you see it as you leave.

Of course, this plan isn’t always foolproof. Several years ago I went to visit my grandmother in south Texas, and was flying on from there to El Salvador. Except I completely forgot my passport, and my very smart cousin (a former flight attendant) reminded me. Thanks to the Home Warrior and overnight FedEx, I had my passport when I needed it. Sigh of relief!!

Readers, what are your top three necessities for business trips? How do you remember them?>

For those of us who travel all of the time, our suitcases don’t always get a chance to air out. Between dirty clothes, dirty airplanes, dirty streets, and dirty airports, there are a lot of chances for our bags to get a little….not-so-fresh smelling. Luckily, there are several ways to avoid this. One is to get a second suitcase, and alternate for each trip. This is not ideal, however, due to the chance that important items will be forgotten when switching back and forth, not to mention the additional cost. An easier way to maintain a bit of freshness with your luggage is to use a sachet. Yes, the same kind of thing you use in your delicates drawer. Just drop one in, and your rollaboard will remind you more of a spring day and less of a locker room. I prefer lavender, but there are tons of scents out there. You can get them pretty inexpensively just about anywhere, from Target to Amazon to Etsy. (I love these simple yet pretty ones from Homemaker Accents on Etsy). If you feel that a sachet is too girly, or just not your style, a drier sheet also does the trick. It’s so easy to keep your suitcase smelling fresh!

My parents are in Northern California this week, enjoying a well deserved vacation in a place where it’s not 105 every day. They left last Monday, and packed the night before so they could leave for the airport on time. Because they had an early flight, at 810, they planned to leave for the airport around 645–early, but my mom felt she still had enough time to get a few things done in the morning before leaving. Well, when they woke up they had a notification that their flight was delayed (due to waiting for the crew), and they were going to miss their connection. Great way to wake up, right?

A quick call to the Aadvantage desk confirmed that they wouldn’t make it to their second flight, and that all later flights to San Francisco from DFW were overbooked. Oh no! But, they found out there was an earlier flight to DFW that left at 710 instead of 810, and if they ran they could make it. So they grabbed their suitcases and ran for the  car, and were able to make the flight. (Side note: I would just like to say, wow. I have never gotten up early enough for an early flight to have any chance of making a flight an hour earlier. Go, parents!)

Of course, what this means is that a) my mom left without putting any makeup on or drying her hair (oh well) and b) she didn’t get those little things done before they left. Not a super big deal, but she did manage to leave without a long sleeve shirt, and the high yesterday was 55.  (That is literally 50 degrees colder than our high today. I’m just a tiny bit jealous of those temps. Anyway.) Honestly, though, those things are not that big of a deal considering that they could have completely missed the flight to SFO.

The moral of the story? If you have an early morning flight, it’s a good idea to have everything ready the night before. Maybe your flights are messed up, maybe you oversleep, maybe there’s a pet/child/house emergency…… It’s so easy to think, I just want to go to bed! I will pack my purse/get my toiletries together/find my Kindle charger in the morning. But it’s better to just suck it up and finish the night before, so that the morning goes as smoothly as possible. It would be terrible to miss your flights just because you left something for the last minute!

Yesterday while flying home from Nashville I sat next to a very interesting man, who works in baggage at an airline. He said that when multiple flights are delayed due to weather or something else, it’s really surprising how many people start asking for their medications. And when multiple flights are delayed for hours, it can get really chaotic in the baggage storing area.

Now, as you may know, I almost never check my bags. I will check them on long vacations, like last week’s to Puerto Rico, because we bring wine with us. But it never occurred to me that people would put medication they may desperately need in a bag that could get misplaced, much less that they wouldn’t have quick and easy access to. TSA has guidelines on carrying on medical supplies, for medications in general and for more specific issues, like diabetes. It sounds like if you have anything liquid or injection related, let the TSO know so they can screen it.

So please, don’t put medications that you may need in a checked bag. It can be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to find your bag in an emergency. Plan ahead and carry them with you!

After I left several things at home during a recent trip because I didn’t make a list, I decided it would be a good idea to put together a comprehensive list for travel. Everything I need to pack, possible extra items depending on time of year or weather, and my pre-trip to do list. Although this list seems pretty comprehensive, I will continue to refine as necessary. From now on, before every trip, I’m going to just glance at it. This way, regardless of how busy I am or any personal crises, I will hopefully remember everything I need for my next trip!

On every trip:

• Skirt or pants for every two days
• Top for every day
• Flip flops/sneakers (depending on time of year)
• Two pairs of work shoes
• Sleep clothes
• Workout clothes
• Jewelry
• Socks (if needed)
• Toiletries
• Curling Iron
• Makeup

In purse:

• Chargers
• Laptop
• Books/Magazines/Kindle
• Knitting
• Purse stuff: wallet, keys, phone, lipstick
• Any necessary itinerary papers (especially for international travel)
• Pashmina

Possible extras:

• Coat/jacket
• Swimsuit
• Jeans
• Umbrella

Toiletries:

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash
• Razor
• Face wash
• Hydrating mist
• Eye cream (spare contacts case)
• Moisturizer (spare contacts case)
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Contact case and solution
• Hair cream (spare contacts case)
• Deodorant
• Lotion

To do before a trip:

• Check weather at destination
• Pick seats on plane
• Print boarding pass
• Apply for upgrade
• Check toiletry levels
• Pack
• Pack travel purse
• Set Out of Office message
• Confirm hotel and car reservations

Readers, anything  on your list that I missed?

Last week, I went to Boston. It was a short, yet productive trip. I had some good meetings, ate some great food, and got upgraded on two out of four flights. Not bad!

Here’s the problem. When packing, I forgot stuff. Important stuff, like a case for my contacts. I forgot to check the weather, which meant I was ill-prepared for the rain and cold temperatures. Most of June I have been in the midst of multiple personal crises, which has made it difficult to concentrate. I mustered all of my concentration to actually do my work last week, and there wasn’t a whole lot left for things like packing. So this is where a list would have come in great handy. (Pictured: a random packing list I found laying around) Not just a list for this particular trip, but a generic list for all trips, both what to pack and what to do. I have heard of people using Excel spreadsheets, laminated sheets and Sharpies, or multiple printed copies. Whatever works for you, I suggest you put together a generic list and at least look at it for every trip. It may come in handy when you’re not at your best! I am working on my own generic list, and will post it next week. Good luck!

I have a confession to make: by nature, I am a chronic over-packer. On past trips, I would pack something for every conceivable situation. Going out to dinner one night, maybe two? Better have two outfits for dinner. What if I feel like working out? Should take my running shoes, just in case. Weather is questionable? I need to bring pants and skirts for every day. And so on. This led to many issues during my first year of travel, including carrying too many bags, having to check my bag, and everything just taking much longer than it needed to. It took a while, but I developed a number of strategies to calm my nervous packing down. Because that’s what I believe it was rooted in—being nervous about business travel in general, and a bit of a control freak to boot.  Here are my tricks for controlling the over-packing impulse:

• Determine exactly what situations will arise during a trip. Make a list of all of the possible activities you will be doing. Travel, meetings, dinner, downtime, working out, and sleeping are usually on my list.
• Figure out which items can multi-task. You can lounge around your hotel room in your PJs, and often go to dinner in your work attire. No need to bring separate outfits for all activities.
• Don’t be afraid to wear items twice! Most people truly only need one pair of pants or skirt for every two days. Bring a different shirt for each day, as they don’t take up much room.
• Go easy on the shoes. This is one of the hardest things for me. I love shoes so much, and want to have a different pair for every day. But there is really no reason. I follow the three-pair rule: only three pairs, including the one on your feet.
• Be honest with yourself. Are you really going to find time to work out in your two-day, jam-packed with meetings trip? If so, great, bring the stuff. If not, leave it at home.
• Reduce toiletries. Toiletries take up SO much room. Try to condense to as few as possible, and divide them up into multiple bags so they can squeeze into tight places more easily. And as far as makeup goes—you probably don’t need your entire makeup collection. Just bring your everyday items that you know you need.
• Keep a list of everything you take. After your trip, go back and see how you did. Did you bring enough? Too much? The right clothing items? Only by consistently keeping track of what you need and don’t need can you hone your packing list down to only necessities.

It will take time, and practice, but with work you can control your over-packing tendencies. It is such a great feeling to walk into an airport with your rollaboard and purse/briefcase, knowing you are as efficient as can be. Packing effectively will save you time, money, and stress, and allow you to focus on the actual business of your trip. Good luck!

I am currently on a trip to a conference with some friends. As I picked up one of these ladies on the way out of town, she said, “I spent so much time packing for this. And then I repacked again. It’s so stressful traveling with the packing queen!” She opens the trunk of the Prius, eyes my small suitcase, and says, “See! You’re too good at packing and you’re going to judge me.”

Friends, I promise I am not judging. I just want to make your travel easier! Okay, maybe I judge just a little if you are annoying the security line. But for the very most part, I am not looking at your suitcase and thinking, I could have done that way better. And on this trip, I actually brought things that needed to be ironed, even though I haaaaate ironing. See, I’m not perfect!

(Although, when I went to take my shower today and saw all of the full size shampoo and conditioner bottles sitting in the bathtub, I thought…. well never mind.)

One of the questions I get all the time is, “Does concealer count as a liquid?” Or, “Can I take foundation onto a plane?” The answer to both of these, of course, is yes. Yes, concealer counts as a liquid, and yes you can take it and foundation onto a plane. However, if you don’t want to worry about it either way, give mineral makeup a try.

Mineral makeup is powder makeup made from earth minerals. Typically, it doesn’t have preservatives or parabens, and it’s pretty high quality stuff. You can use the loose powder as a concealer or foundation by adding a little water and using a specific brush, then fluff  powder over the top with a kabuki brush and you are good to go! So not only do you not have to worry about it being a liquid, but it is basically three makeup items in one. And as you know, multitasking products are an important part of efficient packing. You can also get mineral blushes and eye shadows.

You can pretty much get mineral makeup anywhere now, from department stores to Sephora to drugstores, at almost any price point. If you want to learn how to use it, go to a department store or Sephora for a tutorial, or look on Youtube. Honestly, this stuff is really cool. If you haven’t jumped on the mineral bandwagon, check it out!

As you know, a few weeks ago I held a contest for two two-night stays in a Country Inn & Suites. It was incredibly successful, and I love all of the amazing tips I got from my great readers. So, here are a few randomly selected tips from the contest. I hope they help you!

Packing

• Keep car and house keys in your carry on or with you. My boyfriend left his car and house keys with his check in luggage and then his bag was delayed leaving him stranded at the airport for a couple of hours. –Jen
• Be sure to clearly tag your luggage on the outside with your name, address, and phone number. (You might want to use a business address or PO Box instead of your home address.) Also put a piece of paper inside with the same information, in case the tag gets stripped off. –Arlene
• If you forget your phone or iPod charger, ask at the hotel front desk for if they have extras. Most business hotels have a giant drawer filled with chargers that have been left behind, and most will let you borrow what you need. –Louise

Get rewarded!

• Sign up for all of the hotel/miles rewards programs. For hotel “clubs” ask the front desk about special perks like priority for late check-out, extra points, to-go breakfasts, and snacks upon arrival. –Cat

Just in case…..

• Scan the front and back of any credit/debit cards that you carry in your wallet, along with key pages from your passport and any other critically important documents and email them to your internet-accessible email account. I use cryptic names for both the documents and the subject fields of the emails as an added security measure. –Chris

Experiencing the city you are in

• If you are feeling adventurous, I like to ask the concierge at the front desk at the hotels where the good places are to eat. You don’t have to eat at the chain restaurants and get a chance to experience the city. They will even print out directions for you. –Karla

Long flight safety

• I am a travel agent. My suggestion on long haul flights is to get up and walk around at least hourly. We have a 46 year old client die recently due to a blood clot which traveled to his lung and killed him instantly. He had just returned from a trip to China-a 14 hour plus long flight. –Marianne

Finally, peace of mind.

• Anytime you travel you are bound to encounter every kind of person, some having good days, some bad. On any trip things can go wrong and not work out as planned. Start with accepting this. Getting angry or anxious ultimately only hurts you. Roll with things. Let it all go. Enjoy the trip you’re on. –David