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.

Thanks to everyone who entered to win the Plantronics Voyager Legend! Our winner, chosen by random.org, was number 1, Jeffrey, who said that his favorite way to combine his work life with his personal life on business trips is to bring his family with him. Sounds like a good plan! Some of my other favorites:

From Robert: Whenever I travel for work, I look for a small local theatre company to see a show. It helps me wind down.

From Roger: It may sound selfish, but on longer trips, if there isn’t an ‘official’ dinner with customers/partners I skip the excess, shop-talk, forced dinner with colleagues and just do room service and a movie. I like the expense account feasts as much as the next guy, but a bit of quiet ‘alone time’ can do wonders to restore ones sanity on a long trip.

From Richard: I have my kids research the city I am going to and they tell me where to go spend my down time. I send pics and Skype them from those places.

And of course, video calls, phone calls, and texts to the loved ones at home!

A big thanks to the sponsor, Plantronics, for this great contest.

Today is the last day to enter the Plantronics sponsored sweepstakes. All you have to do is answer the following question: How do you bring your business and personal life together during business trips? Click here to enter for a chance to win!

And check out the review I did of the Voyager Legend!

Sponsored Review: Plantronics Voyager Legend

Plantronics Voyager Legend Review

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.

I’ll be honest. I’ve never successfully used a wireless headset before. I had one with my old phone but I could never make it work, and it frustrated me so much that I gave up and reverted back to my standard white iPhones headset. So when Plantronics first sent me the Voyager Legend to review I delayed using it for a while because it made me nervous. What if I hated it? What if it didn’t work right? (I feel pretty dumb for feeling that way now. Live and learn!)

The setup. I was anticipating some hideously complex setup that required a doctorate in technology. I’m so happy I was wrong! Setup was super easy. I literally put the headset on my ear, pressed a button, and had my phone search for Bluetooth devices. Took thirty seconds, done, ready to go.

Using it. Next came the really scary part: actually using it. It felt very comfortable on my ear, even when wearing it for hours. It also felt very secure and didn’t come off at all. To test it, first I had the Home Warrior go into another room and call me. The Legend said, “Incoming call from Home Warrior. Answer or ignore?”  Whichever command I chose, it understood me. The sound was great—crystal clear on both ends.

I wore it around for a couple of days, and it worked really well. I had no dropped calls or issues with it. Although one day I had my curly hair down, and I’m pretty sure the guy at Starbucks thought I was crazy and talking to myself because my hair totally hides it.

Noise canceling. The Legend blocks noise really well. I had my husband wear it and go to some noisy areas so that I could hear for myself how much background noise seeps through. Specific noises, like the Mini Warrior crying, came through some. But general background noise, like crowd noise, couldn’t be heard at all.

Call routing. This was so cool. If I answered a call on my phone, I could switch it to the headset just by putting it on. I didn’t have to push any buttons or anything.

Other stuff.  The Legend has a mute button and a button to end a call. Once I figured out which was which they were a snap to use. I also tried using it to listen to music, although since it’s only in one ear I still prefer my regular headphones for that.

My one minor complaint: I wish it came with some sort of carrying case. I felt really nervous putting it in my purse without anything protecting it, even though it did fine in there. There is a charging case that will not only store it but also charge it, but it comes out next week so I don’t have it yet.

Overall? I freaking love this thing. I can finally get up and refill my coffee without worrying about jerking wires out of my ear because I dropped my phone. I can take calls while traveling without worrying that background noise will distract my caller. I can answer calls while driving without being dangerous. It was so easy that even technologically phobic or dumb people can use it without frustration. I would certainly recommend this as an excellent, easy-to-use device to anyone who works remotely or travels.  Or really anyone who wants to be able to talk on the phone and do something else at the same time.

Available for $99.99 on the Plantronics website.

Don’t forget, we are giving away a Voyager Legend headset! The sweepstakes is open until Monday night, so enter today for a chance to win!

You may have seen the clever ads featuring the always funny Ellen Degeneres during the Oscars. You may have seen the conversations on Twitter and Facebook. Or you may have been to a store and experienced it yourself. JC Penney has a new look, a new feel, and a new pricing structure. And I for one think it’s great. The fine folks at JCP gave me a gift card so I could go check it out for myself, and I was very impressed.

My goal was to refresh my work wardrobe for spring. In my mind, that means bright, vibrant colors, but I’ve been let down the last few seasons by boring neutrals and washed out shades. Not this time! I could not have ordered up a better mix of bold, fabulous hues to inject some life into my winter black. Plus, their new “fair” pricing structure was so easy to work with.  I’m not usually good at math, but even I was able to add up all of my purchases as I went along. Finally, all of the employees were so nice and genuinely happy to be there! It made shopping a real pleasure. I accomplished my goal of great spring work clothes, plus I found some very fun bonus items. Yay!

Here are my favorite finds:

My overall favorite, by far, is the fabulous Belted High-Waist Sateen Skirt by Worthington. The shape is fabulous, I love the pleat in the back, it’s available in several colors, and the price is definitely right. The green is my favorite, with the blue coming in a close second. I really like the way they have shown it in the photo, with black and white, but when I’m in a bright colors mood I will pair it with the yellow Belted Sweater below. (Worthington has another great pencil skirt available in several colors, but it was a tad too short for me. It’s still lovely though!)

Another find—the Belted Sweater Jacket, also from Worthington. It’s a great transition piece for moving from winter to spring, and will work with skirts, slacks, and dresses. I love it with the green pencil skirt above, but it would also be lovely with gray slacks and a teal blouse underneath.

This Bisou Bisou blouse is unfortunately sold out online, but definitely still available in stores. It would be fabulous on its own, or under a cardigan or suit. Plus it just feels so nice!

Even though it’s not a bright color, I love this navy-polka dot dress from American Living. It’s adorable, comfortable, will travel well, and will go with any number of fun accessories. It’s a little low for work, so I’m going to either pin it or wear a navy cami underneath. I plan to top it with my Kelly green cardigan for a fun preppy look, and it would also go well with yellow, red, pink, or purple.

Of course, I had to spend a good amount of time in the shoe section. There are a ton of fun spring espadrilles and wedges (like this adorable a.n.a. MaryAnn wedge), as well as bright heels (like this gorgeous slingback sandal from Studio Paulo). But my first love in shoes will always be flats, and my favorites by far are these color block ballet flats from Nine & Co. I love both versions, the blue/purple as well as the pink/orange. If you need a pair of neutral flats, a pretty gold-beige is also available.

Finally, I spent a lot of time in the jewelry/accessory section, and I will definitely be going back. It was hard to choose between the necklaces, earrings, and scarves….. but I finally narrowed down my favorite to this Mixit Multi-Color Bead necklace. The orange/hot pink/yellow combination will perk up any outfit!

I had so much fun visiting JC Penney, but there was so much to look at that I will have to go back! My local JC Penney is getting a Sephora right inside, which is super exciting to me (more Sephora locations=happy Road Warriorette). The easy pricing structure and fabulous selection (and the clever commercials—love that Ellen!) make the new JC Penney a big winner in my book.

In support of the current “Country Means Business” promotion, Road Warriorette will be featuring a weekly sponsored post on behalf of Country Inns & Suites and has been compensated by Country Inns & Suites for her contribution.

Loads of business travel can cause you to feel uprooted.  Rarely do you find yourself at home, and sometimes you miss the sense of belonging and comfort that home provides. Even though you are only in your hotel room a short time, you can do a few quick things to make your home away from home feel more comfortable. The next time you are away, try to make your current hotel room, wherever it may be, feel more like home. You may be surprised how much it can help!

Unpack a little. I’m not saying spread your stuff all over the room, especially if you’re only there to sleep for a few hours before moving on. But having your own things around you can be comforting. So go ahead and put your toiletries on the bathroom counter, set out your laptop on the desk, and hang up your coat. For my first year of business travel, I carried a photo collage of my husband and dogs with me, and glancing over at that made me happy.

Listen to your favorite music. I have an iPhone app for my favorite radio station at home, and when traveling I listen to it every morning while I get ready. It connects me, and keeps me in my normal routine. Other times I will just listen to my current favorite album (right now: Brothers by The Black Keys).  Music can have a powerful effect on your mood, so try it next time you feel a bit blue.

Stick to your normal routine. Every night, I do my normal bedtime routine, using my familiar products from home. Then before bed I read for a few minutes before turning on my White Noise app and going to sleep. What is your nighttime routine? Stick to it, and you will feel more comfortable.

Stay connected. Call your significant other, kids, family members, or friends. Just because you’re on the road doesn’t mean you have to cut off all contact! I have pictures as the screensaver on my computer, so I’m constantly seeing a rotating gallery when not using it. Skype conversations are great because you get to actually see the people you are talking to.

Book a nice hotel. This may sound obvious, but if you are in a terrible hotel it will not make you feel at home. I don’t mean you need to only stay in five star or very fancy hotels—far from it. Some hotel chains are more welcoming than others! One of the things I loved about my Country Inns & Suites visit was the homey lobby area with a fireplace, which created a great inviting feel! And with a chain, you know that you will always have a certain level of experience regardless of where it is. When I stay in a hotel with a cozy bed and aesthetically pleasing surroundings I feel more comfortable, a little bit pampered, and more at home.

One last thing I do—I always have a small bag of my favorite teas with me. It’s a little thing, but enjoying the same tea I do when I’m not traveling makes me feel like I am home away from home.  And that is a nice feeling for a perpetual traveler!

In support of the current “Country Means Business” promotion, Road Warriorette will be featuring a weekly sponsored post on behalf of Country Inns & Suites and has been compensated by Country Inns & Suites for her contribution.

When I mentioned to friends that I would be writing some sponsored posts for Country Inns & Suites, the reactions were very similar. “I love that place!” “They’re so cozy!” “I’ve stayed there, it’s great!” Of course I had to go see for myself! The folks at Country Inn & Suites, San Marcos, TX were kind enough to let the Home Warrior and I stay the night last week so I could check it out.

During my stay, I kept my eye out for several specific things that appeal to road warriors.  Here are some of the particulars:

Nice entry. In contrast to an apparent hotel trend of large, open areas, the shared areas are divided into smaller spaces. The effect was quite homey! The lobby has a couch and a few chairs gathered around a fireplace, with books available for borrowing on the shelves. The breakfast area was a separate room. All of this gave the impression of visiting a house, instead of a hotel. In addition, the porch outside the hotel has rocking chairs, which is a nice touch.

Free internet. This particular franchise had free wifi, which was great. Home Warrior was able to use his iPhone on the network with no trouble, while I used my computer. It was easy to set up and the speed was good.

Comfortable rooms. We had a suite with a sitting room, bath, and a king bed in the bedroom. There were flat screen TVs in both rooms with free HBO (which was a nice treat since we don’t get that at home). The bathroom was serviceable, with the expected amenities. There was also a little bar area, with a coffee maker, mini fridge, and microwave. The bed was very comfortable, as was the furniture in the sitting room. There was plenty of room on the desk for my laptop and files.

The one thing lacking was an ottoman in the sitting area. I know it’s super picky, but I like to put my feet up when I’m working or reading. My husband solved this by bringing over the office chair to use as an ottoman. Works for me!

Good breakfast. Breakfast is not required, but if a hotel advertises breakfast as an amenity I want it to be hot and, more importantly, tasty. The breakfast at this Country Inn & Suites had an array of offerings, including cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, pastries, eggs, sausage, biscuits, and potatoes. I loved it! I really enjoyed my biscuit and sausage, and Home Warrior loved the cinnamon rolls. The coffee was hot and fresh, and they even had Splenda for coffee. I give two thumbs up for breakfast!

Knowledgeable desk staff. The front desk staff was efficient, knowledgeable, and friendly. Upon arrival they offered us a detailed map of local attractions and restaurant recommendations. When I realized I had run out of toothpaste (d’oh!) they had a replacement available.

Pool /fitness area. The indoor pool and accompanying hot tub were impressively large. Spacious and well lit, and the fitness room was a pleasant surprise. There were several types of cardio equipment, as well as free weights and a weight machine. The flat screen TV was large enough to be seen from all sides of the room.

Overall, I highly recommend Country Inn & Suites for business travelers. They have all the amenities road warriors need, with enough extra comforts to make them feel at home. Combined with their fair prices and excellent rewards program, this is a great option for your next work trip. Check it out for yourself-book your next trip at www.countryinns.com.

In support of the current “Country Means Business” promotion, Road Warriorette will be featuring a weekly sponsored post on behalf of Country Inns & Suites and has been compensated by Country Inns & Suites for her contribution.

We want our hotel rooms to feel like home, right? That’s part of the deal with hotels. You travel, you’re away from home, and you want to feel comfortable. I get that, but it’s still important to remember that not only are you a guest, you are not the only guest. Be cognizant that your actions can affect the stay of others. Road warriors have to look out for each other! Some things to remember:

Be ready to check in. When you reach the front desk, try to have your credit card and ID ready, especially if there is a line. Often by the time you get to the hotel you have been traveling or working for a long time. It can be very frustrating to wait for someone to remove all of the contents of their purse, wallet or briefcase to find their itinerary.

Watch your noise level. Most of us know this one, but sometimes we can be loud without realizing it.  Be aware of this whether you are on a work conference call or catching up with friends or family. I was guilty of this myself once. I was in a room next to a coworker, and she could hear my alarm through the wall. It wouldn’t have been a problem, except that I am a “snoozer.” I set my alarm 30 minutes early, and it goes off every five minutes. This could be very irritating for guests in rooms nearby.

Don’t slam the door. I am pretty sure that most people’s parents taught them not to slam doors in the house. Why should a hotel door be any different? I know these doors are very heavy, which makes it even more important to close them quietly.

Share the common areas. You’re not in your own living room. Spreading your stuff all over every available space is rude, but too common. Once, I came downstairs to the hotel lobby to get some work done, and found one person using three armchairs- one for him, one for his briefcase and one for his papers, with his laptop taking over the ottoman! It’s true that common areas are typically designed to be very comfortable (check out the lobby at Country Inns & Suites-many have fireplaces, oversized chairs, freshly baked cookies and even a lending library!) but don’t forget to allow others to share the space with you.

Clean up after yourself. Leave your room in a reasonable fashion. Towels on the floor are one thing, since this often signals your desire for laundry service. But don’t leave trash lying around, and make sure to call room service to pick up your tray when you finish eating.  This extends to the common areas as well!  If you are enjoying breakfast at a busy time, clean up after yourself and throw items in either the trash or appropriate recycling containers so that someone else can use your table quickly. No need to wait for housekeeping.

Tipping. The tricky question: To tip or not? It is never required, and should be thought of as a reward for excellent service. There are many different rules for tipping, so check out this great guide from Cheapflights. Tipping etiquette varies between countries, so be sure to research local customs when tipping internationally.

Remember that while traveling, you are in a shared environment – whether you’re borrowing space on a plane seat, in the restaurant booth, or yes, even the hotel room. So share nicely!

Readers, what are your favorite hotel etiquette rules?

In support of the current “Country Means Business” promotion, Road Warriorette will be featuring a weekly sponsored post on behalf of Country Inns & Suites and has been compensated by Country Inns & Suites for her contribution.

When deciding where to stay for a business trip, there are multiple considerations. Sometimes you just feel lucky to get a hotel within 20 miles of the office, as was the case when I was in a tiny town in Georgia last year. But when you have options, sometimes it can get overwhelming. Here are a few things to look for when deciding on your hotel.

Location. Different locations are important for different reasons. Obviously, proximity to the office can make things a lot easier. Commute time is shorter, and possible delays due to traffic are minimized. Sometimes, however, you want to be close to other things, like downtown, shopping, or the airport. This December I went to Pensacola, and the office I was visiting was as far away from the beach as you could get.  But I figured if I’m going to be in Florida, I’m staying at a beach. Even with the thirty minute drive, it was totally worth it.

Food. Will you be working late? Do you need to have room service available? Or is it enough to have good restaurants nearby? And what about breakfast? Do you enjoy the traditional continental option, or will you build-your-own waffle?

Hotel amenities. Do you need a hotel with a gym or a pool? What about a fridge in your room? Will you need to print, copy, or fax anything while you are there? Do you need a universally accessible room? And of course, what about beds? Do you prefer a king, or two queens? Does bedding matter? Other amenities to consider are free breakfast and high speed internet.

Reward programs. I highly, highly encourage you to try to stay at the same family of hotels whenever you can. Free trips are one of the best rewards for all of your business travel. The Home Warrior and I have taken many flights on American Airlines and Southwest from rewards points, and have been able to stay in hotels across the country for free. Another benefit? Once you attain Elite status you will often receive bonuses at check in, such as room upgrades, bottles of water, a free movie, or extra reward points. It doesn’t cost anything to sign up, and most families of hotels have multiple price points. (Check out the Carlson family, which includes Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, Park Inn, and Radisson hotels.)

So, Readers, what is the most important amenity for you?

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Want to continue the conversation? Country Inns & Suites is hosting a Twitter chat every Wednesday as a part of their Country Means Business promotion. Just follow #biztriptip on Twitter to join in!

In support of the current “Country Means Business” promotion, Road Warriorette will be featuring a weekly sponsored post on behalf of Country Inns & Suites and has been compensated by Country Inns & Suites for her contribution.

When you travel for work constantly, you practice a lot of skills; packing, unpacking, navigating  airport security, and checking into hotels quickly come to mind. But perhaps the most important thing road warriors practice is staying productive. It is so tempting to stretch out on that comfy hotel bed, reach for the remote, and zone out while waiting for room service. Unfortunately, that means that the hundred emails that built up during your meetings go unanswered, and you have to suffer through the backlog when you get home. Over the years, I’ve developed strategies for getting my work completed without making myself into a crazy workaholic. It’s not a perfect system, and is always evolving, but I get way more done than I used to.

• Get your mind in the game. A lot of being productive is mindset. I don’t want to work right now! I want to catch up on Grey’s Anatomy! Whenever I travel on a Thursday, I inevitably think this when it’s time to work. Sometimes the only thing that gets me going is a reminder that by watching TV now, I will have to work more at home, leaving less time to hang out with my husband, dogs, and friends. Plus I DVR my favorite shows, which means they will take even less time to watch at home.
• Set up wherever you can work. What does business mean to you? When I am at home, I don’t work at a desk, but in my favorite armchair. I have discovered that in a hotel, my most productive workplace is the armchair, with my feet up. If my room has no chair, I will try the bed or desk, but will often end up in the hotel lobby. For that matter, if you get tired or distracted in your room, the lobby can be a great place to work. And there is often never ending coffee. (Check out the great lobby areas at Country Inns & Suites! Armchairs and fireplaces make a great place to work.)
• Make a list. I know, it’s standard advice, but I love lists and find they solve all sorts of problems. I can motivate myself more when I see the progress I’m making, and what I have yet to do. As I cross items off it gives me a great feeling of accomplishment, and I am that much more productive moving forward.
• Take advantage of any downtime. As road warriors, we all know that our office is anywhere we set up our laptops. Take advantage of “found” time to get your tasks done. If you arrive at the airport earlier than you expected, rather than flip through Us Weekly you can go through your emails. If your meeting starts late, it’s a great time to fine tune a presentation. And for those of you can work while flying, you can get much done en route to your next destination.
• Reward yourself. Once you’ve completed everything, give yourself something nice. Indulge in a bath, eat a great meal, enjoy a nice glass of wine, or finally watch that show. You’ve earned it!

One final reminder: don’t make yourself crazy. Yes, we all have work we have to do, and it is easy to get sucked in. But working nonstop can do more harm than good. Just step away from the computer for a few minutes and clear your mind. Walk around the building, talk to a friend, eat a chocolate, or just zone out. It’s important to be productive, but not work so hard that you make yourself sick!