April 2012:

• Although I hope you never have to travel while injured, here are some tips for making it easier. And yes, these are from my own experience.
• I spent a lot of time prepping for my two week conference, with strategies for packing and being out of the office that long.
• For some, eating at a restaurant is a time to relax and enjoy a meal. For others, it’s stress and anxiety producing. Try these tips to enjoy it more and stress less!

April 2011:

• I finished up the series “Building a Business Travel Wardrobe.”
• We talked about several different options for long-haul flights: t-shirt dress and leggings, yoga pants, and other travel-specific pants.
• A friend experienced a terrible breach in etiquette during a flight: someone clipping their nails. <<shudder>>

April 2010:

• My most important travel items three years ago are still valid today!
• I listed out the top three ways for dealing with the age old question, “Where does my purse go?”
• We discussed our best tips for remembering where you parked your car at the airport.

(February is a weird word to write in the plural!)

February 2012:

• I compiled my favorite tips for the plane etiquette round up
• TOMS came out with ballet flats
• The New York Times and I disagreed about the top 5 ways to avoid baggage fees
• A friend got some help about traveling with injectable medicine

February 2011:

• I got some great packing tips for your more delicate items.
• Since missing loved ones is a hard part of business travel, I talked about dealing with homesickness
• The series Building a Business Travel Wardrobe started, with a focus on suits and business casual.

February 2010:

• I learned what to pack for a winter business trip
• After much trial and error, I shared my tips for dealing with swollen ankles
•  Snowmaggedon 2010 happened.

Anyone who has flown knows that the air in airplanes is dry. It’s tolerable for an hour or two, but much beyond that and you start to feel it. Especially people like me with dry skin! For years I have traveled with lotion and lip balm to combat the parched feeling I get on long flights. I’ve tried various hydrating mists over the years, and most have worked perfectly fine. But they’ve always been designed to use as part of a skincare routine on a bare face.  I’ve never found one that is designed to be sprayed over makeup.

Until now! A few weeks ago I was perusing the aisles at Sephora (my favorite place ever) when I saw something new: Evian Mineral Water Spray To Go. It’s basically water in a can that you can mist on your face. It won’t mess with your makeup, and according to the reviews is “hydrating, refreshing, and invigorating” and “great for the plane, beach, or to wash hands with in a pinch.” As a bonus, it has no fragrance so shouldn’t aggravate your (or anyone else’s) allergies or migraine issues. Awesome! I can’t wait to try it out on my next flight. It’s available as a set of two from Sephora, or a one, two, or three pack from Amazon.

This post contains affiliate links.

The V-Moda Crossfade Noise Isolating Headphones are stylish, compact, and super-durable. What else does a traveler need? These headphones have been constructed with military-level quality so you don’t have to worry that your rough handling will damage them. Grammy-award winning musicians assisted in the design, so you know the sound is good. Plus they are ergonomically designed to be super comfy. Win! They are currently for sale on Amazon, regularly $230, now $199.

Also, in case you’re planning your Christmas shopping, Amazon has put together a list of recommended electronics for travelers (among other groups). I took a look at it, and I think they did a decent job of compiling items that I would like to have. There were headphones, lightweight computers, mp3 players, cameras, GPS units, and of course, the new Kindles. Make sure you check out their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, which they are updating frequently. Last week they had a Kindle Fire on sale for something ridiculous like $139, but I missed it. Hope you have better luck!

Shop Amazon – Black Friday Deals Week

Shop Amazon – Cyber Monday Deals Week

This post contains affiliate links.

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.

For some people, sitting in a cramped, crowded airplane feels the same as sitting in their office. They are comfortable, can get work done, and reach their destination feeling refreshed and ready-to-go. I am not those people. I have to work at feeling comfortable on a plane, sometimes have to talk myself into working, and more often than I’d like, I arrive feeling exhausted and frazzled. There are tricks I’ve picked up on over the years to make the whole flying process easier, and I hope they help you too.

• Pick your seat online. If it’s possible to pick your seat before you check in, you have a better chance of avoiding the dreaded (and uncomfortable) middle seat. For Southwest, make sure you check in as close to 24 hours before your flight as possible to give yourself an earlier boarding number (or pay the extra $10 for Early Bird check in).
• Wear comfortable, wrinkle resistant clothes. The easiest way to feel good during travel: comfortable clothes.  This is not the time for tight-around-the-midsection pants or a movement-restricting shirt. Make sure that you feel good sitting for long periods of time in whatever you wear. I prefer slacks with a bit of stretch in them and pullover blouses, not button downs, as well as flats.
• Stay hydrated. This is important for comfort, health, and looking good. Drink at least 8 oz of water for every hour you are flying. This will keep you from getting dehydrated, which in turn keeps you feeling more alert and prevents your skin from drying out.
• Bring a pashmina. I know I talk about the wonders of the pashmina often, but when you are freezing on your next flight you will be really glad you brought one. This time of year you can use it as a blanket while flying and then as a scarf once you arrive. It can also work as a pillow if you have a window seat. Hooray multi-taskers! (Pictured: the lovely cashmere blend wrap from Nordstrom)
• Keep your skin hydrated. I always keep lip balm with me when I fly because my lips get super dry. A friend of mine always keeps lotion with her because her hands get really dry. If you tend toward dry, you will feel much better if you can address these issues before they become problems.
• Wear comfortable shoes. Shoes that are too tight can become painful during flights. A few years ago I was flying home from California, and because I was running late to the airport didn’t get to change into my softer, more flexible shoes. That flight was miserable–my feet were cold, sore, and hurt a LOT. My advice is to wear shoes that are flexible, breathable, and even a little bit loose.
• Bring entertainment. Whether it’s work, a book, music, knitting, or something else—you will be happier if you have something to do. If your flight is bumpy and the person next to you is snoring, it’s much easier to block out the annoyance if you are involved in an activity.
• Snacks! It’s always a good idea to carry something to eat. You never know when you’ll be stuck on a tarmac for hours with no food, or when your flight will be delayed and you won’t have time to grab dinner in the airport during your layover. Trust me, a granola bar, piece of fruit, or some nuts won’t take up much room but could save your trip.

Readers, any other tips for being comfortable on the plane?

This post contains affiliate links.

Boy, there was a lot going on last August!

Travel Safety: The Hotel Edition gave a roundup of tips for staying safe in a hotel room. Some readers thought they were excessive, but IMO better safe than sorry!

There were a lot of discussions about etiquette, especially remembering to watch your bags as you go down the aisle. Don’t want to hit anyone in the face with your purse or briefcase!

We talked about whether or not business travelers actually love business travel, or just do it because they have to.

A reader asked an excellent question about traveling for months at a time, and other readers banded together to give her great advice!

Reader M wowed us all with her amazing First Class Travel Kit. Honestly, I’m still pretty darn impressed!

Finally, a reminder: if your flight is cancelled while you’re at the airport, go get in line AND at the same time call customer service. You will get faster service with two potential avenues of help!

Last week, I fell asleep in an airport. In my defense, I’m six months pregnant, I had gotten up that morning at 4am, and after a hard day of presentations was completely wiped out at 5pm. The thing is, I didn’t even realize I had fallen asleep until I woke up. Mortified, I looked around to see if anyone had noticed. It was hard to tell. I don’t see anything strange or embarrassing about sleeping on planes, but for some reason airports seem more like a public place and so sleeping seems wrong somehow. Maybe it’s the fact that people are sitting facing you, as opposed to in rows. Anyway, it made me wonder—what do other people think about sleeping in airports? And do you feel differently when you’re traveling for business as opposed to fun? Do you think it’s weird when others sleep in airports?

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We’ve all tried to do it. And we all know it will never be as good as eight straight at home. But sleeping on airplanes is a necessary thing for anyone who travels frequently, especially internationally. But how do you get the best quality sleep while sitting upright with no personal space? Here are some tips.

Find a good seat. Obviously first or business class is great, but that’s not always available. The next best seat is a window in a bulkhead, where you’ll be able to lean on a wall, control the window shade, and have extra legroom. After that, choose a regular window seat. At least there you will have access to the wall and window shade. An aisle is okay, but not optimal, and of course the middle seat is never ideal. An empty seat next to you helps a lot, and having a row to yourself is even better (although almost impossible to find these days).

Bonus: If you’re in a bulkhead, use your personal item as a footrest. It gives you more options for body positions, which helps keep any one part of your body from hurting a lot (ie, tailbone).

Do the same stuff you do at home. Avoid caffeine several hours before trying to sleep. Don’t eat crazy spicy or heavy food right before. Don’t drink tons of alcohol, since that can dehydrate you and ruin the quality of your sleep. Wash your face (or use a cleansing cloth), read for a few minutes, have some herbal tea. Doing your normal routine will help ease you to sleep.

Get cozy and comfy. The most important items are a travel blanket and pillow. Inflatable pillows don’t take up much room, but make sure they have a nice cover so you’re not laying your head on rubber. I love wrapping myself in my Cabin Cuddler for sleeping on long flights.

Isolate yourself. An eye mask will block out your neighbor’s offending reading light and make you feel like you’re all alone. Adding ear plugs or noise canceling headphones helps even more. I love noise canceling headphones and my White Noise app.

Sleep aids. Not everyone needs a sleep aid, but I’ve found that Tylenol PM really helps me sleep more comfortably on flights. Some people like something stronger, such as Ambien, and some people use natural options, such as Melatonin.

Short flights. If you’re only trying to catch an hour or so, some of the above suggestions still help. Avoid caffeine, look for a window seat, and use your pashmina to cover up. I will often use my headphones, although usually skip the eye mask for a short flight.

Readers, how do you get a good night’s sleep while flying?

This is an answer to a recent post from Australian Business Traveller. They had a very helpful post about what men should wear for a long flight during a business trip, but it wasn’t really any help at all for women. Balance can be tricky while flying 14 hours. If you want to look professional yet be incredibly comfortable, here is what I have found to be the best combination.

Jersey dress. The right jersey dress will feel like a long t-shirt. They are stretchy and soft, yet can be worn to work. My favorite is the Everyday Jersey Dress from Boden (currently on super discount, but available only in limited sizes. You won’t go wrong with any jersey dress from Boden though!).

Leggings. Leggings are my answer to pajama pants during travel. Same as the jersey dress—they are soft and stretchy. Also easy to take off once you land and are headed to the office. The ones I wear the most are from Old Navy and cost around $10.

Compression socks. A must-wear!! Keep your feet and ankles from swelling too much, and reduce your chances of DVT. Available all over, including online (Amazon and TravelSmith come to mind) or at a drug store. (Another option: Instead of leggings and compression socks, try compression tights.)

Comfy flats. Flats are great because they are easy to put on and take off. Pick ones that are a little too big, because your feet will inevitably swell a little bit.

A couple of other comfort tips:

• Wear minimal makeup. Wear as little makeup as you are comfortable with. For me, this is basically tinted moisturizer, mascara, and a little powder. The less you have on, the less you can get in your eyes while you sleep. When you’re about to land, wash your face (or use a face cleansing wipe) and apply your normal makeup.
• Pull your hair back. I wear a braid or low ponytail when flying for a long time. This way it won’t irritate my head when leaning back, but keeps it out of the way. A braid is better for me, just because I don’t get that annoying crease from the rubber band, but sometimes my hair is too short.
• Wear your glasses. If you normally wear contacts, I recommend wearing your glasses for long flights. This way your eyes won’t dry out from the arid airplane air, and your contacts won’t bother you while you sleep.

So there you are! Professional yet comfortable options for long flights exist for women too!

For Blog World, I planned my outfits for weeks. I even went on a special shopping trip to get brown tights to go with my dress. Once I had those tights I felt confident that I was ready to go, with my wardrobe figured out. On the first day of Blog World, I got ready, including my tights. As I was walking to the shuttle, something started to feel “off” on my back, but I couldn’t figure out what. As the day went on, it got worse and worse, until I was scratching furiously at my back every chance I got. Finally at lunch I ran off to the ladies’ room, and discovered my new adorable brown cabled tights had a tag, and that tag was irritating the crap out of me. I thought about ripping it off, but was worried I would rip a hole in my tights. Of course I didn’t have any scissors on me. So I just took of my tights and was cold when I went outside to wait for the shuttle. (Pictured: Not the tights I wore, but adorable argyle tights from Target)

This just proved to me, once again, that while it is tempting to get new clothes for a trip, business or fun, it is just not a good idea to wear things for the first time while traveling. What if my dress had been short and I hadn’t been comfortable taking off my tights? What if it were a sweater that made me break out in a rash? Can’t remove that, can you!! Shoes are the worst. I never recommend anyone wear shoes for the very first time on a trip, because if they kill your feet you can’t do anything about it but limp. If you don’t have a lot of time, wear your new item around your house for a while, but even that isn’t ideal. Best thing to do is wear your new item out of the house for an hour or two, to see how it does. Anything awful can be returned, and anything that is fixable can be fixed. Trust me, you don’t want to get caught out with a wardrobe malfunction!!