Traveling by air doesn't always bring out the best in people. Strict (and often confusing) security procedures, hours spent in a tiny plane seat, and frequent delays can put a rough start on a vacation or lousy way to wrap up a trip. Most of my travel requires a layover at a hub airport where I get to wait between one and four hours to catch my connecting flight. Multiplied by several hundred flights, it could be the formula for a disaster.
I've come to find favorite things about each hub - Denver (United Airlines) has free wired internet in the 2nd level of several concourses, Atlanta (Delta Airlines) has a good seafood restaurant, Chicago (American/United) has the best breakfast burritos and even Minneapolis (Delta/KLM) has awesome hand dryers made by Dyson. Okay, I know that last one sounds lame, but you try flying 18 hours on a plane coming home from India and then tell me hand dryers from outer-space aren't cool.
But my all-time favorite airport has to be Dallas-Fort Worth, a hub for American Airlines. I started flying through DFW to get to El Paso, Texas in February of 2007. As I started traveling there in the winter, a quick flight south of Des Moines gets me away from winter weather; it just made more sense than heading towards Denver or Chicago.
It wasn't long before I started planning my trips through DFW Airport specifically - and I knew I was in love. Their Skylink monorail system connecting all the terminals makes finding your next gate a breeze. With two stops at each terminal, you are never more than about 600 feet from a Skylink stop where you can quickly take the escalators to the upper level. Waiting less than two minutes to catch the next train and in less than nine minutes, you can travel the entire airport. The speed that Skylink provides has helped me catch my flight after unscheduled delays, and somehow my luggage even made it - no "Home Alone" sprint through the airport!
The destinations I travel to usually have gates in the B and C terminal, which has options for food, coffee and places to relax. Near gate B27 you'll find chase lounges, the perfect place to relax over a long layover or with an unforseen delay. I'm also a fan of the Samsung Lounges - free lounges connected to the Starbucks in Terminals A, B, C & E, that offer comfy chairs, places to charge your phone and free wired internet.
But a quick trip on the Skylink will take me to the International terminal; Terminal D. Terminal D is the newest terminal and offers more food options (Check out Blue Bamboo Xpress and Blue Mesa Taco & Tequila Bar), duty free shopping and some interesting sculptures. Terminal D is a good place for people watching too - I once was on a flight from LAX to DFW where I sat one row behind Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen. (Of course I asked for a photo!) But a quick hop on the Skylink will have me back at my gate with plenty of time.
This may sound odd (although what can be weirder than a tribute to an airport?) anytime my layover is in DFW, I feel more relaxed about my trip. Maybe it is the familiarity that makes me comfortable, or just the ease of navigating my way to the nearest Auntie Ann's Pretzel.
Any features of other airports to share? Other tips and tricks?
An Ode to DFW
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Traveling by air doesn't always bring out the best in people. Strict (and often confusing) security procedures, hours spent in a tiny plane seat, and frequent delays can put a rough start on a vacation or lousy way to wrap up a trip. Most of my travel requires a layover at a hub airport where I get to wait between one and four hours to catch my connecting flight. Multiplied by several hundred flights, it could be the formula for a disaster.
I've come to find favorite things about each hub - Denver (United Airlines) has free wired internet in the 2nd level of several concourses, Atlanta (Delta Airlines) has a good seafood restaurant, Chicago (American/United) has the best breakfast burritos and even Minneapolis (Delta/KLM) has awesome hand dryers made by Dyson. Okay, I know that last one sounds lame, but you try flying 18 hours on a plane coming home from India and then tell me hand dryers from outer-space aren't cool.
But my all-time favorite airport has to be Dallas-Fort Worth, a hub for American Airlines. I started flying through DFW to get to El Paso, Texas in February of 2007. As I started traveling there in the winter, a quick flight south of Des Moines gets me away from winter weather; it just made more sense than heading towards Denver or Chicago.
It wasn't long before I started planning my trips through DFW Airport specifically - and I knew I was in love. Their Skylink monorail system connecting all the terminals makes finding your next gate a breeze. With two stops at each terminal, you are never more than about 600 feet from a Skylink stop where you can quickly take the escalators to the upper level. Waiting less than two minutes to catch the next train and in less than nine minutes, you can travel the entire airport. The speed that Skylink provides has helped me catch my flight after unscheduled delays, and somehow my luggage even made it - no "Home Alone" sprint through the airport!
The destinations I travel to usually have gates in the B and C terminal, which has options for food, coffee and places to relax. Near gate B27 you'll find chase lounges, the perfect place to relax over a long layover or with an unforseen delay. I'm also a fan of the Samsung Lounges - free lounges connected to the Starbucks in Terminals A, B, C & E, that offer comfy chairs, places to charge your phone and free wired internet.
But a quick trip on the Skylink will take me to the International terminal; Terminal D. Terminal D is the newest terminal and offers more food options (Check out Blue Bamboo Xpress and Blue Mesa Taco & Tequila Bar), duty free shopping and some interesting sculptures. Terminal D is a good place for people watching too - I once was on a flight from LAX to DFW where I sat one row behind Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen. (Of course I asked for a photo!) But a quick hop on the Skylink will have me back at my gate with plenty of time.
This may sound odd (although what can be weirder than a tribute to an airport?) anytime my layover is in DFW, I feel more relaxed about my trip. Maybe it is the familiarity that makes me comfortable, or just the ease of navigating my way to the nearest Auntie Ann's Pretzel.
Any features of other airports to share? Other tips and tricks?
Wow! I have been a total bum! Not a single update since I arrived in Augusta, Georgia last Saturday! After being home for four and a half months, getting back into the swing of travel has required more adjustments than I remembered.
I had all these grand plans for writing a post about packing tips, but that would have required me to start packing more than 11 hours before my flight. Yup, after all these trips, I still haven't learned to plan better. I decided to take one of my new suitcases and one old one, and I was very impressed with the new bag! Obviously the TSA was as well, as they took the opportunity to inspect my luggage and contents, and left me a love note in return. I'm sure I'll follow up with a full review of my new bags after a few more trips.
I arrived Saturday afternoon as planned and joined my friend Dan Huffman and his wife for dinner at French Market. After a previous lack-luster experience at the Surrey Center location, I was a bit nervous but had a completely different experience. Dinner was fabulous - I had pecan fried chicken and then bread pudding for dessert. YUM!
Sunday I continued the "death by indulgent food tour" with a drive to Atlanta for brunch at Holeman & Finch Public House, the food was amazing, and lunching with a foodie friend is detrimental to my waistline. A trip to check out the new CB2 store and quick stop at Ikea made it a great Sunday.
This week has been a busy week in Augusta! Monday started our three week training class, David is out of the office (recover quickly, buddy!), the Site Manager had to travel to Atlanta. With so much going on, two senior leaders (who happen to be good friends) traveled to Augusta to hold down the fort; which gave me the opportunity to catch up with them over dinner throughout this week.
This weekend will be busy too, I'm traveling to Atlanta to see family and Mrs. Whitney Wrona; you may remember her from this video last summer in India.
Look for more updates next week, and maybe even a few pictures!
I had all these grand plans for writing a post about packing tips, but that would have required me to start packing more than 11 hours before my flight. Yup, after all these trips, I still haven't learned to plan better. I decided to take one of my new suitcases and one old one, and I was very impressed with the new bag! Obviously the TSA was as well, as they took the opportunity to inspect my luggage and contents, and left me a love note in return. I'm sure I'll follow up with a full review of my new bags after a few more trips.
I arrived Saturday afternoon as planned and joined my friend Dan Huffman and his wife for dinner at French Market. After a previous lack-luster experience at the Surrey Center location, I was a bit nervous but had a completely different experience. Dinner was fabulous - I had pecan fried chicken and then bread pudding for dessert. YUM!
Sunday I continued the "death by indulgent food tour" with a drive to Atlanta for brunch at Holeman & Finch Public House, the food was amazing, and lunching with a foodie friend is detrimental to my waistline. A trip to check out the new CB2 store and quick stop at Ikea made it a great Sunday.
Yes, I took a picture of my brunch - wouldn't you hate to travel with me?
This week has been a busy week in Augusta! Monday started our three week training class, David is out of the office (recover quickly, buddy!), the Site Manager had to travel to Atlanta. With so much going on, two senior leaders (who happen to be good friends) traveled to Augusta to hold down the fort; which gave me the opportunity to catch up with them over dinner throughout this week.
This weekend will be busy too, I'm traveling to Atlanta to see family and Mrs. Whitney Wrona; you may remember her from this video last summer in India.
Look for more updates next week, and maybe even a few pictures!
Week 1 in Augusta!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wow! I have been a total bum! Not a single update since I arrived in Augusta, Georgia last Saturday! After being home for four and a half months, getting back into the swing of travel has required more adjustments than I remembered.
I had all these grand plans for writing a post about packing tips, but that would have required me to start packing more than 11 hours before my flight. Yup, after all these trips, I still haven't learned to plan better. I decided to take one of my new suitcases and one old one, and I was very impressed with the new bag! Obviously the TSA was as well, as they took the opportunity to inspect my luggage and contents, and left me a love note in return. I'm sure I'll follow up with a full review of my new bags after a few more trips.
I arrived Saturday afternoon as planned and joined my friend Dan Huffman and his wife for dinner at French Market. After a previous lack-luster experience at the Surrey Center location, I was a bit nervous but had a completely different experience. Dinner was fabulous - I had pecan fried chicken and then bread pudding for dessert. YUM!
Sunday I continued the "death by indulgent food tour" with a drive to Atlanta for brunch at Holeman & Finch Public House, the food was amazing, and lunching with a foodie friend is detrimental to my waistline. A trip to check out the new CB2 store and quick stop at Ikea made it a great Sunday.
This week has been a busy week in Augusta! Monday started our three week training class, David is out of the office (recover quickly, buddy!), the Site Manager had to travel to Atlanta. With so much going on, two senior leaders (who happen to be good friends) traveled to Augusta to hold down the fort; which gave me the opportunity to catch up with them over dinner throughout this week.
This weekend will be busy too, I'm traveling to Atlanta to see family and Mrs. Whitney Wrona; you may remember her from this video last summer in India.
Look for more updates next week, and maybe even a few pictures!
I had all these grand plans for writing a post about packing tips, but that would have required me to start packing more than 11 hours before my flight. Yup, after all these trips, I still haven't learned to plan better. I decided to take one of my new suitcases and one old one, and I was very impressed with the new bag! Obviously the TSA was as well, as they took the opportunity to inspect my luggage and contents, and left me a love note in return. I'm sure I'll follow up with a full review of my new bags after a few more trips.
I arrived Saturday afternoon as planned and joined my friend Dan Huffman and his wife for dinner at French Market. After a previous lack-luster experience at the Surrey Center location, I was a bit nervous but had a completely different experience. Dinner was fabulous - I had pecan fried chicken and then bread pudding for dessert. YUM!
Sunday I continued the "death by indulgent food tour" with a drive to Atlanta for brunch at Holeman & Finch Public House, the food was amazing, and lunching with a foodie friend is detrimental to my waistline. A trip to check out the new CB2 store and quick stop at Ikea made it a great Sunday.
Yes, I took a picture of my brunch - wouldn't you hate to travel with me?
This week has been a busy week in Augusta! Monday started our three week training class, David is out of the office (recover quickly, buddy!), the Site Manager had to travel to Atlanta. With so much going on, two senior leaders (who happen to be good friends) traveled to Augusta to hold down the fort; which gave me the opportunity to catch up with them over dinner throughout this week.
This weekend will be busy too, I'm traveling to Atlanta to see family and Mrs. Whitney Wrona; you may remember her from this video last summer in India.
Look for more updates next week, and maybe even a few pictures!
I just boarded my flight from DFW to AGS (flying from Des Moines to
Augusta today) with about 20 soldiers - some don't look old enough to
drive, let alone fight for our country. These brave men and women and
their families have made sacrifices I cannot imagine.
During active duty, they are in a position to make life and death
decisions that impact something bigger than they are. I feel humbled
by them; I am in awe of them. Just the sight of their uniforms and The
US flag on their arms helps me put my life in perspective - most of my
daily decisions involve which cereal I want for breakfast or where to
eat lunch with my friends. My job requires some sacrifices - if you
can call spending 3 weeks at a nice hotel a sacrifice.
Nearly 9 years after September 11th, 2001, I am still able to safely
fly cross-country and around the world because of their service to our
country. There are parts of the world that are provided the freedoms I
enjoy for the first time ever because of them.
I want to take a moment from my usual, self-involved posts to say
"thank you" to everyone who serves our country and their families!!!!!
Just a quick note...
Saturday, August 21, 2010
I just boarded my flight from DFW to AGS (flying from Des Moines to
Augusta today) with about 20 soldiers - some don't look old enough to
drive, let alone fight for our country. These brave men and women and
their families have made sacrifices I cannot imagine.
During active duty, they are in a position to make life and death
decisions that impact something bigger than they are. I feel humbled
by them; I am in awe of them. Just the sight of their uniforms and The
US flag on their arms helps me put my life in perspective - most of my
daily decisions involve which cereal I want for breakfast or where to
eat lunch with my friends. My job requires some sacrifices - if you
can call spending 3 weeks at a nice hotel a sacrifice.
Nearly 9 years after September 11th, 2001, I am still able to safely
fly cross-country and around the world because of their service to our
country. There are parts of the world that are provided the freedoms I
enjoy for the first time ever because of them.
I want to take a moment from my usual, self-involved posts to say
"thank you" to everyone who serves our country and their families!!!!!
One week from yesterday, I'll return to the great state of Georgia for three weeks as I deliver training in Augusta, Georgia. In an earlier post, I talked about saving money on flights - I actually lucked out and found a round trip ticket directly into Augusta for under $400! Maybe the demand for visiting a hot, humid city is a bit down in month of August?
I'm really looking forward to this trip - it kicks-off my busy season for work, which will keep me on the road pretty much through the end of the year!
I'm also excited to see friends and family in Georgia - its been four months since my last visit! I have family outside of Atlanta, plus a chance to see my dear friend Whitney Wrona! Remember Whitney from my trip to India?
With less than a week before I leave, I've got quite a bit of work to do...including packing!
Almost time for my next trip!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
One week from yesterday, I'll return to the great state of Georgia for three weeks as I deliver training in Augusta, Georgia. In an earlier post, I talked about saving money on flights - I actually lucked out and found a round trip ticket directly into Augusta for under $400! Maybe the demand for visiting a hot, humid city is a bit down in month of August?
I'm really looking forward to this trip - it kicks-off my busy season for work, which will keep me on the road pretty much through the end of the year!
I'm also excited to see friends and family in Georgia - its been four months since my last visit! I have family outside of Atlanta, plus a chance to see my dear friend Whitney Wrona! Remember Whitney from my trip to India?
With less than a week before I leave, I've got quite a bit of work to do...including packing!
Most people don't think about luggage too often. Many people receive luggage as wedding gifts and they enjoy it for many years of road trips, family vacations and occasional air travel. I have a different relationship with luggage. My luggage needs are even different from most business travelers who make frequent, short trips. My travel is usually 3-4 weeks in a single location, so maximizing space to pack as much as possible is always a priority.
My previous suitcases were from the Leisure brand at Younker's (a midwest department store chain, similar to Dillards.) They were 28" polyester uprights that go on sale each year at Christmas for...$20. Yup, twenty American dollars. No lie, that is a great deal. The price tag was around $100, but are usually on sale for 50% off. Buying two bags per year for the last three years worked for two hundred flights - so at $0.60 per flight, those bags held up their end of the bargain.
After all those flights, the bags had taken a beating. Between flights to India, layovers, and commuter flights, the bags were showing signs of wear. The wire and plastic internal frames were starting to bend, certainly not as a result of my over packing (okay, maybe that was part of the problem.) Some of the aesthetic stuff was worn or missing, but those bags had always stood by me - always arrived on time and kept my stuff protected. But with future travel plans in the works, I felt like it might be time to get some "grownup" luggage. You know, maybe spend more than $20?
Yikes! But where to start? My first visit was back to Younker's, to see what options they had. I was instantly overwhelmed with options for materials (hard sided, and different denier polyester), wheels (two fixed, four swivel) and sizes. And the price points for each started around $100 and could go up to the mid $300s. Ouch. I knew luggage would be an investment, but that was a steep jump from $20 to $300. I knew that I shouldn't make any decisions, but instead I should make a plan. I needed to figure out what I wanted and how much I wanted to spend.
Setting a budget
After looking at a few different bags, I decided I was willing to spend up to $100 on each bag. I set this limit a little higher than I originally intended with the intention to build my luggage collection over time - no need to rush out tomorrow and spend a bunch of money.
What I wanted
I laid out a few basic needs - lightweight and durable. Both seemed pretty logical; lightweight because of the 50lbs weight limit on checked bags and durable because I want it to last. As I thought about my upcoming travel plans, I decided to change my approach to luggage. Instead of two big bags, I wanted to get a smaller suitcase that could be used for short trips, plus maybe a big bag for my long trips. I also wanted the smaller bag to double as a carry-on for my camera and laptop; so a hard sided suitcase made the most sense for the smaller bag.
Fortunately, I knew my Leisure luggage still works and would continue to meet my needs while I search for the best deal. After years of $20 suitcases, you didn't think I was going to pay retail, did you? I put the smaller bag at the top of my priority list and began shopping. I started checking out specialty stores like Landmark Luggage at Valley West Mall, retail stores like Younker's, JCPenny's and Dillards. After a few weeks of looking around, I still hadn't found anything that met both my needs and budget. At Younker's I found a bag that was a bit larger than I wanted and was at the very top of my budget with the 50% off sale. But I decided to keep looking.
A friend suggested I check out Marshall's and I found a bag that met my requirements!
My employer recently started a new recognition program where we can get gift cards to participating retailers. I checked it out, and I had enough points for $30 in gift cards, and chose TJMaxx/Marshall's for mine. When the cards arrived on Saturday, I knew they would be the perfect way to jump start my luggage search! With an afternoon of errand-running and shopping planned with my mom and sister, I easily added TJMaxx to our list of places to go - mostly because I was the driver.
Ten minutes after walking into TJMaxx, I walked out with not one but TWO matching pieces, and stayed under my $100 budget! Here's the breakdown:
The smaller bag is a Heys Sidewinder 20" upright with 4 spinner wheels and can double as a carry-on if needed. The retail price tag said 179.99! Amazon currently has it listed for $120.00, TJMaxx price was $59.99 and it was on sale for $49.00!
The larger bag is a matching Heys Sidewinder 24" (which it looks like they no longer make, I could only find the 26" for price comparison), again a hard sided suitcase that also expands (for my over packing) with 4 spinner wheels. The retail price tag said $219.99, Amazon price of $134.99, TJMaxx price was $69.99 on clearance for $39.00!
Let's do the math!
Retail Price = $399.98
Amazon Price = $254.99
TJMaxx Price = $88.00!
The price I paid was $166.99 cheaper than Amazon.com! Factor in my $30 gift card, my total out of pocket expense was $63.28 including sales tax!
So that concludes the great luggage search of 2010! Anyone else have any stories of getting deals - brag about them in the comments!
New Luggage
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Most people don't think about luggage too often. Many people receive luggage as wedding gifts and they enjoy it for many years of road trips, family vacations and occasional air travel. I have a different relationship with luggage. My luggage needs are even different from most business travelers who make frequent, short trips. My travel is usually 3-4 weeks in a single location, so maximizing space to pack as much as possible is always a priority.
My previous suitcases were from the Leisure brand at Younker's (a midwest department store chain, similar to Dillards.) They were 28" polyester uprights that go on sale each year at Christmas for...$20. Yup, twenty American dollars. No lie, that is a great deal. The price tag was around $100, but are usually on sale for 50% off. Buying two bags per year for the last three years worked for two hundred flights - so at $0.60 per flight, those bags held up their end of the bargain.
After all those flights, the bags had taken a beating. Between flights to India, layovers, and commuter flights, the bags were showing signs of wear. The wire and plastic internal frames were starting to bend, certainly not as a result of my over packing (okay, maybe that was part of the problem.) Some of the aesthetic stuff was worn or missing, but those bags had always stood by me - always arrived on time and kept my stuff protected. But with future travel plans in the works, I felt like it might be time to get some "grownup" luggage. You know, maybe spend more than $20?
Yikes! But where to start? My first visit was back to Younker's, to see what options they had. I was instantly overwhelmed with options for materials (hard sided, and different denier polyester), wheels (two fixed, four swivel) and sizes. And the price points for each started around $100 and could go up to the mid $300s. Ouch. I knew luggage would be an investment, but that was a steep jump from $20 to $300. I knew that I shouldn't make any decisions, but instead I should make a plan. I needed to figure out what I wanted and how much I wanted to spend.
Setting a budget
After looking at a few different bags, I decided I was willing to spend up to $100 on each bag. I set this limit a little higher than I originally intended with the intention to build my luggage collection over time - no need to rush out tomorrow and spend a bunch of money.
What I wanted
I laid out a few basic needs - lightweight and durable. Both seemed pretty logical; lightweight because of the 50lbs weight limit on checked bags and durable because I want it to last. As I thought about my upcoming travel plans, I decided to change my approach to luggage. Instead of two big bags, I wanted to get a smaller suitcase that could be used for short trips, plus maybe a big bag for my long trips. I also wanted the smaller bag to double as a carry-on for my camera and laptop; so a hard sided suitcase made the most sense for the smaller bag.
Fortunately, I knew my Leisure luggage still works and would continue to meet my needs while I search for the best deal. After years of $20 suitcases, you didn't think I was going to pay retail, did you? I put the smaller bag at the top of my priority list and began shopping. I started checking out specialty stores like Landmark Luggage at Valley West Mall, retail stores like Younker's, JCPenny's and Dillards. After a few weeks of looking around, I still hadn't found anything that met both my needs and budget. At Younker's I found a bag that was a bit larger than I wanted and was at the very top of my budget with the 50% off sale. But I decided to keep looking.
A friend suggested I check out Marshall's and I found a bag that met my requirements!
My employer recently started a new recognition program where we can get gift cards to participating retailers. I checked it out, and I had enough points for $30 in gift cards, and chose TJMaxx/Marshall's for mine. When the cards arrived on Saturday, I knew they would be the perfect way to jump start my luggage search! With an afternoon of errand-running and shopping planned with my mom and sister, I easily added TJMaxx to our list of places to go - mostly because I was the driver.
Ten minutes after walking into TJMaxx, I walked out with not one but TWO matching pieces, and stayed under my $100 budget! Here's the breakdown:
The smaller bag is a Heys Sidewinder 20" upright with 4 spinner wheels and can double as a carry-on if needed. The retail price tag said 179.99! Amazon currently has it listed for $120.00, TJMaxx price was $59.99 and it was on sale for $49.00!
The larger bag is a matching Heys Sidewinder 24" (which it looks like they no longer make, I could only find the 26" for price comparison), again a hard sided suitcase that also expands (for my over packing) with 4 spinner wheels. The retail price tag said $219.99, Amazon price of $134.99, TJMaxx price was $69.99 on clearance for $39.00!
Let's do the math!
Retail Price = $399.98
Amazon Price = $254.99
TJMaxx Price = $88.00!
The price I paid was $166.99 cheaper than Amazon.com! Factor in my $30 gift card, my total out of pocket expense was $63.28 including sales tax!
So that concludes the great luggage search of 2010! Anyone else have any stories of getting deals - brag about them in the comments!
In a previous entry, I blogged some suggestions for saving money on airfare. Time now to cover the next biggest expense on a trip (sometimes the biggest) - hotel costs. Here are a few money saving trips that will (hopefully) help make your trip more enjoyable.
- Do a little research - Headed to Disney Land? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that staying right off property can be a little less expensive than right at Disney. But what about a hotel 20 miles away? Ask yourself if the savings would offset the time spent in the car. If you aren't headed to Disney, but visiting your Great Aunt Mildred in Anaheim, you'll want to make sure that hotels near Aunt Mildred aren't charging a premium for their proximity to an attraction you have no plans to visit.
- Consider a suite - How can getting a more expensive room pay off? I'm a big fan of extended stay hotels (especially Staybridge Suites) Lets say a family of four is traveling, and would normally stay in one room to save money. Let's say they expect to spend about $75/night at mid-range hotel. If breakfast isn't included, add on $40 a day for breakfast. Why not stay at an extended stay hotel, like Staybridge Suites, which includes a good breakfast and a managers reception during the week (read: free food and, depending on local laws, sometimes free booze). This would put you in a nicer hotel bracket for the $115/day budget for lodging and breakfast. Extended stay hotels usually include a small kitchenette, perfect for grabbing a few basic groceries and saving money on eating every meal out. Also, if your group normally gets two hotel rooms, a two bedroom suite is usually cheaper and still provide separate bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Join the Club - Most hotel chains offer a wide range of hotel options, from long term stay, mid-range to up-brand hotels, their websites typically show all of their hotels in the desired city. You could find that a night at Courtyard Suites (a Marriott brand) will run you $89, but a night at the Marriott is $140 per night. By joining their club, you can get emails with discounts and start collecting points. Hotel points can be combined with airline miles for a pretty good vacation.
- Call the hotel directly - So you've figured out where you want to stay, and you've joined their club, call the hotel directly and ask for their best price. Be super nice on the phone - the person on the other end has more authority than you realize. Simply call and say "I'm a member of [insert their points system name] and I'll be in town soon, I was wondering if you could price match [insert competition's name and rate]" or "I was wondering what the best rate you have available these nights." Worst they can do? Say "no." I used to travel to El Paso quite a bit, and Comfort Suites was charging me $90/night plus tax. When someone told me Microtel was only $59 a night, I kept that in mind when I booked my next reservation. I called and said "Hey, my company really wants me to stay at Microtel to save money, is there any chance you could lower your rate for my stay?" when they asked the rate, the assured me they couldn't match it, but offered me $65/night. Saving $25 a night - not too bad!
- Name your own price - Using priceline.com, you can set your requirements and bid on a nightly rate - this is especially effective last minute. A friend booked a trip on short notice at a 5 star hotel for under $100/night - the room usually goes for $239! Also sites like Hotels.com advertises great last minute deals.
- Hotel alternatives - There are sites that feature privately owned vacation homes that are rented out by owner. Especially ideal for a group traveling, websites like vrbo.com let you review vacation rentals that offer all the comforts of home. Traveling abroad? I'm a big fan of staying at hostels in Europe. When someone first suggested hostels, I was imagining military bunk-style accommodations. It turns out that there are different levels, from bunk-style up to rooms that are identical to what you would expect of a hotel room. In Santa Margarita Ligure, our room was half the price of the rest of our group, and was just as nice. Check out sites like Hostelbookers.com but make sure you read reviews! Some hostels have a younger clientele, so you can expect a noisy lobby through all hours of the night, while others enforce curfews. Many hostels offer free internet access in their lobbies - pretty uncommon for Europe.
Travel on a budget - Part 2 - Hotel
Monday, August 9, 2010
In a previous entry, I blogged some suggestions for saving money on airfare. Time now to cover the next biggest expense on a trip (sometimes the biggest) - hotel costs. Here are a few money saving trips that will (hopefully) help make your trip more enjoyable.
- Do a little research - Headed to Disney Land? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that staying right off property can be a little less expensive than right at Disney. But what about a hotel 20 miles away? Ask yourself if the savings would offset the time spent in the car. If you aren't headed to Disney, but visiting your Great Aunt Mildred in Anaheim, you'll want to make sure that hotels near Aunt Mildred aren't charging a premium for their proximity to an attraction you have no plans to visit.
- Consider a suite - How can getting a more expensive room pay off? I'm a big fan of extended stay hotels (especially Staybridge Suites) Lets say a family of four is traveling, and would normally stay in one room to save money. Let's say they expect to spend about $75/night at mid-range hotel. If breakfast isn't included, add on $40 a day for breakfast. Why not stay at an extended stay hotel, like Staybridge Suites, which includes a good breakfast and a managers reception during the week (read: free food and, depending on local laws, sometimes free booze). This would put you in a nicer hotel bracket for the $115/day budget for lodging and breakfast. Extended stay hotels usually include a small kitchenette, perfect for grabbing a few basic groceries and saving money on eating every meal out. Also, if your group normally gets two hotel rooms, a two bedroom suite is usually cheaper and still provide separate bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Join the Club - Most hotel chains offer a wide range of hotel options, from long term stay, mid-range to up-brand hotels, their websites typically show all of their hotels in the desired city. You could find that a night at Courtyard Suites (a Marriott brand) will run you $89, but a night at the Marriott is $140 per night. By joining their club, you can get emails with discounts and start collecting points. Hotel points can be combined with airline miles for a pretty good vacation.
- Call the hotel directly - So you've figured out where you want to stay, and you've joined their club, call the hotel directly and ask for their best price. Be super nice on the phone - the person on the other end has more authority than you realize. Simply call and say "I'm a member of [insert their points system name] and I'll be in town soon, I was wondering if you could price match [insert competition's name and rate]" or "I was wondering what the best rate you have available these nights." Worst they can do? Say "no." I used to travel to El Paso quite a bit, and Comfort Suites was charging me $90/night plus tax. When someone told me Microtel was only $59 a night, I kept that in mind when I booked my next reservation. I called and said "Hey, my company really wants me to stay at Microtel to save money, is there any chance you could lower your rate for my stay?" when they asked the rate, the assured me they couldn't match it, but offered me $65/night. Saving $25 a night - not too bad!
- Name your own price - Using priceline.com, you can set your requirements and bid on a nightly rate - this is especially effective last minute. A friend booked a trip on short notice at a 5 star hotel for under $100/night - the room usually goes for $239! Also sites like Hotels.com advertises great last minute deals.
- Hotel alternatives - There are sites that feature privately owned vacation homes that are rented out by owner. Especially ideal for a group traveling, websites like vrbo.com let you review vacation rentals that offer all the comforts of home. Traveling abroad? I'm a big fan of staying at hostels in Europe. When someone first suggested hostels, I was imagining military bunk-style accommodations. It turns out that there are different levels, from bunk-style up to rooms that are identical to what you would expect of a hotel room. In Santa Margarita Ligure, our room was half the price of the rest of our group, and was just as nice. Check out sites like Hostelbookers.com but make sure you read reviews! Some hostels have a younger clientele, so you can expect a noisy lobby through all hours of the night, while others enforce curfews. Many hostels offer free internet access in their lobbies - pretty uncommon for Europe.
Don't get me wrong, I (almost) always have fun when traveling for work. I have friends that do a great job of keeping be busy and planning adventures for the weekends. Whether it is a trip to Atlanta to shop and dine or a road-trip to Phoenix, there is never a dull moment.
Most of that fun stuff happens because we are looking for something to do. But a few months back, I found out a speaker/author that I had wanted to hear would be in Salt Lake City at the same time I was! I quickly went online and booked two tickets, hoping I could convince someone to tag along.
Frank Warren is the founder of the Post Secret project where people send in secrets anonymously on a homemade postcard. The simple concept of the project is that completely anonymous people decorate a postcard with a secret that they had never previously revealed.
In addition to his website where about twenty secrets are posted each week, he has compiled secrets for four books. This tour was for his most recent book, Confessions on Life, Death, & God with a stop at the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City.
The concept of Post Secret may seem odd to some, but that aside, I was really excited to see him speak. I was really nervous about going to this crowded event, and was so glad when a friend agreed to join me. We got there way early and waited around for about a half hour. Once we got into the auditorium, we were able to snag seats on the center aisle only a few rows back from the stage. Before the event started I purchased two copies of his new book, one for me and one as a thank you for my guest.
Frank is a great speaker. He started out with the music video for All-American Rejects "Dirty Little Secret" which featured Post Secret postcards, then spoke about how he started the project and how the project had impacted his life.
After the presentation, he signed books agreeing to stay until the line was gone. Here's me getting my book signed :)
And my signed coffee table books - now all I need is a coffee table :)
Frank's signature was accompanied by a stamp that says "Free your secrets and become who you are"
It was fun getting to hear Frank speak and to get the chance to check out the University's campus. If you get the chance, check out Post Secret or one of his books!
Mixing business travel with pleasure
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Don't get me wrong, I (almost) always have fun when traveling for work. I have friends that do a great job of keeping be busy and planning adventures for the weekends. Whether it is a trip to Atlanta to shop and dine or a road-trip to Phoenix, there is never a dull moment.
Most of that fun stuff happens because we are looking for something to do. But a few months back, I found out a speaker/author that I had wanted to hear would be in Salt Lake City at the same time I was! I quickly went online and booked two tickets, hoping I could convince someone to tag along.
Frank Warren is the founder of the Post Secret project where people send in secrets anonymously on a homemade postcard. The simple concept of the project is that completely anonymous people decorate a postcard with a secret that they had never previously revealed.
In addition to his website where about twenty secrets are posted each week, he has compiled secrets for four books. This tour was for his most recent book, Confessions on Life, Death, & God with a stop at the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City.
The concept of Post Secret may seem odd to some, but that aside, I was really excited to see him speak. I was really nervous about going to this crowded event, and was so glad when a friend agreed to join me. We got there way early and waited around for about a half hour. Once we got into the auditorium, we were able to snag seats on the center aisle only a few rows back from the stage. Before the event started I purchased two copies of his new book, one for me and one as a thank you for my guest.
Frank is a great speaker. He started out with the music video for All-American Rejects "Dirty Little Secret" which featured Post Secret postcards, then spoke about how he started the project and how the project had impacted his life.
After the presentation, he signed books agreeing to stay until the line was gone. Here's me getting my book signed :)
And my signed coffee table books - now all I need is a coffee table :)
Frank's signature was accompanied by a stamp that says "Free your secrets and become who you are"
It was fun getting to hear Frank speak and to get the chance to check out the University's campus. If you get the chance, check out Post Secret or one of his books!
Just a quick post tonight - my new passport arrived today! Hmmm...all these empty pages...must be time to plan a trip! :)
New Passport!!!!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Just a quick post tonight - my new passport arrived today! Hmmm...all these empty pages...must be time to plan a trip! :)
Everyone is watching their bottom line lately - and I think when it comes to spending someone else money, the same rules should apply! Most of my travel is on my employer's dime - and it would be easy to spend double on travel than I actually need to. I decided to put together some tips I use when searching for the best deal on travel. This entry will focus on airfare and airfare related costs, and a later post will talk about hotel costs.
- Start early, but not too early - I just searched for flights in late August 2010 and then did the same search for 9 months out, and the price in March 2011 were 70% higher. I find that the sweet spot is around 3-6 weeks before your desired travel date. Using sites like Bing.com can save you time by showing you price trends and Kayak.com allows you to search various airlines AND Expedia AND Priceline using the same search criteria.
- Be flexible - If you are just looking for a get-away, don't get locked into a single location when searching. Sure, Cancun may be fun, but what about Cabo san Lucas? Or Belize? Or Puerto Rico? Or Hilton Head Island? What about traveling mid-week? For a future vacation, I'm flying out on a Wednesday and returning on a Wednesday which saved about $180/ticket by flying off-peak days.
- Drive a little, save a lot - Des Moines International Airport isn't known for having the best fairs, so many travelers in the metro area drive to Kansas City or Omaha to catch cheaper flights. This can mean substantial savings to some, but this option doesn't always make sense for me. When I'm gone for 3-4 weeks, my parking fees in Kansas City or Omaha outweigh my savings. I prefer to fly out of Des Moines and look to save money by flying into a major airport. A flight from Des Moines to Augusta, Georgia averages around $600 round-trip. Flying into Columbia, South Carolina (only 70 miles away) can save $200 on a trip. If I have time to drive a little more (about 3 hours), I can fly into Atlanta for under $300 (over 50% off!). Of course, it is important to factor in the cost of fuel when determining which option is right for you.
- Last minute deals - I know, this totally contradicts tip number 1, but sometimes there are amazing deals out there for last minute trips. Especially on Priceline! You can name your own price on hotels (more about this later) or on flights. It can certainly be hit or miss, but worth looking into. A friend of mine once logged on to Priceline at 7am, booked a flight to Cancun for noon and was on the beach before sunset...not a bad way to start the weekend.
- Sign up for emails - Spam - ugh. I can't tell you how many emails I receive each day - too many, for sure. Awhile back, I signed up for emails from Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia, etc. You tell them places you want to travel and they'll send you alerts any time the prices get below a threshold that you set up, or just cheap tickets in general. Of the 3 or 4 emails they send me each week, most go to the trash bin - but the one email that saves me $200 on a flight makes it all worth it!
- Sign up for miles - Take advantage of the bribes airlines offer - miles. You can direct your miles to apply to hotel rooms, or if you travel enough - free airline tickets!
- Use a travel agent - Sure, with the internet, it is much easier to compare flight information yourself than it was, say, 15 years ago. But travel agents usually have years of experience and can find great deals on flights and vacations. They know all the tricks of the trade, and can often find better deals than you or I. A personal shout out to my travel agent and family friend Julie McClaflin! Wait until you see the trip she set me up on!
Travel on a budget - Part 1 - Airfare
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Everyone is watching their bottom line lately - and I think when it comes to spending someone else money, the same rules should apply! Most of my travel is on my employer's dime - and it would be easy to spend double on travel than I actually need to. I decided to put together some tips I use when searching for the best deal on travel. This entry will focus on airfare and airfare related costs, and a later post will talk about hotel costs.
- Start early, but not too early - I just searched for flights in late August 2010 and then did the same search for 9 months out, and the price in March 2011 were 70% higher. I find that the sweet spot is around 3-6 weeks before your desired travel date. Using sites like Bing.com can save you time by showing you price trends and Kayak.com allows you to search various airlines AND Expedia AND Priceline using the same search criteria.
- Be flexible - If you are just looking for a get-away, don't get locked into a single location when searching. Sure, Cancun may be fun, but what about Cabo san Lucas? Or Belize? Or Puerto Rico? Or Hilton Head Island? What about traveling mid-week? For a future vacation, I'm flying out on a Wednesday and returning on a Wednesday which saved about $180/ticket by flying off-peak days.
- Drive a little, save a lot - Des Moines International Airport isn't known for having the best fairs, so many travelers in the metro area drive to Kansas City or Omaha to catch cheaper flights. This can mean substantial savings to some, but this option doesn't always make sense for me. When I'm gone for 3-4 weeks, my parking fees in Kansas City or Omaha outweigh my savings. I prefer to fly out of Des Moines and look to save money by flying into a major airport. A flight from Des Moines to Augusta, Georgia averages around $600 round-trip. Flying into Columbia, South Carolina (only 70 miles away) can save $200 on a trip. If I have time to drive a little more (about 3 hours), I can fly into Atlanta for under $300 (over 50% off!). Of course, it is important to factor in the cost of fuel when determining which option is right for you.
- Last minute deals - I know, this totally contradicts tip number 1, but sometimes there are amazing deals out there for last minute trips. Especially on Priceline! You can name your own price on hotels (more about this later) or on flights. It can certainly be hit or miss, but worth looking into. A friend of mine once logged on to Priceline at 7am, booked a flight to Cancun for noon and was on the beach before sunset...not a bad way to start the weekend.
- Sign up for emails - Spam - ugh. I can't tell you how many emails I receive each day - too many, for sure. Awhile back, I signed up for emails from Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia, etc. You tell them places you want to travel and they'll send you alerts any time the prices get below a threshold that you set up, or just cheap tickets in general. Of the 3 or 4 emails they send me each week, most go to the trash bin - but the one email that saves me $200 on a flight makes it all worth it!
- Sign up for miles - Take advantage of the bribes airlines offer - miles. You can direct your miles to apply to hotel rooms, or if you travel enough - free airline tickets!
- Use a travel agent - Sure, with the internet, it is much easier to compare flight information yourself than it was, say, 15 years ago. But travel agents usually have years of experience and can find great deals on flights and vacations. They know all the tricks of the trade, and can often find better deals than you or I. A personal shout out to my travel agent and family friend Julie McClaflin! Wait until you see the trip she set me up on!
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