airports
One of the perks of our somewhat unconventional jobs is the flexibility to travel without taking a ton of time off. As the dates solidified for my most recent trip to Arizona, my best guy offered to join me for the first week of my two week assignment. My wonderful boss was also joining in for the week, bringing her husband and two boys, and was staying a few extra days to visit the Grand Canyon. Add in my awesome teammates Skye, Jenny and Erin, we had a whole gang meeting up for some hard work and fun in the sun!
I flew out Sunday so I could be there first thing Monday morning, and James caught a flight Monday after work. We found a great deal on Allegiant that would arrive a little before 11pm in Phoenix. So after my all day meeting, I grabbed dinner and went back to my hotel to relax when the Google App on my phone reminded me that it was time to leave for the airport and it would take about half an hour. I looked at the pop up and thought "silly Google, Sky Harbor airport is like 10 minutes away!" Then I clicked on the email and realized I had booked his flight to Phoenix-Mesa airport, a small regional airport around 20 miles away. Thank goodness for the alert from Google; I can only imagine how it would have played out otherwise!
We spent our week dining out with friends, celebrating my boss' birthday with dinner and Ping Pong, and cooling off (it got up to 114 degrees!) in the pool. The obligatory stop at In-N-Out burgers did not disappoint! My rental Mustang was extra fun to zip around in, but less fun when we added passengers to the backseat. James daytime excursions included meeting up with our gang for lunch, checking out Mill Avenue, Alice Cooper'stown restaurant, and a Diamondbacks game in their air conditioned stadium.All in all, it was a fantastic trip, and we're already planning our next visit!
More Fun in Tempe
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
One of the perks of our somewhat unconventional jobs is the flexibility to travel without taking a ton of time off. As the dates solidified for my most recent trip to Arizona, my best guy offered to join me for the first week of my two week assignment. My wonderful boss was also joining in for the week, bringing her husband and two boys, and was staying a few extra days to visit the Grand Canyon. Add in my awesome teammates Skye, Jenny and Erin, we had a whole gang meeting up for some hard work and fun in the sun!
I flew out Sunday so I could be there first thing Monday morning, and James caught a flight Monday after work. We found a great deal on Allegiant that would arrive a little before 11pm in Phoenix. So after my all day meeting, I grabbed dinner and went back to my hotel to relax when the Google App on my phone reminded me that it was time to leave for the airport and it would take about half an hour. I looked at the pop up and thought "silly Google, Sky Harbor airport is like 10 minutes away!" Then I clicked on the email and realized I had booked his flight to Phoenix-Mesa airport, a small regional airport around 20 miles away. Thank goodness for the alert from Google; I can only imagine how it would have played out otherwise!We spent our week dining out with friends, celebrating my boss' birthday with dinner and Ping Pong, and cooling off (it got up to 114 degrees!) in the pool. The obligatory stop at In-N-Out burgers did not disappoint! My rental Mustang was extra fun to zip around in, but less fun when we added passengers to the backseat. James daytime excursions included meeting up with our gang for lunch, checking out Mill Avenue, Alice Cooper'stown restaurant, and a Diamondbacks game in their air conditioned stadium.All in all, it was a fantastic trip, and we're already planning our next visit!
That's right, someone who has never raised small children is here today to tell you all about traveling with small children! Not to play armchair quarterback, but with ten years of traveling under my belt, I feel like I've seen some of what works and what doesn't. I contribute over on The Kidsperts (www.thekidsperts.com) and wanted to share some tips with both audiences. Most of my advice is towards parents of kids under six years old. I feel like your six year old can keep themselves busy as needed, and keep up with you in a crowded airport, but take this (like all advice) with a grain of salt.
Packing & Planning
Skip the cute roller bag. I get it - you're flying to see Grandma who got your child the adorable roller bag featuring whatever animal or character, but the small bag holds very little and are difficult to access during the flight. Not only are they a pain when you're on the plane, but you're asking a lot of your kid to drag it behind them in a new, crowded environment when all they want to do is look around. I've seen kids struggle with these bags, or mom and dad having to snatch the bag quickly because the kid can't keep up more often than I've ever seen them successfully used. Save the cute roller bag for your next road trip and consider having mom or dad carry a large backpack for your child's carry-on, or a backpack your kid can wear.
Pick the right shoes. As an adult, I try to wear shoes I can easily remove for the TSA Security Check, but your child under the age of 12 can keep theirs on. I've seen flustered parents dealing with a child's shoe slipping off in the middle of the very busy airport terminal, and I'm sure you don't want that to be you. Laces or velcro or whatever, pick shoes your child can walk in comfortably.
Get your kid prepared. Consider what will be new to your child and help them prepare. Whether it's talking about wearing a seat belt on the plane, talking about what to do if they get separated at the airport, or riding on the train between gates, help prepare your child for their new experiences.
At the Airport
Pack snacks. Did you know you can pack food in your carry-on? Airport food is overpriced and lacks variety, so might as well pack cheap snacks your kids like. Chewy snacks like Fruit Snacks can help your child's ears to pop during the flight too, avoiding tears just after takeoff and before landing.
Board early. Even before they call for first class, they usually announce families with small children who need additional time can board early, and I see so many parents miss out on this! Even though your ticket may say Zone 4, get your family ready to spring into action when they call for family boarding. This gives you a bit extra time to fold up a stroller for gate check and get settled in your seats.
Plan ahead for your layover. Obviously you don't want to have a 30 minute layover and risk missing your connecting flight, but a long layover can be a great way to let your toddler burn off energy. Some airports, like Dallas and Minneapolis, have a designated play area for kids. Chicago's OHare has a Children's museum at the airport, and Chicago and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airports have really neat tunnels connecting the terminals. In Chicago you'll enjoy a little neon light show, and Atlanta has art installations. The moving sidewalks can be fun for kids and there are usually really wide walkways, but be mindful when a hoard of travelers need to get by quickly.
Find a quiet corner. Often a flight will have an empty gate nearby and it can be a great place for your kid to run, scream, climb on stuff - whatever! without disrupting other travelers. This can also be a good spot to picnic a quick lunch, watch something on a tablet, or have your kid crash for nap across a few seats.
During the Flights
Plan activities. I'm sure your kid can keep themselves busy, but being confined to a seat during a flight can be a whole new experience, especially if there's turbulence and the seat belt light is on. I remember my mom packing playdoh for flights when I was a kid, but also consider sticker books, markers, etc. to keep your kid busy and happy.
Break the screen time rules. Most parents have limits on how much screen time their kids can enjoy each day/week, but this is the right time to break the rules. I would recommend not letting your kid play with the tablet or phone until you're seated on the plane, so the novelty doesn't wear off in the boarding lounge. The FAA now lets you keep electronics on the entire flight, as long as the device is in airplane mode. This means you'll want to load Netflix videos, games, and apps before you leave home. Amazon Fire tablets are super affordable, and it would be worth getting one for each kid.
Headphones. You can probably tune out Elmo, or Dora the Explorer (or anything other than that annoying Caillou kid), but your fellow travelers shouldn't have to. These Kid's Headphones have maximum volume settings to protect their hearing, AND have a built in splitter so you can plug in a second set and let two children watch the same show, or watch with your kid. I would suggest having your child use these for a few weeks before the flight so they get used to wearing headphones.
Flyebaby for children under 25 lbs. I first saw the Flyebaby when the mom next to me set it up once we had reached our cruising altitude, and I immediately started asking questions. It's a portable hammock that anchors to the tray table and parent, letting you interact with your baby during the flight. It can't be used during taxi, takeoff, landing, or major turbulence, but a great way to keep your baby engaged during the flight.
Your kid calls the shots. I know, I know. You're a wonderful parent who establishes and enforces boundaries so that your child grows up to be a perfect adult. Just like I tell parents during portrait sessions; this is not the time for parenting, you should absolutely negotiate with the tiny terrorist. This may sound harsh but after keeping your child safe, parents number one concern should be minimizing the impact to other passengers. Just like I wouldn't play my movie without headphones so that other passengers have to listen to Step Brothers or Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby, we should try to minimize what other travelers are subjected to. I know you're probably on vacation, but unlike at a store or mall where I can walk away from your 2 year old who is having a meltdown because he realized his shoes are brown, I (and 50+ other passengers) are held hostage by a child's tantrum. Your small child's behavior isn't your fault! I think highly of the parents who do their best to fix the situation. If I could beg of you one thing, give into what your child wants, distract them with more snacks, a new show on the tablet, playdoh, your earrings - whatever! As long as it isn't going to hurt them or you, it's totally okay to give into their demands.
Parents who are actively trying to make their kid happy mid-flight get a pass over those who put their toddler in timeout on a flight and let the kid scream for all three minutes.
Yes, that actually happened on one of my flights.
At the end of the day, kids have a mind of their own and who can say what will and won't work; hopefully these suggestions will be a tool to get you started in the right direction! What other travel tips do you have? Leave them in the comments!Yes, that actually happened on one of my flights.
This post originally appeared on www.thekidsperts.com.
Traveling with Small Children
Friday, June 16, 2017
That's right, someone who has never raised small children is here today to tell you all about traveling with small children! Not to play armchair quarterback, but with ten years of traveling under my belt, I feel like I've seen some of what works and what doesn't. I contribute over on The Kidsperts (www.thekidsperts.com) and wanted to share some tips with both audiences. Most of my advice is towards parents of kids under six years old. I feel like your six year old can keep themselves busy as needed, and keep up with you in a crowded airport, but take this (like all advice) with a grain of salt.
Packing & Planning
Skip the cute roller bag. I get it - you're flying to see Grandma who got your child the adorable roller bag featuring whatever animal or character, but the small bag holds very little and are difficult to access during the flight. Not only are they a pain when you're on the plane, but you're asking a lot of your kid to drag it behind them in a new, crowded environment when all they want to do is look around. I've seen kids struggle with these bags, or mom and dad having to snatch the bag quickly because the kid can't keep up more often than I've ever seen them successfully used. Save the cute roller bag for your next road trip and consider having mom or dad carry a large backpack for your child's carry-on, or a backpack your kid can wear.
Pick the right shoes. As an adult, I try to wear shoes I can easily remove for the TSA Security Check, but your child under the age of 12 can keep theirs on. I've seen flustered parents dealing with a child's shoe slipping off in the middle of the very busy airport terminal, and I'm sure you don't want that to be you. Laces or velcro or whatever, pick shoes your child can walk in comfortably.
Get your kid prepared. Consider what will be new to your child and help them prepare. Whether it's talking about wearing a seat belt on the plane, talking about what to do if they get separated at the airport, or riding on the train between gates, help prepare your child for their new experiences.
At the Airport
Pack snacks. Did you know you can pack food in your carry-on? Airport food is overpriced and lacks variety, so might as well pack cheap snacks your kids like. Chewy snacks like Fruit Snacks can help your child's ears to pop during the flight too, avoiding tears just after takeoff and before landing.
Board early. Even before they call for first class, they usually announce families with small children who need additional time can board early, and I see so many parents miss out on this! Even though your ticket may say Zone 4, get your family ready to spring into action when they call for family boarding. This gives you a bit extra time to fold up a stroller for gate check and get settled in your seats.
Plan ahead for your layover. Obviously you don't want to have a 30 minute layover and risk missing your connecting flight, but a long layover can be a great way to let your toddler burn off energy. Some airports, like Dallas and Minneapolis, have a designated play area for kids. Chicago's OHare has a Children's museum at the airport, and Chicago and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airports have really neat tunnels connecting the terminals. In Chicago you'll enjoy a little neon light show, and Atlanta has art installations. The moving sidewalks can be fun for kids and there are usually really wide walkways, but be mindful when a hoard of travelers need to get by quickly.
Find a quiet corner. Often a flight will have an empty gate nearby and it can be a great place for your kid to run, scream, climb on stuff - whatever! without disrupting other travelers. This can also be a good spot to picnic a quick lunch, watch something on a tablet, or have your kid crash for nap across a few seats.
During the Flights
Plan activities. I'm sure your kid can keep themselves busy, but being confined to a seat during a flight can be a whole new experience, especially if there's turbulence and the seat belt light is on. I remember my mom packing playdoh for flights when I was a kid, but also consider sticker books, markers, etc. to keep your kid busy and happy.
Break the screen time rules. Most parents have limits on how much screen time their kids can enjoy each day/week, but this is the right time to break the rules. I would recommend not letting your kid play with the tablet or phone until you're seated on the plane, so the novelty doesn't wear off in the boarding lounge. The FAA now lets you keep electronics on the entire flight, as long as the device is in airplane mode. This means you'll want to load Netflix videos, games, and apps before you leave home. Amazon Fire tablets are super affordable, and it would be worth getting one for each kid.
Headphones. You can probably tune out Elmo, or Dora the Explorer (or anything other than that annoying Caillou kid), but your fellow travelers shouldn't have to. These Kid's Headphones have maximum volume settings to protect their hearing, AND have a built in splitter so you can plug in a second set and let two children watch the same show, or watch with your kid. I would suggest having your child use these for a few weeks before the flight so they get used to wearing headphones.
Flyebaby for children under 25 lbs. I first saw the Flyebaby when the mom next to me set it up once we had reached our cruising altitude, and I immediately started asking questions. It's a portable hammock that anchors to the tray table and parent, letting you interact with your baby during the flight. It can't be used during taxi, takeoff, landing, or major turbulence, but a great way to keep your baby engaged during the flight.
Your kid calls the shots. I know, I know. You're a wonderful parent who establishes and enforces boundaries so that your child grows up to be a perfect adult. Just like I tell parents during portrait sessions; this is not the time for parenting, you should absolutely negotiate with the tiny terrorist. This may sound harsh but after keeping your child safe, parents number one concern should be minimizing the impact to other passengers. Just like I wouldn't play my movie without headphones so that other passengers have to listen to Step Brothers or Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby, we should try to minimize what other travelers are subjected to. I know you're probably on vacation, but unlike at a store or mall where I can walk away from your 2 year old who is having a meltdown because he realized his shoes are brown, I (and 50+ other passengers) are held hostage by a child's tantrum. Your small child's behavior isn't your fault! I think highly of the parents who do their best to fix the situation. If I could beg of you one thing, give into what your child wants, distract them with more snacks, a new show on the tablet, playdoh, your earrings - whatever! As long as it isn't going to hurt them or you, it's totally okay to give into their demands.
Parents who are actively trying to make their kid happy mid-flight get a pass over those who put their toddler in timeout on a flight and let the kid scream for all three minutes.
Yes, that actually happened on one of my flights.
At the end of the day, kids have a mind of their own and who can say what will and won't work; hopefully these suggestions will be a tool to get you started in the right direction! What other travel tips do you have? Leave them in the comments!Yes, that actually happened on one of my flights.
This post originally appeared on www.thekidsperts.com.
I've made the drive from Des Moines to my grandmother's home in western Nebraska a dozen times or so. For those of you unfamiliar with the drive through Nebraska, once you're past Lincoln, if you've seen one mile, you've seen 'em all. And she's clear across Nebraska, only about 30 miles from the Wyoming border.
I've only actually done the driving once, the rest of the time as a passenger and that drive is exhausting. So when cheap fares pop up on Frontier Airlines, it's tempting to book a quick trip to see my grandma. I'm sure I'm the only person from Iowa flying to Denver to visit someone in Nebraska, but I find the 2 hour flight and 3 hour drive much easier to swallow than the 8+ hour trip in the car. 
So James and I packed our bag for the cheap flight to Denver. Since Frontier charges for carryons and checked bags, we shared a checked bag, and somehow managed to only pack 26.6 lbs for three days. New personal best. On a rainy Wednesday, we boarded our flight to the mile high city. 
Frontier Airline's planes each feature a different wild animal, which they proudly display as you enter the aircraft. Overall, the flight was okay. Anytime I fly a discount airline, I miss the cushy comfort of Delta and American. But then I remember we had to pay for our tickets (not my employer) at about half the cost of the major airlines, so it's worth minor annoyances. We paid for a couple cans of soda on our flight in hard plastic seats that didn't recline. Since I was in the middle seat, I was particularly grumpy but a couple episodes of The West Wing Weekly podcast kept me distracted until we landed. 
After making our way through the airport, we waited for the Avis shuttle and discovered we had been assigned a Suburban for our four day adventure. I laughed as the last thing the two of us needed was a car that seats eight, so we checked in with the Preferred desk and they mentioned a shortage of cars but let us pick between a Ford Explorer or a Lincoln Navigator. James quickly chimed in that the Navigator would be just fine. After figuring out a few of the bells and whistles (including the best navigation system I've used, and lights with the Lincoln logo), we left for my cousin Melissa's house in Brighton, grabbing pizza so we could catch up with her and her two kids. As the sun started to set, we said our goodbyes and left for Scottsbluff, Nebraska. 
As the sun quickly set, we drove on the two lane highway that was only lit by our headlights, only passing by a few cars. After crossing from Colorado into Nebraska, we stopped to stretch our legs in Kimball, about 45 miles outside of our destination. This small town had a few businesses that caught our attention, so I snapped a few pics before we decided to check out Beer and Loathing bar, an homage to Hunter S. Thompson and his book Fear and Loathing. The bar was great and the bartender was awesome. After about a half hour, we figured it was time to get back on the road and get checked into our hotel. 
Our time in Scottsbluff was short, but highlights include cabbage burgers at The Mixing Bowl, Gering Bakery, but most of all - spending time with family. In addition to my grandmother, my Aunt and Uncle live nearby, and I got to see my cousins and meet my cousin's new baby too! As we packed up to head back to Denver, I laughed at the difference in our packings styles. I may be the one that travels most for business, but clearly he's winning at the adulting game.
We took our time on the trek back to Denver, refueling at this cute gas station/diner in Scottsbluff and grabbing lunch at Beer and Loathing as we made our way to Wyoming. The drive was relaxing and the views were magnificent. When we found ourselves in a construction traffic jam, we hopped off the interstate for a quick pit-stop, when I realized we were near the town where my grandparents lived for most of my childhood. Every year, we'd spend a week or more with them over the summer or Christmas, and it had been sixteen years since I had last seen their little subdivision, and the amazing views of protected state land directly behind their townhouse. 
A quick call to my dad, we were able to remember the name of their street, and google maps narrowed down the neighborhood when I recognized the King Sooper's grocery store. It once sat all alone in a field, but the entire county has now been developed. Turns out we were only about fifteen minutes from our destination. We drove by the pool where my sister and I used to swim, and I got to see the roses and aspen trees my grandfather had planted. The yard wasn't quite as manicured as he kept it, but I could tell the home was well loved by it's current owners. We totally tresspassed through their side yard and I snuck a few photos of the gorgeous view. It was a bittersweet trip down memory lane.
James had researched and found the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver as our destination. On our way, we got to see a packed Coors Field. The road we were on led right to the stadium, almost looking like it reached center field. On 16th Street, we picked up souvenirs, did a LOT of people watching, and grabbed dinner at Illegal Burger, a funky burger place, on par with Zombie Burger in Des Moines.
Exhausted from the day, we made our way to our hotel near the airport and got ready for our early flight the next day. Our checked bag weighed 19.5 lbs more than our trip out thanks to a purchase of Tab Cola that isn't available in Des Moines. Surprisingly, every can made it home intact! Since we arrived to the airport early, I wandered around taking photos and timelapse videos. Click the Instagram image below to see a quick timelapse. 
I'm so grateful for the chance to visit family and enjoy some quality time on the road with my best guy.
Colorado/Wyoming/Nebraska - May 2017
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
I've made the drive from Des Moines to my grandmother's home in western Nebraska a dozen times or so. For those of you unfamiliar with the drive through Nebraska, once you're past Lincoln, if you've seen one mile, you've seen 'em all. And she's clear across Nebraska, only about 30 miles from the Wyoming border.
I've only actually done the driving once, the rest of the time as a passenger and that drive is exhausting. So when cheap fares pop up on Frontier Airlines, it's tempting to book a quick trip to see my grandma. I'm sure I'm the only person from Iowa flying to Denver to visit someone in Nebraska, but I find the 2 hour flight and 3 hour drive much easier to swallow than the 8+ hour trip in the car. So James and I packed our bag for the cheap flight to Denver. Since Frontier charges for carryons and checked bags, we shared a checked bag, and somehow managed to only pack 26.6 lbs for three days. New personal best. On a rainy Wednesday, we boarded our flight to the mile high city. Frontier Airline's planes each feature a different wild animal, which they proudly display as you enter the aircraft. Overall, the flight was okay. Anytime I fly a discount airline, I miss the cushy comfort of Delta and American. But then I remember we had to pay for our tickets (not my employer) at about half the cost of the major airlines, so it's worth minor annoyances. We paid for a couple cans of soda on our flight in hard plastic seats that didn't recline. Since I was in the middle seat, I was particularly grumpy but a couple episodes of The West Wing Weekly podcast kept me distracted until we landed. After making our way through the airport, we waited for the Avis shuttle and discovered we had been assigned a Suburban for our four day adventure. I laughed as the last thing the two of us needed was a car that seats eight, so we checked in with the Preferred desk and they mentioned a shortage of cars but let us pick between a Ford Explorer or a Lincoln Navigator. James quickly chimed in that the Navigator would be just fine. After figuring out a few of the bells and whistles (including the best navigation system I've used, and lights with the Lincoln logo), we left for my cousin Melissa's house in Brighton, grabbing pizza so we could catch up with her and her two kids. As the sun started to set, we said our goodbyes and left for Scottsbluff, Nebraska. As the sun quickly set, we drove on the two lane highway that was only lit by our headlights, only passing by a few cars. After crossing from Colorado into Nebraska, we stopped to stretch our legs in Kimball, about 45 miles outside of our destination. This small town had a few businesses that caught our attention, so I snapped a few pics before we decided to check out Beer and Loathing bar, an homage to Hunter S. Thompson and his book Fear and Loathing. The bar was great and the bartender was awesome. After about a half hour, we figured it was time to get back on the road and get checked into our hotel. Our time in Scottsbluff was short, but highlights include cabbage burgers at The Mixing Bowl, Gering Bakery, but most of all - spending time with family. In addition to my grandmother, my Aunt and Uncle live nearby, and I got to see my cousins and meet my cousin's new baby too! As we packed up to head back to Denver, I laughed at the difference in our packings styles. I may be the one that travels most for business, but clearly he's winning at the adulting game.
We took our time on the trek back to Denver, refueling at this cute gas station/diner in Scottsbluff and grabbing lunch at Beer and Loathing as we made our way to Wyoming. The drive was relaxing and the views were magnificent. When we found ourselves in a construction traffic jam, we hopped off the interstate for a quick pit-stop, when I realized we were near the town where my grandparents lived for most of my childhood. Every year, we'd spend a week or more with them over the summer or Christmas, and it had been sixteen years since I had last seen their little subdivision, and the amazing views of protected state land directly behind their townhouse. A quick call to my dad, we were able to remember the name of their street, and google maps narrowed down the neighborhood when I recognized the King Sooper's grocery store. It once sat all alone in a field, but the entire county has now been developed. Turns out we were only about fifteen minutes from our destination. We drove by the pool where my sister and I used to swim, and I got to see the roses and aspen trees my grandfather had planted. The yard wasn't quite as manicured as he kept it, but I could tell the home was well loved by it's current owners. We totally tresspassed through their side yard and I snuck a few photos of the gorgeous view. It was a bittersweet trip down memory lane.
James had researched and found the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver as our destination. On our way, we got to see a packed Coors Field. The road we were on led right to the stadium, almost looking like it reached center field. On 16th Street, we picked up souvenirs, did a LOT of people watching, and grabbed dinner at Illegal Burger, a funky burger place, on par with Zombie Burger in Des Moines.
Exhausted from the day, we made our way to our hotel near the airport and got ready for our early flight the next day. Our checked bag weighed 19.5 lbs more than our trip out thanks to a purchase of Tab Cola that isn't available in Des Moines. Surprisingly, every can made it home intact! Since we arrived to the airport early, I wandered around taking photos and timelapse videos. Click the Instagram image below to see a quick timelapse. I'm so grateful for the chance to visit family and enjoy some quality time on the road with my best guy.
Just landed in Des Moines for a quick weekend home. Seriously, it's quick; 30 hours to be exact. Just enough time for a date with the manfriend and to photograph a wedding. 4am Sunday morning will come too soon.
My travel season has started again and I'll spend 9 out of the next 10 weeks on the road.
About 15,000 miles and 30 flights stand between me and the holidays. I've kept track of all my flights as an adult, the total with tonight's flights is now 315. That's 315 take-offs and landings.
Thanks for checking on my blog - the future of her is tbd.
#315
Friday, August 16, 2013 Des Moines International Airport Des Moines
Just landed in Des Moines for a quick weekend home. Seriously, it's quick; 30 hours to be exact. Just enough time for a date with the manfriend and to photograph a wedding. 4am Sunday morning will come too soon.
My travel season has started again and I'll spend 9 out of the next 10 weeks on the road.
About 15,000 miles and 30 flights stand between me and the holidays. I've kept track of all my flights as an adult, the total with tonight's flights is now 315. That's 315 take-offs and landings.
Thanks for checking on my blog - the future of her is tbd.
It’s hard to believe it’s been a week since I arrived in Manila! This first week really has flown by, but before I get into details of Manila, I can’t wait to tell you about getting here!
My employer requires associates to fly coach if you are below Director Level – and even then, it can be tough to get approval. While I report to a Director, I certainly do not qualify for a business class ticket. For comparison, my coach ticket was about $1,400 and a business class ticket can run between $6-9k.
The day before my trip, I was notified that I had been upgraded to business class for my long flight from Minneapolis to Japan. I was overjoyed to hear that the 15 hour segment of my trip would be in a comfy seat with more room than I could possibly need. This also meant that I could check three bags at zero cost.
I packed Wednesday night as planned, and was able to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before my alarm went off at 5:30am. As I packed the last of my things, my sweet boyfriend arrived to take me to the airport on Valentine’s Day. Believe it or not, I was actually running ahead of schedule and we could take our sweet time on the ten minute drive to Des Moines International Airport.
As I approached the Delta desk, a familiar face helped me check in while the boyfriend parked his truck. James arrived to the ticket counter and my friend offered a pass for him to join me at the gate before departure. I was absolutely floored – what a wonderful surprise on Valentine’s Day! We made our way through security and shared breakfast while waiting at the gate.
I realized that the worst part about a travel day (aside from the TSA getting hands-y) is sitting at the gate alone. I start to get depressed and upset as I sit there thinking about how long it will be before I return and everything I’m missing out on. Instead of giving me time to sit alone with my thoughts, we were able to sit together and talk and, of course, people watch.
I was the last person to board the half-full flight to Minneapolis, sent off with one last kiss and a wave as we pushed back from the jet bridge. It was the perfect way to start this trip.
I got a bit lost in the Minneapolis airport, eventually finding my terminal and gate. The International Terminal looked familiar from my trip to Europe 5 years ago, but they had clearly remolded with comfy booths with iPads and charging stations. The iPads provided free internet access and the ability to order from the nearby restaurant for table service.
After a quick run to the restroom, I was surprised to hear the call to board so early – over an hour before departure. I made the last of “goodbye” calls and giddily boarded when they called for Business Elite.
I was at the very front of the row, just behind the first galley. And anyone on the right half of the plane walked past me as I made myself comfortable and familiar with the features of my business class seat. The seat turns into a 6 foot long bed, and they provide comfy socks, slippers, full sized pillow, travel pillow, blanket and travel kit. On the downside, I was directly next to the lavatory. But you know the expression “beggars can’t be choosers”? I wasn’t about to complain.
I made small talk with the flight attendants –international flight attendants are some of the sweetest, caring and humorous flight attendants I’ve met. I think it is because they are good at what they do and truly enjoy their job. I watched a few episodes of The Newsroom and The Mindy Project before picking a movie and falling asleep. When I woke up, we had about 5 hours before landing in Japan.
They served a great breakfast and next thing I knew, we had landed in Tokyo. When I turned on my cell phone during our taxi, it started buzzing with texts from a colleague I was meeting in Tokyo for the flight to Manila. He updated me during boarding and I was panicked as I hadn’t even gotten off the plane! I still had to go through security and get to my gate! Thankfully, my Sky Priority with Delta meant I could join the shorter line, and I boarded my last flight with plenty of time to spare.
Arriving in Manila felt so familiar – and so did the struggle to get through immigration! Luckily, my business class upgrade meant my bags were marked as priority so by the time I cleared immigration; my bags were waiting for me. After a short stop at Customs, my favorite driver Herman was waiting to whisk me away to Fraser Place where I discovered I would be spending this trip in the same apartment as my first stay here. Check out the video here!
Getting to Manila
Friday, February 22, 2013
It’s hard to believe it’s been a week since I arrived in Manila! This first week really has flown by, but before I get into details of Manila, I can’t wait to tell you about getting here!
My employer requires associates to fly coach if you are below Director Level – and even then, it can be tough to get approval. While I report to a Director, I certainly do not qualify for a business class ticket. For comparison, my coach ticket was about $1,400 and a business class ticket can run between $6-9k.
The day before my trip, I was notified that I had been upgraded to business class for my long flight from Minneapolis to Japan. I was overjoyed to hear that the 15 hour segment of my trip would be in a comfy seat with more room than I could possibly need. This also meant that I could check three bags at zero cost.
I packed Wednesday night as planned, and was able to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before my alarm went off at 5:30am. As I packed the last of my things, my sweet boyfriend arrived to take me to the airport on Valentine’s Day. Believe it or not, I was actually running ahead of schedule and we could take our sweet time on the ten minute drive to Des Moines International Airport.
As I approached the Delta desk, a familiar face helped me check in while the boyfriend parked his truck. James arrived to the ticket counter and my friend offered a pass for him to join me at the gate before departure. I was absolutely floored – what a wonderful surprise on Valentine’s Day! We made our way through security and shared breakfast while waiting at the gate.
I realized that the worst part about a travel day (aside from the TSA getting hands-y) is sitting at the gate alone. I start to get depressed and upset as I sit there thinking about how long it will be before I return and everything I’m missing out on. Instead of giving me time to sit alone with my thoughts, we were able to sit together and talk and, of course, people watch.
I was the last person to board the half-full flight to Minneapolis, sent off with one last kiss and a wave as we pushed back from the jet bridge. It was the perfect way to start this trip.
I got a bit lost in the Minneapolis airport, eventually finding my terminal and gate. The International Terminal looked familiar from my trip to Europe 5 years ago, but they had clearly remolded with comfy booths with iPads and charging stations. The iPads provided free internet access and the ability to order from the nearby restaurant for table service.
After a quick run to the restroom, I was surprised to hear the call to board so early – over an hour before departure. I made the last of “goodbye” calls and giddily boarded when they called for Business Elite.
I was at the very front of the row, just behind the first galley. And anyone on the right half of the plane walked past me as I made myself comfortable and familiar with the features of my business class seat. The seat turns into a 6 foot long bed, and they provide comfy socks, slippers, full sized pillow, travel pillow, blanket and travel kit. On the downside, I was directly next to the lavatory. But you know the expression “beggars can’t be choosers”? I wasn’t about to complain.
I made small talk with the flight attendants –international flight attendants are some of the sweetest, caring and humorous flight attendants I’ve met. I think it is because they are good at what they do and truly enjoy their job. I watched a few episodes of The Newsroom and The Mindy Project before picking a movie and falling asleep. When I woke up, we had about 5 hours before landing in Japan.
They served a great breakfast and next thing I knew, we had landed in Tokyo. When I turned on my cell phone during our taxi, it started buzzing with texts from a colleague I was meeting in Tokyo for the flight to Manila. He updated me during boarding and I was panicked as I hadn’t even gotten off the plane! I still had to go through security and get to my gate! Thankfully, my Sky Priority with Delta meant I could join the shorter line, and I boarded my last flight with plenty of time to spare.
Arriving in Manila felt so familiar – and so did the struggle to get through immigration! Luckily, my business class upgrade meant my bags were marked as priority so by the time I cleared immigration; my bags were waiting for me. After a short stop at Customs, my favorite driver Herman was waiting to whisk me away to Fraser Place where I discovered I would be spending this trip in the same apartment as my first stay here. Check out the video here!
To celebrate Candice's certification, we took a mini-vacation to the Island of Bohol. Located 500 miles to the south-east of Manila, Bohol seemed to be a world away from the busy, rainy city.
We wrapped up Candice's certifications on Friday, taking time every hour to squeel "We're going on vacation today!" After Friday's shift ended on Saturday morning, Candice's husband took us to the airport where we caught a flight with discount airline Cebu Pacific. You might remember Cebu Pacific from this post about the most entertaining safety demonstration I've seen.
Before boarding, we were able to hang out with Ceejay before his trip to Palawan, another island (there are over 7,000!). After boarding, I was way too excited to sleep so I stayed awake as the flight attendants kept us entertained with Philippines movie trivia. I got zero answers correct.
An hour or so later, we disembarked via staircar to a tiny airport that possibly had fewer square feet than our plane. Before deplaining, they made an announcement not to take photos from the tarmac. Of course, I hadn't considered taking photos until they told us not to, so I joined dozens of other travelers taking snapshots against the rules.
I did sneak in a ninety minute nap mid-afternoon as we lounged on the beach. We watched as scuba and fishing excursions returned from their day trips and decided to indulge ourselves in hour long massages on the beach, only $3USD each. During my massage, I looked up to see the very last of the sunset in paradise.
Feeling nice and relaxed, we returned to our room just a few yards from the beach to get cleaned up for dinner. Luckily Candice and I agreed that a room with air conditioning was well worth the extra $10/night charge. Set up kind of like a camp cabin, we had surprisingly comfortable beds, a private bath and a front porch with a view of the resort and beach.
We wrapped up Candice's certifications on Friday, taking time every hour to squeel "We're going on vacation today!" After Friday's shift ended on Saturday morning, Candice's husband took us to the airport where we caught a flight with discount airline Cebu Pacific. You might remember Cebu Pacific from this post about the most entertaining safety demonstration I've seen.
Before boarding, we were able to hang out with Ceejay before his trip to Palawan, another island (there are over 7,000!). After boarding, I was way too excited to sleep so I stayed awake as the flight attendants kept us entertained with Philippines movie trivia. I got zero answers correct.
An hour or so later, we disembarked via staircar to a tiny airport that possibly had fewer square feet than our plane. Before deplaining, they made an announcement not to take photos from the tarmac. Of course, I hadn't considered taking photos until they told us not to, so I joined dozens of other travelers taking snapshots against the rules.
Leaving the airport was a bit chaotic; there were dozens of drivers with signs to attract you to their resort. Apparently arriving without accomodations is common enough for these guys to stay in business, but the thought of doing so makes me breakout in a cold sweat. Thankfully, Candice had arranged for our hotel to pick us up and we waited in the hot, sunny parking lot for the transportation to arrive.
Thirty minutes from the airport, this is the paradise that awaited us (click to enlarge):
Upon arrival, my internal clock was telling me it was 11pm and I should go to sleep; but we stayed awak, determined to maximize our trip. We enjoyed lunch at the resort restaurant on the beach and ordered our first round of cocktails. After lunch, we moved on to some less-than-comfortable beach chairs that we were determined to make work. Turns out, with enough drinks and magazines, anything is possible!
 |
| Our seats in paradise |
Feeling nice and relaxed, we returned to our room just a few yards from the beach to get cleaned up for dinner. Luckily Candice and I agreed that a room with air conditioning was well worth the extra $10/night charge. Set up kind of like a camp cabin, we had surprisingly comfortable beds, a private bath and a front porch with a view of the resort and beach.
We enjoyed dinner and a performance of coversongs by a duo playing guitars. They played mostly 70s and 80s songs and we sang a long for a few. I commented on how musical everyone in the Philippines seems to be; all of the skits in class included musical performances and Candice agreed. Exhausted from being awake nearly 24 hours, we kept telling ourselves, "Okay, we'll leave after this song." until the next awesome song started. Then we'd say "Okay, we'll leave after THIS song." Until we finally crashed.
We booked an excursion for Sunday morning, more on that soon! Here are some more pictures from Bohol! Click to enlarge
Bohol Island Getaway - Part 1
Thursday, September 6, 2012
To celebrate Candice's certification, we took a mini-vacation to the Island of Bohol. Located 500 miles to the south-east of Manila, Bohol seemed to be a world away from the busy, rainy city.
We wrapped up Candice's certifications on Friday, taking time every hour to squeel "We're going on vacation today!" After Friday's shift ended on Saturday morning, Candice's husband took us to the airport where we caught a flight with discount airline Cebu Pacific. You might remember Cebu Pacific from this post about the most entertaining safety demonstration I've seen.
Before boarding, we were able to hang out with Ceejay before his trip to Palawan, another island (there are over 7,000!). After boarding, I was way too excited to sleep so I stayed awake as the flight attendants kept us entertained with Philippines movie trivia. I got zero answers correct.
An hour or so later, we disembarked via staircar to a tiny airport that possibly had fewer square feet than our plane. Before deplaining, they made an announcement not to take photos from the tarmac. Of course, I hadn't considered taking photos until they told us not to, so I joined dozens of other travelers taking snapshots against the rules.
I did sneak in a ninety minute nap mid-afternoon as we lounged on the beach. We watched as scuba and fishing excursions returned from their day trips and decided to indulge ourselves in hour long massages on the beach, only $3USD each. During my massage, I looked up to see the very last of the sunset in paradise.
Feeling nice and relaxed, we returned to our room just a few yards from the beach to get cleaned up for dinner. Luckily Candice and I agreed that a room with air conditioning was well worth the extra $10/night charge. Set up kind of like a camp cabin, we had surprisingly comfortable beds, a private bath and a front porch with a view of the resort and beach.
We wrapped up Candice's certifications on Friday, taking time every hour to squeel "We're going on vacation today!" After Friday's shift ended on Saturday morning, Candice's husband took us to the airport where we caught a flight with discount airline Cebu Pacific. You might remember Cebu Pacific from this post about the most entertaining safety demonstration I've seen.
Before boarding, we were able to hang out with Ceejay before his trip to Palawan, another island (there are over 7,000!). After boarding, I was way too excited to sleep so I stayed awake as the flight attendants kept us entertained with Philippines movie trivia. I got zero answers correct.
An hour or so later, we disembarked via staircar to a tiny airport that possibly had fewer square feet than our plane. Before deplaining, they made an announcement not to take photos from the tarmac. Of course, I hadn't considered taking photos until they told us not to, so I joined dozens of other travelers taking snapshots against the rules.
Leaving the airport was a bit chaotic; there were dozens of drivers with signs to attract you to their resort. Apparently arriving without accomodations is common enough for these guys to stay in business, but the thought of doing so makes me breakout in a cold sweat. Thankfully, Candice had arranged for our hotel to pick us up and we waited in the hot, sunny parking lot for the transportation to arrive.
Thirty minutes from the airport, this is the paradise that awaited us (click to enlarge):
Upon arrival, my internal clock was telling me it was 11pm and I should go to sleep; but we stayed awak, determined to maximize our trip. We enjoyed lunch at the resort restaurant on the beach and ordered our first round of cocktails. After lunch, we moved on to some less-than-comfortable beach chairs that we were determined to make work. Turns out, with enough drinks and magazines, anything is possible!
|
| Our seats in paradise |
Feeling nice and relaxed, we returned to our room just a few yards from the beach to get cleaned up for dinner. Luckily Candice and I agreed that a room with air conditioning was well worth the extra $10/night charge. Set up kind of like a camp cabin, we had surprisingly comfortable beds, a private bath and a front porch with a view of the resort and beach.
We enjoyed dinner and a performance of coversongs by a duo playing guitars. They played mostly 70s and 80s songs and we sang a long for a few. I commented on how musical everyone in the Philippines seems to be; all of the skits in class included musical performances and Candice agreed. Exhausted from being awake nearly 24 hours, we kept telling ourselves, "Okay, we'll leave after this song." until the next awesome song started. Then we'd say "Okay, we'll leave after THIS song." Until we finally crashed.
We booked an excursion for Sunday morning, more on that soon! Here are some more pictures from Bohol! Click to enlarge
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