Archive for the ‘Travel Tips’ Category
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
Find Healthy Meals Anywhere
It’s not always easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you’re traveling to unfamiliar areas, but it is completely possible to enjoy a diet rich with nutrients and healthful foods no matter where you are. Learn how to eat healthy on the road – or just out of town for a few days – anytime.
Start in Your Own Kitchen
The most important habit to create is that of preparation. The simple task of packing snacks or creating meals ahead of time will prevent you from attacking the vending machine in a fit of hunger, which brings us to the next tip: don’t starve yourself to the point of grabbing whatever you see in sight. By having your healthy options with you and prepared ahead of time, you prevent the intake of unnecessary calories. Furnished apartments come with fully stocked kitchens, which means there’s really no excuse to not prepare something before heading out the door. These habits are easy to start and the best part is you can keep at it back home!
Convenient snack ideas include any type of fruit that travels easily, like grapes, bananas, or apples. The same goes for veggies; slice up some bell peppers and pack a snack sized hummus instead of fatty ranch dressing. Mixed nuts and granola or energy bars work well, too. But be leery of bars as some are high in fat and calories. When packing meals on the go it is best to use non-toxic containers such as glass or stainless steel, but if plastic is your only option choose a container that is BPA free.
Eat Smart When Eating Out
When you do venture out to eat be aware of portion sizes in restaurants as they have increased drastically over the years. People have wanted more bang for their buck, and restaurants have perceived that to be larger portions rather than higher quality foods. Remember that it isn’t necessary to finish everything on your plate – in fact, taking half back to the office after a lunch meeting out is a convenient way to eat healthier and not have to pack food for later. When ordering, plan ahead and come up with a meal that will serve well as leftovers for a future entrée.
We understand that fast food is not always unavoidable, so if you must order fast food go as healthy as possible. A veggie sandwich, sushi, or salads are much better for you than the drive through window at a restaurant chain. The good news is that pretty much every major city or town in the country has a plethora of options at most intersections so you won’t have to go far to find a better option.
Stay on Track with an App
There are dozens of useful tools available to you at your fingertips (we know your smartphone is never more than an arm’s length away). The Eating Well Guide is an online dictionary of sorts of sustainable foods, farmers markets, grocery stores, and restaurants nationwide. The website allows users to locate these businesses with over 25,000 locations available.
Fooducate is a phone app created to eliminate the confusion that comes with label reading. With over 200, 000 UPCs in their database, Fooducate provides the nutrition label, ingredients, facts about the product, and a rating on a letter grading scale. Users can add their own foods and share feedback on items with other individuals. Information such as food colorings, Trans fat, additives, and preservatives are also noted. With this app you may be surprised by what you find out about your favorite foods.
My Fitness Pal is a great tool for tracking your daily food intake. With over 2 million foods programmed into the app you can track your calories, sugar intake, fiber, cholesterol, fat, and protein. The recipe calculator allows you to enter your own ingredients and calculate the nutritional value of a meal you make at home or find in a restaurant. Additionally, My Fitness Pal tracks your fitness progress with over 350 exercises. Enter your cardio or strength training and set your goals. Connect with friends back home to help with motivation.
Find the resources most helpful to your needs and use them to achieve your desires. They are designed to help keep you on track and make the challenge of healthy eating a little bit easier. If you are already using a nutritional app or program with success, please share with us!
Image courtesy of Buzzfeed.
Tags: eating healthy on the go, healthy eating, healthy food
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Monday, March 25th, 2013
Spending time away from loved ones can be rough, especially when you are away from home and don’t know many people where you are. Fortunately, the use of modern technology has allowed us to connect with others on an unimaginable scale. Long gone are the days of phone calls via rotary. With access to the internet, individuals may connect in a variety of ways. We have compiled a list of apps to help connect you with those that are miles away, yet provide the ability to make it feel like they are right there with you.
Feel Me: An up and coming app that works on smartphones, Feel Me allows users the opportunity to “feel” the person on the other end of the phone. The app uses touch during texting to create a vibration to the receiver, at which point they are able to view where exactly on the screen the sender is touching and can touch back in the same place. Essentially, it’s like using the phone as a mirror to allow long distance touching. This video shows how the program works.
Skype: A popular online calling network that gives customers the option to make phone calls via video, Skype is used around the world. The company provides free access including video calls to other Skype users, instant messaging and file sharing. For an additional fee, accounts can be upgraded to include group video calls with up to 10 people, text messages, calls to mobile and landlines. Upgraded accounts are available in subscriptions or pay-as-you go options. Additional features include group calls, forwarded calls, a Skype number, instant messaging, voice messaging, Skype to Facebook, and screen sharing. With the wide variety of options available, Skype has become a favorite online connection of many.
Facebook: The most well-known social media site provides a quick way to share photos with family and friends. Smartphones allow photos to post immediately to the site, giving loved ones the chance to check out what you’ve been up to. The Facebook instant messenger gives the ability to talk to others in an instant online or via your cell phone.
Google Hangouts: As an alternative to Skype, Google Hangouts offer face-to-face chats, live virtual meetings, and streaming. Want to have some fun? This app allows the user to play virtual dress up on video! Use your tablet to take friends on a real-time tour wherever you are. It’s a great way to give the person on the other end a chance to travel from the comfort of their own home.
Technology is ever changing and gives us the freedom to connect in an instant. Try out different apps and find your favorite. Getting connected virtually helps corporate travelers feel at home even while away and provides a sense of comfort to friends and family members left behind.
Image courtesy of CNET
Tags: corporate travel, technology
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Friday, March 1st, 2013
Ahh spring… the grass is growing, the birds are building their nests, and the sun is shining for more days than there are clouds in the sky. To make things even better, you just got temporarily transferred to an awesome location! Whether you’re in Florida, Colorado or California, the scenery is fantastic and the weather can’t be beat. And there are so many activities to fill up your down time!
While being in these great places can be a wonderful experience (and on the company card, to boot!), keep in mind that all sorts of other people will be traveling to them during spring break. Students, grad students, families with young children, professionals needing a break from the office… there are plenty of people to distract you, delay you and deter you from having the type of stay you were hoping for. But fear not! Our handy tips will keep you sane, professional, and prepared to work and play in a vacation destination during spring break.
- Realize there will be crowds. This is perhaps the most important thing anyone can do when traveling anywhere (except, perhaps, the middle of nowhere). If you’re excited about traveling there, chances are other people will be traveling there, especially during a popular travel season. Being mentally prepared is the best thing you can do to get you through the crowds on the slopes or the beach.
- Look at the crowd as an opportunity for people watching. Watching others, especially those who are clearly tourists, can be a lot of fun! Get to where you need to be early, just in case there is traffic or some unexpected obstacle, and spend your free time with a coffee and bagel watching passers by. Play a game with yourself and try to spot as many obvious tourists as possible.
- Ask your local colleagues for the best spots to hang out. Those who live in touristy areas know where the crowds are thickest and where the best locals-only spots are. You’ll probably end up seeing a whole different side of the touristy town you’re in than if you stuck to the usual stuff everyone else is doing.
- Go prepared. Bring anything you’ll need with you so you don’t feel like you’re missing something, even if it’s just a $20 bill and your smartphone. Try to determine ahead of time where re-stocking stations are (coffee shops, drug stores) so you can grab a snack or extra sunscreen whenever you need to (this will also help you travel light). You can also find out where those less crowded beaches and mountains are.
- Don’t let the crowds stop you from doing the things you were excited about. While laying on a secluded beach can be nearly impossible in Miami or San Diego during spring break, you can still lay on a beach. Get there early and stake your space with a towel, bring a good book and a snack, and you’ll get plenty of sun before the true crowds start pouring in. If it’s skiing you’re after, get to the slopes early and avoid the lodge during prime break times. You may be there on company business, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend the entire time in the office. You never know who you’ll meet by getting out there so make every effort to enjoy yourself!
Image courtesy of Bloomberg
Tags: corporate travel, travel during spring break
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Wednesday, February 6th, 2013
Not all of us are used to traveling in winter climates, especially ones plagued by heavy snowfall. Winter business trips can be tricky to navigate if you rarely (or never) visit snowy locales. A big part of a successful winter business trip involves good planning and boning up on your knowledge of an area’s weather.
If you’re flying in or out of a snow covered airport, it’s understandable that you may experience anxiety before you fly. It can be frightening to take off from a snow and ice filled airport, but the staff at these airports are experienced and know exactly what they’re doing.
Pack lighter than you normally would. For a short business trip you’re probably only taking a briefcase and a small clothing bag, but condense the number of bags you’re carrying if at all possible. This will save time that you would otherwise spend wrangling your baggage and it could make it easier to squeeze into the last shuttle to your hotel if there is limited space for baggage.
Allow plenty of extra travel time. Head to the airport early to make sure that long security lines don’t cause you to miss your flight. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, plan to leave for meetings substantially earlier than you need to. Icy roads and big snowfalls require you to drive at a much slower pace to drive safely, and you don’t want to miss a meeting because of deep snowfall!
Here are a few tips to help ensure that your driving adventures aren’t waylaid by foul weather:
Check out your destination before you leave… carefully! The National Weather Service is a great place to check for travel advisories, which vary in level of strength and have differing effects on your travel plans. Keep a special eye out for winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings, which both mean that severe winter storms are in your area and you could be facing anywhere from four inches of snow to blinding snow drifts that could make it impossible to drive or navigate the area. If either of these warnings have been issued, you shouldn’t travel, especially if you aren’t a practiced driver in the snow. If the conditions are lighter but still snowy, make sure that you drive at a slower pace than you normally would and keep a lot of space between you and the car in front of you.
Be prepared! This varies widely depending on whether you’re driving your own car or renting a car when you get to your location. If you’re driving your own car, you need to construct a safety kit. It might not be necessary at home, but there are definitely some supplies that you’ll need if you’re going to be driving in snowy weather. Good items to include are: bottled water or jugs of water, flashlights, wool/ high intensity blankets, batteries, a shovel, an ice scraper, high calorie food that doesn’t take up a lot of space, a small first aid kit, and cash in small bills. These are all invaluable items to have on deck if regular weather turns into a big snowfall and you don’t have access to the retail areas you normally would. If you’re flying and then renting a car in the area, you can pick up a compact emergency kit for your car that runs under $50. You can pop it in your suitcase or carry on bag, and it offers some great tools for winter travel.
Have a plan of action. Update and investigate the details of your health and car insurance before you leave so that you know exactly what scenarios are covered by your insurance. Fill your gas tank (and keep it that way) to make sure that your fuel lie doesn’t freeze in the cold weather. That can be a tough situation to deal with while you’re out on the road, so it’s best to try to avoid it altogether. If you do get stuck in a snow bank or encounter particularly high snowfall, don’t leave your car. Call for help and wait to leave your car until you can visibly see the party arriving to help, especially if you’re not wearing strong winter clothing.
The most important thing that you can do to prepare for traveling in winter weather that you’re not accustomed to is to thoroughly research the weather that you’ll be encountering and operate carefully!
Image: GlobalMaritimes
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Sunday, January 20th, 2013
For those of us who travel a lot, it’s an ordinary thing to see the flight advisories in any given airport changed from yellow to orange to red. The whole country has been on high alert since 9/11, but there are some travel advisories and warnings that you should keep an eye on. If international travel is a part of your job description, you should remember that not all advisories are created equal.
There are three main types of travel advisories issued by the federal government: travel warnings, travel alerts, and emergency messages. No single federal agency issues travel advisories; they are usually issued by embassies or intelligence offices that deal with local populations directly.
Travel warnings are the most common type of travel advisory, and they probably won’t affect corporate travel. If you’re traveling to an area of the world under travel warning (such as Iran) your boss or the company’s travel advisor has probably already taken the warning into account and included safety information with your itinerary. Travel warnings are usually issued to discuss the rights you may or may not have while visiting a particular area, so that you’re aware of the legal regulations that you’ll encounter. If you’re an adult woman traveling for work alone, these warnings may also let you know that areas of the city or country you’re visiting are unsafe or unwelcoming for solo female travelers. If you’re traveling to an area that you suspect may be under travel warning but you haven’t received notice along with your itinerary, there are a couple places you can check. The Bureau of Consular Affairs updates travel warnings and advisories for all locations, so check these sites for any safety information that may be relevant to your travels. Travel warnings likely won’t deter your business trip, but they will contain information that will be important throughout your trip.
Since 2013 began, the US has issued travel warnings to the following countries:
○ El Salvador
○ Algeria
○ Mali
○ Niger
○ Kenya
○ Libya
Travel alerts are the the middle of the road, and they’re usually issued when a temporary problem or disaster makes traveling to a specific area more dangerous than it would be normally. You won’t find these in long term danger zones (conflict areas of Iraq, for example) but in areas affected by typhoons, hurricanes, or a power struggle in a certain area. If a travel alert has been issued for an area that you’re scheduled to travel to, you can likely reschedule your trip for a later date and then travel safely as planned.
Emergency messages are the advisories that it’s most important to keep up with, because they change so rapidly. Subscribing to services like the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program can help keep you updated on emergency messages that could be issued during your journey to a locale in danger. .The app will also let you know if conditions change while you’re traveling, in case a coup breaks out during your trip or a disaster is impending.
Some of the most serious US travel warnings currently issued include advisories to the following areas:
● Sudan (this includes a travel warning from the US Maritime Administration)
● Libya
● Tunisia
● Lebanon
● Algeria
The travel advisories issued for these areas not only warn against traveling to these countries, they advise any US citizens currently on business or personal trips in the area to leave the country and return to the United States. The US has even reduced official staff presence in Sudan and Tunisia because the security threat is so high. Skype meetings or video conferencing could serve as a valuable replacement for dealing with business partners in countries under high alert.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs offers a complete list of all travel advisories currently issued by the US federal government, with detailed information that can inform your travel decisions.
Image: KfyrTV
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Friday, December 7th, 2012
Every experienced traveler has been in this situation before: about to pay for a meal in the airport and suddenly at a loss. Where could your credit card be? Whether it’s sitting safely at home or it’s in the hands of an industrious pickpocket, it’s certainly not of any help to you. Industry insiders hope they have an answer to this dilemma: the mobile wallet. Rather than carrying around your credit cards, you’ll upload and verify your credit card information to an application on your smart phone and simply scan your phone at checkout. This is great for travelers because you’ll always have access to the credit card with the best miles for your needs.
To pay with a true “mobile wallet,” both the register and phone will need to be equipped with an NFC chip. Only about 3% of the smart phones used in America are currently NFC-equipped. Many stores already have payment options that allow you to scan a barcode to trigger an online payment, or use your phone to make an online payment to the register. As more and more people begin to pay with some version of a mobile wallet, the technology will become more common. Because most of the population of the US has access to stable banking, they have little incentive to choose new payment methods, but the sheer convenience factor makes mobile wallets a great pick.
The truth is that there is an incentive to move towards mobile payment: it could be a fantastic security measure for those traveling with several cards. While some have safety concerns about the cyber-security aspect of handling all transactions online, experts say that it should be easy enough to secure the process against hackers.
The Google Wallet application is the most popular of these types of applications so far, precisely because it’s so secure. Should you lose your phone, you can remotely disable the application to ensure that pickpockets won’t be rewarded with your credit card information, and unlike travelling with physical credit cards, you won’t have to cancel everything amid a stressful attempt to prevent identity theft. Surveys have found that around 48% of people are excited about moving to a wireless form of payment, and travelers should be eager to get behind this technology as well. Start looking for stores that will let you pay with your phone, and you’ll be in for a smooth ride.
Feeling like your business trips are lacking a certain something? PC Housing provides weary road warriors with all the comforts of home in our furnished apartments and Corporate Housing in San Diego and elsewhere that will have you questioning whether home is truly where the heart is!
Image: The Verge
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Thursday, November 15th, 2012
It’s that time of year. Yes, some love it. Some Hate it. We all must face it. We’re talking, of course, about HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON 2K12. The same tried and true tactics still apply to strategically situating yourself for success when it comes time for holiday travel. We’ve discussed it before, but rather than sending you searching for our age-old wisdom, we thought we’d just summarize the key points here for your viewing pleasure.
Research Cheap Airfare and the Best Days to Fly
According to a study done by FareCompare, the best time to purchase airline tickets is Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Airlines are prone to dropping ticket prices during the early parts of the week before jacking them back up again after Thursday’s when they know most people will spend more time researching flights.
They also found that Wednesday was the cheapest day of the week to fly on. Sandwiched in between the higher volume days of Tuesday and Thursday, Wednesday is traditionally a slower travel day, but planes still need to move around to be ready for the rest of the week and thus ticket prices tend to be a bit lower for these mid-week flights.
Arrive Early
This seems like a bit of a no-brainer for business travelers, but when it comes time to actually have the bags packed, the gifts ready, and possibly the kid(s) in the car, that hour and a half you promised yourself would get you through in time somehow has turned into 35 minutes and you’re speeding down the highway praying for a delayed flight.
The volumes of vacationers and inexperienced travelers tend to back the lines in security and check-in to at least twice their normal volume. While common knowledge recommends getting to the airport an hour before your flight, we say go for broke and double that, because waiting for a flight is boring but missing it and waiting 2-3 times as long is a killer.
Bringing Gifts? Save the Wrapping for Later
Ideally, you’ll want to ship your gifts ahead of time to ensure that they’ll arrive on time and in good condition. But if you must bring them along, save the wrapping for after you arrive. Oftentimes security officers must unwrap packages in order to move through checkpoints and will likely have no patience for your plea that “it’s only a Batmobile, I swear!”
Pack Light and Bring Extra Bags
Luggage fee’s have been on the rise of over the last few years, so unless you absolutely have to, save some time and cash by getting it all in your carry-on. Similar to our advice on gifts, it might be easier and cheaper to simply FedEx that extra bag ahead of time to ensure arrival as well as comfort.
In addition, though you’ll be bringing gifts/etc. along with you, what about those that you will be receiving? Packing an extra, empty duffel bag somewhere gives you a place to store any expected items, because you never really know how much or how big those gifts may be.
Feeling like your business trips are lacking a certain something? PC Housing provides weary road warriors with all the comforts of home in our furnished apartments and corporate suites that will have you questioning whether home is truly where the heart is!
Image: OrlandoInside
Posted in Air Travel, Air Travel Tips, International Travel, Road Warriors, Take a Vacation, Travel Advice, Travel Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, November 8th, 2012
Despite the oftentimes draining effects of logging serious miles while out on the road, the perks of maximizing the benefits of credit card offers that keep business travelers in mind is a great benefit. But given the multitude of options, perks and bonuses offered by each, making the decision of what card works best for you is simply a matter of a preference. We wanted to highlight a few of the big ones as an introduction and to offer some perspective to help guide you in your decision. Without further adieu..
Citi AAdvantage: A great all-around benefits package including a free first bag check for you and up to 4 others, priority boarding and 30,000 AAdvantage bonus miles on sign up. However, the American Airlines exclusivity might be a turn off.
Amex Platinum: While the lounge access, $200 credit and 0% interest (as long your balance is paid in full each month) is enticing….the $450 annual fee could be a deal breaker for the conscientious spender as well as the restrictions that come with Amex not being accepted universally.
Chase Sapphire Preferred: Double points on travel and dining and the potential for receiving an additional 40,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months make this Visa a solid bet if you’re not concerned with high interest rates or airport lounge access.
There’s plenty more options out but these 3 cards are some of the better deals out there that we’ve come across. Know of some comparable or similar deals? Sound off in the comments below!
Feeling like your business trips are lacking a certain something? PC Housing provides weary road warriors with all the comforts of home in our furnished apartments and corporate suites that will have you questioning whether home is truly where the heart is!
Image: ChargeSmart
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Tuesday, October 30th, 2012
This being a travel blog, we always love to feature tips and tricks for managing life on the road. Of course, while we consider ourselves seasoned travelers it never hurts to get the advice from a real pro. With that in mind, we turned to the Ad-lib Traveller for her tips on life on the go.
- One key recommendation is to bring along a copy of your prescriptions and the know the common names of your medication. In addition, if your medicines contain any sort of narcotic, absolutely keep them in their original, labelled containers along with a letter from your doctor.
- Avoid lost luggage by removing old luggage tags as they can oftentimes be the cause of misplaced bags! Consider using your work address instead of home if you’re uncomfortable with publicly displaying your private info.
There’s a few more gems over on the Ad-Lib Traveller blog which you should take some time to check out!
Feeling like your business trips are lacking a certain something? PC Housing provides weary road warriors with all the comforts of home in our furnished apartments and corporate suites that will have you questioning whether home is truly where the heart is!
Image: vacationpuntaminta
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Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012
Tired of searching endlessly through travel websites for hours on end hoping to score the best possible deal? We came across a site which might just be the answer to all your problems and, just maybe, a glimpse into the future of travel booking…
FlightFox is a web-based service where customers can go to receive aid in their search for the best possible flight. It breaks down like this:
- You enter in your itinerary details, including where to and where from, as well as your flexibility regarding the dates you wish to travel on.
- You enter in your preferences on layovers, cost vs travel time, airline quality and cost vs maintaining your strict schedule.
- Your query is turned into a “contest” where FlightFox “hackers” compete with one another to find you the best possible flight given your specific parameters from which you can choose your favorite and pay a small finders fee to the lucky winner.
While the service sounds pretty spectacular, there are some obvious situations in which it’s not really saving you any money OR time, which they readily admit. A strict schedule, a straightforward trip (think LA<–>NYC) or someone who regularly travels the same route means you haven’t much to gain from the services offered.
While the service may not be ideal for your monthly flights for quick-stop meetings in a neighboring state, the experts at FlightFox can help you plan a complicated trip in the most effcient way posiible. Oftentimes the finders fee (anywhere from $25-$55 on average) is nothing compared to saving a couple hundred dollars on a flight. Is this the future or simply a fad? Only time will tell.
 FlightFox...the greatest development in travel since...? Feeling like your business trips are lacking a certain something? PC Housing provides weary road warriors with all the comforts of home in our furnished apartments and corporate suites that will have you questioning whether home is truly where the heart is!
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