In our last Journeywoman
Newsletter we asked readers to share travel tips and advice that
would make life on the road easier for the travellin� businesswoman.
From New York to California, from Hong Kong, England and Canada, there
was a deluge of helpful e-mail responses. Here�s what our roadwarriors-of-the-female-kind
had to say...
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She
extends herself...
Hotel rooms are not always designed so that you can
use your electrical appliances or computers in ways
that you would find most comfortable (i.e. some people
like to use their laptop while sitting on their bed).
To solve this problem, I pack a long extension cord
and adaptor in the appropriate voltage. This way I don�t
have to crawl under furniture to get to the outlet that
works best for me.
Sharon Allard, Gardiner, Kansas, USA |
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Gifts
for her daughters...
Frequently I travel business class on international
flights and have found that the travel packs many airlines
hand out (lotions, lip balm toothpaste, etc. all in
a nice case) are great to take home to my daughters.
After they�ve received a few, I just stockpile the other
packs to give out to their girlfriends when they come
over for slumber parties. No matter what their ages,
the girls seem to like the lotions and stuff a lot better
than the presents I bring home.
C. Burdt, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA |
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She
finds hotel deals...
Well before I travel, I e-mail potential hotels to
politely inquire about packages, promotions, and nonsmoking
accommodations. I�m usually happily surprised with the
discounts or opportunities I get back from the hotels�
reservation managers. Typically, their responses yield
"deals" that are not posted on the web site or available
via their toll free numbers.
Pat Conway, Santa Clara, California, USA |
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She
sends advance e-mails...
Long business trips abroad can be very isolating .
My solution? A month or so before traveling, send a
group e-mail to those of your family and friends who
travel a lot. Tell them where you plan to go and what
you wish to do there. Chances are, someone will have
a family member or friend to introduce you to at your
destination. That connection will mean the world of
difference if (in your free time) they can show you
the town from a local perspective. You might even be
invited for a home-cooked meal.
Valerie Snitz, New York City, New York, USA |
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Long
johns and health bars...
I live in Europe and travel almost every other week
for business. Here are five short tips that work for
me. I keep a set of silk long johns packed. Can't tell
you how many times I've gone somewhere cooler and have
been thankful I've had them! They take up no room or
weight so it doesn�t matter if you don�t use them. I
always have two extra change purses -- one for my own
currency and the other for the currency of the country
I�m visiting. I keep my toiletry bag packed and replenish
the contents each time I return from a trip. Then it�s
ready to go for the next time. I travel with healthy
food bars (types that don't melt). You never know when
you�re going to need a nutrition boost. Finally, I always
take a bathing suit and coolmax shorts along. One never
knows when you get a few hours to relax.
KY, Europe |
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Her
own medical kit...
It�s not fun to think about getting sick while you�re
travelling but I try to prepare myself for the more
common eventualities. I always bring a super-antibiotic
that will cover nearly any problems I might encounter.
This medication will usually help to treat bloody diarrhea,
upper respiratory or urinary tract infections. I also
bring a single-dose yeast infection pill, plus an assortment
of over the counter meds: antidiarrhea, painkillers,
cold medication. The last thing one wants to do if one
gets sick while traveling is to hunt for a chemist.
And, if you're traveling in developing countries, it's
especially important to be prepared.
Heather, Santa Cruz, California, USA |
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She does laundry in a bag...
Pack a large ( one gallon size) Zip-Lock storage bag
and use it to wash undies, socks etc. Simply put warm
water and your detergent (a teaspoon is plenty -- I
use Woolite) in the bag. Add your items to be washed,
slosh around a little--like a washer would do and then
leave it until you come back in the afternoon. Drain,
rinse and you have done your laundry effortlessly.
Billie Hamm, Lexington, Kansas, USA |
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| Toronto
hotel pampers businesswomen...
To make life easier and more
friendly for business travellers
of the female kind, the Holiday Inn
On King has come up with an interesting StayAssured
Program.
These
folks have thought of everything...
Guaranteed room availability from 9:00 AM.
Fresh fruit, breakfast
bars, bottled water.
Ask for it -- bellman will
park your car, security will escort you to your room.
Female-friendly kits for
all -- includes nail polish remover pads, hair spray, dental
floss and a hairband for when you are putting on or taking
off your make-up.
Comfy bathrobes and slippers
on request.
Need to buy nylons? There's
a supply.
Want an in-room spa service?
Book it in advance and it's yours.
Don't like eating dinner
alone? Enjoy the company of other women at hotel's round-table
dining.
Still not enough? After
your first 5 night stay, choose your gift --either a hair
dryer or an electric manicure kit. And there's still more.
(Evelyn Hannon, Journeywoman Files) |
Be careful
when packing pills...
While it is
sometimes a lot easier not to have to carry larger bottles
of prescription pills, never transfer any of those tablets
to a smaller container. It is recommended that travellers
always pack prescription drugs in their original bottles.
Custom officials can stop travelers who have unidentified
drugs and seize the medicines.
(Laurie D, Borman, The Smart Woman�s Guide to Business
Travel)
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For info on using diapers even if you don�t have a baby and how to
get rid of wrinkles in clothing, please click
here |