travel

Written about it before, will write about it again. The rigours of business travel. Sigh.

Sitting in Premium Economy on Virgin Atlantic on my way from London to NY. Arrived 2 days ago from Sydney via Christchurch (NZ) and back in the saddle. Flew business class the last trip, a must for 30 hours travel each way, couldn't justify it for such a short hop across the pond. To travel right everyone says drink lots of water, no caffeine and/or alcohol. Me, I indulge in the vine AND drink lots of water. I can sleep just about anywhere, so that's helpful. But honestly, travel is not fun, at least not to me anymore. Especially after 25 trips this year, no matter what class you fly. Perhaps private makes the difference. Oh, to be rich. Well, it's commercial for this chick. Glass of champagne, bottle of water, a little vintage Roxy Music on the Bose. Trip 1 million begins.

So, one of the biggest deals about travel is what not to take with you - not what to take, what not to take. You have to remember that whatever you take with you has this strange and unnerving capacity of increasing in weight the longer the trip.  You start off with a spring in your step and end up with dragging your heels (especially when they are in the suitcase girls).

Here are a couple ‘no no's’ for your consideration. Big books that end up weighing the weight of the tree they have been made from. Trouble is I like books. There are solutions, but more of that later. More than one suit for a guy will weigh you down, especially if it is anything less than summer weight cool wool. And how many shoes can you wear?  (This is rhetorical by the way.)  But the real shoulder breaker is the personal computer. It alone gives you more aches and pains than almost anything else. Something heavyish always becomes hellish to carry, whether slung, shouldered, or pulled.

Enter Kindle and then even better iPad, although the merits are argued –fiercely. Whoever wins the ‘I am best contest’ matters little, as having an iPad or Kindle to travel with will cut down on your physiotherapist’s bill. Strains, aches and shoulder surgery will become a thing of the past. 

Lighten up and Bon Voyage.

As I've been traveling a ton lately, I thought I'd share my husband's take on traveling - he's also a world traveler. This piece was first published on my website 24/Savvy.com:

The first axiom of savvy travel is Don’t - but if you must the journey could be made a little less irritating if you do these simple things, and the more so if the flight lasts longer than 8 hours.

Arrive early at the airport so that stress is kept to a minimum. Travel has its own stresses - why exacerbate them. 

Abuse not least you be abused.

Once on board, go ahead, knock yourself out with sleeping tablets, unless your blood is coagulation prone or your medic says you might die.  Also watch for DVT, in fact any acronyms ending in D. 

Avoid wine (with the exception of Penfolds Grange), actually don’t drink any alcohol, and don’t eat bread or anything that digests two days later.  No coffee, although the quality on airlines is deterrent enough, and no tea.  Drink lots of water and in this way you will avoid dehydration and DVT, as you’ll be up and down relieving yourself with enforced but healthy regularity. 

And remember an airplane is not a runway – for sartorial touchdowns.  Better to wear something comfortable and slightly unappealing (not pyjamas please) than crush your ‘labels.’  Black is a good color, as it is just a good color.  But it also makes you look severe enough to assist in avoidance of mindless conversations with other passengers who have failed to heed any of my sage advice.

Buckle up, happy travels and arrive better looking, feeling better than those who thought long flights were a perfect excuse for the ingestion of questionable food, cheap wine and sleepless nights.  Travel savvy, savvy ones.