Travel tips

[sd8683]

Do any of you frequent travelers have any pointers for me? I'm going to Missouri for work for two weeks, I'm leaving this Sunday.
Is there anything that I can't bring on the plane that I
should know about? Any suggestions on what I should bring that would make my hotel stay as comfortable as possible?

Thanks guys and gals, Sean

[CBT]

I would take nothing but clothes, cash, and a cell phone. Easier just to buy basic tolietries/shaving/showering stuff when you get to your destination. Travel light, move fast, don't put anything in your luggage that might even look remotely like a weapon. Didn't someone here get yelled at for wrapping thier computer speakers around an alarm clock? I dropped Amy off at the airport this morning, she's now in Chicago till Tuesday. There was a lady with a baby there, she rolled her luggage up to the checkout (so she wouldn't have to drag it thru the line while tending to her baby) and about as soon as she got back in line they made this announcement: "Anyone who left a big red suitcase up here unattended, if it isn't retrieved immediately, the police will be called."

[Blk Mamba]

I "Never" fly, so I take my pillow, you wouldn't believe the difference.

[Bluerauder]

Do any of you frequent travelers have any pointers for me? I'm going to Missouri for work for two weeks, I'm leaving this Sunday.
Is there anything that I can't bring on the plane that I
should know about? Any suggestions on what I should bring that would make my hotel stay as comfortable as possible?

Thanks guys and gals, Sean
What part of Missouri? Are you flying into St. Louis/Lambert or Kansas City?

The TSA link here >>>> http://www.tsa.gov/index.shtm in the "What to Know Before You Go" menu box has some tips and includes a list of prohibited items.

Leave the explosive Nike's at home. ;) Don't screw with bringing any liquids through security ... pack all your liquid/shaving and bath stuff in your suitcase. Don't try to bring your 36" roll-on suitcase onto the plane 'cause it ain't gonna fit in the overhead or under the seat. If you have a laptop or DVD player ... you can bring it on the plane for use after takeoff. No cellphone use "in the air".

As to the hotel .... it depends on where and what hotel as to the amenities that are provided. I like the Hampton Inn for reasonable rates, nice rooms, decent amenities and cleanliness. The Hampton also has a breakfast buffet every morning and a 24/7 coffee & tea bar. I am seeing more flat screen LCDs on travel now. Some have DVD players in the room too so you can bring along your favorite DVDs. Of course, you can "order" in room movies ..... but they come with a price. Most rooms are equipped with a small fridge that you can stock with drinks and snacks and such ... after you get there. Bring along some "lounging" clothes if you are gonna spend much time in the room. Bring a swimsuit and work-out clothes as most hotels have pools and a small gym. The Hampton also offers an "Internet Cafe" if you don't have a laptop to tote along .... so you can still visit MM.Net.

Enjoy your trip ....

[Ms. Denmark]

Good luck on your trip. Some things that work for me in the airport and on the plane are;slip on shoes, luggage on wheels, a neck pillow, some healthy snack items like nuts, whole grain bars, and maybe fruit ( an apple or orange) as plane snacks are expensive and salty. A paperback book, word games or magazine and earphones come in handy. Pack all your toiletry items in checked luggage. If you need to bring liquids on board ie eye drops or hand sanitizer(which is a good idea) get the small size bottles and place them in a quart sized ziplock bag. Bring a couple extra bags with you. Drink plenty of tea or water during your flight to stay hydrated. Get up and walk every hour during the flight to avoid blood clots forming in your legs. You can also do leg and ankle exercizes in your seat. I always try to get an isle seat so I can get up without bothering my neighbor. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially before eating anything.

For the hotel; bring some small clips to hold the curtains closed for maximum room darkening, a hanging type toiletry bag is a space saver, take the bedspread off the bed and store it in a closet. I bring my own travel pillow, but many of the better hotels now offer a selection of pillows. An extension cord can come in handy,as well as normal sized bath soap.

Have a safe and productive trip.:)

[FordNut]

I travel 2-3 weeks per month.
My air travel routines:
Take only carry-on bags, don't check anything. If you have a checked bag it's more difficult to change flights if a connecting flight is late or cancelled. Make sure they're both small enough to qualify as carry-ons. Usually a small roller-bag and a briefcase will work. Regional jets have enough room for the small bag to go overhead and the larger bag under the seat. Don't get a bulkhead seat or there will be no seat in front of you for storage. Get a B or C seat instead of an A, the A seats are frequently a row of single seats and the large bag won't fit under them. Exit row seems like a good idea for extra legroom, but frequently I find that they don't recline so I try to get closer to the front of the plane. It's smoother, quieter, and you can get off quicker. Take minimal toiletries, a toothbrush, small travel size toothpaste, a razor, a comb or brush. Don't forget and leave your pocket knife in your pocket or you'll have to get rid of it. Don't try to take a bottle of water, a soft drink, a cup of coffee through security. Once they check your ID, put it away but hold onto your boarding pass and hand-carry it through security. Be ready to pull off your shoes, belt, coat and put in one bin. Take out the computer, keys, cell phone and put in another bin. Then get out of the way as quick as you can after you get through security. After you're past security get a 20 oz bottled drink or bottle of water to carry on the plane with you. That's about it for the air travel part. A hotel is basically a bed, but free wi-fi is available in most places. Big cities suck, they charge for wi-fi, parking, breakfast, virtually everything. Some hotels offer hot breakfast, most at least offer continental, a lot have expanded (or deluxe) continental which includes a waffle-maker so you can have fresh waffles. Most rooms have coffee makers, irons, ironing boards, hair dryers. Some hotels offer an evening reception with a few free drinks, usually from 5-7 or something like that.

[sd8683]

Thanks everyone, great advice!! I will be staying at the comfort inn in grain valley Missouri, I have not traveled by plane in quite some time and to be honest.... I'm not looking forward to it:o I will be taking my laptop along, should I be worried about leaving it in the hotel room unattended?
Another question, they say cell phones are to be turned off during the flight, would I be able to use my Internet air card? It is technically a cell phone, it has its own number and everything.

Thanks again, Sean

[FordNut]

No two-way devices can be used on the plane while in flight. You can use it for local work only. Once you land, you can turn on cell-phones while the plane is taxi-ing up to the gate. I haven't worried about leaving my laptop in the room.

Another thing, take some snacks on the plane with you. Some airlines don't even offer free pretzels or peanuts any more, and others will sell you some snacks at outrageous prices.

[CBT]

Another question, they say cell phones are to be turned off during the flight,

Yeah, they say that, but I've never done it. Also, don't yell ALLAH unless it's followed by PEANUTBUTTERSANDWICHES!!

[FordNut]

I've forgotten to turn mine off before, it eats up the battery pretty quickly because you're out of range and it keeps roaming and switching to analog mode (if it is analog capable).

[Bluerauder]

I will be taking my laptop along, should I be worried about leaving it in the hotel room unattended?
Laptops are high value and pilferable items. I certainly wouldn't leave it out in plain view. If it was mine, I'd lock it in the trunk of my rental car rather than leave it unattended in the room. I have never had anything "stolen" from a hotel room; but I wouldn't tempt anyone either.

[MM03MOK]

No Internet during flight. Phones must be turned off when the cabin door is closed. You can play games or watch TV but no Internet on the laptop or phone. I've always left my laptop in my hotel room but I unplug it and put it back in it's bag or put it in the dresser drawer under some clothes. Out of sight, out of mind. Never had a problem. If you do need to bring liquids in your carry-on, make sure they're 3.5 oz or smaller. Have them ready and pull them from your luggage to be viewed/x-rayed at security. This includes tooth paste. Read through the TSA info Charlie linked above.

[FordNut]

And liquids (including toothpaste) must be in a 3.5 oz or smaller container. Doesn't matter if it's the last 1/16 oz squeeze, if it's in a 4 oz container it goes in the trash.

[RF Overlord]

Here's an interesting travel tale:

A colleague was off on his honeymoon to Cabo San Cabo or somewhere when his wife was randomly selected for the "trace explosive" tests. Heh...she flunked. At that point it became a HUGE frikken deal...they were hauled into a back room, TSA officers everywhere, beaten with rubber hoses, hollered at, all their luggage torn apart, etc...(no cavity search, though :rolleyes: )

Long story short, it turns out that she works at a garden shop or greenhouse-type place and the test detected traces of fertilizer that showed up as a "possible" explosive. :eek:

The good news is that they made their flight...barely.

[Vortech347]

Don't leave home without your .45

[CBT]

turns out that she works at a garden shop or greenhouse-type place and the test detected traces of fertilizer that showed up as a "possible" explosive. :eek:

I believe it. Remember the news story about the guy who was setting off the WMD sensor on the local fire department truck? He had a uranium pellet inserted "down there" to help shrink an enlarged prostate. Those sensors picked it up, that's how good they work. God as my witness, this is a true story.

[Vortech347]

I don't think I'd put anything radioactive down my pants...

[CBT]

I don't think I'd put anything radioactive down my pants...

Lol, it's an actual medical procedure, nukes the cancer cells.

[Bluerauder]

Long story short, it turns out that she works at a garden shop or greenhouse-type place and the test detected traces of fertilizer that showed up as a "possible" explosive. :eek:
Those nitrates will get you every time. :P

[RF Overlord]

Lol, it's an actual medical procedure, nukes the cancer cells.Yep. My Dad had the same thing done. It works.

[FordNut]

But it's not uranium. I believe they use palladium.

[CBT]

But it's not uranium. I believe they use palladium.

Heck, for all I know it's Kryptonite or Adamantium, I felt sorry for the poor guy. He went thru the same harrassment; strip search, accusations, they even staked out his house.

[CRUZTAKER]

Any suggestions on what I should bring that would make my hotel stay as comfortable as possible?

Thanks guys and gals, Sean

OK...coming from a professional here....:rolleyes::P

When you get to your hotel, ask if pets are allowed.
If they are, get a room that has not had pets, and verified it was treated.

Do not bring ANYTHING into your hotel room until you have inspected everything. Look under the matress', the headboard if mounted to the wall, behind and under the dressers. If bed bugs exist, you'll see them, or traces of them.
They generally only come out from their dark hiding places between 2 and 4 a.m just before dawn when they smell the CO from your breath.
Fleas are harder to spot, but if they are hungry, they will find you quickly. They also leave trails.

For piece of mind, you could bring several large 32-36 gallon (clear or white) trash bags to cover and enclose your luggage in the room. The safest place is where it is light at all times. I leave my luggage in the tub, and the bathroom light remains on at all times.

Leave the do not disturb on your door at all times. I never let hotel staff in my room unless I am there. Most hotels can perform service on weekends when you are not working and in the room. I just ask for towels at the front deskduring the week, and have been known to borrow a sweeper and do my own room....the right way.

[jgc61sr2002]

:
Don't leave home without your .45

^^^
Leave it home and take your 9MM.:lol::D

[TAKEDOWN]

Bring your patience, you'll need it!

[hot-rauder]

Good luck Sean...

Barry had the best tips for ya.

When I was in London for a week we had the Do Not Disturb sign on at all times. We did general cleaning on the room, even though it costs $1600 a night lol.

Dont use the mini bar, mini bar=large bill

[CRUZTAKER]

Good luck Sean...

Barry had the best tips for ya.

I don't know man...carrying a GUN on a plane and to the work site seemed really helpfull. :rolleyes::stupid:

[sunnydays13]

If you're traveling then you might want to get one of these. I've tried many a travel pillow during my years in the skies. I have finally found one that is as comfortable as my pillow on my bed. It has a satin pillowcase, so my hair doesn't get stuck in one spot while I'm sleeping on the plane or when I have a flight delay and I nap in the airport. I don't get off the flight with the "bed head" look. I can go to a meeting or lunch with clients and my hair looks great. The pillow itself is designed to feel like down and it's hypoallergenic. Both the satin pillowcase and the pillow are completely washable. When I'm home I throw it on the sofa and use it as a nap pillow. Now I won't travel without it. I wound up getting a satin pillowcase to take with me to use in my hotel room. The company I purchased the travel pillow from is A Touch Of Satin.

Their website is http://www.atouchofsatin.com if you're interested. They had a great selection to choose from and they had some really cute ones for kids. It's perfect for "sleepy time" when the kids are exhausted on car trips as well. They love the way satin feels on their faces. Come to think of it, so do I. If you do any flying at all, or even take car trips, this travel pillow is a must to take with you.