Packing
- Luggage tag - Clearly label your luggage with your name and address. If possible use your work address or a PO Box instead of your home address. You should also have a luggage tag that is unique so you can identify find your black suitcase among the other hundreds of black suitcases. I have 3 tags on my bag, 1 that tells my airline status, 1 for my address, and this one for uniqueness
- Makeup Kit - I have duplicate makeup kits, one for home and one that never leaves my suitcase. The contents of both makeup bags are identical and its one less thing I have to remember.
- Power Cords - Like my makeup kit, I have doubles of all my power cords that never leave my suitcase. I even have a second cord for my laptop that stays in my laptop bag. If I'm working from home I simply take my laptop out and plug it into the cord I keep at home.
Hotel
- Room Keys - Always get 2 keys for your hotel room. There is no reason to announce to the entire lobby that you are staying alone.
- Check-in - When you check in, ask that they just point to your room number instead of announcing it to everyone in listening distance. Most hotels do this, but I learned this tip from the couple of hotels that didn't. Nothing like the hotel clerk saying loudly in a crowded lobby "Here you go Ms. Smith, here is your one key, you are in room 316"
- Rewards Club - Even if you don't travel weekly, you should still sign up for your favorite hotel rewards. The points do add up, but its really the perks that I like, late check-out, guaranteed room reservations, snacks, etc...
Fun on the Road
- Postcard - A tradition I started with my family when I travel is, no matter where I go, I always send a postcard home and it has to be postmarked from the place I'm visiting. Usually the first I do when I get off the plane is hit the gift shop and buy a postcard then mail it from the hotel (they can meter it).
- Explore - Don't be one of those travelers that only sees the hotel lobby and client sites. Go out and explore the town. Even small towns have something to see. Ask the hotel clerk/concierge what to see. Most of my travel is in the US, so my personal tour guide is 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz
