Elizabeth and I both have jobs where we travel a lot so we
thought we’d do a series documenting our best travel tips. I’m usually out of
the office 2-3 days a week and around 100 days a year - hotel hopping all
across Texas. These tips are things I use no matter if it’s a week long
vacation, a weekend getaway or a few days out for work. Here are my top 10
travel tips!
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| Can't ever complain about a view like this. |
1 – Sign up for every single rewards program there is. I
have a whole sheet of logins, passwords and honors codes because I have one for
every single hotel brand, airline and car rental company I have ever used.
Little trips stack up quickly! It took me only a few months to achieve A-List
status with Southwest and I had enough points to buy both of us round-trip
flights to Cabo last year, as well as several free nights in hotels!
2 – I travel alone a lot and sometimes for extended periods
of time. To break up the monotony of lonely hotels, I’ve learned it’s worth it
to go a little out of my way to do something fun when I have down time to keep
my sanity. From taking a two-hour detour to visit
Roundtop and the Junk GypsyHeadquarters to just taking a little time at the pool with a margarita when
you’re in South Texas in the summer. I also love meeting up with long-lost
friends or family if I’m in their part of the world!
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| Made a two-hour pitstop (detour?) at the Junk Gypsy Headquarters last summer. |
3 – Outlet malls. This kind of goes with #2 on this list,
but if there are outlet malls along your route – take advantage of them!! There
are no outlets anywhere near where I live so I always jump on the chance to
stock up on workout gear when I pass a Reebok outlet.
4 – If you aren’t sure what to do, ask around. I like to
send out an SOS on twitter about places to eat so I’m not stuck eating
Chick-Fil-A in my hotel alone in every town (not that there’s anything wrong
with that J). Locals are usually more than happy to steer you in the right direction for
food, shopping or fun. Use work travel as an opportunity to try new things or
knock something off your Texas bucket list.
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| Sometimes, your car becomes your closet, gym, personal kitchen and home. Sometimes I think I should just get an RV. |
5 – If you’re timid about sitting alone in a restaurant,
order at the bar. Even if you don’t want to drink, there will at least be
several people eating alone and may even strike up good conversation – even if
it’s just with the bartender. It’s what they do for a living. One of my best
experiences was in a wine bar in the Love Field airport with about 4 old men
who had just toured Napa Valley.
6 – On a long trip, don’t be afraid to take an afternoon off
to get a manicure, lay out with a drink, shop or get a massage. Turn off your
email notifications and just relax for a few hours. It will keep you sane.
Promise. In the summers I love nothing more than cranking the AC up, getting under the covers and taking a snooze!
7 – I used to be adamant about making as few stops as
possible when driving long distances, but I’ve learned that it’s best to stop
often and get drinks and go to the bathroom. It keeps me hydrated and awake and
I love stopping in at Buc-ees or little mom and pop places for a coke and a
snack.
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| Always buy the roadside watermelon. Always. |
8 – If you rent a car, always ask how you turn on the lights
before you leave. I’ve found myself driving around in the dark with no clue my
lights weren’t on far too many times!!!
9 – I’m notorious for leaving my phone charger in hotels. I’ve
gotten in the habit of keeping my car keys next to where I charge my phone so I
can’t leave without it.
10 – One last tip for packing – ziplock bags are my best
friend. I have used every form of fancy fold-up, hang-up or roll out toiletry
bag on the planet but I’m telling you, two gallon-sized ziplock bags are all I
need. They lay flat, don’t take up any extra space, and if something spills,
you can just toss it and grab a new one. I use one for makeup and one for
toiletries. I keep the toiletries bag packed all the time with backup or
travel-sized bottles of everything so I just throw it in my bag and go. I love
having my makeup in a clear bag – makes getting ready even quicker!
