Road Warrior's topics - tribe.net

DFW...

2008-11-07T00:50:15Z

I haven't been to the dallas airport since it was renovated.
WOW this is perhaps my new favorite airport in the country.

It's really lovely and user friendly.
And I'm staying at the hotel at the airport? SO easy and lovely I could cry.

Big props.

posted in Road Warrior - 1 reply

Discount international travel?

2008-11-02T23:08:33Z

Hey, kids!

I booked my ticket from Naples, Italy to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania a few months ago in preparation for my trip to Kilimanjaro in January. The airlines have rescheduled about 5 times and now the connecting flights no longer meet up. They have offered to reschedule me for the same day at MUCH less convenient times or to give me a full refund. Additionally, one of my travel buddies has now requested that we arrive 2 days early and leave 1 day later.

I think I may end up going with the refund, as they (Orbitz and Qatar Air) are not sounding like they are wanting to make the adjustment on the days. Before I go with that, and potentially end up spending another $500, does anyone here have recommendations for good, international travel agents or online booking sites?

I'm looking at leaving Naples on Dec. 29 and returning on Jan. 17. I paid around $1150 for the ticket. Purchasing now, and with the modified dates, is getting me prices in the $1675 range. Ideas, recommendations?

Thanks, all!
SW

posted in Road Warrior - 0 replies

Annoyed in Raleigh

2008-09-12T02:41:32Z

Hey fellow road warriors.
I hope everyone's september is going well.
I personally have 7 more flights to take before Oct 2.

sigh...

I just had the most annoying experience in Raleigh's airport. Usually I'm a big fan of the NC town. However...

Did you know this airport has NOWHERE outside the TSA area to meet for coffee, a meal, etc? I dont know about you guys but I often meet colleagues in the airport to powwow before heading to a presentation. I literally had to beg the TSA folks to let me meet my colleague inside her terminal (which was different from mine) so that we could sit down and have lunch and plan our meeting.

The only reason they let me in was because I was taking another flight that night and had a boarding pass, though for another terminal.

Grr...BOO RDU!

posted in Road Warrior - 2 replies

Austin TX... here I come!

2008-07-01T02:46:38Z

Isn't it great when work and play mesh so nicely together?

I'll be spending a week north of Austin soon, and was able to extend my stay over the weekend! So I'll be in Austin on Friday evening July 18 and Saturday July 19... I leave Sunday afternoon July 20.

I'm posting around tribe looking for some local burners to come play with me! I've always wanted to visit Austin. I'm so excited! Woo woo!

xoxo
Dusty

posted in Road Warrior - 0 replies

Chain Restraunts and WiFi ???

2008-07-01T02:15:15Z

It's hard enough to find decent food in smalltown USA... but how bout a decent reliable restraunt chain that has WiFi. All I want to do is sit at the bar, have a decent glass of wine, get a nice dinner salad and log on. Is that too much to ask?

posted in Road Warrior - 4 replies

The People's Republic of China

2008-06-21T19:23:04Z

Headed there on Tuesday, next week.

I'll be staying at the Eastern Hotel in Beijing, and will visit the Great Wall and the new Olympic Stadium. A report, pics, and traveler's advice to follow.

See you on the road, or in the air!

posted in Road Warrior - 2 replies

GPS... my new best friend.

2008-06-20T03:37:39Z

So all this time I've been suffering and I didn't even know it. I've been printing out my Google and Mapquest maps of all my planned destinations for my trip, making route notes, studying them before hitting the road. When I get to the car rental counter, collecting my local maps. And, when I get to my customers town out in the middle of East Bumfuck, not venturing too far off my known trail. Getting a GPS unit with my rental car... not an option as my company won't reimburse for it. So far, I've made out okay with this process, but it certainly hasn't been a joy.

I bought a Magellan Maestro the other day and used if for the first time on this trip (I'm near Daytona FL).

Can I just say WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME THAT I'VE WAITED THIS LONG TO INVEST IN THIS MAGNIFICENT TOY!

The life of this humble road warrior will never be the same again. I'm already feeling the relief of knowing I won't have to spend time before each trip planning my travels. Knowing I can drive about an unknown town in search of a decent meal without fear of getting lost... I can already feel the stress wane from my being. Not having to trouble my customers with giving me directions to some out of the way meeting place makes everybody happy.

One trip and I'm addicted. I will find space in my luggage to bring my little Maestro on the road with me everywhere I go. If push comes to shove with luggage fees, and carry-on space at a premium... I'd sooner leave the hair appliance, computer mouse and external hard drive at home if it means finding a cranny for my Maestro to come with me.

I think I'm in love.

Oh my... I think I just peed in my pants a little.

posted in Road Warrior - 0 replies

Another travel site (cross post).

2008-05-04T19:06:49Z

A friend just hipped me to this site. Seems to find much better prices than the other sites I've tried. :)

http://www.sidestep.com/

Cheers,
SW

posted in Road Warrior - 0 replies

Rule 240.

2008-02-02T21:11:28Z

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22900119/

Probably doesn't have as much weight internationally, but still pretty cool.

posted in Road Warrior - 4 replies

The Best Laptop/Briefcase Carry On

2007-12-19T19:05:40Z

I've been using my Tumi leather briefcase as one of my carry-ons, and don't really love it. Actually, I hate it. It's too heavy and outdated, and it's causing me back and shoulder pain. I want a bag that's a shoulder sling or has backpack straps. Something a bit more hi-tech, but still practical. I have my roller bag for clothes and overnight stuff... this is for my laptop, paperwork, briefcase items.

Any suggestions?

posted in Road Warrior - 6 replies

New hardside rolly carry-ons

2007-12-18T22:27:58Z

I've struggled with bags for years - never seem to have just the right size or features or whatever. So, my latest experiment was one of the new hardside rolly carry-ons from Brookstone. ($69) I was traveling for nearly two weeks between four cities and lots of public transit so wanted something that was lightweight and that I could definitely, no questions carry on no matter what, walk with up to a mile, etc. I have to say that I was pretty impressed with this. Although it's small (which of course it has to be), it holds a decent amount of stuff. The best part is the four-way rolling wheels - you can push it, drag it, spin it, etc. Very easy to get through the aisle of the plane. And it's really, really lightweight - no problems hefting into the overhead or up and down stairs, etc. Also got a lot of approving glances and comments from other travelers - wow, that's COOL!

posted in Road Warrior - 2 replies

How's everyone's holiday travel going?

2007-12-18T00:44:23Z

Making it through crazy lines? Managing to avoid it? Spill!

Also, any advice for going to Paris for the first time? Not for business, really, but it will be a quick weekend trip in late January. Favorite things there? Tips about taking taxis, etc?

Hugs and happy holidays!
SW :)

posted in Road Warrior - 4 replies

Luxe Travel Guides

2007-12-18T00:00:31Z

I just used the New York edition and it was fantastic - witty, irreverent and fun, and I found some really cool experiences! Also the format is nice because it doesn't look like a travel guide and is small and fits into a really little bag. Not a bad price, either!

http://luxecityguides.com

posted in Road Warrior - 0 replies

I got to choose my travel today!

2007-11-22T03:37:45Z

This just doesn't happen every day.

We have a backlog of customers that need onsite support at work. We finally had a meeting to divvy up the workload and get it all covered. Stacks of folders needing to be claimed... the team going through them one by one, county by county, all across the U.S.

Most customer visits are 2-3 days... it's pretty easy to piggyback a weekend visit if you happen to have friends nearby. These aren't scheduled yet, but sometime within the next couple of months, I'll be visiting some dear friends on the company's dime:

Hawthorne, NV (real close to Reno/Tahoe so I'll see Kevin and Scully.)
Oakland, CA (um, San Francisco, need I say more? I'll stay as long as I can.)
Philly (I actually ripped the folder out of someones hand and told them they'd have to fight me for it. They did. I won.)
Jersey (real close to where one of my bestest friends lives.)
Renselier, NY (can't wait to connect with some of the Albany burners!)

Awesome, right? I'll start making phone calls next week so I can plan some visits! After I get back from Illinois, that is.

posted in Road Warrior - 1 reply

Utah

2007-11-19T13:10:04Z

I'm going to Utah next week. 4 days in Ogden. The Hampton Inn looks really pretty, but it's still Utah. A little too far from Salt Lake to drive there for just an evening, so I'll be hanging out in Ogden looking at the pretty mountains (though it'll be dark by time I'm done with work). Anybody ever been there?

posted in Road Warrior - 3 replies

Drinking Laws

2007-11-19T00:22:35Z

I find it interesting how different the alcohol laws are in the places I go.

I'm in Utah right now, and found it odd that in order to get a glass of wine, I had to sit at a table and order a meal. I couldn't sit at the bar and just have a glass of wine. It seems they had a 'pub license' but that only entitles them to serve beer at the bar, not wine. And you can't sit at a table and only drink. Interesting.

I went to a 'dry' county in Texas (Erath County). The bars had a loophole where if they called themselves a 'private club' they could serve you alcohol. So when you ordered a drink they asked for your membership. If you didn't have one, they took your license and logged it, and made you an instant 'member'... no fees or rules, just a member. Now you could order a beer.

And it always freaks me out when I see wine in the cooler at the 7-11.

What other states/counties/cities have you been to where you had to learn the rules in order to get a beer or glass of wine?

posted in Road Warrior - 5 replies

Hotel frequent stay clubs

2007-11-13T02:26:50Z

What's your experience with the best hotel chain to join their "clubs" or whatever to get miles or free stays or upgrades or whatnot?

posted in Road Warrior - 1 reply

To check, or not to check... that is the question.

2007-11-12T23:18:27Z

Okay, am I the only one who's mastered the art of the carry on? I avoid checking my bag at all costs. I can live out of a carry on for up to 5 days, beyond that it can be a challenge.

The biggest pain, of course, is the toiletry/liquid thing. But I've mastered that. If you've ever stayed at a Hilton, check out their little shampoo bottles. They are the perfect size for refilling and sqeezable, and you can fit a bunch in a quart sized ziploc. I've also come to the conclusion that if you have the most conspicuous stuff in the ziploc for inspection, they don't really bother looking deeper into your toiletry kit in your bag. So I do have a few little jars of creams, and some stuff that might be questionable, in my carry on. I figure if they're going to work that hard to look for it, let them take it. I keep the expensive stuff in the ziploc.

I have standard work clothes that I keep packed in my roller carry on, ready to go. A few black pants, some shirts that don't wrinkle, a spare pair of shoes, sweats, a straightening iron for my hair, my practice poi :-). My laptop and work papers go into my shoulder carry on (a big leather briefcase). I don't bring a purse at all. If I go out at night, I just bring my briefcase.

So do you check or not check?

posted in Road Warrior - 2 replies

WORST security lines...name 'em

2007-11-11T20:13:09Z

PHL: peak times: terminals B (usairways) C (usairways) D (united plus a bunch of others)...you can wait 30+, up to an hour or more during peak times. E can be deadly on some days (mondays, fridays).

LGA: USAirways and American are 30-45+ in the morning, on a good day

CVG: Delta terminal...brutal in the morning...45 minutes AT LEAST

posted in Road Warrior - 4 replies

road warrior trips to make travel less torturous

2007-11-11T16:44:25Z

hopefully this thread isn't too far afield of the point of the tribe, if it is, please feel free to delete it. i'm just hoping that as road warriors, we know stuff others may not.

for instance, a few years ago i found out about "seatguru.com", which tells you the best and worst seats for EVERY SINGLE PLANE in flying existence. i love seatguru.com. never again will you find yourself in a non-reclining seat across from the bathroom (unless you want to be).

for those times you can't get upgrades, doing the online check-in sometimes gives you access to "the good seats" that you can't get when you first book a flight...the bulkhead and exit row seats, especially for Usairways, open up on online checkin but not usually before. some cheap airlines make you pay, which grinds my gears, but it's SO worth it on a long cross country flight to pay the extra 15 clams for an exit row seat (although not always...seat guru will tell you if the exit row seats won't recline, which they sometimes won't!).

posted in Road Warrior - 1 reply

Boise, ID

2007-11-10T03:01:31Z

Once upon a time, I spent a month in Boise. I went to a thrift shop downtown (wcaboise.org), bought a used bicycle, and spent all of my off hours pedaling around town. Boise has about 20 miles of biking & walking trails that thread through the city, mostly along the Boise River. They'll let you get around town but avoid traffic.

I also had the good fortune of getting to know a few locals who directed me to the Aladdin Egyptian Restaurant. Great Middle Eastern cuisine!

Aladdin Egyptian Restaurant
111 Broadway Ave
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 368-0880

posted in Road Warrior - 0 replies

Missouri

2007-11-09T04:29:17Z

Greetings from the Rhino. Missouri is my traveling ground, where I spend over a hundred nights out per year, from St. Louis to Kansas City, to Columbia, Springfield, St. Joseph, Branson, Hannibal, and a hundred other smaller towns and municipalities. Been there. Done that.

Airports (major) = St. Louis Lambert (STL) - (recently expanded with the W1W expansion) where you won't be stuck upstairs circling to get in. Two fully loaded jetliners can take off at the same time two more land.

Kansas City International (KCI) - Solid airport with two terminals, good waiting room areas.

Parking, as always, sucks at both.

You want restaurants?

Got 'em....all over the place. Italian food in St. Louis is second only to Chitown and NYC.
Barbecue in Missouri is the best in the US, perhaps the world.

You want after hours fun?

Cardinals
Rams
Royals
Chiefs

Anheuser-Busch

We've got it going on here in the crossroads to the nation. If you're a burner, tribe message me if you're in the area....maybe our paths will cross..you never know. And I'll show you the best I know of, and that's a promise.

posted in Road Warrior - 0 replies

Road Warriors unite!

2007-11-08T14:42:41Z

I am honored that I have the opportunity to join this tribe, being a true road warrior in the sense of USA today. For the last three years I've spent over 100 nights on the road.

I ain't quittin' now.

Let's post a thread for cities we've been to, our recommendations, etc.

I went to Rochester (nods at Dusty Nypples) once for a meeting two years ago, and ate at Dinosaur BBQ, it was GREAT.

At least they have good beer up there, too.....Saranac India Pale Ale....yum!

Cheers, and see you on the road!

**the Rhino motors off into the sunset................**

posted in Road Warrior - 3 replies

Italy.

2007-11-08T14:39:26Z

Ciao, all!

I just moved to Italy. Got to experience the joys of corporate travel. Still experiencing it, to a certain extent, here in my hotel. It will likely be a month or two before I get my own place here.

I probably won't be doing too much business travel in the next several months, but plenty of personal travel here in Europe. If you ever make it to Naples, please do drop me a line!

Hugs,
SW :)

posted in Road Warrior - 1 reply

Pennsylvania

2007-11-07T22:59:29Z

Hey, it's where I'm from, so I'm the most familiar with it. It's a beautiful place, but some of the hoops ya gotta jump through to live here.....but it's like that all over.
So, if anyone has any kind of question at all about the "Keystone State", feel free to ask.
I've been to 38 states so far, and not stopping now.

posted in Road Warrior - 0 replies

Illinois

2007-11-06T22:16:57Z

I'll be spending a few days in Illinois at the end of November. 3 hour layover in Chicago, flying into Champaign, then driving 45 minutes to Mattoon. It's only a 3 hour drive from Chicago to Mattoon... I should probably just suck it up and drive direct from Chicago. But damn, I hate driving in a strange state alone. I'd almost rather spend 3 hours in the airport sucking down beer and surfing online.

So, anybody live near Mattoon?

posted in Road Warrior - 0 replies