Taking off Travel blog

Night view of the Guggenheim Bilbao

I’ve taken lots of different types of trips in my life and although some aspects of travel aren’t as much fun as they used to be I still love it. As I mentioned before it is not so much the planning as the being there. Wherever I go and however short a trip I still try to have an experience that makes it worthwhile. Let me give you some examples of how you can get something from a trip of any length.

Same day business travel

One of the shortest trips I ever took was a one-day trip to attend a conference in Saint Lucia. It was a case of leaving the plane, grabbing a cab and heading to the conference centre then doing it all in reverse at the end of the day. To get something out of the trip, I used the cab driver as a tour guide and got him to explain the sights I could see on the journey. I have still got to go back there but at least I learned a little bit about the country.

Short business trip

On another trip I visited northern Spain where a lot of the metals industry was based. I took  cabs to the offices I needed to visit. Again my cab driver was able to tell me about the locations I was seeing — it helped that I spoke relatively fluent Spanish — and I found out a lot about the area. On one of the trips I needed to grab a bite to eat and the cab driver took me to a roadside cafe where I had a delicious Basque fish and vegetable dish. I was also able to walk around downtown Bilbao and have a look at the Guggenheim. Read more »

If you can’t afford a vacation then why not create your ideal break in the comfort of your own home. Think of it as the ultimate staycation. To get started, consider what elements make the perfect vacation for you. For me, that would include alone time, pampering and not having to worry about meal preparation. For you, it might be something else but with a bit of creativity you can create just what you need. And since you won’t need to spend money on accommodation or travel, you can use your budget in other ways and will probably still save money.

Getting Ready

If your stay at home vacation is going to work you’re going to need to prepare a few things in advance. First of all, get everyone else out of the house. Ship children off to stay with grandparents and get spouses to go out with the guys or girls so that you have the house all to yourself. After all, you don’t want anything to get in the way of your old G of self-indulgence and pampering.

Meal Plan

Second, think about food and drink. Get your favorite tipples in before you start and stock up on your favorite foods. Go one better and collect leaflets from your favorite local restaurants that deliver. You want to make sure that you have plenty of choice for lunch and dinner menus just as you would if you went away on vacation.

Third, tell everyone that you will be out of contact for the vacation period — and mean it. No checking work e-mail or stressing yourself about ongoing projects. If this is to work, you have to behave as if you had left the country.

Indulge Yourself

Once the scene is set it’s time to start your vacation. With no one else in the house you can sleep as late as you like and stay up late without having to worry about the consequences the next day. For breakfast, get a delivery from your baker or coffee shop. For lunch and dinner, look at those leaflets and get your favorite meals delivered. Then you can settle down to your favorite pastimes.

It’s your choice — you might want to make a dent in that stack of unread books that has been piling up for three years or play online games late into the night. Perhaps it’s time to use up those lotions and potions that you got as gifts and have a long relaxing soak in the bath with a book, a glass of wine and no one to disturb you. For extra pampering, book a manicure, pedicure, massage or all three with a mobile therapist.

Having this kind of vacation is fun and cheap — and you’ll be able to watch TV and movies you like without having to argue over who is hogging the remote. If you were going to stay at home on vacation what would be on your list?

(Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28005722@N08/3406521225)

Do all-inclusives do it for you? I’ve tried all inclusive hotels a couple of times and I have to admit that I’m not a big fan. I know the reasons why it’s a good idea. If you’re on a budget sure it’s great to know exactly what your trip is going to cost you.  And if there are lots of activities included it might be  an even better deal.

Cutting The Cost Of Travel

There’s no denying that going all-inclusive helps to keep the costs under control, but watch out for hidden extras that may make the deal less appealing.  For example, some friends of mine recently found that although there were several restaurant choices at their hotel they were only allowed to eat at the one they liked best two nights a week; any other time and they had to pay a supplement.

The other thing that irks me is that it can be hard to avoid the mentality that says: “I’ve paid for this; might as well grab everything I can.” That seems to turn the all-inclusive into a challenge rather than an enjoyable experience. Even worse is the tendency to feel restricted by the fact that you have paid upfront. Many people find that because they have chosen an all-inclusive experience they don’t want to leave the hotel, and they certainly don’t want to spend money on enjoying a cultural experience beyond the walls.  I don’t suffer from that problem.

Soaking Up The Atmosphere

The last time I went all-inclusive I decided I didn’t want to do it again. I stayed at a hotel in the Canaries where I soon tired of the everlasting buffet and felt the need to go in search of culinary adventure. Luckily there were some great restaurants and bars on my doorstep and I had a much better time eating where the locals ate and soaking up the atmosphere.

Don’t get me wrong; if I’m staying in a hotel I love it when I don’t have to think about breakfast. However for other meals I prefer to get out and about. I certainly don’t want to have to rush back in the middle of the day for lunch, feel obliged to eat in or book a picnic basket (unless I’m going on a boat). I think you miss so much this way. It’s far more fun to hang out in a local bar and get a cold drink, grab some “street meat” (veggie variety in my case) or try the local fare on your way in.  What about you? Have you ever gone all-inclusive? How did you rate the experience?

Whenever we board a plane, we tend to heave a sigh of relief and relax, but as a recent incident showed, it’s not the time to let your guard down. It seems that some business class passengers had more than $5,000 stolen from them while they slept on an overnight flight from Tokyo to Paris. Since it’s not practical to stay awake all night, how can you guard against this kind of theft?

Overhead Compartments

Let’s look at the overhead baggage first. We often want to keep this handy so that we can take stuff in and out without hassle, but that very ease could cost dearly. Instead of putting your case at the front of the cabin, push it well back so that others can put their stuff in front of it. That makes your hand luggage a less easy target for those looking to help themselves. If it’s lockable, then keep it locked; if not, use a simple tip to make it harder for people to get to your stuff. Turn the case around so that the zip and handle face the interior of the storage bin. That makes it harder for anyone to grip your case – and much harder to do it without someone noticing.

Read more »

Just because business travelers are always on the road doesn’t mean that they have to lose sight of their fitness routine. Regular business travel can pile on the pounds unless you pay attention to your health. Here are some ways for business travelers to keep active even when on the road.

In-flight

Whenever you fly take the chance to walk around in the airplane. Even though there are often service carts cluttering up the aisles this is one way to get some exercise in flight. Walk the length of the plane every couple of hours to stop the blood from getting sluggish, reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis and keep your spine supple instead of achy. Along with that, if you have to sit down rotate your wrists and ankles and do the other seated exercises recommended in your airline magazine. Top this off by drinking lots of water to maintain hydration levels.

At your hotel

Many hotels have gym facilities. While these may not be as well-equipped as your local gym back home they are likely to have a treadmill, bike and weights at the very least. There is no excuse for missing out on your fitness routine when these facilities are on tap. Sure, you may have to get up a bit earlier or miss a round of drinks with your colleagues but it’s worth it for the increased energy you will feel after exercising. (It’s pretty good for boosting brainpower for those important meetings, too.) Read more »