By Few people clock as many hours in the air as those that call the C-suite home. “Commuting” to work means hopping on planes to far flung cities and countries around the world. Globe-trotting is part of the job. For sure It’s glamorous at times but can be grinding too. To make it more productive than painful, you need a strategy. BleisureLiving tapped road warrior executives for their top travel hacks. Here’s what they shared.
Ben Walker, Founder & CEO, Transcription Outsourcing
“I stopped using the fancy roller board suitcases years ago after having to check it on the smaller commuter flights planes. If you don’t have time to wait, the tarmac is super-hot, or it’s freezing cold outside and you don’t have the proper clothing to stand there and wait, it can really suck waiting for the baggage people to get them all down and out of the cargo hold. I use a soft-sided duffle bag I can stuff into almost any overhead bin, that way I don’t have to wait and can keep moving once we land.”
Liz Brown, Founder, SleepingLucid
“Besides being a sleep coach and entrepreneur, I’m also an adventurous and frequent traveler. I know not every part of your traveling experience will be comfortable and exciting. There will be times when you want to doze off and not have a single care in the world but can’t due to noise and uncomfortable sitting positions. The best thing you can do is bring sleep products that are not only effective, but traveler friendly as well. A great example of these are sleep-friendly travel pillows that are easy to carry and guarantees great quality sleep and noise-canceling headphones/earmuffs that cancel out unnecessary noise and creates a better sleep environment.”
Heather Liesman, President, Vacations By Rail
“Schedule flights that take off from the East coast in the morning and from the West coast at night to avoid weather delays (i.e. fog in SF, snow in New York City). Always carry a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated (it reduces jet lag). Carry linen spray in your toiletries bag and spray on your hotel pillow, falling asleep to a familiar scent helps any bed feel like home.”
Billy Goldberg, Founder, Billy Goldberg Partners
“I travel the nation advising companies and clients on developing new business and creating revenue streams through meaningful strategic partnerships. I’m also a man on a quest to see every NCAA FBS Football team play before I turn 65 so successful travel hacks are a must. Pick your uniform. My professional go-to is a customized Knot Standard suit. A uniform makes packing-and-going easy, efficient, and requires less luggage. Embrace the delay. I live by the phrase ‘Trust the process’. (I actually inscribe this on my shirts). So if there is a delay, I accept it as an opportunity to catch-up on work, work out if possible, read, or I’ll try to connect and meet someone new. It’s part of the process as a professional.”
Asa Pressley, CEO and Director of Acquisitions for Infinity Investors Cash Home Buyers
“I spend an average of 181 days a year traveling, solving a variety of real estate problems through property acquisitions, network dispositions, and community revitalization. I have developed a few hacks. Utilize apps to stay Informed. Download your flight information, boarding passes, and an app to scan receipts, like Genius Scan. This will tremendously reduce the amount of paper you will need to archive for reporting. Other important apps to use is your weather app and if traveling abroad, a currency exchange app like XE Currency. Be a brand loyalist and ask for upgrades. Often airlines and hotels have complimentary upgrades or amenities for repeat guests that they can give you for free if you just ask, ‘Are there any upgrades available for this flight or room?’ You would be surprised at the number of seat and room upgrades I receive each year at no cost. Get there early- There is nothing wrong with being at the airport 2-3 hours ahead of time. This creates a higher level of Zen and you aren’t rushing and weaving through crowds of people going in all directions.”
Gary Stevens, owner, Hosting Canada
“Just like every other aspect of a business, when it comes to frequent traveling, preparation is key. The biggest tip I can offer to those constantly on the road is to stay prepared. For me, this is a partially packed bag with travel-size essentials already loaded up. Any toiletries, office supplies or cords you can spare should stay in your travel bag. Knowing that these are all accounted for before you even book your flight is a big stress reliever from the moment you start planning your trip up until you’re back home. Another set of items I leave in my bag are sleep aids. For most of us, when we travel for work, we want to show up at our best. Neck pillows, earbuds, and a light blanket will have you walking into your afternoon meeting polished and ready to go, regardless of how the rest of your trip went. If preparing a prepacked bag isn’t feasible for you, then write out a list of your trip essentials and put it inside of your travel bag when it’s not being used. Ideally, you’ll want this list to include any items that are likely to slip your mind along with your must-haves. Try out some preflight planning before your next work trip.”
What do you think?