Blogs

Anyone who has ever traveled with me knows this… I love to be prepared!  And so my bags have endless items that I (magically) have ready and available for any use, issue, or problem. So beyond listing the obvious items I pack (clothes, shoes, cosmetics, etc.) here is a list of at least 35 things you will find in my bag, whether I am away for 2 days or 30 days...

by Carolyn W. Paddock

I have had the good fortune of being able to observe in close proximity employees traveling with their boss (usually its the CEO).  I have seen employees make mistakes that may seem insignificant at the time, but in reality may potentially hurt their standing or stunt their advancement in the company.

The first thing you should...

It’s really important for your health and well-being to keep your body well hydrated in the dry (more like zero humidity) cabin air. During my many years of constant air travel I’ve learned a few tricks that I’m now passing along to you.

1. Drink coconut water before and after your flight. Sometimes, it seems no matter how much water you drink during the flight, your body...

We all hate standing in a long line at Customs and Immigration when we’ve just completed a transatlantic flight and simply want to get home as quickly as possible.

Now U.S. Customs and Border Protection has come up with a program named Global Entry that allows travelers to bypass the line with an “express pass” that significantly expedites the process.

Anyone can apply—no minimum number of trips required—but you will have to fill...

Whether you’ve been away for a week or a month, you want to make it as easy as possible to get back to the reality of your everyday life. That means planning before you leave so that there are no unpleasant surprises (or forgotten chores to complete) when you put the key in the door and all you want to do is relax. Here are 5 things you can do to...

One of the most frequently asked questions I’m asked is, “How do I get an upgrade to First Class?" You tried every way you could think of, but First Class just wasn’t available when you booked your ticket. Maybe you didn’t want to splurge for the miles or the money for the ticket, so you decided to rough it in coach. Or perhaps you decided to pray for a miracle upgrade.

There...

No one wants to be told how to behave, and I certainly don’t want to preach, but as our culture becomes more casual, we’ve all developed a pretty laissez-fair approach to what’s expected in different social situations.

So, at the risk of sounding a bit school-marmish (and I apologize in advance if that’s how this comes off), I wanted to offer this gentle reminder that there are still some cultural rules that...

If you don’t know in advance that shops, banks, and perhaps even restaurants will be closed, or that public transportation is curtailed because it’s a holiday in the country you’re visiting, even your best-laid plans could easily go up in smoke.

For example, some countries celebrate religious holidays or festivals you may not even be aware of, and their dates may change from one year to the next because they’re based on...

These safety precautions are useful for everyone, but I think they’re particularly important to have in place if you’re going to be traveling alone.

I’ve traveled to all sorts of places by myself, so I’ve learned what to do/not to do and how to take care of myself. When I was in Dubai (even though it is considered very “Western”), for example, where some women are covered from head to toe, I...