This is the tale of two trips. The first is a speaking engagement at a trade show in Tallahassee. The second is a long weekend to Key West with some of your best friends from college.

How will you pack for each trip? What will you wear? How much money will you need? (Do you need to throw in some Advil and dark sunglasses?) And what kind of luggage will you need?

If you never considered that last question, you aren’t alone. But there are plenty of reasons to think about the differences in your luggage needs for different types of travel.

Details, details

Many of those details involve the state your items will need to be in when you arrive. For business travel, you’ll likely be wearing suits and other clothes that should be pressed and neat, ready to hit the conference room or trade show floor as soon as you arrive. Luggage that comes with a suiter can be handy in these cases.

Where leisure travel is concerned, you’re probably less worried about wrinkles than you would be on a business trip, but you may want to be sure your luggage has special pockets that seal in moisture. (You never know; you may need to spend the morning at the beach or water park before boarding that final flight home…)

Size matters

In many cases, business travelers just need to pack more in their suitcases. Business clothes are often bulkier than everyday items, not to mention the bulk and weight of high-heeled ladies’ shoes and those incredibly heavy men’s business shoes. Business travelers, depending on the length of their trips, will sometimes need two suitcases and a smaller carry-on or ladies’ tote for the items they need to keep better protected.

Leisure travelers can probably get away with one larger suitcase and a duffel bag to carry on. With that being said, if you’re traveling for fun, you may be returning home with more than you came with. Souvenirs can take up a lot of extra space, so you may want to bring an extra bag — something collapsible, maybe, to save space when you’re traveling — for all those gifts and sundries you picked up during your getaway. Or just make sure you leave enough space on the trip out so you can fill it up on the trip back.

If it seems a bit extravagant to have different bags for those two very different trips, consider all the other differences between your business and personal travels, and it might not seem so silly to think a little more carefully about your packing and luggage needs.

Related articles

• Travelpro Introduces Crew 9: The Frequent Travelers’ Luggage of Choice [PRESS RELEASE] (travelproluggageblog.com)
• What Your Luggage Says About You [INFOGRAPHIC] (travelproluggageblog.com)
• Drilling Down: Business Travel Tips From a Travel Columnist (boss.blogs.nytimes.com)

The Transportation Security Administration’s backscatter machines have caused quite the stir since they were introduced in the past couple of years. From the semi-revealing, anatomically correct images they produce to the fears of dangerous, excessive radiation they provoke, they are many travelers’ least-favorite thing about the journey to the airport.

There are almost 250 machines in use at 39 airports across the country, and despite the controversies surrounding their use, there’s no indication they’ll be going away any time soon.

But as of late February, you can put at least one of your misgivings to rest: The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General released a report that shows passengers would need to pass through the TSA’s controversial backscatter machines 17,000 times (count those zeroes!) to reach their annual radiation dose limit.

That translates to 47 passes through a scanner every single day of the year.

Click the link to read the Office of the Inspector General’s full report in PDF format.

To further ensure that the machines are in proper working order at all times, the TSA inspects them at least every six months — more when the unit has to be moved or maintenance is performed that could affect its regular operation.

Still uncomfortable with going through the behemoth backscatter machines? You aren’t alone — the TSA will let you opt out of the backscatter scan in most cases, but you’ll likely be subject to a more thorough search beyond the machine (think a patdown). If you have a medical condition that prevents you from going through the backscatter machine or a normal patdown, there are plenty of ways to communicate this with the TSA. Visit the TSA website for more information on those special circumstances.

Otherwise, step into that big gray box and rest easy knowing you’ll live to see many, many more scans in your long lifetime — research says you’re totally safe from dangerous radiation.

Related articles

• Is It Worse To Be ‘Groped By Unknown People’ Or Have ‘Someone See You Naked’? (prweb.com)
• Government: Airport screening machines safe for passengers (cnn.com)
• Airport X-ray machines are safe for passengers, U.S. report says (vancouversun.com)

We recently read a story in the New York Times in February about how to attain elite status at hotels all over the world. These upper-crust customers receive all kinds of perks for their loyalty to their preferred hotels — but they have to work pretty hard to get to that point.

Here’s a glimpse into what elite members at some hotel chains are entitled to:

Starwood Hotels & Resorts just unveiled rolling 24-hour check-in” for members who stay in Starwood properties at least 75 nights a year, and personal “Ambassadors” to assist in travel planning for guests who stay at least 100 nights.

Hilton Worldwide gives members who stay at least 36 nights per year automatic room upgrades and free breakfasts, among other things.

Think about it, though: To get Starwood’s 100-night-a-year elite status just by checking in and sleeping in their beds, you need to be traveling and staying in their hotels…a lot. (The article details most of the hotels’ programs and what travelers need to do to go elite.) And some people do stay in hotels that often — otherwise these loyalty programs probably wouldn’t exist. But for the rest of us, there are still ways to gain that elite status without selling our homes and going rogue. We’ve got a few ideas:

• Choose wisely. If you travel frequently and are going to attempt to go elite organically, pick a chain that’s large enough that you can find one of its hotels wherever you go.
• Join a dining club. Certain programs like iDine allow users to link their credit cards to an account that automatically tracks dollars spent and translates them into loyalty-program points. See if your favorite hotel chain participates and get involved.
• Get a credit card. Many of the major hotel chains offer a branded credit card (or more than one) that will help you achieve status more quickly.
• Be creative online. There are a few sites like points.com that will allow you to shuffle reward points around from program to program, which will help you lump your loyalty into your preferred chain and go elite in no time.

Finally, remember that few things will take you farther in terms of customer service and “perks” than old-fashioned kindness and respect. Even if you haven’t achieve elite status, if you’re courteous and friendly and are willing to ask for what you’d like, you may be surprised at how elite you’ll feel.

Related articles

• Attain Hotel Elite Status Without Spending Half Your Life Away from Home [Travel] (lifehacker.com)
• How to Attain Hotel Elite Status (travel.nytimes.com)
• How to get elite status at hotels (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

What’s the first thing you do when you arrive in a new city after a long, exhausting flight? Chances are, getting a healthy snack, hydrating and cheerfully acclimating yourself with your new surroundings aren’t at the top of your list. If you’re anything like us, you probably find it hard to resist the temptation to check into the hotel and fall face first into bed with no thoughts of the lasting disorientation and jet lag that await you.

MSNBC’s TravelKit blog recently published some slightly more constructive suggestions:

1. On the way in, plan your exit. (Find your best route back to the airport and out of the city.)
2. Grab some nourishment.
3. Reset your clock.
4. Get outside. (Get your bearings, environmentally and culturally.)
5. Have a plan to deal with your caffeine addiction
6. Take pictures.
7. Charge your electronics.
8. Secure your valuables.
9. Let someone know you arrived, and where you are.
10. Check the weather.

We read MSNBC’s ideas, and here are the ones we think are the most important:

Find nourishment. Find something simple and healthful to eat. (Research in advance, or use a mobile app like Yelp or Urbanspoon to help you find a spot.) Avoid anything overly greasy, spicy or foreign to your system to minimize the stress on your already taxed body. Wash it down with plenty of water to start replenishing your dehydrated system from the long flight (choose bottled water if you’re in an area with a less-than-reputable water supply).

Let loved ones know you’ve arrived. Check in with your family, friends and anyone else you’ve promised to contact — even if it’s just a text message or a quick e-mail.

Charge your electronics. Airports are notorious for their lack of power outlets, so there’s a good chance your devices are lacking juice. Charge up as soon as you can to avoid a communication breakdown at an unfortunate time. (If you’re traveling internationally, don’t forget those power-converter plugs.)

Reset your body clock. Resist temptation! Get yourself on local time as quickly as possible, even if it means forfeiting some sleep in the short-term to get there, or even going to bed early. If you’ll be in your destination city for any amount of time, you won’t regret acclimating to the local time zone.

Get your bearings. Talk to your hotel’s concierge or find a friendly local who can help you understand your surroundings a bit better. Find out where the local shopping districts are, plus the whereabouts of any can’t-miss area attractions and the emergency services you hope never to need. If you’ll have any free time, it’s good to find these things out as early as possible so you don’t squander it.

The MSNBC article is a great resource to help you settle in comfortably and acclimate naturally to your new temporary surroundings — but above all things, just remember to be safe and listen to the cues your body’s giving you.

Related articles

• How to Avoid the Drag of Jet Lag (everydayhealth.com)
• Your Body’s Internal Clock and How It Affects Your Overall Health (antiworldnews.wordpress.com)
• Body clock ‘alters’ immune system (bbc.co.uk)

Travelpro, the inventor of Rollaboard luggage and a leader in innovative, high quality luggage design introduces the Crew 9 Collection, its super collection of premium luggage now including both Rollaboard and Spinner models.

Long the choice of flight crews and frequent travelers around the world, the latest Crew collection is a leap forward in innovation, lightweight durability, style and effortless mobility. This versatile 14-piece collection combines lightweight durable luggage, checkpoint friendly business cases and spinners all in one matching collection. It was designed specifically for the frequent business and leisure traveler with performance features that work smartly together to make every aspect of the trip easier. The collection features the patent-pending PowerScope Extension Handle that minimizes wobble and maximizes durability and the patent-pending Contour Grip on Spinners that ensures comfort and easy maneuverability.

“The Crew 9 collection sets a new standard of excellence for the luggage industry. Its innovative performance and utility features ease the frustrations of traveling, from packing and unpacking to check-in and airport security,” said Scott Applebee Vice President of Marketing for Travelpro. “With 8 carry-on models and 3 spinner models, Crew 9 truly makes travel easier. ”

The Crew 9 collection has unique features for every traveller’s need, including totes, carry-on and checkthrough luggage, a carry-on garment bag, and a check-point friendly computer briefcase and backpack. The removable, sealed ball-bearing wheels on Rollaboard models are tested for over 30 miles and the handle system is tested over 15,000 cycles for optimal performance. Each product is made with microballistic nylon fabric with DuraGuard fabric protection and ergonomic zipper pulls to ensure long-lasting durability and ease of use.

In addition to the myriad of features that provide strength and durability, the Crew 9 Collection was designed for convenience and efficiency. Each Rollaboard model contains easily accessible, large front pockets for last-minute items and a number of internal pockets for organization and the storage of valuables. Its new extension handle system accommodates users of different heights, stopping at 38″ and 43″, and is strong enough to support a tote or case. The Polypropylene Honeycomb Frame provides durable and lightweight construction, and its removable suiter system and extra-wide tie-down straps minimize wrinkling during travel. The four-point stability system prevents tipping when luggage is expanded.

Other features include a hidden ID holder which holds a standard size business card, 2 1/2″ expansion capability for additional packing room, and a detachable Add-A-Bag strap for hands-free carrying of extra bags, which allows totes, cases and backpacks to be carried on the front of the bag for easy on the go traveling.

The Crew 9 Collection is available in fashionable black and titanium gray fabric colors. The entire line includes the following options: Deluxe Tote, Checkpoint Friendly Computer Briefcase, Business Backpack, Rolling Business Tote , 20″ Expandable Business Plus Rollaboard, 22″ Expandable Rollaboard Suiter, 24″ Expandable Rollaboard Suiter, 26″ Expandable Rollaboard Suiter, 28″ Expandable Rollaboard Suiter, Rolling Garment Bag (Carry-on), 50″ Rolling Garment Bag. Additionally, the collection offers a 21″ Expandable Spinner with Suiter, 25″ Expandable Spinner with Suiter and 29″ Expandable Spinner with Suiter.

The Crew 9 collection will also include Hardside Spinner models that will be introduced in August. This Hardside collection will feature all the innovative offerings of Crew 9, combining 2 1/2″ expansion capability and exceptional durability with effortless mobility. The Travelpro Crew 9 collection is built to last and comes with a limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

About Travelpro

For twenty five years, Travelpro International has prided itself on design innovation and durability in crafting the highest quality luggage for travellers worldwide. Since transforming the ease of modern day travel with The Original Rollaboard wheeled luggage, Travelpro has been the brand of choice for flight crews and frequent travelers worldwide. Travelpro is dedicated to building a lifelong relationship with its customers by consistently understanding and exceeding their needs. The company offers a variety of innovative, highquality luggage collections and computer briefs; each aimed at a specific user lifestyle and rigorously tested. Travelpro was the winner of the 2009 and 2010 Leading Edge Award from Executive Travel Magazine for “The Best Carry-on Case.” Travelpro is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the invention of the Rollaboard throughout 2012. Please visit the Travelpro website for a full list of the latest products and retail locations.

It’s always interesting to see what people carry with them when they travel. Most of our customers are business types, and we’re always on the lookout to see whose pulling a Travelpro bag behind them. But there are so many people traveling for so many different reasons that you start to see all kinds of luggage and bags on a trip.

We were interested to hear about this infographic from HomeAway.com about what a traveler’s luggage says about them. We hope you enjoy it.

Travel Ideas infographic from HomeAway

A story on CNN.com from mid-February revealed that the Transportation Security Administration will soon be bringing its PreCheck program to more airports across the country. Not sure what it is? Here’s a synopsis, straight from the TSA:

Implementing a key component of the agency’s intelligence-driven, risk-based approach to security, TSA PreCheck™ (enhances aviation security by placing more focus on pre-screening individuals who volunteer to participate in order to expedite the travel experience.

In short, if you’re willing to give the government access to a little more personal information, they’ll pre-screen you and get you through security and heading to your destination a little more quickly. Information about your PreCheck status will be embedded into a code on your boarding pass, and you’ll rarely need to go through the rigmarole of taking off shoes, extracting liquids and removing laptops from their cases.

Is this kind of program for you? That all depends.

Our professional opinion is this: Business travelers should jump all over PreCheck.

If you fly often — especially if it’s out of the same airports — you’ll save so much time that any information you’re asked for will probably be worth surrendering — especially if, like most Americans, you have absolutely nothing to hide.

But some people might object to the invasive investigative screening procedures. For some, it’s better to wait in those long lines and suffer the hassles of the occasional pat-down than give much personal information away. That’s also your right.

The good news: This is a completely voluntary program, so if you’re not comfortable with it, you don’t have to opt in. Already know you’re interested? Find out how to participate on the TSA’s website.

By the end of 2012, travelers with access to the following airports will be able to participate in this program:

• Atlanta (ATL): T-South Checkpoint (Delta only)
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
• Chicago (ORD): Terminal 3, Checkpoint 8 (American only)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
• Dallas (DFW): Terminal C, Checkpoint C30 (American only)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Detroit (DTW): Checkpoint 2 on the ticketing level (Delta only)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
• Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
• John F. Kennedy (JFK): Terminal 8 Main Checkpoint (American only)
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA): Delta Main Checkpoint (Delta only)
• Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)
• Las Vegas (LAS): D Gates First Class Checkpoint (American and Delta)
• Los Angeles (LAX): (American Airlines only)
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
• Miami (MIA): D2 Checkpoint (American only)
• Minneapolis (MSP): Lindbergh Terminal, Checkpoint 4 (American and Delta)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
• Portland International Airport (PDX)
• Salt Lake City (SLC): Terminal 2 Checkpoint (Delta only)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• Tampa International Airport (TPA)
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
• Washington D.C. (DCA): Terminal B, South Checkpoint for gates 10-22 (Delta and Active Duty U.S. Military only)
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
  ]]> http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/travel-2/business-travel/officials-adding-more-u-s-airports-to-passenger-pre-screening-program/feed/ 0 http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/travel-tips/new-trends-in-spa-vacations/ http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/travel-tips/new-trends-in-spa-vacations/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:56 +0000 Karen Amin http://travelproluggageblog.com/?p=1878
  
  

  Today, Americans work harder than ever…and at the end of the day, we have less and less time to enjoy the fruits of our labors. According to Expedia’s 2011 Vacation Deprivation study, Americans earn a moderate amount of vacation time at best, but we leave an average of three days unused every year.

  When we do take advantage of this “guilty pleasure,” for some people, a long-awaited vacation amounts to heading to an unfamiliar city and running around for days on end, getting lost, taking countless pictures, eating too much and coming back with the inevitable desire for another vacation after running themselves ragged for five days.

  

  Post-Spa Relaxant (Photo credit: Sanctu)

  Something’s just not quite right there.

  Other people are catching on to this, trading in those supercharged, energy-sapping jaunts for relaxing, rejuvenating spa getaways. And Newsday recently reported on some of the latest innovations in pampering. Here’s a look at three things their trend spotters have seen:

  Cold is the new hot. It’s not just about steam showers, whirlpools and hot stones anymore. Think ice therapy and cold rooms. There’s even an almost 4,500-square-foot “cryotherapy” center in California that offers a cool new way to relieve tension and soothe muscles. (Gives new meaning to “chill out.”)

  All in the family. Enough said: It’s not for everyone, but if you want to take the kids along for a spa treatment, there are places for you now. The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui has a family spa suite for everyone to relax together!

  If you’re considering a spa vacation, whether you stick with the basics or indulge in one of these burgeoning trends, remember to save just as much — if not more — in your budget that the cost of the treatments won’t nullify your pampering with more stress. It can be simpler to do those five-day travel blitzes because there are plenty of ways to travel on the cheap and see the sights for free…here, that’s not the case.

  But then, it might just pay to find the peace of mind you’ve been craving.

  
  ]]> http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/travel-tips/new-trends-in-spa-vacations/feed/ 0 http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/luggage/unusual-ways-to-avoid-baggage-fees/ http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/luggage/unusual-ways-to-avoid-baggage-fees/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:00:43 +0000 Scott Applebee http://travelproluggageblog.com/?p=1863
  
  

  These days, people are willing to do just about anything to save a few bucks.

  And, the New York Times notes, the more inventive airlines are with the fees they subject their customers to, the more travelers are willing to become wilier to avoid them.

  The Times story says that most people are content just to try shoving as much as possible into coat pockets, personal items and carry-on baggage — but that can result in the dreaded Battle of the Overhead Bin. So others have gotten even more creative. The article talks about fliers who are willing to drive up to 100 miles farther just to reach an airport serviced by an airline offering free checked bags.

  

  Baggage Hall at Gibraltar Airport (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  One woman, who was moving her daughter to college for the first time, realized that paying to haul the bags cross-country would cost more than another plane ticket — those charges can really add up. So she did her research and found that Southwest, though the closest airport was 25 miles farther than she’d planned to drive, was a more realistic option because all six of her daughter’s bags could fly for free between her, her husband and her daughter.

  Another option: going plastic. (Opening an airline-branded credit card, that is.) Many of these cards offer the first checked bag free for cardholders, in addition to other money-saving perks.

  You can also ship your bags ahead. While it may seem like an expensive option, the cost of shipping something via UPS or Fedex can sometimes be less than the cost of the baggage fees. Plus you don’t have the hassle of wrestling your bags in and out of cars, and off the luggage carousel. They’re waiting for you when you arrive.

  And for those who want to maintain the flexibility of flying whatever airline they’d like, there are solutions like vacuum sealers that suck the air out of special bags and make it possible to stuff far more into a bag than pre-sealing. You’ll have to find a way to do it on the return trip as well.

  There are plenty of legislators and travelers’ rights groups hard at work trying to reduce the prevalence of baggage fees, but until then, there are plenty of ways to game the system and save yourself from getting nickel-and-dimed.

  Related articles

  • Former TSA Chief Thinks Banned Items List Is Ridiculous, Also Fights Against Baggage Fees (inquisitr.com)
  • How to beat the airlines’ baggage restrictions (confused.com)
  • Lost Bags? Don’t Lose It (foxnews.com)
  • Smaller airlines starting to charge baggage fees (cbsnews.com)
  
  ]]> http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/luggage/unusual-ways-to-avoid-baggage-fees/feed/ 0 http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/travel-tips/what-not-to-wear-when-traveling/ http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/travel-tips/what-not-to-wear-when-traveling/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:00:30 +0000 Karen Amin http://travelproluggageblog.com/?p=1836
  
  

  “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”

  Mark Twain made a good point, of course; even in the 21st century, you won’t get very far wearing no clothes at all. Here at TravelPro, we’d take it one step further and say that clothes make the traveler. And it’s not enough just to wear clothes, period.

  Back in February, MSNBC’s TravelKit published a pretty great list of forbidden clothing items for travelers:

  1. Fanny pack
  2. Sandals with socks
  3. Convertible pants
  4. Stiletto heels
  5. All-white sneakers
  6. Skimpy swimsuits

  But some rules are a little more fluid, depending on the situation and your destination.

  

  Socks & sandals (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  Our first tip: Dress for where you’re headed, not where you’re leaving from. You’re going to feel out of place if you leave from the Great White North and show up in Bora Bora wearing a hooded parka and snow boots. (And likewise, if you’re sporting shorts and a tank top when you arrive home with a foot of snow on the ground, that won’t be pleasant.)

  An exception to this suggestion: If you’re headed to somewhere like Texas, skip the Stetson and massive belt. We’ll be the first to say that good accessories are rarely out of place, but that kind of hardware might cause delays during screening with the TSA. Avoid the hassle and pass on the elaborate accessories until you arrive.

  Back to the cold weather/warm weather conundrum: If you’re faced with this challenge, always layer, layer, layer!

  And whether you’re traveling for spring break or an international jaunt, consider this blanket advice to dress to blend in. Don’t dress like a tourist; don’t look like an American. A lot of those tips from MSNBC apply: the fanny pack, the sandals with socks, the white tennis shoes.

  The Internet has made it infinitely easier to learn the fashion trends and cultural norms of locales — use it to your advantage. Be comfortable, blend in and enjoy your trip.

  
  ]]> http://travelproluggageblog.com/2012/04/travel-tips/what-not-to-wear-when-traveling/feed/ 0