16 Golden Rules That Business Travelers Swear By
Alex Green
This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip.
Business travelers are made, not born. And almost everyone who travels frequently for work can list off at least a few things they wish they'd known when they first got into the game. It's not all obvious—like the importance of committing to a points and miles program early on; these programs literally exist because of you, dear business travelers—and some is nuanced and only learnable with time, like finding a hotel that feels like home and lets you leave a suit in the closet.
To gather the rules of the road, we chatted with highly-seasoned business travelers about what they wish someone wiser had told them at the start of it all. These sources come from many lines of work and walks of life—museum directors who know which gala dresses are easiest to pack, private equity and corporate law guys who prefer boutique hotels, young communications specialists who've learned to find the romance in everything, and so on. (A number of people we interviewed asked to use a pseudonym—this is hard hitting stuff!—which you'll see reflected below.)
Read on for their tips and tricks of successful business travel.
Work travel is not leisure travel
It's exciting when work sends you to far-flung places that you've always wanted to visit—but don't let the novelty trick you into thinking you're getting a vacation. 'My first couple of work trips took me to Europe, which was very exciting for a fresh out of college twenty-something,' says Zelda, a communications specialist for the International Council on Clean Transportation. 'Being a young person who couldn't afford a transatlantic flight and three-star hotel rooms on my dime, I immediately felt the need to get the most out of the experience. That pressure, combined with the actual work I needed to do on the trip, was a recipe for burnout.'
You have to do your work, and do it well, in order to continue being sent on work trips. And you're likely going to be exhausted thanks to the itinerary, networking, and drinking, all of which are reliable elements of her business trips. Make sure work, and then rest, are your priority, before finding time for sightseeing and moments of leisure in your after-hours. To that end…
Prioritize rest
'I have given up trying to get the most out of the hours directly around my required work, because I really need those times to rest,' Zelda says. "A fancy hotel room should be enjoyed to its fullest. A bathrobe? Pool? Spa? Even just sleeping or watching TV in freshly changed sheets. Charli XCX says it best: Everything is romantic.' Give yourself a break, especially if you're going to be on the clock for longer hours than when you're at home.
Convenience is not king—loyalty is
Frequent business travelers are the reason points, miles, and loyalty programs exist, and to not take advantage of them only hurts you. This may feel less true in recent years, as it's become notoriously difficult to earn status at one single airline. But most agree that the following remains true: The moment it becomes clear that travel is going to be a big part of your job, choose an airline alliance and lock into the loyalty program. When Lucie, now a partner at a major management consulting company based in New York, first began traveling a lot for work, she booked whichever airline had the most convenient departure time. 'I admittedly was not in that game as early as I should have been, and then I realized the money that I was leaving on the table.' Now, she has 'insane' Delta status that makes her personal travel basically free, she says.
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission.
Which Airline Has the Best Rewards Program?
A new study from Point.me ranks the world's best airline rewards programs that offer the most value for travelers—even those who don't fly frequently.
Delta, among the sources in this story, is far and away the favorite, with United not-so-close behind. But if you're wondering which airline has the best rewards program, Paul, a corporate lawyer, keeps an eye on the situation and says it's not always so simple: 'Some airlines are clearly better than others, and it's fluid. Right now, I've been getting way better deals from American Airlines than United or Delta.' Which brings up another point: Even if you're loyal to one airline, enroll with everyone and collect points wherever you can.
Book flight times strategically
Give yourself the luxury of time and book your flight to arrive the day before you have to get down to business. You don't have to take that red eye. Rahul Khosla of Heady.io says, 'It makes the trip longer, yes, but it's much easier to keep your routine this way and feel more sharp for the meeting [or work event] itself. [Otherwise] eating gets weird, sleep gets disrupted, and you probably won't have time to go to the gym because you'll be too tired. One more perk of flying out early—I'm not as stressed if delays happen, because I know I'm not cutting it super close.'
Clear and TSA PreCheck are non-negotiable
'I don't know if you can call yourself a savvy business traveler without them,' says Paul of programs like Clear and TSA PreCheck that help expedite travelers' journeys through airport security. The lines at most airports are long and only getting longer, and the lounge is sitting on the other side waiting for you. Divide the annual fee by the amount of times you traveled last year and see how little it will really cost you. (And, if you've got a great credit card, the fee may even be waived.)
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission.
10 Credit Cards That Cover the Cost of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
There's no excuse not to enroll in one program or the other, especially with one of these cards in your wallet.
For the best shot at an upgrade, book premium economy
Regardless of your status, it's unlikely, according to my sources, that you'll get upgraded out of basic economy into business. But premium? That's when they see you. That's when they might move you up. And if they don't, you're already in premium. It's difficult to regret.
Always ask for the upgrade, but be super polite about it
That second part is key. You have nothing to lose when you request an upgrade, whether that's from the aforementioned premium into business, or from a standard hotel room to an executive suite. But it's also true that you'll catch more flies with honey: Gate agents and hotel reception are the keepers of the keys, they've seen it all, and they get to be arbitrary. If you approach them with even a shred of entitlement, they'll clock it and you'll lose out. Humble yourself, business traveler. 'I've gotten some outrageous upgrades just from asking nicely,' one private equity man tells me.
Use the packing cubes
While there's a clean split between checking bags and carrying them on, in no space were these sources more unanimous than in their exultation of packing cubes. Nearly everybody that I spoke to brought them up organically, including Carl Friedrik, co-founder of Niklas Oppermann (and not just because his company sells them). 'I do it by type of clothing,' he says, 'and then you can use one or two for dirty laundry as the trip progresses. I'm a convert to packing cubes.'
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission.
The Best Packing Cubes to Keep Your Suitcase Organized
These Traveler-tested sets will save space and maintain order in your carry-on.
Don't take jet lag lightly
Jet lag is the bane of the business traveler's existence. Some cases are worse than others, but it's always looming to some degree in the shadow of those who change time zones. Tips on how to best cope vary, but there's a consensus around one particular strategy: adopting the time zone of your destination the moment you board your flight. 'So, if you're landing at 9 in the morning wherever you're going, you have to act like it's night on the plane even if it isn't where you're leaving from,' DEI executive Yentil Rawlinson of Sherwin-Williams tells me. 'It's a necessary evil and the only thing I've tried that works.' Some travelers even manually reset their phone to the time zone of their destination upon boarding the plane, to begin adjusting. However you can trick yourself, trust your body will follow.
Find a hotel that can feel like home
I know we said that loyalty is everything, and for airlines it absolutely is. It is similarly difficult to deny the power of accruing those big brand points at hotels, which many travelers use to cash in on a luxury stay (ideally, on their personal travels in the future). But while you're untethered and unmoored, go for something that feels like a version of home to you. 'I generally prefer staying in independent hotels because they get to know you over repeat visits,' says Paul. 'If you stay at a big brand, it's hard—the concierges at these places are not as good as they used to be. In London, I used to stay at the Chiltern before it burned down. I've gotten on a flight, texted them that I forgot my pajamas, and guess what's waiting for me pressed on arrival? High thread count cotton pajamas." He would even leave a suit and tie there. While many such properties aren't part of loyalty programs, World of Hyatt brought Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and the boutique properties available on their booking platform, under the Hyatt umbrella this year—so it's becoming possible to earn points while staying boutique.
You can expense those mundane hotel services, so make use of them
One of the most valuable lessons a former CEO taught Rawlinson was to hand your clothes over to the hotel pressing service upon arrival. 'If you're going for four or five days, keep one outfit and have the rest pressed," she says. "And at the end, have them all dry cleaned so you're only packing clean clothes.'
Build out your wrinkle-free wardrobe
Mariet Westermann, CEO and Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, is wearing one of her favorite suits for travel when she speaks to me. It's from Theory. 'They make these really lightweight clothes that you almost never have to dry clean.' When things get more formal, a gala for example, she trusts one brand: Missoni. 'Missoni just does not crinkle—they have the crinkles they need, and that's it.' For the boys, most observe that suits have been phased out of their packing list entirely. They instead bring black or navy pants, and black or navy shirts.
Your gym shoes are also your walking shoes and your casual office shoes
You need one pair of shoes that can do it all. Multiple people I speak to swear by the collaboration sneaker between New Balance and Aimé Leon Dore for this exact multi-purposing.
The hotel gym is an extension of the workplace
Bring nice gym clothes, people—odds are, your boss is going to be at the treadmill next to yours. 'You do not want to show up in ratty gym shorts,' Bianca Consunji of Netflix tells me, 'I speak from experience. You also want to bring headphones, to signal that this is time that you want for yourself.'
Talk to your coworkers—especially when they're the locals
Whether they're fellow convention-goers, or coworkers from the office abroad, the people who live in the destination you are traveling to harbor the best recommendations for low-key, off-the-beaten path things to do once the working day is done. Westermann from Guggenheim was in Hong Kong with a locally-based colleague, and they had a lot of time to spend together. He told her: 'Let's go walking in the warehouse district and you'll see a different demographic.' They walked and took the metro together, as was his preference, rather than hailing cabs; this showed her the city anew.
Lucie spent six months in Melbourne early in her career, and became embedded in her team there—she never needed to Google a recommendation. Khosla's approach is similarly simple: 'I try to catch local sports wherever I am. I have a client outside of Dallas, for example, and last time I traveled there I went to a rodeo with my colleague. Seeing sports, live or at a local bar, is a good way to get a vibe of a different place in just a few hours, and it's also a good way to bond with clients or potential clients.'
Hold on to your humanity
While listing off what goes into her toiletry bag, Lucie tells me, 'I just feel more like myself when I have my perfume on.' It's a small aside that gets at something bigger: Traveling a ton for work comes at the cost to your personal life, so it's important to find little ways to get back to yourself.
Smith says, 'I like to eat meals by myself to get centered again. It helps for a few reasons: I'm taking care of myself, which is hard to remember to do when you're working in a new environment; and it's grounding, almost meditative, drawing attention to your senses. I love just crunching on some carrot sticks and staring out at the world, listening to the sounds around me.' When that's not enough, sometimes the most important thing is to just get home to your own bed, as soon as you can.
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Pamela Anderson on Personal Style, Self-Acceptance, and Date Night
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by Glamour editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Marco Bahler Sitting in Copenhagen's grandest hotel, Pamela Anderson is every bit the down-to-earth movie star you'd expect: makeup-free, icy blonde, casually dressed in an oversized button-down shirt. Her only accessories are diamond studs and a matching pendant necklace. But I'm mostly struck by her openness and deep interest in our conversation—she really is the soft-spoken charmer we've gotten to know more over the past few years. (Case in point: When I walk into the room, she's just finished putting together a Pandora charm bracelet as a gift for her mother's birthday. 'I was having a little crafty moment over here,' she says.) She's in Denmark for Copenhagen Fashion Week as a guest of jewelry brand Pandora. Last night she hosted a celebratory dinner at an art museum; today she's chatting with me as part of her continued partnership with the brand. It's a particularly busy time for the Golden Globe–nominated actor and 2024 Glamour Woman of the Year, who just concluded a press tour for The Naked Gun reboot, finished a run in a Massachusetts production of the play Camino Real just days ago, and seemingly embarked on a new romance. Obviously, we have questions for Anderson—and she gamely answered them all, letting us in on her go-to jewelry, her Copenhagen recommendations, and one-on-one time with Liam Neeson. What's a cherished memory you have around jewelry? Well, I've just started my whole jewelry [journey] in this chapter of my life. It's funny because I look at my mom, who is bedazzled from head to toe. I was like, 'It's a bit much, Mom,' but now I find myself loading up on jewelry. This has been such a wonderful time, promoting these films, and to have the support of Pandora—they're supporting me as an artist too. I'm not just a simple ambassador. We're crossing into all parts of each other's lives. Last night when we had the dinner, the recipes were from my cookbook, and I helped design the tables, and I wrote the poem [printed on each guest's menu]. They seem to appreciate me, all aspects of me, so it's been fun. So this is my most treasured time with jewelry, because I never really had it growing up or when I was younger. Do you have a piece you find yourself wearing most often? I like little diamond studs. They go with everything—jeans and a T-shirt or, you know, in the garden. You're a style icon. How do you put an outfit together? I really wanted to have fun with The Naked Gun press tour; I wanted to think of it as a story. I usually style myself, but I worked with Bailey Moon and I said, 'Get a lot of really fun stuff and think about French films.' I wanted to have things be cinematic—and a little off, because I never quite nail it. It's just a little something that doesn't quite work, but it's trying. I'm never perfectly polished, even though I try to be. Something always goes wrong, which is, I think, part of my charm. I'm embracing that now. I love putting fun outfits together from head to toe. For this press tour I wanted to add color because I usually wear very easy and basic stuff. It was fun to put some hats on. I love hats, and this is the time to wear one. How would you describe your personal style? I'm such a visual person. The first thing I think about when I'm playing a role is the look and the style. Part of your work kind of seeps in. I find when you're preparing for a role, you bring in all this inspiration. You're trying to get close to the project. And then when you're in the middle of the movie or something you're doing—especially in the middle of this Tennessee Williams play I was just doing—you start morphing. It starts becoming your reality instead of something you're trying to get or understand. Even today, I said, 'I'm coming to Copenhagen. Palate cleanse. This is where I'm going to be very minimal again, and go back to my simple colors and everything.' And then I put [an outfit] together, and was wearing this polka-dot skirt and a big hat, and I was like, 'Okay, I'm still in the Tennessee Williams play.' I can't get away from it. Style is about what you're going through in your life and how you want to present yourself to the world. I'm not a real trend follower, and I'm a little rebellious. Wear what you want. Wear what you want. And jewelry is a good way to express yourself—makeup, no makeup, whatever you want to do. We say more with our presentation than we do with our words—it all kind of goes together. If you want to be in a good mood, wear something fun, put some jewelry on. It all helps. It accentuates your mood. It's not like you look into the future six months and go, 'I'm going to wear that, I'm going to wear that.' You just wake up in the morning and look in your closet and go in your jewelry box, and decide this is what I'm wearing today in spite of how I felt yesterday.' This is a new day. It's a clean slate. Do you have a go-to date-night outfit? Date night? My gosh, date night. I don't know. Trench coat, nothing underneath but Pandora. Approachable, fun. No, I'm kidding! [Laughs.] What was it like to film ? Every day was fun. It was wild. It was crazy. It was so much fun to make that film, and, you know, we had a good time. I haven't seen the final [cut] yet—I saw it with Liam [Neeson] in an empty theater, just him and I, for the first time. We were just looking at each other like, 'This is crazy.' I want to see it with a group of people. I'll sneak in the back somewhere. We had a lot of fun making it, and the snowman stuff was especially ridiculous and out-there. [Laughs.] And the scat singing. It's fond memories. Which aspects of your appearance do you appreciate more as you get older? Maybe not so much appearance—maybe just my mind. I feel more self-accepting and embracing of who I am and what I look like. We're going through a time when people are taking a lot of pictures of themselves, there's a lot of social media, but they don't really look like their social media. I've cracked the code: I actually look in the mirror like I do on social media. Then you don't have to get so depressed. Or [if] I see a bad picture of myself, I don't fret over anything like that anymore. Maybe it's accentuated or maybe it's not relatable because I've been in this business, but I think people can relate a little bit. They're always doing selfies and putting them on their [feeds], and then they're like, 'Oh, I don't look like that,' or 'I look bad right now,' when really you just look like you! I didn't plan on not wearing makeup as a political statement, but I'm glad it's resonating. I really just did it for me so I could—I had to—get off the crazy train. What's your favorite thing to do in Copenhagen? There's great food here, great vegan restaurants. I love Hart Bakery. Last time I was here, I got to see all these sourdough starters, which got me really excited because I'm a big sourdough baker. But, I mean, the architecture—it's a great walking city. I love all the furniture stores; I go in and wish I could buy everything. I love Copenhagen. I love the park. I was really looking forward to coming here because I knew that once I got here, I would have completed a lot—I kept on going, 'Copenhagen is my North Star. Once I get there, I'll have completed the play and the press tour for The Naked Gun, and I'll be in one piece. I made it.' What's your favorite Pandora piece you've ever worn? I like my charm bracelet because my sons made it for me, and that's why I thought it was kind of funny that I made one for my mom for her birthday, because it's personal. I love the diamonds too. The reason I love working with Pandora is that they're more accessible. More people can wear Pandora jewelry than a big, fancier, different kind of brand. Plus, it's lab-grown, which is the sustainable part of it. It makes me feel more confident wearing jewelry that has less of an impact on the environment. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Originally Appeared on Glamour More icons Candice Bergen: 'I've Never Watched a Single Sex and the City Episode' The power of Audra McDonald If you ever meet Judy Blume, feel free to cry Whoopi Goldberg Really Doesn't Care
WIRED
5 days ago
- WIRED
Sand and Deliver: We Raced Across Dunes to Find the Best Beach Wagon
Armed with a trunkful of outdoor gear, we hit the beach to source the best trolley for your next family vacation. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Learn more. The family beach day. Nothing but blue sky, crystal waters, and beaming smiles. Unless you're the packhorse responsible for maneuvering a mountain of gear from the parking lot to the perfect spot on the sand. What you need is a high-quality beach wagon. Also known as a festival or shopping wagon (or trolley), these collapsible, all-terrain carry-alls live in the trunk and make it possible to transport everything you need for a day at the shore or a weekend camping, in just one trip. They're also increasingly popular with those of us who love dragging our kids around farmers markets while loading up with organic produce. To discover which beach wagon is best, WIRED took four popular options to the beach for some serious shoreline testing. Camber Sands is just two hours from London, but it has a vast sandy beach and miles of dunes to play in. With models ranging from an Amazon favorite from Timber Ridge costing just $80, to Veer, a luxurious hi-tech option for $700, we wanted to know which wagon would complete our real-world race course featuring deep dunes, wet sand, wetsuits, awnings, coolers, chairs, buckets, dry bags, spades, and soccer balls. Each beach wagon got loaded up with the same selection of WIRED's outdoor gear. As well as our beach wagon time trial—a 300-foot dash through dry, soft, firm, and wet sand—we tested how compact each design was when folded, how easy they were to assemble, pack, and unload. We also tested each design off the beach across a range of surfaces from paving to gravel, so wherever you're heading, you'll know what to expect. It's by no means an exhaustive test—there are hundreds of almost identical designs on Amazon—but what it does do is focus on the features worth investing in, from build quality and collapsibility, to durability and, crucially, how well it copes with sand. And if you're interested in upgrading your outdoor gear, check out WIRED' s many other outdoor guides, including the Best Coolers, Best Flat-Top Grills, and if the weather betrays you, the Best Rain Jackets. Best Beach Wagon for Deep Sand: Veer All-Terrain Cruiser Veer designs and manufactures premium gear for parents of small kids who want to explore. The $699 All-Terrain Cruiser is so far removed from a typical Costco beach wagon, it looks more like a NASA-designed high-tech stroller. And with a vast selection of add-ons, including toddler seats, bassinet for infants, awnings, coolers, insect and rain shields, it's the most desirable cart available. Our sample, which has two child harnesses as standard, shipped with a set of tough-but-forgiving all-terrain wheels, which chewed up sidewalks and trails with ease. But for this test, we added a pair of $299 Beach Wheels. Yes, these inflatable wheels with aluminum forks cost almost as much as the next most expensive beach cart on test. That said, the extra surface area and smooth texture made all the difference across the sand, and the beach wheels were the only ones that rolled, rather than plowed through deep dry sand. The Veer's beach wheels are an expensive extra, but worth the outlay. Despite being the heaviest, Veer was the fastest beach cart, which is impressive given that it was the last to be tested, and by that point WIRED was exhausted. It was also impressively maneuverable through the dunes, with excellent balance and no danger of tipping. Reassuring if you're hauling kids, not gear. The fold-flat metal and plastic design screams quality, but takes up significantly more space in the trunk of a car, especially with the beefed-up wheels. The handle height can be adjusted to suit different users, and the dual-grip design is easier to pull than a single, and you can share the load. The angled sides made it a little harder to pack compared to the Timber Ridge or Gregory, but the handling was hard to fault. Most Transportable Beach Cart: Gregory Alpaca Gear Wagon 140 Samsonite's hiking, skiing, and camping offshoot brand Gregory has been doing a roaring trade in backpacks for years, but it recently expanded into hauling kit, including robust travel duffels and the $299 Alpaca Gear Wagon. The concertina-style folding design is fairly typical for a beach/festival cart, as are the 8-inch all-terrain wheels, which hate the sand, especially when fully loaded. Away from the beach it was a godsend, especially at a music festival where it coped admirably over gravel, grass, and through a few muddy puddles—but the deep dry sand caused the front wheels to plow, rather than roll. It was the slowest on the test, and getting it up a sand dune slope proved too much effort for even the most determined parent. It's a shame, as the well-engineered wagon with chunky powder-coated frame doesn't rattle like cheaper designs, has a good capacity (both in volume and weight), and the mesh base makes it easy to remove sand. The drop-in floor is tough enough to cope with a couple of tired kids too. The PFAS-free recycled 600D polyester material feels durable, and we appreciated the rain cover's waterproofing on more than one occasion. We didn't miss its lack of brakes, but it's worth remembering if you're camping on a hill. At 28 pounds (13 kg) it's fairly heavy, but it comes with the best carrying case, which covers the wheels completely, great for minimizing dirt in the car, but also for easier lifting and neater stowage. Look closely and you'll also find a couple of hidden water bottle holders, although we'd have appreciated some more external storage options similar to those on the Timber Ridge. Apart from the sand race, the Alpaca performed well, and it's the most versatile if you've not got a huge trunk. It is expensive compared to so many options on Amazon, but there's not many of those backed by a lifetime warranty. A Budget Behemoth: Timber Ridge Folding Wagon Light, nimble and definitely affordable, this $80, 135-liter collapsible wagon has, as of August 2025, 2,768 reviews (average 4.5 stars) on Amazon, making it one of the most popular and well-received options on the internet. There's a couple of insignificant differences between the US and UK models (we tested the UK option), so essentially they're the same wagon from one of the biggest names in budget outdoor gear. Like the Gregory, this wagon has hard plastic wheels. In this case, 7.5 inches in diameter and 3.4 inches wide. And they too got stuck in the deeper sand and took a huge effort to pull the loaded wagon up the hill, but the front two wheels didn't plow through the sand as noticeably. We struggled to get the loaded cart up the dunes, but it was nimble over firmer sand and other surfaces. And despite the smaller capacity, we only lost one item during the time trial, thanks mainly to the side pockets. We were able to stuff towels, water bottles, sandals, and even a giant shuttlecock in them securely. The Timber Ridge Wagon is just as easy to assemble as both the Business & Pleasure and Gregory carts, but it is a little bit rickety, especially if you haul a heavy load over firm, uneven ground. The handle gives away its low price, too, as does the slightly lower maximum capacity of 220 pounds (100 kg). It packs down nice and small, although the cover is not as practical as the one found on the Gregory, which covers the wheels and so protects your trunk. There is, however, a practical strap loop on the base which means the fabric cover is held securely in position. WIRED was pleased by the quality of this budget beach wagon, and we hope it lasts for years, as we're tired of seeing many similar, albeit broken, designs discarded at the end of a festival weekend. Best for the Gram: Business & Pleasure Beach Cart Available in a collection of attractive fabric colorways (think Cape Cod meets Côte d'Azur), the Business & Pleasure Beach Cart is definitely looking to be in the 'influencer' zone. It looks good, substituting the usual rugged polyester for soft, subtle parasol stripes. Pretty costs, though, and at $399 it feels expensive for what is essentially a fold-up beach cart with a facelift. A 70-pound (32-kg) load capacity is also meagre compared to the competition, especially given the high unloaded weight, and the metal frame does rattle a bit for a premium-priced product, especially over firm, uneven ground. Across the sand, however, the extra-large wheels do a great job, and it was the second fastest wagon on test. Yes, a couple of items went AWOL during the race, but that could be more to do with the packer than the wagon. Despite the low weight capacity, there's plenty of room, and this cart was the easiest to pack all our gear into. The hardwood handle, a feature promoted heavily in the brand's literature, felt a little low-end. More garden spade than luxury beach buggy. And then there's the fabric used. It feels like cotton but is actually 100 percent acrylic. The brand has dubbed it 'Pleasuretex.' Much to our surprise it was completely waterproof and even survived a night out in the rain unscathed. But, being cream colored, it does get grubby quickly, especially compared to the tough polyester. In its carry bag, it's almost completely useless as it's baggy and difficult to lift, especially in and out of the car.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
16 Golden Rules That Business Travelers Swear By
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Alex Green This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip. Business travelers are made, not born. And almost everyone who travels frequently for work can list off at least a few things they wish they'd known when they first got into the game. It's not all obvious—like the importance of committing to a points and miles program early on; these programs literally exist because of you, dear business travelers—and some is nuanced and only learnable with time, like finding a hotel that feels like home and lets you leave a suit in the closet. To gather the rules of the road, we chatted with highly-seasoned business travelers about what they wish someone wiser had told them at the start of it all. These sources come from many lines of work and walks of life—museum directors who know which gala dresses are easiest to pack, private equity and corporate law guys who prefer boutique hotels, young communications specialists who've learned to find the romance in everything, and so on. (A number of people we interviewed asked to use a pseudonym—this is hard hitting stuff!—which you'll see reflected below.) Read on for their tips and tricks of successful business travel. Work travel is not leisure travel It's exciting when work sends you to far-flung places that you've always wanted to visit—but don't let the novelty trick you into thinking you're getting a vacation. 'My first couple of work trips took me to Europe, which was very exciting for a fresh out of college twenty-something,' says Zelda, a communications specialist for the International Council on Clean Transportation. 'Being a young person who couldn't afford a transatlantic flight and three-star hotel rooms on my dime, I immediately felt the need to get the most out of the experience. That pressure, combined with the actual work I needed to do on the trip, was a recipe for burnout.' You have to do your work, and do it well, in order to continue being sent on work trips. And you're likely going to be exhausted thanks to the itinerary, networking, and drinking, all of which are reliable elements of her business trips. Make sure work, and then rest, are your priority, before finding time for sightseeing and moments of leisure in your after-hours. To that end… Prioritize rest 'I have given up trying to get the most out of the hours directly around my required work, because I really need those times to rest,' Zelda says. "A fancy hotel room should be enjoyed to its fullest. A bathrobe? Pool? Spa? Even just sleeping or watching TV in freshly changed sheets. Charli XCX says it best: Everything is romantic.' Give yourself a break, especially if you're going to be on the clock for longer hours than when you're at home. Convenience is not king—loyalty is Frequent business travelers are the reason points, miles, and loyalty programs exist, and to not take advantage of them only hurts you. This may feel less true in recent years, as it's become notoriously difficult to earn status at one single airline. But most agree that the following remains true: The moment it becomes clear that travel is going to be a big part of your job, choose an airline alliance and lock into the loyalty program. When Lucie, now a partner at a major management consulting company based in New York, first began traveling a lot for work, she booked whichever airline had the most convenient departure time. 'I admittedly was not in that game as early as I should have been, and then I realized the money that I was leaving on the table.' Now, she has 'insane' Delta status that makes her personal travel basically free, she says. All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Which Airline Has the Best Rewards Program? A new study from ranks the world's best airline rewards programs that offer the most value for travelers—even those who don't fly frequently. Delta, among the sources in this story, is far and away the favorite, with United not-so-close behind. But if you're wondering which airline has the best rewards program, Paul, a corporate lawyer, keeps an eye on the situation and says it's not always so simple: 'Some airlines are clearly better than others, and it's fluid. Right now, I've been getting way better deals from American Airlines than United or Delta.' Which brings up another point: Even if you're loyal to one airline, enroll with everyone and collect points wherever you can. Book flight times strategically Give yourself the luxury of time and book your flight to arrive the day before you have to get down to business. You don't have to take that red eye. Rahul Khosla of says, 'It makes the trip longer, yes, but it's much easier to keep your routine this way and feel more sharp for the meeting [or work event] itself. [Otherwise] eating gets weird, sleep gets disrupted, and you probably won't have time to go to the gym because you'll be too tired. One more perk of flying out early—I'm not as stressed if delays happen, because I know I'm not cutting it super close.' Clear and TSA PreCheck are non-negotiable 'I don't know if you can call yourself a savvy business traveler without them,' says Paul of programs like Clear and TSA PreCheck that help expedite travelers' journeys through airport security. The lines at most airports are long and only getting longer, and the lounge is sitting on the other side waiting for you. Divide the annual fee by the amount of times you traveled last year and see how little it will really cost you. (And, if you've got a great credit card, the fee may even be waived.) All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. 10 Credit Cards That Cover the Cost of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry There's no excuse not to enroll in one program or the other, especially with one of these cards in your wallet. For the best shot at an upgrade, book premium economy Regardless of your status, it's unlikely, according to my sources, that you'll get upgraded out of basic economy into business. But premium? That's when they see you. That's when they might move you up. And if they don't, you're already in premium. It's difficult to regret. Always ask for the upgrade, but be super polite about it That second part is key. You have nothing to lose when you request an upgrade, whether that's from the aforementioned premium into business, or from a standard hotel room to an executive suite. But it's also true that you'll catch more flies with honey: Gate agents and hotel reception are the keepers of the keys, they've seen it all, and they get to be arbitrary. If you approach them with even a shred of entitlement, they'll clock it and you'll lose out. Humble yourself, business traveler. 'I've gotten some outrageous upgrades just from asking nicely,' one private equity man tells me. Use the packing cubes While there's a clean split between checking bags and carrying them on, in no space were these sources more unanimous than in their exultation of packing cubes. Nearly everybody that I spoke to brought them up organically, including Carl Friedrik, co-founder of Niklas Oppermann (and not just because his company sells them). 'I do it by type of clothing,' he says, 'and then you can use one or two for dirty laundry as the trip progresses. I'm a convert to packing cubes.' All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. The Best Packing Cubes to Keep Your Suitcase Organized These Traveler-tested sets will save space and maintain order in your carry-on. Don't take jet lag lightly Jet lag is the bane of the business traveler's existence. Some cases are worse than others, but it's always looming to some degree in the shadow of those who change time zones. Tips on how to best cope vary, but there's a consensus around one particular strategy: adopting the time zone of your destination the moment you board your flight. 'So, if you're landing at 9 in the morning wherever you're going, you have to act like it's night on the plane even if it isn't where you're leaving from,' DEI executive Yentil Rawlinson of Sherwin-Williams tells me. 'It's a necessary evil and the only thing I've tried that works.' Some travelers even manually reset their phone to the time zone of their destination upon boarding the plane, to begin adjusting. However you can trick yourself, trust your body will follow. Find a hotel that can feel like home I know we said that loyalty is everything, and for airlines it absolutely is. It is similarly difficult to deny the power of accruing those big brand points at hotels, which many travelers use to cash in on a luxury stay (ideally, on their personal travels in the future). But while you're untethered and unmoored, go for something that feels like a version of home to you. 'I generally prefer staying in independent hotels because they get to know you over repeat visits,' says Paul. 'If you stay at a big brand, it's hard—the concierges at these places are not as good as they used to be. In London, I used to stay at the Chiltern before it burned down. I've gotten on a flight, texted them that I forgot my pajamas, and guess what's waiting for me pressed on arrival? High thread count cotton pajamas." He would even leave a suit and tie there. While many such properties aren't part of loyalty programs, World of Hyatt brought Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and the boutique properties available on their booking platform, under the Hyatt umbrella this year—so it's becoming possible to earn points while staying boutique. You can expense those mundane hotel services, so make use of them One of the most valuable lessons a former CEO taught Rawlinson was to hand your clothes over to the hotel pressing service upon arrival. 'If you're going for four or five days, keep one outfit and have the rest pressed," she says. "And at the end, have them all dry cleaned so you're only packing clean clothes.' Build out your wrinkle-free wardrobe Mariet Westermann, CEO and Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, is wearing one of her favorite suits for travel when she speaks to me. It's from Theory. 'They make these really lightweight clothes that you almost never have to dry clean.' When things get more formal, a gala for example, she trusts one brand: Missoni. 'Missoni just does not crinkle—they have the crinkles they need, and that's it.' For the boys, most observe that suits have been phased out of their packing list entirely. They instead bring black or navy pants, and black or navy shirts. Your gym shoes are also your walking shoes and your casual office shoes You need one pair of shoes that can do it all. Multiple people I speak to swear by the collaboration sneaker between New Balance and Aimé Leon Dore for this exact multi-purposing. The hotel gym is an extension of the workplace Bring nice gym clothes, people—odds are, your boss is going to be at the treadmill next to yours. 'You do not want to show up in ratty gym shorts,' Bianca Consunji of Netflix tells me, 'I speak from experience. You also want to bring headphones, to signal that this is time that you want for yourself.' Talk to your coworkers—especially when they're the locals Whether they're fellow convention-goers, or coworkers from the office abroad, the people who live in the destination you are traveling to harbor the best recommendations for low-key, off-the-beaten path things to do once the working day is done. Westermann from Guggenheim was in Hong Kong with a locally-based colleague, and they had a lot of time to spend together. He told her: 'Let's go walking in the warehouse district and you'll see a different demographic.' They walked and took the metro together, as was his preference, rather than hailing cabs; this showed her the city anew. Lucie spent six months in Melbourne early in her career, and became embedded in her team there—she never needed to Google a recommendation. Khosla's approach is similarly simple: 'I try to catch local sports wherever I am. I have a client outside of Dallas, for example, and last time I traveled there I went to a rodeo with my colleague. Seeing sports, live or at a local bar, is a good way to get a vibe of a different place in just a few hours, and it's also a good way to bond with clients or potential clients.' Hold on to your humanity While listing off what goes into her toiletry bag, Lucie tells me, 'I just feel more like myself when I have my perfume on.' It's a small aside that gets at something bigger: Traveling a ton for work comes at the cost to your personal life, so it's important to find little ways to get back to yourself. Smith says, 'I like to eat meals by myself to get centered again. It helps for a few reasons: I'm taking care of myself, which is hard to remember to do when you're working in a new environment; and it's grounding, almost meditative, drawing attention to your senses. I love just crunching on some carrot sticks and staring out at the world, listening to the sounds around me.' When that's not enough, sometimes the most important thing is to just get home to your own bed, as soon as you can. Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
