Bring Hotel Confirmation Numbers With You!

So I rolled into my hotel lady night about 1:30am.  The doors were locked, and I had to wait about 10 minutes for the front desk clerk to come back to let me in.  The parking lot was packed, a sure sign of a sold-out hotel. 

Once inside, he promptly informed me that he had no rooms left.  I told him that I had a reservation.  He told me all confirmed guests had checked in.  So...being patient and kind, confirmed I was at the correct hotel and then showed him my confirmation number.  He advised I had already checked in.  Since I'm standing I'm front of him, and I hadn't remembered to drive the warp-speed work truck, knew he was mistaken.  I showed the kind gentleman my confirmation number and he have me a key.

Upon entry into said hotel room, I was convinced that I would be met by an angry husband wondering what I was doing in their room.  Turns out, it WAS empty.  But the lesson learned here is always have your confirmation number handy.

I use Worldmate, a free app for Android and Apple, that tracks all your travel data, hotels, rental cars, airline tickets, etc on one site.  There are a few other good ones out there too, such as TripIt.

But I'll never leave home without my cell phone, and now, my confirmation numbers!

If you can, mix pleasure with work!

Spending a few days in Texas for work this week and have the pleasure if handing out with my buddy Adam and his family this weekend.  It really makes a work trip go by a lot faster when you can kill the down time with good friends and good times.

I learned a few other lessons last night...while at a Counting Crows concert, you cannot reserve a standing only spot.  Also...sometimes limos are cheaper than cabs...

Audible.com is my best travel companion

Earlier this year I signed up for an audible.com membership as I was tired of heating the same songs on the radio, or Pandora, or wherever.  And thought I should geta little more well "read".  So far, I love audible.com! 

I've listened to over 20 books (at an average of 9 hours per audio book).  This is roughly 180 hours of listening while on the road...and was just granted Audible.com Novice status...are you kidding me?!?  I feel like I should be audio book champ by now.  So I looked up what there Expert status required and its almost a year's worth if time.  Now that is some serious road time, our that person doesn't have a life. 

In spite of my perceived slight, I'll keep listening.  Check it out if you hit the road like me.  You'll either get smarter or at least be entertained.

Southwest Kansas is REALLY flat!

SW Kansas its so flat that I saw an Army helicopter squadron coming from 10 miles away. It felt like I watched them for an hour. Later I drove over an ant hill, I think I squashed the highest point of elevation in Kansas.

Last minute travel stinks

It's not a big surprise that last minute flights and travel expenses are expensive and add up fast.  I just booked a flight for Monday to Chicago...and after looking all over the Web, found that empty first class seats could be gotten CHEAPER than the economy seats that were left (i.e. exit row and economy plus seats only)

So if you have to travel at the drop of a hat, spend a little time online and shop around.

Small Towns....at least they have cable

I find myself in small town Oklahoma tonight.  One hotel to choose from...at least they have cable.  I wonder what people would do when on the road, in a small town, in the only hotel if there wasn't cable.  I know this sounds pretty spoiled, but such is the world we live in...

Schlafly Brewery is a good place to spend a Saturday afternoon

So I find myself in Saint Louis once again....and I'm finally checking out Schlafly Brewery.  What a gray place to spend a warm fall Saturday afternoon...  This is about the best way to celebrate Oktoberfest in the US I can think of.