8 ways to guard against the arbitrary in travel
Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 08:26AM Someone once wrote that "you can't guard against the arbitrary." He or she must have been talking about travel. Stuff just happens over which one has no control.
But knock wood, I’ve been pretty lucky in my travels about getting where I need to go by the time I need to be there. I’ve been doing about 15-20 speaking/workshop/consulting engagements a year for the past ten years, and I’ve always shown up on time. Did I say, knock wood?
Some of this is dumb luck, but I’d like to think a little of it is good planning as well. As many of you head for ALA and NECC, here are a a few hard earned travel tips to get you where you need to be – on time.
1. Never book the last flight out in the day. If a flight is cancelled, you have a fall back position. I always try to get to overseas destinations a full day before I need to be there. Helps with the jet lag too.
2. Book a direct flight whenever possible. As much as I complain about Northworst Airlines, I'm awfully glad to be living near Minneapolis, a major airline hub. Every connection is another chance for something to go wrong. Oh, keep your travel agent or airline customer support number on speed dial. A call is usually faster than standing in a re-booking line.
3. Know a couple airports within driving distance of your destination. I’ve had a flight cancelled to Syracuse, NY, but was able to get into Rochester and then drive to Syracuse. DC is really nice in this regard with Dulles, Regan, Baltimore and even Philadelphia all within a reasonable drive. A late night 4-5 hour drive is better than not getting there at all. And I am more fun to watch when I've had no sleep.
4. Don’t check bags. Yeah, if you’re gone for more than a week or are combining business and recreation – hiking boots and dress shoes – you may need to check a bag, but generally a rolly and a computer bag should do it. Even the LWW has figured out how to pack wisely using a carry-on only. And she always looks lovely and stylish. It is just a whole lot easier to re-book if you don't have a bag that needs to found and re-routed. Oh, your luggage always arrives with you this way as well.
5. Get to the airport early. ‘Nuf said.
6. Learn the damn security procedures. Yes, you still have to take off your shoes, remove your computer from its bag and put liquids in quart baggie that also has to be scanned separately. This liquid business I believe is a scam perpetrated by the personal grooming business. Those big bottles of shampoo, hand lotion, and other mysterious substances people seem to need go into the trash by the hundreds each day and of course need to be replaced at the destination. And, never, never, never get in any security queue that has a woman (or man) wearing thigh high, lace up boots ahead of you. And don't argue with security personnel. You'll not win.
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7. Once you get to the airport, your are only 98% there. Know where you will be staying and speaking. Bring printed maps. Bring MapQuest driving directions. Bring your GPS. I'd never rely only one of these navigational tools, but it's hard to miss with all three working for you.
8. Never rely on a hotel wake-up call. I once worked as the 11PM to 7AM desk clerk in a motel. I know how reliable I was. In fact it was where I learned to sleep sitting upright. I carry a cheap travel alarm. Cheap because I tend to leave them in the hotel room now and then.
I have nifty set of items that I think every speaker should carry with him/her as well.
- One's own computer.
- Slides on a flash drive.
- A print out of the slides and handouts.
- Cell phone with your sponsor's phone number in it.
- The nifty litte cable that lets you recharge your cell phone from computer's USB port.
- Small powered speakers.
- A Monster Cable Outlets to Go powerstrip. (This one very small and very cool.)
- A good remote for advancing slides.
- A retractable ethernet cable.
- Computer lock.
- Foreign plug adaptor kit if speaking overseas. (I love this one.)
It's not that I don't trust event organizers, but messages get crossed about equipment needs sometimes,
Oh, I think I'll need to add one more item to my emergency speaking equipment kit - a RGB cable. In the last couple of schools I've worked, I needed to use a ceiling mounted LCD projector where the RGB cable was so tightly bound to the teacher computer, I couldn't get it to reach my laptop. A separate cable from wall plate to laptop (male to male usually) looks like it will be a necessity in the future. Hey, it beats lugging your own projector which I did for many years.
Your travel tips for guarding agains the arbitrary?
Oh, my bag didn't come on my flight today. I'm still waiting for the prodigal.
Reader Comments (4)
Or you could do what I did for NECC--book your flight for the wrong day :( and just realize it the day before you fly! For some strange reason, I forgot to look at my e-ticket.
So, I'd add one more to the list--Be sure to check your ticket confirmation right after you make it.
Guess I won't be seeing you all at the edublogger con,:( but I'll be there with bells on on Saturday night!
Hi Carolyn,
I can't believe I forgot this tip. Booking on the wrong day is my biggest paranoia. And just making sure I have the right day of being where I am supposed to be.
(My biggest goof was making travel arrangements for the wrong YEAR of a conference!)
And those changes in airline tickets can be expensive.
Find me at NECC to say "hi."
Thanks again for the suggestion,
Doug
Love the cartoon. My youngest grandson is being potty trained and must check out restroom facilities every ten minutes. I am going to share your travel advice with my family. It is great.
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