On the Road. In the Bag.

I should write a travel hack book. The stories and little discoveries I’ve made along the way will horrify the average twice a year traveller who pays FULL PRICE for everything. On the other side of the coin, I often shake my head and wonder why I do this and how I survive so many flights and needlessly bureaucratic security lines.

I can do this because of red wine yoga… lots of it.

Joking aside, I shall start sharing hacks, trends, and tips as part of my On the Road series.

Trends

Most stories I hear from frequent travelers these days start with: So, I was in [Name of City], staying at a place I found through airbnb when…. Airbnb is disrupting the hotel industry in an unstoppable way; I would consider this travel crowdsourcing at it’s best (some call it the sharing economy).

Not entirely new (2008), the site matches people travelling to a city with people who have a spare bedroom that they can rent out for a price. For the renting folks, it’s an extra source of income; while the renters can find a place to stay for an affordable price (e.g. NYC at a breathtaking $60 a night).

Along the same lines, Lyft is the new way to catch a ride. Download the app, press the big button, and someone will come and pick you up. It’s Uber for hitchhikers. But it doesn’t stop here. Need a parking spot? Try Park-at-my-house or Park Circa (a lifesaver in SF). How about a dog sitter? The share economy is the new black.

Travel Hacks

I’m a bit reluctant to share my newest hack because I don’t have to suddenly be competing for Economy Plus seating on United… but… no one in their right mind ever flies to Calgary… so here you are.

If you have Platinum Elite status at Marriott (not hard their bonus night plans) you can apply to get Silver status with United without ever having flown with them. All you have to do is link the two accounts. Seriously. With Silver status, when you check-in you can upgrade to Economy Plus without having to pay.

In the Bag

Air Canada has an In the Bag series that I really like. Here is my own In the Bag post. My carry-on has changed significantly since that post but the contents have not. The newest item that I’ve added into the mix is individually wrapped disinfectant wipes.

I’m actually not one of those obsessive hand sanitizer people. I believe the more germs the better: especially when you travel a lot because at some point you will reach an immunity pinnacle where nothing makes you sick.

However, these little packages are a sanity saver for me… because I rent a car every week. And, it seems I have the unfortunate luck that whenever I look into another vehicle, the driver always seems to be picking their nose. So, in my head, I associate car rentals and nose picking together and need a clean steering wheel before I start driving. If not, I’d be gagging endlessly and trying to drive with the tips of my fingers for the entire journey.

Rental cars are really gross. My last rental had a box of chicken fingers strewn all over the back seat of the car, which was a shame because it was a brand new car and immediately wrecked. True story.

Commuting Photo of the Week

Taken at The Big G’s bike-to-work day. Bike to work day is a huge deal in Silicon Valley. Most companies offer prizes, food, and praise for those who do it. The Big G was no exception and so many participated that it had a noticeable impact on Silicon Valley traffic.