Travel Survival Kit

" Better safe than sorry."

~Rory O'More

There are many things to consider when traveling: who to bring along; what to wear; when to go; and, most importantly, how to pack. In today's blog entry we will be discussing how to assemble a travel survival kit to prepare for any and all possible contingencies that can occur while traveling.

It's a fact of life: things don't always go as planned. Travel plans get altered and often occur when we least expect them.

While most business travelers are a technologically savvy bunch, it is still beneficial to have low-tech options at your disposal. A classic brown briefcase, for example, can complement and carry a bunch of items; such as maps.

^^ A sturdy briefcase is an essential element ^^

If you have access to a computer, you have access to maps. One great product -- Google Earth -- offers maps and satellite images for complex or pinpointed regional searches.

Airports

In light of increased security measures, old survival staples -- bottled water, food, etc. -- are no longer allowed aboard the aircraft. Therefore, prior planning is crucial to ensure you are properly hydrated and fed.

Once your basic physiologically needs are met, you should make sure you update your communication channels to ensure access to information from the outside world. One way to accomplish this goal is to be plugged into a social media outlet -- facebook, twitter, blogs, etc. -- so your loved ones are updated on your plans.

If you are stranded at an airport with nothing to do you may as well make the best of the situation. Take the time and sign up for a frequent flyer program with a major airline.

http://www.aa.com/AAdvantage/aadvantageHomeAccess.do?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=aadvantage

The next link is a list of hotels near major airports. If you click on a city -- Washington DC has DCA, IAD and BWI -- an array of hotel listings pop up.

http://www.airporthotelguide.com/

Need a Rental Car

If you are stranded at an alien airport and need access to an automobile, the following links may be advantagous:

Hertz Rent-a-Car

http://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/gaq/index.jsp?bsc=t&targetPage=reservationOnHomepage.jsp

Budget Car Rental

http://www.budget.com/budgetWeb/home/home.ex

Enterprise

http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/home.do

These three companies --Hertz Rent-a-Car, Budget Car Rental, and Enterprise -- are some of the largest rental car agencies in the country.

Reservations

Expedia is an Internet-based travel reservation website. The neat thing about this website is that it allows you to obtain vacation packages -- flight + hotel + car -- all in one location.

http://www.expedia.com/

Orbitz, a similar site, is designed in the same way.

http://www.orbitz.com/

FareCompare allows you to "Find Cheap Flights Fast"

http://www.farecompare.com/

Remember, taking a few extra precautions does not make you paranoid, it only proves that you do a bit of premeditated planning.

A Google Earth photo showing our corporate location at 4915 St. Elmo Ave. Stop by for a visit!

Maps -- both low-tech and high-tech -- can help you find your way.

For the entertainment of our frequent airlines fliers, a trailer of "Up in the Air" is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7k6FwXJhNk

Fallout from Icelandic Eruption

Over 100,000 flights have been canceled around the world as a direct result of the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland. The Eyjafjallajokull volcano – located ~75 miles from the capital of Reykjavik – first erupted on April 14th spewing ash into the atmosphere that was drifting at 18,000 to 33,000 feet above sea level; the same altitude that civilian jetliners fly.
The spread of the volcanic ash moved east and disrupted air traffic in much of Europe disrupting major airport traffic hubs in Europe – including Oslo, Berlin, London, Paris, Warsaw and St. Petersberg – as they had to cancel flights.

While it seems that the worst is over, the backlog of travel passengers from the natural disaster could take weeks to work through. Tomorrow, 75% of the flights in European airspace should be operational.

This unfortunate chain of events has caused a ripple effect that has impacted diverse and disparate groups of people far removed from the epicenter – including us here at Transgap. 75-80% of our clientele are in business related fields and a few have had to cancel trips as a result of the volcano.

If you have been adversely affected, or left stranded far from friends and family, there are a few options available to assuage any anxiety.

• Skype is a free software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet and is an easy way to keep in touch with relatives, friends and family.
• http://www.skype.com/
  
• For our clients who are unable to attend business meetings, GoToMeeting is an easy Web Conferencing service that allows you to host online meetings.
• http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/

And, of course, if you have any special transportation needs we would be happy to assist you. If any of our clients have any stories to share, or would like to comment, please feel free to do so.