VIP Travel for Pets

One of the many pleasures of flying on a private or corporate plane is the ability to keep your pet in the cabin with you. The problem, however, is that most of us don’t know how to keep our pet safe in case of an emergency or if the animal is experiencing a health problem.

Realizing that this could be a problem, Carol Martin, a former commercial flight attendant who moved into the corporate arena, founded Sit ‘n Stay Global, LLC, to provide a supremely safe and luxurious experience for corporate clients traveling with pets.

Carol and her staff are all trained in first aid and pet CPR. All Sit ‘n Stay flight attendant travel with a pet oxygen mask, a pet flotation device, and pet seat restraints, and they begin each flight with a thorough passenger briefing on pet safety. If the client requests it, they will also stay with the pet and act as a Nanny throughout the trip.

Of course, not everyone has the option to fly on a private jet, but that doesn’t mean everyone shouldn’t have the ability to ensure their pet’s safety in flight. For those whose pets are too big to fit under a seat in an airline approved carrier, Pet Airways may be the answer. [Read more →]

It is my pleasure to introduce Kerrin Sheldon as our newest contributor to In-Flight Insider. Kerrin is a traveler, adventurer, and photographer who has an incredible love for travel. He is currently the Content Manager at Wanderfly.com, a travel inspiration site that helps travelers discover new and interesting places to visit.

He is endlessly researching and traveling to help recommend some of the greatest places in the world, all tied to a traveler’s budgets and interests. And as you can see, being green is not popular just for Earth Day.

- by Kerrin Sheldon of Wanderfly

United States

Due to its enormous size, suburban culture, and love for motor vehicles, the United States isn’t the greenest country in the world. However, great strides have been made in some of the USA’s biggest and finest cities to reduce pollution and make the cities more livable for residents and visitors alike. Here are some of the best eco-friendly destinations:

Portland, Oregon

Portland is often at or near the top of the most eco-friendly cities lists. In tough contention with Seattle, Portland is arguably the Pacific Northwest’s finest city. Portland has a vibrant nightlife and a killer music scene, as some of the most well-known indie rock bands of the past decade have come from Portland. Happily eccentric, the city likes to be different, but has some (normal) awesome sights that can’t be missed. The city is known for its ability to preserve parks and nature, and its climate makes the town the perfect place for growing roses. If you want to escape the city and experience even more nature, then Portland is also an amazing starting point for experiencing the great outdoors of Oregon, whether in the winter or during the warmer seasons. [Read more →]

It’s true, flying these days can feel stressful and beyond complicated. But there are things that you can do to make your trip more (or less) comfortable, depending on how well you plan.

Just a little foresight can make the difference between a great restful flight and one that leaves us frazzled, fatigued, and disagreeable. Here are 5 easy tips that I have learned that work best to make travel more organized, efficient, and enjoyable!

1.     Be early. Honestly, the place to start is at home. Leave way more time than you think you need to get to the airport and through security. Make sure you have the time to deal with the worst-case scenario—an accident that backs up traffic on the highway or a really long line at security (this just happened to me, at 5:30am there were at least 40 people in wheelchairs in line ahead of me). You don’d want to start out your trip nervous and stressed out. Being relaxed before you get on a plane will help you have a better flight.

2.     Dress for security. You always hear this one but its true. Dress in a way that prepares you for a speedy trip through security screening. That means, don’t wear a belt (if you need one, put it in your bag and put it on after you go though security), shoes that tie, jewelry or a watch—all of which you’d have to remove at the check point. I put my watch and jewelry in a zip-lock plastic bag in my purse so that the TSA needs to go through my handbag they won’t get separated and I will be able to retrieve them easily once I’ve been cleared. I wear shoes or boot I can kick off easily, and I start the undressing and the sorting process well before its my turn to load up the TSA plastic bins. [Read more →]

One thing I am often asked is what are my secrets to looking fresh and lovely after a long flight. Here are 5 simple ways for you to arrive looking and feeling fabulous!

1.     If you can, wear minimal makeup while you’re in-flight and use lip gloss to keep your lips moist. Then, before you land, clean your face, apply moisturizer or serum, and redo your makeup. I also carry an eyelash curler to revive my lashes after my nap.

2.     I have to say that for years one of my must-have beauty products for looking dewy (sounds impossible, but its true) in-flight is Laura Mercier Secret Finish. It’s my secret weapon. The package description says, “Secret Finish magically restores radiance and refreshes your makeup any time of the day or night,” and for once the description does not exaggerate. I dab it under and around my eyes for an instantly revitalizing glow.

3.     Long hair can go limp and flat after hours of zero humidity. I always twist mine in a high bun (high enough so that I can lean back without resting my head on it). When I take it down before landing, voila!—it is fresh and full of body.  Using a spritz of dry shampoo at the roots will also help to freshen both long and short hair. [Read more →]

When you’re traveling with a group of people, whether it’s an organized tour or just a couple of friends, it’s no longer all about you. You’ve signed up to be a member of the team, and you all need to play nicely together. Here are 5 things you should keep in mind to make sure you do your part.

1.     Thoughtfulness begins before you ever leave home. Make sure you pack at least a couple of changes of clothes in your carry-on so that, if your luggage is lost, the entire group won’t be inconvenienced—particularly if you’re traveling to a location that isn’t likely to have a wide selection of shops.

2.     If you take medication, don’t pack it in checked luggage, and be sure to carry a large enough supply to carry you through an unexpected emergency so that your problem doesn’t become the problem of the group. If your return is delayed for any reason from bad weather to an unexpected disaster—natural or otherwise—you may not be able to refill your prescription, so make sure that you don’t run out. [Read more →]

I love passing on genuine information (yes, this is real information- not paid advertising) about exciting new finds, whether they are products that are perfect for the traveler or places I think other people will also truly enjoy. Among my newest discoveries, thanks to a great goodie bag, are the natural essential therapeutic oils made by 21 Drops.

Their Travel Well trio naturally caught my eye, and includes oils to aid immunity, digestion, and sleep—three essential components of any successful travel experience.

What I love about these particular oils is that the application gives me the right amount of oil that sinks into my skin and doesn’t leave me feeling “oily.” Also important, there is no lingering aroma. Personally, I don’t want to use any product that’s going to interfere with whatever perfume I choose to wear or not wear. [Read more →]

This is one thing I have always had a bit of a hard time doing, because I do love to have all my creature comforts when I travel. But through the years I realized that I was carrying/wheeling around a really heavy bag, with a lot of extra stuff and never using all of it was a waste.

Here are some of the tips I have come up with to get the most out of what I pack, and make my bags a whole lot lighter.

1. Naturally, the most logical way to start is to have a lightweight suitcase. I prefer the heavy duty nylon ones with strong zippers that have a bit of stretch/give for when I add to it (shopping of course). If you like a hard case, there are amazing new suitcases that are feather light and durable like this Samsonite bag.

2. Pack clothes and accessories that can be used for more than one occasion or use. For example, that beautiful shirt dress can also be dressed down and worn as part of a suit. Take a few scarves (light and easy to pack) that you can tie, wrap,  and use a dozen different ways to change your outfit. I pack sandals that are chic enough to wear to beautiful cafe, but also comfortable enough to wear for miles power walking. [Read more →]

Vacationing with a friend (or 2) can either be great fun or the end of a beautiful friendship. The best way to be sure it’s the former is to have a heart-to-heart chat beforehand and be honest about your preferences and expectations.

Then you can negotiate if necessary and avoid conflict when it’s too late to do anything about it.

1.     Pick a destination you’ll both enjoy. If you love the beach and your friend is a culture vulture who hates the sun, you can still find a place with something to satisfy both of you—so long as you plan in advance and agree that you’ll each be free to go off on your own for at least part of each day. This can actually be a great thing, because, when you get together at the end of the day, you’ll be able to share your separate adventures over cocktails and dinner. But if you love solo exploration and your friend simply can’t be alone, it isn’t going to work. So do get it all out in the open in advance.

2.     Agree on your travel style and budget. If your friend loves nothing but the best and you’re pinching pennies, there could be trouble in paradise. Decide in advance on an accommodation that will be comfortable enough for your travel companion and not too pricey for you, and agree to one or two “splurge” meals or events. If you can’t do that, you probably shouldn’t be traveling together at all. [Read more →]

The old saying about “all work and no play” couldn’t be more true. If you give yourself some time to recharge your batteries while traveling on business you’ll probably be working more efficiently and smarter.

Here are 5 easy suggestions that have worked for me.

1. Try to work in a few vacation days before or at the end of your trip to relax, recharge, and do some of the fun things you couldn’t do while you were working.

2. If you don’t have an early breakfast meeting, get an extra hour of sleep (being rested will ultimately make you more productive) or order room service. I find that it can be such a luxury to have a delicious meal, a paper, and some extra quiet time. You’ll have more time to prepare for the day ahead and, when you do, you’ll feel so relaxed that you’ll be ready for anything. [Read more →]

I have had the good fortune of being able to observe in close proximity employees traveling with their boss (usually its the CEO).  I have seen employees make mistakes that may seem insignificant at the time, but in reality may potentially hurt their standing or stunt their advancement in the company.

The first thing you should NEVER do—so I guess that makes it 10 things—is forget that your boss is watching and evaluating you at all times.

If you were chosen to go along on a business trip it’s because you’re supposed to be part of the solution—not part of the problem. And your boss wants to be sure that he (or she) can count on you to represent him/her appropriately when you’re not being watched. Therefore:

1.     Remember at all times that this is your boss. Don’t get so comfortable in the conversation that you start sharing your problems or inappropriate details of your personal life.

2.     Whether it’s meeting at the airport, meeting at a restaurant, or meeting in the hotel lobby, don’t be late— 10 minutes early couldn’t hurt. And don’t arrive looking stressed and/or disorganized. Have your documents handy and in one place. Have your luggage organized. Don’t look as if you rushed out the door at the last minute.

3.     Never be rude to staff—any staff, ever! Whether it’s an airline employee, a hotel porter, or a waiter in a restaurant. If you’re rude to these people, how will your boss know that you won’t be rude to a customer or someone who you didn’t realize is a client? [Read more →]