World Traveler

Most professionals have had to battle with rushed or stressful business trips at some point in their career; there’s an elite group of business people out there who even make their living as self-proclaimed ‘road warriors. Regardless of how often your job demands you be on the road, most business travelers struggle with striking a balance between staying healthy and making it to business meetings on time. Here are few tips and tricks to keep you health on track while you’re traveling:

Watch what you eat. Although this sounds obvious, eating healthy on business trips still takes some planning ahead of time. Pack food in your carry-on or briefcase, and therefore avoid grabbing snacks out of vending machines or from fast food restaurants. Pack healthy and energy-filled snacks like energy bars and trail mix. Don’t be tempted to ‘treat’ yourself while you’re traveling by indulging in fatty or greasy food. Most travelers don’t realize the only time they eat fast food guilt-free is while they’re traveling.

In addition, don’t let your travel diet be dictated by stress. Travel itself is a stressful business these days, and if you’ve got client meeting and presentations crammed on top of that, you’re likely to look for meals that are comforting rather than healthy. Keep in mind that healthy meals will give you more energy and be more satisfying in the end than carb-filled meals. Stay hydrated with water or other healthy drinks, and eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and other high-fiber foods.

Find a gym. Find a local gym with locations all over the US (or at least with locations to your typical business destinations). Better yet, book hotels that have on-site workout rooms and equipment. Many hotel chains have excellent facilities in the hotel. Some travelers even take advantage of mobile workout equipment (water-filled dumbbells, for example).

Make your workout as convenient as possible. Always bring your regular workout clothes with you, and try to stick the same schedule you have at home. If you’re used to working out after you get home in the evenings, try to keep that same rhythm. If you know a business dinner or meeting is going to take up your usual workout time, take a look at your schedule the evening before and find a time you can hit the gym. Don’t assume you’ll be able to ‘work it in.’

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This is the final installment in a series on jobs that allow you to travel. Today’s travel job is catering. It is related to the chef travel job, but it is still a different animal. Here is what CNN Travel says about catering:

Caterers who create a name for themselves in the U.S. industry can earn a trusted reputation and follow clients to overseas events. Rock stars and celebrities may have a variety of different catering companies working for them throughout the United States, but larger acts and A-listers like to have a trusted source to make sure their diet is in line with their requests. Working for one of these companies may put you on tour with the band, and if national gigs go well, you could find yourself overseas for the next tour.

Now, the cool thing is that you can work for a catering company in a variety of capacities. While a manager or a chef has to have experience and training, it is possible to get in as a server with little to no experience. You just need to be willing to learn and work hard at that level. And, of course, if you go international, you’ll have to get that passport.

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One of the more interesting jobs that can allow you travel is the nanny job, also referred to as an au pair. Basically, you take care of someone else’s children in exchange for a modest stipend, and often food and board. Here is what CNN Travel says about being a nanny/au pair:

The median annual income for company-employed nannies is $29,500 in the United States. An au pair in France can expect to earn between 240 and 250 euro, or an estimated $309 to $322 per month for a 33-hour week. The pay varies internationally, but the overall perk is the opportunity to afford to see another part of the world.

You can even be a nanny in the U.S. I know quite a few young people from the intermountain West (especially Utah and Idaho) who head east to be nannies. You can be placed through a company, or even answer ads. Some Easterners place ads in Western newspapers, and offer such things as a small stipend in addition to private room, college tuition at a local university, and bed and board.

If you plan to work overseas, though, you will need an international driver’s license and a work visa in addition to your passport. A background check may be necessary, and it is worth noting that being placed through a respected company usually ensures your safety.

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If you want an interesting job that can take you just about anywhere, massage therapist is the way to go. One of the most popular places to be a massage therapist is on a cruise line. And, as CNN Travel reports, there are plenty of benefits to being a massage therapist on a cruise line:

In addition to changing stationary surroundings, working on cruise lines offers the opportunity to see new people and network beyond the limitations that can be created in a spa environment. The living accommodations may be small, but they save money on housing costs, and cruise lines usually offer full health coverage onboard the ship and within United States territory.

If you are going to be a massage therapist, though, here are the requirements you need:

• Certification in massage therapy
• Valid passport through 3 months after the contract ends
• Physical exam
• Immunizations in some cases

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Today is the second installment of our look at great jobs that allow you to travel. Chef is one of those jobs. If you are an established chef, you can become a world class chef by working in international restaurants and hotels. The chef business doesn’t pay a ton internationally, but it’s not too bad. Here is a breakdown of the pay, according to CNN Travel:

Kingsbrook USA Inc. is one company that works to place chefs in international regions. They reported England’s hotel chef positions as offering £14000, or roughly $26,730 U.S. dollars per year for Chef deParties. Kingsbrook also reported between $32,458 and $38,186 per year for Sous Chefs and between $38,186 and $47,732 per year for Head Chef.

If you are going to try to be a world class chef, you will need at least three years experience, along with an associate degree in something culinary. Health records and exams, and letters of reference, are likely to be required as well.

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For the next few days, we are going to have a look at jobs that can allow you to travel. This can be a great way to immerse yourself in another culture. The guide for this look into jobs that allow you to travel will be a CNN Travel article on the subject. Today: how teaching English can let you travel around the world.

English teachers are in high demand around the world

In many countries, English is seen as necessary, and native speakers are paid fairly decently to teach English. Here is what CNN Travel points out about teaching English in other countries:

South Korea’s median teacher salaries range between $25,000 and $60,000, and the country has a positive reputation for providing high income to educators. Salaries in Switzerland range from $65,000 to $80,000. An added perk to employment in Germany is that state employees are regarded as permanent workers, meaning that they are paid necessary social insurances.

Requirements: A four-year degree in education or a related field, teaching experience and a TESL/TEFL certificate. You will also need an international work visa and work permits, which can be obtained personally or through the school that employs you.

It is also worth noting that if you are not qualified as listed above, there are many programs for volunteers to teach English in poorer countries. However, you will have to pay your own way.

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Right now, thanks to new rules that took effect earlier this year requiring passports for travel to Mexico, the Caribbean and Canada, there is a massive backlog in passport processing. This means that even if you pay the expedition fee to get your passport sooner, you could still be waiting quite a while to get your passport. Now, however, the U.S. government is providing new rules to help ease passport problems during the summer travel season. The Salt Lake Tribune reports:

The passport backlog prompted the federal government to change its policy Friday. Now, U.S. citizens who have applied for but not yet received passports can temporarily enter and depart from the U.S. by air with government-issued photo identification and proof from the State Department that they have applied for a passport. This policy will expire on Sept. 30; at that time, passports will be required.

However, many travel agents are recommending that you pay the passport expedition fee. There could be any number of delays and problems associated with presenting your paperwork, and getting approved without a passport.

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One of the growing trends in vacation travel is mixing a little business with the pleasure. One in five people who go on vacation bring their laptops along so that they can get a little work done during vacation travel. Even more keep up with email and other messages in order to make sure that everything is on track at work. CNN Travel reports on this latest vacation travel trend:

About one in five said they did some work while vacationing, and about the same number checked office messages or called in to see how things were going, the poll showed. Twice as many checked their e-mail, while 50 percent kept up with other personal messages like voice mail.

Thanks to electronic devices, it is easier to stay in touch, not only with friends and family, but also with work obligations. So, in addition to using souped electronic devices to take pictures and document the vacation, it is also possible to use them to stay connected to what’s happening in the office.

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If you are looking forward to summer international travel, plan for long waits at Customs when your re-enter the country. Currently, there are not enough Customs agents to handle the inflow, and it is likely to get worse as the summer travel season progresses. Indeed, waits can be an hour or more — and sometimes that’s after you have sat on the airplane for 30 minutes. This means that if you are planning international travel, you should try to plan the domestic flights after you get back accordingly. USA Today reports on the lack of Customs agents for this summer travel season:

“We can’t confuse long lines and waits with great security,” says Roger Dow of trade group Travel Industry Association, which wants Congress to pay for 200 more agents at airports. The TIA is lobbying to get average processing times down to 30 minutes, vs. Customs’ current goal of 45 minutes.

Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents agents, says “several thousand” more agents are needed.

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CNN Travel offers this interesting look at business travel:

On a recent business trip to San Diego, California, Kurt Barrett took his family to Sea World.

Between the banquet dinners and panel discussions on agricultural policy, he also took his 5-month-old daughter swimming for the first time in the hotel pool. Another day, they strolled through the humid botanical gardens in Balboa Park.

“It was like being at home. I got done with work, then enjoyed spending time with my wife and child,” said Barrett, a 30-year-old general manager for a rice distributor in Williams, California.

This fits right in the idea of a rise in family travel. And it shows how you can balance work with family, even when traveling, just as you do every day in real life. You usually get to go for free, and you can find travel deals for the rest of your family. And you don’t have to take vacation days to do it!

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Middle East travel is poised to rise, and the trend seems evidenced by this week’s Arabian Travel Market 2007. The Middle East travel exhibition has been growing steadily, providing insight into the travel industry, and showcasing travel products and services. ArabianBusiness.com reports on Middle East travel:

“The Middle East has a bright future. Massive development is being undertaken over the whole region and all eyes seem to be turned towards tourism. The World Travel and Tourism Council, in a recent report, states that Middle East tourism is growing by over four per cent year-on-year and that trend is set to continue for the next ten years. There is no better place to be than the Middle East travel industry,” [Tom Nutley of Reed Travel Exhibitions]
said.

Arabian Travel Market 2007 is taking place through the end of the week at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates.

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First Class is soon to disappear in airline travel. At least, first class as we know it. MSNBC Travel reports on the latest trends in airline travel:

“Business-class has been upgraded to first-class standards at some airlines, and it’s encroaching on first-class,” says Edward Plaisted, chief executive of Skytrax, a U.K.-based airline and airport quality ranking company that assesses quality of first-class long haul flights. “First-class is at the stage where the section is filled by upgrades and frequent fliers.”

As a result, he predicts that some airlines will eliminate their first-class altogether. Skytrax research shows that around 35 airlines currently provide first-class service globally. This number doesn’t include smaller airlines that may offer first-class on domestic routes. Plaisted estimates that in the next five years, only 20 or 25 airlines will maintain the service.

And the airline travel providers that do keep first class? Well they are expected to become more luxurious. Truly first class airline travel. In the new first class airline travel, it will be more like staying in a hotel, the MSNBC story continues:

Aram Gesar, editor of New York-based AirGuide magazine and AirGuideonline.com, publications for frequent travelers, says “there will be more square footage and more cabin attendants but fewer seats.” What’s more, seats will be more like mini-suites with sliding doors so fliers can be left alone to sleep, dine or hold business meetings. Emirates already offers this for first-class fliers.

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Looking for good airfares can be somewhat daunting at times. They change on a dime, and you have to realize that the great airfare that you saw last night may be gone in the morning. I once saw an airfare price change as I was getting ready to buy. It went up by $200 just in the five minutes it took to navigate to the “purchase” screen. However, there are some things you can do when it comes to finding good airfares, according to CNN Travel:

• Look for domestic fares. With the dollar on the weak side, Europe is expensive. Domestic fares are less expensive, even more so than usual.
• Book in advance. Good airfares come at least two weeks out. At least eight weeks is best.
• Good airfares are more likely on Tuesday. Due to the nature of air travel, Tuesday evenings after 4 pm are ideal for booking good airfares.

If you take a few minutes to figure out when the best time to book good airfares is, you will likely save money on your travel.

For more on good airfares, visit Family Trip Deals.

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Daylight Savings Time is coming three weeks earlier this year — starting this Sunday (March 11). And, since it will be weeks before Europe switches to Daylight Savings Time, this could wreak havoc on your international travel plans. Why? Because there are strict time slot regulations in Europe and Asia that U.S. airline companies have to adhere to. These “lose it if you don’t use it” time slots, so it is not just a matter of changing the European departure time. USA Today reports on the Wall Street Journal’s assessment of the way Daylight Savings Time could affect international travel:

For example, the Journal cites connections on American Airlines for passengers traveling from Madrid through Miami. The Madrid flight typically lands in Miami at 3:05 p.m. local time, but -– with the USA’s early jump ahead -– it will temporarily land at 4:05 p.m. local time until Europe also springs its clocks forward. For fliers, that makes catching the 4:35 p.m. flight to Houston –- usually not a problem -– all but impossible. Another tight connection looms for Madrid travelers hoping to connect to to Bogota, Colombia, on AA’s 5:20 p.m. flight. The usual 2-hour layover on that route now gets whittled down to about an hour.

As you can see, you may have to adjust your plans for the next few weeks until Europe starts its Daylight Savings Time. Otherwise you may find yourself stranded for much longer than a regular layover.

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One of the big questions that keeps coming up is what is an acceptable carry on for an airplane trip? Whether you are flying cross country, or flying abroad, you will find that the rules for an airplane carry on are the same. My new rule is to carry on nothing beyond a good book and some water (bought inside the security checkpoint, of course). But some people feel more comfortable with an all-out airplane carry on. So, here are the basics of the new airplane carry on rules, from the Transportation Security Administration Web site:

With certain exceptions for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, baby formula and breast milk, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, the following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols you want to carry through a security checkpoint.

1. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller.

2. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.

3. Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items.

If you follow the above instructions and pay attention to the new TSA rules, you are likely to pass screening. And, at some airports, they’ll even provide the baggies and help you prepare them before you get to the metal detector.

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