Travel Tip #6: Wrinkled Suit Coats
Oct/090
by John Wilson
This tip and picture comes from my friend Matt who travels way more than I do.
No more crumpled coats
If you aren’t riding in first class, and you’re on the way to your destination, chances are there is no where to put your suit coat. Your options are to either wear it, (try to) fold it neatly in your bag or the overhead compartment, or beg the flight attendant to take it. None of these are great options and have led to several embarrassing meetings with semi-wrinkled dress clothes… but with Matt’s tip, the whole game changes.
Assuming your coat has the tag intact on collar of the collar of the coat, use the hook (as shown in the picture) on the tray table in front of you. This prevents the coat from getting crammed in an overhead compartment, and makes it possible for you ride comfortably, coat-free.
Other ways to keep your suit looking fresh:
Travel Tip #5: Don’t Steal Gas in Florida
Aug/090
In my unsuccessful trip to see the cancelled Aerosmith concert in Tampa I noticed the little orange sticker seen to the right on all of the gas pumps. These stickers indicate the last time that particular pump was investigated to make sure it was safe and that it pumps out the amount of gas it says it is. Every gas station in Florida has to be inspected every 12 to 18 months.
For example, here’s a list from a few years back of all the faulty gas pumps in Hillsborough County, FL.
With Charles Bronson as the new Commissioner of Agricultural and Consumer Services I can’t imagine this ring of gas skimpers will continue.
Note: Thank you to all the people who have sent funny travel pictures. I’m going through them all now and they are very funny. I will try to get some of them up soon. Please keep sending your examples to whereisjohnwilson@yahoo.com.
Travel Tip #4: Arm Rests
Jul/093
by John Wilson
Always put down the arm rests.
Seriously?
In all fairness, I’m not skinny. I have to be cognizant of staying on my side of the seat and have a tendency to take up more leg room than I really should. I understand it sucks to be heavy and I get how hard it is to lose weight. Therefor, if you sit beside me on the plane, make sure you follow these rules:
I strongly suggest, before anyone sits down beside you, you immediately put the arm rests to their lowered and locked position. Here’s why:
On a recent trip back from San Diego, I got stuck in the middle seat. This is never a good thing, even if two members of the Swedish Bikini Team are on both sides. You can’t stick your feet in the aisle, and you can’t lean or look out of the window. It’s just bad.
In this case, I was stuck between a self-proclaimed “big man” coworker and a gentleman who was no less than 400 pounds. I’m not kidding, this guy was not only in his seat, the aisle, and my seat, but he was also taking up all of the leg room in my section of the “under-seat area.” It was so bad the flight attendant felt bad for me and asked me several times if I needed any extra water, a pillow, and shot me the knowing – I’m glad I’m not you – glance.
Normally, I’m a pretty easy to get along with nice guy. But seriously, this guy was 100% invading my space, no matter how many times I huffed, sighed, elbowed him, wiggled or moaned. When he wasn’t snoring loud enough that the people around me were laughing, he was bouncing his leg hard enough to cause the people in the aisle across from us shoot me dirty looks.
About two hours into the flight, I decided my only defense was to put down the arm rest and at least get him kind of off of my side. I looked down at the arm rest but there was absolutely no way I could lower it on to this guy’s leg which was nearly 50% under the arm rest. I did the only thing a self-respecting business person could do, I lied about work.
When the guy woke up and noticed me kicking his leg to get to my computer stowed beneath the seat, I said warmly, “Hey, sorry to bother you but I need to get this report done before we land. I don’t want to elbow you so I’m going to lower the arm rest.”
Scales in the terminal?
The dude literally had to move completely off the seat to give me room to put down the arm rest. When the arm rest finally reached the full down position, it was like I moved directly to First Class. I could feel my legs again, I could reach the magazine pocket and my lungs could fully expand.
The guy got mad.
To rub it in, I powered up my computer, opened a Word document, sighed a big loud sigh, closed the laptop and muttered, “I guess this can wait until my layover” closed the computer, spread out in the seat, and drifted off to a warm nap, comforted of the rhythmic leg-bouncing all the way to Atlanta.
Site of the Week – July 10th, 2009
Jul/091
by John Wilson 
I hate to check bags. I never think they’ll make it to my destination, I’ve heard the horror stories from friends and coworkers. All I imagine is some TSA agent shuffling through my underwear. I especially dislike the buzz-kill that is arriving at a fun new location and standing around for 30 minutes waiting on your bag.
This week’s site is great for frequent travelers and those of us who pack way too much. One Bag.com is about “the art and science of packing light.” Written and maintained by Doug Dyment, the site is primarily about packing for any trip using only one bag. Doug’s introduction lists the following purposes of the site:
- What To Pack, avoiding the temptation of lugging around too much stuff;
- What To Pack It In, understanding what to look for in efficient & effective luggage; and
- How To Pack It, particularly the management of clothing so that it doesn’t get wrinkled.
The site has numerous awards and has been featured on Expedia.com, PC Magazine, Britannica’s Internet Guide and several others.
If you only have time for one page of the site, check out the One Page Checklist.
If you’re the curious type, check out the interesting folding method the site offers. I’m looking forward to my next plane trip to see if I can get away with just the things listed.
Though text heavy at times, this site is definitely worth your time if you are a frequent traveler who hates to check luggage.
Travel Tip #3: Earplugs on your Pillow
Jul/090
by John Wilson
The whereisjohnwilson.com Summer Tour was off this weekend, but I have an interesting and quick tip to pass along.
“You should worry if there are free ear plugs left by the hotel on your pillow.”
A friend of mine is staying (as we speak) in a moderately nice hotel in the north east. When he entered the fancily decorated room he noticed Oreo cookies and ear plugs on his pillow case. I would typically expect to see an Andes mint or even a peppermint.
He probably should have known right then and there to turn around, and walk quietly back to the reception desk. Instead he went to free dinner (it was National Fried Chicken Day).
When he came back he discovered the reason for the “free” ear plugs. There was a bar just out his window blasting horrible country music. Now I’m a Kenny Rodgers fan just like you, but having Hank Williams rock me to sleep on the front end of a five day business trip is not my idea of fun. Between The Dixie Chicks and the crazy cowboy-hat wearin’, mini-van drivin’ drunks breaking bottles in the parking lot, the Oreos are probably not going to make the difference.
Moral of the story: If an otherwise nice hotel leaves you free anything out of the ordinary (earplugs, water-buckets, bug spray) it’s probably a good idea to switch rooms or switch hotels.
Yee Haw!
Travel Tip #1: Cheating the mini-bar
Jun/091
Maybe the best part of Travel Tip #1 is that a co-worker and I came up with it about the same time, without conferring:
Cheating the Mini-Bar
Drink from the mini-bar when desperate, but hang the privacy sign and replace the drink from a local alcohol or grocery store at less than half the cost.
I was very thirsty at the end of a long day of interviewing CEOs and watching protesters. I walked all around the 14th floor of The Omni looking for a water fountain or a soda machine or something, but with no luck. When a tumbleweed rolled out of my mouth I finally called the front desk. Not only was there no soda machine on the 14th floor, but none in the building and none within a three block radius.
I was forced to drink a coke out of the mini-bar. $3.50 per 12oz can, and a 21% restocking fee (how does that work?) The can had marketing from last year’s Summer Olympics, but I was really thirsty.
The next day, my previously mentioned co-worker and I had the idea to walk to the alcohol store (about three blocks) and purchase Cokes (they were about the price of The Omni restocking fee). We put the replacement cans behind the original can and stashed our empties. Our little walk (we were out and about anyways) saved us a combined $13.