The Glamour of Business Travel
First off, this is an oxymoron…after the first 5 trips, there is no glamour. To the non-road warrior, travel means vacation and lovely locales. To the road warrior, it is work and staying in cities where fine dining has a drive-thru window. It is a difficult life since, in most instances, you would rather be going home at night to sleep in your own bed. Towards the end of the last day of the road trip, it is harder to keep focus since your number one goal is to get the meeting over so that you can be sure to catch your flight home.
After 7 years of minimal travel (which followed 15 years of lots of travel), I am back on the road again–and at a quantity that I never before experienced. Years ago, I started writing a collection of stories about good and bad things to happened to me and other road warriors. The working title was “I’d Rather Have a Colonoscopy than Spend the Next Four Hours on this Plane with You.” Now that I am traveling again, it has rekindled my desire to share that. So here goes my stories from the road…
When your company books your travel for you…
Them-”By the way (since your time means nothing to me), I have booked you out on Sunday morning at 6 am, even though you don’t have an appointment until Monday mid-morning. However, we were able to save $50 on the airfare.
Them-”Your rental car has been booked for you, but it’s not a company you’ve heard of. There is no Gold Service, so it’s probably a good thing that you are getting there so early on Sunday. It will be 6 pm before you get out of the rental lot.”
Them-”Your hotel has been booked for you. The travel agent says they have recently installed new bars on the windows. But don’t walk anywhere except directly to your car and have your car keys jutting out between your fingers in case you have to take a swing at someone.”
Them-”Rather than rush to get to your flight on Thursday, why don’t you just stay over and catch a morning flight the next day. By the way, even though that means you have to get up at 2 am California time (5 am on the east coast) to catch that 6.30 am flight, I still will be very disappointed if you don’t come into the office upon your arrival. But go ahead and go home around 4.30 pm, if you are a little tired…”
Worst City To Drive
Seattle…The fast lane on freeways pokes at around 40 miles an hour. Don’t even get in the slow lanes, which are parking lots.
Best Restaurant
Il Cortile, 125 Mulberry Street, NYC. In the heart of Little Italy.
Best appetizer…Spiedini alla Romana (fried mozzarella…and get the anchovy sauce! I promise you won’t taste anchovies.)
Best entree…Ragu’ del Macellaio (Sundays only). Meatballs, ribs and sausages!!! Outstanding!!!
Best Pecse (Fish)…All of them!!! This is the best Italian restaurant for fish.
Other Great Dishes…Pork chops, veal chops, gnocchi (my personal favorite pasta), any dish with pancetta, and brocolli rape (an absolutely incredible vegetable).
Most Uncomfortable Airline Seats
Continental. Has the CEO of the company ever sat in coach? I wonder what lumber yard provides them with the padding for the seats. Additionally, they have the magazine pockets that are held on by some wire coat hanger contraption that adds to the discomfort.
I have flown great distances twice in these unbelievably hard, narrow and cramped seats. In 2006, I flew from San Diego to Newark to London Gatwick and flew the family from Los Angeles to Maui in the 90’s. If you are wondering why I would do that, it was due to the price of the airfare when the tickets were purchased.
However, in fairness, they are one of the LAST airlines to provide you with actual food for free. On my last trip, I was treated to a warm cheese pizza and a warm cheeseburger. While they weren’t fine dining, they were a lot better than the $5 snack box of other airlines.
But I’d rather them save that money for some comfortable seats.