Why Hasn't the Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag Caught on?

I've been through airport security at least twice every week, some weeks much more often, every week this year.  I can't remember one instance where the lady in front and the gentlemen behind me weren't both removing their laptops and throwing them into the ubiquitos plastic bins.  There is a better path to travel my friends.

The last time I dumped my trusty Dell into a TSA bin it came out with a mysterious and sticky red substance on the bottom.  That was the day I decided to opt for a Checkpoint Friendly Laptop case.  Since, it has only been in a select few international locations where I had to remove my laptop from my bag. 

I personally went  with the Tumi T-Pass™ Expandable Laptop Brief and don't have a single complaint.  It works at the checkpoints, has a multitude of pockets and sections to house my junk, the nylon appears indestructible to date, and is large enough for me to carry a week of work.  That being said a Google search of "Checkpoint Freindly Laptop Cases" will return a managerie of options to choose from.  It is worth the investment, and the more people going this route the faster those security lines will move.

You Can't Avoid Some Travel Disruptions, At Least Know About Them in Advance

I'm not sure that the world is presently any crazier than it has been historically.  Without question, however, information moves much quicker.  When travelling far afield there is a certain heightened exposure by virtue of distance from most of your resources, perhaps language barrier and certainly a lower familiarity with surroundings. 

If you travel enough, eventually you're certain to get trapped in something unpleasant.  Often times, though, you can spare yourself some unneeded complications by knowing the situation before arriving or perhaps not arriving at all.  I receive a daily e-mail from Medex, a global travel insurance and safety firm.  It's free to sign up for here.  It contains information by country on anything likely to disrupt or interfere with travel, things as disparate as a government shelling its own people and a taxi driver's strike.  It also rebroadcasts any consular warnings being issued by Western nations and provides a listing of upcoming national holidays around the world.  [Knocking on Wood]  I've never had to use the information to adjust travel plans, but if I have a trip upcoming I always peruse it for a week or so in advance and while I'm in country.  It's also a decent additional source of news information on the political goings on around the world. 

So, if I need to arrange a car from the hotel because cabs won't be running or to acquire some Kevlar and a helmet because the local military is getting itchy, then hopefully I'll have some forewarning.  Not perfect, but worth the two minutes it takes to sign up and glance at the e-mail before travelling.

To Guidebook or Not To Guidebook?

I was never much of a guidebook carrying traveller.  I'm not quite sure why but if I had to guess I would say it goes back to my learning best through experience.  On a trip earlier this year to Buenos Aires, a really good friend put me onto Lonely Planet Travel Guides.  Since then I haven't gone anywhere for longer than a weekend without ordering one from their website.  In fact, I've been perusing the Russia edition for my trip to St. Petersburg at the end of the week.  They usually run decent sales for picking up more than one at a time, so if you know your travel plans in advance, grab a few at once and save yourself a few dollars.

I'll share what sold me.  We wanted to go see the tango, possibly take lessons but definitely experience it.  Paging through the Lonely Planet Guide she had brought along I found this description:

If tango can be trendy and hip, this is where you’ll find it. The grungy warehouse space is very casual, with funky art on the walls and jeans on the dancers. A great place to come to learn tango, especially if you’re young.

The place is called is called La Catedral (add: Sarmiento 4006 ph: 011-15-5325-1630).  It was superlative.  The place is grungy and old.  We picked up a 40 oz local beer, sat down at table that looked as if it had been there for 100 years and enjoyed locals of all ages skillfully plying their trade on the dance floor.  Couldn't have been better.  Never would've found that place without the Lonely Planet guide.

I also have to give Buenos Aires the highest marks for their ice cream.  I've eaten dessert on most continents but never tasted a better ice cream than Caramel & Peanuts at Un Altra Volta.  If you go to Buenos Aires without sampling it, you are selling yourself short. 

I'm a new disciple of the guide book and Lonely Plant does a great job compiling them.

Bank Rolling Your Travel: Loyalty Programs

If you've ever been to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta and looked around, you'll notice there are 400 gates belonging to Delta Air Lines and 4 for everyone else.  As such I'm a SkyMiles member.  With sum of recent travel for work, play and school I've amassed 130,564 status miles year to date, catapulting me into the highest tier of Delta customer loyalty rewards and leaving me wondering what value I saw in buying in a condo in Atlanta. 

Anyway, my point is only that even if you constantly jump around airlines don't neglect the frequent flier programs (or those for hotels, cars...).  The travel industry is rife with loyalty rewards, and the reality is that you needn't be that loyal to capture the benefits.  The ability to move points/miles/credits between members of airline alliances (SkyTeam, OneWorld, Star Alliance...) or between hotel programs and airline programs leaves almost any points with some value, even if you never see yourself on US Air ever again after that flight.

You can use the loyalty rewards to travel in style, minimize your cash outlay or both.  The Points Guy is a great reference for loyalty programs and worth checking out to make sure you aren't leaving your valuable loyalty on the table.  These programs ultimately make money for most companies that have them, because other companies (predominantly credit card companies) buy the points to distribute them to card users or customers.  I scored 4,000 SkyMiles for renewing my subscription to The Economist just last week.  I was going to do it anyway, but why not take some miles?  I also get miles via SkyMiles Dining for eating out and using my American Express card.  Don't neglect the loyalty programs.  Save your money and travel well too.

Travel Gear: The Pullover

Realizing with great sadness that I won't be testing the services of the world's great hotels daily, I need to find other things on which to pontificate.  Travel gear seems like a natural spur to follow.

I have an unnaturally strong appreciation for the pullover.  Long plane flights, layovers, uncertain weather at destination, need for a make shift pillow, the ease of adding or subtracting a pullover has fantastical utility.  I have amassed a respectable collection of these useful garments.  I have rapidly grown especially fond of a recent addition from Patagonia.  The Patagonia Men's Lightweight Sun Hoody is extremely comfortable, offers some UV protection, and isn't bulky.  Probably not appropriate if your travel plans include something in extreme latitudes or altitudes but for general travel use, excellent.  There are colors other than the gray below but I went the one pictured.

Careful with the hood, Ted Kaczynski references never get old.

Welcome to the Hotel California

I will admit to having been somewhat jaded about Los Angeles.  Though I think the areas right around Malibu are some of the most beautiful in the world, the city itself just never spoke to me.  This weekend, however, was filled with the incredible. 

I have had the amazing good fortune to stay in amazing hotels around the world, and in my experience the very best have a distinguishable character.  Luxury is pleasant but it takes more for me to leave feeling the value matched the price (often steep and no less so here).  A friend mentioned the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.  I had heard of it before but was by no means intimately familiar.

Marmont is supremely worthy of a five-star designation.  Steeped in celebrity history, the hotel has a very well balanced luxury, well short of opulence but well in excess of mere comfort.  The patina acquired through its storied past imbues in each guest a sense of being special by simply staying the night.  Marmont marries luxury with an anything goes mentality in the most unique of ways.  I did not go to the Bar Marmont, but the food in the lobby was extraordinary (recommend the lobster roll if you can lay hands on one).  I don't gush for celebrities, however, I did see John Krasinski (Jim from the office) entering the hotel on Saturday night.  I also have to give them the proper due for small things: the towels were bath sheets, the stationary personalized, the soaps Kiehl's, and snacks in the room were delicious and free. 

The property may be older, the pool may be mostly shaded, but don't let any of those things stop you.  If on your way to Los Angeles and possessing the means I can't say there's a better place to drop your suitcase than the Chateau Marmont.

I owe Los Angeles one additional nod.  I have a personal weakness for Mexican food.  El Carmen in Mid-City knocked me off my feet.  Between the three of us we sampled tacos, quesadillas, tamales, chips, salsa, guacamole and a healthy number of margaritas.  Each was better than the one before it.  I could say more but wouldn't do this place justice.  Even if you don't like Mexican food, give El Carmen a try anyway.  It could change your entire outlook.  Look for the neon sign, you can't miss it.  Delectable.

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Who, What, Why...

I'm another faceless businessman in bowler hat-corporate finance at that.  I decided to make an impromptu trip to LA this weekend (I live in Atlanta).  I was a meeting a friend from my MBA program and her sister.  I was chatting with Hilary (aforementioned sister who just completed undergrad) about what she wanted to do with her life if she could do anything.  Hilary said country rock star.I mentioned that my own choice would be working as the person who determines whether the best hotels in the world deserved a five-star designation. 

I have no idea how ones goes about getting that job, but other than have a really fine appreciation of travel at large and great hotels especially...I doubt I'm very qualified.  In today's world though, I can just do it myself.  Who knows whether anyone will read or care, but it might be therapeutic for me. 

Hope you find the information helpful and enjoy the journeys as much as I do...