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On the road again...travel tips for sick chicks

by Jenni Prokopy, the Editrix

I'm packing for a trip next week to Austin, Texas, an awesome city that will be jammed with folks for the annual SXSW festival. As I prep for the trip, so many questions and concerns are swirling in my brain! I'm sure you face some of the same things when you prepare for travel.

In no particular order, here are the concerns I'm facing, ideas I'm considering, and advice I'm putting into use. Take what you need and share with anyone who could use the tips.

My expectations: Are they unrealistic?

A few weeks ago, I was daydreaming about my trip and all the things I wanted to accomplish. Then some doubt began to creep in: Could I really go to after-parties every night? Wouldn't I miss out if I didn't attend 4 panels a day? I want to be a rockstar at this conference, after all!

Hmm. I think I was expecting too much. It's pretty darn cool that I can go at all, that I have the confidence to walk so much and stand up at parties and think so darn hard during the panels (I'll be surrounded by some of the smartest people I've ever met). So today I re-evaluated my expectations.

Instead of quantifying everything, I'm approaching the trip more conceptually. I want to have fun, meet interesting people, bring home ideas I can apply to my business, and eat lots of tacos. Those goals are WAY more realistic.

When you're planning your own trip, try switching up the way you set goals. Think about the quality of experience you want to have, and drop the expectation of perfection. I think you'll have a lot more fun!

What about my medications?

Let's start with what to bring: Full prescription bottles with your name on them, and more than you expect to need. Why? If you are searched you might need to identify your meds, and if you get separated from your carry-on for some reason it will make getting your stuff back to you a lot easier. (I know you know NOT to pack meds in your checked bags!) I also bring pill organizers so once I land, I can organize my meds for each day and night.

And before you go, check out the latest guidelines on travel and liquid medication allowances from the Transportation Services Administration (TSA, you know, those folks who make you take your shoes off). It's a PDF download but worth reading.

Finally, a quick online search will find a local pharmacy in case you need advice or an emergency refill; store the number in your phone so it's handy. You never know what might happen! (You should also bring any emergency numbers you need for doctors and other health care providers.)

I don't want to lose momentum when it comes to exercise...

So don't. Most hotels have some kind of workout space or a pool, and if not, then make your own gym. Do a few flights of stairs (just make sure you don't get locked in a stairwell!) or take a walk around the neighborhood. I bring my yoga strap and use a towel instead of my mat for daily stretching.

You'll probably be burning lots of calories (I know I will be; the Austin convention center is big, and the panels are spread out all over) but if not, try not to break your routine too much; if you do, it will be harder to get back into it once you're home again.

You can even ask your hotel concierge for local gym referrals; sometimes you can get a free guest pass. (My fave secret tip: every year I visit my mother-in-law, I sign up for a week-long trial membership at the gym near her house. Works every time!)

Eating out is so expensive!

That's why I'm staying at a hotel that offers free breakfast; I plan to pocket an extra apple or banana from the buffet to snack on mid-morning to ensure I'm getting plenty of fruit. I'm also bringing lots of snack bars, trail mix and rice cakes so I always have something to nosh; they can substitute for lunch if necessary.

I'll also rely on friends' recommendations for good and cheap restaurants, but if I were going somewhere alone or for the first time, I would definitely do my research online. Restaurants.com has reliable advice (or if you're headed to a city, look online for a local restaurant review site; most cities have them now). Your hotel concierge can also help with finding good eats (and making reservations).

And don't forget to hydrate! I'll be traveling with a Sigg water bottle and a handful of Crystal Light low-cal drink mix-ins with electrolytes to help keep me hydrated and energized. (And I'll save money by not buying tons of bottled water, which used to be my habit.)

I never know what to wear, but I don't want an overstuffed suitcase

This concern is really about prep time, planning ahead and knowing what kinds of events you'll be attending (and what the weather might be like). Think ahead you'll have plenty of time to hold a mini fashion show. My pal Alyssa doesn't know it yet, but I'm going to pester her for advice on dressing for this conference. It's a laid-back crowd so I can be casual, but I want to be foxy, too. I know her advice will include things like:

bring one handbag that can work well day or night
you can wear the same jeans a few times and on one will notice or care
pick cute tops that can be dressed up with accessories so you can easily swap out a couple items and be ready for an after-party
bring comfortable walking shoes and some cute sandals for going out (and maybe a third casual pair in your carry-on, since you're obsessed with shoes)
roll up everything to make more room in your suitcase (this works great!)
throw in a fun dress just in case
bring lots of cute jewelry and scarves to dress up or change your look on the fly

I will definitely spend time in the next couple days laying out outfits and figuring out how to mix-and-match so I can bring the smallest bag and still have lots of options. Who wants to lug around an overstuffed suitcase? This babe doesn't.

It's tough to manage my energy on the road.

One of the things I've learned is how to research hotels and find the best fit for my needs. I try to find a hotel with all the amenities I need, like an exercise room, free breakfast, comfy beds, and—for this trip to Austin—a great location within one block of the convention center where I'll spend most of my time. I use Expedia and Hotels.com to get customer reviews, site plans and other details I need to make an informed choice. (In this case, I also had the benefit of experience and good advice from friends who've attended the same conference AND stayed at the same hotel.) By finding a great hotel, I know I'll be rested and comfortable, which helps me conserve energy for the fun stuff!

I also know how to get around Austin, have cab phone numbers programmed into my Blackberry, familiarized myself with the conference shuttle system and will always have a city map with me. Nerdy? Yes. Helpful? Yes. I won't get stuck somewhere without a ride, or pay too much for a cab when I could take public transit. And I won't overdo it by walking too far, which would zap my energy.

There's also the little issue of saying NO to stuff. I've already been invited to a ton of events and parties, and plan to attend a bunch of panels, and then I want to meet up with a handful of people, and eat at a couple favorite restaurants, and...you see what's happening? Overload!

To combat the energy suck of overload, I will make sure to prioritize my activities and say no (politely) to stuff that doesn't fit. Yes, it's a bummer to miss out on some things. But I'll enjoy the events I choose to attend a lot more if I have energy! Which cancels out the bummer of not doing everything.

What if I need help with something?

Ask for help, then, silly! Seriously. If that bag is too heavy, turn to the person next to you and see if they'll give you a little assist (or page the flight attendant, or tip your cab driver a little extra). Do this especially if there's a superhottie next to you...you could wind up having an even better trip than you imagined!

It. Is. OK. To. Ask. For. Help. Don't worry about what people think, or what you used to be able to do all on your own, or any other negative perspective. Just think about what you need RIGHT NOW and get help if necessary. OK?

And if all this isn't enough to get you excited and confident about traveling...

Check out some of our other resources for travelers. Jocelyn Tomkinson wrote about DisAdventure: Travel with disability and chronic illness. I spazzed out a couple years ago about not bringing enough meds with me on vacation, and wrote about what I did wrong...and how to do it better. This article from the TSA has lots of advice for traveling while ill or disabled. And here's one of the first articles I wrote for ChronicBabe, about learning to ask for help while traveling.

And we've got a TON more links and resources in our Help Desk Travel section.

Whew! OK, I'm off to pack. Bon voyage, Babes!

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Posted: 3/8/2009 in Cool Tools | Also posted in: Coping

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