Having spent a good portion of my life on airplanes, is there anything about flying that can make me nervous?  Not counting a plane malfunction, the primary thing I get nervous about is flying “the unknown”. Recently I had to book a trip to Chicago and I requested the client book me a ticket on United – my preferred carrier.  It is here where I know the agents at my home airport by name, here where I can get the best seats and board first.  My global services status is AWESOME!  My Red Carpet Club membership provides an oasis at the airport.  But unfortunately my client’s preferred carrier...

So I am headed for Chicago-land for a 5 day business trip today.  This morning my husband and I were discussing my trip and he asked which hotel I was staying in.  “Well sweetie, that’s a tough question to answer because I am in a different hotel every night.” “But why, when you are working at the same place every day?” he asked.  The only truthful reply that I had was that I am obviously crazy! So now I had to explain my reason for putting myself through the inconvenience of packing up, checking out, checking in, and unpacking EVERY SINGLE DAY this week…..”Well Sweetie, Marriott is...

My husband and I decided to take some much-needed time off for some R&R.  My travel schedule had been so busy, then the crazy holidays, the timing for the 2nd week in January was perfect for us.  I had hoped that by booking a couple weeks after the holidays and mid-week that the hotel would not be busy.  I used my Marriott points (90,000 of them) to book a 3 night stay because I had heard some amazing things about this hotel.  It is within a 3 hour drive from my home and had all the amenities I was looking for:  ocean view, quaint Portsmouth nearby, indoor pool, spa facilities, rooms with...