Don't you feel like people are immune to out of office replies? So in order to make sure people are paying attention, I want to make sure that I'm using my out of office replies appropriately. If I used one for every day I was not at my desk, you'd get an out of office reply from me every other day!
I used to use "Up in the Air" when I was flying (but now there is gogoinflight). I used "Out of the Country" but wifi usually gets me internet most places. "At an event" but now I have a cell phone with 4G coverage. I almost have no excuse to be offline for so long that I need an out of office reply. Email responses within a day I think is acceptable, and for coworkers who really want to know where I am can stalk my calendar.
Two exceptions
1. When I'm out of the office on vacation, I now write clearly in the subject line: "Out of the office on vacation" so people realize that I'm OFF of work.
2. When I'm out of the office for all day trainings with limited access to email, I will write "Out of the office in training" so they'll realize that I'm unavailable all day day.
But what about for business travel?
Now that the internet allows us to possibly be connected wherever we go, I wonder what my appropriate out of office reply should be when I'm traveling for business domestically with some access to email in between meetings on my phone or computer?
A) Out of the Office
B) Slow to Email
C) Traveling for Business
D) None of the Above
What do you think?
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
SIGN IN
Not sure that everyone knows this but make sure you sign into your accounts before you start searching and making reservations. You get different info and different numbers to call.
For example, I make the effort to sign in on my mobile app so I get the SPG Platinum Concierge phone number instead of the regular customer service line. I love calling my SPG Platinum Concierge. They help me when I'm delayed, double booked. And today, I even called them asking which hotel in Seoul could send a birthday cake. I was connected to the Westin Chosun hotel, where they connected me to their lovely bakery, took the address, my credit card, emailed me my receipt and had a birthday cake at its destination in 2 hours. I love good customer service. (Keep it going Starwood!)
But note... I probably only got that level of service because I called the right number.
So sign in. Especially if you have status.
For example, I make the effort to sign in on my mobile app so I get the SPG Platinum Concierge phone number instead of the regular customer service line. I love calling my SPG Platinum Concierge. They help me when I'm delayed, double booked. And today, I even called them asking which hotel in Seoul could send a birthday cake. I was connected to the Westin Chosun hotel, where they connected me to their lovely bakery, took the address, my credit card, emailed me my receipt and had a birthday cake at its destination in 2 hours. I love good customer service. (Keep it going Starwood!)
But note... I probably only got that level of service because I called the right number.
So sign in. Especially if you have status.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
DELTA +1, US AIRWAYS -1
Delta +1
Recently, I signed up for the SPG / Delta Crossover Awards.
I had a trip to Atlanta, a Delta hub, so it was timely that they announced this new partnership.
What do you get? SPG Platinum and Gold members get Starpoints for Delta flight purchases, and elite benefits on Delta, such as priority check-in, priority boarding, and first checked bag free. Skymiles members earn miles for hotel spend as well as SPG benefits at Starwood hotels, such as late check-out, complimentary in-room internet, and upgrades when available. I highly recommend signing up for it. (see link above).
My experience on Delta? I am SPG Platinum, and when I got to the airport, I went through the priority line both at security and at the gate. And on my flight back from Atlanta, I got upgraded to business. Score! My flight was delayed 40 minutes, but the upgrade and the service was made up for it. Our flight attendant was incredibly sweet and worked really quickly. She was touched by the volunteers on our plane who just finished building an orphanage in Honduras and even though she was a business class flight attendant, she tried her best to help these folks with their bags. Overall, I had a great experience. This could really get me to take more Delta flights, and I'm happy to start accruing more miles with Sky Team, not just on Star Alliance, to give me more flexibility. Smart move, Delta. Smart.
US Airways -1
My experience a few days earlier to Charleston was the opposite of the above.
My US Airways flight was out of the worst gate in LGA, attended by the worst agents. An agent delivered the bad news that our flight was delayed because of a mechanical issue that they were fixing. However, when anyone approached the gate to ask questions, he wouldn't look at anyone in the eye, spoke in a condescending manner, and every person turned around after a brief dialogue with him with enraged. That included me. He called passengers headed to Detroit on a connection, and called my last name. So naturally, I went up to the gate but when he discovered that I wasn't headed to Detroit, he said, "If you're not going to Detroit, I'm not interested in talking to you." There could be more than one person with the same last name on a plane. Do you have to be so rude?
An hour later, they finally send us to the Customer Service desk to reroute our flights. Once we got to the desk, the employees there turned us back around saying that our plane was now fixed and was going to fly. So we all ran back to the gate. Because one agent was using the computer, a second agent said she couldn't scan my mobile device, so I had to wait until a third agent got off the phone to issue me a paper ticket. Then they yelled at my sister because she started heading to the airplane even though she had already scanned her paper ticket. They got her confused with me. But no need to scold us.
So much for getting us on the plane finally. We didn't take off for another 30 minutes because of a delay, so we all missed our connecting flights anyway. And we wasted precious several hours of our Saturday eating Chick-fil-a at the Philadelphia airport instead of a delicious low-country lunch in Charleston. One thing that I need to give them credit for is having new flights ready for all of us when we landed. However, those employees who sent us back to the gate made a mistake. They should have just rerouted us when we asked them to. Would have saved us a flight and precious time. Would have saved them the shame of poor customer service, revealing how people aren't really using their brains much to add efficiency to their operations. When we asked where we could file a complaint, they gave us an address... a physical address to mail our complaint. Seriously?
What's even worse for US Airways is that during the several hours I was aggravated by US Airways' lack of customer service, I thought of all of the other times I was unhappy with US Airways, even if it wasn't necessarily their fault. Like the time when I was stuck in Birmingham because of a thunderstorm. They delayed, delayed, delayed, and finally canceled my flight sending me back to my hotel after several unproductive and miserable hours at the airport. My flight to Roanoke was on the loudest propeller plane I've ever been on. . I also hate the fact that these small flights require me to gate check my bag every single time. If that wasn't enough, I also hate having to walk outside to the plane on windy, rainy, and frigid days.
Focus on your customer service, US Airways. Hire people who like to help people to do customer service work, and make sure that your agents use their brain.
Bottom line. These two experiences back to back might make me choose Delta over US Airways because they fly to a lot of the same places in the south. I will likely have to fly US Airways sometimes, but when I have a choice, I might just go with Delta.
Recently, I signed up for the SPG / Delta Crossover Awards.
I had a trip to Atlanta, a Delta hub, so it was timely that they announced this new partnership.
What do you get? SPG Platinum and Gold members get Starpoints for Delta flight purchases, and elite benefits on Delta, such as priority check-in, priority boarding, and first checked bag free. Skymiles members earn miles for hotel spend as well as SPG benefits at Starwood hotels, such as late check-out, complimentary in-room internet, and upgrades when available. I highly recommend signing up for it. (see link above).
My experience on Delta? I am SPG Platinum, and when I got to the airport, I went through the priority line both at security and at the gate. And on my flight back from Atlanta, I got upgraded to business. Score! My flight was delayed 40 minutes, but the upgrade and the service was made up for it. Our flight attendant was incredibly sweet and worked really quickly. She was touched by the volunteers on our plane who just finished building an orphanage in Honduras and even though she was a business class flight attendant, she tried her best to help these folks with their bags. Overall, I had a great experience. This could really get me to take more Delta flights, and I'm happy to start accruing more miles with Sky Team, not just on Star Alliance, to give me more flexibility. Smart move, Delta. Smart.
US Airways -1
My experience a few days earlier to Charleston was the opposite of the above.
My US Airways flight was out of the worst gate in LGA, attended by the worst agents. An agent delivered the bad news that our flight was delayed because of a mechanical issue that they were fixing. However, when anyone approached the gate to ask questions, he wouldn't look at anyone in the eye, spoke in a condescending manner, and every person turned around after a brief dialogue with him with enraged. That included me. He called passengers headed to Detroit on a connection, and called my last name. So naturally, I went up to the gate but when he discovered that I wasn't headed to Detroit, he said, "If you're not going to Detroit, I'm not interested in talking to you." There could be more than one person with the same last name on a plane. Do you have to be so rude?
An hour later, they finally send us to the Customer Service desk to reroute our flights. Once we got to the desk, the employees there turned us back around saying that our plane was now fixed and was going to fly. So we all ran back to the gate. Because one agent was using the computer, a second agent said she couldn't scan my mobile device, so I had to wait until a third agent got off the phone to issue me a paper ticket. Then they yelled at my sister because she started heading to the airplane even though she had already scanned her paper ticket. They got her confused with me. But no need to scold us.
So much for getting us on the plane finally. We didn't take off for another 30 minutes because of a delay, so we all missed our connecting flights anyway. And we wasted precious several hours of our Saturday eating Chick-fil-a at the Philadelphia airport instead of a delicious low-country lunch in Charleston. One thing that I need to give them credit for is having new flights ready for all of us when we landed. However, those employees who sent us back to the gate made a mistake. They should have just rerouted us when we asked them to. Would have saved us a flight and precious time. Would have saved them the shame of poor customer service, revealing how people aren't really using their brains much to add efficiency to their operations. When we asked where we could file a complaint, they gave us an address... a physical address to mail our complaint. Seriously?
What's even worse for US Airways is that during the several hours I was aggravated by US Airways' lack of customer service, I thought of all of the other times I was unhappy with US Airways, even if it wasn't necessarily their fault. Like the time when I was stuck in Birmingham because of a thunderstorm. They delayed, delayed, delayed, and finally canceled my flight sending me back to my hotel after several unproductive and miserable hours at the airport. My flight to Roanoke was on the loudest propeller plane I've ever been on. . I also hate the fact that these small flights require me to gate check my bag every single time. If that wasn't enough, I also hate having to walk outside to the plane on windy, rainy, and frigid days.
Focus on your customer service, US Airways. Hire people who like to help people to do customer service work, and make sure that your agents use their brain.
Bottom line. These two experiences back to back might make me choose Delta over US Airways because they fly to a lot of the same places in the south. I will likely have to fly US Airways sometimes, but when I have a choice, I might just go with Delta.
Monday, February 11, 2013
BLOWING A KISS
Usually, it feels nice when someone blows you a kiss but not when it's a cab driver who blows you a kiss after telling you he isn't willing to take you to JFK, leaving you shivering in the snow.
:(
:(
Sunday, October 28, 2012
TIPS FOR WEATHER DELAYS & CANCELLATIONS
With Hurricane Sandy hitting the East Coast soon, I was helping some folks figure out their travel plans out of the area. It helps calm the nerves when you know your way around and what to do when weather puts a dent in your plans.
A couple of tips:
1) Be Aware of Flight Status: Know what's going on. Not just with your flight, but where your incoming aircraft is coming from, what's happening at the airports you're flight in and out of. Look at what other flights flying into your airport are saying. If many of them are delayed/canceled, there is a good chance yours might too.
2) Changing Your Flight:
3) If you're really in a bind:
4) Preventative Measures:
5) Make the Most of it!
Others agree with these tips and have others:
A couple of tips:
1) Be Aware of Flight Status: Know what's going on. Not just with your flight, but where your incoming aircraft is coming from, what's happening at the airports you're flight in and out of. Look at what other flights flying into your airport are saying. If many of them are delayed/canceled, there is a good chance yours might too.
- All of this information is available on www.flightaware.com. Check it often and early.
- Search Tip: You can get quick flight status info from your mobile phone or any browser by Googling your flight number.
- Sign up for Text / Email Alerts: When you book tickets with an airline, you can ask for them to send you an alert about your flight status. You don't want to show up at the airport just to find out that your flight was canceled. This will also help you be the first in the queue to get better tickets.
- Other transportation: In the case of Sandy, it would help to know what public transportation will be available. If you were planning on taking the subway to the airport on Sunday, you'd be screwed bc they stopped running at 7pm.
2) Changing Your Flight:
- Look for an advisory from your airline: Most airlines will issue a statement or advisory saying that they will change your flights without a fee within a certain window of time.
- Change it early! If the weather reports say that the storm is hitting on Monday, try to get out on Sunday. We all heard the weather reports on Friday, so why not be the first to grab the seats on the Sunday flights? If you're supposed to fly in on Tuesday (when the storm is still in the area), be the first to change your flight to Wednesday when airports are likely to be open. Sometimes it is just less stressful to know you have a reliable plan instead of wasting time just tracking flight status.
- Change Your Reservation Online: It will probably be faster if you just change your reservation online. Even if you have to pay for internet at the airport for 30 minutes, it is probably worth it. If that doesn't work, stand in line at the customer service counter, but call the airline at the same time. Most likely you'll get a representative on the phone before you are able to talk to a representative face to face. Also, do your research and see what options you have so you have an idea of what you want to ask for.
- Customer Service #: Save the customer service number on your phone. But also, the agents at the desk sometimes have an emergency customer help number which is faster. Make sure you get that number from the agent. If you are a frequent flyer, call the number.
- If you have to stay a night: You can certainly sleep at the airport but I have never done it. Airlines get discount rates at certain hotels and they will often hand out some code. I forgot to pick that up from the agent because I was impatient, but I asked the hotel for the discount anyway (and got it!)
- Don't go to the airport IF your flight is canceled and there is inclement weather. You might just wait in lines and get stuck at the airport with no way out.
3) If you're really in a bind:
- Book a new ticket with a new airline and cancel the ticket you have. Check your cancelation policy first, of course, but most airlines will give you a credit back for your old ticket. This all depends on the price and how willing you are to spend the $.
- Just get a flight somewhere outside of the storm path (or drive or train it). A good choice would be one that is a hub for your airline. More likely to get a reliable flight where the weather is okay.
- Rent a car and drive to a different airport. My sister was told she was going to be stuck in Green Bay WI for Christmas because her flight home was canceled and the flights were booked for days because of the holiday. I advised her to somehow fly or drive to another airport. She did. She flew to O'Hare (good choice), spent a night but got home on Christmas eve.
- Ask for Connecting Flights and/or Flights with overnight layover (if you're willing).
- Ask to be put on the same-day standby list. Most likely they will tell you that the flights are booked for the day or even the following day. But if it's a stormy day, there is a chance that some people will cancel or not make it. If you're willing to hang out at the airport, insist that they put you on the standby list.
- Avoid last flights of the day: During thunderstorm season or snow season, you might want to avoid the last flight of the day. They are more likely to be canceled because they just can't keep delaying your flight.
- Check airport performance: Small feeder airports
- Book direct flights rather than connecting flights if possible (especially if you're connecting through small airports)
- Book on larger planes: Some of the small shuttle planes have difficulty in bad weather.
- Carry on your luggage: They are more likely to rebook a passenger on standby and the like if your luggage is with you.
- Sign up for a frequent flyer program: Access to lounges, premier desk, customer service is really worth it.
5) Make the Most of it!
- Know all your benefits: Know what you can get - meals, lodging, waived fees, etc. I heard that the benefits are different across airlines and countries.
- Explore the airport or the city you're stuck in: I just wrote a post with tips and ideas for what to explore for long layovers, but this also applies to people who might be stuck. Check out the business lounge if you have access.
- Pay for internet: I think it is worth it to have connectivity with the outside world, to be able to be the first to know what is going on, and to have a little bit of fun (or get some work done)
- See a friend: Maybe there's a friend that you hardly see in that city? Give 'em a call.
Others agree with these tips and have others:
- http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/6-clues-that-your-flight-may-be-cancelled-or-not/
- http://www.budgettravel.com/blog/how-to-avoid-flights-that-may-get-canceled,12048/
- http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publications/delays.htm
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/hurricane-sandy-airlines-cancellations_n_2038675.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
Did I miss any other important tips? Let me know.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
LAYOVER GUIDE
I found this little gem today! Someone decided to put together guides for layovers in different airports. I wish I had known about this earlier. Enjoy!
http://www.layoverguide.com/
http://www.layoverguide.com/
Thursday, August 09, 2012
LOOKING FOR POWER
Always.
As a traveler, I am constantly looking at my battery life, looking for power under my seat (getting furious when my row's power doesn't work or on American Airlines flights where they require you to have a car charger on some flights - !!!), looking for the Samsung power stations at airports, and when those aren't available, hidden power outlets along walls, columns, and floors of the airport. I would find myself standing awkwardly by a column so my phone could charge while I wait to board my flight. I want to make sure that my phone battery lasts to be able to scan my boarding pass at the gate and take a phone call from the car picking me up.
And I'm not the only one.
I see people awkwardly sitting on the floor next to a bathroom at the airport. Not the best spot to wait for your flight. Not surprisingly, there is a power outlet available there. I will sometimes sit at a restaurant within the airport where I know there is a power outlet. At the Starbucks in Penn Station, they have power outlets in the benches. I always know that I can get juiced up at Starbucks for the price of an iced coffee as I wait for my Acela train. So smart!
Today, I discovered a new idea for making sure you have power for ALL of your devices. Carry a power strip. HAHA. Someone was kind enough to lend me 2 spots on her power strip today - one for my laptop and one for my phone. Not sure if this is a thing I'll start doing though. Although I was so so glad for her power strip.
As a traveler, I am constantly looking at my battery life, looking for power under my seat (getting furious when my row's power doesn't work or on American Airlines flights where they require you to have a car charger on some flights - !!!), looking for the Samsung power stations at airports, and when those aren't available, hidden power outlets along walls, columns, and floors of the airport. I would find myself standing awkwardly by a column so my phone could charge while I wait to board my flight. I want to make sure that my phone battery lasts to be able to scan my boarding pass at the gate and take a phone call from the car picking me up.
And I'm not the only one.
I see people awkwardly sitting on the floor next to a bathroom at the airport. Not the best spot to wait for your flight. Not surprisingly, there is a power outlet available there. I will sometimes sit at a restaurant within the airport where I know there is a power outlet. At the Starbucks in Penn Station, they have power outlets in the benches. I always know that I can get juiced up at Starbucks for the price of an iced coffee as I wait for my Acela train. So smart!
Today, I discovered a new idea for making sure you have power for ALL of your devices. Carry a power strip. HAHA. Someone was kind enough to lend me 2 spots on her power strip today - one for my laptop and one for my phone. Not sure if this is a thing I'll start doing though. Although I was so so glad for her power strip.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
TRAVEL + TRANSPORTATION = 53% OF CREDIT CARD SPEND
So, someone help me calibrate whether this is a lot or not. I just got my 2011 American Express end of year recap, and it appears I spent a total of 53% on transportation or travel. This doesn't even include the hotel stays that went on group room blocks and such.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
I WANT (GOOD) COFFEE (NOW)
As I was looking over my list of labels, I couldn't believe that I don't have "Eating & Drinking" as a label. I wouldn't categorize myself a foodie, just a food-lover. But while I'm on the road, eating/drinking sometimes means just finding sustenance because you don't really have the best choices ahead of you. So today, I'm going to post my first "Eating & Drinking" post with the most BASIC need when you travel - Coffee.
A few years ago, I discovered this Hoops & YoYo ecard that describes my love / need for coffee. Haha! Makes me laugh every time I watch it.
Here are a dozen places that I've found to be memorable coffee joints during my travels in no particular order. Yes, that includes chains, because they fulfill an important need - availability of coffee.
Honolulu Coffee Company - Hawaii
Stayed at the Ala Moana Surfrider in Waikiki - a beautiful historic hotel. And while I waited for the lovely valet folks to bring out my car, I'd get a Kona coffee - iced or hot, every morning. Great way to start the day. I know it's a chain, but at least it ranks in top 5 in HI.
Butler's Chocolate Coffee - Everywhere in Ireland
When you get a latte here, you get a piece of chocolate! Your choice - yum! I went to Butler's Chocolate Cafe every day in Ireland, and was thrilled to find a Bailey's coffee in New Jersey of all places - Garden State Plaza mall. I wonder if it's still there... I hope so!
Juan Pelota Cafe - Austin, TX
My memory of Austin Texas is 105 degree weather and drinking iced coffee 4x a day because I was working on a crazy event / project and did not sleep much. Thankfully, we discovered this coffee shop that is owned by Lance Armstrong - it's connected to a bike shop. Not the friendliest staff, to be honest, but great coffee. They have a coffee truck that they take to bike races! Since I don't race / bike, I've never seen it, but have you?
Monmouth Coffee - London, UK
I went alone to this awesome coffee shop on a street corner in Borough Market during a business trip to London. Instead of sleeping on a Sunday afternoon after my redeye, I went for the next best thing - caffeine. The latte and scone with clotted cream that I had was divine. Loved the atmosphere. It was May, so the weather was perfect.
Costa - Across Europe (and Shanghai but not the US?)
My sister introduced me to this chain, which I see all over London and across Europe. For Americans who like cold milk in their coffee, she recommends I order an Iced Americano with cold milk (otherwise they give you a puzzled look and try to give you frothed warm milk to add to your Iced Coffee). Good basic coffee. Better than other chains, I'd say. But maybe I like Costa because of my memories of traveling with the sis. So when we went to Shanghai, we just had to get Iced Americanos at Costa when we saw one across the street from our hotel.
Coffee Bangahtkan - Seoul, Korea
I had to post a cafe from Seoul, Korea, where coffee is more expensive than your meal, often. Seoul not only has chain coffee shops on every street corner, they have the best decorated independently-run cafes serving top-notch coffee and desserts. Their baristas also take their coffee super seriously. This particular cafe is in Samcheongdong and is difficult to find, but they serve hand-dripped coffee and have hand-drawn pictures all over the place. I couldn't find an official website, so here is a like-minded person's video of the place.
Stumptown Coffee - Portland, OR & now New York, NY
In Portland, you have to get Stumptown Coffee. I remember a coworker and I walked around Portland even through parts that you are not supposed to walk around, just to get coffee. You can also get Stumptown at the ACE hotel in NYC, though I find their service to be super slow.
Cafe Grumpy - New York, NY
Because it has the best name. This is where you go to actually have a conversation or read because they don't let you pull out a computer. (Also a great spot to overhear pre-date conversations when a guy or gal has asked someone out for a cup of coffee.) Great variety from different parts of the world, especially iced. And they offer dripping classes or something like that. I'll take one of those classes one day when I start making my own coffee instead of buying.
Four Barrel Coffee - San Francisco, CA
Great atmosphere at Four Barrel Coffee in the Mission. It's also a BIG coffee shop, great decor. Great coffee. They also have an area outdoors if you want to sip your coffee and soak in sun (in non-summer) months in SF. Totally my kind of place! And also this SF blogger's. But I'd fit in more if I'd ridden a bike there and was wearing skinny black jeans, a loose shirt and looked totally awesome.
Blue Bottle - San Francisco, CA (and now Brooklyn, NY)
I'm not a fan of the New Orleans Style Ice Coffee, but they have a delicious latte or hand drip. My favorite location is in the Ferry Building on Saturday mornings - grab a coffee and then walk the market. When I was in San Francisco for a week, I thought Blue Bottle was the best. I was addicted! One of my awesome coworkers would get up early in the morning and get me coffee from the Mint Plaza location... since I'm not an early riser. (Thank you P!) But then, I went back home to....
9th Street Espresso - New York, NY
You don't have many choices at 9th Street Espresso. You just get their straight up latte, or coffee, or americano. And even after drinking Blue Bottle for an entire week, I had 9th Street and was convinced again that 9th Street is the best. It really is.
Starbucks - Everywhere
I live on top of a Starbucks, so that's my go-to. I'm a gold card member and I get a postcard rewarding me a free drink every 2 weeks or so. I give that postcard to my mom or my dad, since I never seem to remember to take that darn postcard downstairs with me in the morning. Although Starbucks may not seem novel to anyone, there are a lot of times as a traveler that I am SO glad that they are everywhere. It is much nicer to find a Starbucks in an airport as an alternate to deli drip awful coffee, or in cities where nothing is familiar and you just want a strong cup of coffee (+ free wifi). So Starbucks, thank you.
I'm writing this post over a lovely latte that I paired with a maple bacon doughnut that is reminiscent of the Voodoo Donut that I had in Portland (w J!). I limited myself to 12, so I wouldn't feel pressure to make this post comprehensive (and thus, never ever post it). I'm sure I missed a lot of places in 30 minutes of digging through my brain, but I plan on visiting many coffee shops during my travels. Would love recommendations!!
A few years ago, I discovered this Hoops & YoYo ecard that describes my love / need for coffee. Haha! Makes me laugh every time I watch it.
Here are a dozen places that I've found to be memorable coffee joints during my travels in no particular order. Yes, that includes chains, because they fulfill an important need - availability of coffee.
Honolulu Coffee Company - Hawaii
Stayed at the Ala Moana Surfrider in Waikiki - a beautiful historic hotel. And while I waited for the lovely valet folks to bring out my car, I'd get a Kona coffee - iced or hot, every morning. Great way to start the day. I know it's a chain, but at least it ranks in top 5 in HI.
Butler's Chocolate Coffee - Everywhere in Ireland
When you get a latte here, you get a piece of chocolate! Your choice - yum! I went to Butler's Chocolate Cafe every day in Ireland, and was thrilled to find a Bailey's coffee in New Jersey of all places - Garden State Plaza mall. I wonder if it's still there... I hope so!
Juan Pelota Cafe - Austin, TX
My memory of Austin Texas is 105 degree weather and drinking iced coffee 4x a day because I was working on a crazy event / project and did not sleep much. Thankfully, we discovered this coffee shop that is owned by Lance Armstrong - it's connected to a bike shop. Not the friendliest staff, to be honest, but great coffee. They have a coffee truck that they take to bike races! Since I don't race / bike, I've never seen it, but have you?
Monmouth Coffee - London, UK
I went alone to this awesome coffee shop on a street corner in Borough Market during a business trip to London. Instead of sleeping on a Sunday afternoon after my redeye, I went for the next best thing - caffeine. The latte and scone with clotted cream that I had was divine. Loved the atmosphere. It was May, so the weather was perfect.
Costa - Across Europe (and Shanghai but not the US?)
My sister introduced me to this chain, which I see all over London and across Europe. For Americans who like cold milk in their coffee, she recommends I order an Iced Americano with cold milk (otherwise they give you a puzzled look and try to give you frothed warm milk to add to your Iced Coffee). Good basic coffee. Better than other chains, I'd say. But maybe I like Costa because of my memories of traveling with the sis. So when we went to Shanghai, we just had to get Iced Americanos at Costa when we saw one across the street from our hotel.
Coffee Bangahtkan - Seoul, Korea
I had to post a cafe from Seoul, Korea, where coffee is more expensive than your meal, often. Seoul not only has chain coffee shops on every street corner, they have the best decorated independently-run cafes serving top-notch coffee and desserts. Their baristas also take their coffee super seriously. This particular cafe is in Samcheongdong and is difficult to find, but they serve hand-dripped coffee and have hand-drawn pictures all over the place. I couldn't find an official website, so here is a like-minded person's video of the place.
Stumptown Coffee - Portland, OR & now New York, NY
In Portland, you have to get Stumptown Coffee. I remember a coworker and I walked around Portland even through parts that you are not supposed to walk around, just to get coffee. You can also get Stumptown at the ACE hotel in NYC, though I find their service to be super slow.
Cafe Grumpy - New York, NY
Because it has the best name. This is where you go to actually have a conversation or read because they don't let you pull out a computer. (Also a great spot to overhear pre-date conversations when a guy or gal has asked someone out for a cup of coffee.) Great variety from different parts of the world, especially iced. And they offer dripping classes or something like that. I'll take one of those classes one day when I start making my own coffee instead of buying.
Four Barrel Coffee - San Francisco, CA
Great atmosphere at Four Barrel Coffee in the Mission. It's also a BIG coffee shop, great decor. Great coffee. They also have an area outdoors if you want to sip your coffee and soak in sun (in non-summer) months in SF. Totally my kind of place! And also this SF blogger's. But I'd fit in more if I'd ridden a bike there and was wearing skinny black jeans, a loose shirt and looked totally awesome.
Blue Bottle - San Francisco, CA (and now Brooklyn, NY)
I'm not a fan of the New Orleans Style Ice Coffee, but they have a delicious latte or hand drip. My favorite location is in the Ferry Building on Saturday mornings - grab a coffee and then walk the market. When I was in San Francisco for a week, I thought Blue Bottle was the best. I was addicted! One of my awesome coworkers would get up early in the morning and get me coffee from the Mint Plaza location... since I'm not an early riser. (Thank you P!) But then, I went back home to....
9th Street Espresso - New York, NY
You don't have many choices at 9th Street Espresso. You just get their straight up latte, or coffee, or americano. And even after drinking Blue Bottle for an entire week, I had 9th Street and was convinced again that 9th Street is the best. It really is.
Starbucks - Everywhere
I live on top of a Starbucks, so that's my go-to. I'm a gold card member and I get a postcard rewarding me a free drink every 2 weeks or so. I give that postcard to my mom or my dad, since I never seem to remember to take that darn postcard downstairs with me in the morning. Although Starbucks may not seem novel to anyone, there are a lot of times as a traveler that I am SO glad that they are everywhere. It is much nicer to find a Starbucks in an airport as an alternate to deli drip awful coffee, or in cities where nothing is familiar and you just want a strong cup of coffee (+ free wifi). So Starbucks, thank you.
I'm writing this post over a lovely latte that I paired with a maple bacon doughnut that is reminiscent of the Voodoo Donut that I had in Portland (w J!). I limited myself to 12, so I wouldn't feel pressure to make this post comprehensive (and thus, never ever post it). I'm sure I missed a lot of places in 30 minutes of digging through my brain, but I plan on visiting many coffee shops during my travels. Would love recommendations!!
FEDEXED MY LUGGAGE
Traveling out to the West Coast for a few weeks + tacking on a Tahoe trip with my gear meant that I had 3 bags packed for the trip. Three days before heading out, however, I got a call from work asking me to come to DC first. In 30 minutes, I had changed my housing, my rental car, my flight, and bought an Amtrak ticket from NY Penn Station to DC Union Station.
But what was I to do with my luggage?
I was NOT going to lug all of my bags from NY to DC to SF.
Not to worry! I had always heard about Fedex Luggage services, but had never tried it. So on Monday, before I went to work I took my bags to a Fedex that opened at 7AM in the morning to ship my snowboard bag and 2 other pieces of luggage. You don't even need to put your things in boxes. They'll just tie your zippers shut, add a Fedex tag and ship your luggage ground. For me to ship my bags across the country it was going to cost me $87... that's it... and it was going to take 4 days to get out to California.
So, when I head off to DC with my little Rimowa carry-on, I felt as light as a feather!
Unfortunately, I had to learn one huge lesson: 4 days ground shipping really meant 7 days. Shipped my things on Monday. Packed only enough clothes for 4 days in my little carry-on. And Fedex tracking kept telling me that I would get my luggage on Monday. I had to do laundry on day 3. I had to do some shopping at Safeway. I had to buy sneakers. (Got into workout clothes to actually exercise on this trip and found that I only had boots, so I just went to bed early that day.)
I'd still do this again for a long trip. In fact, I'm shipping all of my bags back East, except Rimowa, since I can't bear for her to get beat up.
But what was I to do with my luggage?
I was NOT going to lug all of my bags from NY to DC to SF.
Not to worry! I had always heard about Fedex Luggage services, but had never tried it. So on Monday, before I went to work I took my bags to a Fedex that opened at 7AM in the morning to ship my snowboard bag and 2 other pieces of luggage. You don't even need to put your things in boxes. They'll just tie your zippers shut, add a Fedex tag and ship your luggage ground. For me to ship my bags across the country it was going to cost me $87... that's it... and it was going to take 4 days to get out to California.
So, when I head off to DC with my little Rimowa carry-on, I felt as light as a feather!
Unfortunately, I had to learn one huge lesson: 4 days ground shipping really meant 7 days. Shipped my things on Monday. Packed only enough clothes for 4 days in my little carry-on. And Fedex tracking kept telling me that I would get my luggage on Monday. I had to do laundry on day 3. I had to do some shopping at Safeway. I had to buy sneakers. (Got into workout clothes to actually exercise on this trip and found that I only had boots, so I just went to bed early that day.)
I'd still do this again for a long trip. In fact, I'm shipping all of my bags back East, except Rimowa, since I can't bear for her to get beat up.
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