Sleepless in Seattle

Well, not really sleepless. This past weekend took me to Seattle and it was a quick but fabulous trip. Then off to Salt Lake City. I will be working here for the next few days. Yucky fast food so far in SLC but I am hopeful tomorrows dinner will be better.

I am being introduced to 6 new offices this week. Part of the merging of two companies. I do an hours worth of talking, hoping everyone stays awake. The people I meet are great, compassionate and hard working people. Their questions tell me most of what I need to know.

Off to bed but first a huge thank you to my few readers!

Travel trip: Airline Club Lounges are nice but not necessarily worth the money...unless you are there for the free drinks.

Travel and Sleeping

I have a great deal of difficulty sleeping in hotels, as I have previously mentioned. Unfortunately I fell asleep tonight at 6:30CT. Now I am awake and it's midnight. Ugh! Plane to catch in the morning.

It's been a long but interesting ride so far integrating two organizations. That is something I am no stranger to since we have done this 3 times previously. This has been the best one so far though I am grateful to say. Which is saying a lot because we are doubling in size with this transaction.

So far this week I have been involved in navigating 4 critical issues, and we are only two days into the week. The next two days are meetings with the rest of the senior management team to discuss integration and progress on other fronts so far.

As much as I hate being away from my family, and I really hate being away from them, right now I am happy to say that I once again love what I am doing. Part of that comes from the way the new owners seem to have faith in me to do my job. They ask me to do something and know it will get done. I appreciate that. A lot of nurses are not born leaders and I am no exception. I am grateful for the mentoring I have had from the prior CEOs.

This is by far the most transparent group I have worked with. That is hard to come by. Many organizations try to be transparent, or say they are, but this is the first time I have really seen it. I think it will go a long way in integrating these groups and forming a very cohesive senior team.

So, excitement aside, I must now seek the sleep that will allow me to rise in the morning ready to go! Have a fabulous day!

Tennis Anyone?

As promised I will tell you about why we spent Tuesday night in the ER.

Tuesday was as gorgeous as a summer/fall day could be. After dinner I went back to work in my home office and hubby loaded up the family and went to the park. A lively and humerous game of tennis began. After watching how poorly everyone was doing my soon to be 89 year old mother in law decided she could show them a few things. Much fun was had and they spent most of the time laughing. That is until she went for a serve that was way over her head.

Hubby's brought her home to me and I performed an assessment for a concussion. She didn't have symptoms of a concussion but her hip was hurting and the size of the knot on her head was that of a baseball. Off to the ER for another opinion.

The triage nurse was one I went to nursing school with. When Grandma said she was playing tennis the nurse looked at me and said "seriously?"

Dr. Said no concussion and the hip X-ray was fine. Unfortunately, the doctor WROTE concussion on her discharge papers and she is pretty stressed out about it now. We will get her a follow up to ease her mind. Three days later she asked me why they didn't ask her about her supplemental insurance! Who knew?

Life is always interesting. I hope I will try to play tennis at 89.

Country Music

This week finds me in Dallas and Nashville. I told my mother in law, who took up residence with us in June, that I was going to Dallas to get cowboy boots and a cowboy hat and then off to Nashville to be discovered. Of course we all know that will take a while since I can't play an instrument and certainly can't sing. Oh well, guess I will just have to keep working.

I haven't seen the inside of an emergency room in about a decade but made up for lost time this week. Last Sunday our oldest daughter was in a dirt bike race. It was her first and I am sure not last race. Unfortunately, right out of the gate some bikes piled up. She almost missed it but as she was passing one of the bikes flipped and caught her. She kept going but after the race she came up to me and said "I think I broke my finger". Being the good nurse that I am I immediately went and got the paramedics that are always standing by at these races. They said to take her to the ER but she wanted to wait and see the rest of the races. They just stared at her and said "most men would be crying by now!". We couldnt talk her out of waiting but eventually we got her taken care of. Not broken, but it did require 6 stitches! She's a tough one. 10 minutes on the track, 5 hours in the ER.

Our third daughter, also a nurse, saw the injury and almost passed out. Her husband had to bring the car around to pick her up but only after she got sick and fell on the ground.

Tomorrow I shall tell you about our next ER visit. For now just know that all is well.

Home Sweet Home

I am working from home this week! Last week I was in Scottsboro, AL, Rock Hill, SC and Charlotte, NC. Next week will be another doozie so I am enjoying my week at home. I really appreciate having a home office at times like these because it allows me to be, well, home!

I haven't done very well making travel arrangements, mostly due to the fact that my plans have been last minute. My favorite hotels have been booked and I have had to settle for less than favorites. The beds were fine though and that plus cleanliness and safety are all I really care about.

Next week will be Dallas and Nashville. I really like home, can't I please do this from home?

Books

When I travel I love to listen to audio books.  I get them at the library and also from Cracker Barrel where you can rent them for $3.99/week.  I also love to read my Kindle.  Unfortunately, I can't find my Kindle.  I hope I didn't leave it in Nashville, which is the last place I remember seeing it.  Perhaps in my haste to pack I left it at home.   I was really enjoying "Promise of the Wolves" as recommended by Cinderella.

Did you know you can disable a Kindle?  You just call Amazon and they shut it down so noone can use your account to order books.  I am not sure if they can totally stop it from being used but at least my card won't be charged for someone else's enjoyment.

So far this week I have traveled to Virginia, Alabama, and South Carolina.  Too much "windshield time" as my boss likes to call it.

So my question today is:  How do you sleep in a hotel?  I have tried Tylenol PM, Advil PM, a glass of wine, a book, etc.  I even used to bring my own pillow but that is too much trouble.  After 7 years I still have trouble sleeping in a hotel.  I like home.  My bed, my family, everything.  I do admit that I sleep extremely well on a cruise ship.  The rougher the water, the better.  Of course my family is always there too.

Tip for today:  Disable that lost Kindle.

Oh So Weary

Great day today but these merger meetings are exhausting.  Sometimes I look around conference tables and wonder how I got here.  Was I in the right place at the right time?  Certainly that played a role.  I like to think my upbringing, filled with lots of work ethic, got me here.  It is amazing how many people just go to work but never invest themselves in their organization.

My blog title really describes me today.  Weary.  It's all good though.  (I accidentally typed "Its all goo though.  Ha!)  That might be true as well. 

I will be traveling to Lynchburg tomorrow.  11.5 hours from here since I need to get home and retrieve my boys first.  They will be traveling with me.  I love when they travel with me!  Mommy/Son time rocks! 

See you next week!  Love to all of you who wander here....

P.S.  My hotel, the Marriott Cool Springs, was great.  The concierge host was friendly and the room was spotless.  The shuttle took us to dinner so we didn't have to drive.  Love that service!

Nashville - Good hotels are hard to find

In my hotel last night I noticed a blank spot where it looked like a towel had previously been hung.   I reached in to turn on the shower and found...yuck...someone elses used soap.  OK, that totally grossed me out.  So much for my new Nashville hotel.  I am not having a lot of luck with this area. 

Tonight I will be in the Marriott.  Here I have concierge club access and I have checked the shower.  It is clean.  The room smells a little funny, kind of like there was a smoker and they tried to cover the smell with air freshener.  I can live with that. 

I have meetings starting at 8am and going through dinner tomorrow.  These meetings are a pretty big deal because they are with our investors and new CEO and COO.  My new bosses.   I hope I sleep well here and wake refreshed.  I want to be on my game. 

With the new owners/leaders come several changes.  The first of which is I will no longer be what is called C-Suite.  (C level Sr. Management such as CEO, COO, CFO and CCO)  I will now be a VP answering to C-Suites.  This doesn't bother me as the company has grown tremendously since I began 11 years ago (7 clients to 2000 clients)  and having an attorney above me to provide guidance is a big plus.  I know my job well and I can work with anyone.  I am not nervous, just curious. 

So another journey begins.  This is not the traveling kind but it is definitely a new chapter.  I am excited to begin.  Our new home base will no longer be Nashville so I will be traveling to another city for corporate stimulation.  It is about the same distance for me so not a big change.  I am incredibly grateful to work for a company that respects the fact that I won't relocate.  They allow me to work from my home office as long as I am willing to travel at their expense.

Let the journey begin!

Labor Day

How many of us know the reason we celebrate Labor Day? I am sorry to report that none of my children did, until this week. Ok, I didnt know either. The short version is that Pullman rail cars went on strike. In support many other unionized rail workers did also. The government said stop and they didn't. Troops were sent in and a fight took place leaving some dead. (I think 12 or 13) To make peace with the unions a holiday was declared in remembrance. That's the short story. You can google the rest.

So for Labor Day I cook. Yesterday brought 36 hungry people to our home. That was a lot of cooking especially since I had 6 confirmed and 30 maybes. I knew most of the maybes would show, they usually do. I cook enough for all. 14 pounds of chicken, 32 hotdogs and 36 hamburgers. Many side dishes and peach and blueberry cobbler. Not much left since we ate at 1pm and people were still there at dinner time, refilling plates. It was my favorite kind of gathering. I missed mom and dad though, and D#1.

So, home for the weekend but on the road again this week. I will be in the country music Capitol and then possibly Lynchburg. Time permitting.

Nashville is the city that ruined the bed and breakfast experience for me. Having stayed at a hotel chain and waking to find crime scene tape around the lobby, I decided to find another place to rest. I found what I thought was a perfect solution. A restored historic home run by a chef who made fabulous breakfasts. At the end of my third week there I discovered the owner had a view of my room that I would not have approved. I did a little research afterward and, had I done it first, I would never have stayed there.

Now I am back to the hotel chains. I usually stay in the Hilton Suites and we have a good corporate rate. It is clean and has a great breakfast, included if you are a gold member or higher.

Tip: when staying at a B&B, check it out thoroughly! Don't get caught with your pants...well you know the rest.

Amazing Journey Part V

Day Six:  Breakfast didn't come with our room and we wanted some local fare.  We lucked upon the Keluki Cafe.  Here they serve bannocks (a donut like pastry without the hole) as breakfast sandwiches.  I had the sausage, egg and cheese bannock.  I would almost drive back there for another one!  We purchased two more bannocks for the road as they were so fabulous. 

We re-entered the US and after going through the re-entry booth my wonderful spouse went around a barracade and bypassed customs.  Not on purpose, it was confusing, seriously.  I realized it as soon as it was done but it was too late.  We kept looking over our shoulders waiting for homeland security to run us down and strip search us and the vehicle.  They left us alone - which was not necessarily reassuring.

On to our final destination, which to protect the innocent, shall remain nameless.  I will say it is an island in the Puget Sound and it is gorgeous!

Here is the view from our daughter's living room window:

And here is the park where we had our picnic.

We spent a fabulous few days visiting and attending local farmer's markets, a pirate festival, boat races, and incredible restaurants with fresh seafood.  Yum!!

Leaving the car with our daughter (which was the whole excuse for the trip) we boarded a plane for home.  We miss her terribly already.

Tip:  Sometimes it is the destination and sometimes you make a journey of getting to the destination.  Sometimes it is both.  We booked our flight way ahead of time and got a wonderful rate.  Using points I was able to upgrade us both to first class and the trip home included fuzzy bunny slippers.  (Jerry Seinfeld reference ;))

Have a fabulous day!

The Amazing Journey Part IV

Day Six:  After enjoying breakfast in the concierge lounge we again asked for recommendations from the concierge.  "Here is our destination.  What should we do along the way?"  We were advised to stop in Kelowna, BC, Canada.  This is known as "North Napa" as it is the wine region of Canada. 

Kelowna was a gorgeous area with mountains, lakes, and vineyards everywhere. 

After visiting 4 vineyards, we had an incredible dinner at Mission Hills Winery.  Pictured above, this terrace dining is only open a few months each year.  The menu was delectable and the view, well, you can see the view.

After dinner we walked along Lake Okanogan (Oh-ka-nog-in) where there was everything from outdoor ballroom dancing to lawn bowling.  The place was active!  So much to see and do.  The weather was perfect for an evening stroll and by the time we made it back to our hotel we discovered a "movie on the lawn." 

Yes, it was Casablanca.  I had never seen that movie before this night and I thoroughly enjoyed myself here.  The hotel we chose (Delta) had a private marina accessible only by a small lock.



The lock is to the far left of the picture.  I didn't know what it was when I took the picture or I would have done a little better. 

Off to bed to prepare for the next days adventure.  Stay tuned!

Tip for today:  Evening strolls are romantic!



The Amazing Journey Part III

Day Five:  Breakfast in the concierge suite of the Banff Springs Inn included quiche and every imaginable breakfast food/beverage.  We stopped by the concierge desk to let them know our next destination and ask advise on what to do along the way.  We were not disappointed as we were given an alternate route and directed to fabulous stops along the way.  Arriving at the Chateau Lake Louise (owned by the same chain) we were again greeted with "Gold" service and whisked directly to our room.  Here is the unbelievable view from this room:

The water is really that turquoise color.  We were told it is from the glacier grinding against that particular type of rock and making "glacier flour".   From the Chateau there is a 6.6 km (or 5.5 depending on which sign you read) hike to a "tea house".  I must say that, having had minor surgery the morning before we left, it didn't feel a bit over 6.6 km so I am sticking with that.  What we didn't know when we set out is that the beginning is a leisurely stroll along the lake but after that it is all uphill.   Signs indicate hikers should travel in groups of 4 because of the large grizzly population.  Many hikers were wearing bells and whistles.  Most were in hiking attire including the poles.  We certainly stood out in our jeans.  We didn't feel the need to stay in a group of 4 since the trail was pretty busy that time of day.

   

That is the lake in the background.  Far away huh?  The "Tea House" was a stone cabin with a 3 foot balcony on three sides of the 2nd floor and that is where the food and tea is served.  Little tables and wooden chairs line the balcony. Once a year supplies are helicoptered in and the rest of the needed provision are backpacked in along the same trail we traversed.  (I personally cannot imagine hiking that trail with supplies.  I barely made it with nothing more than a bottle of water.)  There is no electricity or running water and they cook with propane.  Employees stay for 5 days at a time and hike back out along the same trail we took.  We had hummus and chips and a quinoa salad.  Yummy after that long hike.  From here you can see the Six Plains Glacier.  As pieces of this glacier break off and fall the sound is like thunder, including the ground rumbling.  I was told it takes 20 seconds for the sound to reach us.

The good news:  the hike back was all downhill.  By that time my legs felt like jelly so even downhill was a challenge but it was certainly worth the trip. 

We followed the hike with dinner on the veranda.  Up to the concierge for a nightcap and off to bed with our specialty pillows.

Tip for today:  The hotel concierge is always a great source of information on what to do in the area. Wait until you see where they sent us the next day!

Tune in tomorrow for another part of this amazing journey.

The Amazing Journey Part II

Day four:  We traveled through the remainder of Montana and into Calgary.  Mostly prairie with some hills but we did see a herd of bison.  That is a pretty common meat selection in that part of the country we learned.  We arrived in Banff and here is where the budget went out the window.  Following the advice of many (thanks mom!) we decided to do things right.  Staying at the Banff Springs Inn we pulled up to the front.  Wow!  A castle!  The bellhop asked our name and immediately the tone of of our trip changed.  Splurging I had booked a "gold" room.  I didn't really understand all of the benefits of this until the bellhop immediately radioed a message and another bellhop ran out and loaded our luggage onto a cart.  He asked us to follow him and we totally bypassed the front desk.  Taking us directly to the concierge floor he had our key in hand.  He showed us the room and pointed out the binoculars sitting on the window sill.  We tried to tip him but he said "No thank you."  He then led us to the concierge suite where canapes were waiting along with free non-alcoholic drinks and an honor bar.  The canapes included steak and salmon.  Here is the view from our room.

Seriously, that is the actual view taken through the window.  Incredible huh?
And here is the hotel.

That is snow and again, not a postcard.

We walked to town, and yes we were that close.  This guy didn't move a bit as we walked by and photographed him. 

12 points!  He was huge!

In town we shopped a little then went to a restaurant/microbrew that had balcony seating so we could eat and watch the town.

Finished we took a different route back to the hotel and along the river. 

The note left with the chocolates on our pillow said to please call to request a special pillow.  There were 5 listed so I ordered the "body pillow".  It was fabulous. 

Tune in tomorrow for more of the story.

Tip for the day:  Try "Gold".  

The Amazing Journey

Life is an amazing journey however sometimes we are blessed with experiences that just make life more amazing.  My most recent journey took me away from this blog for a while (thanks for asking Cinderella!) 

I recently traveled across the US and Canada.  I almost (really...I was close here) decided to do a frugal trip.  It certainly started out that way.  With cooler packed full of fruit, nuts and other healthy stuff my spouse loves we headed northwest. 

First stop, St. Louis, MO.  I would love to show you pictures of the wonderful carriage ride or even the incredible view from our hotel overlooking the Arch and river, but alas, I do not know how to get the pictures off my iPhone and onto this stubborn non-Mac computer.  We paid for the hotel using points accumulated from my business travel but paid an extra $39 to upgrade to a suite corner room with awesome views.  Hyatt Regency.

Day two:  After walking in the park and visiting the museum below the Arch to learn about the Louis and Clark expedition we hit the road.  The next stop was Stone Hill Vineyards in Hermann, MO which had a wonderful history including almost total destruction during prohibition.  After the tour and light tasting we had a picnic on the grounds while listening to a "coffee house like" guitarist who played for tips.  The weather was perfect as was the picnic.  Order placed for home delivery of our favorite selection, we hit the road to Sioux Falls, ID.  Another hotel paid for with points, Courtyard Marriott.

Day three:  The morning was gorgeous so we headed to Falls Park and read the signs describing the history of the falls.  Exercised we hit the road. Next stop Mt. Rushmore.  Just a slight detour off our intended path but it was worth it.  We toured the grounds and sculptor center and then had a light lunch.  Again, I have great pictures on my iPhone... Off to Great Falls.  Another hotel paid for with points:  Fairfield Inn Marriott.

Day Four:  Let me say that by this time we had eaten only what was in our cooler and the one lunch we purchased and shared at Mt. Rushmore $11.   (Chicken and steamed veggies, yum.)  This would begin the best part of the journey. 

And you will have to wait until tomorrow for the rest.  This is where it gets good so come back tomorrow please!

Tip for today:  Hotel points rock and pack a cooler.  We would have missed that totally cool picnic at Stone Hill Vineyards without it and it is pretty handy to reach back and grab a snack. We didn't need to stop unless we wanted to and we both detest fast food.

Cinderella

I think this is cheating but I love the idea and I am stealing it from Cinderella.  Where is your favorite place? That place you would love to return to or that place you have always wanted to go.  I would love to go to Italy.  One day I want to take hubby on a Mediterranean cruise so he can see the land of his ancestry.  Alaska is also on my wish list.  Our company almost bought a location there and I was secretly hoping they would so I would have to go.  Sigh, it didn't work out.  I will have to get there some other way.

As far as places I have been, I think I love the Pacific Northwest.  What a beautiful place!  Orcas Islands and Seattle, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Baker.  Gorgeous.  The Caribbean islands are also beautiful.  I love the Virgin Islands and anywhere you can see the bottom in 50 feet of water.  Wow.  I love swimming next to the cruise ship.  I feel so small when we do that. 

Tip for today:  Plan that trip.  Even if it is 10 years in the planning and saving, take that dream trip.

So, what shall it be?

AAA

I must say that one good investment I make annually is my AAA membership.  I have a dollar amount in mind when I make business travel arrangements because I like to be a good steward for my organization.  This is a self imposed limit because my company only tells those on the senior management team to be resourceful.  They don't set dollar limits.  I am sure if we abused that, there would be limits set, but we don't. 

I will say that AAA has allowed me to stay in places that would have been out of my limit otherwise.  For example,  one hotel usually has rates of $189 but I can sometimes stay there for $129 with my AAA card.  Much nicer than the typical chain. 

Well, in planning my trip across country, some friends of our recommended a particular resort.  I discovered that AAA will save us $100/night at this gem!  That's a lot of money.  Still a little out of my price range but since every other night on the trip will be using points, I think I can justify one night at this gorgeous, once in a lifetime resort.  Take a look:  WOW!  I haven't committed because it is a hefty cancellation fee so I want to wait until we are closer, we are sure to be there, and I can part with our hard earned money.  Seriously, $100 a night off?  Silly but I almost want to do it just to save the money.  OK, I know better than that. 

So, guess what my tip is today: AAA  Plus, you can't beat the peace of mind that comes with the roadside assistance. 

Banff or Yellowstone?

I have been unable to resist planning all of the details of my trip.  I thought I would be able to go "with the flow" but I can't do it.  So far I have modified my route several times.  We were trying to venture through Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons but I also want to see Banff.  We can't do it all so we will have to choose, Yellowstone or Banff?  What would you choose?  About 100 miles more for Banff but might be worth it. 

I have booked our first night hotel using points I earned from business travel.  I do try to stay at one chain but not at the expense of a good nights sleep.  As it stands I am gold or platinum with 3 different chains.  I have plenty of points for other nights but I am resisting the urge to go ahead and book. 

Banff or Yellowstone?

Journey or Destination?

When you look back on family vacations do you remember the destination or the journey?  Did that shape the way you view your vacation planning now? 

I am very much a journey person.  I love the "moments" and, as much as I like a good destination, if the company is great, we can be anywhere or nowhere.  Having said that, I do like to have a destination in mind.  On our upcoming road trip we have destinations all along the way but I don't care if we miss one or all of them.  I have routed and re-routed the trip so we have the most time in the cool spots but everything is flexible.  We decided not to book hotels in advance so we can go as we please.  I will bring my trusty 3G iPad (thanks Mom) to find a room when we are ready. 

That brings up another point.  I think iPads, navigators, iPhones and all other technology has transformed our travel.  Can today's kids even read a map?  I remember hearing in school (before calculators were generally available) that one day kids would not be able to add because they always use calculators.  Well that sure is true if you ever watch a cashier make change.  Seems like map reading is going the same direction (pun intended). 

Tip for today:  Enjoy the ride. 

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'WOW What a Ride!'"
--Unknown

What is your favorite destination?  Are you a journey or destination person?

To Plan or Not to Plan

For business travel I am definitely a planner.  I am guaranteed that my plans will change several times a month so I can be very flexible however I have, on more than one occasion, had to stay far from my workplace because I didn't plan enough in advance.

TIP #1:  Tuesdays are heavily traveled days.  Business travelers know to book their hotel rooms far in advance for these days.  The higher end accommodations book faster on the weekends but for business friendly hotels, the middle of the week can sometimes be difficult.

When it comes to personal travel, I am a super planner.  I want every detail worked out.   I just like to know things will work out and I won't be sleeping in my car.  For example, my spouse and I are planning a vacation, the first alone since we got married.  It will be a trip across country and we know where we want to stop.  Many of the hotels along our trip, at least the ones I have chosen, require full payment in advance if we are within 21 days of travel. 

Hmmm.  I am not sure how much driving we want to do each day.  The rooms are a bit high priced so if I go ahead and pay, we can't be flexible.  On the other hand, the rooms are hard to get in certain areas and we risk staying in the Days Inn if not properly planned.  Since conspiracy theorists have failed to convince me the earth is flat, I can rest assured that one bad hotel will not be the "end of the world."  It would be close though.

This leads me to a topic for my next post: Journey or Destination? 

I believe I have talked myself into a more relaxed drive planning only the day ahead.  If there are rooms, we stay.  If not, we will move on.  Hopefully we will have pictures to post...if I remember the camera.

Have a fabulous day!

Making Travel an Experience

I am on my 8th year of traveling extensively for business. I love to travel for pleasure but after 8 years, business travel can get a little old. Us weary business travelers joke that, to the occasional business traveler, our lifestyles sound glamorous; gallivanting all over the country, seeing the world, meeting interesting people.

Admittedly there are moments where I am amazed at the experience. Those moments can be pretty far apart though. Dinners alone, hotel rooms that smell funny, delayed flights; all part of a typical day.

I made a resolution that I would experience more than a rental car and hotel room in the cities I visit. I have decided that I would research and visit interesting shops, restaurants, shows and other local sites and events.

Places I have loved: The Art Institute of Chicago, National Mall and Memorial Parks, Skagit Tulip Festival, Amicalola Falls, and Mark of the Potter. To think I might not have seen these places without making a decision to do so. What I would have missed! I still would love to take in the occasional play. If ever you are in Young Harris, GA, the college there frequently has free performances.

And then there are the local places that you are told you absolutely MUST see but really are not what you expect like Unclaimed Baggage. (I think once is enough for this store.)

So my tip for this post: Get out of the hotel a little and see what the area has to offer.

Bed and Breakfast: Fabulous...or...not so much.

B&B's are wonderful alternatives to the typical hotel chain.  Some of my favorite accommodations are B&B's.  I do want to add one caveat though.  They are not all fabulous. 

• On one business trip I chose a "Premier" B&B in the historic section of Nashville.  The home was gorgeous and the owner a gourmet chef...and a perv.  My co-worker commented that we were probably safer in a crack house. 

• The "Upscale" B&B I was unfortunate enough to visit in Joplin, MO was as creepy as the owners.  A renovated old schoolhouse (which admittedly sounds very different and cool) was not worth a second night and an early departure was in order. 

On the other hand there are some fabulous B&B's.  My favorites:

Choctow Lodge B&B  Near Seaside, FL this gorgeous property consists of 2 homes and a boat house on the river.  The homes have 2 bedrooms and so are very economical when compared to a hotel.  The owners are fascinating and accommodating.  In the evening they lit a bonfire and joined our group for a glass of wine.  Before breakfast we were taken on a boat trip down the river to places I would have never in my life seen.  A return trip is definitely in order here.

Lee House B&B Inn  In downtown historic Pensacola, FL this beautiful inn is worth a look.  I took a tour but unfortunately it was outside my corporate travel budget.  For personal travel, I would absolutely stay here. 

Heron House Guest Suites  In gorgeous Anacortes, WA this home on the Puget Sound provides incredible views, upscale but comfortable accommodations and the best breakfast I have ever had. 

B&B Tip #1: "Victorian" typically means a lot of lace, dried flowers, and character. It can also mean a lot of baby dolls, back lit wedding dresses on headless mannequins, and the occasional Merry-go-round horse.

B&B Tip #2: "Upscale" and "Premier" mean nothing.

B&B Tip #3: Read the reviews prior to staying. Unlike hotel chains where you see consistency, B&B's are individually owned and there is wide variation. Some are just rooms for rent, (not always a bad thing) and others have very unique characteristics.

I am sure there are other really great bed and breakfasts.  I recommend thorough research and please take the time to read the reviews.  Call ahead, owners typically don't appreciate walk ins.  Get a sense of the place from the owner prior to your visit.  If it doesn't sound great, don't go.

Tell me about your favorite B&B...or your least favorite.

Rock Hill, SC

This week finds me in the beautiful, but very hot state of South Carolina. Travel here is fabulous in the fall. In the summer, not so much. I am grateful for the business traveler friendly hotels that have been popping up everywhere.

Let me start this blog by saying I am doing this for other travelers, pleasure and business. Perhaps my tips will benefit one person.

Tip 1: Always, always sign up for points. even if you travel infrequently there are perks that come with points. Your status and perks improve as you rack up points. Freebies like water, wine and cheese, and club room access become free quickly.

Tip 2: Airlines, trains, rental cars and hotel chains love loyal customers. I have an Amtrak points card just for the once every few years I take the train. I opted to receive their special offers newsletters and now I know a lot more about train travel, which I love.

Tip 3: you can opt out of emails. You might miss a special deal but your inbox won't be full.

Enough tips for today, back to Rock Hill. What a beautiful town. It is actually very close to Charlotte, NC.

I am staying at the Rock Hill Hilton Garden Inn for a great rate of $105/night. It is a beautiful hotel and the staff is very friendly and accomodating. Jackie, the evening shift front desk hostess is the friendliest in the business. I make a lot of requests and she always makes me feel like I made her day by allowing her to help. Ok, I said no more tips but this is a biggie: if someone is really great, let the manager know. You wont be forgotten and the great employee will get some well deserved recognition.

That is all for now. Happy travels!