Thread by @martin_casado

0/ I’ve traveled a bit over the last two decades, peaking at 300k miles per year in seat (~70% time). Being estranged from your house plants is *not* a great way to live. But for those who have to, here are some tricks I’ve picked up along with those frequent flyer miles.

1/ Don’t optimize space by wearing work clothes on the plane. You’re not fooling anyone by strolling into that meeting in “hand pressed” slacks and a change of jacket. Go for comfort. Wear slippers. Wear sweats. Wear that full velour track suite with pride. I do.

2/ Use hotel laundry services as much as possible, particularly in Asia. I often give my laundry to the staff as soon as I check into my room. It’ll make a huge different in how you present, and in many countries the cost is reasonable.

3/ I try to use airplanes for sleeping, not work. Being productive on an airplane is an unnatural act. Especially when chosen over the alternative of drinking bourbon and reading sci fi.

4/ Speaking of sleep, I’m the *worst*. Melatonin and Tylenol PM don’t do the job. So I have prescriptions for Ambien and Sonata. Sonata is great for 3-6 hour flights. Longer than that, use Ambien. I would avoid the mood stabilizers (Klonopin, Trazodone, etc.).

5/ I carry medicine in both my briefcase and luggage. I always have Tamaflu, Benedryl, Ibuprofin, Diphenoxuylate, and Sudafed. I strongly suggest asking your doctor for prescription recommendations for travel.

6/ Beta blockers are great. Esp. for those of us with anxiety of flying or public speaking. I don’t, but some hardcore traveler I know do, and they bring them everywhere. Propranolol and atenolol appear to be the two most popular. The stress isn’t worth it. Talk to your doctor.

7/ I’ve found that the combo of ear plugs and over-the-ear headphones work better than noise isolating or cancelling. Both is the ultimate “don’t talk to me” cocktail. I also have multiple Spotify playlists that provide ambient noise for sleeping and concentrating.

8/ Muji is the best store for travel bags, containers, and accoutrements. If you don’t know it, you’re in for a real treat.

9/ I always have a European outlet adapter with me as most plugs on airplanes are universal and they tend to stay in much better than standard U.S prongs.

10/ There are a lot of exceptional travel apps. I use TripIt, Synchronize, Currency, Speak&Translate. Also, different locals use different taxi apps so research that before you go and have them installed.

11/ install WhatsApp, Line, Viber, and WeChat. You’re sure to bump into them eventually. Might as well preempt the awkward attempt to install it real time, and realize you’re too old to figure it out.

12/ I have a VPN service I use so that I can check gmail / facebook when in China. Honestly I have to google what still works before each trip so I’ll forego making a recommendation.

13/ VPN services are great in general, if only to circumvent local content restrictions. I generally VPN to the U.S. so I can watch Netflix.

14/ Have backup toiletries in your briefcase / purse. A comb, toothpaste and toothbrush come in awful handy for airport and airplane bathrooms. Also, you can never havee too many ear plugs or gum when traveling.

15/ You can get people to remember you with a really big tip. Yeah, you’re paying someone to like you, but hell this entire thread wreaks of desperation. Consistently overtipping is a good way to get a local contact. And more than once I’ve legitimately needed their help.

16/ Hotels will often put a yoga mat in your room. Honestly, I don’t like yoga and I never really use the mat. But minimally it reminds me to exercise. Or it just sits there making me feel like shit. Either way, it’s adding some cosmic value.

17/ Speaking of exercise, a TRX, elastic bands, a lightweight jump rope, and workout apps are all very travel friendly. These days I just load dozens of exercise apps on my phone, and that’s sufficient effort to forego exercise all together.

18/ I have size 12 shoes so need to be strategic with space. For working out, I now bring minimal running shoes like Nike Frees or Altra Vanish. Both can be flattened to almost nothing.

19/ While no-one wants to check a bag, you never know what’ll happen. I always make sure I have toiletries and pills in my briefcase. I also have an undershirt, boxers, and coffee singles. All told it’s very little space and has saved me many times.

20/ Often you can check in and order room service while driving to a hotel. When pressed for time, I’ll have food waiting for me. This is fingernails on my latin soul. But it’s a good trick if necessary.

21/ I always carry instant coffee singles in my briefcase. Coffee in the room is becoming rarer and rarer. And well, I drink it pretty much all day. I use Mount Hagen, but Starbucks Via are great too.

22/ Briggs Riley makes the best luggage for people who travel a lot. And I like Cotopaxi for duffels. I have an unjustified aversion to Tumi, and just want to take this moment to air that out …. thank you.

25/ The most consistent social scene I’ve found worldwide are latin clubs. Whether in Tokyo, Seoul, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Milan, London, New York, find one, order a Cuba Libre, then another, then ask someone at least 10 year older than you to dance. Even if you don’t know how.

26/ OK, that’s it for now. I’d love to hear your travel tricks.

And be sure to leave a tip for the room cleaning staff nightly 🙏🙏🙏