Brandkarma’s Top Travel Tips

Whether we are presenting to clients, helping out with sales training, attending conferences, or (once in a while) going on vacation, employees at Brandkarma spend a lot of time traveling and living on the road. Our employees used their vast experience to present Brandkarma’s top travel tips.
Do YOU have any to add? Add your travel tips in the comments!

Get a bottle of water on the way to the airport. Then you don’t have to pay $6 for bottled water at the airport.
Ken Ribotsky, President and Chief Executive Officer

Bring along an old pillowcase to store your dirty laundry.
Maryanne Kelleher
, Vice President, Account Group Supervisor

Pack one trash bag and two freezer bags. Anything that’s wet, dirty, or smells goes in the trash bag on the way home. Anything that can leak or spill goes into the freezer bags on the way out and on the way back.
Jeff Werner, Interactive Art Director

Just breathe…
Anna Eliopoulos, Senior Account Executive

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For the plane ride take a good book – time flies when you’ve got a page turner.  And once you’ve landed, no matter where, take it all in – whether it’s for business or pleasure.  The people, the scenery, the smells – you’ll notice something different every time.
Nisha Shah, Media Planner

Book/pick up your rental car while you’re waiting for your luggage.  They’re usually located near the baggage carousel.
Mark Kalet, IT Manager

When being taken to the airport, have the driver drop you off at arrivals instead of departures. That way, you avoid all the traffic congestion. Likewise, when being picked up, have the driver pick you up at departures.
Jim Quickstad, Art and Production Director

Always let a hotel know when you are checking in late in the evening. If you arrive past midnight, the reservation can get erased from the system and you’re stuck without a room.
Ken Ribotsky, President and Chief Executive Officer

Always wear a hoodie (so hair does not touch the back of the seats), carry Wet Ones (for quick hand sanitizing), bring fresh fruit/a sliced sandwich/baggie of almonds (for easy snacking), and bring a variety of magazines (in case a movie is not shown or you have already seen it).
Wendy Wittkofski, Editorial Supervisor

brandkarma travel rants blog
Visit Internations.org when traveling internationally or domestically. It has forums about the best restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues from both local and foreign perspectives. I’ve used it while traveling in West Africa, Europe, and California. It works well!
Ashley Smith, Business Development Specialist

Always bring toilet paper. You never know when you will need some.
Candice Scaltro, Office and Accounting Assistant

Bring more than one pair of shoes. You always wind up on your feet a bit more than usual when  you travel. The same pair of shoes that are comfortable at home sometimes become uncomfortable while on holiday/business, especially if you are doing a lot of walking.
Lindsey Trella, Senior Designer

Don’t forget to bring your laptop and charger.
Mandy Graziani, Media Director

You can forecast the best time to buy airline tickets using Bing.
Tho Bach, SEM Specialist

Pack light – makes you more mobile, because you never know when you might get some extra time to walk around the city before coming home.
Diana Lee, Account Executive
brandkarma travel blog
If you are only going to be in a city or country for a few days (and will be working most of the time), take a bus tour so you get to see all of the city or country.  It also helps you narrow down places you may want to visit in more depth.
Dana Kababik, Copy Supervisor

Bring socks, if you’re not already wearing any, for walking through security when you have to remove your shoes, sandals, or flip-flops. Then you won’t have to walk on the dirty floor with bare feet!
Dorene Ribotsky, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer

Don’t drink the water. Anywhere.
David Cho, Senior Art Director

Pack enough clean underwear and socks. The worst thing is having to wear dirty or wet socks and dirty undies!
Angela Medina, Account Supervisor

The best advice I have for traveling is to pack fiber bars and Metamucil ¾ this helps in the “feeling healthy” department.
Chelsea Vogt, Office Administrator

Layers, layers, layers! Planes are notoriously either too hot or too cold, so I always dress in layers when flying. There’s nothing worse than being freezing cold or stifling hot on a long flight.
Sandi Gruehl, Associate Editor

Bring an empty Nalgene or Thermos through security, then fill it up at a water fountain. Boom: water for your wait in the terminal and whenever you want it on the plane. For free!
Neil Horowitz, Social Media Marketing Analyst
brandkarma blog travel tips
Be curious. Do as the locals do.
Kat Leaver, Group Copy Supervisor

Try to never fly in and out of LAX. Instead, choose John Wayne or Long Beach airport. ALWAYS fly direct, unless your route requires a layover. NEVER check bags…and don’t forget your pants if you are going on a pitch.
Devon Malecki, Senior Vice President, Medical Strategy and Brand Strategy

To pack more efficiently, roll all of your clothing. You will be able to fit a lot more clothing in your luggage this way. Also, download airline apps on your cell phone so you can check in and get flight alerts on your mobile phone.
Shelby Woods, Senior Executive Assistant

Get a Redbox movie at one location, watch it on the plane, then return it at another location, anywhere in the U.S. Watch a movie for $1 while you fly!
Paul Moorcroft, Chief Financial Officer

While most hotels have a gym, there are those that do not or there is just not enough time to keep up your daily exercise routine. While traveling, perform exercises with resistance tubes and bands, as well as body weight exercises like push ups, squats, lunges, and ab exercises, and crunches and planks.
Donna Diefenbach, Project Director

When you’re driving across the country and need a potty break, rest stops are a surprisingly good option.  They are cleaner than most of the McDonald’s bathrooms, believe it or not!
Lauren Gonda, Project Manager

Don’t walk barefoot in the jungle.
Ryan Nibouar, Account Supervisor

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Offering healthcare companies the highest level of strategic and creative marketing for specialty pharmaceutical and biotech products, medical devices, diagnostics, and OTC brands, Brandkarma is a champion of intense engagement, measuring its achievements by its clients’ success.

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