I’m here in Madison, and I’ve got a few minutes before I need to shower.

In the old days (August), I used to travel up to two weeks out of every month. Yesterday was the first out-of-office experience I’ve had as a freelance copywriter. I thought I’d record some of the more or less unusual travel tips I developed.

1. Lots of regular travelers try to bring everything on the plane with them. I prefer to check my bag so I don’t have to haul it around all day. I also make sure my briefcase fits under the seat and doesn’t have to go in an overhead bin. At the end of a trip, if I’ve dragged everything around and spent the day fighting for space overhead, I feel beat up.
2. For breakfast, bring instant hot oatmeal packets and heat water with the coffee maker. You’ll save money, calories, time and a trip to the ubiquitous $15.95 breakfast buffet.
3. I worked as a housekeeper for two national parks, one dude ranch and a bed and breakfast. Many of us housekeepers throw extra garbage bags into the bottom of the trash containers so we don’t have to go back to the cart all the time. If you need an extra plastic bag for wet clothes or something, pull the liner out of the trash can to check for extras.
4. If you want to eat in your room, head down to the restaurant and ask for a meal to go. It’ll take a few minutes for them to prepare, but it’ll save you the 18% gratuity charge plus the bonus $2-3 convenience charge on top of the really high room service prices. You can also ask the concierge desk for menus of restaurants that deliver.
5. I’ve known many people who spend too much time watching CSI and who freak out about the germs in a hotel room. Yep, hotel rooms are kind of gross, some more gross than others. Get over it. You’ll wash.
6. When you need wireless access at an airport, try to get close to a United Airlines Red Carpet Club to buy their Tmobile Hotspot access (the picture is me doing just that in the San Diego airport). Sure, you look a little funny sitting outside the club chained to an outlet, but you can get work done. In addition, the time on the plane is perfect for going through your inbox and writing back to all those people you’ve been neglecting. My colleagues and I could always tell when one of us had completed travel somewhere and was back to internet access in the hotel because all of a sudden we’d get email after email at the same time.
7. When you’re hailing a taxi from a place of public transportation, they may as you where you’re going as you’re walking to the car. Pretend you don’t hear them or tell them that you have to look it up. Although they’re not supposed to, taxi drivers will either fight for you or fight not to have you depending on your destination.

Safe travels.