Travel Tip: Pack Clean Underwear

Published August 28, 2009 at 11:21 am |

I had a wonderful time in Chicago. Sadly, my last memory of the city was a not a great one. I was flying Delta out of Chicago’s Midway Airport. Rough weather was hitting the Northeast causing a significant flight delay out of New York’s LaGuardia airport. That’s where my plane was coming from.

Instead of leaving at 18:55, we didn’t leave until 22:30. The plane ride was only 90 minutes to Atlanta, but Atlanta is one hour ahead of Chicago. We exited the terminal at 1:30 in the morning. There were no more flights leaving to Orlando at that hour. Instead of sleeping in the terminal, I got a hotel room for the night.

The hotel I selected was the Renaissance Concourse Hotel at the Atlanta Airport. I was initially frustrated by the hotel. I called them from the Jetway as I was exiting the aircraft asking for the hotel shuttle to meet us at the pickup location. The gentleman on the phone declined the request – insisting we get to the shuttle stop first, call, and then wait. I explained that I had only 3 hours of sleep to get tonight, and his waiting at the shuttle stop would give me a precious 30 extra minutes. I was on the first flight out of Atlanta that morning.

Just as predictably expected, he said no. Sure enough I arrive at the shuttle stop and there are loads of shuttles just hanging around, waiting for passengers. Mine was not there. I called for a pickup and was assured they were on their way. Waiting around 5-7 minutes, a gentleman from the Red Roof Inn Shuttle said he’d take us to our hotel. What a kind man.

The front desk employee was pleasant and offered us some bottled water. That was refreshing, unexpected and softened my frustration with the hotel.

I arrived at my room and went to sleep – after I recorded this important travel tip that everyone should follow.

That’s right adventurers, always pack an extra pair of clean socks and skivvies. There are very few things that are worse than dirty underwear and smelly socks. You really have no excuse either. They don’t take up any room in your suitcase and they make a world of difference the next morning.

Speaking of the next morning, or should I say, the same morning but three hours later, I recorded another video from my room. Had it been light out, I really would have enjoyed the hotel. I could practically spit on the airplanes out my window – not that I’d actually do that, but I think you understand. I was close. Real close to the tarmac. Yet I couldn’t enjoy it because it was too dark out!