McGarvey’s Words

Already this week I bought two round trip tickets. Full price. Coach of course because, really, who can afford business class tickets anymore? But no matter, front or rear of the bus, definitely 2004 is shaping up as the year when the long slow spell snaps to an end. For me, the downturn hit early in 2001 and, suddenly, I found myself with time to tend the garden – but now I am putting aside the shovel and hoe and getting my road gear together for a fast-paced 2004. What do I need? What new road rules will guide me in the coming hectic months? Probably my checklist will look a lot like yours.

O Reliable cell phone.

This has to be top on the list and, for me, I’m still carrying two phones, a Verizon CDMA phone that offers remarkable performance in most of the US and Canada, and a T-Mobile GSM phone that is good in metro areas in the US and outstanding in Europe but poor in the rest of the US. The big news here is that Nokia is said to be ready to debut a phone that will operate over both GSM and CDMA networks, which means it will immediately become the worldphone of choice. Samsung, too, supposedly has a tweaked Qualcomm chipset that will handle both GSM and CDMA modes. Either way, put me down for early purchase. I’d love to cast off one of my mobile phones. Will any US carrier support these phones? Stay tuned.

O Easy email.

I am increasingly tired of lugging a laptop just to handle email on the road and, much as I’ve gotten mileage out of a Palm, I’m keen to switch to a wireless solution. Nope, not the BlackBerry – I had one and it didn’t earn much affection from me. What is getting lots of praise, particularly from you readers in your email to me, is Handspring Treo, about $250 from T-Mobile. Based on the Palm OS, Treo, you tell me, puts email access in any pocket (assuming proximity to T-Mobile’s network). The price is good, I remain a fan of the Palm OS, and so I’m eyeballing Treo and may take the plunge, if only to help profitably spend time waiting in airports – and I’m expecting a lot of that in 2004. What better way than handling email? Are there better devices than Treo? Tell me what you think.

O Wheeled luggage.

Call me a weenie. For years I’ve thought only sissies used wheeled bags but when one came into my hands I immediately fell for it. My mantra for 2004 is, no more back strain, and that means I will be buying more wheeled bags so that I can more readily and comfortably navigate airports. What brands? Call me a luggage cheapskate but I still think any bag worth buying can be had for under $100 at Overstock.com.

o No steel shanks

I feel I am the fool whenever I forget to take off my shoes before going through security and, therefore, I set off the alarms because of the metal in my shoes. But I also feel the fool parading around shoeless in an effort to slide through security. The only solution will be sturdy, reliable shoes that lack steel. Any suggestions?

o Always use Quikbook.

My resolve for 2004 is to always use Quikbook, so that I might travel more and better. It pains me to hear from travelers who are wasting their travel budgets on high priced hotels – at least when Quikbook is on hand to install you in comfy rooms at prices usually well-under $150 per night. Even better: Quikbook has been adding leisure destinations such as Taos, NM, where a recent search turned up rooms at the Kachina Lodge for under $100. I simply don’t comprehend business travelers who would even think of using Priceline – I do not commit to paying in advance for anonymous lodging – but in the same vein I’m baffled by high rollers who shell out too much moolah when Quikbook is ready to put you up in a cozy room.

O Go cheap on rental cars.

I just rented a car at San Diego’s airport for under $25 for a day, less than half what the name-brand outlets charge for their wheels. But a car is a car. “Sure, but I don’t get loyalty points,” a fellow traveler recently said to me. My response: so? In 2004 good business means going cheap even when that means losing points. Companies and clients have a right to expect that their interests will prevail, not our petty interest in racking up beaucoup points to trade in on some silly bauble. Go cheap, say it loud, say it proud because that is today’s motto.

O Get an Ipod.

OK, I have a history of mocking Apple loyalists and – much as I stand by that ridicule – I find myself eyeing the iPod because, really, what better accessory for a business travel than a gizmo that lets us carry the tunes we groove on? I can already see long lines, longer waits looming before me in 2004 and that means iPod is definitely going into one of my pockets, pronto.

What gear and which road rules do you favor? Tell us what and why and the best emails will go here.

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About Robert McGarvey

Author of How to Dotcom (Entrepreneur Press), McGarvey is writing a book on Brain Wars, the rise of cognitive science and the search for truths about thinking. A onetime columnist for BizTravel.com, he is a frequent contributor to dozens of magazines, ranging from American Legion to Selling Power, American Way, and Rutgers. He has also contributed to Harvard Business Review. For the past five years, he has served as "The Ombudsman" for PORTHOLE Cruise Magazine. Still curious about McGarvey? Read up on him here.

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