Why I Always Pack a Tie I’ll Never Wear (And 6 Other Useless Things I Refuse to Travel Without)
Some of the things in my carry-on look pointless. They’ve all rescued me at least three times. Here are the 7 ‘useless’ items I refuse to travel without — including the tie I haven’t worn since 2019.
The Hotel Receptionist Who Saved My Marriage at 11 PM
It was 11 PM in Lisbon. My wife was crying on a phone call about something I couldn’t fix from 4,000 miles away. The hotel receptionist saw my face and quietly changed the night. Here’s the story of an unsung hero of business travel.
Lost Luggage in Munich: A 72-Hour Comedy Without Underwear
My checked bag went to Stuttgart. I went to Munich. Three days, four meetings, and one customer dinner unfolded in the same shirt with a borrowed jacket. Here’s the full comedy and the lessons I won’t repeat.
The Time I Forgot My Passport at Home and Almost Missed the Plane
I had been doing international business travel for six years when I left the house without my passport. A 47-minute round-trip silence, one missed flight, and the lesson that finally made me build a real pre-flight checklist.
Calling Home From a Different Time Zone Without Burning Out the Marriage
I tried the ‘one call a day’ rule for years. It nearly broke us. After a long argument across nine time zones, here’s the rhythm we’ve actually built that works for the marriage and the trip.
Eating Healthy on the Road When the Hotel Buffet Is Fighting You
I gained 11 pounds in my first year of frequent business travel. The hotel breakfast buffet, the heavy customer dinners, the airport snacks all conspired. Here’s the boring system I use now to come home roughly the same shape I left.
How I Sleep on Planes Without Pills (And Without Pretending It Always Works)
I used to take half an Ambien every long flight and tell myself it was fine. Then it stopped working. Here’s the boring, drug-free system I use now — and the honest admission that it doesn’t always work either.
The 20-Minute Hotel Room Workout I Actually Do (Most Days)
I’m not a fitness influencer. I’m a dad who travels for work. Here’s the 20-minute, no-equipment hotel room workout I’ve actually done on more than 100 trips — and the version I do when I’m half-broken.
Frankfurt: Better Than You Think, and Where to Actually Eat Between Meetings
Frankfurt has a reputation problem with American business travelers. After a dozen visits, here’s why I keep coming back — and where to actually eat between meetings, drink real apple wine, and find the city behind the airport.
Mexico City for the Working Dad Who Has Exactly One Free Day
Mexico City is too big to ‘see’ in a free day. After a dozen trips, here’s the focused playbook for the one Sunday you’ll have between meetings — and the altitude lesson nobody warned me about.