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David Coggins yearns for the Cary Grant era of aviation, wishing more passengers would step up their game to bring a little dignity and glamor to the experience. The author of “Men and style” argues that making an effort in dress shows respect for uniformed gate agents and flight attendants – and your fellow passengers.
“I realize it’s a losing battle, but it’s still a good fight,” Coggins writes. “If a tracksuit is your truth, then I can't say anything else, except that no one has looked better in a tracksuit in the history of the world.”
He's not sure that wearing this plaid blazer will really get upgraded to first classbut it couldn't hurt.
Visit Europe’s “second cities”
Rick Steves is our favorite philanthropist pétanque player. He is also a respected travel expert. In his beloved Europe, Rick recommends breaking up each visit to a capital with a final day at a “second city.” Think Porto vs. LisbonGlasgow versus Edinburgh and Marseille versus. Paris.
“Even if they lack popularity and must-see sites,” writes Steves, “Europe's second cities tend to enjoy a creative side, a strong civic spirit, a Rust Belt ruggedness, fun restaurants with avant-garde menus, entertaining street art. …and many fewer tourists, which also means lower prices, a more authentic welcome and undoubtedly a more honest cultural experience.
Like Steve Jobs and many practitioners of quiet luxurytravel writer Jessica Poitevien it’s about eliminating decision fatigue. Standardize a set of clothes just for flying doesn't just help you streamline your packing routine. Poitevien “doesn't mind leaving anything important behind, because I have two of everything: one for home and one that stays in my backpack until the next trip. All I add is my passport, laptop, and current reading, and I'm good to go.
What does his uniform look like?
“My top is always a long, loose-fitting T-shirt or sweater, so I'm covered during all the bending and lifting that comes with luggage and security checks,” Poitevien writes. “I add a denim jacket to stay warm on those freezing planes and use its interior pockets to keep my phone, passport and boarding pass close at hand.”
Dangerously cut short your arrival at the airport
It's not for the faint of heart, but for travel writers Brad Japhe wants to waste as little time as possible in airports.
“I live about five miles from Los Angeles International Airport,” Japhe writes, “and if my scheduled domestic flight is, say, 9 a.m., I'm comfortable getting in an Uber until 'at 8:32 a.m.'
Besides some serious bravado, achieve this requires the use of PreCheck or Clear, among other conditions:
Food and travel writer David Farley think we should reject the chicken or pasta binary in favor of a plant-based meal that oozes spice. By booking a Hindu meal on your next long-haul flight, you could treat yourself makhani lentils and naan, or bhindi masala and raita. As long as you reserve your meal at least 24 hours before your flight, the airlines told us, you won't be taking away anything special from anyone else.
Life is short. So take a cue from Dad's playbook and enjoy the holiday with an early awakening. For the Deputy Features Editor Amanda Finnegan, rising with the sun means hours of quiet before your traveling companions join you. And by 10 a.m., you're ready for your first nap.
Make a Fashion Statement in Black and Blue
Rachel Tashjian's work is cooler than yours. As a fashion writer, she travels to Europe three or four times a year for work, look at extravagant clothes appears in fashion shows For weeks at a time. It's a dream, but there's understandable pressure to look great every day. Enter the Black and Blue Hack. By mixing a touch of navy blue with a collection of dark pieces, you are making the bold choice to break one of the first rules of fashion.
- Two skirts: something flowing and something tight.
- Three jackets: a classic blazer, something quirky, and an open-front wool jacket.
- Trousers.
- A black dress.
- Three T-shirts.
- Black shoes.
Noah Galuten is a hero husband. By simply making his wife a sandwich to take to the airport, the Los Angeles-based chef and author had an epiphany that we should all vows to quit pre-cooked egg pancakes forever.
Sure, you could settle for an overcharged coffee, a Dunkin' wrap, or a sad Caesar from the “Weirdly Branded Bar & Grill you've never heard of.” Or you could be a game-changer for your household, making breakfast burritos or English muffin sandwiches, or simply buying a better sandwich in advance in the real world (see: Emily's Pork ShopBrooklyn).
The secret to a happy relationship is compromise. And give to your partner it's time to travel alone – especially if you have a child at home. This is the philosophy preached by the writer Austin Graffan extrovert who has learned to appreciate the benefits of going it alone: it's easier to get into top-rated restaurants, you have time to wander, and you come back to family more thoughtful and present.
The Weekend Warrior Routine is for people in their 20s. Once you're in your thirties, writes Rachel Orr, you know well enough to stop pushing so hard and give yourself a extra day to relax before returning to work. “Think of it as a mini getaway at the end of your vacation,” she suggests.
