For most normal people, a night of sleep in their own bed or an evening out with friends is nothing to get excited about. For a professional traveler, however, these things are pretty nice gifts. I didn't have a very long Christmas list this year, but I must have been good because I got everything I wanted. Here are my favorites:
1) A flight upgrade
My first Christmas gift this year was from American Airlines in the form of a business-class upgrade from Paris to New York. What a great way to start a vacation!
2) A personal airport pick-up
My parents always pick me up at the airport when I come home, which is so much nicer than searching for a stranger holding a sign with the name of my hotel or sitting in the back of a taxi.
I certainly don't have a problem with being chauffeured around in a luxury sedan to my hotels, but it's so much better when you can spend the ride with people you care about.
1) A flight upgrade
My first Christmas gift this year was from American Airlines in the form of a business-class upgrade from Paris to New York. What a great way to start a vacation!
The experience of flying in the premium cabin really makes a huge difference in international flights - especially for someone who can't sleep sitting up. I didn't catch any z's on the flight but it was still nice to fully recline and close my eyes for a bit. The food is also a major upgrade. After a glass of champagne to start the trip, I had a four-course lunch that wasn't served in a foil container, and even included a custom ice-cream sundae for dessert.
For some reason, American Airlines continues to fly planes to Europe without personal entertainment devices in coach class, so the most important benefit of this upgrade was actually being able to choose movies and shows to watch. This may seem like a small point, but entertainment is important on an 8-hour flight!
2) A personal airport pick-up
My parents always pick me up at the airport when I come home, which is so much nicer than searching for a stranger holding a sign with the name of my hotel or sitting in the back of a taxi.
I certainly don't have a problem with being chauffeured around in a luxury sedan to my hotels, but it's so much better when you can spend the ride with people you care about.
3) My own bed
Hotels are almost like a home for me, but I still enjoy the sense of ease that accompanies my own bed. I don't have to worry about the dirty people who have stayed in my room before me or whether I will find a strand of the housekeeper's hair in the sheets. Even though I love having people to clean for me when I am living in hotels, there is a certain level of comfort that simply cannot be achieved unless I am at home.
4) Time with family and friends
Often, my trips back home are too short to see everyone that I would like to catch up with. This time, I was lucky enough to have two weeks off, which even allowed me with a couple nights to just relax at home without feeling guilty that I was squandering time that could have otherwise been spent seeing more people.
5) Christmas Eve traditions
Every year, Christmas eve involves a carefully-orchestrated series of events that should never be altered. I join my mom at church, which is followed by take-out Chinese/Japanese food with my family. (This year, I was tired of eating out for every meal so I just paired some appetizers with a simple salad).
After dinner, I meet up with all my high school friends at the annual Christmas Eve party. Normally, we are confined to a side room with the most perfectly decorated tree I have ever seen. This year, however, we were re-assigned to the dining room table, which allowed for much easier access to the desserts and alcohol. :)
The after-party is a more recent tradition where only the most hearty souls head to another home for late-night libations. Even though it wreaks havoc on Christmas morning, I feel like a younger version of myself when I can stay up with friends until after 3AM.
6) A united family
I'm lucky that my extended family enjoys being home for Christmas just as much as I do. My cousins are spread around the United States (Denver, Washington DC, New York and Boston), yet we all managed to see each other on Christmas Day.
Beyond just coming together physically, I am lucky that everyone on both sides of the extended family gets along with one another. There are no awkward conversations at the table or subtle insults throughout the meal.
My brother hosted Christmas at his house, which is ideal for parties because of the open floor plan, two built-in bars, billiard room, and central speaker system that plays music everywhere. We also discovered the "Heads Up" ipad app, which provided hours of fun as the "youngs" and the "olds" battled it out.
7) Travel-themed gifts
Let's just face it. I live out of a suitcase, so I obviously don't need furniture, housewares, or any other gifts that most people my age are finding under the tree these days.
I figured that new luggage would make for a good gift but I am very specific. It has to be black, sleek, well-branded, and lighter than what I currently use. Otherwise, there's no point in updating. My mom and I spent one afternoon at the mall and we must have looked like crazy people as we picked up every suitcase to inspect the weight and size dimensions like we were searching for a new home. I suppose my suitcase is like a home since it transports all of my belongings for 3-4 months at a time. I was so excited to find with one that fit all the qualifications...and with wheels that spin in complete circles. Score!
Another gift that only professional travelers would appreciate is metal collar-stays. Most people have probably never even heard of these, but it is important when the laundry people are constantly losing the plastic ones that come with my shirts. I can't have my collars flapping around all day!
8) A gym membership
Some people need coffee as part of their daily routine. I need a work-out. My mom knows this about me, so she always gets me a temporary gym membership when I come home. Honestly, this means the world to me - especially during the holidays, when I have even more calories to burn.
It's also a gift to be able to wake up whenever I want and not have to rush to the gym for an abbreviated workout before starting my day. Throughout my break, I had very leisurely mornings and I often didn't even make it to the gym until around noon. I know I'm a little nutty for thinking that a vacation should involve MORE time at the gym, but it felt like an adult playground next to the limited equipment options I usually have to deal with on the road.
9) My own car
When I am traveling for work, I never have access to a car. It's just too complicated to navigate the roads, so I normally just walk or take taxis whenever I want to go out. I haven't owned a car since around 2005, so I am well accustomed to this type of transport.
Having said that, I still really enjoy the freedom to drive myself around with my own car. Whenever I visit my parents, I get to use one of their extra cars and it is a gift that I will never take for granted. Part of me feels like I'm on vacation when I can just turn on the music and sing aloud. I certainly can't do that when I'm riding in the back of a taxi (without people thinking I'm crazy).
10) A snowstorm
I grew up in New England. Christmas is just not the same without some snow. The weather was surprisingly warm during the first few days of my vacation, but we got a decent storm just after the new year. The white stuff made my winter vacation feel complete!
11) Freedom to control what I eat
When I travel, I can't just call room service and ask for a handful of cashews or a granola bar. I am always forced to accommodate my schedule to that of the local team, and this means no snacking and meals whenever they normally eat. Even at dinner (when I normally don't eat too much), the waiters always look at me funny when I order just a piece of grilled meat/fish without any sides. "Steamed" vegetables always seem to be laden with oil but I don't have the audacity to instruct the chefs about how I want my food prepared.
My preferred eating habits have always involved 5 small meals per day, including small snacks whenever I get bored/hungry. I cook things with very little oil, eat dairy products without any fat, and avoid anything deep-fried.
Being home is like a gift to my digestive system because I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want. My body was not too happy about all the excess desserts over the past two weeks, but it's the holidays after all! Fortunately, almost everything else I ate was much more healthy than I am able to find when I travel.
12) Fond Farewell
Whenever I finish a work assignment, the local teams must be secretly happy for me to be gone. (Sometimes it's not such a secret!) I don't blame them because I am always a huge disruption to their normal operations while I ask questions and pry into their work.
Trips back home are a completely different feeling, as my friends and family genuinely seem happy to have me back. At the end of every night out, we discuss when I will be back and it always seems like too long. For me, a fond farewell is like the wrapping paper on a gift. It seals the memories of all that exists inside, while also making you want to tear back in and discover the contents of the package.
This Christmas couldn't have been better and the memories of my gifts will surely come along with me to my next travel destinations.
Hotels are almost like a home for me, but I still enjoy the sense of ease that accompanies my own bed. I don't have to worry about the dirty people who have stayed in my room before me or whether I will find a strand of the housekeeper's hair in the sheets. Even though I love having people to clean for me when I am living in hotels, there is a certain level of comfort that simply cannot be achieved unless I am at home.
4) Time with family and friends
Often, my trips back home are too short to see everyone that I would like to catch up with. This time, I was lucky enough to have two weeks off, which even allowed me with a couple nights to just relax at home without feeling guilty that I was squandering time that could have otherwise been spent seeing more people.
5) Christmas Eve traditions
Every year, Christmas eve involves a carefully-orchestrated series of events that should never be altered. I join my mom at church, which is followed by take-out Chinese/Japanese food with my family. (This year, I was tired of eating out for every meal so I just paired some appetizers with a simple salad).
After dinner, I meet up with all my high school friends at the annual Christmas Eve party. Normally, we are confined to a side room with the most perfectly decorated tree I have ever seen. This year, however, we were re-assigned to the dining room table, which allowed for much easier access to the desserts and alcohol. :)
The after-party is a more recent tradition where only the most hearty souls head to another home for late-night libations. Even though it wreaks havoc on Christmas morning, I feel like a younger version of myself when I can stay up with friends until after 3AM.
6) A united family
I'm lucky that my extended family enjoys being home for Christmas just as much as I do. My cousins are spread around the United States (Denver, Washington DC, New York and Boston), yet we all managed to see each other on Christmas Day.
 |
| Annual cousin picture |
Beyond just coming together physically, I am lucky that everyone on both sides of the extended family gets along with one another. There are no awkward conversations at the table or subtle insults throughout the meal.
My brother hosted Christmas at his house, which is ideal for parties because of the open floor plan, two built-in bars, billiard room, and central speaker system that plays music everywhere. We also discovered the "Heads Up" ipad app, which provided hours of fun as the "youngs" and the "olds" battled it out.
7) Travel-themed gifts
Let's just face it. I live out of a suitcase, so I obviously don't need furniture, housewares, or any other gifts that most people my age are finding under the tree these days.
I figured that new luggage would make for a good gift but I am very specific. It has to be black, sleek, well-branded, and lighter than what I currently use. Otherwise, there's no point in updating. My mom and I spent one afternoon at the mall and we must have looked like crazy people as we picked up every suitcase to inspect the weight and size dimensions like we were searching for a new home. I suppose my suitcase is like a home since it transports all of my belongings for 3-4 months at a time. I was so excited to find with one that fit all the qualifications...and with wheels that spin in complete circles. Score!
Another gift that only professional travelers would appreciate is metal collar-stays. Most people have probably never even heard of these, but it is important when the laundry people are constantly losing the plastic ones that come with my shirts. I can't have my collars flapping around all day!
8) A gym membership
Some people need coffee as part of their daily routine. I need a work-out. My mom knows this about me, so she always gets me a temporary gym membership when I come home. Honestly, this means the world to me - especially during the holidays, when I have even more calories to burn.
It's also a gift to be able to wake up whenever I want and not have to rush to the gym for an abbreviated workout before starting my day. Throughout my break, I had very leisurely mornings and I often didn't even make it to the gym until around noon. I know I'm a little nutty for thinking that a vacation should involve MORE time at the gym, but it felt like an adult playground next to the limited equipment options I usually have to deal with on the road.
9) My own car
When I am traveling for work, I never have access to a car. It's just too complicated to navigate the roads, so I normally just walk or take taxis whenever I want to go out. I haven't owned a car since around 2005, so I am well accustomed to this type of transport.
Having said that, I still really enjoy the freedom to drive myself around with my own car. Whenever I visit my parents, I get to use one of their extra cars and it is a gift that I will never take for granted. Part of me feels like I'm on vacation when I can just turn on the music and sing aloud. I certainly can't do that when I'm riding in the back of a taxi (without people thinking I'm crazy).
10) A snowstorm
I grew up in New England. Christmas is just not the same without some snow. The weather was surprisingly warm during the first few days of my vacation, but we got a decent storm just after the new year. The white stuff made my winter vacation feel complete!
11) Freedom to control what I eat
When I travel, I can't just call room service and ask for a handful of cashews or a granola bar. I am always forced to accommodate my schedule to that of the local team, and this means no snacking and meals whenever they normally eat. Even at dinner (when I normally don't eat too much), the waiters always look at me funny when I order just a piece of grilled meat/fish without any sides. "Steamed" vegetables always seem to be laden with oil but I don't have the audacity to instruct the chefs about how I want my food prepared.
My preferred eating habits have always involved 5 small meals per day, including small snacks whenever I get bored/hungry. I cook things with very little oil, eat dairy products without any fat, and avoid anything deep-fried.
Being home is like a gift to my digestive system because I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want. My body was not too happy about all the excess desserts over the past two weeks, but it's the holidays after all! Fortunately, almost everything else I ate was much more healthy than I am able to find when I travel.
12) Fond Farewell
Whenever I finish a work assignment, the local teams must be secretly happy for me to be gone. (Sometimes it's not such a secret!) I don't blame them because I am always a huge disruption to their normal operations while I ask questions and pry into their work.
Trips back home are a completely different feeling, as my friends and family genuinely seem happy to have me back. At the end of every night out, we discuss when I will be back and it always seems like too long. For me, a fond farewell is like the wrapping paper on a gift. It seals the memories of all that exists inside, while also making you want to tear back in and discover the contents of the package.
This Christmas couldn't have been better and the memories of my gifts will surely come along with me to my next travel destinations.
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