FitSugar

The 10 Most Stressful Airports in the US

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:00:00 PST

If you're traveling on Thanksgiving or the day before, you'll probably feel like those comforting mashed potatoes and silky pumpkin pie are well-deserved rewards for tolerating long security lines and over-stuffed overhead bins. According to Forbes' list of the 32 most stressful airports in the US, some of us might get out of this busy travel weekend having endured less stress than others. If you'll be traveling through one of the listed airports, try a healthier way to de-stress before digging in to the most comforting foods in your Thanksgiving feast. To see the 10 airports that are most likely to challenge your patience due to their poor records for on-time departures and arrivals,

San Francisco International Airport (San Francisco, CA)
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (Boston, MA)
George W. Bush International Airport (Houston, TX)
Dulles International Airport (Dulles, VA)
Miami International Airport (Miami, FL)

To see the top five,

LaGuardia Airport (Flushing, NY)
Newark International Airport (Newark, NJ)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Chicago, IL)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (Jamaica, NY)
Philadelphia International Airport (Philadelphia, PA)

I am sad to see dear, old SFO made it into the top ten. Are you traveling through any of these airports this holiday season? Tell me which one in the comments section below.

Source

The Secret to Making Your Dollar Last

LearnVest — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:15:57 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Research psychologists have all the best tricks up their sleeves. Maybe it’s because they study humans like guinea pigs to figure out what really makes our complicated selves tick.

Feeling stressed? Reason yourself out of it (studies show this actually works). Rushed all the time? Slow down, and you’ll be a nicer person (a famous study we cite shows that this is true, no matter who you are).

Feeling broke? Or wish you could stretch your dollar more? We’d normally tell you to head straight to My Money Center and Budgeting Tool (you can’t have enough free tools at your fingertips) - but today, we’re going to give you a break. We’re going to let you in on an easy way to stretch your dollar and enhance your happiness, and it’s also totally free. It’s called savoring.

What Is Savoring?

Savoring is the ability to prolong and stretch enjoyment or positive emotional experiences. It’s the difference between wolfing down a meal vs. lingering over every bite. It relates to how much time you spend sitting in front of a sunset (if you even stop at all).

Scientists have consistently found that the ability to savor promotes happiness (see here or here). Which makes sense. The more you can prolong positive emotional experiences, the more positive emotions are filling up your day. In fact, the tendency to savor benefits individuals across the lifespan: studies show it predicts the subjective well-being for grade-school children, adolescents, college students, and the elderly.

Read on for more.

A Cute Gadget Pouch to Keep Your Carry-On Neat and Tidy

Kristy Korcz — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:21:20 PST

Fact: things can get a little messy in your carry-on when traveling with headphones, chargers, cables, and other tech accoutrements. Keep your bag tidy with the Anya Hindmarch Gadget Pouch ($90) that stores your essentials neatly so you never wonder which cables you put in which bag. Travel can be stressful enough on its own, but keeping your gear organized has proven to save time in the airport security line. If you must compartmentalize, you might as well do it in something cute like this. Just sayin'.

Rachel Zoe, Skyler, and Rodger Wrap Up Their St. Barts Escape

Molly Goodson — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:18:18 PST

Rachel Zoe carried her son Skyler on her hip as husband Rodger Berman surveyed the scene at the Miami airport on Friday. The family of three was coming off of their extended vacation in St. Barts, where they hit the beach every day and hung out with some of their famous friends. Rachel, Rodger, and Skyler were spotted with a bikini-clad Julianne Hough and shirtless Ryan Seacrest on one afternoon, and Marc Jacobs on another. Rachel is headed into another hectic award season, but unfortunately her vacation ended on a stressful note. Rachel tweeted about American Airlines bumping them from first class, which comes after her luggage was lost on the way there as well.

Think Fast With Two Bag-Busting Solutions

SavvySugar — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:05:53 PST

From all the stress with carryon limitations and checked baggage fees, the last thing you want to worry about is a suitcase mishap . . . but you should. Overpacking is one key factor in breaking the bag, so if you need to sit on the case to close it, you've packed too much! Of course, I'm not telling you to take the worrywart route, but let's put an action plan in place just in case.

If you do arrive at the airport with a shaky set-up, talk to the agent upon check-in. Explain your concern and ask for a plastic sack that's typically used for oddly shaped items like car seats. If you've gotten past security and the zipper busts, go to the closest counter and ask for the fragile tape that's most often kept there before you head to a shop and buy something brand-new. Don't stress and ask nicely; a smile goes a long way!

Travel Tips For the Upcoming Holiday Weekend

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:45:22 PST

Traveling this holiday? Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday this year, which makes one big mess at the airport. If you can't take a car or a train, be sure to check out these packing and travel tips to make your life easier while booking flights, getting through security checkpoints, and beyond.

Booking Flights

TripIt - Once signed up for the free service, forward travel confirmation emails to TripIt, which will automatically create a master itinerary of an upcoming trip accessible through the web or a mobile device. The itineraries even include the tidbits we seem to forget like weather updates, local maps, and directions.
Google Flight Search - Book that plane ticket before prices rise any further! Google's flight search engine incorporates travel basics like price point, maximum number of connections, and preferred airline with an easy-to-use interface.
Hotel Tonight - If there are too many relatives in one house, scan the last-minute hotel deals at Hotel Tonight for a chic getaway at a discounted price. Every day three hotels in a city reveal their discounted rates starting at noon, and you then have until 2 a.m. to book the deal and take advantage of a peaceful room.
My TSA - Can homemade fruit cakes go through security? How early should you show up to the airport for a flight on the eve of Thanksgiving? Answer the pressing travel questions that could otherwise cause delays or stress by adding the TSA's free iOS app to your device. The app's airport security line estimator may become the most crucial feature on your phone when planning your airport arrival.
HearPlanet ($3) - Take the time to discover the cultural side of your holiday destination. This interactive app highlights attractions in over 300,000 locations and uses geolocation features so that you don't miss any of the nearby fun, plus it's a great excuse to get out of the house and move around in fresh air.
GasBuddy - Hitting the open road instead of the air? Use the free GasBuddy app to locate the cheapest fuel on the interstate. Show your fellow travelers some love and share the low-price gas station you discover within the app.

Gadget Essentials

iPad or Tablet - If you have the luxury of spending upwards of $500 on a tablet, it's probably the only gadget you'll need to tote during travel season since it can hold your ebooks, surf the Internet, and keep you connected.
eReader - If you're sans tablet, pack up your favorite ereader. Whether it's the latest Kindle or the new Nook Simple Touch, you can read the entire Game of Thrones series without all the paper weight.
Compact laptop - Though the MacBook Air is arguably the most popular lightweight laptop out there, there's plenty of compact PCs and ultrabooks to choose from as well.
Chargers - If you're toting all these gadgets, you're going to (obviously) need some chargers to keep things juiced. Thankfully, many airlines are offering charging stations in the terminal and even seat-side outlets on board, so you can stay 100 percent charged throughout your trip.
Headphones - Keep the roar of 35,000 feet at bay with some nice sound-isolating headphones. If you're going over-the-ear, consider Skullcandy Aviators ($149), which offer great sound and deep bass and are even comfy for those geeks who wear glasses.

Get more tips on how to pack your bag and save some dough after the break.

Tricks for Stress-Free Travel

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:52:52 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

John DiScala, or Johnny Jet, as road warriors know him, is no amateur when it comes to hitting the road. The Travel Channel expert has flown 127,467 miles this year alone! Since a day at the airport can be more exhausting than a day at the gym, we screened Johnny Jet for his secrets to book, fly, and sleep - minus the stress - just like an expert jet-setter.

Be flexible! "I just bought a ticket to Florida a couple days ago and only paid $168 because I left a few days earlier than planned (the 21st). You can sign up for airfare alerts to be notified when the best deals are available."
Go postal. "Ship bags and gifts ahead of time via FedEx or UPS ground, five to seven days before your trip, to make it affordable. If you do pack presents, don't wrap them, because there's a good chance the TSA will unwrap them."
But do come bearing goodies. "Bring a box of chocolates for the gate agents and flight attendants! You will get the best service and possibly even an upgrade."

Read on for more of Johnny's stress-free travel tricks.

More from FITNESS Magazine:

Healthy Travel Diet: The Best Food to Eat on the Road

Beat Stress, Weigh Less: Calorie-Burning Yoga Workout

Find Your Happy Weight

George Clooney Touches Down Solo in Sydney

Molly Goodson — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:41:01 PST

George Clooney was on his own as he arrived at the Sydney Airport on Sunday. He's there for an intimate speaking engagement this week, and this time, his girlfriend Stacy Keibler doesn't seem to have come along for the ride. Instead over the weekend, she was spotted at Brent Bolthouse's birthday party and the Spike Video Game Awards. If George has any award season stress, the distraction of travel is coming at just the right time. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nominations are out on Wednesday with the Golden Globes nominations coming just one day later on Thursday. George is already racking up the accolades for his work in The Descendants, which is expected to get him more nods than his directorial, screen-writing, and acting project The Ides of March. Over the weekend, The Descendants was named best picture by the LA Film Critics Association, which is just the latest in an already long line of awards for the drama, so lucky Stacy should certainly start to think about those red carpet dresses.

Don't Just Stand There! 7 Stretches For Waiting in Line

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:42:00 PST

Braving the stores this Black Friday or dealing with airport lines? No doubt you'll be spending some time waiting in long lines. Relieve some stress and alleviate some aches from standing with these seven stretches you can do in line.

Source: Thinkstock

6 Websites and Apps For Painless Holiday Travels

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:42:40 PST

If preparing for holiday travel season makes your heart race just at the thought of busy terminals and crowded roadways, take comfort in bits of tech salvation by bookmarking these sites and apps to help prepare for the coming craziness while preserving your sanity.

TripIt - Once signed up for the free service, forward travel confirmation emails to TripIt, which will automatically create a master itinerary of an upcoming trip accessible through the web or a mobile device. The itineraries even include the tidbits we seem to forget like weather updates, local maps, and directions.
Google Flight Search - Book that plane ticket before prices rise any further! Google's flight search engine incorporates travel basics like price point, maximum number of connections, and preferred airline with an easy-to-use interface.
Hotel Tonight - If there are too many relatives in one house, scan the last-minute hotel deals in Hotel Tonight for a chic getaway at a discounted price. Every day three hotels in a city reveal their discounted rates starting at noon, and you then have until 2 a.m. to book the deal and take advantage of a peaceful room.

Check out three more apps your phone must include for this traveling season.