Once you pick a hotel to stay at, ask them to keep a bag of yours there so you can fly with just carry-on. Buy duplicates of all the liquids you need, plus some extra clothes, and little luxuries (perhaps a travel vase for flowers in your hotel room, a couple of pictures of family.)

My dh commuted from YOW - LAX (trans border, not just trans-states) for almost 3 years. He stayed at the same hotel (Residence Inn which we called "the cottage" since the kids and I would stay there for 4 weeks each summer plus spring break and they'd give us the same unit each stay, right over the tennis courts so the kids go outside and play without me supervising them.) Then for 2 years he alternated between YOW-LGA and YOW-IAD. In both cases he found an apartment hotel and would often receive the same room week after week.

In all cases he had a box of things kept by the hotel, including his favourite soups, soya sauce and other cooking supplies, so he didn't have to buy new each time or carry things back and forth.

Finally, make friends in your new city. One of my favourite lines from the "signs you travel too much" thread was from a person who belonged to two softball teams, neither of them were in his hometown!

My two cents: when you've got some free time and aren't rushed at the airport(s), take a few minutes to walk around figuring out where everything is (ATMs, alternate security checkpoints, elite lines, customer service desks) so that the times when you *are* rushed trying to catch a flight, and also need to grab cash/deal with irrops/get through security quickly, you already know where to go without wasting time.

I few years have passed since I did this, but back in 2000 or so I had a six-week stint in San Antonio. The Residence Inn manager agreed to basically comp the weekends if I booked the whole stay at our negotiated corporate rates.

His only request was that I do a check-out/check-in every other week. (Numerous threads here about how a hotel stay longer than one month can make you a "tenant" and more difficult to evict.)

I'm sure part of the reason he was eager to do this was that it was midsummer. The hotel was pretty empty...even during the week. It was sure nice to eliminate luggage from my weekly commute.

If you pick an extended-stay type property, I'd ask them what their options are. I would imagine that in the current soft travel market, some places would be willing to cut a deal to acquire a consistent, repeat client.

In some states, including Massachusetts, that also cuts off the hotel taxes for the same reason. Those can be high enough to notice. So, you might want to discuss the reason for the check-in and check-out. If it's an eviction issue, you might be able to sign a paper that you waive your tenant rights in that regard. If it's something else, like corporate not liking long stays, you might be stuck with it.

The other important question to ask: program points and EQN earnings on "long" stays. I've also seen threads here from people who actually got a hotel to allow them to run a balance for 2-3 months, but learned after the fact that none of the points or nights counted in the loyalty program.

I was happy to clear the books every two weeks. It aligned with my expense reports, I'm sure I paid normal hotel taxes, and my points/nights then posted in regular intervals.

I've also had longer projects where I used Marriott Execustay - true monthly leases on furnished apartments in "regular" rental units. In those cases, we just spelled out the points earnings in our contract. This was late-90's and it hadn't really been standardized. One contract gave me 5,000 points per month (about 3 points per dollar). Another gave me 25k per quarter. My first contract was before I even knew to ask for a MR status. The most recent one included Gold status.

Now, I believe there are more well-published points/elite status rules for Execustay. All in all, I loved Execustay - great service, direct billing to corporate, and a decent choice of rental units. The leases were month-to-month, but our company generally wanted at least a 3-6 month project before they'd let you go that route. It didn't save much money vs. a Residence Inn with a good corp rate, but it made for an infinitely more pleasant travel experience! For one, we could opt for a flat daily food per diem, thus eating healthier than restaurants and usually for less money per day than the actual per diem.

I have to report that I'm still somehow sane.
It has been a nice ride and definitively an adventure to tell my grandkids someday (lots of stories )

Thank you all for your advise, I have followed many of them with great results.
Jackie

You will pick it up fast..general rule, the internet is your friend

Ok, you want to avoid crowds, so fly out tuesday and come back saturday.

As far as airline prices go, I suggest instead that you pick a single airline or two and stay loyal to them to accumulate points..then you willl be getting upgrades and other benefits. But if you are on a tigher budget and are shopping around per flight, open one browser window to a travel search site like Hotwire, and two other windows to the airlines own sites..the real trick is to book at least 2.5 weeks in advance..the closer to the flight, the more expensive it gets.

I read books, never really listened to an audio book so I cannot say..

Work/family..obviously work is more important!! But if you must do the family thing, try bringing them along every so often..they love the adventure and you get more time with them.

Wireless...I suggest getting a smartphone instead and using a 3g network to access the internet. You can do it just about anywhere. You can also use the smartphone as a modem and use the internet from your laptop without paying at the airports. Just make sure you sign up for an unlimited data bundle from your phone provider.

Great to hear all is well. Life on the road is tough, so glad you're hanging in there.