Traveling is part of a conductor's life. The novelty wears off, but the pleasure of visiting pleasant places and conducting good orchestras continues. Every traveling musician has his own routine. Here are some suggestions, many of which will be familiar to regular travelers:

Make sure in advance that your passport and visas are up-to-date. Most agents take care of this, but it's always worth checking. Book your flights early; you may get cheaper rates, important if you're paying for your own transport.

When your journey involves changing planes, allow at least two hours' layover time. I've proved again and again that this is a good idea. Even if there are no delays, I'd rather be bored than worried. Try to stick to one airline as much as possible, so you can earn air miles for future flights and upgrades.

When there's a big time difference, arrive a couple of days before rehearsals start (if your schedule allows). Jet lag varies from person to person but typically lasts one day per hour of time difference, so if you travel from London to New York you may need five days to adjust.