At Bloomberg Pursuits, we love to travel. And we always want to make sure we’re doing it right. So we’re talking to globe-trotters in all of our fields—food, wine, fashion, cars, real estate, sports—to learn about their high-end hacks, tips, and off-the-wall experiences. These are the Distinguished Travel Hackers.
NFL icon and three-time Super Bowl winner Jerry Rice is one of the best—if not the best—player in football history. A member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame, the 49ers wide receiver was widely admired for his work ethic and preparation, and he held more than 30 league records upon retiring in 2006 after more than two decades on the field.
Since then, Rice has carved out a career in TV, including a fan-favorite turn on Dancing with the Stars. His newest project is a partnership with Marriott Rewards and SPG in which he will host a “Punt, Pass & Kick” masterclass in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will host Superbowl LIII next February.
Rice still lives in the Bay Area but estimates he travels more than 1 million miles every year. His preferred carrier is American Airlines Inc. “It’s crazy. I’m always going places,” he shrugs. Here’s his travel advice:
Losers run late.
I always get to the airport early. I’m always on time. I was the same way when I played football. I’m never late for a meeting. I want to be able to go through security and not feel rushed, so I can relax at the [Admirals] Club. The night before a trip, I make sure I have everything I need. It’s important to me to do that, just like when I laid my uniform out a certain way. The shoes had to be new, the pants had to be new, everything had to fit a certain way. Neat, organized. Everything is done the night before, because I don’t want to rush. I’d say I’m the best traveler I know because I am going to make sure everyone is packed the night before.
Embrace the role of unofficial tour guide, no matter who you’re traveling with.
Traveling with a team is a little easier because wherever you’re going, whatever country, you’ve got someone to meet you at the airplane, a bus to go to the hotel, and everything. There’s camaraderie. But some guys are not as responsible as certain other guys, so you have to make sure to call them early so they get on the road [on time.]. It’s like being a tour guide. I had to do a lot of that throughout my career.
Stay fit on the road without weights or machines.
A lot of people on the road, they let themselves go and eat whatever or don’t work out. But I don’t have to have a gym to get a workout in. The majority of time, that’s how I do it. I don’t even call ahead to see if they have a gym. I can jump down, do three sets of 30 burpees, and that’s a total workout. You’re working every muscle in your body just jumping up and down on the floor: your core, arms, legs, everything. You would not believe it, but try that, and you’ll be completely exhausted by three sets.