Indie Places

When it comes to travelling, perhaps the most important thing to take into consideration is not how you’ll get there but where you’ll stay.  Annoyances that occur during transportation may only last a few hours, but if you get stuck with a bad hotel room, you’ll be annoyed for the entire duration of your trip.  To that end, here are some tips for selecting the perfect hotel room.

Is the hotel near places you need to go?  If you’re going to a conference, can you easily walk from your hotel to the conference location?  If not, is it near a bus or subway station?  If you have to get up a half hour or more just to get across town, you may want to look for a different hotel.  If you’re in town on holiday, location may not be as important.  Check to see if your hotel offers free shuttle services to the airport as well.

When arriving at your lodging, if you see signs of construction, you may have a cause to be concerned.  You should ask if the construction will be near your room and, if it is, what time it will start each day.  You don’t want to be woken up to the noise of sawing and drilling.  Ask the hotel staff to give you a different room if the noise is going to be a problem.

Take a look at what amenities are offered by the hotel and take them in mind when you’re reserving a room.  Some hotels may offer microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and more, while some offer only a bed and television.  Decide what you need in a hotel room before making your reservations.

Travelling can be a lot of fun, but it can also be irritating at times.  No matter how you travel or where you stay, you’ll find things that annoy you.  Instead of letting them totally ruin your holiday, however, here are some things you can do to deal with them.

If you’re stuck next to someone who annoys you on the plane, train, or bus, don’t get snappy with them.  If you do, it may only make things worse.  Instead, try to remain as polite as possible.  If they’re chattering away at you, there are several excuses you can make to stop talking to them.  You can say that you’re very tired and want to nap.  If you’re on a business trip, tell them you need to review your notes for a lecture or for a discussion.  While you might not really want to look over your paperwork, it never hurts to review information.  Of course, you can always fake it, too.

If you have issues at your hotel, you have a couple of options.  If it’s something caused by another traveller, you can always confront them yourself.  Simply knock on their door and ask them to keep the noise down if they’re being loud.  If you don’t want to be so direct or if it’s an issue with the hotel itself, you may want to contact the hotel staff.  Some people only do this if it’s a major annoyance—they try to overlook small things.  That is an option, especially if you’re not spending much time in your hotel room.  If you’re spending a lot of money for the room or are spending a lot of time in it, though, it may be worth speaking to the staff to correct any issue.  If you’re willing to change rooms, that may be a solution to noise problems.

Finally, it’s important to remember that some things aren’t going to be fixable.  You may be stuck next to someone on a long flight who simply won’t let you be, or you might have loud neighbors who won’t be quiet no matter how many times you report them for noise.  If that’s the case, be prepared to simply endure it.

Travelling can be a very exciting experience, especially if you’re travelling alone or if you’re visiting a  city that you’ve never been to before.  However, there are some risks involved with travelling as well, especially if you’re by yourself.  Here are some tips and things to keep in mind to stay safe while travelling.

First, watch your wallet or handbag.  If you’re in a crowd, keep a good hold on your handbag or any other bag you’re carrying.  Likewise, if you carry your wallet in your trouser pocket, you may want to put it in one of the front pockets instead of the back pocket.  This makes it more difficult for someone to steal it.  A wallet chain can also help secure your wallet.

It’s also a good idea to take your passport with you wherever you go.  Leaving it in your hotel room or in your baggage can be a bit risky, not only because it could be stolen but because you can also accidentally misplace it.

If you’re travelling alone, be wary of going out after dark, especially if you don’t know the area well.  If you do go out by yourself, ask the hotel staff about places to go to that are near your lodging.  You don’t want to get lost after dark in a strange city.

Take traveller’s checks or use your debit or credit card instead of carrying large amounts of cash.  If someone steals your credit card, it’s very easy to have it cancelled and stop any transactions.  On the other hand, if someone steals your cash, chances are you will not get it back.

Finally, always be aware of your surroundings.  Keep an eye out for anything that seems odd, and always listen to your instincts.  If you find a section of town creepy, for example, you may want to head back to your hotel instead of exploring what could be a dangerous section of the city.