Accommodations Archives

Why do people love travel?

by Donna Hunter, PhD | May 5, 2021 | 0 comments

There is no right or wrong answer to why people love to travel. Everyone has reasons for travel and preferences that are unique and individual to them. If you’ve never thought of why you love or want to travel, here are a few ideas that you might find fit your desire for travel.

It could be the desire to do something different. Many people travel to escape the sameness of everyday life. They may want to explore new places or new challenges that they don’t encounter in their daily lives. Once you overcome a challenge, you become inspired and confident to confront new challenges, and so the urge to travel becomes a constant companion.

Maybe it’s a need to relax and recharge. Traveling to a different place can give you a sense of escape that allows you to relax more than you would at home. Being in a different environment will enable you to disconnect from your regular worries and activities. For some travelers, their urge to travel is a way to get away from their everyday lives.

Travel can be a way to spend quality time with others. For many travelers, a vacation is a way to get their friends and family together to build better relationships and bonds. Being in a different environment allows people to connect without the distraction of daily life. Additionally, it’s a way to reconnect with friends and family when you don’t live in the same area or country.

Some travelers desire to meet new people. Travel can be an excellent opportunity to make and foster new friendships with fellow travelers or locals. Once you create relationships, you may experience the possibilities of exploring new people, journeying, or visiting them as a unique chance for travel.

Traveling can be a way to learn and evolve. Many travelers love to experience the unfamiliar and gain new skills or knowledge. Learning a new culture or language can be an entire course in discovering how other people live, their history, or their cuisine. These types of travelers often find new ways of seeing and doing things. Additionally, this type of practical learning tends to be more effective than reading or theoretical knowledge.

What is your reason for travel? Did I mention it? I’d like to know.

Five travel must-haves post Covid-19.

by Donna Hunter, PhD | May 2, 2021 | 0 comments

With many people choosing to vaccinate against Covid-19, the possibility of safer and healthier travel is closer to reality. However, being vaccinated does not ensure that you will not be affected by the virus, and there are certain health precautions, such as wearing masks, that we still need to take. When it comes to travel, here are five must-haves I think all travelers should have post-covid-19.

Antiseptic wipes

No matter how much the airline tries to clean and sanitize an airplane, the short timing between deplaning and reboarding an airplane does not seem guaranteed to sanitize the aircraft thoroughly. Therefore, having your sanitizing wipes and sanitizing your seatbelt, tray table, armrest, and general area, would be a more intelligent and healthier choice.

Disposable masks

Post covid, wearing a face mask has become more of a fashion statement in addition to a measure of health safety. When traveling, it is advisable to use disposable masks to change often rather than the pretty fashionable ones you tend to use at home. Stylish face masks are great for use when at home because you can wash them often. When traveling, cleaning your masks is not usually an option, and disposable masks can be a safer, healthier, and economical choice when traveling.

Sanitizer spray

In addition to sanitizer gel, sanitizer spray is also another excellent option for travel. Travelers can use sanitizer spray to disinfect surfaces without coming into direct contact with surfaces. They are now available in travel sizes, and travelers can make homemade solutions to fit travel-sized containers.

Disposable gloves

Using gloves when disinfecting surfaces is just another precaution to take from coming into contact with infected surfaces. Travelers can use a disposable glove when wiping down their seatbelt, tray table, or armrests, and even when they go to the restroom to sanitize toilet seats or accessing toilet seat covers. Gloves are just another way to minimize your contact with items that might be infected.

Travel soap

Consider the ramifications of pressing the button that everyone else pushes for dispensing soap after using the bathroom but before washing their hands. Having personal travel soap can make for even less avoidable contact. There are now tiny travel packets of soap flakes available that are small enough to carry in your purse.

Travel realities have changed post covid, and travelers now have a few more precautions to consider when traveling to avoid becoming sick. Have you changed the health precautions you now take for travel? Let me know.

Realities of hotel stays.

by Donna Hunter PhD | Apr 28, 2021 | 0 comments

Anticipating your destination is never the same as finally reaching it. The first stop of your travel is your accommodations, and whether Airbnb or hotel, here are a few ideas to keep in mind when you finally reach your vacation stop.

There’s always that “ahh” feeling when you finally reach your destination where you want to lay on the bed in either exhaustion or relief at finally reaching your goal. Hold on! Most likely, the hotel did not change the duvet or bed covering since the last guest. As a former flight attendant who spent most of my life in hotel rooms, I could write a whole blog post just on the realities of hotel bed coverings. Your first notion when reaching your accommodation should be to remove the outer bed cover, especially if you cannot tell if it’s fresh linen. You can always tell this with white sheets and bed coverings.

Another hotel tip is to never drink from hotel glasses, especially those found in the bathroom before you wash them yourself. I have often walked into hotel rooms in the process of being cleaned and, from my lived experience, often seen the maid wiping rather than washing the glasses. Since Covid, many hotels have switched to plastic, but if your hotel has not, be mindful and wash those glasses before you use them.

Always check your sheets before you get into bed. If after you’ve checked in and your bedding appears slept on or wrinkled, you can request to have them changed to be entirely sure they are clean. In addition, check your towels, and if they appear soiled or used, please request fresh towels. Often only the towels used are replaced, and those not used stay in the room despite a new change of guest.

Along the same lines as hotel bed coverings, hotel carpets are also rarely cleaned. I would highly suggest that you treat hotel carpet flooring as you would with public showers and never go barefoot. Carpets are often only vacuumed between guests, but when maids are rushing to have rooms ready and the carpets appear clean, this is usually not done. In most cases, when the carpet is soiled and needs cleaning, it is often only a spot treatment as this can take a room out of service. Maids avoid this by heavily vacuuming instead, so be aware and try not to go barefoot.

These hotel realities are often not found at pricier hotels and accommodations, but sometimes the price does not guarantee quality. Be aware that the standards you expect from your hotel may not be the reality. Remember that these and other hotel realities can be addressed and do not have to spoil your vacation.

Have you had any unexpected hotel experiences? I’d like to know.

Travel snack ideas

by Donna Hunter PhD | Apr 21, 2021 | 0 comments

In a few weeks, my colleagues from the airline industry indicate that some limited food and beverage services will soon return for airplane travelers. It’s always a good idea to travel with your snacks as airport food is expensive, delays are unexpected but a regular occurrence, and you may have your own dietary needs. Here are a few snack ideas to keep in mind when you plan your travel to save you money and are healthy for you.

Fruit

Fruit is one of my go-to travel snacks. Whole fruits like apples, pears, and bananas are great to have and travel well if packed correctly. Cut fruit is also a great choice, but it should be fully drained of liquid and chilled the night before departure. Another great idea is to freeze grapes, and they can also serve to keep the other cut fruit chilled. For security screening, clear Ziploc bags are best. Please remember that most fruit and vegetables are not allowed into international destinations. You are subject to fines, so please dispose of all your fruit before leaving the airplane to be safe.

Vegetables

Vegetables are also a great idea. Carrot, celery, cucumber, and broccoli are great choices. However, dips will have to be in containers less than 3 ounces to go through airport security, even if unopened. Salads are also a great choice, but they do not travel well. If your travel is over long distances and especially in the summer months, this is not a great travel snack idea. Like fruit, vegetables are also not allowed in many countries so remember to finish or dispose of them before you land in an international destination.

Smelly snacks

Avoid smelly snacks at all costs, and remember you are traveling in a confined space. Hard-boiled eggs are an easy snack to travel with, but I would not recommend them. Similarly, meals like smoked salmon and tuna can also be quite smelly and not great choices for travel in public transportation.

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are another excellent choice as a travel snack. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are great, but if you want to make other sandwiches, it would be advisable to carry disposable condiment packages like mayo and mustard to use when ready for your snack. Additionally, wrapping fillings like lettuce, tomato, and pickles separately makes for a fresher sandwich when you are ready to snack.

Air pressure and gas

More than anything, remember that air travel often creates gassy conditions for most travelers. Most importantly, if you know how your body reacts to certain foods, please refrain from them on the airplane. It creates a better environment, not only for you but for the travelers and flight attendants who have to contend with your problems. Also, many people have food allergies like peanuts, and they can be dangerous for them, so please be aware of how your snack choices may affect others.

I hope this blog post has given you pause for thought in your travel snack ideas. Have you had any experiences carrying or having to deal with other travelers’ snack choices? I’d like to know.

Travel without traveling.

by Donna Hunter PhD | Apr 11, 2021 | 0 comments

With Covid realities, many people have put off traveling due to health and safety concerns. For those who love traveling, however, Covid has not stopped them from traveling. I’m an advocate of traveling, but I highly advise doing it safely and with the thought of not only your health but the health of your fellow traveler. Although staycations are great, here are a few more ideas to temper the travel bug without traveling long distances.

Visit local tourist attractions as though you were a tourist. Often, we take our cities for granted and never take advantage of the local attractions those who pay to fly into our towns to enjoy. One of the single most significant costs of a vacation is the flight. Not having to pay for travel might cover the cost of a local tourist attraction you would otherwise consider expensive. Additionally, you can go whenever you choose.

Read travel blogs like mine (shameless plug), watch travel videos, documentaries, podcasts, and all things travel. You’ll be amazed at the things you can learn from other people’s travels and experiences. You will also be better able to plan your trips in the future by knowing some tips and tricks about your preferred destination.

Visit an international museum virtually. One of the benefits of Covid is that museums worldwide now offer virtual tours. A virtual international museum tour could save you time on your itinerary to visit something else or do another activity you might not have time for when you finally reach your destination.

Try dining out in different international restaurants in your area. The world is so multicultural that it is almost a guarantee to have an international restaurant in your area. Why wait until you travel far away to try the cuisine. Dining locally might give you a better palate for the food when you do travel.

Try cooking an international dish at home, along with an international wine, or making a destination drink while you’re cooking will make you feel more compelled to complete the plans for your trip.

Have you tried any travel without going places? I’ve taken advantage of my home city Dallas Texas and seen places I hadn’t even considered. How about you? Let me know.

Why the Covid Vaccine for me?

by Donna Hunter PhD | Mar 31, 2021 | 0 comments

There are many reasons people have for choosing to or not choosing to take the Covid vaccine. Everyone is entitled to their choice and opinion, and I respect that choice, whatever it may be. I have decided to take the Covid vaccine. It’s now part of my lived experience, and so I’d like to share my reasons for the choice I made.

I love to travel. For someone like myself who loves traveling, the thought of not traveling as I want is a painful realization. Just as I make preparations for travel to specific destinations, this is also preparing for a journey. The Covid 19 impact is worldwide, and if I want to travel the world, I need to be ready.

I realize that there may not be a lengthy body of research on the vaccines and their long-term effects, but pausing my life as I did in 2020, was not an option. I have always lived a life of taking risks and choices that are slightly different; this is simply another one of those choices for me.

I’m twice over a Singapore ex-pat, and I’d like to go back at some point. It is not an impossibility currently, but Singapore has made significant strides in combatting the virus, and I believe returning vaccinated will make for a smoother return process.

I want to socialize more without the constant worry about the Covid virus. Being vaccinated does not mean that I will not take precautions as I currently do, but I will feel more reassured with my social interactions. When I interact with my friends and family that also are vaccinated, there will be less worry on my mind.

My thoughts are not to guide anyone’s decision on whether to get vaccinated or not. I share my lived experience, and this is now part of my lived experience. Have you considered getting vaccinated? I’d like to hear about it.