The long trip home to Singapore

The long trip home to Singapore

by | Oct 20, 2021 | 0 comments

I finally made it back to Singapore and my ex-pat life.  I left Singapore for one of my routine trips back to the US.  However, Covid and the many different guidelines set up by Singapore complicated my return. I hadn’t seen my husband or dog for over a year, and I finally made the long trip home.

Getting there

As an ex-pat, I am not a Singapore citizen or permanent resident. The first process for getting into Singapore is to get approval from the government for entry.  Planning the trip home took several attempts as my arrival had to coincide with the dates given by the Singapore government, the availability of flights into Singapore, and the availability of designated stay-at-home quarantine hotels.  Once all the pieces aligned, I could finally schedule my long trip home.

Travel options

As a former flight attendant and living in SE Asia for over ten years, I am accustomed to traveling long distances.  My first attempt at getting to Singapore had me transiting through Germany.  That route was ideal as an established travel lane between Singapore and Germany was established, and travel connections were perfect.  As I could not coordinate all the pieces for my travel, I transited through Istanbul, Turkey.   This route meant an 11+ flight from Dallas to Turkey, a 9-hour layover, and another 10+ hour flight from Turkey to Singapore.

Travel choice

With 30+ hours of travel ahead and my experience as a traveler, business class on Turkish Airlines was my preferred way to travel.  The benefits far outweighed the costs for me. I was particular in this choice because it meant having access to the airline lounge where showers, private suites, meals, and luggage lockers were available.  My preference is always to have a stopover as I do not have a tolerance for 18-hour flights.  I can only say that a hot shower between trips can make a difference between a good or great travel experience.

For me, travel is more than getting from one destination to another; it is about the travel experience.  If you ever must travel long distances, try to make it as pleasant an experience as possible.  Investing in your travel experience will make a tremendous difference in long-distance travel.  Have you taken long-distance trips? How was your experience? Comment and let me know.

p.s. I made preparations to spend my two weeks of mandatory quarantine at a designated stay-at-home hotel before being allowed to go to my home in Singapore.  However, I was permitted to spend my quarantine at home.  I will not be able to leave home for seven days and must wear a tracking bracelet.  In Sunday’s blog post, I’ll discuss more on the arrival process of getting into Singapore.

 

What’s your travel footprint?

What’s your travel footprint?

by | Jul 21, 2021 | 5 comments

A travel footprint is an impact you make in your travels. As a flight attendant, I got to see the best of people and the worst.  With the recent uptick in travel, many travelers seem to be leaving footprints less than desirable.  Here are a few ways that you may unknowingly leave a negative travel footprint behind.

The Covid virus exemplifies how much of a footprint we leave behind unknowingly.  We are urged to wash and sanitize our hands often. It’s one of the first things I do when I leave a public space, and especially when I board an airplane.  Airplanes can fly an average of four roundtrip flights per day. There is no way for a traveler to tell who has been sitting in the seat before them. Leaving your seat area in total disarray is not a footprint you want to leave behind. Try to hand off your trash to a flight attendant. Do not leave trash stuffed into your seatback pocket or lying around on the floor.

Similarly, when you go to a hotel.  Know that someone must clean behind you.  There have been so many times when I have passed an open hotel room door and been amazed at how the guests have left the room. Leaving such a footprint is partly the reason why hotels have a check-in time afternoon or later.  It takes a lot to clean a hotel room after it’s been trashed, and the people who are waiting for that room want it to be as spotless as they expect.

When vacationing, travelers expect to be catered to and treated well.  Try to leave a positive footprint with the people who serve you.  Say please and thank you to staff.  Acknowledge others around you and how your actions and behavior affect them.  Be kind to the wait staff and be gratuitous when possible. Having been in the service industry for many years, I know how much an appreciative and considerate customer can impact someone’s day.

Travelers should always respect personal space.  Taking your shoes off and resting your feet in someone else’s space is just rude.  Be courteous and keep your feet in your space. Most travelers know it’s difficult for small children and toddlers to be still in a confined space. However, allowing children to kick the seat in front of them as entertainment is disrespectful.   Giving toddlers food to play with and not cleaning up after them is also ill-mannered.

We all expect an airplane to take us to our destination, and it usually does.  However, all travelers must consider that there may be extended delays where you spend much more time with your seatmate than anticipated.  Some delays will have passengers together for quite a lengthy time, and if your footprint is less than favorable, this can be a very uncomfortable time. In worst-case scenarios of turbulence or unplanned landings, sometimes your fellow passengers become an essential connection.  Try to leave favorable first impressions.

Have you thought about the travel footprint you leave behind? I’d like to know.

Pin It on Pinterest