Quote of the Week: Happiness is a way of travel…
Happiness is a way of travel, not a destination…
Quote of the Week: Travel is Most Rewarding…
“Travel is at its most rewarding when it ceases to be about your reaching a destination and becomes indistinguishable from living your life.” ~ Paul Theroux
Travel Etiquette: My Top 5 Travel Pet Peeves
Travel can be a wonderful, fun, and cool experience, but it does not come without challenges. I was recently inspired by One Brown Girl, mastermind of the Traveling Brown Girls Carnival, which asks a number of Brown girls who write about travel to share their top 5 travel pet peeves. Being the Travelista that I am, with a heavily stamped passport, I was motivated to blog on my Top 5 Travel Pet Peeves. After reading my Top 5, please leave comments below and let me know what your peeves are.
1. The “First Class is Not For You” look.
Over the years, I have traveled in First or Business class for business and personal trips. As a former airline employee, I often received the “First Class is Not for You” look, both from flight attendants and other passengers. While first class is now primarily dominated by very high-value frequent flyers and business travelers, and upgrades are almost impossible to get, the premium cabin is still open to everyone. There have been occasions, particularly on long-haul international flights, where I was asked by other travelers why or how I got into first class. Passengers in first class should be treated equally, regardless of their frequent flyer status, ticket class, etc.
2. Hotels with unclean, tattered, or low quality linen.
Yes, I said it. To my horror, I have had the misfortune to stay at hotels on occasion that did not wash the comforters or sheets. I do not want to stay in a room with linen soiled with lipstick, hair, odors and other things too gross to detail here, that do not belong to me:) Also hate hotels that skimp on the quantity and quality of wash clothes and towels. Old, hard, holey not acceptable. At a bare minimum, hotels must offer guests clean, comfortable, and safe accommodations.
3. Taking my shoes off for TSA security clearance.
Safety when traveling is of utmost importance, but removing my shoes and exposing my socks and/or feet (if I’ve forgotten to bring hosiery or socks) to dirty airport floors is one of my top peeves. No one has any idea how often airport floors are cleaned and sanitized or about the cleanliness of the 2,000,000 or more passengers who has walked the path before you, on that day.
4. The sick traveler, spreading germs…
Yes, I know we all get sick, and sometimes traveling when sick cannot be avoided. I absolutely detest sitting in a confined space with a traveler who coughs and sneezes the entire flight, no tissue or sanitizer in sight. On one international 10-hour flight, I was so luck to travel directly in front of another traveler who looked and sounded like flu, she coughed and sneezed for the entire flight. While I cannot prove it, 2 days later, I took came down with fever, chills, cough and the flu goodness. If you know you’re contagious, please stay off a plane! It simply is not courteous to other passengers and employees you may come in contact with.
5. Airports and hotels with no free wifi/very expensive wifi.
The travel experience can be challenging and time consuming on a good day, throw in weather delays or flight cancellations and it can be a lot worse. It is important to be able to stay productive and connected to work, family, and friends when you’re on the road. Charging exorbitant rates for wifi in airports and hotels, is just plain wrong. The most exorbitant rate….on a business trip to Europe, $32 per day for hotel Wifi access, that’s just not cool.
Last pet peeve, which I will not go into here is unruly, screaming children on planes. I love children, and it’s a sensitive topic, so I will not officially add it to my list. I will just say that some parents do not exercise any control over their children, and it is a fact that children screaming, kicking, and refusing to sit down are disturbing and stressful to other passengers. Thank you for listening to me rant, it’s been fun. I hope you’ll join me in sharing your travel pet peeves.
Quote of the Week: Travel makes you richer..
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” — Unknown
Featured Video: Escaping to Shoal Bay, Anguilla
Shoal Bay beach, one of Anguilla’s best beaches.
Travel Tip: Dressing with Savvy While Traveling
It’s time….life has kept me really busy. Today’s feature post is about dressing with savvy while traveling. I was inspired by a recent CNN article, ” Why Look like a Slob While Traveling?. If you are like me, you people watch while in airports and on airplanes, it can be fascinating. First, we’ll start with what NOT to wear:
1. Lingerie/pajamas
2. Sweat pants or cutoff sweat pants
3. Ladies: See-thru clothing of any kind
4. Men: baggy pants or jeans revealing your body parts or underwear
5. Tshirts with offensive, lewd, or foul language
6. Clothing that is too small or too tight
7. Never wear white. (Generally very difficult to keep clean in the airport and airplane space)
8. No headscarves, headwraps, etc.
Historically, airline travel was synonymous with professional, business, or church attire for both men and women. As we evolved into the 90’s, this trend changed dramatically. What we see today is a reflection of the evolution of society and our values, with individuals not adhering to any norms. Now, moving along to my advice for travelers..here are some tips to assist with wardrobe selection.
1. Comfort is king! (Choose fabrics that are comfortable, lightweight and wrinkle-resistant)
2. Clothing should be clean and pressed!
3. Choose solid colors in black or neutral tones. (No USA flags, stars, stripes)
4. Wear comfortable shoes. (Shoes made for walking, not the 5 inch heels some women wear to the club)
5. Bring along a sweater, jacket, or scarf for layering as temperatures vary inflight.
In closing, travel is fun and adventurous, however , the way we dress while traveling does not need to be over the top. While travel attire is a personal choice, we need to remember clothing is a reflection of who we are (our personal brand). Traveling is now a commodity, in a public space, and our attire should not be offensive to TSA, airline employees, or other travelers, particularly children. I welcome your feedback on this topic, make it a great week!
Quote of the Week: Gratitude is….
“Gratitude is awareness that, as things come to you, they are exactly what you need – be it people, circumstance, or challenges.” ~ Heidi M. Parton, blogger.
Quote of the Week: Being Happy
“The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don’t have.” ~ Allen
What would the world be missing without you in it?
Time is flying by, it’s almost the end of summer. Summer is my favorite time of year. I love the sun, sandals, BBQs, flowers, outdoor bistros…Where did the time go? I begin today with the question…..What would the world be missing without you in it? Each of us are unique, with our own set of gifts and talents. What would the world be missing without you in it? This is key to understanding what makes YOU authentically YOU, and living with gratitude for who you are, not what you have. As we all know, the material stuff comes and goes, but the authentic self is here to stay. Its family, true friends, and pets that love us unconditionally in this journey called life.
For me personally, my gifts are abundant and still growing as I grow older. I have left my footprints with my photography (what I am most proud of), my global travel experiences (documented here in this blog), my flowers (the love and hard work to make my roses bloom every year in my yard), the friendships I’ve cultivated over time and distance, my love for technology gadgets (everything Apple and sharing with others who want my advice), my love for cupcakes (stories documented on Twitter), my love of live jazz (attending concerts to patronize the contemporay jazz art form), my love of champagne (mimosas keep life interesting), my love and passion for everything Caribbean (my second home and yes I’m Caribbean at heart), my generosity and giving spirit, my thirst for reading and knowledge (articles shared daily on Twitter), and finally my love of aviation/airlines/airplanes (loving being on a plane, taking pictures of planes, watching takeoffs and landings). I have yet to write my story, but I will write a book, one day. So now it’s your turn, what would the world be missing without you in it?
Destination Spotlight: Discovering the DR…Punta Cana
PUNTA CANA
Where is it? 18 degrees 34’4″ N, 68 degrees 21’48” W (approx 800 miles south of Florida, between Cuba and Puerto Rico)
How to Get There: Nonstop flights offered from Atlanta, New York, Miami, Minneapolis, and Newark. Carriers include: Airtran, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue. Average flight time 3-4 hours.
What it is: Subtropical, Hot, All-Inclusives, Mega Resorts, Mass Tourists (Europeans, Canadians tend to outnumber Americans), Mediocre dining (mostly buffet style), Limited nightlife options (outside of resorts), Topless Beaches, Beautiful women, Spanish Speaking, Championship Golf courses, Fishing charters
What it is not: Luxury resorts (Top notch resorts are not same standard of service as Europe or the U.S.), Exclusive beaches (packed with tourists and straw huts), Luxury shopping, No duty-free shopping, Top notch dining, American hotel chains (Hard Rock Hotel is only)
Ideal for: Families, Spring Breakers, Destination Weddings, and Honeymooners
Best Time to Go: Yearround (June thru Nov is wet season)
Top Resorts: Paradisus, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Excellence (Adults Only), Riu, Secrets, Sivory, Zoetry, Melia, Gran Bahia Principe (where I stayed), Iberostar, Club Med, Dreams
Things I Like Most:
Value Vacation – All-inclusive resorts offer value vacation (all meals, drinks, gratuities included)
Sunsets
Spa services (very affordable)
Availability/Abundance of food and beverages 24/7
Service (resort staff went above and beyond)
Things I did not like:
Mass vacation concept (beaches crowded, dining and entertainment complexes crowded, Spring break atmosphere)
Lack of activities outside of the resort
Resorts are mega-sized, in most cases long distances to get from resort to beach area
Difficulty in getting beach chairs and towels at certain times of the day
Difficulty in communicating with resort staff, very few spoke English
Must secure dining reservations at top tier restaurants well in advance
Airport is small, crowded, and has no air conditioning
Helpful Travel Advice:
1. Prearrange transportation to/from the airport (cabs can be expensive).
2. Carry cash for $10USD Tourist Card fee (per person for both adults & children) paid upon arrival.
3. Brush up on basic Spanish phrases (you will need them).
4. Drink only bottled water! (Do not brush teeth with tap water)
5. Eat carefully (I tended to only eat cooked foods, no salads or uncooked veggies).
6.Carry plenty of sunscreen (sun is intense and most resorts have limited palm trees and shade).
7. Secure dining reservations at top tier restaurants upon check in.
8. Allow 3 hours for airport check-in when leaving the island.
The secret of the DR: Vacation on any budget. The place to relax.
Quotes of the Week: Happiness…..
“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” Unknown
Quote of the Week: Life is a Gift….
“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, & responsibility to give something back by becoming more” ~ Unknown.
Quote of the Week: Live your Life as a Traveler….
“Live your life as a traveler — even if just metaphorically. Get out of your comfort zone. Reach out. Be bold. Be curious. Don’t be afraid.” ~ Rick Steves
the travelpreneur 