Don’t feel at home!
If you do…what’s the point? Why plan an elaborate vacation (even if it is worked around your business trip), for which you have shopped for all possible weather circumstances, (just incase….., )and done intense research on your destination, if all you really want is to get the same feeling you have when you are sprawled on your bed in your faded old pajamas with one hand in a bag of lay’s, and the other furiously working the buttons of a remote. To me, a chance to travel is an opportunity to experience something different from the routine that one generally has to follow with everyday work and family life. Below are just a few tips on what to expect when sta ying at an inn or small hotel abroad.
It all starts with planning the trip (business or otherwise), bookings - which should be done first and foremost after all your financial constraints-your budget, has been charted out. One must have the details regarding the dates of travel and stay, airfare and travel itinerary, following which the hotel bookings can be made according to your budget and availability at the time of travel. Many people choose to get their travel agents to arrange for this part of their preparation, but when these arrangements are done personally, the trip can be planned in more detail and can be suited exactly to your liking.
The simplest and almost foolproof method of going about booking your own hotel stay is to look up the internet (especially helpful abroad). One can find many options, depending on your budget, the location or your personal preferences such as the breakfast inclusive options (the norm) the pick up and drop from the airport facilities, sports and health services, tourist packages, how much of time you plan to spend at the hotel, luxuries that are a necessity to you, and very importantly the provision of vegetarian food. An ideal place to stay when traveling abroad is at the smaller hotels or Bed & Breakfast’s type inns, that are more personal and warm than the larger more formal hotels.
When staying at such a place hotel, one can expect to be provided with some basic amenities such as bathing implements, stationery, a refrigerator, appliance for making your own coffee, television, telephone etc. The maintenance costs of all the above are already included on your charge, excepting that well stocked refrigerator with the choicest nuts, chocolates and wines that will cost you almost half of your room rent with added tax, if you consume any of it. It’s a nasty strategy employed by all star hotels that first tempts you, the hungry traveler, who’s just tossed aside his extreme dietary plans because of his pledge to enjoy this long overdue vacation, to bury himself in the refrigerator, devour all that food that tastes even better than it looks, and then be bulldozed by the number of additional zero’s on your room bill. Something that’s enough to remove that perfect tan you acquired! This is the main reason why booking over the internet is so useful- the hidden costs are mentioned upfront, and any extra expenses that can be incurred (like polishing off the pre stocked refrigerator food) will often be mentioned, including discounts, or off season rates.
One of the first things do to after checking into your hotel and settling in, is to discuss what plans you might have, with the reception regarding places to visit, brochures which are usually freely available, the safest and most efficient, or relaxing modes of transport, if any tours are provided by the hotel itself, money changing counters, and places for keeping your valuables. When traveling abroad, it is of necessity that one safely carries their passport on their person, along with enough money or your card, to not cause any sort of an embarrassment incase you are short of it. For reasons best known to ourselves, most people abroad are vary of foreigners, a trait very rarely found in India.
Other important lists to be carried are the address and telephone numbers of your residing hotel on your person, photocopies of your passport on you and left in your hotel room, important contact numbers and a map.
If the stay at the hotel is your primary arrangement for your holiday, the only extra effort that you will need to do is to enquire about places to eat in your locality, probably the areas for shopping, and other facilities provided by the hotel, which are few in an inn. If otherwise you are a little less lethargic, which many of us tend to be when visiting abroad, your program can be as flexible and exciting as possible.
In many small hotels (inns, B& B’s) abroad, room service is not provided for, especially if you are staying in a Bed & Breakfast accommodation. Here one is expected to adhere to the timings for each meal, or go hungry. The menu for the day is usually limited, though roughly covering all types of meat and their ways of cooking. If one has specific restrictions on their diet, it is advised that they inform the management beforehand. The atmosphere is usually pretty friendly, and a casual to semi formal attire will suffice for most tourists traveling abroad on holiday. In Europe people tend to dress properly- more formally, the odd Bermuda clad bystander could well be an American tourist!
Your room will be cleaned regularly as well as products that you might have used, be replenished accordingly. Standards of cleanliness are high, and one is urged to treat your room at the hotel as you would your own at home, if not better. A few of us have a disregard for cleanliness, general use and well being of things that are not ours, and this is sorely looked down upon, infact one might have to pay for the loss or damage caused as well. Laundry services would be slightly expensive, and one could possibly find the best suitable method of laundering their clothes locally, with the help of the reception staff.
Most dos and don’ts are listed in the bedroom, as well as timings for dining and various events that the hotel might arrange for their guests.
In many parts of Europe, language might be a problem, and a few words well learnt of the particular language will carry you far in not only getting you what you want, but also an additional warm smile for the effort. In my experience, Europeans are far more approachable and hospitable than what people say, and many will be very willing to help if you have lost your way or have other difficulties.
All in all, one should travel with an open mind, as many a time, well made, detailed plans cannot be carried out exactly as expected, and allowances should be made for unexpected changes that might occur.