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Tag Archive: hotel experience

  1. Top 5 things for airline travel

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    Flying is without a doubt the worst part of any holiday, but what are the top 5 things that can help for your flight experience? Travel and particularly airline travel is almost always an unavoidable part of going on vacation so we have concocted a list of things that are guaranteed to make your travel experience slightly less terrible. Tuck these five magic items into your carry-on next time your travel and you’ll never dread flying again.

    TravelEssentials

    Travel Pillow

    This is an absolute essential for airline travel no matter how far you’re going. These marvellous inventions wrap around the back of your neck, providing support for your head as you doze off. No more waking up to a crick in your neck or your head flopping down mid-snooze. Even if you’re not planning on sleeping, the extra level of comfort that the travel pillow provides makes it worth using anyway.

    Water

    This might sound obvious but if you’re flying, drink plenty of water. Perhaps one of the most common plights of airline travellers is dry lips, skin and throat so keeping well hydrated will help you avoid looking like a snake by the end of your journey.

    Entertainment

    The majority of modern airlines have TV screens on the back of every seat with a pretty decent collection of films. However, if you really want to enjoy your flight, don’t restrict yourself to the selection of films that the airline provides, fill up your tablet/phone/laptop with your favourite series, films or music and spend the duration of your journey enjoying your own entertainment. Don’t forget to take a portable charger as well to keep your devices functioning throughout the whole flight.

    Flight Socks

    There is a risk, when flying long distances, of contracting deep vein thrombosis, a rather unpleasant condition caused by sitting for prolonged periods of time and the blood in your legs not flowing as it should. In order to reduce the chances of being affected by this, flight socks are essential as they provide your legs with the support they need to keep your blood flowing properly. Of course, you should combine this with regular walks up and down the plane.

    Baby Wipes

    Sitting on a plane for hours on end can leave you feeling groggy and even a little bit unclean. Travel, and particularly airline travel, by all accounts is rarely the most hygienic thing in the world. When you start feeling sweaty or that you might smell a bit, it’s useful to have a packet baby wipes with you to make yourself feel a little bit cleaner. You certainly won’t regret taking them with you.

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  2. How To Complain About A Substandard Hotel Experience

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    There are few things worse than booking the holiday of a lifetime only to have it ruined by substandard hotel service. You’ve got the sun shining, the beach glistening and the cocktails flowing but back in your room it’s a completely different story. Maybe your hotel room is damp or the bathroom looks like it hasn’t seen a cleaning product in far too long, whatever the case, it is important to know your rights and know how to effectively complain about your experience.

    Firstly it is important to know exactly what to expect before you go. Read reviews online and do a bit of research about the hotel before you book. This way you will be able to tell more easily if the hotel is not performing like it should. If you book your hotel as part of a package there is a chance you might be given one of the cheaper rooms, so be sure to clarify this with the agency when making your booking.

    Once you are there it was be very easy to tell if your room is up to standard or not. If you are paying top dollar then you should expect next to perfection. This means everything is clean and comfortable, the room is sound proofed and all the amenities it should have are present and in good working order. As soon as you notice anything not quite right with the room you should report it immediately to the Duty Manager. Do not suffer in silence! You should get what you paid for.

    The majority of the time hotel complaints are dealt with effectively and the issue will either be resolved or you will be offered a different room or financial compensation. If this is the case then your job is done and you can enjoy the rest of your holiday. If, however, the hotel is not co-operating sufficiently then you have a bit more work to do.

    If you cannot resolve your issue at the hotel then you will need to make a formal complaint and submit it in writing. Take the names of the people you communicate with at reception, take photos of everything wrong with your room and make sure to be specific about exactly what was wrong with the hotel room. The more details you provide, the more credible your complaint and the more likely you are to be compensated for your poor experience.

    If you booked your hotel room as part of a package then your first port of call should be the agency through which you booked. You can contact the Association of British Travel Agents if you need more help dealing with this. If you booked the hotel independently then you will need to contact the management of the hotel. It is also worth noting that if you paid for you accommodation on credit card then you should be able to get some assistance from your credit card provider.

    So, in brief, as soon as an issue arises, calmly and politely explain to the management what’s wrong and ask if they are able to fix it. A big smile and a pleasant demeanour are worth their weight in gold in this situation and doesn’t cost a penny so don’t lose your cool until you absolutely have to.