Jan 2, 2008
There's been an interesting response to my list of 10 New Year's Resolutions for travel
My final post on the eve of temporarily shutting down for the holidays was a list of my own New Year's Resolutions for travel. I also read them aloud on my Sunday radio broadcast. Surprisingly, they touched off a great many responses in which readers or listeners set forth their own Resolutions for Travel in 2008.
The single most popular resolution, endlessly modified and altered, dealt with the ethical imperative to leave a tip for the hotel chambermaid. Quite obviously, we have all felt guilt on those occasions when we failed to leave money for the people who work so hard for so little. And many times, we have rationalized away that failure by dwelling on the point that the chambermaid who cleaned our room might not be on duty on the morning when we checked out.
So leave the tip, every day, under the pillow, was a customary response. That way, the person cleaning the room that day was bound to get it. (Some listeners felt there was still a danger that the chambermaid might be accused of pocketing cash that the guest had negligently left behind; so leave the tip in an enveloped marked "For the chambermaid").
Second most popular Resolution from readers or radio listeners: I resolve never to place my luggage on a seat in the airport, thus blocking its use by other persons (or forcing them to ask, "Is this seat taken?"). One reader suggested the Resolution was also applicable to conduct in a motion picture theater.
Other popular resolutions: "I resolve to take substantial reading matter (especially, a long novel) to the airport, even for flights of only two hours' duration." Why? Because with all the flight delays, even such a short trip may require that you wait for several hours -- and thus you'll need that kind of pleasurable distraction, which can't be supplied by reading quickly-exhausted newspapers and magazines.
"I resolve to change my credit card to one that earns frequent flyer mileage." (One reader pointed out that such credit cards carry burdensome fees, and therefore the Resolution was advisable only for people who immediately pay off their credit card balance, in full, each month).
"I will never again book one of those blankety-blank, accursed, 'boutique hotels' with their tiny, pod-like rooms, lack of adequate reading lamps or chairs, and futuristic (and therefore unusable) bathroom sinks."
"I will never again book a hotel without interrogating the telephone reservationist about any hidden fees at that hotel. And if there's a single one, I will cancel my reservation."
And I resolve not to afflict you again with a list of New Year's Resolutions for travel. At least not until next year.
Write and read comments about this post.
The single most popular resolution, endlessly modified and altered, dealt with the ethical imperative to leave a tip for the hotel chambermaid. Quite obviously, we have all felt guilt on those occasions when we failed to leave money for the people who work so hard for so little. And many times, we have rationalized away that failure by dwelling on the point that the chambermaid who cleaned our room might not be on duty on the morning when we checked out.
So leave the tip, every day, under the pillow, was a customary response. That way, the person cleaning the room that day was bound to get it. (Some listeners felt there was still a danger that the chambermaid might be accused of pocketing cash that the guest had negligently left behind; so leave the tip in an enveloped marked "For the chambermaid").
Second most popular Resolution from readers or radio listeners: I resolve never to place my luggage on a seat in the airport, thus blocking its use by other persons (or forcing them to ask, "Is this seat taken?"). One reader suggested the Resolution was also applicable to conduct in a motion picture theater.
Other popular resolutions: "I resolve to take substantial reading matter (especially, a long novel) to the airport, even for flights of only two hours' duration." Why? Because with all the flight delays, even such a short trip may require that you wait for several hours -- and thus you'll need that kind of pleasurable distraction, which can't be supplied by reading quickly-exhausted newspapers and magazines.
"I resolve to change my credit card to one that earns frequent flyer mileage." (One reader pointed out that such credit cards carry burdensome fees, and therefore the Resolution was advisable only for people who immediately pay off their credit card balance, in full, each month).
"I will never again book one of those blankety-blank, accursed, 'boutique hotels' with their tiny, pod-like rooms, lack of adequate reading lamps or chairs, and futuristic (and therefore unusable) bathroom sinks."
"I will never again book a hotel without interrogating the telephone reservationist about any hidden fees at that hotel. And if there's a single one, I will cancel my reservation."
And I resolve not to afflict you again with a list of New Year's Resolutions for travel. At least not until next year.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: resolutions, tips from readers
Dec 21, 2007
Join me in making New Year’s resolutions for travel. 10 of mine appear below, add your own through my holiday hiatus
From December 24 to January 2, this blog will be on vacation. But the message boards will remain up-and-running. I've composed my own, initial, New Year's Resolutions for travel (the non-travel ones are too personal to reveal) in which I promise to change my ways in 2008, and I hope that you'll attach yours as responses. And as we periodically awake from our holiday stupor, let's all check those responses (including my own after-thoughts) now and then.
In 2008, I will faithfully fulfill the following solemn travel pledges:
1) I will limit myself to carry-ons, and never check a single bag; 2) I will carry sandwiches from home, and never bite into a single airline snack; 3) I will use public transportation from airport into town; 4) I will never book a connecting flight; if there's no non-stop to my destination, I won't go there (with some exceptions); 5) I will share courses with my wife, ordering a single main plate for the two of us; 6) I will stop patronizing "duty-free" shops; 7) I will never book an uncomfortable "boutique hotel" designed by a famous fashionista; 8) I will never use a credit card that doesn't earn frequent flyer mileage; 9) I will never board a cruiseship carrying more than 700 passengers; and 10) I will remain calm and unperturbed by refusing to read the travel section of the New York Times.
Those are mine (and I reserve the right to add more over the next nine days). How about yours?
Happy Holidays to everyone, and a peaceful New Year.
Write and read comments about this post.
In 2008, I will faithfully fulfill the following solemn travel pledges:
1) I will limit myself to carry-ons, and never check a single bag; 2) I will carry sandwiches from home, and never bite into a single airline snack; 3) I will use public transportation from airport into town; 4) I will never book a connecting flight; if there's no non-stop to my destination, I won't go there (with some exceptions); 5) I will share courses with my wife, ordering a single main plate for the two of us; 6) I will stop patronizing "duty-free" shops; 7) I will never book an uncomfortable "boutique hotel" designed by a famous fashionista; 8) I will never use a credit card that doesn't earn frequent flyer mileage; 9) I will never board a cruiseship carrying more than 700 passengers; and 10) I will remain calm and unperturbed by refusing to read the travel section of the New York Times.
Those are mine (and I reserve the right to add more over the next nine days). How about yours?
Happy Holidays to everyone, and a peaceful New Year.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: resolutions
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
