Text by: Tanya Munshi
Planning a trip with family and friends is exciting. You look forward to the break, no housework -- just pure relaxation and merriment. For a break it doesn't really matter whether it's visiting a new place or an old favourite. The idea is, a trip has to leave you rejuvenated. However, it can get quite frustrating when you reach the destination and find that you've forgotten your sweater or to inform your friend to collect a package on your behalf. To prevent such calamities here are some handy tips.
1
Checklist
Begin with a checklist of all the things you need to carry. We always tend to think that the packing will be done in no time. But certain things can go amiss. Like a toothbrush or a comb.
Carrying an extra pair of clothes and under garments, apart from the normal set is a good idea. What if you get drenched in the rain while on a trek? Wearing sneakers or walking shoes are always best, whether you're traveling by bus, train or airplane. Keep the fancy shoes for a dinner in a restaurant, not for long travel hours.
2
First-aid kit
Packing a first-aid kit with band-aids, antiseptic cream, cotton wool, painkillers is a must. Don't forget medicines for an upset tummy, headache, car sickness and indigestion. Carrying a diary with all emergency numbers is a wise thing to do. This will save time in hunting for the number when you need it. Keeping a stock of some dry food items such as wafers, chocolates, cookies is also recommended.
3
Inform a neighbour, friend or relative
Give them all the details of where you're going as well as phone numbers. Should there by an emergency you will be contacted immediately. Carry a travel iron, a couple of clothes hangers, as well as a small packet of washing powder with you during your travel. Always carry some sunscreen, a pair sunglasses, cleansing lotion, foot cream, talcum powder and a good deodorant.
4
Glass bottles or perfumes
Avoid glass bottles, perfumes and creams as far as possible. Seal all bottles of shampoos, lotions etc with cello tape or with play clay, which you can remove and reuse. This will prevent any potentially disastrous spills or leakages.
Avoid carrying too much jewellery, cash and other valuables, unless required. Passport and currency should always be kept in your coat jacket or waist pouch. Never let it out of your sight! Keep the number of your hotel, friend or relative handy. You may need to call up the place in case you're lost. The best thing to do would be to take directions to the place before hand, this would save a lot of time and effort.
5
Before leaving home
Ensure no food items are left open. Everything should be secured well inside cabinets, air-tight containers or in the refrigerator. All the lights and fans should be switched off. Ensure no leaking taps. Doors and windows of your house are secured. The dustbins in your kitchen and other rooms have been cleared. All your jewellery and valuables are deposited in a bank locker.
6
Final checklist
~ You need not switch off your refrigerator even if you're going for more than a week. In fact, it is better to keep it on and running and use it to store all the extra food grains and ration. This will prevent the food from getting infested with insects.
~ Your air/ bus/ train tickets, house and cupboard keys and immediate cash are in your hand bag. Keep all your travel tickets safe.
~ All the plug points of your television, stereo, geyser, microven etc are removed.
~ The oven and the gas stove are closed.
~ Inform the milkman and the newspaper boy to stop delivering milk and the morning paper.
Showing posts with label travel tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel tips. Show all posts
Monday, March 3, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Travel> How Safe is your Hotel?
It is the holiday season. Many of you are probably set to spend the new year in an exotic destination. Right? It might not be a bad idea to give a thought to safety before you head out either by yourself or with your family/ dear ones. Be it a holiday or a business trip, your safety and security is very important for a peaceful holiday.
What you need to know about your hotel
~ Almost every hotel will have a safety clause posted in its rooms, saying the hotel will not be held responsible for any theft. This applies to things stored in the in-room safes too. "You can check on the hotel policy by calling them up while making your bookings. If you are just checking in, ask about this at the reception," says Anuj Gemawat, a hotel management graduate and hotelier from Bangalore.
~ Says Andrew Kelly, security and safety manager of the Grand Hyatt, Dubai, "Most exclusive hotels follow (a policy of) non-disclosure as far as their guests' identities are concerned." Also, he adds, many modern day hotels do public area surveillance and employ plain clothes security personnel.
~ In addition, rooms are secured and access is recorded and 'auditable'. This means, a client can request for a 'lock audit' if, for some reason, he needs to check who has accessed his room.
~ While hiring staff, most hotels do background screenings to ensure maximum security for its customers and property.
How to keep your valuables safe
~ "Unless you are travelling to a function like a wedding or a party, carrying too much jewellery is avoidable," says Gemawat.
~ Kelly adds, "Travellers' cheques, passports, etc, should be (kept) secure in the hotel's safe deposit box rooms. The safe deposit boxes there are like those in a bank. Each requires two keys to access and has a sign in/ sign out facility."
~ It's best to carry your passport and money in a belt pouch, so that it doesn't land up in the wrong hands. Or leave it in the vault at the hotel reception.
~ Always carry traveller's cheques. "There is yet another option," says Gemawat: "You can avail of prepaid debit cards, which cannot be used without your authorisation. And they come with a safety cover. It's far better than cash."
~ "Do not carry loads of money unnecessarily when lounging by the pool or inside the hotel. Keep it secure in your safe. Take what you need. Sign most of your bills in your room. Keep copies of signed bills to address any disputes during check out," adds Kelly.
Safety tips for single travellers, especially women
~ "Never step out into new territory without keeping someone informed back home or at work," says Gemawat.
~ "If you feel someone is offering too much unwanted attention, bring the matter to the attention of someone senior in the hotel," says Kelly.
~ While using a hotel's facilities (such as the pool), choose a spot within view of attendants. This ensures quick service should someone bother you. By raising a hand, you can let others know you need attention.
~ "Do not offer your room number or information that you are travelling alone to anyone (unless you want the attention). You can always say your partner is joining you shortly," adds Kelly.
Safety tips for travellers with kids, elderly relations and pets
With kids
~ Always carry basic first aid in your travel kit.
~ "Explain to your kids the importance of staying together, especially in a mall or in an amusement park. Tell them about the consequences of getting lost," says Gemawat.
~ Ensure you keep some sort of identification in your child's pocket -- name, telephone, name of the hotel you are staying at, your cell, the number of someone who can contact you and other emergency numbers.
~ "Hotels may offer a baby-sitting service or a child minder," says Kelly, "A child minder is someone who only watches the kid but does not engage with them and is rarely trained to deal with any type of emergency or situation. It is advisable to check in advance about the facilities available and how your child will be looked after," says Kelly.
With elderly
While traveling with elders who have mobility issues, check with the hotel you are heading to about wheelchair access or lifts. "You would be surprised as to how some really good hotels overlook such really sensitive issues," says Gemawat.
With pets
~ When it comes to pets, always check before you leave, as most hotels may not allow pets.
~ Inform the hotel well in advance that they may need to cater for a pet. State the breed of the pet, vaccination details etc, and carry the relevant papers along. It would be best to get a signed letter from your vet that your pet will cause no harm.
~ There are hotels that take care of a pet like any other guest.
A last word
Travel light. Avoid carrying unnecessary items. Never leave things lying around in the hotel room, at the hotel restaurants, at the poolside or the gym. Keep valuables locked up.
And yes, enjoy your trip!
Published in Rediff.com, on December 22, 2006
Link: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2006/dec/22hotel.htm
What you need to know about your hotel
~ Almost every hotel will have a safety clause posted in its rooms, saying the hotel will not be held responsible for any theft. This applies to things stored in the in-room safes too. "You can check on the hotel policy by calling them up while making your bookings. If you are just checking in, ask about this at the reception," says Anuj Gemawat, a hotel management graduate and hotelier from Bangalore.
~ Says Andrew Kelly, security and safety manager of the Grand Hyatt, Dubai, "Most exclusive hotels follow (a policy of) non-disclosure as far as their guests' identities are concerned." Also, he adds, many modern day hotels do public area surveillance and employ plain clothes security personnel.
~ In addition, rooms are secured and access is recorded and 'auditable'. This means, a client can request for a 'lock audit' if, for some reason, he needs to check who has accessed his room.
~ While hiring staff, most hotels do background screenings to ensure maximum security for its customers and property.
How to keep your valuables safe
~ "Unless you are travelling to a function like a wedding or a party, carrying too much jewellery is avoidable," says Gemawat.
~ Kelly adds, "Travellers' cheques, passports, etc, should be (kept) secure in the hotel's safe deposit box rooms. The safe deposit boxes there are like those in a bank. Each requires two keys to access and has a sign in/ sign out facility."
~ It's best to carry your passport and money in a belt pouch, so that it doesn't land up in the wrong hands. Or leave it in the vault at the hotel reception.
~ Always carry traveller's cheques. "There is yet another option," says Gemawat: "You can avail of prepaid debit cards, which cannot be used without your authorisation. And they come with a safety cover. It's far better than cash."
~ "Do not carry loads of money unnecessarily when lounging by the pool or inside the hotel. Keep it secure in your safe. Take what you need. Sign most of your bills in your room. Keep copies of signed bills to address any disputes during check out," adds Kelly.
Safety tips for single travellers, especially women
~ "Never step out into new territory without keeping someone informed back home or at work," says Gemawat.
~ "If you feel someone is offering too much unwanted attention, bring the matter to the attention of someone senior in the hotel," says Kelly.
~ While using a hotel's facilities (such as the pool), choose a spot within view of attendants. This ensures quick service should someone bother you. By raising a hand, you can let others know you need attention.
~ "Do not offer your room number or information that you are travelling alone to anyone (unless you want the attention). You can always say your partner is joining you shortly," adds Kelly.
Safety tips for travellers with kids, elderly relations and pets
With kids
~ Always carry basic first aid in your travel kit.
~ "Explain to your kids the importance of staying together, especially in a mall or in an amusement park. Tell them about the consequences of getting lost," says Gemawat.
~ Ensure you keep some sort of identification in your child's pocket -- name, telephone, name of the hotel you are staying at, your cell, the number of someone who can contact you and other emergency numbers.
~ "Hotels may offer a baby-sitting service or a child minder," says Kelly, "A child minder is someone who only watches the kid but does not engage with them and is rarely trained to deal with any type of emergency or situation. It is advisable to check in advance about the facilities available and how your child will be looked after," says Kelly.
With elderly
While traveling with elders who have mobility issues, check with the hotel you are heading to about wheelchair access or lifts. "You would be surprised as to how some really good hotels overlook such really sensitive issues," says Gemawat.
With pets
~ When it comes to pets, always check before you leave, as most hotels may not allow pets.
~ Inform the hotel well in advance that they may need to cater for a pet. State the breed of the pet, vaccination details etc, and carry the relevant papers along. It would be best to get a signed letter from your vet that your pet will cause no harm.
~ There are hotels that take care of a pet like any other guest.
A last word
Travel light. Avoid carrying unnecessary items. Never leave things lying around in the hotel room, at the hotel restaurants, at the poolside or the gym. Keep valuables locked up.
And yes, enjoy your trip!
Published in Rediff.com, on December 22, 2006
Link: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2006/dec/22hotel.htm
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