How to Cope

Here’s an article we found that may be helpful while traveling

 

Follow Travel and Leisure’s travel tips for how to cope with
challenges on the road.

From December 2013 By Travel
+ Leisure Staff

Any traveler knows that sinking feeling of boarding a plane only
to get stuck with a less-than-desirable seatmate: someone who hogs that narrow,
coveted armrest or brings an oversized duffel that encroaches on your legroom.

If you’ve ever resorted to a passive-aggressive nudge or, on the
contrary, suffered through hours of transatlantic claustrophobia, you have
experienced firsthand what not to do in this scenario.

It’s just one of the possible frustrations that you might
encounter when you leave home. But how you react can make all the difference,
whether you’re dealing with that seatmate, a reckless taxi driver, or a bad
case of food poisoning.

Knowing the dos and don’ts of travel etiquette will help you go
from an amateur to a sophisticated globe-trotter. You’ll feel empowered to
haggle at a market abroad and be informed about what to do if you get hotel
bill shock.

So before you wave your napkin to an inattentive waiter as a
white flag of surrender, brush up on your etiquette with these strategic travel
tips.

—Melanie Lieberman

 What
to Do if You Missed Your Flight

Do...

Be prepared to
pay a rebooking fee. For most
classes of ticket, you’ll be charged to get on another flight.

Make a run for
it, if you’re
already checked in and only have a carry-on. At some airports, gates close as
late as 15 minutes before departure.

Don’t...

Wait to alert
your airline. The sooner you call,
the more likely they’ll be able to get you on the next flight—if there’s space.

Expect to be
rebooked on a different carrier. For
that, you’ll have to purchase an entirely new ticket.

—Amy Farley

How
to Cope With Noisy Hotel Neighbors

Do...

...call the
manager on duty. He can dispatch
security. He’ll also know when your rowdy floor mates are checking out.

...ask for
earplugs. Most hotels expect some
type of noise pollution, be it from tropical birds, traffic, or a wailing
toddler.

Don’t

...take matters
into your own hands. You want the
hotel to be involved early on in case the culprit is uncooperative.

...demand that
other guests move for your sake. If
you want a quieter space, expect to switch rooms yourself.

—Amy Farley

What to Do When
You Order Wine You Don't Like

Do...

...speak up. A lot of customers feel intimidated by big
wine lists and sommeliers, but it’s okay to trust your palate.

...snap a photo of the label and add it to
an album of wines you’ve loved or loathed; use it to guide you on future
selections.

Don’t...

...judge too early. As the wine
opens up, you might change your mind.

...suffer through a poor choice. The
sommelier’s goal is for you to be happy with your selection.

—Amy Farley

How
to Cope With an Aggressive Masseuse

Do...

…lay down the
law before the lights dim. Share
your preferences, and if you’re ticklish or injured.

…use body
language. Raising your hand or
finger tells your therapist to pause, and is less awkward than breaking the
silence.

Don’t...

…leave things
to chance. When booking, request a
therapist with a lighter touch, or specify a gender.

…be vague. Using a 1–10 scale will ensure the right pressure, e.g.,
6 (moderate) rather than 9 (very intense).

—Amy Farley

How
to Cope With a Reckless Taxi Driver

Do...

…pay the fare. Your receipt may be helpful in reporting the driver.
Tipping, however, is optional.

…record the
medallion or car number. Local
authorities rely on passenger feedback to keep unsafe drivers off the streets.

Don’t...

…yell. Your driver is a professional. Phrase your complaint as
a personal preference—not an attack.

…stay in a cab
if you feel unsafe. If your driver
doesn’t respond to feedback, ask him to pull over and then find another ride.

—Amy Farley

How
to Cope With an Overzealous Tour Member

Do...

…book trips
where multiple guides are present at all times. One is there to handle special situations just like
this.

…talk to your
guide, not to the traveler in
question. Guides are trained to handle a variety of personalities.

Don’t...

…isolate the
individual. That will only make him
more likely to further monopolize your guide’s attention.

…be too quick
to judge. As the group dynamic
shakes out, needy travelers tend to settle down.

—Amy Farley

How
to Cope With a Space-Hogging Seatmate

Do...

…assert your
territory early on: claim your
overhead and under-seat space, and put the armrests down.

…be sensitive about passengers of size. Alert your flight attendant
discreetly; you may be able to switch seats.

Don’t...

…resort to
dirty looks, or subtle little
pushes. Being passive-aggressive only escalates the problem.

…be greedy. Airplane etiquette says that the middle-seat passenger
has rights to both inner armrests.

–Nikki Ekstein

How
to Deal with Hotel Bill Shock

Do...

…heed the
warnings. If the hotel informed you
of resort fees and the like, you share some of the blame.

…play up your
loyalty. Point out that you are a
member of the hotel’s program, or a repeat customer.

Don’t...

…accept
responsibility for fees buried in fine print. They should be clearly presented to guests.

…be afraid to
stand your ground. If the front
desk can’t help, ask for the general manager or guest services director.

—Amy Farley

How
to Deal With Food Poisoning While Traveling

Do...

…ask the local
pharmacist for a loperamide-based
drug (like Imodium), to prevent dehydration.

…seek medical
attention if you experience signs
of dehydration, such as dizziness or dry mouth.

Don’t...

…jump back to
solid food. Start with
electrolyte-fortified liquids (coconut water), then move on to rice and
bananas.

…kiss your
entire vacation good-bye. Food
poisoning usually subsides within two to four days.

—Amy Farley

How
to Make a Tight Flight Connection

Do...

…ask to be
moved closer to the front of the
cabin just before landing, so you can make a quick exit.

…run straight
to the gate for your
connection—even if it’s past your departure time.

Don’t...

…despair. A flight won’t wait for one passenger, but system-wide
delays might result in a lucky break.

…book tight
connections through large airports.
Anything less than a 90-minute window is unrealistic.

—Amy Farley

What
to Do When You’ve Accidentally Damaged Your Hotel Room

Do...

…assess the
mess. One that only requires
cleanup costs less than one that calls for replacing broken furniture and
fixtures.

…fess up. The hotel will find out regardless—and you’ll want to be
there to plead your case.

Don’t...

…fret if the
damage is small and unintentional.
Hotels will often let you go without penalty.

…assume you can
walk away scot-free. If the damage
is major, you could be responsible for repairs and lost revenue.

—Amy Farley

How
to Photograph Locals Without Offending Them

Do...

…ask for
permission. If words fail, show
your camera and wait for a reaction before shooting.

…strike up a
conversation. Compliment the
subject’s family, ask a question, or share a laugh.

Don’t...

…push too hard. If the subject says no, find someone else to photograph.

…try to be
sneaky. You risk affronting someone
who’d rather not be photographed.

—Amy Farley

How
to Cope With an Inattentive Waiter

Do...

…get the
attention of another waiter or
waitress and ask for help tracking down your server.

…ask for the
manager. If you feel you are being
ignored, it’s important to speak up.

Don’t...

…snap your
fingers, wave your napkin in the
air, or try to draw attention in any flagrant way.

…assume it’s
bad service. In some cultures it’s
customary for guests to signal to waiters when they are ready for the check.

—Amy Farley

How
to Haggle

Do...

…determine what
you’d like to pay. Ask trusted
locals what they’d spend.

…enjoy
yourself. A sense of humor and
patience are equally important.

Don’t...

…be afraid of
lowballing. Make your starting
offer at one-third of the price.

…indicate how
badly you want an item. Be willing
to walk away, and you’ll almost always get a better deal.

—Amy Farley

How
to Cope With a Snoring Seatmate

Do...

…ask for
earplugs—most flight attendants
will have them on hand.

…rouse the
snorer gently. A subtle trick: open
an air vent.

Don’t...

…expect your
flight attendant to wake anyone up. Each
flier has the same right to rest.

…feel trapped. If another seat is available, you may be able to move to
a quieter spot.

—Amy Farley

What
to Do When You’ve Been Pickpocketed

Do...

…find the
nearest Western Union. You can get
cash wired to you within the hour.

…report a
stolen passport to police and
consular authorities; a replacement may be issued within 24 hours.

Don’t...

…expect a new
bank or credit card to arrive immediately. It could take a few days to reach you abroad.

…forget to
cancel all cards immediately. Some
card providers charge fees for fraudulent use.

—Amy
Farley

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