So you are considering booking a break. Here are some tips to ensure you enjoy your time away.
A Guide to Choosing a Hotel
A reminder of home
Consider taking a photograph from home so you can put it on your bedside table. You can get an attractive plastic or wooden frame with glass.
Staying connected
It is a good idea to have a family ritual that you can practice provided the time zone allows. Some choose to have prayer time with their loved ones or reading their kid a book.
Personalizing the space
Have a non-aerosol air freshener so your hotel room gets the welcoming scent. I like melon or cucumber because of my migraines.
Creating a calming environment
Make a relaxing playlist on your phone or any portable music device you use, preferably two hours long.
You don’t have to listen to it for two hours, but it is better to have a long playlist so you don’t end up listening to the same three tracks on repeat. Put on the music the moment you arrive so you can listen to it as our pack and settle in.
Eliminating distracting sounds
Look for ambient noise tracks you love (brown/red noise is better than white, nature sounds are great too) then play them. Smartphones are great for this. It reduces the number of electronic devices you have to manage.
Promoting good sleep
The moment you arrive in the hotel room, make it cold. This is going to invigorate you and also lower your body temperature, which will make it easier for you to sleep.
You can make it even better by taking a shower. If you find it hard to sleep in the cold, then adjusting the thermostat to warm is going to help. Do it when going for dinner so that you find a warm room when you come back.
Forming relationship
Take the time to know the hotel staff like the hotel manager, front desk staff, front desk supervisor, etc. It is good to know someone’s name beforehand when you want something from them.
It Is also great to be recognized when you come back to the hotel. You earn face recognition from frequent visits and maybe name recognition, but exchanging sentences about each other’s lives from time to time is going to make them feel valued.
Knowing your hotel
Before you choose a given hotel, visit TripAdvisor to learn more about hotels in Durham. You should do this even if you are stuck with a hotel that the company picked.
Protecting your health
It doesn’t hurt to know the 5-minute inspection for bedbugs. At night, put the shoes on the desk. Don’t use the luggage rack in the hotel.
Making returning stress-free
When you arrive, unpack even if you don’t feel like it. Imagine returning to the hotel on the first day of your trip then realizing you have to unpack.
Showing good manners
Treat the housekeeping staff with respect and tip them every day. They don’t get tips when checking in. Tip the staff at least $3-5 a day. You can leave the tip on the bed as you leave. It is not a good idea to put it on the bedside table because they will assume you forgot the money.
Showing more good manners
You can leave a thank-you note for the front-desk supervisor or hotel managers who have gone out of their way to make sure you feel welcome.
If there is a serious problem, leave a note asking them to contact you to talk about it. don’t go leaving rants on online reviews sites before talking to the manager because that is not nice.
Staying in touch
Have a unified messaging number. This is also known as a follow-me number. Travel is a lot of stress without even having to check your voice mail services. Another popular option is Google voice. There are many such services, get one for yourself.