I live in Florida and write about Florida, so I don’t often travel far enough to fly to my destinations. That eliminates a few complaints that might otherwise make a list like this, like long security lines, baggage fees and delayed flights. But, I do drive a lot and stay in hotels, so there are other situations that just can’t be overlooked because they seem to come up time and time again. See how many of these you can relate to:
- I’m probably not alone when I say I hate dirty restrooms. And, unfortunately, if they are dirty, then it’s likely they also are without toilet paper and soap. Seedy convenience stores and gas stations aside, this is particularly troubling when the restroom is located in a restaurant. It kind of makes you leery about eating the food… or likely sick if you’ve just finished your meal.
Another restroom-related problem is stalls that are too small. I may be a few pounds overweight, but I’m not an obese person. There is just something wrong about having to shimmy along the side of the toilet to close the door on stalls that are too small. Now it seems some places are trimming the size of stalls even more. I’ve been in two recently that my knees touched the door once I sat down. It’s nearly impossible to stand back up, let alone… well, you know. - Notice to all hoteliers. When I request a smoke-free room, I want one that hasn’t been smoked in. A little bit of perfumed spray DOES NOT take away the odor of smoke and further irritates those of us with allergies. If you find that a rude guest has smoked in a non-smoking room — a thorough cleaning of all bedding (including bedspreads), drapes and carpet is the only way to eliminate the odor. Do it… no matter what it costs. It’s worth it in repeat business.
- I try to avoid staying at hotels that charge a “resort fee.” Charlyn Chisholm, About.com’s Guide to Hotels says, “Resort fees are daily charges hotels add to your bill for things you might expect to be complimentary, like access to the fitness center or swimming pool and daily newspaper delivery.” That’s exactly why I stay places that don’t charge a resort fee. When I pay a hefty amount for a hotel room, I expect the amenities to be complimentary. Enough said. (See Charlyn's How to Avoid Hidden Hotel Fees)
- My job depends on Internet access, so it is a must for me when I travel. I’m not sure which I hate more — no Internet access or having to pay for Internet access. Kudos to the businesses that offer free WiFi. To the rest of you, get it and give it away… it is good for your business.
- Lucky for me, I spend a lot of my travel time in theme parks. While I expect theme parks to be moderately crowded, I hate it when they are too crowded. I particularly hate paying too much for theme park tickets only to spend the majority of my day waiting in attraction lines. We all expect some waiting, but when an attraction reaches the two hour mark? Well, that’s simply too long. This will sound harsh, but I agree with About.com’s Theme Parks Guide, Arthur Levine, who says, “While I don't begrudge any park from making money, particularly considering the relatively short peak season, it seems to me they should set a limit for the number of guests they allow inside their gates. Of course, this will make the people shut out quite upset, but there has to be a trade off. And when parks anticipate huge visitor counts, they should do everything they can to increase the number of employees, open all of the rides, and keep things moving as efficiently and equitably as possible.” Amen! (See Arthur's Z Tickets: The Top Ten Worst Things about Theme Parks)
- I hate parking fees. You’ve planned a fun-filled day at a theme park with your family, but before you even park your car you’ve shelled out over $10 to $15? It’s a fact of life. All the parks do it. I still don’t like it. Even more, I hate parking fees at hotels. I rank these right up there with resort fees. Look for these fees primarily in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The per-day charge can get pretty hefty and easily torpedo a vacation budget.
- I hate other travelers. Not really. I just hate the ones that are inconsiderate. If you’ve traveled at all, you’ve met them. They are the ones that cut you off in traffic and cut in line at the theme parks. They are the ones that slam hotel room doors when coming in late at night and usually leave before you do in the morning… and slam the door. They are always loud and their kids are even louder and unruly. Unfortunately, I suspect they’ll keep doing what they do best because they are unaware of their transgressions and completely oblivious to the eye-rolls of those nearby. In simple words, they don’t care about other people.
- I hate the small print on coupons with expiration dates and disclaimers that often makes the coupon absolutely useless. I wrote about this once in The Catch to Coupons, where I mimic Andy Rooney, the lovable curmudgeon of 60 Minutes. I think he'd say, "I like that."
- I hate electronic gadgets in hotel rooms that are not intuitive. I’m talking about TV remotes and alarm clocks. I’m a pretty tech-savvy person, but often you need a PhD in electronics to operate these devices. Have you noticed that the TV remotes seem make it extremely easy to click on pay-for-view (especially porn), but just trying to find your favorite cable channel is often impossible. After oversleeping a couple of times, I have solved the alarm clock dilemma. I now carry a travel alarm.
- I mentioned that I drive a lot, but did I mention that I hate road construction, speed traps and people that drive slow in the passing lane? I also hate stopping to use the restroom only to find it dirty. Oh, I think I mentioned that.
There are things I love about travel too... like coming home to my own bed.
