Euro Travel & More

I’ve worked in the hotel industry for the longest time – from the back office to the front desk and have also traveled to the West and to Europe a lot because of work.  Once a General Manager in Asia asked me how different is the service in asia as compared to the west and I cannot begin to describe what I feel about the Western hospitality.

If you have met any of the Westerners in the hotels that I’ve worked in – they are amazed at how well and respected they are treated – so much so – that they get spoiled in Asia.  Many businessmen who comes into the hotels that I’ve worked in – tells me that they don’t want to leave Asia and once upon a time I didn’t understand at all.

But after living in the West for so long and traveled around the West for so long – I can now fully understand the difference.  How different?  very!  while the receptionist in Asia tries their very best to accommodate your needs – in the West – the General Manager in a hotel – would never return your call even though you try to contact them for a reservation because the reservation department don’t answer their phones.

When you check into the hotel – there are no bell hops to help you – and when you ask for a late check out they can’t give you a straight answers.  While Asian hotels will negotiate the room rates – or long staying rates – our Western counterparts – don’t seems to care if the rooms are filled or not?   People in the hospitality industry in the West are less attentive to the needs of their customers it seems. And yes – i missed the Asian hospitality – and one can never explain to the West how they can treat their house guests better – because they don’t really care – so it seems.  What are your experiences?  care to share with me?

The happiest vacation I’ve had was a road trip around Thailand – I was a lot younger – a lot more adventurous and a lot more daring – or is it brave? Road trips are a common thing in the West but for a few friends going for a road trip on an RV – was considered rare.  It’s like going backpacking in Europe – where our parents frowned upon – not because Asians do not travel – but they see traveling in RVs or backpacking as something way too dangerous.  They forget that we are pretty capable of taking care of ourselves and if the RV broke down – there is  rv towing all over the world too.

The road trip around Thailand was most fun because – you get to zip around in tuk-tuks – very cheaply and everything was so cheap back then – some 20 yrs ago.   We didn’t go to sleazy bars or night clubs nor Patpong – but we were in Koh Samui before it was developed into a touristy place.   We experienced the nature and all the wonderful temples in Thailand – plus don’t forget the mermaid beach in Hatyai – one of my favorite places to be – and just sitting around and watching the working girls go by.   I don’t really know how expensive it would be now to take a road trip around Thailand – but when we did 20 yrs ago  – it was and experience of a lifetime and definitely cheap!

Many people had asked me before if one can really use your air miles to fly and if it was worth collecting them.  Well, we own our own business and we’ve tried getting the Air Miles franchise opportunities for our store as well but they didn’t really need one for the kind of store we have. So yes, it really works and you not only can exchange your miles for air tickets and holidays, you can also exchange them for electronics and other stuff.

But for those who are planning to use their air miles, let me forewarn you about the length and time needed and taken to plan a trip – so if you are using your air miles, try to plan earlier and also to reconfirm a week in advance in form of paper.  Also go to the airport earlier – just in case there is any glitches.

Service apartments in Singapore are aplenty – I know so because i hailed from there and also worked in one before joining the hotel industry later.  I wouldn’t name which service apartment i worked for but it is one of the most prestigious in town – Orchard area.

Why do some guests choose to stay in service apartments instead of hotels..?? are they less expensive..?? more private ? or what is the catch here?  I really didn’t find the service apartments any less expensive and if you get a good hotel and is a long staying guest, you might as well stay in a hotel.  Why? because you get a lot more from a hotel in my opinion – but of course, if you are with the entire family – well the service apartment will offer more and a small kitchen for the family too.  They have all the furniture, aircon, air filter are cleaned regularly and have maid services once a week i think.   Some very high end service apartments have a business center too – so if you are a businessman you can take advantage of it as well.

The receptionist or service agents treat their guest as well as the ones in the hotel – but as we all know – you cannot be seen going being overly friendly with them – because they are told never to close to their guests or they may lose their jobs.  But many a times, i’ve seen and heard otherwise – so wives with husband going on long term business trip – just a heads up.

Many had asked me about where to go for winter, truth be told, i would love to fly to Perth, when we have winter here.  But Perth is the other way around and planning for  orlando vacations like most people would in this part of the world, would be a lot more feasible.  Why..?? well, first off .. Orlando is a lot closer, so the airfare .. and accommodation is so much more cheaper.. and value for money.

Some choose Cuba.. and i love Cuba and Mexico too.. but once you are there.. it’s like the whole of Canada.. and US residents are there.  And a vacation is a time where you wanna get away from everything familiar right..??  so just imagine.. bumping into someone you know from your town…  now that can’t be that fun.  hahhaha!!!   So where do you go for your winter vacation..??  which spot is your favorite..?? some i know goes back to the same place year after year.  Are you like that..??

Been on a cruise lately..?? if you haven’t .. you might want to consider the world’s largest cruise ship that set sail today.. to Florida.  The Oasis of the Seas is what it is called .. and it does have the state of the art traveling city, complete with shopping mall, several bars and restaurant.  I hear it even has an outdoor amphitheatre the size of a football field.  I know what you ladies are thinking about ?   the spa right..?? i’m pretty sure they have awesome high tech spa on board with great spa filters for every room and the works.  Yes..! it’s gigantic.. did i tell you that ..??  with 16 passenger decks..  wow..!!

I don’t know how much it is going to cost.. but i think it will be worth every penny you pay for.  But the funny thing about such huge cruise ship..  one cannot but think of the titanic.  Sure it is grand.. ! but what if something were to happen..??  hahahaha!! paranoia .. sets in.. in this helicopter mom.

For those who’ve traveled with United, US Airways, Lufthansa and Air Canada, will not find Star Alliance a starnger at all.  In fact, you will know that Star Alliance is one of the biggest airline group with 25 members with them.  You will be glad the next time you fly Continental, you will have many options when it comes to connecting flight and the likes.  I think they must also use barcode scanners like the ones back home when you check in your luggage by now.  So the next time.. you fly continental .. you know you have a lot of other options as well.

So you have a business or vacation trip.. and now you not only have the flu season here.. there is the H1N1 swine flu, you have to be afraid of.  So do you cancel your trip..?? and stay home.. and wait for the flu season to be over.. ??  Or can one travel.. since you’ve heard .. the swine flu is quite deadly..?? So the question again..  can one travel .. during all these outbreaks.. or do one stay home and do alli reviews instead.

Experts said.. that if you are on the high risk list – then you should try to avoid traveling. So who are the high risk group..??  If  you are a pregnant woman .. or adult over 65, babies and a kid under 5 and if you have chronic illness .. then you should speak with your family doctor first.

Health screening in other countries.. are not guaranteed .. but at this time.. in the USA .. they are saying they will not be screening.   Wearing a mask may not prevent you from catching the flu or H1N1 .. but washing your hands.. with soap and water.. plus not putting things in the seat pockets of your flight.. may save you the hassle of seeing a doctor during your vacation or business trip.

Note that.. you will not be guaranteed a refund.. even if the hotel or the country you are going to .. has an outbreak.. just before you leave for your trip.  But you can always ask.. and the hotel or travel agent .. may be able to compromise. Make sure you by travel insurance.. because they may not refund you for the canceled trip.. you will always be reimburse .. when you get sick during the trip.. or vacation.. and need medical care.

We’ve often heard that when you have a baby on board a plane, you and your child gets a lifetime free flight with the airline.  But one wonder how you can get on the plane.. when you are about to give birth right..?? plus if it was an emergency delivery.. which woman in the world would want it.. at 10,000 feet high in the air..  with no doctors right..?? one could die .. of complication even in the hospital.. so in the air.. with no proper medication .. and proper facilities..  even if you have an online backup like a doctor on speaker.. or online.. it’s still not the same.  Anyhow, someone .. mother and son are gonna have free flights for the rest of their life..  from AirAsia.  Mother gave birth to a baby boy on flight from Penang to Kuching .. and lucky for her..  there was a doctor on board.  Would you wanna hav a lifetime of free flight?

The airline failed to set aside the special meal you requested. The dry cleaner didn’t press your suit on time. The online retailer bungled delivery of a gift that really mattered to you.

When confronted with such situations, do you sometimes think it will end up being too much hassle to speak up about it? Or do you swing in the opposite direction, getting so overheated and going so ballistic that you can never do business with the erring company again?

Here’s the problem with those approaches: They frequently result in unpleasant consequences for you, either in the short term or in the long term. Take heart, though: There is another way to proceed. The following tips can help you lodge complaints in an effective — rather than a futile — way.

. Stay calm. Make a genuine effort not to get emotional. Doing so could damage your argument and your credibility. Behave as professionally as possible, and always remember this: You’re talking to a fellow human being. In many cases, the person on the receiving end of your complaint may not have had anything to do with what went wrong.

2. Don’t dally. If you want a quick resolution to your problem, don’t wait weeks and weeks to complain about it. Immediate action can get the ball rolling and help the customer service representatives in question take your situation more seriously.

3. Seek special treatment if warranted. Do you do lots of business with the company in question? If so, be sure to mention that in all of your conversations and correspondence about the complaint. It really should count for something.

4. Try the easiest approach first. Call, e-mail or visit the company’s customer service department. Explain your situation clearly, and say how you would like to see it resolved. This step alone could make the problem evaporate. If the first customer service representative you reach turns out to be unhelpful, ask to speak with that person’s manager.

5. Keep good records. If none of that works, start writing down notes about each encounter you’ve had with people at the company. Your documentation will demonstrate your efforts to resolve the problem.

6. Write to the right person. Draft a concise letter to the president or chief executive officer of the company. You can get that person’s name by calling the company, visiting the company’s Web site or going through Hoover’s or Vault. In some cases you’ll be able to e-mail the person directly; in others you might have to mail your letter to the person’s attention at corporate headquarters.

7. Be polite. Whether you e-mail it or snail-mail it, your letter should open with a sentence that captures your reader’s attention, perhaps by saying you are dismayed or shocked. But be courteous throughout the letter, thanking the person in advance for what he or she is going to do for you.

source :msnbc