• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Wandering Carol's

Seeking Elsewhere Magazine

Luxury Travel Magazine

  • Home
  • About Seeking Elsewhere
  • Destinations
    • Asia Travel
    • Caribbean Travel
    • Europe Travel
      • Austria
      • Czech Republic
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Ireland Travel
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Wales
    • North America Travel
      • Canada Travel
      • Mexico Travel
      • USA Travel
  • Spas and Wellness
  • Experiences
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Romantic Travel
    • Sacred Places
    • Adventure
    • Solo Travel
  • Contact

Why I resent travel

Luxury travel blog » Travel » Travel disasters » Why I resent travel
May 23, 2010 by Carol Perehudoff

This post may contain affiliate links.

Take a ride on this!

I must be in some kind of mood today, because nothing would give greater pleasure than listing my pet peeves about travel. Actually, quite a few things would give me more pleasure: a flute of Cristal (how is it that I have never tried Cristal champagne?), having the cash to buy a penthouse in New York with a wraparound terrace and – this may not fit in with the high-livin’ theme – taking a hike on pine-scented trail in the mountains. Only the trail can’t go straight up because I get tired.

Now back to the crap.

Things I hate about hotels:

1) Hotels that hang newspapers on my doorknob and slip the bill under my door and maybe even a little note about express check out under the door. People! I’m trying to sleep. And this wakes me up. Everytime. Leave me alone.

2) Alarm clocks that shriek on at 5:30 a.m. – set by the previous guest.

3) Hotel corridors with loud slamming doors and early birds lugging suitcases down the hall at 6 a.m. shouting, “Henry, are you coming? Did you call the cab? Do you have money to tip the bellman?” People! I’m trying to sleep!

But I hate the non-sound-proofed rooms more than I hate the loud early birds, because really, who is awake enough to be considerate of others at 6 a.m.?

Let me interject here to say what I love … those gracious old hotels in Germany and the Czech Republic (and elsewhere no doubt) with two sets of doors so that there is a little sound-buffering entranceway. And it looks nice, too.

Things I hate about airplanes:

1) Middle seats should be abolished. Completely. Has anyone ever actually requested a middle seat? No! Unless they’re very very weird, or perhaps have a phobia of aisles and windows. Personally, I have a phobia of anything that isn’t a window seat on a long haul flight. I think it’s reverse claustrophia.

2) Confusion. Sometimes I’ll get on a flight and the attendant will say, “Can I put that bag up in the overhead bin for you?” Or, “You can’t find room for your luggage? Here let me find a place for you.” So then the next time I get on a flight I start handing my hand luggage over to an attendant, and she (true story) gives me an angry look and barks, “That’s your own responsibility!” Fine. Just let me know the rules. Don’t toy with me that way.

Things I hate about subways:

1) I have only one resentment, really, at least for the moment … I mean aside from the muggings and the people hitting you with briefcases during rush hour, and the people with rotting bandages sitting beside you in New York (true story) and the police taking away your passport on the Paris metro (true story). No, what I really hate is that nightmare screeching the trains make when they turn a corner or brake into the station, killing your eardrums and giving you long term hearing damage. Toronto – I’m talking about you ! Aren’t there decibel controls?

Okay, that’s it. But don’t worry – I’ll have plenty more things to gripe about soon. Enjoy the long weekend and long live Queen Victoria. Oh, right. She, um, passed away. Enjoy the holiday anyway.

Category: Travel disasters

About Carol Perehudoff

A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 30 writing awards and honours. A spa and luxury travel expert, she’s written for top travel publications around the globe.

Previous Post: « Spa review: The secret Isle of Women
Next Post: Scary Roads of the Cévennes »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cathy Fowler

    June 9, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    Having just returned from Toronto , I can say that being woken up by the phone ringing at 2 a.m. and doors slamming at 3:a.m. is really annoying. Sound proof rooms are taken for granted until you don’t have one.

  2. Cathy Fowler

    May 28, 2010 at 3:21 pm

    Hotel rooms with wicker walls and bathroom doors don’t offer much privacy either. But it is nice to not be surrounded with plastic.Being the only person with a TV set that doesn’t work on the plane is frustrating!

  3. amy

    May 27, 2010 at 5:59 pm

    Can I add, staying at a nice hotel and having a well-meaning but overzealous housekeeper remove some of your clothes from your suitcase and unbeknownst to you, hang them in the closet, so that you leave the nice hotel without half of your best duds? (True story)

  4. bo

    May 26, 2010 at 1:04 pm

    Get over yourself Michelle, the Ryokan is an amazing and beautiful type of hotel in Japan. You missed the whole value of the experience and sound whiney

  5. Michele

    May 24, 2010 at 10:08 am

    Can I add hotel rooms with just a Japanese style door made out of paper separating the bathroom from the living area? There’s nothing quite like carrying on a conversation with your parents – while seated on the toilet – for the ultimate in family togetherness.

Talk to me! Leave a comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Subscribe and you won't miss an article!

luxury travel blogger wandering carol on train

About Wandering Carol

In my 10+ years as a travel writer and columnist I've seen the best of what the world has to offer and written for some top publications around the globe - and now my goal is to bring this expertise to you. For more blah blah blah, visit my
About page.

Connect with me online

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Carol Perehudoff published in top media, logos for newspapers and magazines

Categories

How to use this adventure and luxury travel site

  • Use the SEARCH BOX if you’re looking for something specific.
  • Click on the ‘DESTINATIONS’ tab on the top menu to see the countries we write about.
  • The CATEGORIES drop down menu above will point you to places and popular travel themes such as outdoor adventure and solo travel.
  • SUBSCRIBE to keep up with the latest articles and get tips to make your next journey inspiring.

Inspiration

“Who says you can’t run away?”

Share

Copyright © 2022 · Wandering Carol’s Seeking Elsewhere Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Disclosure and Privacy Policy