Tipping Etiquette While Traveling

Tipping is often one of the most confusing aspects of traveling to navigate, since you have to take into consideration everything from how employees are paid to cultural customs that could have you making a fool of yourself and your server just by leaving that 20 percent tip. So here is your essential guide to all things tipping, from bellboys to waiters.

LUGGING YOUR LUGGAGE

Over the course of your vacation or business trip, you'll probably encounter a host of bell staff, sky caps, porters, shuttle drivers and other attendants ready to save you the trouble of hoisting those heavy bags. Tuck a small roll of dollar bills in an easily accessible pocket, and you'll be ready to produce a buck or two per bag toted. The same tipping practice also applies on multi-day tours when your driver loads and unloads your bags each day. If you need wheelchair assistance to your room or airline gate, tip the assistant at least $3 to $5 in addition to tipping for the bags.

THEY KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP

Besides your bell staff at your hotel, you'll want to tip your housekeeper. Leave a note marked "Housekeeping" with $1 to $5 attached for each day of your stay. Alternatively, leave the tip on the dresser when you check out, especially if you've had extra towels, ironing boards or other special equipment brought up to your room. Have a question? There's no tip needed at the concierge unless you book tickets, tours or dinner reservations. Then, a $5 or greater tip is in order, especially if those tickets or reservations were hard to come by.

Read more HERE

Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico
2205 N Date St
Truth or Consequences NM 87901
575-894-1660
Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico

 

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Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico
2205 N Date St
Truth or Consequences NM 87901
575-894-1660
Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico

5 Space Saving Tips For Your Next Trip

You have your plane tickets, your hotel reservation and your itinerary. Now comes the daunting part: packing your luggage. The temptation to overpack (or underpack) can be strong. To master common challenges and learn how to pack a suitcase, take a cue from these expert travelers.

CHALLENGE #1: YOU’RE A SERIAL OVERPACKER
SOLUTION: LIMIT YOUR LUGGAGE TO A CARRY-ON

Most experts recommend traveling with only a carry-on instead of checking a big suitcase. A carry-on’s small size restricts what you can pack, forcing you to pick versatile clothing.

Sarah Schultz, editor of the travel blog Imagine And Go, uses the capsule wardrobe concept to pack a limited number of items that she can mix and match.

“Until recently, I habitually overpacked and would get frustrated at the amount of unworn clothing and shoes,” she says. “I have a nine-day trip for both work and fun coming up, and I've created a capsule wardrobe with just three pairs of shoes and clothing that all easily fits into a carry on.”

Stock your capsule wardrobe with clothes that can work double-duty. A cardigan can dress up a pair of jeans or dress down a dress. For men, this could mean sticking to one suit with a few different shirts.

Travel productivity expert Marcey Rader takes an innovative approach to tightening her wardrobe. She packs an outfit from a subscription clothing service like Le Tote. After she wears it, she ships the outfit back to the company and journeys on with a lighter load.

 Read more HERE

Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico
2205 N Date St
Truth or Consequences NM 87901
575-894-1660
Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico

 

6 Tips For Your First Time In A New City

When it comes to exploring a new town, some travelers like to wing it. After all, there’s a lot to be said for a day without plans and the freedom to explore. But even if you’re a Type B traveler, you’ll appreciate facing that freedom armed with a little knowledge of how to get around—and maybe a dinner reservation to look forward to. Regardless of your personality type, we believe a little prep work goes a long way. Here are six tips for figuring out what to do in a new city.

READ UP AND GET YOUR BEARINGS

Don’t waste time waiting on botched transportation or getting turned around in a new place. Before you go, take a minute to study a map. Get acquainted with the lay of the land and transportation options where you’re headed. What are the peak times to avoid public transit? Is there a subway? Do the trains stop running early on a certain day of the week? Does your destination offer ride-share programs or bike rentals? By finding the answers to these questions, not only will you save time (and your sanity), but you’ll also impress the locals with your new-city know-how.

DISCOVER WHAT THE LOCALS EAT

And try it with an open mind. In Chicago, Illinois, for example, seek out Portillo’s Chicago dog—topped with mustard (never ketchup!), relish, celery salt, chopped onions, sliced tomatoes, pickle spears and sport peppers, all piled onto a steamed poppy seed bun—a very specific Windy City specialty. Embracing the charming tastes of a new city will supply you with great stories to tell when you return home.

Read more HERE 

Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico
2205 N Date St
Truth or Consequences NM 87901
575-894-1660
Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico

 

Traveling on a Whim

When you’re looking to travel, planning ahead has its benefits. From booking flights to making hotel reservations, everything is perfectly planned out so you don’t have a worry. Even so, there is something to be said for a little spur-of-the-moment action.

Getting into a free-spirited mindset with your trip can lead you down surprising paths, boosting your creativity and happiness. Spontaneous travel decisions like packing your bags and hopping in the car or on a flight allow you to embrace your sense of adventure and curiosity.

There are also countless psychological benefits of flying by the seat of your pants. Taking a spur-of-the-moment vacation can teach you how to be more flexible, manage stress, trust your intuition and allow you to live in the present. Also, not to be overlooked, by embracing spontaneous travel, you can score some great deals too!

KEEP SPONTANEOUS TRAVEL STRESS-FREE WITH THESE TIPS

IN THE AIR

• Many airlines list last-minute deals for the current and following weeks. Pro tip: Choice Privileges (CP) members can also redeem their points for airline miles, including round-trip flights for stateside and international destinations.
• Airline websites like Frontier and Allegiant have everyday low rates. Some airlines slash prices on Sunday and Tuesday for later that week.
• When you book the tickets for your spontaneous travel, fly on weekdays, especially Tuesday or Wednesday, which are more affordable.
• Don’t be afraid to mix and match flights on different airlines. It’s sometimes more cost-effective to buy a one-way ticket.
• Rather than pay full price weeks in advance, you can book the day of and receive significant discounts. And handy apps and sites like GTFO Flights let travelers easily book day-of flights for spontaneous travel.

 Read more HERE 

Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico
2205 N Date St
Truth or Consequences NM 87901
575-894-1660
Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico

5 Times It's Okay To Get Away

Work. Money. School. You can probably list a thousand reasons why you shouldn’t take a vacation. Still, there are a handful of life-at-a-crossroads moments that are so profoundly life altering, only staying occupied can help you move forward—no matter how determined you are to remain idle. From breakups to new babies, here are five major milestones that demand you heed the call of “I need a vacation” and GO!

YOU’VE GONE THROUGH A BREAKUP

You’ve wallowed in self-pity and eaten your weight in chocolate; now comes the upside of the breakup: making up for lost time. A vacation is a chance to do just that. What other occasion offers so many opportunities to exercise your new autonomy? From choosing the destination to planning the itinerary (or not!), every single decision is up to you. And since some personal TLC is the goal here—and you now only have your own needs to meet and consider—you’ve got the green light to be unapologetically selfish. Bonus: A post-split getaway puts some distance between you and your ex in a way that’s much less cliche than a drastic haircut or a “love lost” tattoo.

YOU’VE GOT A BABY ON THE WAY

If your idea of a vacation is R&R served with a sip of pina colada, brace yourself for this hard truth: That dreamy bubble of beachside hammock naps and dance-’til-dawn evenings pops once you have kids. It’s replaced by a web of logistics relating to car seats, nap schedules, picky eating habits and countless soccer matches—and it remains that way until little Jack or Susie turns 18. OK, so we’re being a tad dramatic, but any parent will tell you that traveling with kids in tow is a real challenge. So if you’re expecting a little bundle of joy (whether it’s your first child or your fifth), be sure to book one last rejuvenating hurrah and relish in some uninterrupted quality time with your partner.

YOU’RE GETTING READY TO RELOCATE

Whatever the reason behind your new address, an upcoming move comes with an oft-overlooked perk: a window of opportunity for travel. Say, for example, you’ve accepted a job offer in a new city. Instead of sliding right into your new role, propose a start date that would allow you to sneak in a quick getaway between gigs. Closing on a new home? Push the date back so you can squeeze in a vacay before having to unpack that mini mountain of moving boxes.

YOU’VE EXPERIENCED A PERSONAL LOSS

When grief and sadness seem inescapable, sometimes the best thing to do is, well, escape. Is that to suggest that your sorrow won’t follow you? No. But you might find that a different setting allows you to confront your emotions from a new perspective. More than just a vacation, a getaway can become a personal, spiritual journey during which you allow yourself the luxury of introspection. How will you move forward? What are you capable of? Answering questions such as these may help you heal.

YOU’RE BETWEEN JOBS

Sure, being unemployed is scary. But it’s also downright invigorating, as the world once again becomes open to countless possibilities. Gone are the long hours, the deadlines, the limited vacation days. Gone is your ability to blame your job for your lack of spontaneity. So crunch some numbers, set a travel budget, and seize the day! You can’t predict when you’ll experience freedom like this again. Who knows? You might even return home with a renewed energy and enthusiasm that helps you land your dream job.

Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico
2205 N Date St
Truth or Consequences NM 87901
575-894-1660
Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico

5 Travel Tips from Pro Athletes

We learn some of our most important life lessons from sports—teamwork, sportsmanship, confidence and the value of hard work. So it should come as no surprise that many of the habits practiced by pro teams and athletes can by applied to the way we approach our next vacation. Huddle up to learn these champion strategies.

1. Do Your Homework

Teams often prepare for their next opponent by reviewing hours of game film—that’s how they learn about their rival’s style of play, strengths and weaknesses.

As a traveler, you, too, want to develop good research habits. Take the time to craft a game plan for your chosen destination. Read up on air travel experts for insights on where to eat, stay and play. Dive into the best travel advice and reviews from fellow travelers who may have tips on parts of town to avoid or attractions you won’t want to miss. If you do your research, you’ll arrive prepared, make the most of every minute and leave feeling that you took advantage of every opportunity to score.

2. Come Prepared 

You know the old adage: if you want to get better at something, practice, practice, practice. Athletes spend countless hours perfecting their game. Whether it’s taking extra swings in the batting cage or shooting a few more free throws after practice before calling it a day, athletes are aware of their weaknesses and make the most of practice time.

You can follow this advice when you travel. Going hiking? Prior to your vacation, spend an extra few minutes running uphill on a treadmill every time you work out so you get used to the incline. Exploring a new city on foot? Prepare your legs and your lungs by walking a few miles each day in the months or weeks leading up to your trip to ensure you’re in tip top shape for sightseeing.

 Read more HERE

Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico
2205 N Date St
Truth or Consequences NM 87901
575-894-1660
Comfort Inn and Suites - New Mexico