Travel makes me crazy

Nathan

Nathan

SF VIP
Location
High Desert- Calif.
I guess it's just "getting older" but I don't do well handling the uncertainties of travel. Airport parking...plane flight~connecting plane flight...car rental...hotel arrangements. gBYZJWYN7_8xExVuuPuA.gif

Leaving tomorrow to visit wife's dad for his 90th birthday and Father's Day. Have reservations for a room in Brattleboro, VT, we won't be getting there'til about 2AM, but the front desk closes at 11. I've been calling them, nobody answers the phone! 🤬
I feel like cancelling and making reservations at another hotel, but would still owe this place a days rent plus a pile of fees. 🙄

Another issue is car rental, the agents typically try to make the experience as painful and expensive as possible. 😑
 

I don't think it's just about getting older in the case of traveling. I've felt like about 30 years ago.

We had such a bad experience going to Europe to visit family, I told my husband I wished we would have stayed home before we left the States. The airline delayed our flight from our hometown to the connecting flight at Newark. Once we arrived there, we sat on the tarmac for 45 minutes causing the loss of the Lufthansa seats. We were sent to Continental for seats & was told we may or may not get a flight out of Newark that night. Last minute got our seats. Once in the air, we found a dirty broken toilet on our side of the plane & an unruly passenger who was threatened to be put in cuffs by the steward within 2 hours of being in the air. To top it off, once we arrived in Frankfurt, our luggage was not passed along & it was three days until it finally arrived. 😵🤯

I feel for you & hope your trip goes well once you get started. I'm sure once you arrive & get with your family you will enjoy yourselves. Have a safe trip & truly enjoy yourselves!
 
I still like traveling, in spite of the problems you mentioned. They can be irritating...
Nathan said:
Have reservations for a room in Brattleboro, VT, we won't be getting there'til about 2AM, but the front desk closes at 11. I've been calling them, nobody answers the phone!
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I have found most hotels will accommodate you, leave a key out or something, particularly if you have prepaid. Not all though... Keep trying to call them, or maybe send an email or through their website.

I assume you did not make the reservations directly with them, but used Expedia or something like it. I often use Expedia to find the best deal, but then make the reservation directly with the hotel, if possible. I think you get better service that way, and the hotel makes a bit more money.
 

Regardless of crazy issues, pent up demand has some of the most popular places seeing record travelers.

Europe is hot for summer 2023:
  • Rome, Italy - up 82% year on year.
  • London, UK - up 63% year on year.
  • Paris, France - up 66% year on year.
  • Athens, Greece - up 52% year on year.
  • Barcelona, Spain - up 86% year on year.
  • Istanbul, Turkey - up 183% year on year.
  • Dublin, Ireland - up 10% year on year.
In my case, I leave my vehicle at home in the garage preferring Uber to and from the airport. Any vehicle problems, I don't have to get my hands dirty and don't have to sweat about missing my flight. Haven't rented a car in years and don't plan to. I refuse to compete with families on summer holiday, so my next cruise is strategically planned for October.

Hope things work out on your trip!
 
Nathan said:
Have reservations for a room in Brattleboro, VT, we won't be getting there'til about 2AM, but the front desk closes at 11. I've been calling them, nobody answers the phone! 🤬
I feel like cancelling and making reservations at another hotel, but would still owe this place a days rent plus a pile of fees. 🙄
Click to expand...
Yay! I finally got through on the phone, the hotel guy said they'll be open 24 hrs Thursay-Friday-Saturday. Phew! I can relax now! aBjV8lzWT2NF_XjhehO_.gif

Well, let's put it this way, I can relax IF we make on time to BDL and get over to Avis before they close!
 
After 12 years, 41 countries, 51 trips, 500 travel days, and 17 cruises, we are done with lengthy
travels. Our last trip in 2019, was an Alaskan cruise round trip from LA. NO airports.
Based on videos we see on the news, there is NO way we want to be traveling through any airport.
 
After over 1/2 century of traveling the world, I am glad to just see my own province by car. Don't care for the airports anymore nor the tight seats on the planes. I enjoy meeting and talking to people but find that today most tourists are not viewing what there is to see in any country. They are almost all starring at their phones. Makes traveling rather boring as I can see people starring at their phones here for free.
 
It was a major trip/year. I did house exchanges (to Ireland, New Zealand and my favourite, Australia numerous times.) Both sons live in the UK and I have NO DESIRE to travel. One son visits 2x year; other son and grandson comes once/year. (My incentive to keep my house "clutter free" as sons seem to like throwing things out! (must be a "man" thing as Dad and brother have the same bad habits!)
 
I have had some great trips and some real disasters. I always try to pack my patience too😃. In April I flew to Zurich and both long haul flights had many empty seats and I had an entire row to myself to lay down and sleep.

Because the tour company booked my flights I had to be up 27 hours. That was exhausting. In 2 years when I take my last tour to Europe I intend to call them and tell them I don’t want 3 flights with 2 layovers being 4.5 hours.
 
Nathan said:
I guess it's just "getting older" but I don't do well handling the uncertainties of travel. Airport parking...plane flight~connecting plane flight...car rental...hotel arrangements. View attachment 289369

Leaving tomorrow to visit wife's dad for his 90th birthday and Father's Day. Have reservations for a room in Brattleboro, VT, we won't be getting there'til about 2AM, but the front desk closes at 11. I've been calling them, nobody answers the phone! 🤬
I feel like cancelling and making reservations at another hotel, but would still owe this place a days rent plus a pile of fees. 🙄

Another issue is car rental, the agents typically try to make the experience as painful and expensive as possible. 😑
Click to expand...
I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip Nathan, wish her Dad a happy birthday for me. That sounds very weird about the hotel, I'd feel just like you do if I were in the same situation. I don't travel often, but I like to have all my ducks in order before taking off.

It was early 80s when we went to Hawaii, and had no issues with the flight, the condos or the rental car. Things have changed a lot since then though, sorry to hear renting a car has become such a stressful chore.

Hugs to you and your wife, hopefully things will iron themselves out and you all can relax and have a good time.
 
Nathan said:
I guess it's just "getting older" but I don't do well handling the uncertainties of travel. Airport parking...plane flight~connecting plane flight...car rental...hotel arrangements. View attachment 289369

Leaving tomorrow to visit wife's dad for his 90th birthday and Father's Day. Have reservations for a room in Brattleboro, VT, we won't be getting there'til about 2AM, but the front desk closes at 11. I've been calling them, nobody answers the phone! 🤬
I feel like cancelling and making reservations at another hotel, but would still owe this place a days rent plus a pile of fees. 🙄

Another issue is car rental, the agents typically try to make the experience as painful and expensive as possible. 😑
Click to expand...
Hope all turns out well. My sister lives just across the river from Brattleboro!
I'm due a trip up there. Good luck!
 
bowmore said:
After 12 years, 41 countries, 51 trips, 500 travel days, and 17 cruises, we are done with lengthy
travels. Our last trip in 2019, was an Alaskan cruise round trip from LA. NO airports.
Based on videos we see on the news, there is NO way we want to be traveling through any airport.
Click to expand...
But isn't it great to think back on all the memories and cultural experiences you've had?
 
I don't like traveling, period. My wife and her cronies go on bust trips and I stay and guard the fort. She's away now and this is why I am on the computer. Just need to use some time up. This trip was out west to visit some state parks for 10 days. All inclusive. I told her everything she is going to see is already on YouTube, so stay home and save the money. I get this, "But it's not like being there." Of course it's not like being there. You are not there, but you still get to see everything that is there. Isn't that the point for going?
 

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