Tidbits for the Un-seasoned Traveler, Part II

After writing Tidbits for the Un-seasoned Traveler (Part I)…and at the time, I didn’t know there would be more than one, I happened to be traveling again, and was provided with inspiration for a sequel. People-watching makes for some great content. This is what dawned on me as I sat in the hotel lobby attempting to eat my complimentary hotel breakfast. This experience created a great opportunity to impart a few more Tidbits for the Un-seasoned Traveler as I was at this hotel for a week in a convention-centric city. Allow me to share.

1. This is not your home. This is a hotel. Put your clothes on to come to breakfast. There are people here who you don’t know; families with children and people on their way to work. It is just plain rude to think that it is socially acceptable to show up in public without your clothes on. It is not a zoom call, you are actually here.
2. Put your shoes on. Again, this is not your home. You are leaving your room and entering a public shared space. Nobody wants to see your gnarly toes before coffee. It’s incredibly unappetizing. Why do you think historically stores have had signs in their windows, “No shirt, No shoes, No service?”
3. The complimentary breakfast is a nice addition to your stay at the hotel. It is usually continental-style meaning, there are light offerings of eggs, sausage, cereal, muffins, bagels, yogurt, coffee, juice, and the occasional waffle station. It’s not designed to be the hearty, all-you-can-eat Las Vegas buffet for $9.99. If you are that hungry, head out for a proper breakfast.
4. Clean up after yourself. I am sure (or at least I hope) you don’t drop food on the floor, leave dirty plates on the table, spill sugar and creamer on the countertops, and leave your chair pushed away from the table at home. Staying at a hotel and partaking in the in-house breakfast does not give you permission to forget your manners.
5. After the world came to a stop, hospitality workers are hard to come by. Most hotels are still working with a less-than-ideal number of staff members. Some hotels are scheduling their staff to work in unfamiliar departments. They are learning on-the-job how to do things like front desk, housekeeping, and yes, setting up and cleaning up breakfast. While taking advantage of a breakfast you have the convenience of coming downstairs to eat, please be kind to those who are serving you.

This is another one of those fun-to-write, public service announcements that I hope enlightens those who don’t travel all that often and humors those of us that do.

Do you have any additional tips for unseasoned travelers? I’d love to hear them!
Please email them to me!

Do you know someone who plans events? This blog was created to shorten the learning curve and share tidbits from someone who’s been there, done that. Pass it on!

I have turned the Tidbits for Unseasoned Travelers into a page on my website.
Read all of the helpful insights here!