October 20th, 2008
Sound Advice: Travel Numbers
There is nothing more stressful than being in a strange city and feeling lost. Wasn’t the hotel that way?
Sure, you can grab a cab and tell the driver you need to go to “the Hilton”, but what if there is more than one Hilton in the area? My solution: my handy dandy cell phone.
As part of my travel planning, I program the phone number to the hotel that will be my home for my trip. This has saved me numerous times whether I am using public transportation (what Metro stop are you closest to?) or renting a car (I’m at 5th and Main and I am lost. How do I get there?) If it’s a city I am likely to visit again, I also program in numbers to favorite restaurants, cab companies, and salons. Because I travel to multiple cities, I file the numbers by city, so that a search of the way-too-many numbers in my contact list can start with “DC” or “Chicago”.
You’d never believe how comforting it can be to be far from home and know that “lost” can be “found” in the few minutes it takes to make a call.
November 1st, 2008 at 1:49 pm
i travel quite a bit… actually, whenever arriving in cities with no hotel reservation, i like to go to the non chains… always more interesting. That’s usually where we find the lost things…
November 6th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
This advice is only good if you’re travelling in the U.S. My husband and I go to Europe every year and have to leave our cellphones at home due to the high rates they charge for using a foreign phone, and I’m not even sure ours works overseas. I can’t wait for the day when you can buy a disposable cellphone, like you can a phone card.
I agree with treespotter that sometimes the non chains are more interesting. Always check the reviews though. Also, sometimes it is fun getting lost, as long as you’re not in a hurry and don’t end up in a dodgy part of town.