An unfamiliar shower can create havoc for the unsuspecting hotel guest

Today I’m going to share with you something that really happened to me before..

Imagine standing in an unfamiliar hotel bathroom, wrestling with an unfamiliar shower. Not an ideal scenario but if you can see the funny side, it can be quite hilarious.

While some hotel bathrooms are fitted easy-to-manage showers, a few are equipped with sophisticated mechanisms that often require serious manipulating before you’re able to set them to the right temperature and spray.

Some showers in older hotels need a couple of minutes to “warm up”, so beware or you’ll be in for a rude shock when icy cold water hits you!

Aware of the havoc that can be wreaked by unadjusted showerhead, you try to alter the setting on the showerhead before turning on the water. But to your horror, the whole showerhead comes off in your hand! What do you do now?

Showers with flexible hoses are easier to manage because you can take them firmly in your hand while you adjust its temperature and pressure. However, if you’re not sure which direction the showerhead is facing, you can easily lose control of the wild, surging water jets.

If the shower curtains or sliding doors are not securely closed, just a few seconds of that fierce flow cloud easily drench the bathroom.

Soaked items by the sink, drip marks on the mirror and flooded floors are all evidence of having lost the battle with that vicious shower.

What’s worse is how some bathrooms are built on the wrong gradient and water collected on the floor does not flow out through the floor traps.

Finally, you have to slosh through ankledeep water to flee from your bathroom skirmish.

The next time you taking for shower, brace yourself and be ready to wrestle with that hotel shower because it often has a life of its own.

Is it happened to you before..?

Be a responsible traveller and keep these tips in mind the next time you go on holiday.

Hi. See you again..

HOW can you, as a tourist, help to reduce the impact of global warming and contribute towards “Green Tourism” and promote the preservation of the environment?

Here are some tips;

* If you’re staying in a fully serviced room, consider the option of not having your towels and sheets changed every day. This will save the water and electricity required to watch them after just one use.

* Conserve energy by keeping your air-conditioning at a minimum. Though someone else might be paying the bill, it is Mother Nature that ultimately foots the bill. If the air-conditioning is controlled by your card, avoid leaving a second card in the switch to keep it running while you are out. If you can control the temperature, try and avoid having it as cold as possible. Every degree you save will save degrees of electricity..so get the temperature right.

* Turn off the lights and electrical appliances whenever you leave the room. If you are staying in a property without a system to shut everything down when you leave the room, be mindful about turning off the lights and appliances whenever you are not using them.

* Turn electrical appliances off at the wall when you are not using them. (Also remember to turn them off at your home when you go away).

* Consider public transport options. It is not only cheaper but it is also a better option for the environment and you would even be surprised about the time savings it can offer.

* Leave the hotel mini-bar fridge door closed. It will not only help reduce carbon footprint but will also help reduce your waistline and the excess costs.

* Whenever possible, take the stairs instead of the lift. It will also help you burn off the extra holiday calories.

* Travel light - every extra bit fuel to lug around (whether by car, plane or taxi).

* Walk around the city. If you are staying centrally and have the time, most cities are best explored by foot. You will see much more than hidden below the ground in a train and will get a better feel for the layout of the city and its sights.

* Keep an efficient shower routine. Water supplies around the world are low - so even if it is not your water bill, you can still do your bit.

‘Check out time is noon’ are not words I want to hear as it translates into a hurried, stressed-out morning of packing and a weary drive home in the hot sun.

Hi everybody…Happy New year! In this new year, I have one simple question for you…..

Don’t you just hate having to check out of hotels at noon? That is when the sun is often merciless and hot steam forms mirage in the distance, causing you to drive with a sleepy head or your temper to flare.

More so when you have screaming kids in the car or your stomach is rumbling because you don’t have time for lunch before you check out.

Earlier, you or your wife would have had to scream at the kids to get out of the swimming pool, bathe, get dry and help with the packing.

The stress would have started much..much earlier when you wake the family to get a bite of the “free” breakfast (that comes with the room package). It doesn’t help that they would have quickly chomped the food just so that they could have one “last dip” in the pool, a last dip would soon become many more “last” dips until you look and find that it’s almost soon.

Then all hell would break loose. If you had not packed yet, you’ll hurried dump everything into your luggage and drag the little ones to the check-out counter to pay the bill. Then it’s out on the road in the hot sun, looking for a place to eat before the drive home. What a horrid end to a holiday.

This is why I often request for a late check-out. Most hotels will allow free extended stay until 1pm (not much difference from noon but having an extra hour is nice) or up to 3pm, subject of course to room availability.

Personally, I prefer to pay a bit more and check out at either 5pm or 6pm. This way, I could have a nice lunch, a little nap and pack at leisure. The children too would have had lunch and settled down by then.

An evening drive home is so much more pleasant, even if it’s a long drive. This would be a perfect ending to your holidays. Agree with me..?