Vacationers Show Patience in Unpleasant Situations
PLYMOUTH, Minn. -- While air travel etiquette -- or the lack thereof -- is a frequent topic of conversation among travelers, there are thousands of more common travel scenarios that deserve discussion about how best to resolve or defuse an unpleasant situation.
Should you tip, for instance, if a bellman grabbed your bags and carried them off when you didn't ask for help?
Travel Leaders Group asked Americans how they would handle uncomfortable -- yet fairly common -- travel dilemmas like this, and some of the answers could surprise you. With airplane overhead bin space at a premium, for example, nearly 75% of survey participants insist they try to get as close to their assigned seat as possible before placing their carry-on in the overhead space.
Those who vacation at resorts have a low tolerance for others who save beach chairs and then don’t use them: more than 66% of those polled said their limit would be two hours or less before they seized the unoccupied chair.
“Children at adult-only pools prompted a wide variety of responses,” said Barry Liben, Travel Leaders CEO, in a prepared statement. "Some of the questions in our survey may seem humorous, but they can have a real impact on one's overall travel experience. Since there's no official playbook or handbook on proper travel etiquette, this survey -- along with the sage advice from our professional travel agents -- can assist travelers so they are able to face these uncomfortable travel scenarios with confidence."
Among the key findings:
- When asked, "If you were on vacation at a hotel or resort and someone "saved" a beach chair yet was nowhere in sight, how long would you wait before taking that chair if no others were available?" Less than one hour, said 24.1% of respondents. But 28.7% would wait an hour, and a surprising 29.8% would wait more than four hours to claim the chair.
- In response to the question, “If a bellman at a hotel/resort grabbed your luggage and started taking it to your car/cab or room without you asking for assistance, would you still tip the bellman?” 48.8% of respondents would tip the usual amount while 32.4% would tip less than normal. Just 18.8% would refuse to tip because they didn't ask for assistance.
- Whether to tip for maid service at a hotel or resort generated these responses: 35% said they tip every day regardless of the length of stay; 17.6% said they tip only if staying more than one night; 26.3% never tip the maid service.
- As to the question, “What would you do if another guest brought a child or children to an adults-only pool area, 27.8% said they'd complain only if the kids were disruptive, but 27.2% would complain regardless because the pool is reserved for adults. And, 27.2% would stay silent.
- What if loud noises were coming from the room next door or above or below the room where you’re staying? Nearly 90% would call the front desk and ask that hotl staff deal with the issue. Only 8.9% would do nothing, and 1.9% would bang on the wall, floor or ceiling to get the message across.
Many hotels and resorts say they’re trying to conserve water and energy and so they ask guests to consider reusing their towels. In response, 49.8% said they always try to reuse towels, 38.8% sometimes do and other times don't, and 11.4% always toss them on the floor.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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