Not a “words” blog post, but a travel-related post. If any of you have traveled in 2022 (this year for me includes 2 of my regular annual trips plus 1 new trip PLUS 4 trips that were previously scheduled in 2020 and 2021 that were moved to 2022 – yowza!), you may have encountered . . . shall we say – crowds???? Confusion? Lack of staffing in the airports? Stockholm? I apologize for singling you out this year, but the crowds in the terminal (when I was finally allowed into the terminal) were, as I’ve described them, a “great, big, bait-ball of humanity, turning this way and that,” in an attempt to get into some sort of line (which I failed to see) to allow them to check bags and enter security. What an experience! In contrast to the FABULOUS experience I had in Sigtuna, Sweden 😍 for my nephew’s wedding.
Now, back to the title of this post. I recently took three of those 2022 trips, all within five weeks, traveling to six countries, and staying in ten hotels! At most hotels in the United States, the hair dryer is in the bathroom. It might be on a shelf. It might be in a bag, hanging on the bathroom door hook. At least it would be in the bathroom somewhere where it could be plugged in and used in front of the bathroom mirror. Seems logical, yes?
But in other countries? I have discovered a new game, invented by hotel staff, I think. It’s called: “Where Is The Hair Dryer?”
In many non-US hotels, the outlet in the bathroom is for “shavers, only.” So . . . where are the normal outlets and . . . where is the hair dryer????
Before you call the front desk (which I’ve done 🤔), check the following.
CLOSET – hanging somewhere? on a shelf? Lo and behold, maybe there is an outlet INSIDE the closet where the hair dryer should be plugged? Yup – seen that. Hope the outside of the closet door has a mirror and that you have enough cord to extend to almost close the door so you can see what the heck you are doing 😆!
DRAWERS – open all of the drawers. A hotel receptionist in Ireland told me that the hair dryer was in the top drawer of the chest of drawers (or bureau). [NOTE: some hotel desks also have drawers, so be sure to check there, too, which is where I found a hair dryer in another country.] She was polite, but gave me the distinct impression that Americans were SO clueless… All right, lesson learned! The next time I went overseas, I knew to search for the hair dryer in drawers – next to the mini-refrigerator, under the bedroom lamp, in the closet, under the TV. Voila! I have found the hair dryer in all hotels since I learned not to expect them to be in the bathroom. AND to search for the appropriate outlet (London hotel – all of the outlets were under a sliding bar on top of the desk – surprise! But no mirror above the desk. The hair dryer cord was long enough to barely make it into the bathroom so I could look in that mirror. Sigh….)
I recently stayed at a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. Couldn’t find the hair dryer. So, I started looking in drawers, completely forgetting that I was in the United States! It was in the bathroom, but SO FAR under the sink, hidden behind the towels, that I had not seen it the first time I looked. 😛🙃!!
What an exciting year of travels and moving ahead to a new lack of normalcy! You’ve known me for a long time, hairdryers and I are not acquainted, so I know nothing of this struggle, lol.
Having done some traveling this year to a few very different places, what stands out from your journey is the ‘terminal crisis’. People galore in every nook and cranny!
Hotel and resort staff and amenities are a scramble for necessities, like ‘find the coffee’, which is not a fun game. The lack of in-room coffee and/or availability of coffee deliverable by hotel staff was a new puzzle I don’t want to play with! Where’s the coffee…and cups or glasses?! None to be found and none available by any means….When did the happen?!
The search was so disappointing that I now travel with a portable tea kettle, plug and adapter required. Also in my go-bag are collapsible cups, instant coffee, and a box of soy milk, no frothed added to the gear, yet!
As someone who has begrudgingly had to say goodbye to the in-room mini-bar, for the snacks not the drinks, I never thought I’d miss a hotel luxury as much as aa $15 bag of trail mix after a 12 hour travel day, but my true love, coffee, is now ahead for the win!
Tough experience at Arlanda, shucks! We had pretty smooth sailing, but it happened to be the day SAS pilots went on strike so most of the airport was empty 😉
I wonder if a travel milk frother has a market…
You’ve motivated me to begin a search! …And yes, early morning searches for the cleaning cart and at least one caffeinated cup is a tradition. Instant espresso it is! …Dont forget your travel cup! 😉
I had an awakening (you’ll see the joke in a minute) when for some reason the standard American hotel brand coffee comes in a green “pouch” but could be caffeinated! Normally green means decaf, but you have to read the little writing (not easy early in the morning with perhaps someone else sleeping). Went out into the hall to find the cleaning cart (doesn’t everyone do this?) and discovered both kinds of coffee ate green labeled.
I also travel with ground espresso for those desperate times.
I absolutely believe that I have the funniest blog subscribers EVER!!
Billy B – I also thought green meant decaf – thanks for that PSA (another abbreviation I forgot to include in my previous Acronmys post). But I am with you about the cleaning cart!! I didn’t realize it until I walked out of some hotel room a few years ago to find the cart with the towels ALSO supplied with – extra beverage items! And shampoo stuff, etc! A bountiful feast! Haha.
Cindi – I have (not yet) experienced the “no beverage” hotel room – yikes! A “Find the Coffee” game would not be appreciated by . . . oh, let’s say, all of you who commented so far??? Haha.
These comments: “portable tea kettle, plug and adapter required. Also in my go-bag are collapsible cups” reminded me of a couple of things. Collapsible cups are so Girl Scouts! Hiking to a camping site with “canteen and collapsible cups” brings back (fond 🙂 memories. At least we were self-reliant – I guess that’s the point, eh?
The other memory triggered from your comments are from my travel days with my family when I was younger (I’ll let you guess how LONG ago that was). We traveled with this metal coil-thing that you plug in and then put into a cup of water to heat the water. Powdered everything (not espresso, though, not then, anyway 😉)
Eric – I was SO happy to be back in the US when I read about (1) SAS pilots going on strike and (2) Heathrow capping its daily passengers and a tarmac buckling under the extreme heat. I do think, though, per Cindi’s comment, that a travel milk frother sounds like a great patentable item in your future!!
Thanks for all of your comments!!