Holiday Travel Tips | Travel Tips for Holiday Around the World

Airport Smokers Lounge

April 18, 2010 tikus 50 comments

I booked my accomodation via agoda.com and Booking.com

In my recent trip to Europe for a bit of skiing and sightseeing around Italy and Greece, it became obvious to me, the challenges of being a smoker whilst traveling around various parts of the world. As far as I know, it is now virtually impossible to smoke in airplanes and also in most types of public transit around the world.

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Flying long distance certainly stresses me out just thinking of being cooped up in a plane for more than 7 hours without being able to smoke. Worst still is upon arrival at your transit or final destination and not being able to smoke in the airport somewhere – just anywhere. Certainly, one of the better airports to be stuck in, is Singapore’s Changi airport, if you are a smoker. This smoker-friendly airport has open air smoking lounges sprinkled throughout all it’s terminals!

Totally opposite to this (in my opinion) democratic and respectful attitude to smokers, are all the airports in Australia. None of the Australian airports has any facility for smokers but lots of bars or pubs if you like to get totally drunk – what does that say about Australian airports? It’s okay to get drunk and be a public nuisance but not okay to smoke in a smoking lounge and kill yourself from passive smoking? Such an archaic stance as far as civil liberties are concerned – why penalize smokers if they are not harming anyone else especially if they are in smoking lounges.

Dubai airport is also interesting – there is only one smoking lounge in the whole airport and it’s located in Terminal 1 which can be a fair walk away from some of the Departure Lounges. However, they have many restaurants and pubs throughout the airport which allows you to smoke in them if you are willing to pay for expensive drink or food. What a novel way of increasing revenue for these restaurants and bars! Let’s penalize smokers by getting them to drink or eat at these expensive places. Meanwhile, back at the one and only smoking lounge in Dubai airport, everyone is trying to squeeze into the lounge for a last smoke before embarking – tuff.

Athens airport was a delight! Upon arrival and even before Immigration or Customs, there was a small corner where alighting passengers could have a quick puff. Hopefully, this doesn’t change when the new anti-smoking laws come into effect in Greece. The birthplace of Democracy certainly appreciates the rights of smokers!

In Rome’s Fumicino airport, I also found a few smoking lounges scattered throughout the airport which I was grateful for.
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So, does anyone else know any other airports around the world which are smoker friendly – let us know here and we poor smokers of the world can make sure that we don’t transit or depart or arrive at airports that are not smoking friendly. In summary:

Singapore Changi airport – SF (Smoker Friendly)

Dubai airport – SF if you are willing to pay for expensive food or drinks

Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane/Adelaide airports – Definitely NOT SF.

Athens airport – SF currently

Rome’s Fumicino airport – SF

Johor Bahru airport, Malaysia – SF

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Holiday Travel Tips, Interesting Facts, Smokers Smokers Lounge

Holiday Tips for the Disabled

April 3, 2010 tikus 8 comments

I booked my accomodation via agoda.com and Booking.com

The following tips and resources will help disabled holiday makers and travellers and their companions anticipate some of the snags of accessible travel.While this would be the case in a perfect world, it doesn’t always work out that way in real life.

The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees that disabled holiday makers and travellers receive equal treatment under the law.Each person’s needs are a little different, and travelling in cookie-cutter airline seats, hotel rooms and rental car fleets can be very tricky.Compounding the problem is the fact that there are as many disabilities as there are disabled folks.Meanwhile, the sheer abundance of information on accessible travel is astounding — much of it generated by disabled travelers themselves.Travel by people with disabilities, also known as “disabled travel” or “accessible travel,” is on the rise.

Despite having common sense, considerable public sentiment and strength in numbers, disabled holiday makers and elers frequently face inadequate facilities, prejudice, misinformation, general hassles and higher prices than other travelers.The holiday and travel industry waking up to disabled travelers’ special needs by providing more services and greater accommodation.

Everyone travelling needs are different, Check out these helpful links:- airline seats, hotel rooms and rental car fleets.

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Legally service providers are required in many cases to accommodate travellers with special needs. The Air Carrier Access Act requires that you give the airline at least 48 hours’ notice if you are travelling with a group of 10 or more disabled passengers. It is appropriate and out of courtesy that you call the airlines ahead 24 to 48 hours. It also pays to mention your needs at the time of reservation, and call the provider before your arrival to confirm that proper accommodations have been made. As you can understand, these circumstances need special arrangements.

Be specific and clear when describing a disability. Not all service providers know the “lingo” of accessible travel, or the medical terms for certain conditions. Don’t downplay the severity of the disability. Some companies arrange trips for folks according to the level of “self-care” of which they are capable.

Check with your doctor as to whether it is advisable to travel. Be specific and clear when describing the trip to your doctor. A doctor can often prescribe measures for coping with an unusually long flight, limited medical facilities at your destination, the unavailability of prescription drugs, and other pitfalls of travelling. It is wise to get a letter from your doctor, listing out your medical conditions. medications and any possible complications.

As you well know, luggage can be lost in transit, so bring extra medication in your hand carry luggage.

Depending on the seriousness of your condition, it might pay to investigate if there is a doctor readily available where you are travelling to.

Aother important point to consider while on holiday is to keep in your person, readily information on your medical condition such as allegies etc.

Ensure that you have plenty of time befoe checking in all the way to your gate for boarding and also check with the air hostesses an plan of exit upon arrival at your destination.

Oh yes, bring spare parts and tools for your wheelchair. Understand that although airlines and airport will try to cater for your needs, most would not have the necessarily parts & tools to assist you in case of emergency repairs.