Happy New Year! I travel more than anyone else I know!! This gives me lots of opportunities to encounter fellow travellers and observe their behaviour and mine. Sometimes it’s exemplary, and sometimes it’s been appalling. As we usher in 2024, here are some suggestions to shape a more considerate and enjoyable travel environment for everyone involved.
1. Respect each Other Can we just treat others with some level of care, interest, awareness, and concern? We don’t have to be best buddies, but let’s not ignore each other, scream at each other, and trample each other as we explore our world.
2. Treat Staff Better: Last month, watched a fellow customer scream at an airport employee because he hadn’t found the camera bag the passenger had left on the plane, as fast as the passenger believed he deserved it. Come on, people, how old are we? Are we adults? Rather than frustration, can we offer understanding to hotel staff, airline personnel, and those in the service industry? (the bag arrived after 23 minutes of screaming)
3. Be Prepared: Familiarity with your routes, having documents in order, understanding your options, and knowing what to do in case of an emergency all contribute to a smooth journey for everyone involved. Please remember we are responsible for our tickets, bookings, appointments, and accommodation, not airline, railway company, airport, hotel, or other passengers.
4. Protect Our World: Finding ways to reduce my travel impact on the planet with less travel, train usage, public transit over cars, reducing food waste, offsetting miles, and disposing of cigarettes, rubbish, and food waste thoughtfully. Together, we can create a healthier world for everyone.
5 Reduce Our Load: Not carrying much luggage has many benefits – less stress, more space on trains, and easier to transport, carry, and store. Take those extra shoes out of your bag now!
6. Listen to Instructions: From airport check-in agents to travel agencies to airline staff, it is so irritating to watch people ignore announcements and then not have a clue what to do next! These people then slow processes down, cause disruption to other passengers, and frustrate staff.
7. Local Connections: We do not travel in a bubble. We will all interact with the locals, their language, restaurants, cafes, culture, and religious sites. We can choose to treat others in various ways, from awe to respect to contempt. I have seen fellow travellers do all of these things. In this case, the Golden Rule applies.
8 No to Public Noise: Recently, in an airport Business lounge, a fellow passenger and I had a shocked giggle listening to a man contribute to a Zoom conference on a private Human Resources matter at full volume. From 100 meters away, we could hear every word. Public spaces are increasingly disrupted by the unintended noise of technology, from TikTok videos to FaceTime calls. Mitigating the impact of public noise is so simple – use headphones.
9. Public Hygiene is Non-Negotiable: From 2023 observations: please wash your hands, mask up when needed, put shoes on when walking in planes (I would say never take them off unless you are in a Business class suite!)
Also, please keep feet off tables, and no topless napping in airport lounges (seriously). No, I did not take a photo.
10. Go Easy on the Grog: Most incidents I’ve seen involve tourists consuming too much at the wrong time and place. Recently, on a Malaysia Airlines flight, the last two Business class passengers boarded drunk, obnoxious and rude. They fell asleep 20 minutes into the two-hour flight, much to the relief of the crew and passengers.
In 2024, let’s not merely travel; let’s embark on a journey that enriches not only our individual experiences but also the tapestry of global travel. Here’s to a year of meaningful and harmonious journeys for all!
In 2024, let’s not merely travel; let’s embark on a journey that enriches not only our individual experiences but also the tapestry of global travel. Here’s to a year of meaningful and harmonious journeys for all! What would you add to my list?
I thoroughly enjoyed your insightful blog post on travel etiquette for 2024! Your suggestions resonate with my own travel experiences, and I appreciate the emphasis on respect, preparedness, and minimizing our impact on the environment. The mention of Morocco Desert tours adds an adventurous touch, making me eager to explore these captivating destinations. Here’s to a year of meaningful and harmonious journeys for all!