Handle With Care
When it comes to holiday planning, I’ve always been one of those deadly boring people who plan out their travel details, and where they are going to stay months in advance! Its not even just a recent thing, because back in the 70’s, when my idea of a holiday was a week travelling by train, on a nationwide Rail rover, and staying at hotels each night, I was much the same then. I would plan the route, and book the hotels in the depth of winter, and then do the travel the next summer.
In a sense, to a major degree, nothing has changed. Well, my travel plans tend to be further afield than the UK, but as to having things thought through, well in advance, guilty as charged. Yes, if I’m being honest, assuming (as seems likely after next year) I only plan on 1 trip a year, I pretty much have my destinations sorted out through to 2024, and my planned retirement year trip to Alaska. Obviously now, given the state of my back, I’m not sure if I will still be able to do that sort of travel at that point, but we will see.
So I guess it will surprise no one if I say that the Seattle trip, for next May is pretty well settled on already. Got the flight plan sorted, got the hotel picked out, and I have the money saved up, so I could book it, but…it comes back to my back, and hotel stays. Did you realize, my last hotel stay in the US, that I booked, was April 2015? 3 trips since then, and the only hotels I have stayed in, was booked by somebody else (1 night in Boston, 3 in Mahopac, NY)! Yes, since then, all places that I’ve booked, have been rented out houses/apartments to stay, not at hotels.
Hotels have advantages for ‘old crocks’ like me. You dont need to go out for provisions, you have a coffee machine in the room, and lets face it, thats always a good starting point for me. Also, the one I’m planning to stay at has a breakfast included in the price. Basic, but in truth, all I need is there. There is also the advantage that the room gets cleaned, and made up for me, which will be a blessing too.
But actually, in that comment, is the biggest snag for me with hotels. Yes, the cleaning staff, quite reasonably expect the guests to go out for the day, so they can get in the room, and do their thing. In the past, thats been fine, I was active, and did so anyway. However, on both the last 2 LA trips (yes, I’ve been getting old for a while, in truth), and the Cape Cod stay, one of the big pluses for me was the fact that I didnt have to get out each day. Oh fine, Kate and I barely went anywhere, but that was perfect for me, because that was what I needed, and probably would still need to some degree.
Equally, apartments (and thats what I would rent, on my own, studio ones probably) do mean that if you dont want to, or feel unable to go out for a while, then fine, thats all you have to do. Relax, let your body heal a bit, and… Snag is, unless its very close to facilities, you have to provide for yourself, which means getting provisions on arrival. Last time in LA, I knew there was a supermarket very nearby, so not an issue, but that doesnt always happen!
So, swings and roundabouts…?
So being practical, its all picked out, no more looking for a hotel at least, but I wont be booking just yet! I’m planning to wait until January, or February, then see how the body is, and make the call. If, as I hope, I feel I can get out for a few hours minimum each day, I’ll book the hotel. All provided, no need to carry provisions, and so forth. But yes, if I know the body is going to need ‘long breaks’ between trips, I guess I’ll have to look at an apartment, so that if I need to stay in, one or two days, I can, but…
Yes, it hurts getting old lol!
The video, one of those Super Groups from the late 80’s. Sadly we recently lost another member of this group, and now, out of 5, we have just 2 left. Ah well, we all get old, I guess?
stevielounicks 
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