Top 10 Things People Steal from Hotels

Why do ordinarily honest and conscientious people think that it’s okay to take things from a hotel without paying for them?  My theory is that many times items in a hotel have the name of the hotel on them.  Therefore these items become souvenirs and since no one is watching you in your hotel room or other areas of the hotel it’s unlikely you will get caught.  So are we really honest people or just afraid of getting caught?  Here’s what I have found to be the Top 10 Things People Steal from Hotels.

1. Towels.  Do you really need more towels at home or do you just want to have something that says the name of the place you stayed.  Most times these items are available for sale in the gift Shop.
2. Bathrobes.  Who has enough room in their suitcase to steal a bathrobe?  I say bring a smaller bag and you won’t be able to steal.
3. Ashtrays.  Really?  Ashtrays are not that expensive, just go buy one.  Better yet, quit smoking.  It’s bad for your health.
4. Light bulbs.  Now this is just silly.  Do you really want broken glass in your suitcase if someone smashes it?
5. Batteries out of the TV remote.  Batteries are very expensive so I guess I could see this, but how would you like to be the next guy and not have a remote that works?
6. Bed linens.  Gross.  Do you have any idea what people do on those sheets?  I’m pretty sure housekeeping will notice and you’ll get billed.
7. Shampoo and lotion bottles.  While some hotels may consider taking these as stealing I have to say that these are put there for the guest’s use and if you don’t use them there, why can’t you take them home?
8. Blow dryers.  Do you really want that blow dryer?  In my experience they are never that good anyway.  Go buy your own.
9. Sewing kits.  These are meant to be used in an emergency and really aren’t meant to take home.
10. Bottle openers.  Now I don’t see these very often, probably because someone before me stole it!

SOURCE: HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT SCHOOLS

Stricter punishments for bad passengers

On a recent Southwest Airlines flight, a man dropped his pants and exposed himself to the female passenger sitting next to him, then punched her, according to an FBI affidavit. The plane was in midair, and the naked man reportedly grew angrier, screaming uncontrollably and shaking his fist in the air.

The man had gone “berserk,” said James Scanlon, a 52-year-old passenger who witnessed the August incident.

“He was jeopardizing my safety on that airplane. I was afraid he would rush the cockpit or try to jump out.”

Laws prohibiting interference with flight crews and attendants on aircraft have been on the books for decades. But since the September 11, 2001, attacks, federal officials and airlines have clamped down on misconduct, imposing bigger fines and stricter punishments for passengers who behave badly.

“Now people are more hyper-vigilant on what occurs on aircrafts,” said Ron Koziol, assistant section chief for the FBI’s violent crimes unit, who calls airplanes a “high-risk” environment. “The U.S. government is more aware of what can occur on an aircraft, and [officials] don’t want those issues causing the plane to be in an unsafe environment.”

The FBI reports an average of 80 incidents aboard aircraft each year. The man on the Southwest fight, Darius Chappill, was charged in U.S. District Court in Oakland, California with interference with a flight crew and accused of exposing himself. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which handles unruly incidents deemed to be civil violations, has reported more than 900 cases over the past five years. In 2000, a series of incidents in which passengers verbally harassed and hit crew members prompted the FAA to boost the civil penalty fine for interfering with a crew member from a maximum of $1,100 to $25,000. The FBI usually handles more serious cases of abuse or dangerous behavior.

The FAA numbers don’t reflect all the cases of inappropriate behavior, said Les Dorr, a spokesman for the agency. Crew members are used to experiencing the wrath of passengers who are frustrated by delays and missing baggage. Sometimes, these incidents aren’t severe enough to be reported to government officials.

Many confrontations occur when a flight attendant refuses to serve an intoxicated passenger another alcoholic beverage, according to flight attendants. When the temper tantrums get physical, airline officials may resort to plastic handcuffs and restraining tape.

On a Frontier Airlines flight in July 2007, passenger Tamera Freeman was seen physically abusing her children, who were crying, according to court documents. The court records show that when the flight attendant refused to serve her alcohol, Freeman threw her drink at the attendant.

Crew members subsequently taped Freeman into her seat, and she spent three months in jail for the incident.

Passengers who fail to comply with standard airline policies — such as staying seated when the seat-belt sign is on or turning off electronics when the plane is landing — also spark confrontation, airline attendants said.

Christina Szele, a New York passenger onboard JetBlue Airways in 2008, decided to smoke in her seat last summer despite the no-smoking law implemented on U.S. flights in 1990. Court documents revealed that when flight attendants asked Szele to stop, she began to yell obscenities and racial slurs. The flight was diverted to Denver, Colorado.

Szele later was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Denver to serve five years’ probation for interference with a JetBlue flight crew member. Szele was ordered to participate in anger management and drug and alcohol abuse treatment as well as fined nearly $8,000.

Tim Smith, an American Airlines spokesman, reported a slight decrease in the number of incidents of misconduct this year compared with last year. The number of unruly passenger incidents tracked by the FAA also has dipped since 2004.

The punishment for unruly behavior can be severe. In addition to federal charges, fines and jail time, passengers who are prosecuted may be liable for paying to divert a flight to an unscheduled airport, which can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Depending on the offense, the unruly passenger may be banned from the airline permanently.

But some passengers said they believe the airlines and government are reacting too harshly.

“You can’t have a dispute on board an airline with the flight crew period,” said Charles Slepian, CEO of Foreseeable Risk Analysis Center Inc., a security consulting group. “In some instances, it’s a good thing. But others will say it is a violation of my First Amendment rights.”

Several airlines require their attendants to take courses on how to defuse confrontations and calm passengers who make belligerent threats.

“We have all accepted that when we chose this career path our job is to be a safety professional,” said Kelly Skyles, national safety and security coordinator for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, an organization that represents attendants at American Airlines. “I’m the eyes, ears and nose of the aircraft to report everything to the cockpit. The service part, that’s just a bonus of our job.”

Diana Fairechild, an aviation consultant and flight attendant for two decades, said flying conditions have become more strenuous. Few airlines serve meals on domestic flights, and snacks and drinks are carefully rationed. The seating space is smaller, leaving passengers feeling crunched.

There are more delays, fees and less fresh oxygen on board, she said, which can trigger angry behavior. Fairechild said she has seen the quality of customer service dwindle since September 11 as some crew members have shorter tempers in dealing with passengers who disobey the law.

“Listening helps,” Fairechild said on the skills she used to Deal with rowdy passengers. “Patience. Just being heard makes a big difference.”

CNN published this great story and it shows all of us that we need to be kind travel citizens or there is going to be a consequence. Remember … nice MATTERS!

Stupid Idot Vandals in Las Vegas!

I usually don’t express my opinion so bluntly, but I am sick and tired of the stupid idiots of the world who ruin it for the rest of us! The vandal(s) who marked the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign with graffiti are the king idiots! What benefit does it possibly benefit you from writing or tagging this sign? Was it because you probably didn’t graduate from High School so you want your mom to know you can still write? Is it because you just purchased your first colored marker and didn’t have any paper? IDIOTS!!!

I have to commend Mayor Oscar Goodman for his response to this senseless act. Las Vegas News 3’s Denise Rosch quoted him as saying “I’m disappointed. I’m angry. I’m tired of it, I really am.” He continues “I think the perpetrator of this might think it’s a joke. I don’t think it’s a joke.”

When it comes to clean up, it will take more than a soapy rag and water; the sign is old and the paint has seeped in. “We have a bleaching agent we use. With the sun and heat, after about three days, it should bleach (the paint) out,” says Mike Kightlinger, American Graffiti. A reward is being offered and the mayor is hoping for a public punishment.

“Well, I’ve said cut off their head. That’s good for openers,” Goodman continues. “But the truth of the matter is I’d like to see a stockade downtown. Put this jerk’s head in it and let everybody put a little bit of paint on the nose.”

Bravo! Bravo! To someone actually speaking their mind on this stupid, idiotic display!

On May 1, the sign was entered into the National Register of Historic Places.

Drunk with swine flu?

Swine flu was feared after two passengers were observed with “flu-like symptoms” on an AirTran flight from Cancun to Baltimore/Washington. But the cause turned out to be a simple case of drunkenness, Authorities say. “They were actually ill before boarding,” BWI spokesman Jonathan Dean tells Washington’s WTOP news radio. Either way, the incident caused the other 115 passengers on AirTran Flight 85 to be quarantined for about 40 minutes while health officials examined the allegedly drunk men, according to NBC Washington.

“The airport’s fire and rescue department responded,” Dean tells WTOP. “They evaluated the passengers and determined that there was no public health threat.” FOX 5 of Washington says “the commotion began when AirTran Flight 85 from Cancun, Mexico, radioed ahead to (BWI) that two passengers had nausea and fever, said airport spokesman … Dean.” The Associated Press adds “the two men were isolated and examined, said David Paulson, director of communications for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters said “they simply had too much to drink.”  After refusing further treatment, the two men – along with the flight’s other passengers – were allowed to leave.

For any and all passengers who were delayed to this incident, may we quote Forest Gump – “Stupid is as stupid does.”

Soap and water will NOT kill you

Recently I had to take a business trip for a few days. I started making my travel reservations, using Carefreetrip.com of course, and finding some excellent travel deals. I got packed and headed off to the airport. Upon arriving I was someone irritated, but not surprised, that I had to pay extra for the one bag I checked even though I didn’t have any carry-ons. Upon standing in line to check my bag, I began to notice a very foul odor. I tried rubbing my nose hoping it would just go away – but it didn’t. I then began trying to find where the smell was coming from. Nothing in front of me was giving off this awful smell so I turned around and BAM! It hit me like a tone of bricks. There was this 20-something year old male that smelled like he just crawled out of rock he had been sleeping under for the past three years! I quickly turned around and had to let my eyes water just to clear the stench! I checked my bags and headed to the gate. I was happy to get away from captain stinky.

While waiting for my plane, it happened again. A larger women sat next to me while I was waiting to board my flight. OH MY HECK! STINK! STANK! STUNK! (That is my Grinch reference). You can’t tell me she didn’t know she was going out in public and that a shower or bath would help with any unneeded residue.  The smell was so bad that I had to move to the other side of the terminal. The smell from this lady was so bad that this little older man had to move too and was not quiet about it. He was saying things like “what died in here?” and “smells like someone crapped themselves!” in a very loud voice.

I know that times are tough, for all of us. I know that we all have to make sacrifices to make ends meet – BUT I also know there is a common courtesy that we all need to live by.  A shower, or bath, can take less than 2 minutes and the cost for the water and soap for the time is less than 25 cents. Please, please I beg of you! Clean up if you are going out in public! Soap and water will not kill you and it may improve your social life! I enjoy talking to all kinds of people – young, older, short, tall. The problem is that I can’t enjoy talking to you if I can’t stand being within a 100 feet of you. Please clean up and improve your social life and the air quality – GO CLEAN (and Go Green)!

Best personalized car service in Las Vegas!

Recently I have been going to Las Vegas more on business than ever before. As many business travelers, I get tired of trying to find safe, reliable transportation in areas I may not be very familiar with. Recently I went to Las Vegas and had the WORST cab ride in my entire career – even worse than my cab ride in New Jersey. Then I received an excellent tip from the JW Marriott to use Personal Sedan Services – best travel tip for Las Vegas yet!

Personal Sedan Services boasts that their goal is to provide the smoothest experience, whether you are going to or being picked up from the airport, need stylish transportation for your wedding events, conventions or trade shows – they deliver!

Their cars are amazingly clean! You feel like you just stepped into your own clean car. My driver was the best! Frank helped me with my bags, provided EXCELLENT recommendations for entertainment and dinner, and best of all was NICE! Because of the excellent service I received, I will be using Personal Sedan Services every time I visit Las Vegas. I have forwarded this blog post to their corporate office in hopes that Frank gets the appropriate recognition he deserves!

Whether you are going to the airport, entertaining corporate clients, planning a special event, or taking a tour especially planned for you and your guests, you will travel in luxurious comfort and safety in Personal Sedan Services fleet. Thank you Personal Sedan Services! Thank you Frank for your excellent advise on where to go and what to see as well as providing EXCELLENT customer service!

Carefreetrip.com gives Personal Sedan Services out of 5 suitcases!

I will see you again in November, when I visit the amazing Las Vegas again!

ATTENTION TRAVELERS! Kindness begins with YOU!

Remember that bumper sticker “Mean People Suck!”? Well this is even more true for travelers – Mean Travelers Suck! I am sick and tired of sitting next to, standing in line behind, or waiting for travelers who are mean and think they are entitled to something the rest of us aren’t. So listen up! We travelers need an attitude change!

Here is my list of the top offensive travelers and travel situations.

Airport delays. Stop acting like the entire mission of the airlines is to make you late for your business appointment or for the Broadway show you paid $600 a seat for. The airlines want you out of their hair as much as you want to be gone. Stop yelling at someone who usually is trying to do everything they can to help you. Its amazing how much someone is willing to help you if you use kind words like “Hello”, “Please” and even “Thank you”. Irritating the airline workers isn’t going to help you or the rest of us stuck in the same predicament you are. Take a breath, as my wife would say, and get over yourself!

Bluetooth headsets. If you need to use a bluetooth headset, then try to find a quiet place to talk. I don’t want to hear your conversation about how you are the greatest salesperson in the history of mankind, or that your oldest child just got arrested (true story) or that you need to change your travel reservations. For some reason bluetooth headset users like to talk overly loud leaving the rest of us wondering if they are talking to me or if they are just loud and obnoxious. Get away from the rest of us when using these things.

MP3 Players set at 30 dBs. Recently I was on a flight to San Francisco and an older female passenger was assigned the seat next to me. After the captain cleared the passengers to use their electronic devices, my passenger buddy pulled out her iPod and began listening to rap music at 30 dBs. Holy crap lady! Can’t you hear? By the way I have had a long day and rap music is not helping me relax in anyway. People! Control your music. I love loud music as much as the next person, but have a little respect for your fellow travelers.

Airline passengers who do not turn off their electronic devices, put up their tray tables, and/or put your seat back to the upright position. Okay Lenny, this isn’t rocket science. You agreed when you purchased your airline ticket to abide by federal law AND to adhere to the policies of the airlines. I don’t care if your cousins, brothers, friend told you that the plane will not crash if you keep your phone or iPod on. IT’S AIRLINE POLICY! Don’t question it, just do it so we can land without you demonstrating your idiotic behavior. You don’t have to agree with the policy – just DO IT!

Full Gear Backpacks. This one chaps me more than most. Have you ever just got situated with your bags in the overhead bin, already for push back when at the last minute a gent comes on board with a full gear backpack. First, how did the airlines even allow this to pass their “on-board” baggage policy? Second, if you have an extra large baggage be on time! For some reason the back pack owner thinks its okay to shove their “luggage” into an already full overhead bin and then complain that someone else’s bag is to big and bulky. I love the outdoors as much as the next person, but you have to leave your “outside” equipment outside. Try using normal luggage like the rest of us. And a note to airlines, enforce all of your policies not just the one’s you have time or have to.

Bottom line – we can all use my wife’s advice to “take a breath”. Be courteous to others who are in the same, or even worse, situation than you are. Also try to talk like you would to your grandmother not to your ship mate. Much of the current commotion for travelers could be avoided if we all get it through our thick heads that KINDNESS BEGINS WITH ME!

Palomino Restaurant gets A+ for service

Visiting San Francisco, I was looking for a great place to enjoy dinner. I was referred to the Palomino Restaurant by my hotel – I also appreciated that it was withing walking distance. The Palomino is the upbeat city restaurant and bar famous for its rich and stylish ambiance. I very much enjoyed the Palomino’s European-inspired regional American Cuisine. What I also appreciated was that the Palomino offers such a versatile menu in extraordinary surroundings at reasonable prices. I had the New York Steak – it was excellent.

With all this said, what made my dinner so great was Shannon, my server. Shannon was kind and complimentary from the time I sat down until I left. She did the small things that make any dining experience great – Shannon smiled, was appreciative and best of all she was NICE! These few things are a lost art in customer service these days. It was nice to see that the City by the Bay has a shining example of what customer service SHOULD be.

Shannon is our Nice MATTERS inaugural example of great customer service. We at Carefreetrip.com have contacted the Palomino’s corporate office to let them know they have a star employee who understands that Nice Matters! Shannon, thank you for providing me with excellent service and a wonderful dining experience.