Frequent Flyer.

Working in the hotel industry made me deal with a lot of frequent flyer guests. I tried to make them feel at home and be friendly but somehow they didn’t always seem open to talk to me. Now that I have experienced what it is, I can actually understand. When you are travelling for pleasure once or twice a year it is something else. When you do travel more than 6 times a year, I think you can call yourself a frequent flyer. You know some airports by heart and have favorite spots to chill while waiting for your connecting flight. You have a favorite airline with a frequent flyer reward program and your privileges are your only source of happiness while travelling. You try to be patient when your flights are late and you are either sitting for a very long time on an uncomfortable seat or running to find your gate. Sometimes, you miss a flight and you have to rebook and wait again for the next one. You deal with all kinds of people sitting next to you in the plane. Are they smelly? Do they have a cat or a dog onboard? Are they with a kid kicking in the back of your seat? Are they talking too much? Are they complaining to the flight director for everything? Are they more important than anybody on this flight and have to get out first for their connection? And when all of this is over, you finally try to find a ride to your hotel or home. A day of travelling is really tiring. No wonder some guests are exhausted, frustrated or stressed at the hotel. I discovered some travelling tips to make things easier and those are my favorite:

Wear something smart, fashionable and comfortable:

-    http://laurenconrad.com/blog/post/style-guide-how-to-travel-fashionably-style-tips 

-     http://www.indochino.com/product/The-Frequent-Flyer-Charcoal-Blazer

-     Get some nice gear in the luggage department…and this!:

-  http://www.solutions.com/jump.jsp?itemID=17230&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C4%2C494%2C539&iProductID=17230

Pack your carry-on like a boss :

-  http://thefeministbreeder.com/why-subscribe/how-to-pack-a-carry-on-like-a-boss/

-       Be respectful of the flying etiquette as much as you can: - http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/a-guide-to flying-etiquette

Use technology to help you out along the way :

- http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/shop/50-ultimate-travel-apps-so-far-353352

Tips for feeling at home in a hotel :

- http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/tips-for-feelin-151223

And my personal tip? Take a few drinks on the plane or at the airport…it will help to relax along the way ;)

Strawberry Hill Hotel

We made our Valentine weekend special at the Strawberry Hill Hotel in the mountains. We wanted to escape the city without having to drive to the other side of the island. This was only a 30 minute drive from Kingston. It was the perfect escapade. 

You are surrounded by nature, fresh air, and an amazing view of the city. You can relax on the long beach chairs by the infinity pool or take a quick dip in its cold river water to refresh your body. The food at the restaurant is delicious and the service is really good. 

We booked the GONG room, which apparently was Bob Marley’s room. It was great, two private balconies with a wonderful view, an outdoor shower, small kitchen and bathroom, tv, desk, etc… it had the feel of a cottage which I really liked. 

Being in the mountains, it can get colder at night than in the city. Luckily for our cold feet, ladies, their mattress has heated pads under the sheets with personal controls for each side so our men can choose not to use it. ;) 

Because this is not a cabin made of concrete but wood, you can hear a lot of what is going on outside of your room. We did not sleep well because of it but we still appreciated our short stay. Strawberry Hill Hotel is a luxury hotel with luxurious prices. We only spent one night and it costs us as much as would 2 nights on the north coast beaches, but really, I can assure you that the place is worth it. If you are staying in the Kingston area, you have to consider and try a one night stay at Strawberry Hill Hotel or at least a dinner at the restaurant (arrive early to enjoy the sunset)! And if you don’t mind spending more money, I am sure you can also enjoy their spa on site! I would rate this hotel a 9 out of 10.