Monday, December 23, 2013

this is the era for a pro-active traveler...



*NOTE TO MY READERS:  this blog is not sponsored, and the views herein expressed by me are that of a travel industry professional (Certified Travel Consultant) aimed at giving the informational for a pro-active traveler based on my personal experience.
 



Though my last blog offered my unpleasant experience with Cunard's once venerable transatlantic cruise, and the still not answered claim for my loss sent to Cunard, which is after more than 8 weeks since their receipt of my Certified letter, I have some good things to report about the rest of my 24-day travel adventure.

For instance, I found that the US based Rail Europe offers lower fares for online bookings than I was able to book in Europe when dealing in person direct with SNCF (the French Railway) at their Saint Lazare Boutique store.  This wasn't always the case, but now when someone in the USA wants to access SNCF's Internet site, they are directed to Rail Europe's USA Internet site, and I suspect that other European countries are doing likewise.

If you look at my previous blog posts, I detailed how I booked my trains in advance, but I didn't mention that I had to pay a booking fee.

FYI:  If you use a travel agent who is willing to get online and to book for you while you wait, then they can get you what you need without a booking fee as they get a commission directly from Rail Europe—it's even better if they call the Rail Europe toll free number and if your agent gets on the "Travel Agent" queue, and has your rail travel booked directly by a Rail Europe representative—do have them send the tickets directly to you by giving your credit card information to the travel agent who passes it on to Rail Europe.

**unless you are a business traveler most travel agencies may charge a consultant fee and almost never do any instant bookings while you wait, however, if you travel personally and frequently with a group size, you will get that Business Traveler star treatment.

For the best rates plan on about 1-2 months in advance for your rail bookings, and it's best to look up the train schedules of the countries you are visiting and preplan time and date you want then book directly online since those fares are moment by moment controlled, and with sometimes just 1 seat available, as it was in my case. 

The problem of not knowing whether you will have a "Murphy's Law" travel disaster did concern me, as I had to disembark the Queen Mary before anyone else, I left at 5 a.m.and I preplanned with some 3 hours in advance for a 9 a.m. disembarking, and arrived at the train station where I almost froze to death at the below 20 degrees in the Hamburg Railway station, which is one of the worst main stations in Europe—it's late 20th century never modernized. 

Though after I disembarked at 5 a.m. in Hamburg and took a taxi to the main station where a helpful lady told me about the elevator to the track level, and I took that up to the 2nd level, where the escalator was set to down at the track where a train was scheduled to depart within 10 minutes.  She had recommended that I stay in one of the restaurants fronting the elevator iuntil just before train time, and she also noted that somewhere on the 2nd level was first class waiting room (I had a 1st class ticket that Rail Europe customer service had booked for me at a 2nd class bargain price. 

But I didn't anticipate sitting in a refrigerated cooler because the station was just roof covered.  As I discovered, the sides were open to the unseasonable winter weather on that October 1st morning.  I wanted to go upstairs and when the train that I was not scheduled to take arrived the escalators were set to a 1-way arrival (up). 

I reached the Kiosks (on the 2nd level) where I could sit and freeze less to have coffee, but when I took the up escalator to porte what was by then a roll on bag that weighed a ton.  I was able to open my luggage and get my wool leggings that I had packed just in case.  Even layering with 2 sweaters over my velour pant suits with matching jacket and top couldn't abate the chill.  Luckily I picked an open Kiosk beer and coffee restaurant with a small heater and a bathroom.  I asked if there was a restaurant nearby the station where I could sit in some warmth, the server told me to leave the second level and walk outside and I would find one.  

That's when I discovered that I wouldn't be able to get downstairs to the track until just 10 minutes before my train was scheduled to arrive—I knew I needed more time, but I walked outside and found the excellent adjacent to train station "coffee fellows" Hachmannplatz—I was early enough to claim a window overlooking the square where the commuters and school children/workers were hurrying to and fro blowing on their fingers as some lacked gloves warm enough to tolerate that unseasonable freeze—they allowed me to sit with  whip cream atop a Hot Chocolate (Nettoumsatz) for the next 2 hours.

When I went back into the deep freeze I had about 30 minutes before train time as I entered via the 2nd level, which I found out was at the back entrance of the train station (the taxi had deposited me at the main entrance which was the bottom level where I took an elevator that only went the 1-way up). 

And I found a strong German man waiting in a queque for a coffee near the 2 level staircase, and I pointed to my luggage and the down staircase, he smiled and obliged by porting my wheely to the track level, and an obliging student took my luggage into the train thus I avoided having to climb the steps into the train with my ton weight of luggage that was getting heavier every moment. 

The problem with traveling in Europe during the fall season is that weather is unpredictable and layers of clothing weigh down in the suitcase.

I arrived in Frankfurt exhausted, and a fellow passen ger helped me out of the train and recommended that I take a taxi to my hotel—though I knew I had booked the Choice hotel stateside at a great rate and it was located opposite the station, the square was about 1/4 of a mile wide and 2 tracks of trolleys had to be bridged, so I let him pick a taxi, he helped load my luggage into the taxi's trunk, we said goodby and from then on "Murphy's Law" took over.

The driver refused to speak English and he wasn't German, he was from India where English is a first language, he very was unpleasant and took me for a ride around town when my Choice hotel was located directly across the square, at the border of what is the Frankfurt "Red Light" district, yet the 1-way streets allowed this taxi to rack up Euros, he wouldn't look at the address I showed him, and he finally stopped in front of a hotel that was definitely a "Red Light" district regular for hourly room encounters.  He opened the door and put my luggage in the street and asked in German for 20 Euros, pointing to the meter. 

I gave him 5 Euros and walked off with my luggage toward a construction in progress hotel across the street, he ran after me, and I told him clearly in English, "call the Police."  Of course, he drove off in a huff, and as I walked back toward the Frankfurt Station with passersby directing me to my hotel, I found it, and entered hoping for the best. 

Yet as I noted in the subject line of my post, this is the era for a pro-active traveler, and in this 21st century travel can be a hazard unless you prepare in advance and expect the worst, but when the traveler knows what to do when all else fails, there's a certainty which is comforting.   I wanted to contact the police to tell them about the Taxi driver, but then I discovered that the station was another taxi ride away. 

It could be that someone from the Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce will discover my post and correct the problem with thieving taxi drivers who take tourists for long rides—my helpful hotel clerk noted that Frankfurt is notorious for this—and this was not so in the freezing clime of Hamburg, my taxi driver spoke flawless English, told me he was a Turkish immigrant hoping to be granted citizenship in Germany soon, also that he was happy his children were born in Germany and grateful for the opportunity to have a good life.  He was so honest and despite the early a.m hour claimed just 5 Euros for the ride which was of some 20 minutes duration, which gives a plus to the city of Hamburg.

TO BE CONTINUED 

Monday, December 9, 2013

here's what the cruise industry doesn't want publicized...

*PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN AMENDED BLOG TO GIVE MY READERS THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY TO USE WHEN ASKING A CRUISE LINE AGENCY ABOUT THE LEGAL DOCUMENT "PASSAGE CONTRACT"

I've created this comforttravel@less blog to speak truth to fiction—it's not a pretty cruise picture that I present because I was just like everyone else falling for those puff PR travel section articles until I failed to carefully examine what is called by the Cruise industry "Passage Contract," which is lawyer speak for the rights of the cruise passenger as granted by the Cruise line when a ticket for passage is issued from the cruise line.

Now you will be aware that as a passenger your rights are limited in every way, in fact the Captain's staff can arbitrarily keep you in your cabin and not allow you out of it if they deem you are disruptive, and they don't have to define what they consider as disruptive, nor do you have any legal recourse to dispute with them, even when you disembark your legal right to sue or make claims is limited to what they offer in the "Contract of Carriage." 

The representatives of the Captain of your ship can stop you from leaving the ship, they are the "law" while you are on board

If your cruise is booked with a travel agent, some travel agencies can issue the ticket and then it is their duty to inform you about the cruise line's "Passage Contract."  When booking an airline ticket there is a Geneva Convention agreement between airlines as to the rules and regulation which includes compensation for a passenger booking in the US as to the right to sue for bodily harm, denied boarding compensation which used to be meals and hotel if necessary, and lost baggage, and one for all other passengers outside the US.   When taking a tour, everyone should know that a tour member is liable for violating the laws of the country where the tour takes place. 

Each cruise line has their own "Passage Contract."

If your cruise ship is owned by an umbrella cruise line like Carnival who has bought up several well-known cruise line, this means the umbrella cruise company has a "Passage Contract" for all their ships. 

Other cruise lines that are solely owned will have their "Passage Contract" which will be different since it was prepared by their lawyers.

Each cruise line company has it's individual ship's "country of registration," which may complicate the filing of a suit claiming compensation.  You have to find a lawyer in the country of registration to file a civil compensation suit, but in Carnival's case, though not all their ships are registered in the same country, you can sue the umbrella Cruise corporation where its main office is located. 

If you have been robbed while on board, it is your responsibility to make certain that you notify the Captain's representatives—when you were give permission to occupy your cabin to for the length of the cruise you accepted that the Captain is the law while you are on board, and you may need proof documentation that an investigation was conducted.  You are responsible for asking the Captain's representatives to proved you with it.

When I stepped on  board the Queen Mary 2 on September 22nd 2013, I was aware of any of the above, I had to give my E-ticket to the Cunard representatives—but a computer glitch didn't allow me to print the E-ticket, Cunard sent it to me emblazoned with the red Cunard logo, and with it a cruise brochure—without any knowledge that the "Passage Contract" was part of the download when printing an E-ticket, I skimmed through the first 2 pages and came upon the "Cunard Guest Protection" insurance program. 

Though I wasn't interested in protection for a medical disaster since I had my own insurance for that, and I wanted no part of the travel insurance they offered because the travel agency I booked the cruise with had offered a cruise price with travel insurance that provided me with a full refund if I had to cancel.  Insofar as baggage protection, I didn't bother to get it, I had one suitcase to wheel on board and my formal clothing was packed in that luggage with the hangers in a cloth hangup bag.  I intended at all times to port my luggage and keep it within view while on board the trains I intended to take after I disembarked 9 days later at the port of Hamburg.

Yet if I had been able to print my own E-ticket, I would have had to download that "Passage Contract" and I would have read it, and I was unable to do so, nor was I apprised by the CLIA approved travel agent that I had to read this, as it is a legal document. 

My travel agent is a member of CLIA, which is comparable to the Travel Industry Association, and I have the CTC designation because I took the courses that they offer to travel agencies which inform about travel agents about how to best serve their client—a good travel agent must point out any potential problems with the tours their client may want to book.  As well, CLIA offers their accredited cruise line travel agencies similar programs and certifications. 

I asked my booking agent if there was anything to inform me about prior to booking passage on the Queen Mary 2.  She told me that she had never been on board but assured me this a top of the line cruise and I would be pampered.

Now, too late, my lawyer and I have read this Cunard "Passage Contract," and he noted that the travel agent was responsible for telling me that my legal rights were limited by the terms of Cunard's legal document in their favor I told him that I had noticed the baggage tickets were at the front part of the brochure  and though didn't plan to let Cunard load my luggage on board or offload it, I decided for security screening purposes to affix one baggage ticket to my luggage and another to my backpack.  I informed my lawyer that I didn't bother to look at the final pages of the brochure, and I never noticed the 2 pieces of thin paper with no logo that lay there so innocuously in-between  the final page and the cover.

Though my lawyer found an anomaly that is to my favor and does not apply to the Cunard "Passage Contract" that was part of the E-ticket printing download, which was not pertinent since I had been unable to do so. 

When I paid Cunard to store my hangup bag with all my expensive clothing bought especially for the transatlantic cruises on the Queen Mary 2, I was issued a letter by the Captain's representative that noted my baggage was insured specifically by the Cunard's Southampton storage facility, which exempted me from the baggage compensation as noted in the Cunard "Passage Contract" that I had not been aware of—nevertheless, I was satisfied that my hangup baggage was issued a special Queen Mary 2 baggage tag, which to me meant that the insurance would be comparable to what a passenger on board the Cunard's top of the line Queen Mary 2 would have purchased.

TO BE CONTINUED

Saturday, November 23, 2013

about sleeping late on the Cunard transatlantic to Southampton

I was expecting to rest and work on my E-book destination city guide series, but to my dismay, the hour was moved forward every day at 12 noon, and if I slept in I had to press breakfast into lunch and then before I knew it, it was late enough to get ready for dinner—after looking at the 4 page activity list, everything was taking place at about the same time to squeeze in all of it, but I would have been a marathon runner to make all, which took place in every nook and cranny of the sprawling decks on the Queen Mary 2, and I was so busy playing catchup with time to get some exercise on deck, and grabbing lunch, or what I could get of it since I didn't have time to eat in Britannia Restaurant, I couldn't find a minutre to spare.

Everyone was hurrying to eat something—the only relaxed passengers had to have been up at 5 a.m. to get time to eat and attend a lecture—though it would have had to be only 1 of the many as all were jammed in to the 4 hour day after 1 p.m.,  and lunch had to be fitted in, because the sea air seemed to bring a need to eat more.  I noticed that it had to be those early 4 and 5 a.m. risers who were napping on a deck chair.  Or was it that for many of us, those less than early risers there was so little time between 1 and 6 p.m., which was the first sitting for dinner.  And ladies had to fit in getting hair done, dressed, and made up to look just perfect for the first formal dinner. 

I had the chosen the 6 p.m., but I changed to the 8:30 p.m. seating as I realized my stomach couldn't eat all that food within the space of the few hours left in the day when 1 p.m. came an hour ahead of my inner body clock.  But then, I was dismayed to find out that I didn't to bed until after 2 a.m. as my table mates were having after dinner coffee and conversing—I realized that socializing and that hour forward every day meant rising at 7:30 a.m., but then I was so exhausted that following day.

It ended up that sleep wasn't possible, I was barely getting 5 hours even when I wanted to skip breakfast, as the Captain had found something he wanted to converse about, and I couldn't shut off the sound of his voice coming into my room—but then we had to do a deck drill, and lo and behold the 2nd day whizzed by, and I never got a chance to sit on deck chair, I didn't even walk the deck, I didn't have time.

Also I had to visit the Purser's desk and queue on line to make arrangements for storing my formal clothing hang up bag in Southampton, as I was returning on the 8th of October to take the transatlantic cruise back to Red Hook in Brooklyn, U.S.A.  I asked lots of questions about the storage since I had very expensive formal clothing purchased especially for the trip.  I had few chances to wear such things and I had given away what I had years earlier. 

When I was finally at the head of the line (about an hour later), and I wondered if I'd have a chance to eat some lunch, or something, because I was ravenous since I had eaten much earlier than usual, I managed to still my impatience and tell the clerk at the Purser's desk that I had no travel insurance since I had 1 piece of luggage and I was taking it on the train with me after we docked at Hamburg.  I also mentioned that the hangup bag had fit inside my luggage but storage until I returned on October 8 seemed like a good idea because my luggage would be lighter. 

I mentioned that I planned to put my 2 pairs of designer shoes specially ordered to fit me inside the bag, and I also was planning to include my lovely Christian Dior slippers, which I didn't need as I had the Cunard flat slippers to use while I was traveling.  The clerk noted that my luggage was insured against loss, and I didn't ask for how much, as I was certain that Cunard would give a passenger on the Cunard 's flagship Queen Mary 2 with an Ocean View room sufficient insurance to cover loss, which the clerk assured me wouldn't happen.  The clerk also noted that luggage storage was not considered the same as it would be if a passenger gave Cunard their luggage to load on board prior to leaving the port.

But then I had no way of knowing that my formal clothing which I had meticulously chosen was soon to be something only in my fond memories of those 7 hurried and harried days, as I left the bag with the tags given to me by the clerk and carefully filled out in front of my stateroom door at 6 p.m. the evening of the 28th of September—earlier that day I waited again on line to show one of clerks at the Purser's desk the tag I filled out—for some reason I was worried and needed to be reassured that the tag was filled out correctly.

TO BE CONTINUED  

*PLEASE NOTE THAT WHAT IS SAY IN THIS BLOG IS MY OPINION BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE

Sunday, November 10, 2013

the Cunard patina has dulled...

I still ask myself whether I was expecting too much when I parked my car in the open lot that serves as a parking facility for the Cunard's famed transatlantic cruise, but my disappointment upon entering the port facility that the new owners (Carnival Cruise Lines) had chosen as the docking port for Cunard line's flagship Queen Mary 2 was an ominious warning of what I was to experience when I approached the Red Hook arrival and departure terminal. 

And I remember thinking that my car was unprotected and that there was no one at the guard station to stop me from entering—as if I was at dock only for tankers, and as I discovered, this was a facility that is used by vessels that carry solely cargo—it was 8 a.m. and at the port entry I asked the man and woman wearing blue uniforms emblazoned by the word "security" how to get to the Queen Mary 2 terminal, and the puzzlement on their faces was accompanied by shrugs, but also what seemed to be a lack of understanding as to what I was asking, which acquainted me with the fact that their familiarity with English was limited. 

I used a combination of Spanish and English to ask the question again, but then one of them said, "Go in you ask," and the sentence was left hanging in the cold morning air, much as I was.  But then I had spent almost $200 to stay at the only hotel facility within what for me was walking distance (20 minutes) and I had visited the night before only to find the porty entry gate open (no guards), and then I walked to the end of a long road (some ten-fifteen minutes) only to see no signs, nothing that would tell me I was at the Queen Mary 2 terminal.

Such was my introduction to what should have been a spectacular entry to Cunard's transatlantic flagship, Queen Mary 2—I was soon to find out that I had a 5 hour wait ahead of me, where I and other unfortunates who had arrived early (either by taxi or no thanks to a family member who had kindly offered transportation there).  I was also to find out during those 5 hours while I waited with the those who had paid extra for accommodations that would put them in the best accommodations Cunard offered (Princess Grill Club), while they with me were also shuffled through a small entry area prior to the usual security much like an airport (which I had hoped to avoid) equipped with the usual security appartus save for a body scanner. 

The pleasant port terminal staff opinioned that the entry waiting room was far too small for the number of passengers carried by the Queen Mary 2. 

And yet it was 4 hours before the Security staff got their act together and we were all sitting in a full small entry waiting room, waiting to lift up luggage and whatever one had onto the x-ray machine roller and no one from Cunard there to help.  Luckily for me, one of male passengers gallantly lifted my heavy middle size rolling suitcase to allow me entry into a slightly larger waiting room that reminded me of the 34th St. Port Authority bus line waiting room.

I was amazed that the members of the Princess Grill club had to wait where I was another half hour before they were made to line up like bus passengers in front a sign that said "Princess Grill Club Lounge,"   They too had the misfortune to arrive early expecting to board and occupy their top accommodations because of their status. 

Though I was still thinking about leaving my car in a parking lot that had no guard at the gate, and I was wondering if I would come back to find that my vehicle was stolen due to the proximity to Red Hook where car jacking and car thefts plus worse were a known commodity, but all I had was a parking stub with the time stamped on it, and no guarantee whether I'd find my car.  The rate of $22 for the first day and $20 thereafter was vastly over-priced considering the unprotected small lot, while the cruise port in mid-town Manhattan had more reasonable rates, parking garage, and security.

As I and other chatted to make the time pass, everyone questioned why this Cunard flagship was using an out-of-the-way too small port facility like Red Hook, versus the former more convenient mid-town Manhattan dock that was Cunard's traditional docking space—another forewarning of the sad downgrading of what once was a venerable proud English line,which its new owners had managed to do in those several years of purchase.  Sadly an American cruise line known for cheap cruising and mega ships that could crowd in enough to make the rock bottom prices profitable, had succeeded in making the famed transatlantic Cunard cruise ship just another version of their other low priced cruise offerings. 

TO BE CONTINUED

*PLEASE NOTE THAT WHAT IS SAY IN THIS BLOG IS MY OPINION BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE

Sunday, November 3, 2013

A very bad idea...


My intention to travel overseas and avoid the security hassle plus the 24-48 hours airport/flight struggle was the reason I decided to book a back to back transatlantic cruise on the Queen Mary 2, and I was looking forward to traveling the pleasurable way, but it never occurred to me that this would turn out to be a very bad idea.

Other than a brief mention about the number of days, that all sorts of delightful activities and such which would be part of the cruise experience, plus the promise of formal nights to enjoy unique cuisines amid the splendor of the appropriate ship's restaurant (depending on the level of booking for cabins that were considered for the more elaborate dinners available in the Princess Grill rather than in the Britannia Restaurant), Cunard offered no other information.

Not one word was noted on their website or in the literature sent to me about the daily time change that would become for me an impossible race for enough daily time to eat, enjoy activities and have moments to reflect in a deck chair about the beauty of an ocean voyage, also to continue with the writing of my E-book city destination series. I was looking forward to the cruise a way of a release from daily cares and the usual staying in touch, which was I believe the primary reason for most passengers to embark on such a trip.

Let me qualify this by making a mention that early risers had no problem with time—those like me who were looking forward to sleeping in and enjoying a leisurely breakfast in the cabin never realized what was expected but not possible, not possible when an hour forward took place at 12 noon daily for 8 days of the cruise.

After I inquired to Captain William Wells (on board lecturer and maritime historian) as to why this unexpected time conflict made my transatlantic 9-day cruise to Hamburg an unpleasant experience, I was told the time change at noon, rather than when a passenger was asleep, was instituted some 10 years ago as an innovation—I noted that it was hell for me, and he laughed and said it was part of standard transatlantic cruising operation, and he said this innovation was considered a boon.

Yet Cunard never mentioned any of this in their distributed literature or website. Nor did the good Captain make mention of the fact that the return transatlantic from Southampton to Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York did indeed make the time change (one hour backward) while passengers were sleeping—I discovered this apparent disconnect re an "innovation " and a "boon" when I took the return transatlantic from Southampton.

Little did I know that worse than an accelerated day due to the noon time change awaited me when I boarded the Queen Mary 2 in Southampton on October 8—though when I arrived in Hamburg on day 9 of the transatlantic cruise I was exhausted, yet I had 7 days yet ahead to take trains and hopefully rest up before my return transatlantic cruise. I didn't doubt that I would have those 7-days transatlantic back to Red Hook, Brooklyn USA to rest and work on my E-book No More Hotels In Paris.

As I noted, I didn't realize that a very bad idea would bring about one of the most uncomfortable and unpleasant travel experiences I have ever had when I boarded the Queen Mary 2 at Southampton on October 8.

 
TO BE CONTINUED

Please visit my other blogs:
Clarissa Max's blog
Ghostly Max's blog
My view of the world blog
Words and meanings blog

 

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

If all's well that ends well, I won't know until I get there…


At the Paris public transport website RATP, I used the link for the bus service (my departure point and arrival) and the search for a likely direct bus was successful.  I knew that I could enter the bus at the back if I needed to as long as I had a ticket, which I could easily purchase on the main arrival level at St. Lazare station, with no steps to worry about.  I planned to buy 2 bus tickets—1 for use on the return from Le Havre to Paris. 
The #26 bus was direct to/from Paris Est or Nord and to/from St. Lazare—just 1 block from either of those stations. 
A taxi would and could be more than 20 Euros during the times of day of my arrival and departure.  The bus fare @2.50 Euros could be given to the bus driver, all I had to do was to have the exact amount in Euros.  I planned to get some Euros at the Frankfurt central station, as Deutsche Bank ATM"s are available there (this is one the Euro banks that doesn't charge an ATM fee), and I can get change from the hotel clerk at my hotel in Frankfurt.  I also researched the locations of some likely SNCF boutique stores locations in Le Havre. 
I printed out all the above information to put in my envelope with the travel reservation documents. 

My trip planning and reservations made, also the means to get to Southampton from London was assured, best of all, I knew that whatever happened within that 24 hour window of time I had allowed myself, I would  board  the Queen Mary 2 in Southampton and I wouldn't miss my paid for return to the USA.  The worst scenario would be to have only a few hours to spare, and I would lose my 32.50 Pounds advance reservation ($60 approximately).
Yet, I am now sanguine and awaiting my coming adventure—my next post will be when I return, and I'll let you know what happened, till then it's, bon voyage.

 *Check out my Authors Guild maintained website to find out all about my me, read another one of my blogs, find links to my other blogs, and the books that I have written, also a way to contact me with your comments.
**I am a multitask writer, as I am also in the process of writing my latest fiction novel, Book II, PARIS WARP Jousting Devils And Dragons but this is a trilogy which explores the supernatural as it exists in tandem with the world as we know it.The trilogy starts with Book I, The Haunting And Paradise Taxi/print ISBN 9780615685434 print also available as E-book Nook Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 BarnesandNoble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069

Ongoing readers of this comforttravel@less$ blog do become experienced travel experts...

The travel tips I offer my blog readers includes this reminder:  you are the customer and you have a right to expect courteous service within a reasonable wait time—up to an hour and more is not reasonable.  Remember, you are helping other  travelers when you alert travel suppliers that they are not providing good service.
 
Now you too, will know better than to make the train reservations for the Le Havre to Southampton train journey with Rail Europe—they add their own service fee to all fares quoted, and though the time saved included the hassle factor was worth it, the telephone person to person reservations agent also assesses a booking fee. 
 
By booking in person at a SNCF (French railways) boutique store, I know my train reservations to Paris from Le Havre and then Eurostar to London will cost me much less because I'll avoid all the fees—be aware that this year the SNCF website automatically redirects to the Rail Europe USA website, and thus receives a commission from Rail Europe on your dime.
 
 I would suggest that when you travel overseas into unfamiliar cultures and  a language difference, take some wind down time, break for lunch or a snack, and book a rest  stop overnight at your first destination city.  It took me many years to discover that stress level lowers, and a better vacation comes from this break time.  Though it  may take some 3-4 hours to  make your further reservations directly when you are in Europe to get to your 2nd destination city, you can rest assured that there are booths at  all railway stations and some have a sign "English speaking," but if not, train agents are required to get someone who does.         
 
More importantly, keep this in mind:  in France though as well in any other part of Europe, there are the "solidarity marches"—the public employees have a right to strike and they are paid when they are out on strike—unions give public advance notice, which is never less than 1 week prior to the walkout, so that the public will accept the interruption.
 
I know that I only have a 24 hour window to board for my return transatlantic cruise, and I plan to make my train reservations directly at one of the Le Havre SNCF boutique stores for the 1-way Le Havre to Paris and from Paris to London via the Eurostar—I'll get the paper tickets to hold and use when I travel.
 
My online research had acquainted me with the best travel times— I had to take the 8:15 a.m. to connect to the Eurostar to get me to London near the noon hour.  I also determined that to get to Le Havre and return to Paris, I would be arriving at the St. Lazare station and the Eurostar leaves from Paris Nord station.  My arrival in Paris from Frankfurt would be at Paris Est station which is within a few blocks of Paris Nord.  And I had to give myself enough transfer time, whether by taxi or by bus.  The Metro wasn't an option due to the steps going down 3 levels and the Metro line transfers would be more steps up and down—with luggage, I knew it would be best to take street transportation.   In Paris, as in many major cities worldwide the noon hour is a bad time to use  the taxi, it will cost me much more, and the driver may not be in a hurry to get you to your  next train on time.
 
I also looked online for London train times to get to Southampton. 
A previous online query check had found facts about London transport from St. Pancras station (arrival and departure for Eurostar)—to travel to Southampton I needed to board the train at Waterloo station in London.  I had researched facts about London Black cabs (price controlled) versus the private cabs, and some of the sites mentioned that at certain hours of the day  Black cabs were difficult to hail.  But online research again proved useful. 

I used my search engine to ask if there was a bus between those 2 London train stations, and last year when  the Eurostar moved there, bus #59 was set into service by the London Transit Authority, opposite St. Pancras station direct to Waterloo station—also, I found out that I could buy my ticket for Southampton there, or at St. Pancras. 
 
I prefer not to exchange too much money (Dollars for Pounds)—I didn't want to get stuck with Pounds that couldn't be exchanged (a minimum of 10 Pounds to do the exchange to Dollars).  

More research online determined that I could purchase the 1 Oyster transportation ticket for 2.50 Pounds at St. Pancreas Station, directly from the London tourist information center booth right near where I would be exiting the Eurostar.  And credit cards are accepted.
 
See my last post, for the end game, and how I accomplished my planning to remain sanguine about the outcome of my comforttravel@less$ adventure.
 
*Check out my Authors Guild maintained website to find out all about my me, read another one of my blogs, find links to my other blogs, and the books that I have written, also a way to contact me with your comments.
Check out my other Authors Guild maintained website to find out about my upcoming E-book travel guide series.

**I am a multitask writer, as I am also in the process of writing my latest fiction novel, Book II, PARIS WARP Jousting Devils And Dragons but this is a trilogy which explores the supernatural as it exists in tandem with the world as we know it.The trilogy starts with Book I, The Haunting And Paradise Taxi/print ISBN 9780615685434 print also available as E-book Nook Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 BarnesandNoble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069

The final stretch for the preplanning and booking reservations…


My research for a value hotel in Southampton produced another find—I discovered that I could use the tollfree USA reservations services for Ibis Hotel chain, which happens to be a Mercure brand of 2 star properties—the reservations service was in Canada this time, no language barrier, and no problem re a person to person request for the best rate.
Another thing for my readers to keep in mind, when booking a chain hotel reservation in advance (at least 2-3 weeks prior to arrival), be assured that booking in advance does bring a lower rate at most times of the year (except for high summer season travel). 

I was given a very nice rate, about 10 Pounds less than what was quoted on the independent hotel reservations sites.  And I received an e-mail confirmation while I was still talking to the reservations clerk, the hotel bookings completed, I was ready to start the train reservations process—in an earlier post I noted that I had researched the Rail Europe site re fares and train times that would get me to where I was going in plenty of time to freshen up for dinner.

As you well know, sad as it is nowadays, all reservations tollfree USA call centers are not created equal when considering the wait time in the call queue—my wait time was almost an hour, and the reservations person was rude and dismissed my questions with this notice:  "I am an expert and I know what I have to do"—I decided to call again, because when it comes booking trains also when calling cruise lines directly, the notice in the choice prompts usually includes:  "if you are a travel agent press…"
PLEASE NOTE:  I am not fond of those who push their way into an orderly wait line, but nowadays too many call centers are very understaffed because the employers are bottom line haggling on my dime, and when the travel service provider has no consideration for the customer and wants to add to their profit line, I take this way to protest.  
Remember, you are the customer, you are paying money for good service.
And since I did receive poor service (a long wait time and a rude agent) on the first call, I pressed the prompt given for "travel agent." 
Another tip:  these understaffed call centers have no way of telling whether you are a travel agent or an individual, the wait time usually turns out to be less than if you waited in line as a individual client.  FYI:  If the site asks for your IATA number the call center has no way of checking, even if you key in any number with your choice of IATA digits, or not bother at all, be assured of this:  the IATA number is solely for the application of commission, if it's incorrect, that will only come up when the accounting department takes over and you will have added to their profit factor, since they won't have to pay out a dime from your dime. 
My call went through in record time (30 minutes), and she was a very nice accommodating agent who made my bookings as we spoke.  She got me some special prices that are only available in their systems, I booked a departure from Hamburg to Frankfurt 1st class at a coach rate, and I used my list of train times to make all the bookings to get me to Le Havre with time to check in and freshen up for  a good dinner—see my next post for an almost final wrap up.    

*Check out my Authors Guild maintained website to find out all about my me, read another one of my blogs, find links to my other blogs, and the books that I have written, also a way to contact me with your comments.
Check out my other Authors Guild maintained website to find out about my upcoming E-book travel guide series.

**I am a multitask writer, as I am also in the process of writing my latest fiction novel, Book II, PARIS WARP Jousting Devils And Dragons but this is a trilogy which explores the supernatural as it exists in tandem with the world as we know it.The trilogy starts with Book I, The Haunting And Paradise Taxi/print ISBN 9780615685434 print also available as E-book Nook Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 BarnesandNoble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069

An almost, re a hotel reservation electronic glitch, wasn't what I thought…


My credit card company had already marked the charge converted into in Euros—the pending charge ID was from the Mercure hotels, and I was reassured that I had a good price directly from hotel chain which assured their liability honor it.
I still wanted some kind of e-mail with a confirmation of my rate quote, and I requested that I be connected to a supervisor. 

Reservation call centers have a chain of command, and if there's a problem, a customer has right to go up the chain of command to resolve any problem.  All reservations call centers have computer systems that will note who I called and when, and I knew that the clerk had no option but to connect me.  It took a while but my request was honored, and I was told that I could expect an e-mail directly from the Mercure Basin Hotel in Le Havre so confirming it.  The e-mail I needed came directly from the hotel in Le Havre and was in my e-mail box within 2 hours.  And 24 hours later, I received the original confirmation booking from the reservations call center in the Philippines.

After all of this, I was exhausted, but I wanted to finish up with the last of my necessary hotel reservations—this one for an overnight in Southampton on Oct. 7.
I wanted a hotel within a comfortable walking distance to the Queen Mary cruise departure port and I wanted some amenities, but I was willing to book a 2 star rated hotel, as I knew that in the UK 2 star ratings offered some amenities and also a good price—I used my method of researching online with my search engine query, this time, hotels in Southampton, England.  I came up with a number of independent hotel booking sites, and I chose 2 of the best known sites (all had the same results and prices as I expected) when I entered my  arrival and departure information.

See my next post for a wind up of the hotel reservations, and my train reservations without a glitch.
*Check out my Authors Guild maintained website to find out all about my me, read another one of my blogs, find links to my other blogs, and the books that I have written, also a way to contact me with your comments.
Check out my other Authors Guild maintained website to find out about my upcoming E-book travel guide series.

**I am a multitask writer, as I am also in the process of writing my latest fiction novel, Book II, PARIS WARP Jousting Devils And Dragons but this is a trilogy which explores the supernatural as it exists in tandem with the world as we know it.The trilogy starts with Book I, The Haunting And Paradise Taxi/print ISBN 9780615685434 print also available as E-book Nook Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 BarnesandNoble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069

My readers reap the benefit of my experience as a CTC certified travel professional…

From some not so pleasant past outcomes re booking travel reservations, I also knew that I would be better off reserving directly with the representatives of the hotel chain.  I was expecting confirmation with a Supplier credit card ID attached to my purchase which indicates I paid, and an e-mail confirmation for my booking specifying the rates quoted. 
The reservations clerk told me I couldn't book this special price online, to obtain the price quoted I would have to give her my credit card information.  She assured me that I would receive an immediate rate confirmation by e-mail.  I was wary.  If I booked online I could keep a copy of the web page reservations, but the price was too low to resist.  I asked if I could cancel, and she told me that was why I was offered the discounted price, which made sense—from my many years of writing travel writing and about hotels and tour offerings worldwide, I knew that most hotels want to count on a certain number of rooms filled at certain times. 

I complied, gave her my credit card number, and the booking was made, and I told the reservationist to hang on while I checked for the e-mail. 
 
When I didn't received it, I told her that I wanted to cancel the reservation, which she said was not an available option—and let this be a lesson learning for my readers, especially when booking with an independent online Hotel reservations site—in this case, I also knew that by dealing with Mercure directly, the charge would show up on my credit card with their supplier ID. 
 
PLEASE NOTE:  If this had happened with a hotel reservations service, I would have a problem as to the liability of the hotel chain re the discount price quoted—see my next post for the electronic glitch outcome…
*Check out my Authors Guild maintained website to find out all about my me, read another one of my blogs, find links to my other blogs, and the books that I have written, also a way to contact me with your comments.
Check out my other Authors Guild maintained website to find out about my upcoming E-book travel guide series.

**I am a multitask writer, as I am also in the process of writing my latest fiction novel, Book II, PARIS WARP Jousting Devils And Dragons but this is a trilogy which explores the supernatural as it exists in tandem with the world as we know it.The trilogy starts with Book I, The Haunting And Paradise Taxi/print ISBN 9780615685434 print also available as E-book Nook Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 BarnesandNoble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069

Hotel reservations in Le Havre electronic glitch…


Keep in mind, it took me years of wrong turns and stormy seas to find out what I offer to you when you continue reading this comforttravel@less$ blog—a how to enjoy your vacation no matter what goes wrong, count yourself lucky that you can take some time off from life's cares to get away from the sameness of same days on end.

After completing the booking logistics for my overnight in Frankfurt, I did have to decide on which hotel to book at my rest up destination, Le Havre. 
I kept in mind that I aimed to avoid uncertainty about what services I could expect, and I searched for French hotel chains—I chose Mercure Hotels—their brand is well known in France and other destination countries worldwide—this chain brand does guarantee certain service features that include a hotel room with amenities commensurate with the 4 star rating.  And from my online search, I determined that Mercure had a USA reservations number.

I was glad that I could make my inquiries person to person—I've found out from previous experience that the intricacies of booking online will make it harder to spot some factors that would discourage me from staying at a hotel. 
 
According to the online research I did, this hotel is within a block of the train station.  I knew that I would be arriving by train, and I could call to find out if I could obtain a better price for booking for 5 days—though first, I had to determine the going price for comparable hotels in Le Havre.  The best way to do this is to get on to the popular hotel booking sites—I used my search engine's inquiry for "Le Havre, France hotels"—and I checked each listing re the dates I needed, then I found that all of them had a comparable price. 

My next step, a call to the Mercure USA reservation center tollfree number.
And subsequently, I discovered that this call center was in the Philippines—the reservationist spoke English, but textbook, and not colloquial English.  As we spoke I had to repeat my booking dates, and I was wary of a possible language barrier.  I asked to be connected to the lead agent, she asked me to wait, and when she returned, she offered me a discounted price in American dollars at a $40 savings for each of 2 of the 5 days that I wanted, and $20 each discount for the other 3 days. 
Of course, I knew that the price would be converted into Euros when I paid my credit card company (the price on the other sites was also quoted in Dollars)—although I didn't check as to whether I could obtain a better price for a 5-day stay, I knew that I would be dealing with a middle man, not directly with the Mercure chain—see my next post for more about an electronic glitch experience.
 
*Check out my Authors Guild maintained website to find out all about my me, read another one of my blogs, find links to my other blogs, and the books that I have written, also a way to contact me with your comments.
Check out my other Authors Guild maintained website to find out about my upcoming E-book travel guide series.

**I am a multitask writer, as I am also in the process of writing my latest fiction novel, Book II, PARIS WARP Jousting Devils And Dragons but this is a trilogy which explores the supernatural as it exists in tandem with the world as we know it.The trilogy starts with Book I, The Haunting And Paradise Taxi/print ISBN 9780615685434 print also available as E-book Nook Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 BarnesandNoble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069

I also offer travel advice for type "A" personalities…


In this posting, I'm taking a break from detailing more about my hotel reservations, to remind my readers that keeping your stress level to a minimum creates the best travel experience—for every personality, my advice will add to your comforttravel@less$.
You don't have to be a type "A" personality to plan a vacation carefully, in fact, if you are such a person, then you should devote enough time to do all you can to insure that your bookings will accomplish your purpose, which is to have a hassle free vacation.  There's only one problem, traveling anywhere entails uncertainty.  But then if you want certainty in life, there isn't any. 

The uncertainty of unexpected events, crises, all things in life are out of an individual's control—let me reassure all type "A" personalities, if you do your travel planning as I suggest, then put your mind at ease—when planning a trip, or a vacation, and doing all I can to insure that it will be a good one, lowers my pre-trip stress level. 

Then when something goes wrong, as it will and does in our everyday lives, I accept that this Murphy's Law (if something can go wrong it will), whatever happens will be out of my control, but I do whatever is necessary to right my metaphorically overturned boat and take steps to keep my balance in a sea of stormy waters.
Read my next post, I'll be back to my travel plans, and what I thought might be some electronic glitches, but I'll come back bushy tailed to tackle life on life's terms—though my next post will get down to basics, and more about the process of completing my travel plans.
*Check out my Authors Guild maintained website to find out all about my me, read another one of my blogs, find links to my other blogs, and the books that I have written, also a way to contact me with your comments.
Check out my other Authors Guild maintained website to find out about my upcoming E-book travel guide series.

**I am a multitask writer, as I am also in the process of writing my latest fiction novel, Book II, PARIS WARP Jousting Devils And Dragons but this is a trilogy which explores the supernatural as it exists in tandem with the world as we know it.The trilogy starts with Book I, The Haunting And Paradise Taxi/print ISBN 9780615685434 print also available as E-book Nook Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 BarnesandNoble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/haunting-paradise-taxi/id666549806 ; Sony;Kobo

When making a travel booking research pays off…


The fact that the neighborhood adjacent to the central station and my Choice Hotel, The Clarion Collection, is a red light district came up when I did the research, re possible noise factor for room overlooking the district—I found that by requesting a corner room, I could avoid this possible interference with my sleep.  This wasn't a problem for me, I have been in Frankfurt before, and I know the red light district is patrolled by the police—not because there are problems, the women who conduct their business want police protection handy.  These women maintain shop front windows to advertise to prospective clients. 
Engaging in prostitution is Frankfurt, Germany, is a legal business endeavor without any measurement of the morality.  These are businesses that pay taxes to the city of Frankfurt.  The city of Amsterdam has a similar district, and I've been there too—in both of these cities many tourists walk by in the daylight hours to see the store front displays of mostly beautiful women who sit comfortably aware that they are on view, they charge top price for their services, which are government controlled re health screenings and rate scale.

I was able to secure a good price plus the ability to cancel up to 24 hours prior to my reservation—I also was expecting that if I gave my credit card information, I would get an immediate e-mail acknowledgement with a list of service and features I could count on—and when I researched restaurants within walking distance, I found one featuring prime steaks at a very reasonable price, and I e-mailed the hotel directly (I obtained the address from the USA reservations) and asked them to book me a dinner reservation, also I asked for a corner room. 
And I received an overnight courteous reply overnight, re the restaurant reservation I wanted, and that my request for a room location was noted. 

More about the other hotels I choose, and my train reservations in my next post.

*Check out my Authors Guild maintained website to find out all about my me, read another one of my blogs, find links to my other blogs, and the books that I have written, also a way to contact me with your comments.
Check out my other Authors Guild maintained website to find out about my upcoming E-book travel guide series.

**I am a multitask writer, as I am also in the process of writing my latest fiction novel, Book II, PARIS WARP Jousting Devils And Dragons but this is a trilogy which explores the supernatural as it exists in tandem with the world as we know it.The trilogy starts with Book I, The Haunting And Paradise Taxi/print ISBN 9780615685434 print also available as E-book Nook Smashwords Edition ISBN 9780989053600 BarnesandNoble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-haunting-and-paradise-taxi-cynthia-lynn/1114061302?ean=2940044602069
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/haunting-paradise-taxi/id666549806 ; Sony;Kobo