Just back...Major travel Tip
 

How many times has this happened:<BR><BR>You arrive in Europe. It's 7:00 am. You're tired and red-eyed and can't check in to your hotel until 12 or even 2:00. <BR><BR>Well, my friend solved the problem for us last week. There we were, in the condition described, wondering what to do. And it was raining to boot. Well, the airport had a high-end hotel connected to it. We went to the front desk, and for 17 Euro, they gave us admittance to their health club. We had the indoor pool all to ourselves at that time of the morning, and there were very nice pillowed chaise lounges for sleeping. We dozed for two or three hours, got up, had a sauna and shower, then headed in to the city to start our trip in magnificent fashion. I just can't believe I'd never read it on this thread. What a find!

AJS, you wanna tell us which European airport this was?

Yes,please tell us which airport was this?

Reason why you haven't read it, is b/c it isn't a great tip. Most hotels will take your bags before your check-in time (for free), allowing you sightsee immediately upon arrival. Additionally, my experience is that jet lag is quickly eliminated by getting going after arrival, staying awake all day, then going to sleep at a decent time. The idea of getting a workout is not a bad one (and may help with the jet lag), but sleeping immediately after arrival can extend jet lag.

I would not be interested in working out or swimming. But it would be nice to sit in a hot jacuzzi, take a shower, brush my teeth, and change my clothes!

heres an even better tip if the lack of the room bothers you - book your hotel from the night before.

Not wanting to ruin a good thing in case word got out, I won't reveal the airport. No need really, any airport with a Hilton/Sheraton/whatever will fit the bill. <BR><BR>teehee, maybe you missed the part about it raining and being 7:00 in the morning. Not a lot of sightseeing under those conditions. It was the perfect place to 'hang out', which is what we would have been doing no matter where we may have gone.<BR><BR>anon, pretty good suggestion if money is no object. Would've added $375 to our trip. No thanks.

Great tip. That's just what I want to see when I hit the gym at the hotel before a meeting is a bunch of backpackers sleeping on the couches and/or showering for the first time in a few days.

ajs<BR>wow-$375 is a lot.Not sure where you landed but in the UK there is almost always a Travel Inn nearby. For approx. &pound;60 per room ( and probably cheaper) it is a good alternative. And if you arrive &quot;raring to go&quot; you haven't wasted too much money.We have done this before and the psychological effect of knowing you have somewhere to rest if need be is great!I'm sure there is an equivalent of a Travel Inn where ever you land!

Dear ajs,<BR> If you were staying at a hotel that charged $375/nite they should have let you use their health club for free.<BR><BR> Boy, were you taken.

I get your point, ajs. Yours is a valid tip, I just don't think it is a &quot;major&quot; tip. I am just telling you why I don't think the tip is widely used. Many of us have little vacation time, and try to use it as efficiently as possible. If I let the rain stop my sightseeing, there are trips where I would have spent the entire day in my hotel room. We use those days as &quot;opportunities&quot; to go to museums and take scenic boat and bus rides. I suspect there were few of those open at 7, though. Still, instead of lounging by the pool, I probably would have used the time to get to your &quot;real&quot; hotel, pre-check in and dump my bags (in most cities that will take a good hour or so, particularly with the airport often being a ways from the city center). By 8 a.m. or so (probably closer to 9) other opportunities would avail themselves and I would be in the city center, not at a pool, asleep at the airport.

ajs, I was totally on your side until you added that you wouldn't say where because you didn't want to ruin it for yourself. That's what this board is about! Sharing info. If you want to keep the hot tips to yourself, don't flaunt them. That's just cruel and stupid.

Really,being selfish is not nice.Like a kid who knows the answer to the riddle.And wont tell.Paying $375 for a hotel why didnt you at least call ahead and SEE if they couldnt let you into your room??Isnt that one of the goodies of paying more for a hotel room--a little more service??I agree this is NOT &quot;Major&quot;.By any stretch of the imagination.

Wow, didn't mean to start anything.<BR><BR>Belinda, I SHARED the tip. As I said, any airport with a nice hotel attached would work. If there isn't one, the tip is worthless. <BR><BR>Ira, we had rented an apartment that we couldn't get in until 2 pm.<BR><BR>business traveler, do backpackers pay $375 a night for an apartment?<BR><BR>better tip, I see your point. It was just SO much easier walking the hundred yards or so, indoors. We had not slept well on the plane for various reasons, and really just wanted to relax. We found a good way. If no one likes it, that's OK. We loved it, and vowed to do it again.<BR><BR>Hey, that's why they make vanilla AND chocolate.

AJS: I liked your tip. Our Paris pattern works just dandy for us (cab into city, drop off luggage at hotel, nice breakfast,chores, prelim lunch, then bed). But... once we had a kid with the flu. A chaise lounge would have been worth its weight in gold. And another time, the family suite we reserved was being held hostage by the prior tenant. Desk apologetically told us it wouldn't be ready until 4 pm--jet lag city. <BR><BR>Thank you for sharing the tip. It will be part of our arsenal.

wow. i have been reading and contributing to this forum for a long time and have never run across a heading for a major tip and then not been given the whole tip. that's rather absurd, isn't it? what do you think we will all run to your hotel spa and crowd you off the chaise!! it's not that cool a tip, hon.<BR><BR>

Yeeeeee! Kid with flu in health club sounds like a very very bad idea. Do you want all the healthy people to get sick? That is a time to make sure you have a room reserved for the previous night - or to cough up the cash to pay for one when you arrive.

Hi ajs,<BR> Sorry if I read you wrong, but on 11/18 @ 1:05 you wrote<BR>&gt;You're tired and red-eyed and can't check in to your *hotel* until 12 or even 2:00. &lt;<BR><BR>but on 1/18 @ 4:51 you wrote<BR>&gt;..we had rented an apartment ...&lt;<BR><BR><BR>

I have to say that I find this tip pretty worthless but appreciate the effort. If I'm going to a city in Europe, I'm sure as heck not going to let the time of day and a little rain stop me from getting a jump on things. Sleeping in a chair or sofa in a hotel that I'm not a guest sounds like the last thing on my top ten list.<BR><BR>And the lunacy to think that telling which hotel would ruin it for you shows a lack of depth.

It is not exactly original.<BR><BR>I always pop into a five star hotel and have a dip in the pool if I arrive in a new town and am a bit hot and sweaty.