Poll; What is your "Favorite Thing to Do" After check in??
 

I hope this results in some interesting replies;

One of favorite things to do, to jumpstart our vacation is after check in, (depending on the location), if its a beach vacation, change into our swim suits and head to the beach. We always try to get a early flight, so we arrive around lunch time. If its a big city trip, we look for a good local eatery for lunch or dinner depending on our arrival time. It all depends on the location, but we never unpack until after we've gone out and found something to eat, relax with a few drinks, or enjoy the beach for a few hours first.

Another thing we started 2 years ago, whenever we go to a beach destination, after a unwinding, unpacking, eating, etc., and right bedtime, we take a long leisurely stroll on the beach. Very romantic too!

Make sure there is a bathtub, and do a cursory check for peepholes in the wall. I found them once, no kidding.

...go to room if possible, open blinds, check out the view, turn on A/C, for some reason, turn on the TV even if I am not going to watch it, use the bathroom, usually eat lunch, then go to beach if it that type of place, or find a cocktail, will usually wait to do full unpacking til later...

sfamylou, I found a peep hole too at a B&B in England. You could only see it when you layed on the bed. I stuffed tp in it.

First thing I do after a long day of driving is turn the AC on, make myself a drink and kick back on the bed to watch TV. Bed cover turned down. Nasty stuff on those bed covers (bed spreads).

On vacations, we check out the tourist brochures in the room for maps of the hot spots, etc. then head to the pool.

"sfamylou, I found a peep hole too at a B&B in England. You could only see it when you layed on the bed."

I'm rolling on the floor at that typo, jorr. When "laying" on the bed, most people wouldn't be noticing peepholes!

I always unpack first, then I don't have to worry about it later on -- I go away to get away from chores, so always try to get that out of the way first.

Although, I have been known to stop at the hotel bar on the way up to my room to get a drink.... ;)

I turn on the tv, if it is around news time and check out their anchors and their local top news..or..I go out and walk around the town and try to get my bearings. I LOVE TO TRAVEL!

I am cracking up...Peepholes!!!???
Well I have never noticed one of those. And hopefully, there weren't any....ewww!!!

I like to go for a walk, too, both to get oriented and locate eating places and to loosen up those muscles stiff from sitting too long.

if with the kids, pool

if no kids, head to the nearest lounge and get on first-name basis with the bartender. chat with whoever's around.

I make sure things work, because it's sometimes hard to get something fixed if it's late at night. I also put my clothes away and move my stuff off the floor. I once checked into a room, left my unpacked suitecases on the floor, used the bathroom real quickly, then checked out the resort for a few hours - the toilet was not only clogged, the water did not stop running. When I got back to the room, the place was quite flooded and my stuff in not such great shape, I also make sure the toilet functions properly!

I always open everything that can be opened without charge. Windows, shades, shower curtain. Next we get ice and have a drink. Then we *****, after that we head out to see what's around.

Let me get this straight?

You find a peephole, you cover it, and you stay?

I'm not sure who is the weird one in that particular scenario.

Do these peepholes work two ways? Do they charge an extra entertainment fee if you have a peephole?

Bubble bath!

Sometimes after finding a peephole, it's too late, or things are too booked up, to move. I too find that TP works to stuff them. Although I found one only, in a dump in Napa that I wouldn't go back to.

It usually depends on the destination, but I do enjoy going straight out (after freshening up & unpacking) to shop!

One new thing that I've started doing is taking a long soak in the tub when I arrive (if there is a tub) to re-hydrate. somehow, this helps with any jet lag.

I have a compulsion to explore new places immediately upon arrival, which drives my husband nuts. While he is apt to want to sit down and "relax" in front of the TV, I can't sit still think about how we're finally "there" and should be out seeing what there is to be seen! Luckily, he has finally seen the light and realized that it's best for everyone involved to let me win these arguments. ;)

And I always read all the in room guides.

OK, I thought this was a joke, but now I've started to wonder. Are you people serious about peepholes? Can you explain that to me. Aren't the walls in any hotel or motel at least several inches thick -- two layers of sheet rock or drywall with a stud wall between? If there is a little hole in one layer, how in the world would you see clear through the several inches of space and then out through the hole in the other layer of sheet rock? Something doesn't make sense here. If you're talking about staying in a place that merely has a sheet of plywood or drywall between rooms (how could it even be supported by the way) then I suppose you deserve a peephole for staying in a place that doesn't even have walls.