Travel Fatigue

When you travel a lot like us, at some point you will get it...travel fatigue. Travel is supposed to be fun, fulfilling, educational, eye opening, rejuvenating but sometimes you get to the point where it is almost more work and frustration than fun.

That's the point where I was at recently when I ticked off in my mind all the things that tick me off about travel...

The desk clerk that doubles as the restaurant's chef, has to consult a 'how to' guide to make our meal, take an hour to do it, and still get it wrong.

The many, many times we've had a guaranteed accessible room only to arrive and find there's none available.

The time I had a car rental reservation, started to take an Uber there, only to get a call saying they had no more cars (and pissing off the Uber driver mightily when I cancelled the ride).

The Uber driver who ran a red light and almost got us t-boned.

Airlines that assign us seats way in the back of the plane where Tim has to get bumped and banged up as they drag him on that aisle chair to the back.

Aisle chairs that are not maintained.

Airport ground crew that don't know how to use the aisle chair.

Other passengers cutting in front of you in line when you're trying to get a gate check tag for your chair.

Passengers that show up 10 seconds before they're going to close the plane's door.

When TSA agents try to ignore you because they know they're going to have to take extra time to search you while the rest of your party has already cleared the checkpoint 15 minutes ago.

Non-revenue passengers (i.e., crew members on their vacation) getting to sit in first class while the paying passengers that could be upgraded are crammed into steerage.

When even the Motel 6 is approaching $200 per night.

When you return to your room at 5pm and notice housekeeping hasn't even glanced in its direction.

Ticket sellers that don't tell you about discounts.

Ticket sellers that don't tell you that personal assistants aren't charged for admission.

Accessible seating at events where your view is blocked by columns, overhangs, or other architectural impediments.

Accessible seating at events where you're stuck sitting behind a hundred standing fans.

Rental companies that don't have to provide wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Those few rental companies that do charging about 5 times as much because it's accessible (and no unlimited mileage).

Excursions that charge extra for wheelchair users (a problem in other countries).

Paratransit that is almost impossible to use when normal transit is not accessible.

Hotels thinking that a double bed is big enough for two people.

Hotels where their accessible rooms will only hold two people and you have three.

Missing the time when a hundred dollars a night would net you a pretty sweet room.

Being told something is accessible then "you only have to go up a few stairs."

Hearing "you wheelchair users don't have anymore problems now that the ADA has passed."

Having to hunt down the hotel maintenance person because they remove the power from the hotel's pool lift.

Pets masquerading as service animals.

Parents pretending their little darlings are not misbehaving.

Resorts with a thousand guests and 200 pool or beach chairs.

Getting to a street corner where one side has a ramp and the other side doesn't.

Stadium style seating in theaters.

People looking at you funny because you're filling up two plates at the buffet and you have to explain you're getting a meal for another person that can't do it themselves.

Hotels where the accessible room is in the back, has no view, and is the worst maintained room on the property.

Train platforms that don't match the level of the train doors.

Bus drivers that refuse to operate the perfectly operating wheelchair lift on their bus

Servers in restaurants simply ignoring you.

Having the handicapped parking blocked by non-handicapped drivers.

Having the handicapped parking blocked by the business itself when they are having an outdoor function.

Having the handicapped parking blocked by the armored truck making a pickup.

Loud air conditioners in hotel rooms.

Loud guests in hotel rooms.

Airlines that try to split up your group even when you explain to them that you have a disabled passenger and he needs to have an attendant by his side the entire flight.

Ground crews that don't show up when it's time to board you on the aisle chair.

Paying extra to upgrade to a 'suite' when you find out that the only thing that makes the room a suite is the 3 foot high wall between the bed and the couch.

Large, single rooms being called suites.

Being told just because something's old, like a building with three steps or a train, it can't be made accessible even when you've been to another attraction exactly like it that has been made accessible with a ramp or lift.

Paying full price to go into an amusement park only to find that you can't get on any of the rides there.

Did I miss any?  Now that I've got that off my chest, it's time to plan another trip.

Darryl Musick
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