While you’re travelling, you may find yourself dealing with very annoying people.  This is especially true on long bus rides or flights.  If you find yourself stuck in one of these situations, here are some things you can do to make the annoyance a bit less.

Some people really like to talk while travelling, but if you aren’t one of these people, you may find yourself very annoyed.  Being friendly can set off a discussion that lasts for hours, even if it’s a one-sided discussion.  One of the best things to do is avoid the situation by giving the appearance of being engrossed in something.  Grab a magazine, open a book, or immediately settle in for a nap.  This can let your neighbour know that you’re not looking to talk.

Putting in headphones is another good way of avoiding a conversation, although you generally can’t do this on a flight until the plane is already in the air.  Remember, of course, to keep the volume down so as to not annoy people.

If you do get pulled into a conversation, there are a few things you can do to get out of it.  If you’re planning to sleep, politely mention that you got very little sleep the previous night or that you have a lot going on when you land and won’t have time to go to your hotel room for a nap.  A well-timed yawn can help.  If you need to review some of your notes or work on business-related things, say so.  If you do this in a polite way, the person should have no reason to get offended.

Everyone instantly recognises the shape of the Eiffel Tower, one of Paris’s greatest landmarks.  It dominates the city’s landscape during both the day and night, and all visitors have to marvel at the structure.  Even Parisians take the time to stop and paint or photograph the famous building.  If you’re visiting the City of Lights, you should certainly take the time to visit the tower, not just look at it from your hotel room. That’s if you are lucky enough to book into one of the Paris hotels with the spectacular view of the Eiffel tower.

The Eiffel Tower is actually used as a radio tower, but its main function is as a tourist attraction.  When reaching the tower, visitors will find several small carts and other locals selling various items and snacks, plus a small museum featuring some of the original mechanical devices that were once used in the tower.  You’ll also find the lifts.  There’s one in each foot of the tower, and they all take you up to the first and second floors.

On the first floor of the tower, the widest, you’ll find Altitude 95, a restaurant that provides a great meal with a nice view.  If you go on up to the second floor, however, you’ll find more expensive dining at the Jules Verne.  The restaurant has recently hired a new chef and introduced several new dishes.

The final floor, the third, offers the best view of the city.  This observation deck is a very popular place to visit, especially for tourists, and there’s often a line for the elevators.  However, it’s well worth the wait.

Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the United States, and some would even say the world.  Millions flock to the Las Vegas Strip every year to spend money in the casinos and check out the amazing hotels.  Hotels on the Strip are like nothing else—you can visit a recreation of Paris, step back into Roman times, and much more.  However, is it worth staying on the Strip? Well, that depends on several factors.  If you’re visiting Vegas on the weekend, you’ll find that hotel prices are much higher than they are during the week, and the hotels in Las Vegas on the Strip are going to be especially high.  Weekends are, however, considered Vegas’ peak time since that’s when many people visit the city.  If you head to Vegas during the week, you may be pleasantly surprised to see the same hotel room for half the cost. What’s even more, hotel rooms off the Strip are even cheaper during the week.  It’s possible to get a great hotel room for less than $50 off the Strip!  Chances are you’ll also have a more peaceful stay at that hotel since fewer people will be there during the week and it’s off the Strip. But wait…if it’s off the Strip, how will I get to check out all the cool shows that are offered at the Luxor and all the other Strip hotels?  Well, you can always rent a car, but even that’s not always necessary.  Many of the hotels located off the Strip offer shuttles to and from the Strip hotels.  A quick five-minute ride will have you right in the middle of all the shows and sights.  This allows you to see everything you want to see in Vegas while still saving money.  It’s a win-win, something that can’t be said for the many gambling games you’re sure to come across!

Travelling is a lot of fun, but it can be frustrating if you are robbed.  While you would like to think that any hotel staff is going to be completely honest and won’t take anything you leave in your room, you never really know who has access to your hotel room when you’re not there.  In fact, the cleaning crew may leave the door to your room open while they run back to the storage room for an extra towel or something, and during that time, anyone could conceivably get in.  Here are some things to keep in mind while staying in a hotel. First, and most obvious, don’t leave valuables lying around.  Put your camera, laptop, iPod, and other expensive electronics in a drawer or in one of your bags if you aren’t taken them with you.  Don’t leave any money out on the nightstand, either.  If you’ve purchased gifts, you may want to put them in your luggage as well or at least cover any large shopping bags with dirty clothes or the like.  Put away all of your jewellery, too. Next, always make certain to look through the peep hole before opening your hotel room door.  You never know who exactly is going to be knocking.  This is especially important if you’re travelling alone or are not expecting anyone to come to your room.  If your door doesn’t have a peep hole, keep the security chain on the door when opening it.  If there’s no chain, loudly ask who is at the door before you open it.  Don’t let anyone in just because they claim to be with the hotel staff, either.  For example, if you didn’t order room service, don’t open the door for someone claiming to be delivering food.  Before you go to bed or get in the shower, make certain all the locks are properly locked so no one can walk in on you. These tips will help ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip while staying in a hotel.