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5 Steps to De-Germ Your Hotel Room

Travelling, and everything stressful associated with it, makes us susceptible to illnesses. From sitting in close proximity to sick people to exposure to airplane’s filthy areas, travelers are exposed to different bugs and disease-causing bacteria. Of course, the transmission doesn’t only happen in plane or in the airport. The risk of infection can follow you to the hotel.

Since you wouldn’t want to cover your face in mask the whole trip, here are a few ways to sanitize your hotel room and everything you will most likely get in contact with.

1. Avoid using the complimentary hotel items
The coffee maker, ice bucket, TV remote, telephone and doorknobs are expected to be the dirtiest objects in a hotel room since they are touched more frequently by hotel tenants. It is safe to assume that the housekeeping do not wipe off the ice bucket, coffee maker, telephone and everything else very often. Even when they do, you can’t be sure whether they are using a clean, brand new towel every time.

2. Wash your hands—more often!
This should go without saying, but always make sure that you wash your hands more frequently with soap and warm water. Wet wipes are also great alternatives for wiping down door knobs, cleaning your hands and all those objects that are germ-infested.

3. Wash the glassware
Inspectors have proved that not all hotels wash the glasses after every guest’s stay in their hotel room. If the glassware and silverware aren’t touched in their placements, the staff simply wipes the dust off. So, make sure not to use them until you have had the chance to wash every utensil in hot, soapy water. In addition to that, you always have the option to bring your own cup and even utensils if needed.

4. Toss the bedspread
It is a common knowledge that bed covers are not washed frequently. But have you tried checking closely the mattresses and sheets for bedbugs and stains? Of course, you don’t want to clean those, but you have the option to bring your own lightweight bedsheets and replace the bedspread of the hotel to the side. However, if you find bedbugs, you’re better off moving to another room.

5. Always Wear Your Shoes
Do not even attempt to walk around your hotel room with your bare feet. Since you know that you would be taking off your shoes during your stay in the hotel, bring a pair of flip flops or slippers and even shower shoes or slippers to use inside the bathroom.

Now that you are confident in your hotel room’s cleanliness, take your luggage and place it on a luggage rack, so it won’t touch anything that you have just cleaned and disinfected.

How to Avoid Food Poisoning While Travelling Abroa...

Vomiting and diarrhea are the most unwanted companions any traveler could have. But how can you experience authentic local foods in a new place without troubling your stomach?

Here, we’ll spell out some tricks on how to avoid food poisoning, while still being able to eat like a local.

1. Find a busy place
A busy and well-visited place means higher food turnover, which also means greater food freshness and less likely that what you’re having has been sitting around for long hours at unstable temperature. So even if you have to wait for your food to be served, simply take it as a little sacrifice for a safer meal that won’t trouble your tummy during your entire vacation.

2. Go for hot and steaming foods
High temperatures kill germs and bacteria that can cause digestive problems. Lukewarm and cool temperature, on the other hand, encourages bacterial growth. When deciding on a meal, find places that serve freshly cooked items—ones that you can see smoking and steaming hot when served.

3. Opt for fruits with peels
Exploring developing countries is not the best time to try out fresh salads or any raw food. But since it’s inevitable to crave for fresh fruits, look for ones that you have to peel yourself. Avoid peeled mangoes and fruit juices from street vendors. Instead, visit a fruit and veggie market and buy unpeeled fruits, like bananas, oranges, pineapple, watermelon and the like, for your own consumption.

4. Look for signs of good hygiene
When eating locally, expect different food standards from your home country. Vendors may prepare your food with their bare hands and probably most of the food is not properly stored. However, there are still many who you can trust when it comes to food hygiene. Look for things like tongs and serving utensils, food covers, steaming hot food and sinks with water and soap when deciding where to dine.

5. Always wash your hands before eating
Your very own two hands can also be a cause of stomach problems. Besides making sure that your food is handled hygienically, also ensure you have clean hands before touching your food. At the very least carry sanitizing wet wipes or a pocket sanitizer you can use before and after every meal.

6. Drink Safe Water
Tap water is one of the common causes of stomach problems among travelers. But even if you’re buying a bottle of water or any beverage from a mini mart, see to it that it’s safe and clean by checking the seal. It should be intact, and the bottle should not be distorted or damaged in any way.

Street and local foods are an essential part of travelling and experiencing the place’s culture, and the fear of food poisoning shouldn’t stop you from trying authentic local cuisines. Knowing what to do in advance is the key to enjoying authentic food and making sure that you stay healthy all throughout your trip.

6 Cool Hotels for Staycation in Singapore

Want to take a short break from your busy life without leaving the island? Whether you’re planning for a family time, a romantic getaway with your better half or just some alone time, here are a few hotels to check into for that well-deserved staycation.

1. D’Kranji Farm Resort
If you fancy a countryside vacation to get away from the busy environs of the city, D’Kranji Farm Resort is the perfect staycation destination for you. With their villa-like accommodations far from the hustling and bustling streets of the city, you can enjoy some quiet time and savour the unusual yet invigorating experience.

2. Daulat Hotel
An Urdu term, Daulat means good fortune, which is just appropriate as the hotel exudes positivism. The airy interior, spartan furnishings and vibrant chandeliers decorations of the hotel fills your sight with pleasant view that promotes revitalizing energy, which is essential when returning to your busy life.

3. Studio M
Studio M, one of the well-loved hotels in Singapore, boasts a unique layout and loft-style bedroom perfect for a romantic staycation. It also has a gorgeous pool and a scrumptious breakfast buffet. And if you wish to dine elsewhere, it’s near Robertson Quay area where there’s a myriad of cafes and restaurants to choose from.

4. Porcelain Hotel
Sleek, polished and modern-looking—Porcelain Hotel really is true to its name. Located in the heart of Chinatown, this staycation spot offers themed suites with colour schemes of vibrant green, blue and white. Amenities include a relaxing spa, which is quite uncommon for boutique hotels.

5. Quincy Hotel
For a posh hotel that provides free breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as complementary pastries from Dean & DeLuca, Quincy Hotel is probably the best staycation destination to check into. Also, the hotel offers a staycation package for couples, which includes a complementary bottle of wine and passes for either an art jamming session or a chocolate truffle making class.

6. Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay
If a good night for you is socializing and dancing all night long, then Holiday Inn Express should be your choice of staycation destination, given that it’s located nearby Clark Quay entertainment district. The hotel’s rooms are adorned with enormous glass windows, and their infinity pool is an all-time crowd-pleaser. There is also a gym available to burn all those extra calories from partying hard the previous night.

Staycation is an in-thing now, and if you’re craving for that quick break that won’t require you to pack a luggage and spend on expensive airfare, look into these posh hotels for your dream staycation.

Stuff You Need To Bring When Travelling

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Travelling does not only include riding a car and driving to places you want to go to. Most of the time travelling means hiking, climbing mountains, riding planes which mandates baggage weight and the like. This means that in order for you to have a sound travel, you need to have baggage which contains only enough things you need or else you’ll have problems carrying them when hiking or you’ll have a problem negotiating with airport personnel.

When you travel, make sure that you pack only what you need, and make sure that all things in your baggage will be used. First among the list of things you should bring are clothes. Bring just the enough number of clothes. Three pairs are enough for a long travel, for you will have time to dry clean it anyway. You can bring double purpose clothes like scarf which can aid you in warm days and cold days. Just have a pair of shoes, the one you are wearing and a pair of slippers.

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Next thing you must have when travelling are important documents like identification cards, passport and credit cards which can be used all over the world and wherever you go. Make sure that you keep these documents in a safe, waterproof space inside your bag in case of weather change.

Make sure to bring gadgets that will lead you correctly to where you are going. Also never forget to bring a camera, for this will save your remembrances in all your travels.

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