Happy Traveller

Dallas, Texas - It's 10.30 pm local time on 22/03/2013 and I'm a weary but very happy traveller. 

Today started with a 2.30 am wake up call so we could all be ready to leave for Guatemala City Airport by 3.00 am. Our flight left late (delayed by weather, probably fog) with an arrival in Mexico City around 8.30 - 8.45 am. After getting through immigration and customs etc, we still had a further 7.5 hour wait till our connecting flight to Dallas. For the rest of the gang, they then had a turn around time of approx. 2 hrs until their flight back to Brisbane. As we speak, they should be somewhere over the Pacific. Hopefully they are having a good flight and getting some sleep. It has been a very long day and it's not over for them yet.

For me, I get to sleep tonight in Dallas. However, on arrival I needed a few specific things, a laundry to dirty (very) washing being the main one. Before I left I had booked a hotel near the airport so I wouldn't have lots of transport time to manage etc. It's always a gamble isn't it, booking hotels on speck. Well, this one has paid off and I would recommend it to anyone transiting through Dallas and needing to stay the night.

• One Weary Traveller arrives at 7.30 pm at an unfamiliar airport and bids farewell to fellow travellers for a solo onward journey.
• Weary Traveller discovers the weather is somewhat brisk (1st official day of spring here).
• After getting through normal official checks etc, discovers that there is a board and free phone to call hotel for a pick up. Very friendly and helpful staff provide excellent directions to pick up point and shuttle service is free.
• Short wait, short drive and arrive at hotel
• Hotel staff efficient, friendly and very helpful
• Weary Traveller discovers that hotel has: coin operated laundry and dryer and is able to provide change to operate same; Wi-Fi is free and operational with no glitches; they can provide a multitude of items travellers may need eg toothpaste, toiletries, first aid items, food, water etc; Breakfast is included as complementary; Business Centre is free to print items and check emails if required
• Weary Traveller purchases decent microwave meal (chicken and vege pie) which can be heated up in the in-room microwave (no need to venture out to forage or to decide fasting is the best travel aid)
• By 10.30 pm Weary Traveller is fed, watered, washed, laundry done - dried & packed, blogs posts, emails checked and very, very happy.

Only thing missing is a cup of tea!