The Polite Traveler

  How to Survive a Long, Monotonous Road Trip My Dear Polite Travelers, Ah, the open highway.  The wind in my face and the long road ahead full of adventure.  Traveling for business and pleasure can be exciting, but it can also be exhausting.  This is exactly what I found on my last trip.  The trip consisted of driving through two-thirds of California from north to south and then east clear across the state.  We then drove across most of Arizona to our destination of the most Northeast tip of the state.  Driving from our hometown of Davis, CA to the farthest northeast corner of Arizona can be beautiful but challenging.  This is especially true due to the many road-construction zones.  Collecting License Plates Even though I enjoyed seeing the landscape change from California fields of green to the vast, mountainous desert, I didn’t enjoy the endless road construction which contributed to even more congestion than usual. ...

  Comfy & Quiet Comfort Suites Bakersfield Dear Polite Travelers, We needed a hotel stay near highways 58 and 99 in California.   Luckily, we found  Comfort Suites in that exact spot for a good rate.   Since it’s so near a major junction, it was surprisingly quiet and very comfortable.    Basic in appearance, this hotel offers quite a bit for the money .   For one, the rooms are large and well-equipped with the typical microwave, fridge, and coffee maker.   But more importantly, it was spacious, clean...and quiet.   The hotel itself was adequate with a pool, hot tub, outdoor seating area, breakfast room, and fitness center.   The lobby was small but, again, adequate.   The real star here was the breakfast.   For one, it’s the only place I’ve visited that provided gloves for our protection while using the buffet serving utensils.   Although, most did not use them or wear masks in the breakfast room.   Gr...

Not Worth the Price  Dear Polite Travelers, Hampton Inn by Hilton is not known for luxury.  But at Sedona’s exorbitant hotel rates, one would expect a tad more than this hotel offers.  Perhaps real glasses and ceramic coffee mugs??  At least the rooms were well-appointed.  Somewhat, anyway.  The Room Below The Parking Lot Since the hotel is located directly on Highway 89A, I asked for a quiet room instead of the second-floor room with a highway view they had reserved for us.  Upon first look, it appears clean, updated, but simple.  Once we settled in, we found it was indeed clean, with the standard microwave, flatscreen television, coffee maker, and fridge.  But the place needs some maintenance.  The tub has been painted and is peeling, and the toilet makes noise all night.  For the most part, it is comfortable and has adequate free Internet.  The worst part of this room—and the entire first floor—is it is roughly fo...

Beautiful, but Too Crowded! Dear Polite Travelers, Widely recognized for its natural beauty and spiritual qualities, Sedona has always been one of my bucket-list items.  So once Covid took a break—and we’re both triple vaccinated—we hopped into our trusty Honda and drove 800 miles southeast to the land of crimson mountains.  The Drive from Flagstaff to Sedona Since we live in California, we drove Interstate 40 east to Flagstaff, AZ.  If visiting Arizona, please stop in this lovely city.  It’s greener than most of the state, the people are young and as vibrant as the landscape, and there are a couple of Starbucks just waiting for those like us.  Besides the interesting locals—and caffeinated beverages—our junction, Highway 89A/17 South, for Sedona is conveniently located in Flagstaff.  Drive Slowly & Enjoy Highway 89A South Warning, this is a winding, slow road, but one you are guaranteed to enjoy.  Still, it’s not wise to drive in th...

  Good Eats In Sedona, AZ Dear Polite Travelers, Due to tourist overload in Sedona, we decided to cut our visit short...like three days short.   Imagine, driving nearly a thousand miles to a destination, only to drive home after three days.   Yep.   Beautiful setting, but immensely too busy. Besides Sedona’s natural beauty, it is also known for some great eats.   Unfortunately, with our limited time in Sedona, we dined at only two restaurants .   Actually, we only ordered takeout from one and had a glass of wine at the other.   In any case, these two finds are, indeed, finds. Make Reservations, Wait or Takeout at Pisa Lisa Restaurant Pisa Lisa is a favorite with locals and tourists alike.   You’ll notice a steady line of people checking in to find out if their table is ready.   We arrived early, at 3:45, and we still had an hour wait.   Because of the wait and the place was packed full of non-mask-wearing people, we opted for t...

  Where to Stay When Traveling Through Barstow, CA Dear Polite Travelers , Since my hubby and I are...well...old, we require multiple stops during road trips.  Luckily, there are many Starbucks in California.  Yea us.  Still, with a stop every two to three hours, the time of a trip is extended quite a bit.  Consider our recent drive to Sedona, Arizona.  Due to our stops, this trip from Davis, CA requires nearly two days, instead of the non-stop 12 hours.  Our first day was lengthy, so by the time we reached the constantly windy Barstow, my body felt like it was put into a washing machine and strung up to dry in the summer sun.  So, imagine how fantastic it felt to step into a clean, contemporary, and comfy Home2 Suites by Hilton.  The Lobby Reminiscent of an open-concept home, the lobby houses a large dining room and several smaller tables, sofas, tables, and multiple televisions.  And this is just the lobby!  Once inside...