There is no question as to whether or not travel has become increasingly challenging these days. With increased security measures, new regulations, and staff reductions due to the economic climate, traveling for either business or pleasure is now a very different experience for all of us. While we have no control over the aforementioned issues, we do have control over how we behave and interact with our fellow travelers so that we make the travel experience more tolerable and enjoyable.

For the Memorial Day holiday weekend, my husband planned a getaway to Bermuda for some rest and relaxation. The trip was for the most part relaxing but depending on your travel neighbor (airplane or hotel), it could turn out to be more stressful than relaxing. Here are a few etiquette tips to ensure we are the ideal travel neighbor in the air or on the land.

1. Don’t be a barrier to entry – everyone has an assigned seat so why the mad dash to board the aircraft when your row has not even been called? As soon as the pre-boarding announcement is heard, travelers (not fitting into this category) stand up and block the way for those that need to pre-board such as children, disabled travelers, elderly travelers, etc. Recently, I watched an elderly man try to navigate his wheelchair bound wife through a crowd of travelers who were completely unaware of this man’s attempt to board the plane safely and efficiently.

2. Don’t arm wrestle – arm and leg room is getting smaller by the year as airlines try to increase the number of seats and rows in their planes and as a result our personal space is greatly invaded. However, it is not necessary to mark your territory by spreading out your elbows and taking up both armrests. Be kind and alternate when you can. The important thing to remember is that the plane arrives to the destination safely.

3. Do cover your mouth – with the Swine flu still very much a concern, I was surprised to see how often adults and children did not cover their mouth when sneezing. Even if the swine flu was not prevalent today, why are individuals not practicing this basic etiquette rule? The proper way to sneeze is to sneeze into your upper arm vs. your hand as the latter will immediately spread germs when you shake someone’s hand.

4. Do use your “inside” voice – whether you (or your children) are on a plane or in a hotel, it’s not necessary to shout. One morning while vacationing, we woke up to to a child gleefully shouting down the hotel hallway at 7:30 a.m. While 7:30 a.m. might not be considered early by some, please keep in mind that other travelers might have arrived late in the evening or even early in the morning and might be on a different time zone.

5. Mind your ashes – the sole purpose of an ashtray is provide a home for cigarette ashes. For some smokers, they don’t feel the need to use one and instead flick their ashes wherever, not realizing where they might land. While in Bermuda, my husband and I had a lovely room with an outside garden patio overlooking Hamilton Harbour. We were quite excited to have our breakfast out there in such a beautiful setting so the next morning we ordered room service and planned to eat outside. However, when we opened the door there were ashes and cigarette butts strewn about including our bathing suits that we left out to dry the night before. Apparently the guests staying above us opted to not use the ashtray. If an ashtray is present whether in a hotel room, restaurant, bar, etc. please be kind to those around you and remember to use it.

6. Don’t pump up the volume – the definition of a hotel is a “commercial establishment offering lodging to travelers and often having restaurants, meeting rooms, stores, etc., that are available to the general public”. A hotel is not a traveler’s home and as a result, different rules apply. Travelers are sharing space that is open to the general public. Music is a wonderful way to relax within the confines of your room but remember to keep the volume down so your neighbors don’t have to feel the vibrations in their room!

The next time you travel, keep the above tips in mind so that you set a great example for all travelers.

A recent study conducted by Harris Interactive shows that 1 in 7 adults have given up their landlines entirely and are embracing a “cell phone only” method of communication. With a majority of the U.S. population conducting conversations only on their cell phone, what are the guidelines for appropriate use? Although there has been much written about cell phone etiquette, I am not quite sure how many users are actually paying attention to the do’s and don’ts of appropriate use.

Last week I had lunch with former colleagues in a respectable and upscale restaurant where other patrons were quietly having “business type” conversations. A few tables away sat two gentlemen that apparently thought they were conducting business in their own private office because not only were they unnecessarily loud but one gentlemen kept his ring tone on volume 10 (10 being max). We have all been in situations where we forget to turn off our phones, so I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until I watched him slowly reach for the phone and then leisurely look at his screen to determine if the number was familiar to him, I then became irritated. This happened a number of times during our lunch and finally my colleague asked him to please turn off the ringer or put on vibrate. I couldn’t understand whether this gentleman was completely unaware of how disruptive this was to the other patrons or he really did not care. I think it’s safe to say he did not care since he left his phone on volume 10 and could be heard as we were walking out of the restaurant.

I had another cell phone incident happen the other day while standing on line at Duane Reed. A woman in front of me was having her items rung up when she decided to take a phone call from a friend. I can only assume it was her friend because they began to chat about a recipe she was going to try out that evening. In any event, the woman was unable to multi task (pay for items and chat at the same time) and as a result, a long line began to form. I was shocked at how unaware she was of her surroundings. I finally asked her nicely to please finish her conversation as she was holding up a long line of people.

I think it’s great that so many people are embracing technology and taking full advantage of this incredible invention we call the cell phone. However, let’s remember that we are not sitting in the comfort of our own home chatting away with Aunt Betty.

So the next time you reach for your cell phone in a public area, please remember a few rules of etiquette as it will make everyone around you a lot happier.

- Avoid conversations in public areas such as restaurants, places of worship, dentist and doctor waiting areas, buses or subways, libraries or any other enclosed type area.

- Not only adjust your ringer volume, but adjust your “voice” volume. You might be in a high traffic area but that does not mean the person on the other line is. No need to shout!

- Place your phone on vibrant and never look at your screen while in a business meeting or interview. If there is something urgent you are waiting for then state that up front in order to manage everyone’s expectations.

- Never put your phone on speaker in a public area. I was once subjected to a 30 minute conversation about bed linens while in a department store because a woman decided she could no longer hold her phone up to her ear.