photo courtesy of s.alt

I did a quick unofficial poll on my Facebook page the other day on traveling pet peeves.  Aside from the fact that most people mentioned dirty restrooms, other pet peeves had to do with the behavior of fellow passengers.  Whether you’re driving in a car or flying on a plan, you will be dealing with other people so it’s best to always behave respectfully to other passengers.

I remember one time when I was riding to Texas with my new husband, parents and two brothers.  Just as we were passing the Mississippi river, my temper was reaching a boiling point.

Of course it didn’t help that I had taken car sickness medicine that actually made me worse.  But it seemed like everything anyone said or did was grating on my nerves.  That’s what can happen when you are cooped up in a vehicle for fifteen hours.

Here are some things we can all do to ensure that we are courteous to other passengers and people we come in contact with on our journey.

1. When using your cell phone, make sure you are not speaking too loud and disturbing others.  And if you are with family or friends, make sure you don’t spend too much time on the phone while neglecting others.

2. If you are traveling with children, be sure you have toys and snacks to entertain them.  Nothing’s worse than sitting next to a child for six hours that has nothing to do.

3. Be courteous to others, and make sure your children are courteous as well.

4. Don’t speed or tailgate when driving.  Not only is it unsafe, but it can also endanger and make your passengers nervous.  The less stress your passengers have while traveling, the better.

5. Stay out of the fast lane if you aren’t going fast.  This also goes for when you are walking through an airport.  Some people are in a hurry to get to their flights, so stay to the right if you are moving slower.

6 Do your best not to make a mess in the public restrooms.  No one likes walking into a messy stall.

These are just a few of the pet peeves mentioned by my Facebook followers.  What are some of your pet peeves or suggestions for traveling etiquette?