Latest news with #accommodations
WebMD
22-07-2025
- Health
- WebMD
How I Prep for Big Life Moments When My Skin Isn't Cooperating
Last month, I flew to Brazil for a trip I'd been planning for months. It was meant to be a getaway full of joy, beach days, sightseeing, and reconnecting with friends. What I didn't plan for was having an eczema flare-up days before my flight. The timing couldn't have been worse. My skin was irritated and inflamed, and I was concerned about what a long flight, sun exposure, and unfamiliar products might do to my already flaring skin. I thought about canceling. But I also thought about how many moments I've missed before because of my skin. This time, I didn't want eczema to win. So I made a plan. Prepping for big life moments when my skin isn't cooperating starts with adjusting my mindset. I remind myself that I deserve to show up, even if my skin isn't perfectly calm. I talk to myself like I would to a friend, gently but firmly, and I give myself permission to enjoy what's in front of me, even if I don't feel 100%. Then I go into logistics mode. I pack backup moisturizers, barrier creams, and anything I know will bring me comfort. I also bring clothing that makes me feel confident and protected, like soft fabrics, breathable materials, and silhouettes I can move in without friction. For that Brazil trip, I brought my full skin care kit in a carry-on just in case my luggage got lost. I kept an antihistamine on hand and made sure I stayed hydrated during the flight. I also booked accommodations with laundry access so I could control what detergents were used. On the day of big events like weddings, presentations, or reunions, I give myself extra time to get ready. Not to cover anything up, but to make space to move at my own pace. I prep my skin carefully, use a little makeup if it feels good, and choose an outfit that lets me feel free. That trip to Brazil turned out to be beautiful. I didn't hide my skin. I showed up in sleeveless tops, took photos on the beach, and danced through the heat. I had moments of discomfort, yes. But I also had moments of ease, laughter, and connection. And those are what I remember most. Living with a skin condition doesn't mean you have to sit life out. It just means you learn how to show up differently, with extra care, more patience, and a lot of resilience.
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Daily Mail
I'm a travel expert - these are the hotel rooms you should always avoid and how to spot if you've been booked into one
After a long day of travelling, there's no better feeling than arriving at your hotel, tossing your suitcases to one side and falling onto the bed. But what if your peace is suddenly shattered by the sound of constant noise from the corridor - from the slamming of doors, to the deep rumble of the lift, to the clanging of cleaning equipment as staff dash from room to room? According to a travel expert, this common issue is often experienced by guests who have been allocated a specific room - and it can all be avoided with one simple booking strategy. Javier Sobrino, founder of Descubriendo Viajes, a Spanish travel platform specialising in curated accommodations, said: 'After staying in hundreds of hotels, I've learned that a room number on your booking can make or break your entire stay.' He revealed that rooms ending in "01" are located right next to lifts, stairwells, and service areas – essentially the noisiest areas on the floor. While this setup is practical for hotel operations, it creates a less than enjoyable experience for guests hoping for a quiet stay. Sobrino said: 'These rooms catch all the foot traffic from other guests coming and going at all hours. 'You'll also hear the housekeeping staff starting their rounds early in the morning, with carts being rolled past your door first, and supplies being restocked in nearby service areas.' He revealed that rooms ending in "01" are efficiently located right next to lifts, stairwells, and service areas – essentially the noisiest areas on the floor He warned that late-night revellers stumbling back to their rooms, early risers making their way to breakfast, or the constant use of the lift will eventually become 'the soundtrack' to a guests' stay. The reason why hotels rarely advertise this information when guests are making a booking online is because every room ideally needs to be filled. Sobrino added: 'Hotels are in the business of selling all their inventory. They're not going to volunteer information about which rooms might be less desirable unless you specifically ask.' He urged guests to be an 'informed traveller' and be aware of which rooms are located near noisy areas, as this helps to avoid a potentially disruptive stay. Beyond rooms ending in "01," Sobrino warned guests to steer clear of alternatively problematic areas, such as rooms directly above or below hotel restaurant and bars, which can be noisy either early in the morning or well into the late night. He added: 'The same goes for rooms facing busy streets or located near loading docks where deliveries arrive early in the morning.' For families with young children or for those planning an early night, Sobrino also advised booking rooms located a good distance from stairwells, as these tend to have heavy doors that slam when people use them to access or exit corridors. Sobrino urged travellers to 'make smart requests,' when inquiring about a room, to call the hotel directly after booking online, and to 'mention any special occasion, even if it's just that you've been looking forward to this break for months'. He added: 'A simple "I'd prefer a quiet room away from elevators" works wonders. Front desk staff want you to enjoy your stay and will note your reservation. If you're in their loyalty program, mention it – this often improves your room assignment priority.' It comes as a safety expert has issued a warning to guests staying in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs to watch out for five spots in rooms that contain the most dirt. As millions of Brits plan to stay in hotels this spring, experts caution that even the cleanest-looking rooms may harbor germs. In fact, surfaces in the average hotel room are found to be dirtier than a typical home, an airplane, and even a school - while hotel showerheads contain 25,000 times the bacteria of a toilet seat.
Saudi Press
04-06-2025
- General
- Saudi Press
Pilgrims Arrive in Mina for Day of Tarwiyah
Accommodations for Guests of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Hajj Program Ready at Holy Sites
Irish Times
03-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
‘The system is under real pressure': why do so many Leaving Cert pupils need special supports?
Last Friday afternoon school principal Craig Petrie finally got the call he had been waiting for. Two students who injured their hands in recent weeks were finally approved by the State Examinations Commission for access to a scribe to write down their answers during the Leaving Cert exams which begin on Wednesday. 'It's a huge relief,' he says. 'If it had been any later, we might not have found out until the day of the exams.' Last week, the school also received late confirmation that two students who had been diagnosed with ADHD in recent months would have access to a small classroom instead of a large exam hall. READ MORE 'If they had been turned down for any reason, it would have been too late to appeal the decision in time. Appeals can take two or three weeks,' Petrie says. East Glendalough School in Co Wickow, where Petrie is principal, is a relatively small secondary school of 360 pupils. The process of preparing for the exams, however, is increasingly complex. [ Classroom to College: our essential newsletter on navigating the Leaving Cert for parents, guardians and students Opens in new window ] It has four main exam halls for the 120 students sitting Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams this year, as well as 12 smaller so-called special examination centres. They are provided under the 'reasonable accommodation' scheme, which allows for a range of adaptations for students with additional needs (such as anxiety, learning difficulties or physical disabilities) who would struggle to sit exams under normal conditions. It means students may be sitting the same exam but they won't be in the same room. Some will be in the traditional sports hall with large numbers of students, while others may be in a classroom, one-to-one with an invigilator or with a small number of other students. Some will be using a traditional pen and paper, while others will have laptops, 'reading pens' or access to scribes. The aim of the scheme is to remove barriers and provide a level playing field. The problem is the number of pupils who have these arrangements has increased so significantly that schools are struggling to find enough classrooms or qualified staff. In many cases, schools say they end up waiting until just days before the exams to find out if students have been approved for special supports. [ 'Early mornings worked best. I was at my desk at 4.30am': How I got 9H1s in the Leaving Cert Opens in new window ] When it started in 2003, about 5 per cent of candidates were provided with reasonable accommodations. Ten years later it had climbed to 13 per cent. Last year, the total number reached to a record 24 per cent, or 31,800 State examination candidates. If current trends continue, numbers for this year are expected to climb higher still. The vast majority of candidates availing of the reasonable accommodation scheme have learning difficulties, while vision- and hearing-impaired candidates make up a small proportion of the overall numbers (1-2 per cent). The most common type of special measures students receive include spelling or grammar waivers, reading assistance, use of a word processor or exemption from a subject or component. The sharp rise appears to reflect the growing prevalence of conditions such as autism and other learning difficulties. Most education experts put this down to an increased awareness of symptoms, better diagnosis and a significant widening of assessment boundaries for disorders. More controversially, experts also say the fact that a diagnosis can unlock supports means that clinicians are more likely to diagnose a child, even if they on the borderline of clinical criteria. [ Leaving Cert 2.0: What to expect from the reformed senior cycle Opens in new window ] The volume of students availing of smaller special centres has also climbed dramatically. In 2018, for example, a little more than 18,600 students sat their State exams in special centres. Last year, it climbed to 31,800 candidates, a 70 per cent increase. With such sharp growth in numbers, can the system continue to cope into the future? 'I think the system is under real pressure, but I do think it's fit for purpose,' Petrie says. 'The SEC [State Examinations Commission] delivers an extraordinary service when you think of the numbers. They will always answer the phone and respond, under huge pressure.' Another principal, who declined to be named, said we are at risk of reaching a point where a minority of students will be in traditional exam halls: 'We're just about responding to the needs. Too many students are finding out if they are approved late in the day. If the trends continue, it will pose serious logistical problems. A spokesman for the SEC said it operates a number of Race (Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at Certificate Examinations) application processes with various closing dates, including a 'late application' process with a deadline of April 2025, and a separate 'emergency application' for candidates with broken bones, hospitalisations or other issues. Given the circumstances in which emergencies arise, the spokesman said the application and decision-making process for reasonable accommodation is 'time constrained'. SEC staff, he said, were working throughout the bank holiday weekend finalising applications, issuing decisions and putting arrangements in place with school authorities. 'All emergency applications are handled as a priority and all decisions will be issued in time for the start of examinations,' he said. [ The rise of extreme Leaving Cert study regimes online: 5am alarms and marathon cramming sessions Opens in new window ] In the background, meanwhile, there is a wider debate over the level of diagnosis for a range of conditions and related supports. Petrie feels we need to tread carefully before changing eligibility rules. 'I do worry that maybe we are over-diagnosing. The system does bestow benefits in terms of reasonable accommodation, access to the Dare scheme [lower CAO points requirement] and supports in college ... but this system is also here to help students. I'd be very wary of changing rules that would not make students entitled to supports aimed at levelling the playing field.'
CTV News
02-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Manitoba wildfire evacuees make way to Ontario
CTV's Alex Karpa has the latest on the wildfires in Manitoba as the province struggles with having enough of accommodations at local hotels.
