For the über-Road Warriors - those who spend their lives on the road

Previously I posted an entry about some companies which require their employees to share rooms in order to cut cost.

An anonymous reader is asking for help about sharing a room during a business trip:

"I recently joined a company in a sales position. I must travel with a colleague for several days to an important client meeting-convention. Our company policy is for female employees to share hotel rooms. Male employees are expempt, apparently. But this is beside the point. The colleague I must travel with is difficult. She is a bully, aggressive, and has a tendancy to drink too much and stay up very late when on road trips. She is also unfriendly and barely speaks to me at the office, despite my attempts to be friendly and professional. She's already set the "rules" for the trip --when we will leave, what we will do, where we will stay, and mandated I can't use the white noise machine I use when traveling alone. No other coworkers are going on this trip, so I can't switch roommates. I don't want to appear a prima dona and demand a private room, when other coworkers always share. But I am dreading this trip and concerned my performance will be affected. Any advice?"

It seems a lot like the school yard bully got older, got herself a job and still remained a bully. 

If she is the way she is, chances are, your other coworkers have also noticed how much of a bully she is.  Why not talk to your direct supervisor about your concerns?  Do stress the fact that this "too close for comfort" arrangement will affect your productivity. Make sure you also make it clear that it is not just a simple misunderstanding.

Since you are travelling as colleagues, "rules" should not only be advantageous for one person.  You should both find a compromise rather than just have one follow the other.

In any case, whether you are out for a business trip or back in the office, you should never take abuse from the office bully.  Ignoring the problem will not make it go away. You need not be friends at work but you have the right to be treated with respect.

What about YOU, dear readers? What do you suggest? How should she handle this problem?