Hints for solving a variety of travel issues, especially problems that require experiential knowledge to solve or are not covered by traditional travel books or resources.
10
votes
2answers
87 views
Factors to consider when travelling by car with a 1.5 year old baby in Europe?
With my husband we used to travel around the Europe with a car during our holidays (4 weeks of continuous tour). The route was outlined in such a way that we could sightsee a lot. Now a third ...
22
votes
6answers
732 views
What are good security tactics for sleeping in airports?
Sleeping in airports is something I've found myself doing more often than I ever expected, and while I have no issue with sleeping on the floor or chairs or whatever, sometimes I have valuable stuff, ...
2
votes
1answer
353 views
How to calculate stays against 90/180 visa rules?
Some destinations have a "90/180 rule" which says you can come and go but you must not spend over 90 days out of any 180 days in the area. A recent question asked by a new contributor concerns this ...
8
votes
4answers
273 views
How can I accurately estimate the weight of my luggage?
This is somewhat of a problem for me. Sometimes, when I'm packed up and getting ready to move, I find that I have no reliable way to weigh my own luggage.
Of course, most of us know that airlines ...
32
votes
12answers
2k views
What techniques, tricks or otherwise have you used to get upgrades on flights?
I've travelled a lot. Living in New Zealand or the UK means anywhere is likely a flight, but I've always flown economy. Twice between LA and Auckland I managed to get the exit row after talking ...
5
votes
2answers
116 views
What tips or tricks can you use to get “upgraded”/better hotel rooms?
(Inspired by this question on flight upgrades),
Most non-budget hotels have various categories of rooms - perhaps larger rooms, "Executive" rooms, suites, and so on. What tips or tricks can you use ...
6
votes
2answers
141 views
What tips or tricks can you use to get an upgraded/better hire car?
(In a similar vein to this question on hotel room upgrades and this question on flight upgrades...)
Most regular car rentals agencies have various categories of car - Budget/Economy, Compact, ...
6
votes
2answers
153 views
How to get from Heathrow Airport to King's Cross, London?
My wife and I will be arriving in London via Heathrow Airport (LHR) and are staying at a hotel near King's Cross station. So, we were wondering what the best (which means fastest but also easiest when ...
21
votes
2answers
809 views
What are the chances of success and the consequences of sneaking into business class?
I've read some people writing that they've seen people be caught sitting in First/Business class when they have economy class tickets. This was for international flights on big planes with several ...
16
votes
1answer
443 views
Tips for getting a visa when there's no embassy in one's country of residence
I'm looking for general tips about how to get a visa cheaply when there are no embassies in one's country of residence. This has prevented us from getting visas more than one time. Think e.g. non-EU ...
13
votes
0answers
562 views
Does browsing ticket sites in incognito mode and/or from different IP's result in cheaper ticket prices?
I stumbled across a discussion yesterday where industry insiders share tips relating to their respective fields. Someone who works in e-commerce stated :
"When purchasing items on the internet ...
43
votes
6answers
1k views
How can I avoid or minimize jet lag?
From my personal anecdotal experience, I've found it worse when travelling east around the globe. I also tend to stay awake most if not all of the flight, so sleeping time doesn't tend to matter as ...
3
votes
0answers
151 views
How can you climb the Great Pyramid? [closed]
There is no need for a discussion on ethics.
I'm extremely compelled by the thought of scaling the Khufu pyramid at Giza.
I've read several people's journals about climbing it. Apparently it is done ...
39
votes
8answers
2k views
How should I deal with beggars in India?
I heard that it is unsafe to show some money or help for someone in India.
Is there any rules I should respect not to get into trouble?
9
votes
2answers
105 views
Can you buy a longer ViaRail train ticket, but hop off with your stuff early?
So if you look at the deals for train tickets from Vancouver, there are about 3 trains a week heading east. They head through Jasper, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and onwards.
Now, for example, the ...
18
votes
3answers
665 views
OK we're all nerds here, so really, how on earth should I use a Japanese toilet?
OK so for anyone that's travelled to Japan you know what I'm talking about.
They're devices that are a textbook example of excessive featuritis.
But I want to use something other than the flush knob ...
5
votes
3answers
148 views
Attend a lecture in computer science while travelling in the UK
I'm planning a trip to the UK in May. I will stay in London, Edinburgh and Dundee. It would be very interesting for me to attend a lecture in computer science there. Am I allowed to do this as I am ...
15
votes
5answers
301 views
What are some techniques to avoid annoying the travel mate?
After school I went on a 2 months travel trip with my best friend. We knew each other for 13 years, and it started really great. But after 2 or 3 weeks, we noticed that it is a difference between ...
3
votes
2answers
202 views
First time in Paris - decent questions regarding transportation and tourist attractions [closed]
About my journey:
I will be travelling to Paris in the beginning of March with my girlfriend and staying for 3 days.
We are landing at Paris Beauvais Tille Airport. I have unfortunately found that ...
24
votes
7answers
2k views
How to prevent “Delhi Belly”?
Montezuma's revenge, Aztec two step, mummy's tummy, or Cairo two-step in Egypt, Kurtz Hurtz in Uzbekistan, Bombay belly or Delhi belly in India.
A case of the sh-- or Hershey Squirts or The McSh-- in ...
19
votes
6answers
12k views
Best way to make my ears pop?
What is the best way to make my ears pop when landing on a plane? The hold-your-nose-and-pitch method is very painful; are there any other methods to pop ears?
63
votes
8answers
6k views
How to avoid drinking vodka?
This summer I spent some days in Moscow and St. Petersburg. There I also visited a friend at his home. We were there with its family and traditional they drunk a lot of vodka during the meal. We as ...
5
votes
2answers
118 views
When should one check in to get the best of optionally allocated seats?
Easyjet recently launched an allocated seat system.
Basically the rules are:
If you pay you can choose your seat. The front seats and the emergency exit seats are more expensive.
If you don't, ...
11
votes
7answers
325 views
How to document travel expenses?
I have found that many travelers write down their expenses while on a trip. I always however found it difficult personally, because there are so many situation in which I do not have enough time to ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
better way to travel with money - travel checks or credit card? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When traveling to a country with a different currency, how should you take your money?
Is it better to take travel checks or credit card, or maybe both, on a trip?
I ...
17
votes
1answer
4k views
2FABE - the 'secret' international travel postcard stamp code?
I was told about this about three years ago, that if you were desperate and didn't have time to buy stamps for a postcard, merely putting the code '2FABE' would get your postcard to its intended ...
10
votes
3answers
392 views
Are there any tricks to book multi-city international flights?
Generally, multi-city air fares are much higher than round trip fares. Let's say I'm getting these flights (A->B->C->B->A) and I am staying in first B and C. It is actually a round trip with ...
2
votes
0answers
37 views
Where can I best exchange cash from USD to euro? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the best method for exchanging dollars for Euros?
I have sold some equipment and the buyer paid cash which I now need to change from US dollars to Euros. I'm ...
8
votes
2answers
193 views
One month in India: eating tips to getting spiced-out
I will be in India (Hyderabad) for about a month. I like spicy food, but it is a treat, not normal event. Last time I went to (North of) India, after a week, I had too much of the spices and my mouth ...
45
votes
7answers
2k views
Tactics to avoid getting harassed by corrupt police
In Uzbekistan I was stopped, searched and questioned six times in one day.
At the border with Tajikistan, one official tried hiding my paperwork to elicit something from me.
In Kyrgyzstan, I was ...
15
votes
7answers
4k views
How do I get my money back for my foreign coins?
Tonight I just cleaned my room and while doing this I found some money. I counted it and I found out that there are a lot of coins from 25 different countries.
I know that normally banks don't ...
13
votes
2answers
364 views
Are there any common, secret services offered by airlines to passengers onboard?
There are several services that many passengers are not aware of on-board airplanes simply because they are unadvertised.
For example:
Coat compartments. You can hang your suit in the airplanes ...
6
votes
1answer
132 views
Finding promotion codes for travel - a website?
Quite often airlines (Eg Air Canada), or tours (eg Big Bus Tours San Francisco) specify promotion codes as an option to get a discount.
Where do people get these codes from? Are there websites with ...
24
votes
6answers
954 views
What to do with your valuables on a low-cost holiday while swimming/diving?
I am planning to go to central America (Costa Rica + Panama) for a rather budget holiday, and I am wondering what people usually do with their documents, money, cameras, etc. when staying in a budget ...
9
votes
5answers
159 views
How to make the best use of signs while hitchiking?
It looks to me that the ability of signs to speed you up/slow down while hitchhiking is significant. I think they are useful in places where you want to specify your direction explicitly, like for ...
6
votes
2answers
157 views
Subterfuge by budget airline? Missed flight - was charged for transfer
Recently I attempted to catch a flight from a London airport on Ryanair.
I arrived at departures reception 25 minutes before the flight, 11.35am - my ticket was scanned. Then I proceeded thru ...
4
votes
2answers
88 views
Is it a good idea to keep your home timezone sleeping pattern when traveling to a far timezone?
I will be traveling to a timezone 10 timezones ahead of mine. I need to be productive and work while I am there. I can't afford jet leg when I get there and then jet lag when I get back.
Is it ok for ...
7
votes
1answer
120 views
Planning my Singapore tour as a photographer
I am visiting singapore. I am a traveller + Photographer. I will arrive at 5.00 AM 14th Sep and Departure is 7.00 AM 16th. So I got only two days. I have booked a hotel from Geylang area (Without ...
6
votes
1answer
378 views
Possible ways to find sponsor for world tour / adventure type trip around world
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this question but...
I was wondering what are possible ways to find sponsors for one's world tour or adventurous trip, I have seen sometimes people do ...
18
votes
2answers
2k views
What are some tricks you use to buy cheap airline tickets in Europe?
I have been flying with Wizzair, Ryanair and Easyjet for some time already and have found that there is really a lot to be learned about how to achieve the lowest prices. It was not uncommon for me to ...
117
votes
8answers
12k views
OK we're all adults here, so really, how on earth should I use a squat toilet?
OK so for anyone that's travelled beyond North America and Western Europe you know what I'm talking about.
Left: Romania, last year. Right: Turkey, last night.
They start popping up in the Balkans ...
3
votes
1answer
287 views
Luggage when travelling with children
When travelling with small children we strongly prefer to have few pieces of luggage, so they end up being rather heavy (unless driving). This is fine until you need to check-in for a flight, where ...
8
votes
2answers
808 views
How to use Turkish toilet tap?
I was in Turkey a while ago, and encountered sit toilets with taps (edit: taps controlling a nozzle a wee way below the rim making a little fountain from the back to the front inside the bowl). While ...
40
votes
7answers
2k views
Long term travel without being wealthy - how is it possible?
Some people are practically most of the time traveling, from country to country, for a very long periods and sometimes even years.
How could one be able to travel for a long period of time, over ...
18
votes
7answers
911 views
Is there any trick to checking in more weight on planes?
I soon have to move from France to Spain, one way no coming back. And as with most of the airlines carriers in Europe I am allowed at 23Kg checked-in and 10Kg on board with me. Packing lifetime stuff ...
4
votes
1answer
93 views
Safety tips when leaving luggage and papers behind [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What to do with your valuables on a low-cost holiday while swimming/diving?
As backpacker, one does not carry all his luggage to every location, especially when visiting ...
13
votes
6answers
377 views
What do you do when you're on-the-road and you cannot shower?
Let's say you're backpacking and you're staying at a super-cheap hostel. Either because you have a lot planned for the day or you're catching long distance bus / train, you've to get up really early ...
8
votes
1answer
171 views
What's the preferable option to book a flight?
I am very inexperienced traveler. I have a very basic question regarding booking flights.
On the Internet there are a few online agencies like Expedia, Kayak, Orbit. I don't really know what the ...
4
votes
3answers
144 views
Inexperienced traveler: move every day or two, or use a home base? [closed]
I am planning a short trip to Bavaria, Austria, and the Czech Republic. This will be my first trip to Europe. I will arrive to Munich by plane on 15 of September and I am going to leave from Prague on ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
Are there any techniques, tricks, or tactics to avoid a one-way fee when renting a car?
Very often, when renting a car and dropping it off at a different location than where you picked it up, you have to pay a huge one-way fee.
Have you successfully used any technique, trick, or tactic ...
