All Questions
119
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 ...
66
votes
17answers
2k views
When traveling to a country with a different currency, how should you take your money?
Recently my wife and I traveled to Italy and before we left we got about 85% of our money in travelers checks and the other 15% we carried on in cash. When we arrived there, no one would take our ...
64
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 ...
57
votes
6answers
23k views
Flight tickets: buy two weeks before even during holiday seasons?
There is a common story that airline ticket prices rise significantly if you buy them less than two weeks before departure. And that any time before that will yield standard prices.
Is that advice ...
55
votes
8answers
3k views
How to convince airport security that I am not dangerous when having metallic parts in my body?
I had an operation some time ago and now I have small screws in my shoulder which will not be removed anymore. When I decided to fly for vacation, I supposed that these will may bring me into trouble ...
51
votes
13answers
2k views
How do you avoid “tourist traps” when traveling to a country where you do not speak the language?
Too many easily accessible restaurants and attractions cater heavily to tourists, and, in doing so, create an environment that they feel will be comfortable to people from other cultures.
Spending ...
50
votes
6answers
1k views
How can I visit Antarctica?
A year ago I was reading some magazine, and found out that there is availability to get a trip to Antarctica.
Unfortunately, there was no info about how I could get there.
Do you know anything about ...
48
votes
15answers
15k views
Why would you wrap your luggage in plastic?
At many airports you can wrap your luggage with sheets of sticky plastic. Why on earth would you do that? I only see disadvantages. I can imagine the mess when customs ask you to open your luggage. So ...
47
votes
7answers
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 ...
46
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 ...
45
votes
11answers
1k views
Is there a good website to plan a trip via trains in Europe?
My wife and I have decided to move across Europe by train.
Do you know of any good sites for planning a trip via train (schedule and maybe prices)?
We're going to go across Europe from east (Russia ...
41
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 ...
41
votes
8answers
2k views
How to successfully haggle / bargain in markets
While I've done quite a bit of travel now and back myself when it comes to border guards, sorting accommodation and / or transportation, one thing I still struggle to come to terms with is haggling in ...
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?
35
votes
9answers
1k views
What are the best ways to avoid data roaming fees when travelling abroad?
I'm looking for data plans I can use while touring different countries within a region without having to worry about being eaten by roaming fees. If such plans exist at all, I suppose mostly big ...
35
votes
9answers
1k views
How can I do a “broad” search for flights?
Several airline and trip planning sites will allow you to check "I am flexible with my dates" or a similar option. Is there any way to also search more broadly for location?
For example, if you ...
34
votes
6answers
2k views
Is it possible to make a decent income from travelling the world?
My dream is to be able to travel the world and have a new adventure every day. With the internet, every day I'm able to see this beautiful and unique world, but those are only photos. I want to ...
33
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 ...
33
votes
9answers
5k views
Where is wild camping possible in Europe?
In which countries is wild camping with a tent allowed or at least tolerated? How high is the probability that someone will get angry at you or even call the police?
Please consider only cases where ...
33
votes
4answers
872 views
Your address at destination: What if you don't know any address?
Often, when entering a country, you must fill a form that asks, in particular, where you will stay.
What if you don't know yet?
Even worse, what if you don't have your guidebook in hand luggage, and ...
33
votes
3answers
12k views
How big is “too big” for an airline seat? At what point will you be required to buy two tickets?
As I said in another question, I'm bringing my parents to visit me here in Sweden next year.
My mother is around 280-300 pounds and 5'6" (130-135kg, 1.67m). I am concerned that she might be asked at ...
32
votes
17answers
3k views
Am I expected to tip wait staff in Europe?
I will be travelling in western Europe, and I would like to dine at the restaurants there. Am I expected to tip the waiter/ waitress? How can I tip them when I am paying the bills by credit card? Do I ...
32
votes
9answers
3k views
What to do in Las Vegas without having to sin?
For religious reasons, I don't
gamble
drink alcohol
engage in fornication
visit prostitution or strip clubs
Are there still interesting things for people like me in Vegas?
It is a week-long ...
32
votes
3answers
1k views
Is there a ZIP code I can enter when paying-at-the-pump in the USA with a foreign credit card?
In the USA, many pay-at-the-pump fuel dispensers that accept credit cards require a 5-digit numeric zip code that corresponds to the billing address of the credit card. In Canada, for instance, we ...
31
votes
12answers
1k views
How do you choose a restaurant when travelling?
When travelling almost everyone wants to enjoy a local meal. It's part of the travelling experience. If you're not careful you may end up in an expensive, "extremely" tourist oriented place, which may ...
31
votes
5answers
3k views
How to use sink with separate hot/cold taps?
I just traveled to Ireland. I was amazed to find that water sinks (at home, restaurants and public) have separate taps for hot and cold water.
If you use only the cold water, your hands freeze. If ...
31
votes
3answers
4k views
What section of an airplane offers the smoothest ride?
I know in a bus, for instance, (well, at least on a school bus, when I traveled to out-of-town basketball games in high school) the farther back you are, the bumpier your ride tends to be. Is there a ...
30
votes
6answers
1k views
Japanese etiquette: Most common (and offensive) mistakes?
I am aware that Japan has many unwritten rules of etiquette. What are some of the most common (and offensive) breaches of etiquette made by visitors?
On the flip side, what behaviors show respect ...
30
votes
5answers
769 views
Is it safe to travel in Japan considering the nuclear situation?
Are there any areas that should be avoided and are there any steps I should take to protect myself from radiation?
30
votes
7answers
2k views
What is the most comfortable way to sleep on a plane?
Some people have the amazing ability to doze off whenever and wherever they are. For the rest of us, sleeping on planes is a constant battle of trying to get comfortable in a cramped space. There are ...
30
votes
3answers
1k views
Why do airplanes at every airport disembark at the left (port) side?
I travel by air a lot, and at virtually every airport I've ever been too, including where you disembark by stairs, as opposed to by jet bridge, the left-hand-doors are always used; and the ...
29
votes
5answers
1k views
Will I be able to travel around India speaking only English?
I am to travel around some Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and others. Will I have trouble speaking only English, or should I learn some phrases in Hindi?
29
votes
5answers
2k views
What happens if you cannot pay for a hotel?
What happens if you cannot pay for your hotel stay because you accidentally run out of money (can happen) or your credit card was blocked (much more likely)? I assume you cannot arrange the money on ...
29
votes
5answers
10k views
When to book tickets from travel sites rather than airline sites?
When booking plane tickets, I generally buy directly from the airline's website (as it is often the lowest or near-lowest price for the destinations I travel between). However, I know there are many ...
28
votes
3answers
1k views
Saving leftovers from restaurants in Paris
Doggy bags for saving leftovers in restaurants are extremely common in the USA, especially as portions sizes are usually too large to consume in one meal.
But I have read in various forums that it ...
28
votes
3answers
2k views
I have a tattoo. Can I visit a public swimming pool in Japan?
A friend of mine is currently traveling in Japan. She has a small tattoo on her neck. Now she wanted to visit a public swimming pool but was denied entry.
It was difficult to understand the reason ...
28
votes
4answers
1k views
Can I take this on a plane?
I'm travelling to the UK in a couple of weeks to attend a wedding. While I'm away, I have a university assignment due, and I'm concerned that I might not be able to get it finished before I leave, ...
27
votes
3answers
870 views
If I visit Los Angeles, am I better off renting a car or not?
California has a pretty notorious reputation for having bad traffic, so I am wondering if it would be worth my time to rent a car when I visit there. If I stay within the LA area, is public ...
27
votes
7answers
6k views
What food to take on a 3-4 day long hiking trip?
It should be easy to prepare, light and shouldn't go bad after few days in the heat. How much would it approximately weight? Lets say there won't be any groceries stores along the way (there will be, ...
27
votes
6answers
2k views
Is it fair to buy a return ticket I know I will never use just because it's cheaper?
I am planning a trip to Asia and then back to Rio. The thing is that I am traveling on flexible dates, so I am thinking of buying a one way ticket to Hong Kong, and I was planning to do the same when ...
27
votes
2answers
10k views
Is weed still legal for tourists in Amsterdam?
I have heard it's not legal starting from 2013. I also heard they postponed applying this? So what's the deal? Allowed or not?
27
votes
6answers
3k views
What can I do to prevent passport stamps being put on blank pages?
I'm running low on blank passport pages which are sometimes needed for full page visas such as those issued by Armenia, India, and Vietnam.
When I crossed the border into Turkey the other day I got ...
27
votes
6answers
548 views
When and where do I have the highest chance of seeing auroras?
I'm wondering what time of year is best, and what locations might be best, for catching the aurora.
I'm currently thinking of February up at Sweden's ice hotel, but since the whole point of the trip ...
26
votes
5answers
4k views
Can a tourist buy a gun in the USA?
This came up as a discussion. With recent incidents in the news, it's often argued by some members of the public in the US that guns are a requirement for safety, and that everyone should have the ...
26
votes
8answers
1k views
Can you tell a cabbie which route to take?
I'm going back home to Virginia for the Thanksgiving holiday and I'll be taking a taxi to Boston Logan. I've noticed that in the past, the cabbie tends to take a longer route, and I was wondering if ...
26
votes
13answers
1k views
Is there any way to spend a night in a European castle?
I spent a night in a jail converted to a hotel in Switzerland, and it made me wonder if there is a real castle converted to an hotel in Europe.
And with "real" I mean the castle should have a ...
26
votes
8answers
960 views
Computer geek tourist attractions in the San Francisco Bay Area & Silicon Valley?
We're planning a family vacation to the San Francisco Bay Area & Silicon Valley, and one of the highlights I don't want to miss is the Computer History Museum. However, I didn't find that listed ...
26
votes
4answers
3k views
What's the deal with the “string people” in central Paris?
I've taken my fiancée to Paris twice - first for our 1st anniversary, and again for our 4th - and both times we had troubles with guys bothering us around the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre. They hang ...
26
votes
4answers
880 views
What should I know about “Around The World” flights?
I have heard rumours of such things, and have had a difficult time find information on "around the world" flights. Are they worth it (do you have a limit between usage, do you save money.. etc.) and ...
25
votes
5answers
1k views
Why is public transport from/to the airport so expensive?
In the different places in the world, I always have the feeling that public transport from/to the airport is really expensive for what you actually get.
Here are a few prices for a couple of airport ...
