25
votes
5answers
1k views
Paying by credit card while overseas cheaper in US dollars or in the local currency?
Recently I had to pay for a hotel in a foreign country using credit card, and the guy at the hotel asked me if I wanted the bill to be paid in the local currency or in US dollars. I didn't even know I ...
25
votes
4answers
503 views
Is there any way of evaluating the quality of a hotel's internet connection in advance?
I'm on the road a lot for work. I tend to end up staying at a lot of budget chain hotels that offer free wi-fi. So far so good. But sadly, not all wi-fi is created equal. The past few weeks I've been ...
24
votes
14answers
382 views
What are some good ways to find things to explore on-site in an unfamiliar place?
When traveling, one of my favorite things to do is simply explore the local area and see what's going on. I do enjoy guided tours on some occassions, but I'm more interested in finding cool local ...
24
votes
4answers
1k views
What is wrong with eating while walking in Japan? It doesn't seem to be an issue in other Asian countries
I have seen on many etiquette questions about Japan that this is a no no, but I can't seem to find what the reason for this is. I know that in countries like Taiwan or China it doesn't seem to be an ...
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 ...
24
votes
4answers
2k views
Birth while traveling on-board an airplane
Yesterday, a friend of mine who works as a purser (chief flight attendant) helped a lady with delivering her baby during a flight to Manila, Philippines while over the ocean :)
I know that pregnant ...
24
votes
4answers
882 views
London on public transport: what kind of tickets to use?
I'm visiting London for a couple of days, and planning to use public transport while there.
What kind of ticket(s) would it make most sense to use? Do I get the most value out of single tickets, day ...
24
votes
3answers
2k views
What are the signs of a bed bug infestation?
Bed bugs have become a real problem recently, with more and more places reporting outbreaks. What can you do to avoid being exposed to these nasty parasites?
If you do get exposed, what can you do ...
24
votes
6answers
961 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 ...
23
votes
7answers
2k views
If I travel to Paris, can I get by with just English?
If I plan on visiting Paris, but not really the rest of France, is it still important for me to learn at least enough French to get by? Are people in Paris going to be willing to speak English if they ...
23
votes
6answers
251 views
What seasonal work can fund travel?
I'm fond of the travel strategy that involves arriving at a workplace near your destination and doing seasonal labor until you've saved enough to have fun in and around the same geographical area.
...
23
votes
2answers
1k views
How to vomit during a flight?
Last time I travelled I wasn't feeling quite well just before boarding the plane. I either had eaten something wrong or a flu just appeared. The thought of having to vomit during the flight made me ...
23
votes
7answers
6k views
Can I eat a beef burger in India?
I always heard that cows are holy in India. So I assumed that you can't eat any meat made of cows in India. But recently a friend told me, that it depends on the region. Not everywhere in India cows ...
23
votes
4answers
1k views
Are international driving licences really necessary for any country?
When I first started travelling internationally about 20 years ago I was young and naive and bought an international driver's license for my trip to the United States.
Then I discovered that it was ...
23
votes
3answers
3k views
What do “Fragile” stickers on checked baggage do?
When traveling by air and checking bags, some airlines will let you declare an item as fragile and put stickers on the box or bag. How common is this policy? What do the fragile stickers do (i.e. how ...
23
votes
2answers
1k views
Is it technically illegal for US citizens to visit Cuba?
There is a belief that US citizens would be doing something illegal if they were to visit Cuba.
I remember hearing years ago while in Mexico where lots of people go on sidetrips to Cube that it's not ...
23
votes
2answers
357 views
Forgot baggage at Dubai. How to get it to Los Angeles?
Last week, I travelled via Dubai to Los Angeles. During the security checking at Dubai Airport, I was asked to remove my laptop from my bag and after that I forgot to to take it back. i realised that ...
22
votes
7answers
2k views
Car rental vs. buying a car for 1 month
I would like to visit a few places in the states sometime next year, and I was thinking of doing a road trip while I'm at it. I could start in either Los Angeles or Montreal, and then I would like to ...
22
votes
8answers
496 views
Is there a list of free accomodation resources?
I want to travel abroad cheap, and I would prefer to find some place to stay through a person or website, rather than book a hotel or hostel. There is couchsurfing.com, which I know about. Can you ...
22
votes
6answers
733 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, ...
22
votes
4answers
1k views
Is travelling to Chernobyl safe for tourists?
Recently I read in my Lonely Planet and on some news site like for example this one, that the site of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe is open for tourists. There are also tour operators that offer ...
22
votes
2answers
6k views
What should you do if you get arrested in a foreign country?
If a traveller - for whatever reason, is arrested on charges (valid or otherwise), what steps should he/she take to ensure their safety, local and home legal aid and security? How can one make sure ...
21
votes
9answers
2k views
Is there any United States slang I should avoid in the UK or Ireland?
We'll be spending a couple weeks this summer in the UK (Scotland and London), then a week in Ireland. Is there any slang common in the United States that we be best avoided in either country? For ...
21
votes
9answers
552 views
How can I travel between US towns without flying
Can you help me decide, what type of transport can I use to travel from one US town to another (it will be a big journey), without flying?
Are buses available, and is there any more suitable method ...
21
votes
5answers
3k views
Sell a pair of blue jeans and live like a king for a week: Still possible in Europe?
Some years ago, particularly before the 1990s, there way a saying in Europe that (paraphrased) you can sell your blue jeans in every part of Eastern Europe and literally live like a king for a week.
...
21
votes
6answers
5k views
Do you have to take the second leg of a flight?
Say I want to book a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Chicago. Say the airline also flies to St. Louis from Fort Launderdale but has a connecting flight through Chicago. If I book that flights from ...
21
votes
6answers
709 views
What publicly accessible tall structures to take photos from exist in London?
I'm looking for publicly accessible tall structures in London from where I can take photos of the city.
The Monument to the Great Fire of London has pretty good views, and I understand you can get ...
21
votes
7answers
559 views
How can I find a guide that will take me safely through the Amazon jungle?
This was one of our definition questions, but also one that interests me personally: How can I find a guide that will take me safely through the Amazon jungle? I'd love to explore the Amazon but would ...
21
votes
7answers
331 views
How can I protect my vehicle when left at a trail head for an extended period?
Previously when I went backpacking, the vehicle I left behind at the trail head was, erm, not particularly worth stealing. I'm looking at new vehicles now, and somewhere in the back of my mind is "do ...
21
votes
4answers
2k views
Can we get by as English speakers visiting Iceland?
We're going to Iceland for the first time in September. Will we be able to get around ok just speaking English, or should we try to learn some rudimentary Icelandic? And is that even what their ...
21
votes
6answers
2k views
What are the main differences in traffic regulations between the US/Europe?
There are the obvious ones. The US has the keep-your-lane system, where as in Europe you are expected to keep to the right (left for UK) as long as possible.
On my latest travel to the US, I was ...
21
votes
2answers
812 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 ...
21
votes
4answers
5k views
Legalities and safety concerns of visiting prostitutes in Amsterdam
A friend of mine left his girlfriend after a long (~5 years) relationship. To cheer him up a little bit, we decided to go to Amsterdam, as they have liberal prostitution and drug consuming laws.
...
21
votes
3answers
455 views
Is it safe to travel in Greece during the riots about government spending cuts?
I am travelling to Athens, Greece, shortly, and have seen reports of recent unrest. Should I be worried? Should I cancel my trip?
Update
It's fine, taxis are currently on strike, but Syntagma Sqaure ...
21
votes
6answers
1k views
How to avoid suspicious looks when you are in the Western side of the world
Being an Arab with Arabian looks, after September 11 things have changed dramatically when Arabs or people with similar looks (Indians, Pakistanis, Turkish, Kurdish, Iranians...etc) go to the west ...
21
votes
3answers
1k views
Can I read my GMail while traveling in China?
I read in some places that Gmail.com is sometimes blocked. Is there a workaround so that I can access my email while I am in China?
21
votes
1answer
2k views
Are there any repercussions from having an Israeli stamp in my passport?
I have heard people say that having a stamp from Israel in your passport can cause problems when trying to get into other countries.
Is there any truth to this statement? If so, which countries does ...
21
votes
2answers
856 views
What is a safe overland route from Europe to India using public transport?
The traditional Hippie trail included Afghanistan and Pakistan which most people now consider unsafe to travel through.
Even if one would decide to go through Pakistan, is it possible to get to the ...
21
votes
2answers
212 views
How to go on a submarine tour?
I know some companies in Hawaii and grand cayman give you 45 min submarine tours for $400
Is there a way to get a more authentic experience, like being on a sub for an entire weekend?
Or do you ...
20
votes
9answers
578 views
What is the LONGEST Tour operated by travel companies?
I remember 6 years ago, discovering "The Great South American Journey" operated by Gap adventures (now G Adventures), a 5 month trip around the continent (although essentially a bunch of their smaller ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
Is it wise to pretend to be Christian to safely travel through the US?
In this Economist blog it is stated:
In the most religious parts of America, it is tough being a secular teenager. Many of the kids at Camp Quest say that, at school, they either keep quiet about ...
20
votes
10answers
1k views
What truly cross-continental train trips still exist?
I've done much of the trans-Siberian, and it's a great experience.
I'm wondering what other trans-continental train trips still exist. This would have to span the width (or length) of a continent. ...
20
votes
8answers
993 views
What times of the year are best for visiting France?
When I visited Rome, Italy, I ended up visiting during August which seems to be a time when most Italians have fled the city to cooler areas. This was nice because there was less traffic so we were ...
20
votes
3answers
2k views
Should I carry a passport around everywhere I go in the UK?
I am a new student in the UK. I attend classes both in London and Cambridge. Should I carry my passport with me wherever I go within UK? Or is a college identity enough?
My parents are visiting me ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
Is Norway significantly more expensive than other European destinations?
As a budget traveller, i.e. staying in hostels, using public transport, self catering where possible, is Norway significantly more expensive than say Germany or France? If so what's the best way to ...
20
votes
6answers
958 views
What is the LEAST visited country by tourists?
There's always lists on the most popular countries. But in my travels, I've found going against the grain has been super rewarding - places like Chernobyl, in Ukraine, or the desert of Uzbekistan or ...
20
votes
8answers
4k views
Is there any reason not to do laundry with bar soap?
When traveling light, is there any reason not to use standard hotel-issue bar soap to wash clothes in a hotel sink? Carrying powder laundry detergent (or worse, liquid!) seems like a big hassle if ...
20
votes
4answers
2k views
What is the most efficient way to pack a bag?
On trips of four days or less, I try to travel with a shoulder bag containing my laptop, electronics, etc. and a rolling, carry-on bag for everything else.
What is the best technique for packing as ...
20
votes
6answers
1k views
Does it makes sense to travel to Iceland during winter?
I just saw an amazing offer to fly to Iceland in November. Although Iceland is still on my wish list, November would not be the first choice of time to visit. Is this an offer to just fill empty seats ...
20
votes
4answers
1k views
What rights do passengers have when flights in the USA are delayed?
What rights do passengers on delayed flights in the USA have? In some countries, depending on the length and type of delay, passengers can receive a free phone call, meal ticket, lodging, booking on ...
