85
votes
Accepted
My online friend is asking for money in order to visit my home country. Is this a legit request or a scam?
The first rule for every such question is simple:
If you have to ask, it's probably a scam
While we cannot possibly examine every possible situation from every angle, online scams are simply far too ...
78
votes
How is it possible for a hotel to have Wifi but no internet access?
I think that the websites are confusing terms. I have also seen this on AirBnb where places have separate checks for WiFi and Internet. I think that what they actually mean is:
WiFi - non-wired ...
- 15.2k
75
votes
Accepted
How to tell if a travel location is "affordable"?
The US Department of State publishes recommended per diem ("per day") reimbursement rates for every major city. These are intended to enable fair reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by US ...
- 37.1k
58
votes
How to spend a night in an unknown city without a hotel? Is there a guide or resource online?
There is certainly no guide to cover it all.
First, if the airline is at fault, they normally provide accommodation and meal. This has happened to me several times over the years. You must insist to ...
- 44.2k
55
votes
Accepted
Airline won't let me pay to upgrade due to purchasing original economy ticket via low-fares site - what's the logic in this?
There are many different "fare classes" of economy fare. Some cost more, and all you are paying for is "this is a class you might be able to upgrade from." The cost of the ticket plus the cost of the ...
- 79.8k
46
votes
How is it possible for a hotel to have Wifi but no internet access?
I actually know of a hotel, which has free WiFi but charges for Internet access. Through the free WiFi, you can access the hotel's internal entertainment system, order room service, check out, "call" ...
- 1,842
45
votes
What coast or river-adjacent city is in this photo?
This is New York City - looking east across the Hudson from New Jersey.
A similar viewpoint is available from google maps
Probably from around Port Imperial Blvd just north of the Lincoln Tunnel.
...
- 5,147
42
votes
What is the purpose of check-in before flying?
It's how the airline gets paid for the flight.
At check in, the airline receives the relevant flight coupon(s) from the ticket or electronic ticket. The coupon, whether paper or electronic, is needed ...
- 37.1k
40
votes
Accepted
UAE now banning VPN access - fines of up to $545,000? Any workarounds?
tl;dr
If you are using VPN for anything other than committing a crime, then there's no problem as per the law.
Long answer with personal opinions
This law which was announced January, 2016 is ...
- 96.5k
39
votes
Accepted
How to figure if it is safe to travel to the area I am interested in?
Many "Western" countries provide travel advice to their citizens. To give some English-language examples, the US state department provides ongoing events alerts here as well as more general, less ...
- 13k
38
votes
Accepted
Is there a website listing the location of all the Windows 10 lock screens?
Windows 10 has added an update in the latest version allowing users to see where the photo came from. In the top-left corner of each lock screen there is now a short description of the location. ...
- 82.1k
37
votes
What coast or river-adjacent city is in this photo?
The city is New York, facing the Borough of Manhattan and the photo was taken at Kennedy Blvd and approximately 53rd Street in West New York, New Jersey. I lived there for nearly a decade and would ...
- 84.8k
36
votes
Accepted
Flight Search from anywhere to a specific destination
Of all the search engines known to me, it can be done with Kiwi.
Say I want to fly to Madrid from anywhere in Central + Eastern Europe, I can choose Madrid as my destination and a circle ...
- 26.2k
33
votes
How to tell if a travel location is "affordable"?
The Economist Magazine invented the so-called "Big Mac Index" as an attempt to measure the relative purchasing power between various currencies.
THE Big Mac index was invented by The Economist in ...
- 84.8k
32
votes
Accepted
Google Maps: Directions: Are time zones my local browser, or local to where I am searching?
I did some testing and it seems to be the time of the start and ending points you provided. I chose a route which passes a time border (between Spain and Portugal) and this is what I get:
As you can ...
- 12.6k
32
votes
Is estapro.org a legitimate agent for ESTA applications?
No, the only official ESTA form is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. When talking about the US, you should be wary of official-looking sites that don't end in .gov.
As far as I understand it, the business ...
- 762
31
votes
How to plan a UK train route avoiding the tube?
The split-ticketing booking engine TrainSplit appears to be able to do this. In the advanced options, untick all of the modes of transport you don't wish to use (untick everything besides "Train"). In ...
- 11k
31
votes
Accepted
Is there a booking app or site that lets you specify your gender for shared dormitories?
hostelworld.com allows filtering rooms by gender:
- 642
31
votes
Sudden cheap travel?
You don't have to seek out some special place for last minute deals. There are plenty of websites that do this - just search for "last minute deals". Alternatively, you can just go to your favourite ...
- 364
30
votes
Accepted
Why does Google Flights show train stations?
The train stations included are some of those train stations that are integrated with air travel as part of an air-rail alliance for single ticketing.
For example, I can search for travel from 30th ...
- 86k
29
votes
Accepted
Is China Southern's website optimised for a particular browser?
You're using the wrong website. Their global website--distinct from the English-language version of their Chinese website, which you show screenshots of--works fine without any fiddly mobile signups ...
- 6,100
29
votes
Accepted
Guide for how to behave or what to expect at a Panto in England?
There are plenty of online resources, including:
A stranger’s guide to Panto – or – How to get the most out of it!
What is pantomime? A guide to this most British of festive institutions
Wikipedia - ...
- 670
28
votes
Is there a practical way to change the phone number in Uber app when arriving at a country?
This addresses your concern about revealing your phone number:
According to Uber:
Contact without providing personal information. While riders and
drivers are able to contact each other through ...
- 28.4k
28
votes
How to spend a night in an unknown city without a hotel? Is there a guide or resource online?
In post-Soviet countries you will probably walk to local rail station and rest in its waiting area. It's usually open 24/7. You might be required to show a proof of onward travel from this station.
...
- 12.2k
28
votes
Accepted
How do I find the fastest route from Heathrow to an address in London using all forms of transport?
Citymapper, also available as an app for iOS and Android, has never failed me in London or other large cities where it is available. Cabs, Uber, Tube, buses, Heathrow Express, cycling, walking, I don'...
- 498
25
votes
Why do hotel booking sites ask for the number of people? Does it matter how many I say?
I have worked at hotels for eight years. The reason behind the rate difference has to do partly with amenities, and partly with laws.
When there is a price difference, it is because of the amenities....
- 259
25
votes
Given the name of a US pharmaceutical drug, how can I know its equivalent in other countries?
Google is indeed your friend, and the fact that you are from US, an English-speaking country, is a great plus.
Now let me say. When visiting other countries, you must check with your doctor and local ...
- 4,778
23
votes
How can I do a "broad" search for flights?
Since this thread has become the universal flight search engine thread I want to give a breakdown of all the options mentioned in the other answers:
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/ (answer) is the ...
- 26.2k
23
votes
Airline won't let me pay to upgrade due to purchasing original economy ticket via low-fares site - what's the logic in this?
If it is a private (or “hidden”) fare then the price your travel agent pays for your seat is a commercially private matter between your agent and his liaison at the airline. (It is probably not the ...
- 37.1k
22
votes
How can I book a flight plan found on Matrix Airfare Search?
We just created https://bookwithmatrix.com, a site that lets you simply copy and paste the itinerary from ITA Matrix and get links to the major OTAs (online travel agents) where you can make the ...
- 1,549
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