Introduction: The Importance of Safety in Travel Travel brings unexpected challenges, from lost baggage to plane delays to car accidents to heart attacks. I have travelled or lived in 80 countries now, including four war zones, and I do all I can to protect myself, my property, and my data.” including travel and life in four war zones, and I do all I can to protect myself, my property, and my data. It always amazes me how naive many travellers are with these things, causing stress, danger and expense. Poor preparation and safety awareness are…
Travel Tips (Monday)
Category Archives for Travel Tips (Monday).
Stranded? What To Do When Your Airline Collapses
Question: “How do you create a small airline?” Answer: “Buy a big one and wait for a couple of years.” Boom boom! The airline industry is very volatile, as many thousands find out every year. I have flown 125 airlines since 1968. Of those, 41 do not exist anymore. Names such as Air Berlin, Alitalia, Ansett, Malev, and Pan Am no longer grace the skies. This year: Last year, we saw the demise of Aeromar, Air Moldova, Flybe, Flyr, Go First, MYAirways, Niceair, and Viva (full list and background information at link). If you or…
Riding the Big Trains: Sensational Rail Journeys Through Wales/ Cymru
I have now completed travel across (almost) the entire Welsh mainline railway network. Every line through almost every station! Now I am working my way through the nation’s Heritage trains! Even as a dedicated train enthusiast, I find navigating Wales/Cymru’s railway network more confusing and frustrating than it should be. But through all the challenges and surprises, I’ve learnt to untangle the mysteries of Welsh rail travel. Here’s what I’ve learned: Major Welsh Train Routes You can essentially divide the railway system of Wales/Cymru into nine distinct routes. Here is a summary with more detailed…
12 Expert Strategies for Conquering Travel in 2024
I adjust my headphones a little louder as I stride into any airport, train station or ferry port. I have even created a Spotify list for my train journeys and flying! I walk compassionately past the crying couples, smile at the cheeky kids with their harried parents and feel a deep pang of sympathy for the stressed, angry or fighting travellers. I have loved travel for at least five decades (I have to take a breath as I type that)!! In that time, I have flown over 1500 times, travelled to 87 countries (of which…
Maximising Qantas Double Status Credit deal to my Benefit
Being an Aussie based flyer, almost one-third of my 1585 flights have been with the Australian carrier, Qantas. In addition I have flown every current and past One World carrier! This volume of flights means that I have achieved Qantas Gold for Life status (equivalent to One World Sapphire) in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. I have also been Qantas Platinum (One World Emerald) for nine of the last ten years (I slipped one year). This status earns me a level of One World Priority benefits, which includes priority check-in, airport lounge access, priority boarding,…
Don’t Waste that Safety Briefing-Save a Life
The aviation year has started with a bang — literally. We saw the first Airbus 350 destroyed in a ball of fire. The pictures of the burnt-out shell are chilling. Then the USA grounded all Boeing 737 Max 9s after a brand-new Alaska airlines plane had part of its fuselage ripped out violently. Tragically, Japan saw five lives lost in the smaller plane on the runway that was hit by the JAL A350. People going to start others impacted by the recent Japanese quake. After 1580 flights with just one scary landing (plus three memorably…
Ten Opportunities for Better Travel in 2024
Happy New Year! I travel more than anyone else I know!! This gives me lots of opportunities to encounter fellow travellers and observe their behaviour and mine. Sometimes it’s exemplary, and sometimes it’s been appalling. As we usher in 2024, here are some suggestions to shape a more considerate and enjoyable travel environment for everyone involved. 1. Respect each Other Can we just treat others with some level of care, interest, awareness, and concern? We don’t have to be best buddies, but let’s not ignore each other, scream at each other, and trample each other…
Protecting yourself from the Bed Bug Scourge
It’s been a few years since I last wrote about bed bugs! It feels like I’m compelled to discuss these tiny bloodsucking critters every three or so years! Currently, I’m back in Paris, and there’s a noticeable media hysteria surrounding bed bugs. I have had numerous people messaging me warning me about the situation! Having experienced an infestation once, I can attest that it’s a far-from-pleasant experience. I often think of bed bugs as little vampires, stealthily settling into our cosy beds to feast on our blood as we slumber. The mere thought of these…
Why I love WISE money tool
Are you travelling internationally soon? Or later this year? I am a huge fan of WISE which used to be called Transfer Wise. They have become so indispensable for me that I have been astounded recently, to find people who don’t know about them. (If you do sign up, please use this link: https://wise.com/invite/u/martinc5) Six fabulous reasons I love Wise: 2 I have two fee-free VISA cards (one real and one virtual for online shopping). They have a distinctive Green colour which is always a talking point. The exchange rate is so good that I…
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