Travel Tips (Monday)

Category Archives for Travel Tips (Monday).

Lessons from “The Embassy”

Almost a million Australians a year travel to Thailand. Many get into trouble and some of them are now captured for eternity in a fascinating new TV series “The Embassy“, set at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. It is compelling viewing. Trailer: The hour long episodes deal with everything that can go wrong on holidays in Thailand: ladyboys, love, lust, lost passports,  lunatic drinking and lame behaviour. My favourite line comes from one of the Thai staff at the embassy: “low cost airfares meant the end of ‘the calm’ for consular offices.” The “observational documentary series”…

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How to say I love you in 50 Languages

This is serious. You never know when you might need this! Or impress your loved one on your next dinner date! Happy to take corrections and additions! Afrikaans – Ek het jou lief Albanian – Te dua. Arabic – Ana behibak (to male)  Ana behibek (to female) Armenian – Yes kez sirumem. Catalan – T’estimo Chinese –Mandarin -Wo ai ni Creole – Mi aime jou Croatian – Volim te Czech – Miluji te Danish – Jeg Elsker Dig Dutch – Ik hou van jou. English – I love you. Ethiopian – Afgreki Farsi – Dooset daram. Finnish…

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All about #Bargaining /Haggling

I have bargained for Books in Bombay, Cards in Cambodia, Drivers in Delhi,  Face-creams in Fiji, Household oddments in Hong Kong, Linen in Lebanon, Night time accommodation in Nicaragua, Sunglasses in Singapore, Trousers in Thailand,  Zimbabwean stone carvings and more! Yup, I love bargaining (also known as haggling)! This shopping method for me is all part of the fun of travel.  For other travellers, it feels annoying, confusing and frustrating and even terrifying. I have had friends insist I bargain for them. Others give up buying, lamenting “why can’t it be fixed price?”  When I see people struggling with bargaining or when I am tired of the bargaining…

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Don’t carry a Money Belt

It seems it is almost compulsory for a tourist on their first overseas trip, to carry a money belt.  Every travel goods shop will tell you that you have to have one. I don’t do it!  I tried for a few trips. I wore the one around my neck and the one around my waist.  With relief, I abandoned the practice for the following reasons: 1. Nothing spells “Target” more than a money belt. I try to look like I belong wherever I visit and money belts blow that! Thieves can see them, shopkeepers see…

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Trusting People

I was barely out of my teens and I had arrived at Chicago’s Union Station by train on my first big North American adventure! The noise of people, traffic, trains and announcements seemed overwhelming. We needed to get to our youth hostel. This was the days of no internet, no cell phones and no google maps! (Yes, I am that old). We must have looked lost with our back packs, maps as we struggled to find the bus that would take us from the station to our hostel which was out in the Chicago suburbs!…

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Photograph your luggage

Do you have a photo of your luggage? – Seriously. A picture of your bag, laptop case, or briefcase will help should it be lost or stolen. It is so much easier to describe a lost bag by showing its picture. Don’t store the pic in your case! I keep one on my phone and one “on the cloud”. Related Posts Travel Tip: Don’t Check in baggage Travel Tip:  Take No Toiletries Seven things not to pack Air Canada’s Luggage Toss!

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Shopping while traveling- 7 tips

“Excuse me” a woman said to me tentatively at Bangkok airport, “ I have been hearing your accent and was hoping you are an ally.” She pointed to two matching suitcases. “We bought one at home . We just bought the other one here in Bangkok airport. We worked out that we paid way more than we would have back home. “ When she and I discussed the price, it was clear she had indeed paid much more than she could have due to: a lack of research poor knowledge of the exchange rate and…

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How I am carrying money

Once upon a time, international travel meant organising traveller cheques (checks) and significant wads of local currency! These days,  I travel with the following: a VISA card which I will predominantly use for over the counter transactions a MasterCard from another bank which does not charge me fees for overseas ATM withdrawals (I will still have to pay any local transaction fees) a Travel Money Card which has six different currencies on it which is my back up card and not in my wallet $50 cash in each local currency which I buy fee free from a…

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Get to Know your currency

After being to 59 countries, I have now used 62 currencies (yes some countries have changed currencies). If I could have my way, the world would only have ten currencies (two per continent!). Easier to remember and less to carry! The reality is we have 180 currencies circulating amongst the 193 UN recognised nations from roubles, to lek to shekels, pesos and birr. On my next trip starting Thursday, I will be using: Malaysian Ringits Danish Krone British Pounds Euros Thai Baht Australian dollars They can all become confusing to people. Even with a currency…

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How I use plane safety briefings

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the Fasten Seat Belt sign. If you haven’t already done so, please stow your carry-on luggage underneath the seat in front of you or in an overhead bin. Please take your seat and fasten your seat belt. And also make sure your seat back and folding trays are in their full upright position. For many passengers the start of the safety briefing is a sign they can start dozing, reading or texting. Are safety announcements an anachronism? Accounts of  US Air Flight 1549‘s evacuation indicate that one of the key reasons many passengers were able to…

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