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!…
Travel Tips (Monday)
Category Archives for Travel Tips (Monday).
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!
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…
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…
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…
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…
Flying with Electronics- new rule & some tips
If you are planning on carrying your mobile, laptop or ipad onto a plane to the USA or UK, make sure it is charged. Under new rules released last week by the US Transport Security Administration (TSA), passengers travelling from Europe, the Middle East and Africa to the US must be able to turn on their electronics at security in order to prove they are the genuine article and not some kind of bomb. The TSA states: During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless…
App matches hosts & guests for meals
Love the concept of an app called Eatwith. It matches visitors to a city with hosts who open their homes up and cook for those visitors. I am a huge fan of anything that helps me experience the “real” culture of a place. I have enjoyed a five course home cooked meal in France, meats, pastries breads and dumplings in Germany and amazing melt in your mouth pasta dishes in Hungary. I have supped on stews and sweets in Scotland, noshed on lamb roast in New Zealand, tasted tamales in Costa Rica, feasted on rice and chicken in El Salvador and…
12 tips to Stay Safe while eating Street Food
One of the guys at work said to me today: “you don’t eat street food do you?: I nodded enthusiastically as I have eaten soup surrounded by rubbish and dogs in Cambodia, squatted with locals in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, shared falafels in Jordan and snaffled pork rolls in Portland, Oregon. For a couple of dollars I have eaten like a king in cities across the globe! But “I have some rules”…. I take time to adjust to the local cuisine. My mistake is getting off the plane and grabbing something immediately!…
Getting my cheap fares
I have to admit that I enjoy boring my friends with my latest exploits of finding low fares. I hate paying top fare for anything! What I enjoy more is when my friends use these tips to score their own low fares! Subscribe to email alerts for airlines and travel companies Watch for new cities – when an airline starts a new service, often there is a flurry of discounting not just from that carrier but their competitors. Jumping in on a new routing can save cash! Don’t use Expedia and Orbitz automatically – these are…
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