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…
Travel Tips (Monday)
Category Archives for Travel Tips (Monday).
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…
Don’t let the Bedbugs bite
In my travel adventures, I have managed to miss out on the joy of meeting bedbugs (Cimex lectularius). There is signficant fear from many about these critters. Bedbugs are tiny small wingless insects that feed by exclusively on the blood of warm blooded animals. Humans, are therefore, ideal hosts for them. Bed bugs feed every five to ten days. The peak feeding time for a bed bug is about one hour before sunrise. They pierce the skin of the host with two microscopic hollow tubes. One tube injects saliva which contains anaesthetics and anticoagulants, so that the…
Thai Army takes full control in Coup -imposes curfew.
The Royal Thai Army have taken full control of Thailand, dismissing the government on Thursday 22nd May, 2014 16:30h local time. General Prayuth said in Bangkok today: ‘To restore peace back to the country in a short time and to reform the country’s politics, economy and society, the Thai military, army, navy, air force and police have seized power from May 22 onward”. The country is now being run by a body known as The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC). General Prayuth also said.“I ask the people to remain calm and carry on with their business…
Martial Law in Thailand- Staying Safe [Updated]
Update: Thursday 22nd May, 2014 16:30h Local Time : The Situation in Thailand has changed and the army has taken full control dismissing the government. Its food is unparalleled, beaches beautiful, people lovely, shopping bargains superb and reputation for wild and fun times unsurpassed. Sadly Thailand also has a history and a culture for military interventions for nine decades. According to media sources, the Royal Thai Army declared martial law nationwide at 3am Tuesday 20 May local time (Monday, 19 May: 8pm GMT or 1pm US West Coast time). Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said the…
Know anything about Lyft
Has anyone used Lyft? Lyft is a smartphone app that seems to match drivers with people looking for rides in several key cities across the USA. When the ride ends, the app automatically charges payment from the passenger’s saved credit card. Lyft also provide drivers with additional excess insurance, including a $1M liability insurance. The company says: “Passengers and drivers rate each other. If you rate someone 3 stars or below, you’ll never be matched with them again.” I am curious to know if it works. I also could not see pricing on the website. Any information or…
Protecting Data & Identity On the Road
When I first travelled, I carried a moneybelt into which I put my passport and money. I knew having my money or documents stolen put me at risk. I no longer wear a money belt having developed other strategies (but still keep my stuff safe). Today there are a group of thieves that aren’t interested in pickpocketing but instead want your bank account details and computer passwords. Travellers can be very vulnerable. We need strategies to avoid these targets. Here are some. 1. Choose Passwords wisely According to password management company SplashData, the top…
What to do with left over foreign coins?
One of the annoyances of travelling international is the amount of “small change” that can accumulate. In some countries, coins are used instead of small notes so at the end of a trip, you can have a surprisingly large amount of money tied up in coinage. There is a limit as to how many of these coins one wants to collect for souvenir purposes and these coins are “virtually” worthless on return as most money changers and banks only accept notes in foreign exchange transactions. Options- Spend, Save, Give Learn the coinage of the country…
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