Travel Tips (Monday)

Category Archives for Travel Tips (Monday).

Travel insurance Rocks!

Falling off a temple in Cambodia was not on my list of things to do. Nor was the emergency attention and bed and breakfast at the Angkor International hospital in Siam Reap I got after my fall. The hospital was great. Efficient, caring and competent. As was my travel insurance company. It reminded me of why I have travel insurance. For me, it is essential as clean underwear. Yet it is estimated that a very high percentage of travellers have no insurance. In a survey conducted in 2012 for the US Travel Insurance Association found that one in…

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All about Feet and Travel

A little bit of an unusual post this week. This is an important one, however. Love your comments/feedback. Before Travel Consider what shoes you will need. Are you going to be sitting around the pool? Exploring cities on foot? Attending dinners and functions? Practice walking in your shoes before you travel. Wearing your new sneakers on day one of a Paris walk is not a good idea! In the air Don’t take your shoes off during take off and landing. Wear closed in shoes that will protect your feet if you need to evacuate Avoid…

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Yell No

In 40+ years of travel, I have only had one incident where I felt I could have been mugged. As I changed money at a Paris railway station, I realised I was being observed. Worse, the group of three followed me onto the metro and into my carriage. They then carefully watched me at each station to see when I got off the train. I spontaneously hopped off the train at a busy station just as the doors were closing. They jumped off too and trailed me down the platform to the exit. I turned…

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Free Facebook on 7 US airlines

From January 1 to January 30 passengers on AirTran, American, Alaska Airlines, Delta, Frontier, United, and US Airways flights can use Gogo’s inflight Internet access to log onto Facebook for free. Air Canada passengers can also access the service. According to Gogo, after accessing the Gogo portal on an Internet browser, it is a matter of following a set of simple instructions to connect to Facebook. Related Posts US Airlines switch on PED devices

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Pre plan your way

One of the amazing things about google maps street view is that it can help you be in a place before you get fhere! For example when choosing a hotel, you can check out the area to see what it is like. You can find nearest public transportation, restaurants, ATMs etc. If you take public transport to a new area, you can use street view to pre ‘walk’ from the bus, tram or train station to your hotel or office. Seeing the street and identifying landmarks can give you a high degree of comfort you…

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Take a “Multi Plug”

Ever had the moment, where all of your electronic gadgets (smartphone, camera, laptop and iPad) have run out of battery? Whats worse, is that many hotels don’t have enough power outlets! This is my biggest frustration with modern hotels. A “multi-plug” which multiple items to be charged simultaneously can be a godsend.

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Blue Ice: Fact or Fiction?

Many people are convinced that when they flush an airport lavatory, that the contents drop on the people below! This is fueled by the legendary stories about “blue ice” tearing through roofs across the world. “Blue ice” is the mix of sewage material and blue liquid disinfectant that freezes because of the plane’s altitude. One chunk in London tore a large hole in the roof of a Unitrainn Church in London, and is reprtedly one reason for the building’s demolition! Earlier this year, a guy in the UK lost part of his conservatory roof to Blue Ice.  In the…

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US Airlines switch On PED Devices

The US Federal Aviation Administration ruled on October 31 that Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) may be used at every stage of a passenger’s air journey, that is from gate to gate. PEDs include e-readers, noise reduction headphones, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The ruling is “based on input from the PED Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) which concluded that most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference signals from PEDs.” Most of the key US carriers are now allowing usage: Alaska Airlines  from Nov 9 American Airlines from Nov. 4 American Eagle flights from Nov 4  except those operated by Chautauqua , ExpressJet Airlines,…

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Test your wardrobe pre trip

On Sunday, I spied a visitor arriving in Canberra. Dressed in a white shirt and white trousers, he was only already showing signs of wear! Worse, it was a rather windy day in the capital so he was going to be battling dust and leaves all day. Have you ever looked at a traveller and thought: “what did you pack that for?” I am a very light traveller and almost never check bags in. I have to know my clothes combinations will work. I have a travel wardrobe set aside. I add to it from…

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Track Your Fare

When searching for a good price, I track airfares with Kayak.com. I know Hotwire’s Trip Watcher and Farecompare do the same thing. After searching for a fare, I register the route and dates I want. If the fare drops to the price point i have chosen, an e-mail is sent to me. It saves checking flights every couple of days! Related Posts Subscribe for cheap deals Hotel Clubs Priceline Be Date Flexible

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