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…
Travel Tips (Monday)
Category Archives for Travel Tips (Monday).
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.
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…
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,…
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…
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
Buy Attraction Tickets in Advance
Ever stood in line and watched people being shooed to the front of the line with their pre-paid tickets. Always check the websites of attractions you want to visit to find out: How you buy tickets Where you buy tickets What you can buy in advance — you may have to pay a ticket fee of oen to two dollars per ticket but it is better than spending in line- especially if you have kids with you What deals are available- sometimes prepaid tickets are cheaper -note it does mean you are then locked into…
Get a decent seat
One of my key travel mantras is to score a seat asap. As you will see below, I am obsessive about getting the perfect seat. If I am flying on a long flight, a decent seat that will accommodate my length becomes crucial. If I am not up the front, then exit rows and bulkheads become way more important. I always choose my seat at the time of booking. If the airline or booking website won’t let me, I keep re-visiting the website until I can. Or I call, use the agent’s first name and politely ask for their help. Note, however, some…
Woofound Explore
Tired of trawling through lists of information about options of what to do in a city? Woofound Explore aims to personalise travel information. They say: Our system is founded on the premise that self-knowledge and discovery will open the doors to opportunity. Once downloaded and opened, the user is asked a series of questions about their interests. The user answers by selecting a button that says: “Me” or a button that says “Not Me”. It takes less than a minute. The then app uses that data to provide recommendations about things to do in 70 cities in the USA that are…
Ode to a Pen-a flying essential
At Sydney airport this week, desperate passengers approached the departures area. looking for pens to complete their departure cards. The pens supplied by the airport had been ripped off the chains at the desk leaving their chains dangling. Any passenger seen with a pen was fair game, as passengers mobbed them! A shop nearby, was selling pens for $1.75 +, a slight markup on a pen sold for 30 cents elsewhere. When travelling, I carry six pens: two in my laptop bag, one in my pocket, one with my passport and two in my main luggage. This might sound…
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