Something to strike fear into the hearts of passengers who check bags in. Italian authorities 18 months ago, installed hidden cameras at several airports across Italy. Police then viewed over 2,000 hours of footage taken by these cameras. The footage showed Alitalia baggage handlers deliberately picking luggage locks, cutting open suitcases and stealing money, electronics, jewellery and other items. One employee was taped while attempting to break into a suitcase by stabbing it multiple times. Take a look: The Italian National Police arrested 86 Alitalia employees as a result of the footage. The thefts occurred on board Alitalia planes and in areas…
Travel Tips (Monday)
Category Archives for Travel Tips (Monday).
Keeping track of exchange rates
Look up the monetary conversion rates before you go. Finding out that your dollars won’t go as far as they do back home is a nasty shock. I use currency xe online – its also a downloadable app If you prefer a paper based tool, gocurrency has a tool that allows you to perform a currency calculation and print it on paper tuck into your wallet or handbag.
Airport Life Travel app
Last year, I travelled to 59 airports in 15 countries! One day, stuck in Charlotte, North Carolina I called a friend for advice on where to get some good food. There have been many airports where I have wandered aimlessly from terminal to terminal looking for decent food. What I should have been doing is developing an app to help the millions of passengers annually who do the same thing. Dan Stratman, an airline Captain with 23 years of experience has done just that declaring: “I’m all too aware of how frustrating air travel has become. I wanted…
iDotto Audio Guides
The idea of wandering around a city listening to an audio tour does not excite me. Until now. iDotto is an intriguing app for the future of travel guiding. It is an audio guide that “accompanies” its users around a city and gives them a personalised guided tour. With a guide book, you usually have to follow a set route, or turn to a particular page. With IDotto, you download, whack in your headphones, walk where you want to and listen.”iDotto doesn’t give you orders, or impose an itinerary. It goes with you and tells you about what you are looking at. After all, it…
Line Vigilance
There is a downside to travel sometimes and that is the queues (or lines) depending on your country! An American friend and I were discussing the linguistic variations that refer to the action of lining up for something! Some countries do lines very well. For example, the British. In some the queues look haphazard but in fact are very well organised. In other places, queues are in fact non existent and the line consists of a mass of people shoving to be first. Lined up at Buenos Aires main airport, I was amazed at how…
App for food finding
Find. Eat. Drink. The great thing about this app is that it sources recommendations from industry insiders—the chefs, sommeliers, bartenders who work with food and drink for a living. Download one of the PDF guides for the city you’re traveling to and you’ll get all the info without roaming costs. Find. Eat. Drink. app, Free for Apple Related Posts Know your tipping
The Fake Wallet
This is a trick I have never had to experience. Carry a second wallet while traveling with a couple of fake or expired credit cards and money in small denominations. If mugged,I am told throw the wallet two metres away from your attacker in the opposite direction of where you will then run. Throw and run. They will go for the wallet while you make your escape. My fear is that I will throw the wrong wallet. Of course, being aware of your surroundings, looking confident, not wearing expensive jewellery can also reduce your risks.
Carry On Inconsiderates
Having boarded a lot of planes, I have watched a lot of passengers stowing their baggage. So far I have observed the following Characters. Relate to any? Know any? Privileged Pete Pete believes he has the right to bring in a houseful of contents. On some carriers, he won’t get away with it but on other airlines, the staff turn a blind eye as he staggers on with a full suitcase, roll on bag, back pack and computer bag. Fling em Freddy Fred gets to his row and throws his bag into the overhead compartment without checking to see whats already there. As…
How to Pack via YouTube
Found some great video clips on how to pack. They may give you inspiration In the first video the presenter shows how to pack a month worth of clothes into a small space but I have concerns on how he can access one picee of clothing if you don’t want to unpack the whole thing This presentation has some very practical tips but I cannot get over how many shoes she packed. Have never seen anyone show how to pack a snorkel set. I travel with only one belt and two pairs of shoes. This video: How to Pack for a…
Great Luggage App
I found a great tool this week called Luggage Limits. It is available on line at http://www.luggagelimits.com and via Iphone and Android apps Type in airline, destination and origin and the site will tell you all of the airline’s luggage limits. You can check classes, carry on luggage sizes and luggage fees. They have a great tool which allows you to compare luggage between airlines on a particular route. Great for making decisions between carriers. Related Posts Travel Tip: Don’t Check in baggage Travel Tip: Take No Toiletries Main Airline Fees How many Shoes do you travel with
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