Travel Tips

NY Subway: What does it mean if a train stop is greyed out?

9/14/2018 2:36:37 PM edit: phoog beat me to the short answer, but offers less background. If you look up the 1 Train at the MTA website, you’ll see that it does not stop at Cortlandt St as that station is temporarily closed. After the September 11 attacks, a number of subway stations were closed. Their […]

Macau: Using Hong Kong dollars (HKD) instead of Macanese Patacas (MOP)

1/30/2015 8:46:56 AM Before you leave Macau (and if you plan to never return) you should use all the Pataca up, but save your HKD. HKD can be used in either HK or Macau, but the Pataca only in Macau. Which passport to use immediately after naturalisation? 8/22/2014 9:11:39 AM It is not uncommon to […]

Is this a 10-year ban from a UK application?

1/5/2018 10:03:49 AM The quoted text does not say anything about being banned for entry, only that for up to 10 years it is highly unlikely a new application will be honoured unless the reasons for the refused earlier application no longer apply. So no, it’s no 10 year ban, just a 10 year period […]

What are the shaving options for the carry-on traveler?

What are the shaving options for the carry-on traveler?

11/17/2017 8:41:49 PM Another option is applying a laser or IPL and remove your beard (semi-) permanently. I know depending on the cultures and preferences you are not willing to remove it altogether, but I’m quite satisifed with it. You can get the treatment in a medical institute, but there is also a variety of […]

Which passport to use immediately after naturalisation?

8/17/2014 11:43:02 PM What she needs to do is to report her marriage and name change to the Korean Embassy and have a new Korean passport issued with her new name. Irregardless of the dual nationality issue, her name changed at marriage and needs to be updated on her Korean documents (passport, DL, etc). As […]

What is required for a British citizen to cross the border from China to Russia at Heihe/Blagoveshchensk

8/14/2014 2:17:56 PM There are several border regions in Russia where neighboring residents enjoy relaxed border crossing rules. They range from possibility to get a long-term visa when otherwise only a short-term one would have been granted, to complete visa-free travel in the specified region (never in the whole country). In all these cases, the […]

British citizenship, Polish passport, travelling to the US

4/5/2019 3:16:26 PM TL;DR: You will need a visa You must use a British passport in order to travel visa-free, which takes 6 weeks to issue, with no expedited service being available for first-time adult applicants. So your only hope is getting an appointment at the US embassy as soon as possible and obtaining a […]

What is this black patch on the ocean floor featured on Google Maps?

What is this black patch on the ocean floor featured on Google Maps?

10/25/2017 11:14:50 PM I think it’s Serrana Bank / Banco de Serrana, “a mostly underwater reef with 6 cays.” from Wikipedia The Google imagery is misleading in that it looks like the entire area is an island. The color change is mainly due to the relatively shallow depth in the area with the edges being […]

Declare Trix for Canada?

8/8/2014 7:24:18 AM Silly rabbit, Trix are for Americans! Or maybe not. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) appears in Health Canada’s “Food additives permitted for use” list, with a specific permission for “Dried breakfast cereals”. So unless they’re wildly exceeding the limits, it seems unlikely that Trix would be banned for this, even though that chemical name […]

Where can I see the Milky Way in Europe?

Where can I see the Milky Way in Europe?

3/19/2021 9:16:21 AM While maybe not as dark as you ask, many locations in the Belgium Ardennes will be dark enough for a good view of the sky at night. It might even be possible to get back to Antwerp in time for work the next day. How do I access bicycle lockers at UK […]

How do I access bicycle lockers at UK train stations?

How do I access bicycle lockers at UK train stations?

10/12/2017 1:18:39 PM At many smaller stations, the bicycle lockers are essentially unmanaged. It is just a metal box, you turn up, put your bike in, then put your own padlock on the door. Lockers at Blantyre station. Photo from Cyclestreets, by Andypreece, CC-BY-SA So no cost, and no need to book it in advance. […]

What historic sights can I see in Oslo on a 4 hour train layover?

7/30/2014 11:46:57 AM The Royal Palace is easily reachable by foot from the train station – just follow Karl Johans gate (“gate” is Norwegian for “street”, not an actual gate). Aker Brygge is a nice place to watch the harbour. The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet is also nearby if you’re interested. Akershus Fortress from […]

How can I find the cheapest prepaid SIM card for a given country or multiple countries at a time?

11/18/2022 11:27:49 PM For your usecase I would consider getting a phone which supports eSIM. This will at least in some countries (see list on Apple’s website) put your in a position to sign up with a GSM operator purely over the Internet (which also means: prior to arrival) and have your plan activated when […]

Are security rules, regarding medical exclusions to the liquids rule (100ml or 3-1-1), different at European airports with respect to the USA?

12/9/2016 11:40:12 PM No, the rules are not different in this context. Currently the rules for liquids are exactly the same in US and EU. The rules are: Containers up to 100mL (3.4oz) In clear bag up to 1L (1 quart) One bag per passenger Also in both in US and EU exceptions apply, but […]

Where do you go once leaving the plane? Are there signs and so forth?

9/4/2017 8:44:13 AM Usually you are not allowed to “get lost” until you are inside the building, so you would be stopped before wandering of. Inside the building you should be fine unless you pass the “no re-entry beyond this point” which usually is clearly marked. Somewhere between those points should be the baggage claim. […]

Visa services in time of War

7/27/2014 7:47:23 PM Independent of the reason, it is quite common that not all countries are represented everywhere with a diplomatic mission. In these cases, consular services are often offered by offices in a neighbouring country or by a third country. Depending on which country you want to visit, you have to check yourself where […]

Is there somewhere in Addis Ababa a visitor can get online during an internet shutdown?

8/26/2017 3:03:27 PM This is an anecdotal answer but, because of what I state in my last paragraph, I believe my answer holds for more than just one occasion. I have been living in Addis Ababa since February, and I was affected by the week-long internet shutdown in May. During that period, I was able […]

Are carnival-style games still available in Taiwanese night markets?

4/27/2015 4:55:18 PM They definitely still exist – they’re more common in the southern part of Taiwan, but if you’re looking in Taipei, the one near Fu Jen University had quite a bunch last time I went. https://guidetotaipei.com/visit/fu-jen-university-fu-da-garden-night-market-%E8%BC%94%E5%A4%A7%E8%8A%B1%E5%9C%92%E5%A4%9C%E5%B8%82 What does "no booking fee" mean, for HostelBookers? 11/11/2014 11:56:58 PM The answer is yes, and here […]

Is there a charge for mountain rescue in Spain (Canary Islands)?

8/14/2017 12:54:53 PM In many regions of Spain and depending on the circumstances, the costs associated with search and rescue are passed on to those who need it. It has been the subject of intense media coverage in recent years. Tenerife News: Reckless behaviour will cost you dear. The new rule which allows the Canary […]

What does "no booking fee" mean, for HostelBookers?

7/16/2014 12:04:01 PM Yes and no. Yes, because the 10% deposit they charge indeed goes to Hostelbookers.com, not the hotel. (See this thread.) No, because you, the backpacker, don’t pay any extra. You can pay (say) $20 to book via HW, in which case HW takes $2 and the hostel keeps $18, or you can […]

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