Travel Tips

Why 'photoshop' passport photos?

5/12/2017 11:44:37 PM As requested here’s my passport photo solution from the comments; photo booths are most common in super stores (usually the “Big 4” supermarkets in the UK) and transport hubs (bus and train stations). In a supermarket they’re usually near the checkouts, for transport most likely near ticket machines and self service systems. […]

How can I go to a thermal bath in Merano?

11/29/2011 9:11:20 PM There’s a Thermal Spa Centre! The new thermal spa centre, on the opposite bank of the river Passirio, was opened during the 1970’s and is furnished with the most modern equipment for therapeutic treatment. It also houses an indoor swimming-pool filled with thermal water and the natural radio-activity in this water has […]

Rideshare etiquette (Lyft, Uber, etc)

7/21/2015 12:59:08 AM In Australia the etiquette is slightly different from the above mentioned. Uber operates very similar to Taxis. You are expected to approach the Taxi/Uber and open the door for yourself, then you’ll lean over if you have luggage and ask the driver if they will pop the boot. Then you’ll go back […]

Are dogs allowed on the Trans-Siberian railway?

11/28/2011 3:11:50 PM There is no changes in rules, because the carrier is the same – RZD. About the dog transit rules: You must have all medical information about pet, and you must pay for additional ticket. Also you must honor the sanitary rules in the train you are using. There are two options for […]

UK visa refused because the immigration officer suspects I'm trying to live in the UK through successive visits. What are my options?

2/27/2017 12:06:07 PM One of the notes in your refusal letter is that the ECO has not got a clear picture of your situation back at home. That includes financial situation. I think that if you apply for a visitor visa again (for 6 months) you could successfully obtain the visitor visa if accompanied by […]

How should I tip for food in a UK pub? At the bar, or at my table?

How should I tip for food in a UK pub? At the bar, or at my table?

7/27/2015 6:36:54 PM We only ever eat out in pubs when we go on our Easter and summer hols, but this is what I always do: If the food has been good, we’ve been looked after and I pay at the bar at the end, I’ll say to the person behind the bar ‘I never […]

Refine an itinerary through Eastern Europe

11/26/2011 11:14:45 AM The Vilnius – Lviv leg is quite long: 11 hours according to ViaMichelin. It could be worth splitting it and stop in Poland. Two options come to my mind: Lublin and Białystok. Lublin is a rather cosy city. I cannot comment on Białystok. You can plan one complete day in Krakow. It’s […]

London Tube Strike: What to do?

7/8/2015 9:17:01 PM Getting to and from Heathrow By train The Heathrow Connect and Heathrow Express services will operate as usual. Neither do usually accept Oyster cards, but it might be worth checking on the day. They both terminate at Paddington station; the Connect stops at several stations along the way. Travellers could get the […]

Is cheek kissing appropriate when being introduced to a woman in Latin America?

1/6/2017 4:41:13 PM I can talk about Argentina. Woman/male greetings are most commonly with an “air kiss”, as mentioned above: you gently touch right cheeks while possibly doing a kiss sound. A hand shake between man and woman is not necessarily awkward, but shows a high level of formality. So, basically, as a male I […]

Are cheap "programmable" combination padlocks known to change their own combinations?

Are cheap "programmable" combination padlocks known to change their own combinations?

8/5/2016 3:47:43 PM Here’s a trick I learned many years ago when I used to work in a stationary/office supply shop, it always helped me unlock ANY padlock with a combination. You’d be surprised of the number of people who come back the next day to return the padlock/briefcase because they forgot the combination. This […]

Left UK without passing through Immigration, why?

10/15/2016 7:40:42 AM Some countries, including the UK, the US and Canada do not stamp your passport on exit. However, they still know you have left. If you leave by commercial means (such as air, train, etc.) the airline or train company will forward a record of your departure electronically to customs on your behalf. […]

What is more effective seeking luggage damage compensation from the aiport or airline?

11/22/2011 5:04:54 PM I believe that compensation for lost or damaged luggage is always with the airline who flies the last leg of your journey. I’ve never heard of an airport dealing with luggage issues. Are there certain days of the week or weeks in a month (barring major holidays) that are generally cheapest for […]

Are there certain days of the week or weeks in a month (barring major holidays) that are generally cheapest for flights?

11/12/2011 8:31:31 PM Fun fact – I’ve seen on a regular basis that various routes are cheaper on Friday the 13th. Yes, enough people are superstitious that it can affect airline prices. For this reason a friend emigrated from NZ to Aus on a Friday 13th, and even got married on a Friday 13th 🙂 […]

What are these "stone walls" in the sea on Cyprus?

7/7/2015 2:39:42 PM They are called “groynes”. A great addition to anyone’s vocabulary http://onelook.com/?w=groyne&ls=a It is pronounced the same way as groin (i.e., as a diphthong that rhymes with ‘loin’). Briefly, they are man-made structures designed to break the waves and thereby prevent erosion of the coast. They are all over the Med in places […]

How to find "night and day" decongestant for a head cold when there's a language barrier?

How to find "night and day" decongestant for a head cold when there's a language barrier?

11/8/2011 11:46:09 AM I use Sudafed, which has only the pseudoephrine in it. In Canada, this has gone through many levels of getting-harder-to-buy, because you can use it to make meth. This started as a special coloured price tag meaning you had to pay at the pharmacy instead of the main checkout, then it came […]

Etiquette for talking to others on public transport in Turkey

9/19/2015 3:17:24 PM Well, I am a Turkish woman who grew up in Istanbul. I have visited several places in Europe, Asia, Skandinavia, and North America. Let me share my experiences about the stereotypes of people living abroad. Firstly, most of the people who do not know anything about Turkish people think we do not […]

What's the best time to see the monster of Loch Ness?

1/10/2012 5:39:21 PM Right, despite missing out on the first day of my tour there while my train broke down, the rest of the gang went and unfortunately for me, I missed out on an opportunity to see Nessie. One day though, one day… Firstly, you need to be aware of the geography. Loch Ness […]

What happens to plane tickets in case of airline bankruptcy?

2/15/2017 6:33:01 PM I had originally asked this question with Air Berlin in mind and by now even one of the travel blogs I follow has taken up the issue: FAQ: What happens in case of a bankruptcy of Air Berlin? (in German) I am taking the freedom to summarize here the main points and […]

Taking wet things through airport security

8/30/2015 2:46:19 PM So here is what happened. Many of the really small airports and legs didn’t have security at all. Domestic flights within Fiji or Vanuatu, for example, you could bring an arbitrarily large bottle of water, there was no xraying, etc. In the places where there was the traditional security setup, (including the […]

United Premier member on a Continental flight operated by United

11/2/2011 2:10:51 PM I fly Continental pretty frequently, and to my knowledge they don’t have anything called “Economy Plus”. They do, however, have “Extra legroom” seats (which I believe is essentially the same thing). United’s Elite benefits page states as one of the benefits: Enjoy legroom with Economy Plus® seats on United and extra legroom/preferred […]

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