Travel Tips

Is there anywhere at Melbourne Airport to buy a Myki?

12/23/2018 9:41:20 PM Thought I’d provide an update since these posts are all ~4 years old. There’s no sign of a Myki station between Qantas domestic arrivals and and bus terminal (about a 5 minute walk). You can, however, purchase a Myki for $15 from any of the Skybus ticket kiosks. This includes $9 of […]

What is a good gift to bring from Sweden for CouchSurfing hosts?

What is a good gift to bring from Sweden for CouchSurfing hosts?

12/15/2011 3:00:01 AM You probably already took your trip, but for the benefit of others who may come along here are some addtions: For drinkers: Some variety of punsch, of which the Carlhamn’s Flaggpunsch is probably the most common and recognizable variety. Can’t miss its yellow color. A far more intriguing gift than Swedish vodka, […]

Catalan or Spanish in Barcelona?

2/17/2015 9:04:44 PM It’s not mandatory to know any of them but the only problem is that most of spanish people don’t know english, so it’s good to have some basics of spanish (castellano). Good luck 🙂 How to register Russian tourist visa while on the Trans-Mongolian railway? 11/6/2014 12:17:34 AM I was last in […]

Do any rental car companies provide pickup at the Amtrak Union Station in LA?

10/24/2017 7:51:56 AM An alternative plan would be to detrain from the southbound Amtrak Starlight in Burbank. I realized this and could have hopped off here, but had to go all the way to Union Station as I’d checked my bag for Union St and it was in the train’s hold. Waiting to get my […]

Approx how long will it take to go to Cologne Bonn Airport from Cologne city center?

9/17/2011 11:42:31 AM The Hansaring station is about 10 minutes’ walk from the conference building. (The KVB planner counts 14min, which is highly pessimistic, the distance is only 700m.) From that station, line S13 (see the network map) gets you to the airport station in 17min; you can see the times on the trip planner. […]

Are there any perks/discounts for travelling as a couple on Air France?

9/17/2011 6:54:41 PM I have used this special fare on domestic flights (Toulouse-Paris and Nantes-Lyon). I didn’t use your link, but the obvious french http://www.airfrance.fr/ When I select two passengers, I am asked if I qualify for couple fare. I answer yes and then all the suggested flights get the special fare. EDIT: I just […]

How to register Russian tourist visa while on the Trans-Mongolian railway?

11/6/2014 11:37:28 PM The legal technicalities are as follows: What is registered is an alien’s stay (not visa). While an alien is en route, no legal obligation of being registered exists. It is hosts’ duty to register their alien guests. The latest edition of the law on registration even explicitly states that under no circumstances […]

How to get from London Gatwick to Cambridge on public transport?

1/16/2019 6:54:47 AM Since the earlier Answers were posted, direct trains between Gatwick and Cambridge (no changes, no going into London Underground) are now available. A quick look at the National Rail look-up site shows a dozen or more trains each day. Is it possible to get a train from Georgia to Moscow? 9/15/2011 9:11:53 […]

Why are passports checked at the check-in counter, Immigration and even at the gate?

12/14/2015 12:30:16 PM Its quite simple – it is the only way to identify you that is universally accepted. At the check-in, they need to make sure you (the person standing in front) match your name (which is printed on your passport) and that it further matches the name on the reservation. If you are […]

Is it possible to get a train from Georgia to Moscow?

9/14/2011 11:38:22 AM As I’ve said in this answer, you can use Baku as connection point, and use train to travel. There is no such problems on the border between Azerbaijan and Russia, and you wouldn’t spend much time on this trip. Another option is to get into the Abkhazia from Georgia (if you can), […]

What are the chances of success and the consequences of sneaking into business class?

12/14/2017 8:29:43 PM There are legal consequences. This is considered “Theft of Service” and is a criminal act. It is no different from running out on a taxi or a haircut, or jumping a turnstile in the subway without paying. Odds are you will be caught as well. Most of the time they will just […]

Turning off GPS on a flight?

2/6/2012 12:54:48 PM I have used my GPS receiver frequently on flights (also to/within the US) and the only problem I had was getting it to acquire the satellites 🙂 Some airlines explicitly allow them, e.g. Continental/United list them in the onboard magazine as allowed. That said, I do switch it off during takeoff and […]

Are women required to wear skirts to get into some tourist sites?

10/20/2016 10:41:32 PM From all the places I’ve been to the only ones which require women to wear long skirts were Eastern Orthodox Churches and Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Those places also require men to wear long pants, and no shorts of any kind were allowed. Any other religious places – mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples, […]

Why were water bottles confiscated in a boarding gate jetway in Hong Kong?

12/2/2019 3:21:01 AM Similar thing happened to me on numerous occasions flying from Johannesburg to Sydney in Australia on Qantas. All liquids were confiscated just prior to boarding. This has been going on for quite a number of years now – my earliest experience was in 2012. I definitely believe it is an additional requirement […]

Where to find public water taps in the Netherlands?

10/24/2021 3:03:09 PM 2021 update: There are now several websites and phone apps available, this is just one of them. Googling for ‘water bottle filling’ or ‘waterflesje vullen’ should find you more. (I have no connection with the site, just the first I found on internet.) 2017 update answer. In the last couple of years, […]

What are the rates posted on hotel room doors / in the lobby for?

10/4/2018 8:38:40 PM Couple things, one is the very good reason given above. Second, lets say you are supposed out check out on Friday morning and the hotel is sold out for Friday evening. Well, now that you have not vacated your room, the person that reserved that room for Friday is out of a […]

Going to China – The Great Firewall

6/6/2015 6:13:23 PM I’m a Chinese student who just came back to China from US a month ago. As most VPN protocols have their own characteristics, GFW is able to detect VPN connections and reset/block VPN connections. Although VPNs can be blocked, if you use your own server and don’t have a very heavy traffic, […]

How do I ensure I do not pay out money for tickets that are not usable for other reasons?

9/27/2011 2:59:40 PM Chinese tourist visas are normally for 30 days but they can issue longer if you have a reason for needing longer or you have been to China before. You shouldn’t have any problem getting a visa unless you know of some impediment. You can renew a tourist visa for another 30 days […]

What does this Chinese character 天 mean on my visa?

6/19/2014 3:38:40 PM In this context, 天 means day. But in the traditional Chinese culture, if you say 天 as a single word, it has the meaning as “God”. For example, you can say 我的天 in China to express your surprise or strong emotions, just like “My God”. Yes, 天 actually has the same position […]

Your address at destination: What if you don't know any address?

12/20/2012 12:54:47 AM There are certain situations when you definitely cannot lie. If it’s mandatory for you to apply for a visa in advance and proof of accommodation is one of the required documents, then you cannot take a chance with lying as visa officers may check on your itinerary details at their discretion – […]

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