Travel Tips

What is the state of train travel in USA?

6/17/2019 6:55:56 PM Three more points: some routes do not allow bicycles, and those that do have four spaces. If you happen to be the fifth to arrive, your bike will not go. And many stations do not allow checked baggage, which includes bikes. So, for example, you can’t take a large suitcase to or […]

How to find (and choose!) picture postcards in China?

8/14/2016 10:24:51 PM It’s the same deal in Japan, and for the same reason: those postcards aren’t intended to be mailed, they’re intended to be purchased as a pack and presented as a gift.. This is why they’re unwilling to sell you a single cards, it would be like selling a single cup from a […]

Donating unwanted foreign coins in Sydney

10/4/2015 12:38:57 AM UNICEF Australia will accept them at any Commonwealth Bank or Bankwest branch, and at the Sydney CBD UNICEF office. Does UNICEF accept foreign coins? If so, where can I bring my coins? UNICEF Australia accepts local and foreign currency with the support of three of our valuable corporate partners; Qantas, Commonwealth Bank […]

What can I expect when taking a cruise from the USA to Mexico (and others)?

10/31/2016 6:47:39 AM To add extra detail to Dorothy’s answer: We were required to provide a valid passport in order to board. We had priority boarding, so I don’t know if this was a requirement of that (as in if we didn’t have a passport we would have had to go to the normal lines), […]

What is the last point where one can throw away fruits if one has indicated "not bringing any fruit" on the US customs form when flying to the US?

11/15/2019 2:56:25 PM Let’s be clear about the laws: OP’s question tilts on whether the "bright line" is the US border, or the CBP immigration desk. You can’t bring them into the United States US law 7 USC 7712 gives the Secretary of Agriculture (a)broad authority to "prohibit or restrict the importation, entry," etc. "of […]

Is there a feasible way to combine hitchhiking and CouchSurfing?

2/26/2017 7:46:11 PM I hate to be discouraging, but I personally find using Couchsurfing.org while hitchhiking generally not worth the effort: First of all, since you can’t guarantee an arrival date, you need to find a flexible host. This can be tough. At least when I hitchhike, I don’t know exactly which route I’m going […]

Visit the UK with an expired French identity card

6/4/2018 10:32:14 PM Late reply, but I figured contributing might be useful. I just did it today, with the expiration date shown on my card being a week ago. The border control man literally just said “hi”, scanned my card, said “cheers” and let me through. So no problem! How to vet an overseas travel […]

What does a technical stop mean in air travel?

12/2/2015 5:00:18 AM A technical stop might be primarily for fuel or crew scheduling. Some routes may have technical stops depending on weather, for example, LAX-HKG when operated by a 747 often makes a technical stop for fuel during the winter (when the headwinds are stronger in that direction) but not in summer. It’s rare […]

Do I have to pay duty when carrying 15 iPhones domestically in India? (From Chennai to Delhi.)

8/12/2016 11:57:44 AM No, you don’t have to pay duty fees when carrying cell phones from Chennai to Delhi. Both cities are in India, India is a unified federal republic, and import taxes are extremely rare between states. There are apparently some import procedures related to vehicles and some special goods into a small minority […]

When travelling from London to northern Sweden by train, is it possible to have a day of free sightseeing anywhere other than Copenhagen?

11/25/2017 4:29:40 PM There are occasional night trains between Berlin and Malmö which use the ferry between Saßnitz and Trelleborg. These trains do not run everyday and not at all during winter, but could be nice for a change if you are travelling on a date when the train runs. How can I get an […]

How to vet an overseas travel agency

8/10/2017 1:16:50 AM Sounds like you’re being pretty prudent already. Additional measures I can think of are try to pay with a credit card if you can, make sure your travel insurance covers a situation like that, and check that the business is a registered agent. There’s usually an agency that oversees travel agents, you […]

What would happen if you're caught in Beijing with a 144-hour visa exemption for the Shanghai area?

8/8/2016 7:17:33 PM If you are going to central Beijing, this area is quite different to the rest of China. Security around Tiananmen Square is very tight, and all pedestrians in the area are searched airport-style in large white tents that block the pavement. Here you will be required to present identification (in the form […]

I didn't do any exit passport control when leaving Japan. What should I do?

10/4/2019 6:38:23 AM I called the immigration office at KIX, and apparently, as of about a week ago, they are using automated facial recognition gates to quickly check out people staying on temporary visas, so I will not get a stamp. I had been to Japan multiple times before and got the stamp and spoke […]

How can I get an 'invitation' to Russia?

4/26/2013 1:05:03 PM How to obtain the visa to Russia depends at least on your nationality. As a German in Germany, between 2008 and 2010, I obtained three visas via Pul Express GmbH, an agency in Berlin. Pul Express offers all kinds of visas, including multiple entrance business visas valid over the course of one […]

San Ysidro Border Parking Options?

9/17/2016 8:29:19 PM Are there options to park somewhere in San Diego and take the trolley down there? The UC San Diego Blue Line runs from America Plaza Station to San Ysidro International Border about every 15 minutes and takes about 45 minutes. Prices here. On the Green Line free parking is marked, eg at […]

Can you take large umbrellas on a plane?

9/27/2015 5:17:29 PM It depends on the airline, as do some other allowed/prohibited items. (For example, the TSA changed the rule prohibiting cigarette lighters some years ago, but some airlines still do not allow them.) As for umbrellas, United allows them. Should I be compensated by Air India for demoting me from business to economy […]

Where can I leave my kids to visit Las Vegas casinos?

12/30/2018 9:45:50 PM From our personal experience, which I’ve written down the following blog posts, there are surprisingly lots of fun things to do in Las Vegas with kids. If you are going to be there during the summer, you should choose a family-friendly hotel with a nice pool, like Mirage, MGM Grand, or Mandalay […]

Can I use B1/B2 visa to travel to the US without a business purpose?

9/5/2016 11:04:05 AM If you have M under Entries meaning a multiple entry visa. (This is missing from every other answer!) Expiration date is on or later than the date when you plan to present yourself at the border of the United States asking for admission (doesn’t need to be valid during the trip only […]

Should I be compensated by Air India for demoting me from business to economy from London to Delhi?

9/28/2015 9:47:27 AM Assuming you paid money for the ticket then, yes, you are due a refund. Gagravarr links to the EU rules (EU261) but there’s also Air India’s Conditions of Carriage [PDF], which states: 6.4 SEATING Carrier does not guarantee to provide any particular seat in the aircraft and the passenger agrees to accept […]

Which airlines provide free stopovers?

Which airlines provide free stopovers?

9/4/2018 2:58:47 PM In 2017/2018 there are many changes: people DO want to go to Iceland as it became a hot spot recently. IcelandAir discontinued their famous “stopover buddy program” but you could still take advantage of a free stopover. There are several budget airlines like WOW air which you could use to organize your […]

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