Travel Tips

Can I refuse to pay auto-gratuity in a restaurant?

Can I refuse to pay auto-gratuity in a restaurant?

11/8/2019 4:42:37 PM Just to add some perspective to those who have never worked in the service industry. Many servers are working for less than minimum wage. This is in part that servers end up making tips. Mind you, they often have to tip out to the bartender who makes drinks, as well as the […]

What is the advantage / reason for many trams being high floored and non-accessible?

12/9/2014 9:56:30 AM The general answer is, because rail-borne rolling stock is expensive, it is only rational to expect trams to have a long life cycle. It is not unusual to see trams which are 30 years old, and in some places you can meet trams built in something like the 1930s and still in […]

Car rental without a credit card in Italy?

1/15/2014 10:48:30 PM Unfortunately, this is almost impossible. They normally accept it for the reservation, but you are required to provide a credit card in order to actually get the car. But there’s more. The credit card must belong to the same person that made the reservation. I’ve checked the terms of the most common […]

Languages in Bulgaria?

10/21/2014 1:11:48 AM For what it’s worth, I am from Canada and have lived/worked in Sofia for 2-3 years. English was useful and most people kind of understand it, but your mileage may vary outside tourist/business areas. You might find older people who speak French. It helped me a few random times in train stations […]

How to best respond to a request to send a passport scan by unsecured email?

How to best respond to a request to send a passport scan by unsecured email?

1/3/2019 9:51:01 PM I would think twice about sending a scan of my passport to anyone. But if I was convinced, I would scan it, import the scan into Microsoft Word, and then protect the Microsoft Word document with a password. Then I would share the password with the recipient by telephone. Finally I would […]

Where should I change Swiss Francs to USD to get the best exchange rate?

2/1/2015 5:18:35 PM The best rate I could find was on those online websites: CurrencyFair.com TransferWise.com So, these are some kind of online banks specialized in foreign exchange. The rates they offer are much much better than any regular retail bank: you can see their rates on their official websites, & compare them with your […]

Which ferry from China to South Korea is the cheapest?

Which ferry from China to South Korea is the cheapest?

7/24/2017 3:05:28 AM The Weidong ferry from Qingdao to Incheon, IF it is still this price (488 CNY), it is indeed the cheapest that I know of and converts in US Dollars to $72.15 This is about (less than) half the price of airfare from Beijing to Seoul. European data SIM plan 10/1/2015 7:05:43 AM […]

Caught in Czech Republic for travelling with invalid ticket

Caught in Czech Republic for travelling with invalid ticket

12/16/2020 11:38:10 AM I am looking out for tips in the future as to how to avoid such mishaps. IMHO the best is to buy ticket with cell phone. There are three possibilities: SMS (text message): send to number 90206 text: DPT24 (price 24 CZK, valid for 30 min) DPT32 (price 32 CZK, valid for […]

Utili-key "knife" and airport inspection?

3/23/2023 12:12:32 PM I lost mine leaving Japan (KIX) last week, and it was one of the old ones with a nail file which they don’t sell any more. They’ve clearly been told to look out for them, and finding one gives them more job satisfaction than any of them will ever deserve. Put them […]

Is it possible to use an all-inclusive package as a backpacking base?

12/22/2014 2:34:47 AM I have stayed in at least one hotel in Mexico whose terms of service stated explicitly that if the guest leaves for 24 hours their reservation will be considered abandoned and cancelled (even if paid for in advance), and any belongings left in the room will be confiscated. This appears to be […]

Where can I eat sushi with chocolate in it?

Where can I eat sushi with chocolate in it?

9/4/2014 10:04:21 PM If you do a search with the terms sushi com chocolate (sushi with chocolate) you will find plenty of recepies. Nevertheless, it’s certainly not a trend, I have ate sweet sushi before but I had never heard of norimaki with chocolate before. It’s really common to find sweet temakis (“sweet kones”) for […]

European data SIM plan

1/14/2015 5:21:31 PM I have a prepaid Orange Spain card for roaming, they charge 1€/100MB per day in UE. You can top-up with their app, so maybe is a good option. I don’t know if they ship abroad, but you can get a prepaid sim in ebay or forums like GSM Spain. More info on […]

Cycle / Bike Hire in Amsterdam

Cycle / Bike Hire in Amsterdam

9/29/2014 10:48:43 PM This is definitely a good idea. Cycling in Amsterdam is such an experience and can be a bit stressful in rush hours in the city center; hence, riding it through the country side can be more pleasant. There are many companies renting bikes in Amsterdam. In general, the longer the opening hours […]

Is tap water in Munich safe to drink? If so, why do locals buy bottled water?

Is tap water in Munich safe to drink? If so, why do locals buy bottled water?

9/23/2016 12:40:57 PM An important reason that’s missing is marketing and brand. Buying choices do not have to be smart, in fact they rarely are. People buy water bottles because of: Good advertising/brand building for bottled waters. Because they need water bottles, to conveniently drink water during the day. They like sparkling water. Habits, for […]

Data on baggage theft rates, by airport or airline

9/23/2014 4:13:41 PM A 2012 Conde Naste Traveler article notes that Statistics on baggage theft are hard to come by; the airlines don’t compile them, and if a journey involves multiple legs, it can be difficult to prove where the theft occurred. The TSA, which collects information on lost property, reports that between 7,000 and […]

Can I pick up my luggage between flights with the same company?

1/2/2014 3:46:37 AM What you are referring to is “short-checking” of bags – where your bags are only checked to an intermediate point along your journey. Some airlines do allow short-checking of bags, although most will only allow it under specific circumstances, such as longer or overnight connections. Even airlines that used to allow it […]

Is it against regulations to pack my laptop battery on its own in my checked luggage?

1/20/2015 1:17:01 AM From personal experience, yes. I once received a replacement battery as I was leaving on a trip. I replaced the battery, but the old one was stuck with me for the remainder of the trip. It was just in my backpack, in a box, and it passed though without comment on the […]

Have I invalidated my own ESTA and if I fly to Mexico does that mean I will not be allowed back into the States?

12/30/2013 3:17:18 AM Short answer: You’re still OK, but you have to leave the US before January 8th. You can go anywhere you wish, but before you try to re-enter the US, you must enter a country other than Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean states. For example, it will be fine to travel to Mexico, […]

How can I visit 'Null Island'?

5/10/2016 1:28:39 PM The fascinating Confluence Project records four visits to (0,0). Visit #1 was by a US Coast Guard vessel that happened to be sailing past, and they took a (bad) photo of the buoy too. Visit #2 is not listed. Mysterious… Visit #3 was by a group of artists (!), who sailed from […]

Hiring and buying used bicycle in Tbilisi, Georgia

5/17/2017 11:09:28 AM I agree that there are not that many bicycles in the center of Tbilisi, but at the outskirts cycling is quite popular. There are some good spots for cycling too. Once I even saw a critical mass ride in the center. Some bicycle shops I know: http://bicycle.ge/lang/2 https://www.facebook.com/bikehousegeo/ Hope this helps How […]

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