Travel Tips

Why are there no cat's eyes on Western Canadian roads?

12/26/2022 9:53:46 PM To confirm my speculations that snow is also a factor, I went to search a little bit to see past proposals in Western Canada to add reflectors and the existing ones. Reflective markings in Canada’s climate face many challenges. The reflective paints do not survive very well over the freeze-thaw cycle and […]

How to research facilities/ratings of US airport lounges online?

9/19/2011 10:00:15 AM There are a couple of options that a search throws up: LoungeGuide: A wiki website with user contributions on facilities at airport lounges. Lounges.net: Coverage outside US/EU seems spotty, but otherwise seems to have useful, helpful reviews (looking at EU airports I have been to, and general quality of written reviews). Pass […]

Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic – Suggestions for 3 week vacation

10/31/2012 10:54:06 PM If you are going to the Baden/Black Forest region I suggest to pay a visit to the town of Badenweiler. The landscape with its old castle Baden and the vineyards all around is quite beautiful. The region is famous for its Gutedel wine. For a walk I suggest you go to see […]

Pass in the Alps that can be crossed by mountain bike?

9/26/2011 8:27:13 PM I did some researching the last days and since no one else has answered this question, I’ll do it. During the winter, but also in spring or late autumn, passes are often closed for cars, because of the weather and road conditions. If you’re lucky, you can catch a day when the […]

Is it easier and/or cheaper to replace my lost tent in Albania or Greece?

1/27/2017 12:05:52 AM Is it easier and/or cheaper to replace my lost tent in Albania or Greece? Greece. Southern Albania is even more primitive than the rest of the country. My personal experience is somewhat dated and the roads at least have improved greatly since but when I was there it was almost impossible to […]

How much is "half" in Scotland

How much is "half" in Scotland

8/31/2022 4:33:42 PM Usually anyone asking for a pint and a half is asking for a pint and a spirit – the measure of spirit is the ‘half’. It’s a colloquialism. Older gents (usually always gents) asked for ‘a hauf and a hauf pint’ back in the day – lack of spare cash would be […]

I am Chinese. Which name is my surname and which is my last name, for a flight booking?

1/9/2018 4:46:55 AM I am sure you are Chinese but not China residence, maybe Malaysian Chinese or Singaporean Chinese, am I right? I face this same issue before. Your passport printed Minnie Wong Qin Qing, am i right? Minnie is your Christian / English name. Wong is your family name Qin Qing is your name. […]

Transportation for one-way day hikes in the US

4/6/2022 3:22:29 PM If you’re staying or live near the trailhead and there are several ways to reach the other side, you can make it a "two day hike" while sleeping at home: Drive to the end of the trail. Hike home or to your accommodation. The following day, hike to the car via another […]

How good are Aeroflot's current safety and performance standards?

3/30/2015 5:58:11 PM It depends a lot on where you’re flying. Also Aeroflot was a different airline pre 1991, when it got broken up into all the subsidiary ex-Soviet state airlines. So I’d concentrate on after that, as it also affected maintenance standards and the like. As far as timeliness of flights goes, it depends […]

What is the most interesting route from Sofia, Bulgaria to northern Albania?

9/8/2011 8:16:48 PM Can’t advise on Kosovo, never been there. I like the northern route: Nis (Serbia) Kopaonik National Park Novi Pazar — several notable monasteries in the vicinity. Moraca river canyon (Montenegro) — memorable road, remarkably steep drops Podgorica Either proceed directly to Skhoder, Albania (60km) or take a small detour down the Montenegrin […]

Do airport metal scanners occasionally flash a false alarm on purpose?

5/20/2017 1:21:33 AM Technically, NO. They do not sound a false positive. What they do is sound an alternative alert to indicate the person has been ‘selected’ for additional screening. For clarity, actual false positives can occur because the machine detected something or is not calibrated correctly. How to know if a meal was cooked […]

Why does the TSA frisk you after having you pass through the scanner?

Why does the TSA frisk you after having you pass through the scanner?

3/17/2022 1:34:24 PM One thing I’ve seen some airport TSA do here is to ensure you have all "removable" objects taken care of before you enter the scanner (as in they proactively asked me to remove items and place them into a container), presumably to reduce false positives. Specifically, I had to bin my wallet […]

Accommodation, sights and food in Maui

9/6/2011 9:57:52 PM If you like magic, this is an awesome show: Warren and Annabelle’s. Buses from Plovdiv, Bulgaria to Istanbul, Turkey 9/6/2011 2:23:47 PM Maui is great for the first time Hawaii traveler, and gives a good dose of the adventure – the gorgeous scenery along with the famed hospitality, and staying for a […]

Is it reasonable / expected that French 'driving accessories' are provided with a rental car?

2/4/2022 10:50:42 PM It’s my understanding that in France yellow hi-viz jackets are required for each occupant. No, it’s 1 hi-viz jacket per car, regardless of the number of occupants. Also, it doesn’t have to be yellow unless one wants to go on strike: it can be orange, yellow, green, pink, red, yellow-green, yellow-orange, or […]

Can I make reservations for trains in Italy, France and Belgium from the Bahn ticket desks in Germany?

3/28/2013 6:09:32 AM You can book international tickets to most stations in Europe at DB ticket desks. However you should be aware that you cannot make reservations for Belgian or Dutch trains. Not even in Belgium or the Netherlands. Domestic trains in in the Benelux countries are all non reserved. You must have a ticket, […]

Is there a polite and correct way to give the wanted amount of tip in the restaurant when you have no suitable cash?

1/4/2022 1:58:46 PM Tipping is very cultural. There are places that don’t expect tips (like Japan) and places that expect a 20% tip even when service isn’t great (e.g. the USA) with lots of places in between where tipping is 10-15% and you are not expected to tip if you did not enjoy the service. […]

Buses from Plovdiv, Bulgaria to Istanbul, Turkey

11/27/2016 8:16:21 PM We took a bus operated by Metro from Plovdiv at 22:30 to Istanbul today – arriving in record? time at 5:14. The border took 1:05h, but we were lucky that our bus was not baggage-checked in detail. Price was 40 leva at 1.95 to the Euro. Recommendable! Watch out for the right […]

How to know if a meal was cooked with or contains alcohol?

10/17/2016 11:13:01 PM While it is uncommon to see it depicted as an icon throughout a menu, I have seen it done before in cafeteria-style settings, where menu items are rotated in and out on a frequent basis. Is there a website listing the location of all the Windows 10 lock screens? 10/17/2016 3:47:24 PM […]

Visit Northern Ontario from Toronto without a car?

6/19/2013 3:57:12 PM Your best bet for public transport access to the Ontario North is Ontario Northland. They run scheduled buses from Toronto to the north, including Temagami (but not Hiawatha, wherever that is). It is quite a trip, stopping at various small towns you won’t get to otherwise. If you want to get to […]

Volunteering opportunities when travelling overseas

4/23/2012 12:53:02 PM You’re not mentioning where you are going, specifically. Websites like what you are searching for do exist, for some regions and locations, but focus on that region or location only. So, where are you going? Also, as has been pointed out, you’re typically much better off, looking for a volunteer position after […]

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