Travel Tips

Are you protected in an untrusted embassy in a country you trust?

11/18/2017 11:06:10 AM In short, your friend probably has no choice but to enter the embassy. Unless it’s possible to give another person (e.g. a solicitor) mandate in writing to apply for renewal of the passport in your name. (To answer the actual question: No, this is not “safe” if your friend does not trust […]

How can I get people to speak the local language to me?

10/12/2015 2:28:07 AM From my experience it may be because your French is not good enough and it causes pain to their ears and some actual comprehension difficulty. On several occasions I have found myself in France with Anglophone companions who had no problem speaking with locals, whereas the locals rather preferred English when speaking […]

It is legal to have a dashboard camera in the UAE?

5/16/2019 1:01:29 PM The catch seems to be, not cameras themselves, but what you’re taking images of. The UAE has some pretty restrictive laws on that front. For instance, pictures of other people This makes clear that taking a person’s picture without their consent, or in legally permitted circumstances, “shall be an invasion of that […]

Is the TSA Lock acceptable in European Airports?

4/3/2020 5:04:47 PM I was recently traveling from Florence Italy connecting in Charles De Gaulle to US destination. I had a TSA lock on my checked bag and when I picked up my bag at my destination the TSA lock was missing and the eye-ring on the zipper where the lock fits was completely ripped […]

Why isn't there a direct train from JFK to Manhattan?

5/30/2018 9:29:19 AM The historical reasons are: The rail network was developed between the 1830s and the 1880s, while the airport was not developed until the 1940s. The Rockaway line wasn’t even part of the subway system until the 1950s, a decade after the airport opened. When the airport was developed, during the middle of […]

Copenhagen passport control – US citizen

4/7/2019 8:24:51 PM As a US citizen you were most probably entering without a visa. There wouldn’t be a point in fingerprinting you at the border because they have no known good prints to compare them to anyway. However, people who apply for Schengen visas are fingerprinted during the application process, and they may be […]

What publicly accessible tall structures to take photos from exist in London?

What publicly accessible tall structures to take photos from exist in London?

5/21/2016 4:36:52 PM Stave Hill in Russia Dock Woodland provides a 360° view including the Canary Wharf skyscrapers. Is it possible to get from the Philippines to Taiwan to Japan (or the reverse) without flying? 2/29/2016 12:44:47 PM A free place to visit to get stunning views is the Sky Garden near Fenchurch St! There […]

Is it possible to get from the Philippines to Taiwan to Japan (or the reverse) without flying?

6/29/2011 2:47:06 AM EDIT: Just called up the Keelung port in Taiwan. The operator is closed. I heard they were supposed to resume operation but did not. Please ignore my previous post about the ferry being back up. I used to know a guy who would bring people from the Philippines up to Taiwan through […]

Should I purchase rental car insurance? What protection does my credit card provide?

10/31/2016 7:52:06 PM Some roads in Hawaii are very narrow with a lot of rocks and other obstacles. Check https://duckduckgo.com/?q=hawaii+roads&iar=images&iax=1&ia=images If you have plans to visit such places you might want to consider extra coverage. Do trains travel at lower speed to establish time buffer for possible delays? 8/24/2012 2:43:08 AM From a comprehensive article […]

Japan – Any leeway for max visa duration due to unforeseen circumstances?

9/5/2019 3:39:41 PM Assuming you have not yet passed through the exit passport control, visit your nearest immigration office before your allowed period of stay expires and explain the situation (if you are so incapacitated as to be unable to go in time, at least get someone to call them). If your reason can be […]

Can 2009 US 100-dollar notes still be used anywhere in the world?

5/8/2018 3:22:03 AM US $100 bills are one of the most heavily forged currencies in the world, see for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superdollar A new $100 bill with extra security features was introduced October 2013, labelled “Series 2009A”; is that what you have? Also note that currency may be rejected overseas for reasons that seem trivial; I […]

How to discover if a hostel is more a travel hostel or a party hostel?

8/8/2016 7:01:30 PM I’m posting this as a representative of Hostelz.com. There definitely are some very different types of hostels, and it’s always a shame when people end up in the wrong type of hostel for them. If you’re using Hostelz.com, on the city page look for a drop-down menu that says “Suitable For” (just […]

What should I put in ESTA if staying in the US for a few days before going on to Canada?

4/4/2019 7:26:12 PM Answer no. You should only answer yes if the sole purpose of your trip is transit. In your case, the purpose of your trip is twofold: one purpose is to get to Canada, but another purpose, however secondary it may be, is to spend a few days in New York. How to […]

Do trains travel at lower speed to establish time buffer for possible delays?

11/16/2022 12:00:05 AM Amtrak does… both "kinda", and "directly". America, having enormous land mass, has an inherent problem that would not be solved even by dedicated transcon HSR lines: It’s just too darn big. Just take the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco, not even Amtrak’s longest. It’s comparable to Barcelona to Moscow (if […]

Rechecking checked in baggage when there's a stopover in the USA

5/7/2018 9:44:34 AM Yes. You will go through US immigration and customs in San Francisco. At the baggage claim, you must collect your checked bags and take them through customs. As you exit customs, follow the sign for connecting flights; since you have purchased a single ticket, an airport employee will collect your bags from […]

How to coordinate airplane tickets?

How to coordinate airplane tickets?

4/2/2019 2:04:44 AM This started as a comment on Mophotla but it expanded so much it needs be an answer. First, the two bookings trick is a great trick. To expand on the three bookings booking process: search with whatever engine you prefer but book with the airlines directly. I checked Air France, British Airways, […]

Is an EU covid pass with two doses of Sputnik and one dose of Pfizer valid?

2/8/2022 9:26:38 PM This has been a contentious issue in Hungary as well, where lot of people have been vaccinated with Sputnik V last year. One of the Hungarian EU MEPs have therefore asked the EU commission if a dose (or two dose) of Sputnik V followed by a single dose of an EU approved […]

If I have a visa, do I still need an ESTA?

4/28/2018 10:35:07 PM ESTA is for travel under the VWP, the visa-free arragements applicable to Brits. As such, as you’re not travelling under the VWP, you don’t need an ESTA. Time necessary for making a connection flying Easyjet from Bristol, UK to Amsterdam and connecting on Delta Airlines to Detroit, MI, US 2/8/2021 5:55:52 PM […]

Are there (small, pod) hotels for single people in Western countries?

Are there (small, pod) hotels for single people in Western countries?

11/21/2021 8:16:06 AM Belated answer, but in Denmark the Cabinn chain of hotels has a similar concept – small and cheap (starting at around 500 DKK, so around 70€) rooms that are primarily meant for sleeping in, with a small bathroom (think the kind you’d have in a mobile home but slightly bigger) attached, though […]

Travel insurance for potential snowy weather when driving using a rental

11/13/2019 7:51:58 PM Why don’t you ask the insurance company? If I were you I would be more worried with the rental company providing a car without snow tires.. In addition, road closures can occur but, if it is just snow, are often quickly resolved. So I would not worry too much. It is also […]

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