Travel Tips

Limited Stay but difficult to travel

2/11/2019 6:46:44 PM On a sensitive matter such as this, you should talk to a qualified immigration professional and not rely on the advice of random strangers on the internet. That said here is my advice based on your description and response in the comments. Congrats to your wife for being able to obtain entry […]

Passport stamped across B1 visa upon entry in the USA

12/26/2017 8:37:11 PM The entry stamp can be stamped anywhere in the passport, not just on or close to the visa. It has no effect on your status in the US The visa validity shows how long you can use the visa for entry (since it’s a multiple-entry visa, you can visit as many times […]

Is wearing perfume in public transports or rooms bad in Japan?

1/22/2020 11:44:01 AM I have not been to Japan yet, but I spent quite some time in a few cities in mainland China to share my perspective: most locals did not wear perfume/deodorants in their daily commute, either when traveling by bus or metro; most did not have strong body odor, but some did, especially […]

Is it appropriate for a cruise ship beer dispenser to charge gratuity/tip?

4/13/2023 6:49:33 PM The beer dispenser gratuity is one of those "automatic gratuities" charged by the cruise lines. It is important to note that automatic gratuities, whether from the beer dispenser or various line items on a bill are not given to staff as tips. Instead, this money is collected by the cruise line, which […]

What happens when a town is under quarantine and my visa expires

What happens when a town is under quarantine and my visa expires

1/24/2020 1:25:17 PM This is a case of force majeure, which the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China uses in 2 cases. Unfortunately not for this situation: punctual exit impossible due to force majeure but Article 55 (unforeseen arrival in China) states that you must immediately report to the nearest […]

Does Airbnb censor reviews?

1/5/2018 6:52:21 PM I hosted on airbnb. Wording of airbnb rules are flexible on purpose. Only airbnb staff anonymously or a host that has been on the other side of such a situation can give reliable answer. I can confirm that it is not necessary that the guest has actually stayed at the airbnb for […]

How manageable are <15 min connection times in Frankfurt Hbf?

How manageable are <15 min connection times in Frankfurt Hbf?

1/17/2020 4:10:12 PM It is perfectly feasible to make a 15 min connection in Frankfurt Hbf if your arriving train is on time. (If you arrive on the direct TGV from Lyon, I would expect it to be on time.) The station is large, but very easy to navigate on its surface level, which is […]

Do I need passport for US domestic flights, due to the 2019 REAL ID requirements?

12/5/2022 8:04:41 PM Update December 5, 2022: The deadline has been extended once again, until May 7, 2025. Update April 29, 2021: The deadline has again been extended, this time to May 3, 2023. Thanks to user102008 for bringing this to my attention. Update March 27, 2020: To reduce the need for people to go […]

What is “a flight” for the purposes of European Regulation 261/2004?

3/12/2018 7:58:13 PM After much back-and-forth with Etihad themselves, and putting my case in the hands of one of the companies whose business is persecuting 261/2004 claims on behalf of passengers, it seems I am NOT due any compensation. I believe the matter rests on the fact all delays occurred wholly outside the EU, on […]

If I try to enter the US but can't pay the entrance fee, does that count as denial of entry?

1/13/2020 6:41:58 PM Absolutely not. For land entry, the US has a process by which you are allowed to withdraw your application to enter the country. That is exactly and precisely intended for situations like this. The mission of Immigration is to block anyone who isn’t a genuine “Visitor” — people who come to the […]

Travel across Iran by train

3/6/2019 1:23:56 PM Thanks for all your information. I have recently found that website http://iranrails.com a very useful and reliable site for buying train tickets of Iran railways. How do I search for upscale self-service restaurants? 1/14/2019 9:09:36 AM Local person here. In here we prefer to buy tickets from our local websites because you […]

Bringing hiking shoes with dirt/soil to the US?

1/10/2020 10:56:05 PM Something to understand here: Yes, our agricultural inspection people tend to care about mud on shoes–they care about anything that can carry pests or disease that we don’t have here (Which is why the lists can seem pretty nonsensical at times–they don’t care about the items, they care about hitchhikers.) However, they […]

Walking away from my connecting flight on a domestic [US] return journey. What are the consequences?

12/19/2017 5:17:00 AM Most terms of carriage state some variation of the theme: If any portion of the ticket or leg of a flight is not used, any subsequent legs will automatically become invalid. Furthermore, any checked luggage will usually be tagged for the final destination. (However, you can even get around this if you […]

How do I search for upscale self-service restaurants?

1/13/2019 2:04:41 AM You may be looking for ‘fast casual’ restaurants whose Wikipedia entry even includes Vapiano. An alternative term is casual dining but that would usually refer to a place with table service. If there’s any table service in a fast casual place, it’ll be limited to bringing the food you ordered to the […]

Why are some hotels asking you to book through Booking.com instead of matching the price at the front desk?

9/6/2019 1:12:25 PM Simple answer – they already sold the rooms for the low price to booking.com. Why should they lower their prices when they can sell further rooms for a even higher price? It’s still possible that the rooms given to the customers of the portal have or don’t have certain features regular rooms […]

Why are airline websites blocking access through Tor?

12/31/2019 3:43:58 PM Tor is blocked by airlines most probably not due to “security” concerns, but rather because airline websites are notorious for using all manner of browser traffic/history sniffing to alter the price for different customers to maximize the ticket price. To test this out, visit a few airline websites in Private Mode versus […]

Can I apply for a US visa without any specific plans?

12/7/2017 8:28:34 AM When you apply for a US visa you must provide the date and location of your first visit to the US. If you don’t know the exact details yet you are supposed to at least provide an approximate month of arrival. Likewise you would be asked to tell about your plans at […]

How can I find which police stations in Taiwan have camping facilities for cyclists?

1/12/2019 10:22:31 PM This website (which is the first entry on my Google search with the keyword 台灣派出所營地 (Taiwan Police Station Campsite), not affiliated) is a list of campsites in Taiwan, and lists two entries with the tag "police station". One is in Dulan, Taitung as the OP mentioned, and one is in Changbin Township, […]

Booking flight before new passport arrives?

12/2/2017 3:20:35 PM It is very common to book travel before having the relevant documentation, including Passports or Visas. For this reason, they are not required until just before travel will commence. Book the tickets without entering any Passport or Visa information. Then, when the Passport arrives, update the reservation or provide the information at […]

Overcrowded German trains

12/21/2019 5:53:03 PM I’ve travelled extensively for years through all of Germany. Overcrowding is common in both local and long-distance trains. In fact, one Intercity train that I took regularily was often so crowded that I was always afraid I wouldn’t be able to get on board at all (always managed, but a few times […]

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