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What is the best way to get from the airport to center of Buenos Aires? Is there a good shuttle service? Taxis? What should one expect to pay? Is it worth pre-arranging? <Q> While Ivan's answer is the most economical option, I disagree that there's not a shuttle. <S> For inexperienced travellers who may not speak the...
Also you can take a taxi for 20$ (ARS) if you arrive late or too early. Some companies are cheaper than other, shop around "Manuel Tienda León" Shuttle: The shuttle will drive you to Retiro, in the city center, for AR$90. So, you don't need to pre-arrange, there is not any special "shuttle" that worth to pay for it and...
How can I contact the Visa Card office from Georgia? (The country in the Caucasus) It seems I lost my wallet last night. So it's time to cancel my cards but I'm on the other side of the world. In my experience in the hospitality industry and having lost Visa cards twice before while abroad, I have learned that report...
You can call the US "Global Card Assistance Service" from anywhere in the world using Skype even though it's a toll-free number:
How should I schedule my medication when traveling through multiple time zones? Suppose that I have to take some medication three times a day; one in the morning, one at lunch and one during dinner. Now when I take a plane to go on vacation and cross multiple time zones, how should I schedule my medication? <Q> My wi...
Your first step can be to read the information leaflet that comes with your medicines, especially the parts on when to take it and what to do if you miss a dose. However, the only safe step is to go and speak to your doctor about it.
How long does it take for a Global Entry application to be approved? The U.S. Customs and Border Protection runs a program called Global Entry , allowing low-risk travelers to complete an application, submit to a background check and interview, and eventually be approved for a "fast lane" through immigration and custo...
I did the application on a Tuesday and in 6 days I got my pre-approved letter.
Snowfall at sea level closest to the equator? My question is simple. Which is the place closest to Equator, in any country, where has snowfall occured? By that I mean snowfall only at sea level - mountains are excluded. I can't find anything myself on the internet with reliable sources. In fact, I have found only 1 t...
Taiwan in January 2016 received snow near sea level, at 300-400 meters altitude, during the historical cold wave of that month. It was in February 1899 in the Mexican Coast, just south of Tampico.
How early should you get to the airport in the US? When traveling on a domestic flight in the US, how early is it recommended to get to the airport before the flight is scheduled to leave? What about international flights leaving from the US? Are there general rules for times of day or days of the week when airports te...
The key variable is determining how early you should arrive is the security line. Allow a lot of extra time if you have to check bags.
Is it possible to camp in Russia on a tourist visa? I'm interested in crossing the border from Norway to Russia at Storskog, via car. We thought about driving to Murmansk or even not so far - Zapolyarny for instance. We will have a tent with us and ideally we'd like to camp. I'm pretty sure that there's no "freedom t...
As for the camping - yes, @Mark is right - you can camp everywhere Update: You must register in every city or village, if you are staying there for more than 3 days (without weekends and national holidays).
Preventing Smash and Grab Theft while Travelling A piece on Slashdot asks a question that seems pertinent to this site. What measures can be taken to prevent 'smash and grab' - from your car, when your valuable stuff is inside the car. Aside from not keeping valuables in the car, obviously ;) <Q> Apart from not ...
Keep all valuables out of sight to an observer outside the car.
Boat access to Galapagos Islands? It's meant to be possible to get to the Galapagos Islands by plane and by boat. If I return to Ecuador next year, which ports have tours / boats going out to the islands? And would you need to book in advance, or is it likely to be able to pick something up last minute in the port it...
Considering the boats are basic cargo ships and not much cheaper than a plane, I doubt many tourists are using them, still it would be a good idea to call ahead and find out about schedule and prices.
Can I drive from Cuenca to Quito? On the map, it doesn't show very far. But according to Lonely Planet , a bus ride takes 10 to 12 hours. So I assume the road is very poor. Is it nevertheless possible to drive it on your own with a car? Are any special preparations necessary? <Q> I used that road on a public bus in 20...
The road is actually very good.
Where can I eat a guinea pig in Ecuador? In South America, cuy (guinea pig) is a local specialty, and is supposed to taste like rabbit or chicken. Wikipedia claims that it is to be found in the highland areas of Ecuador, but doesn't elaborate much on its availability in the coastal regions. Image source - Wikip...
I tried cuy eventually in Cusco - we had to hunt a bit price-wise, but were told by locals in Puno that Cusco would be the place to eat it! I imagine that people from the mountains who now live on the coast still like to eat their cuys and there may be special places that serve them there too.
Why do you need to take out your laptop from your bag during airport security checks? Why do you need to take your laptop from your bag during airport security checks? Why can't they just x-ray check the whole bag together with the laptop? <Q> X Rays don't penetrate metal. <S> Circuit boards have a lot of metal and s...
But generally they just want a clear and unobstructed view of all the workings, especially to see the harddisk platter.
What options do I have for scenic long-distance train journeys in North America that last for 2 nights or more? I'm looking to take a trip (or two, or three), in North America via train. I want to take a sleeper train and have some time during the day to see interesting things out the window, I don't just want to get o...
Coast Starlight is a good option in the US, without a doubt.
Is it now feasible for an adventurous independent traveller to visit Chechnya? Right now I'm drinking vodka with a Chechen guy who's staying at my hostel here in Tbilisi Georgia. I told him I would like to visit Chechnya but it's too dangerous. He reacted like I imagine somebody from Israel or Belfast would if I told ...
The only ways for foreigners to get into Chechnya are by stealth (hiring a willing, sane, non-homicidal driver), sucking up (the Russian government will very occasionally allow reporters in, but only under strict supervision and “spin”) or shelling out (thousands of dollars to rebels to whom “safety” is just an unprono...
Should I book Thailand Rail tickets online (pre-trip) or at the station when I arrive? I plan on taking the Thailand rail system between Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket (particularly the overnight trains), and Siem Reap. Is it safe to book these tickets ahead of time through their website "e-TSRT / ThaiRailwayTicket.com"...
To be honest, for the shorter rail journeys such as Bangkok to Chiang Mai, you don't need to book beforehand. For sleepers I would recommend to buy in advance, just to be sure.
Bath to London on Christmas Day Is there a way to get from Bath to London using public transport on 25th Dec? Or at least from some place near Bath? All the public transport I could find is shut on christmas Day. <Q> Probably not. <S> I checked National Rail, every coach company I could think of (National Express, ...
On Christmas day, there'll be buses from Oxford to London once an hour (via Heathrow).
Last minute flight bookings - better to book online or at the airport? We had a question here earlier on booking flight tickets in the weeks running up to holiday season , which covered ground on what happens to flight prices over the period. What I'm interested to know is if I had to fly out at short notice, say wit...
Search for a flight which is taking off today and try to book that ticket. Statistics show that most (80%) last-minute bookers are in an important need for the short booking and therefore willing to pay more.
Boat tour on lake Titicaca? Is it possible to do a boat tour on Lake Titicaca ? Where should I start? And are there roundtrips possible? Is it recommened to do a boat tour there as a tourist? aAnd can I see anything special? <Q> We do it from Peru side. <S> You have to go to Puno port and buy one of the excursions t...
Besides the trips from Puno the other popular boat ride on Lake Titicaca is to go to Isla Del Sol , an island on the Bolivian side.
How to reach Salar de Uyuni from Potosí or Sucre (Bolivia)? As I read in Wikipedia Salar de Uyuni is far away from other cities. Can I reach it from Potosí or Sucre? How long does it take? I would prefer to take a train. Is there a train route at all? <Q> Most tours to Salar de Uyuni start from Uyuni town, you...
Yes, you can travel to Oruro by bus from Potosí or Sucre, and from there you can take the train or bus to Uyuni. To get a bus to Oruro from Potosí or Sucre, go to the bus station no more than a day early as tickets are not usually sold earlier than this.
What (if any) regularly scheduled airline flights pass over Antarctica? We were just discussing at lunch if there are any such flights. <Q> As to which goes closest, I think the Qantas flight <S> QF17 / QF18 , between SYD (Sydney) and EZE (Buenos Aires), is a good candidate. <S> Mark said BA to Auckland would be ...
As Mark noted , no scheduled flights pass directly over Antarctica. I found route details for QF17, from its inaugural service, apparently written by one of the pilots.
Can it be worthwhile buying connecting flights on LCC like Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, or Transavia? In principle Low Cost Carriers (LCC) like Easyjet, Ryanair, or Vueling offer 1 leg journeys alone. Still they offer some interesting "connecting" opportunities. Especially if you start combining between different LCC's. ...
For me, that added security is worth the extra cost, and I will not use LCCs except for point to point transportation if I have a choice (some destinations of course are not served by mainline carriers).
Getting nauseated from air travel, but it's not motion sickness... what to do? My sister is not particularly inclined to air travel—she regularly throws up, and the feeling of nausea is evident well before motion sickness could occur (i.e. inside the terminal). I suspect some of it is due to a reverse-placebo psychol...
Antihistamines are often prescribed for motion sickness because they are effective in preventing nausea in that particular case. Either way, though, given her age I advise you strongly to consult a medical doctor to ensure you get something that is properly dosed for a child of her age.
Is there an equivalent to "The Man in Seat Sixty-One" for bus travel? Whenever I want to learn about train travel for a specific country or region I first go to the site The Man in seat sixty-one . It lists the major routes, railway companies and describes rolling stock as well as having timetable and price informatio...
I recently came across this website called The Bus Station .
How do I prevent my head from drooping while trying to sleep on a plane? Even with the seat back lowered as far as it will go, my head droops forward when I try to sleep. This causes me to soon wake up with either a stiff neck or because of "the head jolt". The neck cushions do not work. Putting one behind my neck is ...
I usually try to use a pillow or folded up blanket between my head and the side of the cabin to help dampen the turbulence (and to keep from hitting my head on the side of the cabin in the event of more severe turbulence.) Turn a little in your seat so that your ear (or better still your cheekbone) is on the seatback, ...
What game can I eat in South Africa? When I was in South Africa, I wanted to try some game meat but when I asked people what I could have I got replies with answers like 'Game' or 'you know Game Kudu, Zebra etc' or was just shown the menu of what they offered. People looked at me like I was stupid when I asked, as if I...
You also want to try Wildebeest - and remember, most of these can come in a variety of forms - Ostrich burgers, for example, are great, while Kudu biltong is fantastic.
Is there a ship of the line that I can sail on from Britain? A ship of the line is a Double or triple decked battle ship from the 17th through the mid-19th century like those used at the battle of Trafalgar. Ideally I'd like to crew on one for a week or so, failing that just an opportunity to sail on one. HMS Vict...
Sadly there are no original ships of the line still sailing. I have found there is a 6th rate ship of the line(frigate) replica named the Grand Turk which is still sailing, used in the ITV series of Hornblower.
How does full-service gas work in Oregon? I'm from a state in the US where all gas is self-service. When traveling to Oregon (where all gas stations are full-service), how does the process work? Do you just pull up to the pump and hand the attendant your credit card? Is tipping required or recommended? And is it true ...
In case the pump can be activated by your own credit card you can pump your own gas and noone will tell you anything about it. It is illegal to pump your own, and you can be fined for it, although there is nothing about the pump stopping you, although the attendant will usually notice and run over to stop you pretty qu...
What happens if you get malaria? This may be more of a health question than a travel question, but it definitely applies to travelers to many parts of the world. If someone gets malaria (either through not taking preventative pills or because they don't stop a particular infection), what are the consequences? In countr...
Malaria drugs have considerable side effects. For low-risk areas, just keep the (actual treatment, not prophylactic) drugs with you and take them when you have any kind of fever and cannot immediately consult a doctor.
Is it safe to drink tap water in Morocco? Over the next week I'm travelling around in Morocco and I wonder whether buying bottled water is essential or tap water is safe enough to drink. According to the Wikitravel entry : As a rule, do not drink tap water at all in Morocco, even in hotels, as it contains much high...
So as to stay in peace with Montezuma , I would refrain from drinking tap water in Morocco. You should boil it or treat with tablets before drinking.
Is it safe to drink tap water in Nicaragua? When looking through travel guides and websites, I often see the statement that tap water is not safe in Nicaragua. For example, the US State Department says: Tap water is not considered safe in Nicaragua. All persons should drink only bottled water. Expats living in Ni...
Spend the money on bottled water, and use it to brush your teeth also. As TD can kill (through dehydration, usually) I would definitely consider it unsafe even if that was all you could get.
How to insure professional equipment while traveling What are my options, as a U.S. citizen, for insuring professional equipment (camera and laptop, specifically) while traveling outside of the U.S.? Most of the traveler's insurance policies I've found have a very low coverage for personal items (usually $500 to $1000...
I use World Nomads for my world wide insurance, and I was a UK resident, so all good to use.
What are the rules surounding alcohol in Morocco I will be in Morocco for New Year's: what are the rules surrounding alcohol? Firstly is alcohol even available? If so do I need a permit or is it just a case of showing your passport at the store? I imagine public drunkenness doesn't go down well either. <Q> Firstly ...
Alcohol is available in restaurants, liquor stores, bars, supermarkets, clubs, hotels and discos. Some Moroccans enjoy a drink although it is disapproved in public places.
Is researching dating tips for a specific country worthwhile, useless or counterproductive? I'm planning on visiting Japan for two weeks. While dating isn't the purpose of my trip, I hope to socialize a bit with people my age, including some après-ski, and wouldn't mind if it resulted in dating. Is researching dating ...
Japan is so focused on social groups that you are instantly seen as an outsider (Gaijin) and any faux pas are fixable (and will often be considered "cute" or at least a topic of conversation).
Are there still any “Fly as much as you like” air passes for the U.S.? Back in 1993 I had a ticket called 'Delta Air Lines Travel America Standby Airpass' that allowed me to take an unlimited number of flights on Delta Airlines within a 30 day period. 60 days were available as well. There were some conditions: You h...
Star Alliance (United, Continental, US Air), OneWorld (American Airlines), SkyTeam (Delta), Alaska Airlines and others all has some form of Air Pass program - normally only available to non-US residents when bought in conjunction with an airfare to the US. As far as I can tell the JetBlue has actually ended that progra...
Breast feeding in Iran We are considering a trip to Iran with a 5-month old. What is the local attitude to breast-feeding in public places? Is it legal? Are there any severe consequences? Do you need to use some special cover, etc.? <Q> As an Iranian I can tell you that breast-feeding in public is NOT a crime (at least...
Yes of course it is "legal",you can see young or middle aged mothers sitting in parks and streets, taking her breast out of their shirt and putting it in a baby mouth, no matter what age she/ It's however usually a good practice for breasts to be revealed the least possible while feeding the baby (maybe covered under t...
Adding a connecting flight to an existing ticket Here's the situation: I'm flying to London for a school program (study abroad) out of Boston on a group flight, which my institution kindly paid for. I have the e-ticket for that flight in hand. I live across the country in Seattle, so I need to fly to Logan to catch t...
Check with US Airways if they can check in your baggage all the way through, if you fly with them from Seattle. Changing the routing of the ticket will require "re-issuing" of the ticket, and there's no way that's going to happen without a change fee unless it's a refundable ticket.
Is tourism beneficial to the economies of places affected by natural disasters? Is tourism to regions that were hit several months ago by natural disasters (for example, the north-eastern part of Honshu, Japan) good for the local economy, and for the people of that area? Just to clarify, I'd be visiting normal tourist...
Disaster tourism , i.e. expressly visiting an area hit by disaster in order to see the devastation can be disruptive and distasteful.
Amsterdam: How to get from the Airport to the Hard Rock Cafe by public transport? What's the fastest and cheapest way to get from the Schiphol Airport to the Hard Rock Cafe by public transport? <Q> Provided you would like to go to the Hardrock Cafe in Amsterdam: take the train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central...
From Amsterdam Central Station take a tram number 1, 2 or 5 and get out on Leidseplein (again, some 15 minutes).
Travelling to Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos with kids My wife and I are planning to go to Peru and Ecuador. And also would like to visit Galapagos while we are there so I have quite a few questions but will start with 2: Is it worth it to bring a 6 year old on such a trip? Is it better to start with Galapagos first then...
I am sure the animals on Galapagos would be very interesting for a six year old.
Where to buy tram tickets in Amsterdam I have to travel to Amsterdam next week, but I have a question regarding the Tram tickets. Do I buy the tram tickets in the Central Station? Can I buy tickets from the tram driver? Since it's a short trip I will be taking just the Tram 16, from the Central Station and the Keize...
The easiest place to but them near Centraal is to go to the entrance of the metro (subway), there quite a few machines to buy tickets. For your question regarding tickets that last more than 3 days, there is 24-, 48-, 72-, 96-, 120-, 144- and 168- hour anonymous OV-chipcards .
Planning to stay for 3 months in Berlin, Germany. Should I bring a car with me? I will be spending about 3 months (at least) in Berlin, Germany, primarily to look for some business opportunities or maybe a job. I am aware of the nearly perfect transportation services Berlin offers (S-bahn, U-bahn and buses). I am consi...
Having a car in Berlin is more hassle than a convenience, just because of the parking situation, and the money you spend on parking meters. You probably won't need to use car every day, but, depending on your preferences and lifestyle, you may want to have a car for weekend trips. As you say, Berlin has "nearly perfect...
Prepay simcard for data in Australia I'm arriving in Sydney on Friday for a week. Ideally I'd like a pre-pay simcard for text and data (I need to check my stackexchange sites of course ;)). However I have no idea of what companies or options exist, and what would be the best for a traveller in terms of moderate data ...
lebara-mobile is good for calling overseas, savvymax credit does not expire.
Where to nap in Chicago O'Hare? I am bracing myself for a rough trip: getting up at 4AM, taking a 3 hour flight, then a 13 hour flight, with a 5.5 hour layover in between. I can almost never sleep on planes, so this trip would go down smoother if I could get a decent nap during the layover at Chicago O'Hare. What are ...
New privacy station with nice seats and power (free) near Johnny Rockets between T1 & T2 if you're looking for a place to nap and recharge (pun intended), this may be it.
Fastest way to get from Heathrow Airport to Knightsbridge London? I'm looking for the fastest way to get from London Heathrow Airport to Knightsbridge, London . Using Google maps, I found that the tube takes approximately 50 minutes. But are there any cheaper options? Maybe an express bus? Or a train? <Q> The Transpo...
The Heathrow Express train, may take you faster into central London, but you have to change into the tube (District or Circle lines) at Paddington and then change again into the Picadilly line. Without any research I would say the tube is the cheapest and fastest as well, because you don't have to change at all to get ...
Can I visit Chicago during a 5.5 hour layover in O'Hare? I will be flying from Boston to Tokyo with a 5.5 hour morning layover in Chicago. I'm thinking of going out to the city for some late breakfast and/or sightseeing. I've never left an airport during a layover before, so I have some questions. I'll land in Chicago...
Assuming you get both boarding passes before you leave Boston, which again should be easy if you are on the same airline/alliance, you can leave the airport as soon as you get to Chicago. Your time is limited and I wouldn't spend too much of it in downtown.
Self-service options in Amsterdam I'm considering a trip to Amsterdam with some friends (3-4 people) for around a week in the late spring/summer. Looking at hotel prices seems a little bit steep, and I've had success in the past in Europe with self-service apartments. The idea would be to save some money buying and coo...
There is a local website called Stay Amsterdam . Any rental apartments will be rented out to expat workers quickly, you're unlikely to find any (and they tend to be bloody expensive). Leiden is a nice old city in its own right, very old university town with a rich history and lots of things to do and see, and should be...
Prepay (micro) sim card for data in Thailand I'm going to be two weeks in Thailand and need a micro-sim for my iPhone (non jail broken). The main use will be data but obviously I will use it for calls and text too. What are the recommended carriers?Where can I buy the sim?What are the rates? <Q> Truemove-H is the Be...
Best carrier coverage in Thailand is AIS but 3G is a few coverage in nationwide.
Sending passport via post office to get visa I'm forced to send my passport via post office, because there is no Burkina Faso embassy in my country. I don't feel very comfortable about it, because the passport can get lost and/or can be misused. Were you ever forced to do the same because of visa? Is it a common pract...
While it is a risk to be without your passport, we made sure to use FedEx/DHL to send our passports, that way they would be trackable.
Where to buy Thai Bahts when traveling from New Zealand to Thailand? When traveling from New Zealand to Thailand, where can I buy Thai Bahts and get better exchange rate and lower commissions? It's only for the first 10K THB (Thai Baht) for the first days. The rest I will withdraw from ATMs. The options I considered...
In Thailand, ATMs give you a better exchange rate than changing cash, especially for less-popular currencies like NZD. I would use the ATMs at the airport.
Computer geek tourist attractions in the San Francisco Bay Area & Silicon Valley? We're planning a family vacation to the San Francisco Bay Area & Silicon Valley, and one of the highlights I don't want to miss is the Computer History Museum . However, I didn't find that listed in the free guides we got from our auto ...
nevertheless something as a geek that's been looking at the things going on in Silicon Valley from a far most of my life I wanted to see: Computer History Museum (you've already got that one though) Fry's Sunnyvale ('first' Fry's in the US) Samovar Tea Lounge: A few in SF (the trendy place for startup geeks like Kevin ...
Is Mount Pilatus worth visiting in winter? I'm going to be in Luzern in late February for a couple of days and a friend suggested visiting Mount Pilatus and going up to the summit. He visited in summer and it looked amazing, however is it still worth visiting in winter? I know the cog railway is closed but the cable...
Without the great view, the trip is... not worth. There are a lot of different options to get on top of the mountain and almost all of them are also accessible during winter.
What should I look for in a vehicle insurance policy for taking my US vehicle into Mexico? I have been told that driving my private vehicle from California into Mexico is no big deal EXCEPT that I must have Mexican insurance. I am looking for specific recommendations about what to look for when buying the insurance - a...
The underwriters must be an Mexican carrier who fall under Mexican laws.
Empty suitcase on flight I need to take 2 big empty suitcases on a flight. Is there an increased risk of losing the suitcases? A couple of risks come to my mind: Airport conveyor might not deliver big empty suitcases well. There may not be enough traction or some other weight dependent mechanisms may not be activate...
Some suitcases (especially lightweight ones) rely to some extent on the contents to provide some of the structural strength and could potentially have the metal framework bent if checked in empty. Since you pay for the luggage, the airline should not reject your luggage, no matter the weight.
What to do if drugs / a bomb are planted in your travel bag? So the scene: You're flying from Bogota, Colombia to New York, USA. You arrive, pick up your bag from the carousel, and figure you'll stuff your netbook you used on the flight into your bag now rather than lugging it through the airport under one arm. Howev...
The easiest way will be disposing things in the that toilet (if possible) specially if you are in a foreign country and you are not sure of the laws there, some countries' officials will not be so understanding and will treat you as a suspect immediately so you better get rid of the stuff right away and continue with y...
Is there any service to make budget bookings on Internet? Some people ask me to help booking their trips. They ask me because usually I found cheaper flights and hotels. So the question is not if exists any flight or hotel booking site as Kayak, Trivago or the service offered by travel agencies. The question is if ther...
Air Asia Go ...combined with cheap airfares
Seeing puffins in their natural habitat A friend has just returned from Iceland, and while they enjoyed it, they were disappointed not to see puffins as it was the wrong time of year. Where else could you see puffins in their natural habitat - ideally closer to London than Iceland is? Image courtesy of Wikimedia Fo...
There are loads of places around the British Isles that your friend could go to see these fabulous little birds.
Are there electrical plugs and/or wifi in Japanese shinkansen? Do the Shinkansen trains have wifi? How about electrical plugs? If it depends on the train, these are the ones I'll be taking: Hikari 546 (Hiroshima->Shin-Kobe) Hikari 470 (Shin-Kobe->Tokyo) Max Toki 329 (Tokyo<->Niigata) I'd also accept as an answer...
Generally, no, although the latest 700 series trainsrunning on JR West Hikari Rail Star services do have power outletsockets. Sitting on a Kodama now and can't find any unfortunately, for future reference.
Where can I travel if I want to see cheetahs? My favorite animals are cheetahs. So I would like to see them in the natural habitats. Where should I travel to to maximize my chances? <Q> According to this Wikimedia image <S> you can find cheetahs around Africa and Middle East. <A> Tourist wise, an easy option is a...
Certainly much of Africa has them in their natural habitat. Image is in public domain One of the easiest places to see Cheetahs (I saw a lot there) is Masai Mara National Park (Kenya). In big reserves like Kruger (South Africa) or Etosha (Namibia) you can travel on your own.
Are there any legal requirements for renting a car in the US as a foreigner? I am planning a road trip in the US with some friends and plan to rent a car for the purpose. Are there any legal requirements for renting a car. Do they require a US driver's license? Do I have to pay for extra insurance? <Q> You don't need ...
In addition you need a valid driver's license recognised in the US, or an international drivers' license. You must be over 21 to rent the vehicle and if you are between the age of 21-25 Often there is insurance that is mandatory as well, but that all comes in the bill when you do eventually rent it.
I don't need a visa for a stay under 90 days in South Africa but can I enter SA twice in that time? I am traveling to South Africa this year on a U.S. passport, and will be taking a safari that leaves South Africa and goes through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe and then I must return to South Africa within two months t...
US passport holders are allowed visa-free entry for up to 90 days, and when you exit South Africa that counts as the end of your trip.
Can two different planes share the same flight number? There's a daily flight, let's call it AB 1234 which leaves at 11am with a flight duration of more than 13 hours. I noticed that every day, the same flight AB 1234 leaves at 11am. It seems physically impossible for the same plane to travel 13 hours and return in a...
When airlines operate flights on a codeshare basis , one physical aircraft could be flying the same physical route sold under different flight numbers too!
What is the cheapest way to see snow from Singapore? I am from Singapore. What is cheapest holiday trip I can take that I can see snow? (I understand that snowfall is unpredictable and some good luck is required.) <Q> I would suggest:- Wait for snowfall in the Australia ski-fields <S> Look for an AirAsiaX flight f...
AirAsia X to Korea / Japan. Catch the ski-tube up to Mount Perisher Sleep in a tent at the caravan park Catch a train from Sydney to Canberra (55 SGB)
Website or application for travel recommendations? When looking for new destinations to travel to, I'm usually reading blogs in the Internet, browse through Travel SE or rely on recommendations of friends. But is there a more active way of finding a suitable travel destination? I'm looking for a website or application...
I suggest trying Wander which allows you to search for travel destinations according to your budget, availability and other preferences you might have.
How common is it to find cappuccino in Thailand's coffee shops? How common is it to be able to find good cappuccino in coffee shops in Thailand? Are coffee shops common in Thai cities at all? <Q> In addition to over 100 Starbucks stores around the country you'll also find countless McDonalds, many of which have "McCafe...
Although nowhere near as ubiquitous as in the US, coffee shops are relatively common in major Thai cities, especially those with high tourist numbers (eg, Bangkok, Chang Mai).
Jogging in Tokyo and Osaka I'm not a huge fan of jogging on crowded sidewalks even in the US, and I expect many sidewalks in Tokyo and Osaka will only be more crowded. What locations in these cities would you recommend for jogging? In Tokyo I will be staying in Kabuki-cho in Shinjuku, so I was thinking of the Shinju...
A close alternative would be 'Yoyogi Park' which is just two stops south on the Yamanote line or you could even walk or run from Shinjuku. The park I thought was wonderful in Osaka is Osaka Castle Park .
Local cuisine in Peru I am planning to travel to Peru, and one of the things that I do like to do every place I visit is to try out the local dishes like: Cozido das Furnas on Azores. I would like to know what are some of the local dishes in Peru and where are the best places to try them? <Q> I too am like you and h...
Tacu tacu - criollo Subtly spiced mix of essentially refried beans and rice (2x beans 1x rice). Cuy Chactado (Guinea Pig): You can find this dish mostly in the Mountainous Area (Sierra) or in restaurants in Lima City but is not the same.
Vegetarian dishes in Cuba I'm going to Cuba in February. As a vegetarian, food is always a challenge. The most common problems for me: I don't know the language very well The concept of vegetarianism is unusual or non-existent in the culture I'm visiting When I was in Mexico, there was a breakfast dish that was ...
I did a package tour for one week and we ate at tourist restaurants where they always had vegetarian options, but most of the time it was an omelette!
Is it possible to travel safely in Guatemala? We are considering a trip to Guatemala for about 7-10 days with kids (6 months and 3 years). We would like to do only the top attractions: Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atlitlan and Pacaya Volcano. Is it possible to do it in a reasonably safe way? Is it generally safe to use local t...
If you don't want to take a risk, maybe it's safer if you get tours at the hotel you are staying in, or even better, talking to other tourists to get up-to-date information about the best and safe attractions to visit. Guatemala is safe even when you travel with kids, but you need to be careful when looking around. I d...
How safe is travelling on European rail networks for solo travellers? How safe is travelling on European rail networks for solo travellers, including overnight trains? Obviously, the usual precautions of being more mindful of belongings when travelling solo need to be kept in mind. I'd also reckon that Western and Nort...
So, train rides are one of the safest modes of transportation in most countries, especially in Europe.
What are "500 Mile Upgrades"? On my American Airlines AAdvantage account, I see a lot of references to "500 Mile Upgrades". I don't quite understand how these work. Can someone explain what these are for (and what does the "500 Mile" part mean)? <Q> As to the reason for the name, from the Terms and Conditions : Ea...
AAdavntage has a section on their site explaining what the 500 Mile Upgrade is : 500-mile upgrades allow you to upgrade from Economy Class to the next class of service for travel on American Airlines or American Eagle:
Comparing travel costs in Europe: rail vs bus I wanted to compare costs for travelling around in Europe by bus and rail. While I don't have a firm itinerary yet, for the purposes of this comparison let's assume that it will be close to the route shown in the map above. I took this route map from Busabout's 'Long Way ...
As a general rule, bus is cheaper than train in Europe.
Are bluetooth headphones allowed on flights in the US, particularly on United Airlines? I have a United Airlines flight this week and I would love to listen to an Audio book for the duration. Unfortunately my only working pair of headphones are bluetooth. I've looked on United's web page for prohibited items but see ...
No problem with bluetooth transmitting devices (including headphones), except the obvious switching off during landing and takeoff. Technically, they are not permitted in-flight.
What is the shortest commercial passenger flight (with a flight number) in the world? With the occasional debate about Oxford airport in the UK becoming a new London airport, and hearing of a flight that once landed at Heathrow due to fog, then flew on to Gatwick, I was wondering - what is the shortest (time) regular (...
This isn't the sortest flight in the world, but the shortest international flight : St. Gallen-Altenrhein (ACH, Switzerland) to Friedrichshafen (FDH, Germany)
What is the longest passenger flight (with a flight number) in the world? For example, JQ151 from Sydney to Christchurch is around 3 hours. NZ1 however, is about another 7 to Hong Kong. Will need a regular flight number to verify. Definition is longest in terms of flight time / distance (they should be linked, logic...
Los Angeles - Singapore ( Singapore Airlines ) flight number: SQ 37 , 14,114km (8,770 miles, 7,621 nautical miles) from 17 hr Air India Flight 173 from New Delhi to San Francisco is the world's longest flight.
Websites to buy complex air tickets Okay. I'm looking for a complex round ticket. Like travel from point a - to point B (stay for 2 days) - then to point C (stay for 2 days) -then to point D (Destination, stay for 2 weeks) - then return back to point A, but through point E. To buy a simple round ticket Point A - Poi...
It might be worth breaking the trip into two or more separate trips and searching for them separately; keeping the main outgoing and return flights together (plus all the connections), but looking at the travel within the trip separately. You can try TripPlanner website as well
What is the cheapest metro system in the world? When traveling I am trying to avoid using the underground/metro/subway because I want to see the city I am visiting, but sometimes for long distances it is much quicker than any other form of transport. So which city has the cheapest underground system? I'm looking for ...
Lisbon, Portugal (tram, bus, metro) $1.16 – $3.97 New Orleans, USA (tram, bus) $1.25 – $1.50 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (metro, bus) $1.28 – A ride on the Tashkent Metro in Uzbekistan costs $0.18, so it's definitely one of the cheapest Moscow, Russia (metro) Using metro in Caracas (Venezuela) is for free now.
Budget for traveling in Eastern Europe? We are planning to backpack through Eastern Europe for a month on an Interrail pass and I am trying to put together a budget estimate. Our travel path is not planned yet, but will be something like Greece->Macedonia->Serbia->Hungary->Slovakia->Czech Republic->Poland. I understand...
You will need from 13 to 20 euros a night for a bed in a dorm in a hostel.
Is there luggage storage at train stations in Japan? We will travel around Japan by train and will make a few shorter stops with only a nights stay so it would be handy to be able to drop the bags at the station while doing some sightseeing before checking to the hotel. Is this a "normal" feature of japanese train stat...
Coin lockers are a feature of most stations in Japan.
Is there information if a given airline at a given airport is using a jetway or a bus to board? I am not particularly a fan of boarding a plane with bus that drives you from the terminal building to the airplane. I know that most low cost airlines use buses for boarding. So then I could appreciate the discomfort of a b...
Some airport only use buses for specific types of flights, often involving smaller planes.
What is the LONGEST Tour operated by travel companies? I remember 6 years ago, discovering "The Great South American Journey" operated by Gap adventures (now G Adventures), a 5 month trip around the continent (although essentially a bunch of their smaller tours joined together). Then this year, I found this : a 43 w...
Viking offers a 245-day round-the-world cruise , which starts (and ends) in London. MadVenture Travel is now offering: LONDON TO SYDNEY OVERLAND (via Africa & central Asian silk road)
Is there any other country than Germany with no speed limits? I'm very into road trips. Therefore I'm always looking for something special. I think it is very special that at least parts of Germany's highways have no speed limits. But since I live very close to Germany this is not so special for me. So I'm looking fo...
Besides the German Autobahns, the only other roads that are currently without speed limits are rural roads on the Isle of Man, but I doubt you can go really fast on them.
Any travel booking sites that let you search for a mixed itinerary? Travel sites that search all the major air lines are a dime a dozen. And in some localities, there are travel sites that at least pay lip service to searching major bus carriers. But are there any travel sites that will search all major forms of tran...
However, for the UK, Traveline at least attempts to do this.
Where to exchange money in Wroclaw I'm arriving to Wroclaw airport (Ryanair) next April, where should I exchange most of my money? In the airport, in the city or in another city? <Q> Generally, almost wherever I go, I find it's easiest to get money out of the ATM. <S> (Aside from Uzbekistan, where ATM's were card-spe...
Not sure of the arrangements in Poland but in Ukraine the best way to get local currency would be to simply withdraw it from an ATM.
How to get from Wroclaw airport to city center? What are the options to get from Wroclaw airport (Ryanair flight) to city center? What's the cheapest option? <Q> city bus, line 406 - ticket 2.40 PLN ( <S> ~0.56 €) <S> night bus, line <S> 249 - ticket 2.80 PLN (~ 0.66 €) taxi - less than 50 PLN (~ 12 €) <S> ...
Looks like bus is the primary (only) option, according to Wikitravel .
Is gold an acceptable means of currency exchange? To be honest, I am not sure which is a better way to ask the question: Is gold an acceptable means of currency exchange in most travel-able countries? or which countries is gold NOT an acceptable means of currency exchange? This question comes to mind in respect to ba...
I am not aware of any country where gold is an acceptable currency. You'd be much better bringing Euro or US Dollars.
Rental car insurance in the UK I will be visiting the UK for two weeks later this year and renting a car. I would rather not pay the extortionate insurance rates that the rental company will charge me for this. I have a valid UK drivers license (I used to live there). My own vehicle insurance only covers rental cars i...
When you book an Avis rental car, the price you are quoted includes basic level of cover needed should you be involved in an accident.
Are there any airlines that still allow smoking on-board flights? Do any airlines still allow smoking on-board international flights, or is this something that has been banned across the board everywhere? If this is because of fire hazard regulations, what about e-cigarettes ? <Q> I believe this chart will be of use...
Smoking banned on all US Domestic flights 2000: Federal law introduced banning smoking on all flights by US airlines.
Is it possible to buy outdoor clothing in Northern India/Nepal? Another shopping question, but I do think it is on topic! I will soon travel to India, the first few months I will spend in the south and lower parts of the country where it will be warm and hot. As I like to travel light, I plan to bring only some light ...
There are other shopping centres in Delhi too but not any that will sell the kind of quality gear you want at cheap prices. Thamel in Kathmandu is a good place to start shopping for trekking gears. I believe that you should buy jacket, hiking boots and similar stuff at an established shop since you will most likely kee...
Communist architecture in Berlin I am going to be in Berlin for a weekend and would like to photograph and tour some Bismarck structures, underground bunkers or any industrial complex. What are my options? <Q> For general communist architecture I would start at Alexander Platz and walk down the 'Karl-Marx-Allee' al...
The site ' Untergrund Brandenburg ' (in German) lists many bunkers in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg. My favourite communist architecture in Berlin is definitely the Frankfurter Tor and the rest of the "Stalinallee ensemble" .
Can a Japanese citizen get a visa for Iran at the border from Pakistan? My Japanese friend found it impossible to get a visa for Iran in Tokyo , and decided to try and get it at the border from Pakistan to Iran. Is it even possible? Wikivoyage says visa on arrival is possible at the Imam Khomeini International Ai...
Holders of normal passports traveling as tourist can obtain a visa on arrival, for a max.
Visiting villages in Kerala How do I visit and spend a couple of nights in non-touristy villages in Kerala between Kochi, Alappuzha and Kollam? Do I just hire a boat and ask them to take me to such a village? Could you recommend any villages where I can find accommodation and see Keralan rural life? Do you have any a...
Another option is to befriend your guide or driver(who is registered by tourist department) and ask him to show his village as they normally live in nearby villages. Visit Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram if you want to experience the essence of cultural diversity. The other option I would suggest is to ask at the loca...
Where in India can one wash and play with elephants? I've seem a documentary in which a host is washing elephants somewhere in India (I believe it was Kerala) but I can't remember where I've seen it. Image courtesy of tiagopereira and is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 So... I'd like to know where in India are f...
Elephants are worshipped in South Indian culture and many temples have their own stable of elephants that are worshipped, bathed, and fed daily . what you can do: go to a wildlife sanctuary / national park in India.
Backpacking - travelling with 'smart' clothes I've heard the tips for keeping your clothes unwrinkled in general - rolling t-shirts, having those cell things for shirts in your bag, etc. However, while those work pretty well for t-shirts and casual clothes, every so often I've had to travel with smart trousers, busine...
Regardless, I would suggest buying wrinkle-free shirts and trousers for such purposes.
What are my accommodation options when traveling with toddlers through Morocco? We are going to Morocco with our kids. We intent to rent a car and independently travel a bit through the country. From reading through online resources, I have learned that a Riad is a must-do, but what are our other options if we plan t...
Most riads except for the really cheap ones are quite comfortable, have 'Western-style' flush toilets et al.
What to do with your valuables on a low-cost holiday while swimming/diving in Central America? I am planning to go to central America (Costa Rica + Panama) for a rather budget holiday, and I am wondering what people usually do with their documents, money, cameras, etc. when staying in a budget hotel (without a safe in ...
My method is to keep valuables in a piece of luggage that locks.
Air travel info between Andaman islands What is the exact process of applying for helicopter ride between Port Blair and Havelock island? I've seen the application form here but I'd like to know the whole process. Did anyone here actually try it? Ideally I'd like info from someone with first-hand experience. Since a...
Helicopter rides aren't available between the islands.
Need malaria meds for Rajasthan in February? Rajasthan appears to be relatively low risk for malaria in February, so should I take malaria meds while I'm there (for two weeks) or just try to avoid getting bitten? Obviously I'll use Deet and take all the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites, and I have a supply o...
As you said, it is low risk meaning that you don't really need prophylaxis. Depending on how long you are intending to stay in India, I believe you shouldn't take any drugs if your trip is shorter than a month.
What section of an airplane offers the smoothest ride? I know in a bus, for instance, (well, at least on a school bus, when I traveled to out-of-town basketball games in high school) the farther back you are, the bumpier your ride tends to be. Is there a similar situation when a vehicle is airborne? For the quietest r...
It varies a little depending on the type of plane, but in general during flight over the wings, or slightly forward of the wings gives the least amount of movement - especially for planes where the engines are mounted on the wings (rather than on/near the tail).
Schengen visa for UK citizen? Since I am a UK citizen I require a Schengen VISA to pass through Europe when I go travelling this year. However where do I get one, I have checked the EU Parliament site and cannot find anything about it. Where is the official place to get one? I see there are sites online that do the a...
As other's have stated, being a citizen of the UK you do not need to apply for a schengen visa.
Where can I go looking for amber in Gdańsk, Poland? I've read that one can find amber easily in the beaches in Gdansk. I believe it, but how to get to those beaches? Will anyone be offended if I go there and spend one hour looking for amber? <Q> Nobody will be offended. <S> It is a common practice among children to s...
No, no one is going to be offended; In fact, it is a common practice, as already mentioned. As I understand it, amber gets washed ashore and it is usually just little bits and pieces, probably nothing significant but a nice souvenir nonetheless.