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Is it necessary to book bus tickets from Gdansk to Kaliningrad in advance? Is it necessary to book bus tickets from Gdansk to Kaliningrad in advance, or is it enough to buy tickets at the station just before the departure? If they need to be booked in advance, where would you do it? Online with the company or locally i...
According to a post on TripAdvisor by JeenaB who is from Kaliningrad tickets are only available at the station.
Is there catering on Dutch domestic trains? In the Netherlands there are local trains without toilets . So far so good. I would like to know if there are catering facilities (bar, restaurant, trolley, dispenser, ... ) on domestic Dutch IC trains as well as on the IC trains from Brussels to Den Haag. Or do I have to d...
On local trains there is no catering. There is catering on some local Intercity trains as well.
Tour to (or via) Afsluitdijk I am planing to go on a trip around Europe, and wondering if there are any buses (tour bus) or just any regular buses that go along the A7 motorway in the Netherlands (noord-holland). I really love to see Afsluitdijk in person just to experience its sheer size. I am planning to go from ...
There are several tours advertized that include the afsluitdijk, but as the English language users are not happy with that word they do not all include the name in title or description, often they use a translation
What is the cheapest way of traveling from Berlin to Krakow? A friend suggested going by bus to Poznan and from there by train to Krakow. He said there is no particular reason to go to Poznan, but as whole it's a nice trip. You get to know a bit of Poland and a city that otherwise you would never visit. The price comp...
Odds are good that trains/buses are reasonably priced, and I'd look into those. There is a bus from Berlin to Warsaw (around 9h) and from Warsaw to Krakow (around 4h30).
Am I going to have trouble flying with a reversed name on the ticket? I'm flying to Peru with my girlfriend next week and I realized that her name is incorrect on the reservation. Instead of Sally Marie Jones it's Jones Marie Sally . We're flying into Houston, then Lima, and in Lima we switch airlines for our flig...
In my experience, they never care if it's not exactly right. The rules say that the name on the ticket must be exactly as in the passport, but I never follow that rule.
UK places that offer visitors a chance to wear medieval armor and clothes? I'm looking to visit places on UK that offer visitors an opportunity to wear medieval armor/clothes. Where can I find such a place? <Q> A brief Google turns up Carisbrooke Castle and the Bodiam Castle for a start; the National Trust are big ...
England's Medieval Festival is the largest of its kind in the UK.
Are non-Saudi women allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia? A link from Are there any man-only places in the world? called No Women Allowed by Fox News repeats a claim I've often heard: Women need a man, or government permission, to do just about anything – Saudi Arabian women aren’t even allowed to drive. By contra...
Apparently there's no actual law against women driving in Saudi Arabia.
Interactive map for mixed bus-and-walking journeys in Greater London I need to plan a travel in Greater London (within the M25) over multiple destinations via buses and by walking. Many online tools, including Google Maps and TFL website, enable finding the best routes between two or more points in the city (with some...
It's iPhone/Android only, but I find Citymapper easily the best routing tool for London.
Why do airplanes at every airport disembark at the left (port) side? I travel by air a lot, and at virtually every airport I've ever been too, including where you disembark by stairs, as opposed to by jet bridge, the left-hand-doors are always used; and the right-hand-doors are used for loading catering trolleys, etc. ...
I would say it is convention that ships dock such that the Port is on the left, from which the term for the side gets its name ("The side of where the Port is").
Can I get a partial refund from SNCF? I purchased a train ticket from Cherbourg to Reims from TGV Europe . This was two trains, a TER service from Cherbourg to Paris, and a double-decker TGV from Paris to Reims. The TGV part was a "prem", and if I cancel the ticket I'll lose money. But that's okay, because I don't wan...
Prem's tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.
What is cheapest phone option for a short trip to Europe? I'm leaving for Europe in a couple days. I'm spending a few days in England and then a few days in Hungary before returning to the US. Unfortunately, I have not given much thought to my phone/internet options until now. Anticipated needs: 5-10 phone calls to...
For you, maybe you care more about cost of local calls, in which case a prepaid card for each country you visit might be the best option. I'd just try to reduce my voice usage as much as possible, and look at a VoIP solution instead. When arriving in the UK just look for any phoneshop and ask for your options.
Travel insurance to USA I am planning to travel to USA for a short stay, around 2 months. I think it will be better to buy a little travel insurance in case I feel sick or anything. However, I have no idea about where to buy it. Do you have any piece of advice for my case about how to get an insurance? <Q> Travel healt...
If you are going to the USA for tourism, then the cheapest option will probably be a travel insurance, that covers medical costs as well.
What is the fastest way from Zurich to Eindhoven, by public transport? I'm looking for the fastest way using the normal public transport options (plane, train, etc.) from Zurich to Eindhoven in Autumn. Flying seems not really to be a option since there seem to be no flights from Switzerland to Eindhoven. The trains tha...
Fly directly from Zurich to Amsterdam. One train option that can be quite economical, and save you some time is to take the night train.
What is appropriate attire for women in Muslim countries? If my girlfriend was going to travel with me to, say, Jordan, or where-ever, should she probably wear a hijab when she's out and about in public? <Q> In most Muslim countries, keeping the arms and legs (and of course the cleavage) covered would be considered com...
But if you're going to visit a mosque, you would probably be expected to dress more modestly. The best bet is to do some research for the country (or countries) you plan to visit.
Is there anyway to find out if a route has a (cheaper) code share partner? While looking around for flights from Sydney to Sri Lanka (SYD-CMB) I narrowed down the possible connections through south east Asia. The best connection was via Singapore. By pure chance I found it is cheaper to buy a code share Virgin flight t...
FlightStats gives code-share information for any flight.
Should I always keep my passport with me while travelling? I am visiting Singapore in May. As a practice I always keep the passport with me wherever I travel. I think how can I show my identity if some officer ask about it. But sometimes I fell it is annoying to bring the passport. If I can leave it at hotel and travel...
I always carry my passport with me. In Singapor, crime is very low and there should not be a problem to have it with you.
What does a CouchSurfing host expect from their guests? I've never done couch-surfing and I'd like to start couch-surfing my next trip, but I don't know what the host "expects". Do I have to take something in exchange for his/her offer? Or is it better to invite to a dinner? And about the stay, should I expect to vi...
This said, the answer to your question is very subjective and varies depending on who is going to be your host. As for bringing a gift or taking them to dinner - do whatever feels comfortable, and don't force them into it either.
Alternatives to National Express in the UK I would prefer not to use National Express. Conditions on coaches can be awful, in my experience. I wish we had something like Polskibus in the UK. Are there any alternatives? I mainly use them to get between airports and Birmingham when it's dark. <Q> There are a few other...
Bonus - EasyBus - although only in London at present, if you get it in advance, tickets can be very cheap to the airports, from as little as two pounds. Another altenative maybe to consider the train, if of course you can find a cheap ticket or one that is similar to the price you would pay on either National Express o...
How to get from Heathrow Airport to King's Cross, London? My wife and I will be arriving in London via Heathrow Airport (LHR) and are staying at a hotel near King's Cross station. So, we were wondering what the best (which means fastest but also easiest when carrying two large pieces of luggage and two carry-ons) way t...
The tube is easy, fast (especially in traffic it can be faster) and cheap . Honestly, the Piccadilly Line is what I'd do.
Tasting typical Icelandic cuisine in Reykjavík I'll be going to Reykjavík in a few weeks. As usual for my job travels I'm trying also to enjoy the place, and in this case the cuisine. I tried to have a look on wikipedia Reykjavìk page , but it doesn't even touch this subject! So my question is: which is a very typ...
If you want to taste some of the freshest fish on the planet, then head straight for Icelandic Fish & Chips . Gamla Vínhúsið at Klapparstíg 38 in Reykjavík serves delicious Mink Whale.
Mobile and mobile internet provider Turkey I am going to Turkey for a 10 day trip.Is it possible to buy a 3G chip to have internet access in all Turkey for this period?What are my options and average price? <Q> It's a pain in the butt to get mobile access in Turkey, but you it can be done. <S> Your chances depend on ho...
I recommend you to rent a 3G mobile WiFi from one of the companies that operate in Turkey. There are selling prepaid lines and you can also buy data packages.
Getting into Brazil with an onward ticket from another country I'm planning to travel around the world starting in the end of July. My first flight is Frankfurt to Rio de Janeiro (via Heathrow) on July 26th. I am a German citizen and I want to enter Brazil without a formal visa. According to Brazilian immigration polic...
You will not need a visa to visit Brazil for up to 90 days (see Brazil visa requirements for German citizens ).
The best way to get from Stockholm to Kolmården zoo by public transport I'm going to visit Stockholm with kids and wonder what is the best option to get to the Kolmården zoo. My first thought was to take the train as the fastest transport, but as far as I understand, trains station is not that close to the Zoo. So, wh...
It appears the quickest transport is a combination of train and bus: You can go via Norrköping, but it's a detour, as all buses from there will pass through Kolmaarden station en route anyway, and that station is before Norrköping coming from Stockholm.
Help for places to see around Nice during the Monaco F1 GP weekend I am visiting Monaco during the F1 GP weekend from 24/05 - 27/05. I am staying at Nice and traveling to Monaco on Sunday on the GP day. I am planning to arrive in Nice on the evening of 24th by Eurostar and leaving Nice on 27/05 in the morning by Eurost...
Nice places along the way include: Èze-sur-Mer (nice village on a rock above the sea, quite touristy) If you love trains and countryside, I highly recommend the Train des Pignes from Nice to Digne-les-Bains. Bus options are also locally available (see the Transportation paragraph under Inlands below).
Traveling with two passports - which one to use? I have two passport one is Saudi and the other is British. My question is I am in Saudi Arabia and I want to travel to the UK and back how does that work? And do I need a visa for any of the two counties? <Q> You need a visa for neither country because you are a citi...
When you enter a country, in order not to need a visa, you show them the passport of that country .
How will the US Airways and American Airlines merger affect frequent flyer miles? So I have like 30,000 frequent flier miles with American Airlines and in a few weeks, care of my employer, will be traveling US Airways for a business trip. Since American Airlines is now owned by US Airways does that mean that frequent f...
At the moment you cannot earn miles on US Airways in your American Airlines AAdvantage account:
Is it better to ship bicycle from Egypt to Leipzig, Germany or to buy/rent one? I'm studying going to Germany and specially Leipzig this summer for around 100 days. Personally I am very interested in cycling as a sport and as a means of transportation. I have a good bicycle here in Egypt and I am planning to use the bi...
As already said, the best option would be to buy a used bike. It might be possible to negotiate a long-term price at a flexible rental business. Another recent option is a Swapfiets . If you fly to Germany (which seems very likely), you can bring your bicycle on the plane (boxed).
What rail cards / passes / discounts should visitors to Switzerland be aware of Yesterday, I took a train from Zurich to Engelberg , and bought a ticket from a ticket machine at the station for the journey. I was running a bit late for the train, so there wasn't time to queue up to ask for advice, I just had time to p...
The Halbtax Abo is basically a subscription that is valid for 1, 2 or 3 years and that will reduce all train tickets by 50%. For tourists there exist passes and reduction cards.
Any walking tours (in English) in Cologne or nearby? I'll be in Cologne, Germany a few days this summer. Usually when I'm staying alone in a city (assuming I have time) I'll try to find a walking tour of some sort as it gives me an opportunity to meet other travelers as well as do some sightseeing. I'm, however, not ...
If you decide to visit Bonn you can join a Bonn for Beginners Guided Tour .
Is there a tool to find all nonstop flights to one destination? Assume that you want to go to Oslo. You want to aggregate all airports that are 100 kilometres from Oslo. This includes at least Gardemoen, Rygge and some others probably. Is there any service that tracks all flights that go there? Similarly for any othe...
Normally any flight aggregator like Skyscanner or Kayak allow searching for all airports servicing the city.
What tips or tricks can you use to get an upgraded/better hire car? (In a similar vein to this question on hotel room upgrades and this question on flight upgrades...) Most regular car rentals agencies have various categories of car - Budget/Economy, Compact, Midsize, Fullsize, etc. The names vary from agency to a...
The most usual case when the rental companies will upgrade your car to the next better class is when there are no cars of your class available, so if you rent from an off airport office you're more likely to get a better car then when you rent from a larger office like the ones at major airports.
Using 1,000 CHF notes in Switzerland While travelling to Switzerland, I am getting only 1,000 Franc notes in my country. Should I take these notes, or change Euros to Francs in Switzerland? Is it easy to get change for a 1,000 Franc note in Switzerland? <Q> I would like to complete the other answers. <S> But you can us...
As in many other European countries you do not really need to have a lot of cash on you when you arrive. I agree that using 1000 notes in Switzerland is an issue, especially with small shops, restaurants (if the restaurant is not expensive) and filling stations (for them, this is most of time not accepted for security ...
Do you need to submit an itinerary to get a Chinese visa? And do you have to stick to it? There are certain countries which in order to be granted a visa you must submit your intended itinerary. My friend tells me that he thinks China is one of those countries. What do independent travellers do? We're thinking of hitc...
You're expected to submit your itinerary with your visa application but we certainly have never been asked for any itinerary for later visits when we have a multiple-entry visa. Visa requirements for China differ from embassy to embassy.
Reef-safe sunscreen for snorkeling in Mexico? We will be taking a cruise to Cozumel soon, and plan to do some snorkeling. I've seen several sites mention that the Mexican government requires "reef-safe" biodegradable sunscreen to snorkel their nationally protected reefs. Is this something that is easily obtainable lo...
After our trip to Cozumel, I can report: I did not do a thorough search, but I didn't actually see an abundance of reef-safe sunscreen readily available.
What "undocumented" benefits are there to being an "elite" frequent flyer? I travel a lot for business, and so am fortunate enough to have reached an "elite" frequent flyer level. There are some well-documented benefits which are common to most of the frequent flyer programs, even when booking cheap economy tickets, su...
Individual airline employees may extend unofficial benefits out of a sense of fairness or in an effort to keep high-value customers happy. Flight attendants knowing you by name and remembering your drinks preferences are normal in business class with quality airlines for frequent travelers on a route, has less to do wi...
Family travel in Thailand - is it safe, can we improvise? We are planning a group trip to Thailand for three weeks in July/August. We are two families with 3 12 year old daughters and 1 7 year old boy. We are doing a lot of research in terms of what to visit but there's something that is very difficult to get from gu...
Some places in Thailand are very popular, and if the area does not have that many hotels, you might have to pick the less nice places than your dream location. You might run into some scam taxis, but if you only take the one's that look legit, near public places, you won't likely find yourself in trouble.
Is there camping gear specifically designed to fit modern air traveling? I have done it before, bringing my camping gear as luggage on a flight. In those days I was usually traveling alone, and I was able to bring my tent as a separate piece of luggage. These days airlines tend to be more strict on the number of pieces...
I find it highly unlikely any company would develop gear that would accept performance compromises for the specific purpose of airline-friendliness. Obviously you should aim to pack all the camping stuff inside your luggage.
How should I wash clothes in Japan? I'm going backpacking for a month in Japan and I plan to pack lightly. So I have couple of questions about how I can wash my clothes in Japan. I expect laundromats to be quite common in big cities but what about little towns in rural area (for example, Hokkaido)? I'm used to washi...
Detergent that's now sold in Japan is fine, but if you bring detergent from your home country, it may be high-sudsing -- which can cause the machine to overflow with suds or even damage it.
How can roadside cafe quality be measured in Greece or Turkey? When traveling by car it is always a big question how to determine the quality of roadside cafe in front of you. In Russia I've noticed some dependency between quality of food and wares, although prices may be the same. Glass-ware cafe's usually have more...
There are plenty of good quality Coffee Chains in Greece like: Coffee Island, Gregory's, Mikel, Coffee Lab, Everest, Starbucks and more...
Is it possible to buy a ticket where the luggage cannot be checked to the final destination? My brother recently flew on a flight from the USA to Africa involving three flights on three different airlines. When he checked in, the agent told him that it was impossible to check the bag all the way to the final destinatio...
In some airports there is an express way to check luggage back in Yes , it is an there are many reasons why it can happen.
Ticket for a day trip by train and bus in Skåne I'm going to land in Copenhagen airport (Kastrup), take a train to Skåne (Lund to be precise), and a local bus to my destination. I'll do the return trip in the evening. I can find the route information and timetables on the Skånetrafiken website . What eludes me is the...
In your case the best option is to buy a return ticket to Lund (270 kr).It's valid for 24 hours and covers the public transport in Lund as well (trains and buses). If you happen to have a Swedish SIM card, you can also buy tickets with SMS (Swedish only) -- this is the most cost-effective way for occasional travel, but...
Can you register a same-sex marriage while a tourist rather than a resident? Of course there is Las Vegas. But so far, the US does not recognize same-sex marriage. Only 13 countries so far seem to have recognized the right to conduct same-sex marriage. If you are not a resident/citizen of one those thirteen countrie...
There is nothing to prevent non-residents to marry in Iowa.
Where can I get the required permits for Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu? I've heard that I should buy a permit to visit Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Where can I get them? (I've emailed to mtsobek.com travel agency, but there is no response from them). So if there is no way to do it by yourself (online?) then could y...
Some travel agencies, at least those in Peru, may be able to supply the ticket in advance.
Guarantee connecting flights in custom itinerary? If I buy tickets from different airlines, can I somehow join them so that - in case of delay - connecting flights are guaranteed? What if airlines are code sharing partners? <Q> There is no means to "combine" them after booking, even if they are booked on the same airl...
In general, the only way that you will be guaranteed to have the airline re-accommodate you on a later flight in the event of a delay is to book the flights on the same ticket - which basically means that you need to buy all of the flights together, from the same source.
Is it possible to travel from the Dutch to the Polish Border on a "schönes Wochende Ticket"? I'm planning a trip from the Dutch border to the Polish border in Germany, as cheap as possible. I found out that there is something called a "schönes Wochende Ticket", a ticket which provides unlimited traveling through German...
The Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket allows Deutsche Bahn to improve utilization of the local trains.
I'm planning to go to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. What's cheapest and safest to go between cities? Me and 2 friends are thinking on going to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and we’re planning to visit Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, and Sao Paulo to see different matches and explore the cities. I’ve been to Minas Gerais befor...
Otherwise flying is much faster and if you buy in advance not much more expensive, although you should also consider the costs of going to and from the airports, which are usually farther from the city's centres.
Does leaving mini-bag-tag stickers on your luggage confuse airport bagging handling? It used to be quite a tradition to keep stickers from destinations you'd been on your luggage after your travels, rather than ripping them off, building up souvenirs over time. This seems to me like a fun idea. However, I haven't seen ...
When I lived overseas, I used a bag (now fallen apart) that had stickers from the places that I had travelled to, I never really had any problems as the baggage handlers looked only at the official and current airline travel tag.
Alternative to trains in Japan So we all know about these pretty amazing trains they have in the "Land of the Rising Sun". They are always on time, clean, comfortable. But they are somewhat expensive for the average backpacker. I'm aware of the Japan Rail Pass and I'm really considering buying it for my upcoming trip ...
An (often cheaper) alternative to trains are highway buses - especially when you use overnight routes that save you one night of accomodation.
Public Transport planner for Hanover (Hannover)? I'm off to Hanover soon (Hannover in German, that one confused me a bit...), and I need to work out how to get from the airport to my hotel, hotel to the city etc. The hotel's website has some information on that, which referenced trams, but now I want to look up the tim...
There's an Android app Öffi, it's the travel planner for Germany and German-speaking countries, it has all public transports and
OK we are all adults here, so really, how on earth should I live without bidet? This is the part four in the interesting series: "OK we are all X here, so really". You can find the past episodes here: OK we're all adults here, so really, how on earth should I use a squat toilet? OK we're all nerds here, so really, h...
Always keep a water bottle with you and use it as you wish, whether rinsing the genitals and then wipe it with paper or wet some tissues then wipe with it. Bidet absence indeed will not make you feel comfortable specially if you are used to it like in Italy and other parts of the world such as Asia.
Are there other places with gardens like those at Versailles? The Gardens of Versailles are world famous, and apparently receive over 6 million visitors a year. They're stunning gardens to visit, but I can't help but think that some other European courts might have decided to build their own similar. Are there any...
In Portugal, just outside of Lisbon, there is the Queluz National Palace which is famous for its gardens and is often referred to as the Portuguese Versailles.
Where can I see a reasonably complete skeleton of a Mammoth? I was just watching some documentary about ice age animals, and I was wondering if there is a museum somewhere that displays reasonably complete skeletons (and/or full-size models) of Mammoths, sabre-tooth tigers, etc. Ideally it should be not far from Londo...
First of all I would check the Natural History Museum in London.
Sleeping bag while hostelling around Europe in summer? (I think) my question is simple. I'm appealing to the experience of others to ask Would you recommend carrying a sleeping bag while hostelling around Europe in summer? <Q> You can carry a sleeping bag for many other reasons but if you're always staying in Hostels...
So, If you are willing to travel without making booking in advance and also don't want to expend to much money, you should definitely take a sleeping bag with you.
Volunteering for an archaeological dig One of my main hobbies is archaeology, but very rarely get opportunities to get my hand dirty. What opportunities are there to travel to a location and join an archaeological dig voluntarily? I am not fussy about where or what they are digging for, I just enjoy the experience. <...
There are lots of opportunities around the world.
Can we switch terminals at Heathrow (LHR) for shopping only? We will be flying into and out of Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Now, my wife has taken fancy to a certain duty-free store located at Terminal 3. Assuming we factor in enough time before boarding our outbound flight from Terminal 5, are we allowed to enter Heathrow...
To change between terminals airside at Heathrow, you need to go through Flight Connections.
Does a layover of more than 6 hours entitle me to accommodation by the airline? I have a 23-hour-long layover in Toronto, Canada. Am I entitled to board and lodging from the airline? <Q> In general, no. <S> Two exceptions. <S> First, if you had a short connection, say two hours, and there's a problem that delays the s...
If you book a ticket that includes some time in a city along the way, it's up to you to figure out where to sleep and to pay for that.
What options are available to go from Leuven/Brussels to Luxembourg? I would like to visit Luxembourg this weekend. I have tried the Megabus , Eurolines and even the Belgian Rail (see P.S.). I was wondering if there is any direct connection between Leuven/Brussels to Luxembourg. If not how do I get there? P.S.: The...
There is one train per hour between Leuven and Liège and one train every two hours between Liège and Luxembourg.
Waiting time in queues for Empire State Building How long do you have to queue for going up the Empire State Building in general? As I've seen, they offer a special ticket where you are allowed to skip the elevator queue, but you have to queue for the security check nevertheless. How much time could you save with this ...
We do see a large increase in the number of guests during the summer months and most major holidays, causing a wait time of about 45 minutes to an hour on average.
How to get from Gatwick airport to Paddington? What's the most straightforward way to get from Gatwick airport to Paddington station in London using public transport? I'm mostly interested in travel time & general smoothness of the trip (e.g. buying just one ticket for the whole trip would be nice). Price is a second...
The most straightforward way would be taking the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station (the journey is about 30 mins).
Where can I get a scuba diver's license in Ecuador? I would like to go to Galapagos, therefore I want to do a scuba diving licence in Ecuador.Is there anyone who can recommend a scuba diving school in Ecuador? I'm already in Ecuador, so I want to do it here - and I'm told there is a three-day course I can do. <Q> Are ...
The recommendation of most people is to get yourself certified wherever you live, and go down and dive the Galapagos with a freshly minted certification.
How to get from Istanbul Atatürk Airport to Çanakkale‎? The usual way to get from Istanbul to Çanakkale‎ is to take a direct bus from the Büyük or the Harem otogar (bus station). That's especially true if you stay somewhere in the "center" of Istanbul. But what if you arrive by plane at Atatürk airport somewhere betwee...
From Esenler Otogar you can get a suitable coach for your travel.
Where can I have a genuine Ainu cultural experience in Hokkaido? During my next trip to Japan I may end up in Hokkaido. I've read something about this mysterious indigenous group called Ainu/Aynu/Aino/Ezo, but I must admit my understanding of the whole thing is rather limited right now. What I wish to know is: is the...
Probably the closest you can get is the hamlet of Nibutani (二風谷), home to the Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum
Will travellers be able to get full internet access in Turkey during the current (July 2013) protests/riots? With the current widespread riots in Turkey , the police reaction, the government's intervention and the worldwide observation, there've been reports of threats to have the internet restricted, as has happened ...
As I said, you can have the Internet connection via 3G, wi-fi networks, or cable without any problem.
Why is the baggage allowance on flights to/from Brazil more generous? It seems that it is common that the baggage allowance on flights to Brazil is more generous (both in number of pieces and weight) than to other countries. In fact many airlines, have a specific exception to their general rules for Brazil. Examples: ...
For tickets whose itinerary originates in Brazil (for both the outbound and inbound journeys), the Civil Aviation Authority Agency (ANAC) determines that for each adult passenger, the free bagagge allowance consists of 2 pieces* of max.
What's the best exchange rate: dollars to local currencies, or local currency to another local currency? When traveling across several countries in South America or Asia, do Dollars/local currency or Euro/local currency have better exchange rate than local currency of country A / local currency of country B in the same...
Bottom line, doing a single conversion is most likely better, the difference is minimal for the majority of currencies.
Intercity Travel in the Philippines I wish to travel from Manila to Boracay in the Philippines. What are the options I have if I wish to do it over land? <Q> None. <S> Boracay is an island, with no land connection to the island where Manila is on. <S> But I assume <S> now you knew that. <S> So let's find the next pos...
A plane ride will take you as far as Caticlan or Kalibo where the closest airports to Boracay are located.
When travelling internationally with valuable personal effects, how do I avoid paying duty at each border crossing? Some people travel internationally with valuable personal effects. The most obvious example is photography equipment which could easily be valued over $15k. Jewelry, watches, and specialized medical or ...
As best I can make out, presenting a signed 4457 upon re-entry to the USA is considered proof that the goods listed on the 4457 are, in fact, your personal effects and exempt from duty. Professional gear, such as samples, professional camera equipment, musical instruments or other commercial goods have to be declared. ...
What is the fuel surcharge? Reading on the web about the "Fuel Dumping" trick made me aware of the fuel surcharge , one of several possible charges being added to the base price of a flight. In order to understand the trick better, I would like to know: What exactly is the fuel surcharge? Is it mandated by law? I...
A fuel surcharge is simply a mandatory fee charged by an airline, typically per-segment (per flight) and broken out of the actual fare for auto-pricing.
Is it possible to fly near/over Mount Everest? There is already a question about getting to the top of Mount Everest without hiking too far but what I want is a little bit different. I am looking for a flight (regular or tourist ). I don't want to leave the plane/helicopter but just want to have a great view of the m...
now days you will get a lots of option for Mt Everest Helicopter tour and on top of that you will get a group joining options which is quite cheap and if you search online you will find lots of tour operator who runs this kind of tours, There are four airline who provided this services : Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Simr...
What are some good resources for sailing in Greece? I will be sailing in Greece for two weeks later this summer. The trip is lead by an experienced captain, but I'm looking for good resources to help me prepare. Specifically, I'm interested in resources specific to sailing the Greek Isles, not sailing in general. Unfor...
The Sail la Vie team, that I belong to, is online most of the time and provides assistance with the route planning, as well as useful sailing tips - Sail-la-vie.com
Can I swim in Iran with my girlfriend in bikini in the Caspian Sea? Is it possible if she is not Iranian to swim in her swimsuit or bikini in the sea? She is not from Iran, she is European as me. Is there some "police" that watches how people dress on the beach? <Q> The simple answer is no! <S> If you are thinking of...
Yes, it is, but not to the point that she can swim with a bikini. In any case, you should not swim in the Caspian sea, it is too polluted.
Not booking hostels in Europe this summer? Background I will be travelling around Europe this summer by train (last two weeks in July, first week in August). It's the first time I've done this so I am inexperienced but I can generally organise things well and I'm confident in doing so. My plan was to get off the tra...
Book a day before via hostel websites - http://www.hostelworld.com
Is there a bus connection between Narita airport and Tokyo Asakusa? I'm trying to figure out how to get from Narita airport to Tokyo Asakusa. The LP guide says there should be a very convenient bus by Cab-Station Co that only costs 1000 ¥. I've tried to use the site above but it's somewhat difficult to navigate us...
If you are willing to pay a bit more (¥2,700), you can use the Airport limousine bus to bring you from Narita to Asakusa.
Should I cancel my trip to Turkey due to the recent (July 2013) protests? I've been planning a trip to turkey for this July. How easy would it be to avoid the areas where people are demonstrating? If I hadn't already booked my flights, I would probably postpone the trip or go somewhere else. Since the tickets are n...
So, as things stand it is probably safe enough as long as you avoid any demonstrations and keep up with the local news.
Is cheek kissing common in the US? I am French and I was told American people usually just say hi, shake hands or sometimes hug if they know well each others. I have been living in California for the last few months and I noticed that people were sometimes cheek kissing here. I also just saw that in an episode of Dext...
Between friends it is acceptable but again only if you know the person you're kissing.
What unit of Euro coins/banknote does Rome use the most and what they don't accept normally? I am travelling to Rome, planning to carry 200 Euro cash, so I want to know coins/banknote they commonly use, so I know what to carry. Do they even use 1 Euro daily? In other countries I know there are less-used denomination...
There is no €1 banknote, only coins.
Which road shall I take from Denver, CO to Salt Lake City, UT: I-80 or I-70 w/ US-6? I'm interested in what route to take between Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah, and vice-versa. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Denver,+CO++to++Salt+Lake+City,+UT It would seem like there is one northern option and two southern...
Based on your criteria, the I-70 to US-6 route appears to be superior. Some people go I-80 to Laramie and down through Fort Collins into Denver.
How can I travel from Venice to Rijeka or Pula over land or sea? I want to go from Venice in Italy to Rijeka or Pula in Croatia, by public transport, without flying (so train, bus, boat or a combination). The transport options will determine my choice of destination. What are the different (reasonable) ways to make tha...
There are direct buses, and buses that only go as far as Trieste, but Venice - Trieste is easily done by train.
How unsafe is it to leave an expensive laptop at a rented apartment or a cheap hotel room? Which precautions should I take? I'm going to Odessa, Ukraine, and may have to take my laptop with me for work reasons. I'll be staying at an inexpensive place which I rented online. Is it a very bad idea to leave the laptop in...
If you are really only worried about the hardware cost, possibly the safest approach would be to insure your laptop, if you can find an affordable policy. Usually items left in a hotel are covered only if they are in a safe.
Which brand of backpack should I carry so as to not stick out in Europe? I was wondering what brands of backpacks are popular in Paris, France and Berlin, Germany because I'm the type of traveller that likes to wander under the radar without people knowing that I'm a tourist...here in North America Jansport and Eagle C...
For Germany: The most inconspicous backpacks are either Jack Wolfskin or Deuter.
Which car rental companies do not charge for additional drivers (in London)? I'm renting a car for 4 weeks. The additional driver charges are pretty high at Hertz and Alamo (which I've checked so far). Some companies don't charge though (I hear). Which? <Q> Avis and British Airways partner to offer free additiona...
I have booked rental cars regularly via http://www.holidayautos.co.uk (or the German version), which often offer better deals than the rental companies itself.
Transport frozen mother's milk by plane What's the best way to transport multiple bags (~40 bags) of frozen mother's milk by air within the US? By best, I mean: a way to transport it without damaging the milk or pissing off the TSA. It's for a ~2 hour flight, + 3 hours on both ends for travel to/from the airport. It c...
Parents flying with, and without, their child(ren) are permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is presented for inspection at the security checkpoint.
How to extend my short stay Schengen visa? I hold a China main-land passport. I am doing study abroad from the US to France and Spain. With all the confusion and my poor judgement, now I end up with a short stay visa in France (Schengen visa). This only covered my stay in France but not long enough for my classes in Sp...
A Schengen visa which has already expired cannot by extended.
Car rentals in USA for drivers under age 25 Most companies in the US have a heavy surcharge on drivers under the age of 25. What is worse is that it doesn't matter if you are 21 or 24.9 when you rent. What can be done by under 25 drivers to rent cars cheaply? <Q> A good idea to escape the young renters' surcharge is t...
Another feasible option is to sign up on popular sites which list down rental discounts and offers from various industries.
Is a mosquito net strictly necessary when traveling through India in low cost accommodation? I've been in other countries where malaria prevention is a must like Senegal or Kenya and almost all low cost accommodations include a mosquito net (sometimes broken, but in general in good condition). My doubts about that spec...
After travelling around India last year, I wouldn't bet on a mosquito net in hotels - most don't have one.
When should I buy airplane tickets to St. Lucia (from US)? I checked both Bing and Google travel, and the only flights I can find from the Washington DC area to St. Lucia in November of this year go through Spain and take 24+ hours. I'm not sure how often flights change to SLU, so should I wait for something more direc...
The main international airport on St. Lucia is Hewanorra , whose code is UVF, and it has lots of nonstop flights to the US.
Are there walking tours (where you join a group) in Rotterdam? A few weeks ago I was in Berlin, which has a huge number of excellent walking tours, many of which are free (you pay a tip at the end). These covered the usual sights, as well as some more interesting less common things. At home in Oxford, your practically ...
Leijnse Stadstours offers guided tours and excursions in Rotterdam. There are several walking routes in all parts of the city and two bicycle routes. At hostel Ani & Haakien, they offer a free tour (eve if you are not staying with them.
Shower rooms at Incheon airport I will be in transit at the Incheon airport for a couple hours and wanted to make use of their 'shower rooms'. Has anybody used them? Can you take your luggage in the shower room? The airport's website links you to http://www.wellss.com/new/wellss_service_shower.htm and they have some...
The shower rooms look exactly like the pictures. You can leave your luggage at the front desk or carry it with you inside.
Prepaid Data Plan for cell phone in Italy What is the best option for a prepaid data plan for a cell phone for a short stay in Italy (Sardinia)? I am looking for a Micro-Sim Card. I don't need to call and I need approximatively 300-500 MB. Ideally, I would like to buy the Sim card in Italy. Where can I buy those cards...
I just got a vodafone.it prepaid SIM with unlimited (or maybe several GB of) data for less than 30€. 3 (Tre) is generally the most cheap operator when it comes to data plans.
Travel in Scandinavia during autumn My wife and I are planning on travelling from the UK to Scandinavia and surrounding during late October or November. We would love to see most of the major cities (Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki and St. Petersburg), some great nature (northern lights, fjords etc) and culture. ...
If you are not experienced with driving in icy conditions and planning to go far enough north to see the aurora late October / early November, I do not recommend driving long distances, particularly not in the dark. If you want to see both fjords and northern light I suggest getting on the Hurtigruten from Oslo (or Ber...
Cab company in Boston with child car seats? Is there a taxi/car service company in Boston which can provide a child car seat, if we request one in advance? We realize that the T is usually very convenient and that's what we'll mostly be using, but there are a couple of times when a cab will be useful and we won't have ...
Yes, off course there are lots of Cab companies in Boston and its near about areas which provide a child car seat and also wheelchair accessible cabs. Boston Airport Express : 402 RINDGE AVE, CAMBRIDGE, MA, 02140
Prepaid SIM card for data in UK, France, and Finland I want to buy a SIM card with prepaid data plan in UK. I will travel around France and Finland. I'm staying for less than a month, and I expect to use <250 MB.It seems that most plans don't allow data roaming across countries for pre-paid plans. My criteria are (1) c...
Depending on how long you will be in the country, it may be cheapest to simply buy multiple SIMs and swap between then.
How useful are ExpertFlyer's/Expedia seat plan previews? Okay, I might be an early bird, but I checked my long-haul flight Moscow to Vladivostok on Aug 1st 2013 at ExpertFlyer and the seat chart only shows 7 randomly chosen economy seats occupied. Kind of suspicious on an Airbus 330-300 with 250+ economy seats. As ...
The main benefit to me of being able to view the ExpertFlyer seat map prior to travel is to see if my preferred seat is available.
What should you do with your house keys while traveling a short time? House keys are a strange item for me to deal with when traveling. You need to take so you can lock up, and you need them when you return, but for the whole trip they are unneeded. So unlike credit cards or ID, there's no good reason to carry them o...
When I travel I keep my keychain at home. Only take those you absolutely need to get back in.
Is the couvert mandatory or optional in Italy? I'll be traveling to France and Italy, and a friend of mine said that it's common to pay a tax (? don't know if there is a better word in English) called couvert , and in exchange of that you receive some breads with garlic + tomato, or something like that. So, it is obl...
As Mouviciel says correctly, it is something you pay to have a seat at the table, with all the necessary things. The only way to avoid it is to focus on street food.
Sunbathing naked in public parks in Germany I've learned it's practiced to sunbathe naked in public parks in Germany. But also in some parts of some parks. What are the general legal regulations about naked sunbathing in public parks in Germany? I know that German laws tend to be quite fluid in some areas, but wha...
If you choosing a place which is far away (30 m) from the paths or you see other naked people, I do not see a problem with naked sunbathing in a park. For Bavaria, the Badeverordnung says: Who bathes publically must wear bathing clothes.
Is it possible to take a desktop PC as carry-on luggage? I am moving from Egypt to the Netherlands and I need to take my PC with me. I won't be taking the monitor, just the case, but I'm wondering what the best way would be. Am considering taking it as carry-on because I'm allowed 8kg and at least then I can handle it...
I just took my dismantled desktop through security with me at Singapore Airport, no question asked.
Is tap water in Ireland and England drinkable? I would like to ask if the tap water in hostels of Ireland and England is drinkable.I never saw someone drink from there, and even in the pubs you have to order for a bottle. <Q> Short answer - you'll need to ask the property to be sure. <S> However... <S> Some hostels m...
All the mains tap water will be fine to drink everywhere in the UK and Ireland. The water from taps in Great Britain does vary in hardness depending on where you are as the map above shows.
International driver's licence (IDD): is this site reliable? I'm stuck in a foreign destination without an IDD, and apparently the official way of doing it for me is to do it before the trip. However, I found that page: http://www.international-license.com/ They do it and delivery it for you whereever you are or almo...
Their product will not be considered as valid, anywhere you go. The site you refer to http://www.international-license.com/ issues an "International Drivers License ".
What are the drawbacks of taking this window/aisle solo seat - 71A on Boeing 777-300ER? I've got an LA to Hong Kong flight coming up and I've never flown for that long before. Flying on boeing 777-300ER. Btw I'm not asking about window vs aisle, I definitely want an aisle seat. However it appears 71A is both window and...
Disadvantages of those rows are you may not have any recline - the seat may hit the wall.