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Can I avoid a full body scan going through security with a Nexus card? I know it is possible to request a pat-down instead of going through the TSA full body scan when going through regular security check. Is the security check the same for the Nexus line?In airports, the Nexus line is separated from the normal line, so I wonder if the process is different. I'm asking specifically for US based airports. For Canadian airports with US preclearance service, I never saw the body scan in use. <Q> In Canadian airports there is a Nexus line at security which you access by showing the card. <S> In US airports there is a TSA PreCheck queue <S> you can enter if your boarding pass has a TSA Pre logo printed on it. <S> If you enter the membership number on your Nexus card (it starts with a 9) into the Known Traveller Number field in the passenger information associated with your ticket with a participating airline your boarding pass will have the TSA Pre logo printed on it. <S> I have heard they might randomly pick people for closer inspection, though this has never happened to me and I have no idea what happens then, but in general if you have a TSA Pre boarding pass you get to skip the body scan. <A> Nexus does not guarantee no body scanning, it merely provides you with permission to use an expedited lane WHEN one is available. <S> Not every airport in the US has TSAPre lanes, many smaller ones simply give you a card that notifies inspectors that you don't have to remove shoes or laptop <S> and then you go through the same metal detector that everyone else does. <S> The small regional airport I call home in the US has no TSAPre lane, but the general lane has both body scanner and metal detector machines. <S> About half the time they wave me through the metal detector, but the other half of the time I go through the body scanner (granted I have only TSAPre not Nexus, but I don't think that effects things) <A> I know it is possible to request a pat-down instead of going through the TSA full body scan when going through regular security check. <S> You can request it <S> but since Dec 18, 2015 While passengers may generally decline AIT screening in favor of physical screening, TSA may direct mandatory AIT screening for some passengers. <S> TSA does not store any personally identifiable information from AIT screening. <S> Source <S> As an aside, I would like to draw attention to this sentence: " <S> TSA does not store any personally identifiable information from AIT screening. " <S> which is decidedly not "No personally identifiable information from AIT screening is stored.". <S> I have always been opting out of AIT because I always suspected there is a chance some other agency might get hold of an unknown amount data from these scanners -- almost surely without the knowledge of the TSA agents on scene. <S> In light of these suspicions this phrasing is chilling.
| In the airports I fly from the TSA Pre lines don't use a body scanner, you only pass through a metal detector (you can also leave laptops and liquids inside your luggage).
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Get frequent flyer credit for flights involving another person? If I am booking a flight for somebody else, is it usually possible to get frequent flyer credit for that flight? Using American's booking interface, it complained when I tried to use my FF number with the other passenger's name. So, is the policy that only the person who flies gets the credit, not the person paying? <Q> Generally, frequent flyer programs give credit to the passenger who actually flies. <S> The person who books or pays for the flight, if different from the passenger, doesn't get anything. <S> A major reason for the existence of such programs is as a "kickback" to business travelers. <S> The company pays for the ticket, but the traveler gets the credit. <S> This is supposed to encourage the traveler to prefer that airline, even when another airline might be cheaper (and the traveler doesn't really care about the price because the company is paying). <A> As a rule, no , you don't earn miles for flights taken by others, even if you're paying the bill. <S> However, a number of airline programs do have ways to accomplish this in practice: <S> A few airlines, notably Etihad and Virgin Australia, have a " Family Membership " program where the nominated Family Head gets to pool all miles collected by family members ; see this question for a partial list. <S> I'm not aware of any American airlines supporting this though. <S> More common is the ability to transfer miles from one account to another , so your "somebody else" can collect the miles and then forward them to you. <S> For example, I use this ability on Qantas to hoover up my kids' miles, since they can't make use of them anyway. <S> Often this is only permitted between "family members" or even people living at the same address, but in practice there are no checks on this, other than the computers getting suspicious if you're accumulating new cousins on a weekly basis (this feature is sometimes abused as a way to sell miles to third parties, which is prohibited). <S> American has this option too, although it's a paid service and the costs are kind of prohibitive at $12.50 per 1000 miles. <S> The person who flew the flight you paid for can also credit back the miles by purchasing something for you with those miles, whether it's a flight, a gift card or some overpriced knick-knack from the rewards catalog. <S> The main catch with all of these is that you can't earn status via somebody else's flying: <S> to reach (say) a 50,000 mile Gold status, you have to fly those miles personally. <A> In some programs you can transfer miles between program members in the same family, <S> but that's about it. <S> Indeed airlines rely on the total number of miles being fragmented over a very large number of travellers so as to reduce the number of people with sufficiently many miles in their individual accounts to redeem a reward ticket.
| I know of no program where the credit goes to anyone but the traveller, although you can debit miles for a ticket to pretty much any another person (i.e. use miles or points to secure a ticket for someone else).
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Is it safe to travel to Miami Beach shortly after hurricane Irma? Two months ago my girl and I booked our vacation. We are from Berlin, Germany and wanted to see the U.S.Our first stop is Miami Beach at the 15th and we want to stay there for 3 days and continue to NYC. Later on we will go to Vegas and come back to Miami the 26th of September and stay there another 4 nights. I expect the hurricane will be gone by the 15th, but I have no idea whether it will be okay. For me okay means that we can reach our hotel and sleep there. What do you suggest? I know this question is primarily opinion based, but here in Germany we don't have hurricanes and I don't know how fast the state will recover. <Q> Miami Airport experienced "significant water damage" in the storm. <S> It will be closed on Monday the 11th, and they'll determine tomorrow whether they're able to resume flights on the 12th or whether further repairs are necessary. <S> Each airline will decide when to operate once the airport reopens. <S> 75% of Miami-Dade County has no electricity <S> right now, and the county is under a curfew. <S> It is likely that your hotel doesn't know whether they can operate or whether they have power and won't know until after the roads reopen and staff can reach the hotel. <S> There's likely to be a lot more clarity by Wednesday, after they've started to clear the roads, people have had a chance to get back into Miami Beach, electrical crews have begun repairs, and the extent of the damage is surveyed. <S> The city does "foresee" being open to visitors by Thursday , but you'll want to keep an eye on their communications and the Miami Herald newspaper for updates. <S> That said, to me, Friday seems quite early to visit Miami Beach. <A> Will it be safe? <S> Yes. <S> Will it be recovered by then? <S> No, it won't. <S> Not fully. <S> the destruction caused will take months and years to rebuild. <S> It took new Orleans a full year after Katrina before they started promoting tourism again. <S> Miami is both a county and a city so the amount of destruction depends on which you're referring to. <S> You can visit key Biscayne and some of the beaches which don't have as many structures but most of Miami will likely still be a mess. <S> However, the airlines and hotels will surely be glad to take your money, just don't expect to see the same Miami you see in pictures and on the internet. <A> This is not quite an answer to your question, but I think it might be useful due to your recent comment that you're booked on BA (instead of a submarine) and you did ask for suggestions: https://www.britishairways.com/travel/flightops/public/en_gb <S> We are also providing rebook options for customers booked to fly with us to/from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, or Orlando between now and 17 September inclusive. <S> They can choose to fly to the same destination as originally booked up to and including 14 October. <S> Customers can also use the value of their ticket towards an alternative destination on our network if they no longer wish to travel to/from Florida . <S> If you have not yet rebooked, call BA and ask for the cost of your existing flight to be applied towards your new one. <S> If you have already rebooked without availing yourself of this, you have a 24 free cancellation period in order which could allow you to cancel and then rebook. <A> As mentioned, Irma will be gone, but the destructions caused by it will be visible for sure at that time. <S> Change your flight, if able. <S> A friend changes his flight from Athens to Miami, with only 100 euros extra charge, because he was afraid that he would be trapped to Constantinopole (transit airport for the flight). <S> After two days the price for a date change went to 1200 euros. <A> I do not live in Miami, however I planned a trip for next month. <S> First I would call the hotel to ensure it will be open and available for use. <S> But it also depends on the area in which you are traveling to, as Florida Keys received one of the biggest hits. <S> I am following hashtags of Miami and Miami beach area and business owners and residents have returned as of September 12 2017. <S> A lot of the pictures and videos show trees that have fallen, however it appears as if the damage is being repaired for this, nothing showed major flooding and business are returning back to normal. <S> As long as your hotel is up in running <S> I think you will be fine, as the beach looks beautiful on the pictures. <S> Don't let the comments about Jose scare you, as the tropical storm is headed north east and is not headed in the direction of Miami.
| Miami Beach was evacuated and will not allow people back in until Tuesday the 12th at noon (and then, only residents with ID) and some areas are flooded today. Personally, I'd change my trip to start someplace else in the US besides Florida on the 15th, keep an eye on the news, and go enjoy Miami starting on the 26th, assuming that things are sufficiently open then to have a good time. The hurricane will be long gone so there will be no danger.
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Old Lady traveling alone- Gatwick to Cambridge I arrive at Gatwick Airport at 10:30 am on a Tuesday. My final destination is Cambridge. Is there a simple train connection to get there? I prefer the train as the bus takes about 4 hours! Please be as specific as possible, I am not familiar with the location. <Q> Take the Thameslink, towards Bedford, to St Pancras International. <S> Get out of the station(which is on the lower level) and walk to the upper level. <S> Once you are on the upper floor you can see signs to follow towards King's Cross Station. <S> If in doubt ask any of the personnel present, they will be happy to guide you. <S> From King's Cross station you can get a direct train to Cambridge. <S> In the main hall at King's cross there are display boards to guide you which train to take to Cambridge. <S> Map of St Pancras UPDATE: <A> As from now, there is a direct rail service from Gatwick Airport to Cambridge station. <S> At the moment (March 2018) that is one train per day at 12:03 pm, but it will be extended to eventually four trains an hour soon. <S> These are Thameslink trains, and will be both the fastest and most convenient way to make this journey. <A> Just to add to @dumbcoder's answer sicen you asked for specific advice <S> St Pancras International is on three levels. <S> When you arrive on the Thameslink you are on the lowest, below ground level. <S> Take the escalator or lift to the exit. <S> Keep your ticket handy to operate the gates. <S> There is a wide gate <S> if you have a wheelie bag with you, I think it is to the left. <S> When you exit the gates turn left and you will see the exit you need on the far side of the concourse. <S> When you exit STP you cross the road and you are in King's Cross station. <S> The departure boards are in front of you. <S> Beyond them are the low-numbered platforms from which the long-distance trains depart. <S> To your left is a smaller block of platforms from which, I my experience, the trains to Cambridge usually leave. <S> I say usually. <S> If you want to buy a sandwich or get a coffee you are better off to do it at STP, you will already have noticed the shops to your left as you walked through there. <S> You can do this at King's Cross but most of the outlets are on an upper level with escalator. <S> There are free toilets at STP (which is unusual in a British mainline station) but they are up two irritating small steps which impede wheelie bags. <S> It takes about 2:20 according to the National Rail website. <S> Edit 27 February 2018 <S> With the opening of a connection between Thameslink and the East Coast Main Line there is now one direct train per day between Gatwick and Cambridge. <S> It currently leaves at 1203 arriving 1414 <A> The other way you could go is via Liverpool Street station. <S> Take the Thameslink to Farringdon. <S> Cross over to the tube side of the station. <S> There should be lifts. <S> (Lifts for return journey are out of action at the moment <S> but it's only about 5 steps.) <S> Take any eastbound tube to Liverpool Street Station At Liverpool Street Station <S> take a train to Cambridge. <S> It's quite a regular service. <S> This route would have less walking than via St Pancras/Kings Cross which is quite a more than a quarter of a mile distance.
| As of now you can get a direct train to Cambridge from Gatwick.
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When booking a flight online is the checked luggage fee included in it? Planning on booking a holiday abroad with expedia.com and was wondering is the fee for checked luggage so the suitcase that you check in covered with the holiday booking? I was under the impression that you just hand them your suitcase or at the kiosk and thats it and if it weighed more than the said limit you then have to pay extra. <Q> There is no rule. <S> You must check the conditions of the fare. <S> When it says you have a baggage allowance of so many pieces, that means that the price includes the cost of checking that many pieces of luggage as long as they satisfy the airline requirement for checked-luggage. <S> You will still pay a fee if there are more pieces or they exceed allowed weight or dimensions. <S> In some cases you can pay extra while some airlines do not accept anything beyond what it specified. <S> It even changes depending on the date so the only rule is to read the airline site regarding luggage allowance. <S> When there is no baggage allowance, you will have the option of paying for checking in luggage. <S> The majority of airlines allow you to take a carry-on and a personal item on board which have some size restrictions and <S> may have weight limit. <A> Planning on booking a holiday abroad with expedia.com and was wondering is the fee for checked luggage so the suitcase that you check in covered with the holiday booking? <S> This will depend on your ticket and airline. <S> Specifically on Expedia, the fees for luggage and your luggage allowance are mentioned on the flight search page, as highlighted here: <A> That's not the way it works, there are no general rules and you cannot assume much. <S> It's certainly not a given that a medium to large suitcase is always allowed free of charge (whether as cabin luggage or checked in to the hold). <S> There are also many things you just cannot take with you as a regular passenger and thresholds you cannot exceed even if you are ready to pay a fee. <S> The 23 kg limit is something else, it's a recommended threshold for health and safety reasons as handling heavier weights all day long is dangerous. <S> But some airlines will have a lower limit or won't allow any hold luggage without an extra charge. <S> Others will let you take more than 23 kg of luggage as a matter of course provided it's spread among several bags and many will have different rules for different routes ( <S> and/or fares). <S> Many also have a higher “hard” threshold and allow luggage up to 30 kg (e.g. for business class passengers or for an extra fee). <S> When considering a flight or holiday, you therefore have to look for information regarding the specific rules that apply to that specific airline, fare, or package.
| Some airlines do charge for the carry-on, so you must check the rules associated with the fare you are purchasing.
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Can I enter the USA? I have dual citizenship (Japan and USA), but I have been to Iran with my Japanese passport I have dual citizenship (Japan and USA). I have been to Iran with my Japanese passport. I would like to know if a US citizen with dual citizenship should hand in both passports when entering USA, and, if the other passport has arrival visa of Iran, can the US government deny me entry in the USA? <Q> I would like to know if dual nationality US citizen should hand in both passports when entering USA <S> There's nothing requiring a US citizen to show foreign passports on entering the US, or even to mention other nationalities. <S> As mentioned in other answers, there is a US law requiring you to "bear" a US passport when you enter the US, which strongly implies that you must also use it to do so. <S> As far as the immigration interview is concerned, once you establish that you are a US citizen, the interview is over and you must be admitted. <S> (You can continue to be detained, however, for reasons related to the customs inspection, or for investigation of other crimes.) <S> I have never shown my foreign passport to a US immigration inspector, because I've heard a few anecdotes from people who've done so and had some degree of trouble as a result. <S> I am always tempted to show it to see what kind of reaction I get, but so far my desire to get home and get some sleep has always prevailed over my curiosity. <S> From the CBP Inspector's Field Manual, which is available in at least two redacted versions online (emphasis added): <S> When you are convinced that an applicant for admission is a citizen of the United States, the examination is terminated. <S> This is not to say that your role as an inspector is always completed at that time. <S> Listing of the subject in a lookout system may dictate further action, such as notifying Customs or another agency of the person's entry. <S> It must be emphasized that the grounds of inadmissibility contained in 212(a) of the INA are applicable only to aliens. <S> Consequently, the examination of a person claiming to be a United States citizen is limited to matters required to establish present citizenship. <S> Once you are satisfied the person being examined is a U.S. citizen and any required lookout query has been completed, the examination is over. <A> Do not show your Japanese passport in the US. <S> None of their business. <S> You would lose you Japanese citizenship. <S> As others said, you cannot be denied entry in the US. <S> Also, you have to enter the US with your US passport. <A> They may (theoretically) give you a living hell if they feel like it, suspect you of associating with terrorists, or whatever. <S> But they can never refuse you entry into your own country. <A> As per the U.S Embassy & Consulates in Japan website: Which Passport to Use Section 215 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1185) requires U.S. Citizens to use U.S. passports when entering or leaving the United States unless one of the exceptions listed in Section 53.2 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations applies. <S> Dual nationals may be required by the other country of which they are citizens to enter and leave that country using its passport, but do not endanger their U.S. citizenship by complying with such a requirement.
| As a US citizen you cannot be refused entry to the US. Do not show your US passport in Japan.
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Prague Shopping Times and Method of Payments? I will be visiting Prague for the first time and I am having a difficult time figuring out two things: What time do shops close (if it matters, this would be on weekdays and on Saturday during the last week of November through the 1st of October). Do they accept / prefer cards or cash? <Q> 1.- Seems like the regular opening time is from 8:00 to 18:00 on weekdays with some exceptions in the shopping centers. <S> 2.- <S> Seems like both cash and cards <S> are accepted <S> but there's a preference on cash over cards, specially on restaurants and small shops. <S> So seems it's more recommended to carry certain amount of cash, though seems there's a good amount of ATM <S> so you won't have a problem. <S> Source (in Spanish): <S> https://www.lonelyplanet.es/destino-europa-republica-checa-praga-153-informacion-practica.html <S> Source (in English): https://www.pragueexperience.com/information/tourist-information.asp <A> I am Dutch and in Prague at the moment. <S> Probably depends on location and type of shop. <S> Most restaurants and shops will take any EC bank card and you get a good exchange rate on those normally. <S> Fee is only € 0.15 with my Dutch bank and exchange rate 25.6 or 25.7 (in that range). <S> Withdrawing from an ATM you get the same rate, only fee is € 1.25 (my bank). <S> DO NOT accept the offer for an exchange rate from the ATM. <S> You'll be ripped of for about 10% or worse. <S> Credit card? <S> Not tried except for booking the hotel on-line. <A> You're probably overthinking this. <S> Prague is now a modern city popular in the region and with tourists. <S> The shops close when the merchants feel the commercial day is over. <S> In practice, there's no difference between Prague and any other city. <S> So, ~1600-1700 for retail and ~2300 for restaurants, later for bars. <S> Credit cards are fairly well accepted, particularly in larger establishments, but you will still need cash.
| Smaller establishments will always prefer cash, but again, that's the situation everywhere. Shops in the center of town are open fairly late, modern shopping center in the old town was open at 19:30 on Thursday.
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Where can I find high, unobstructed night time views of Tokyo? As the title says, I'm looking for a place in the city that's open to the public at night and that's high enough to be able to see a big part of the city at night. Are there any hotels or accessible rooftops? I don't mind paying some sort of entrance fee (<30$ let's say) but free is obviously ideal. The description sounds a little vague, but for example last time I was in Tokyo I went up the Metropolitan Government building and while that kind of view and elevation is what I'm looking for there were way too many people and the reflections from the windows made any photography tricky. <Q> Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills has open-air observation deck on the top. <S> It too has a view of the Tokyo Tower! <A> Tokyo Sky Tree is taller than all of these, and the the observation platforms are darkened at night to facilitate the view. <S> At 350-450 meters up, you are enclosed in floor-to-ceiling windows however, so I would recommend bringing a filter that minimizes reflections. <S> Sky Tree is open in the evening until 21:00. <S> I think the only downside is it is not in a very delightful part of town. <S> So between Sky Tree and a meal, that might be your whole evening. <S> Tickets cost 2000 - 4000 yen. <S> http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/ticket/ <S> When we were there there was a queue but for a very nominal extra price, we opted to be plucked out of the queue to go straight up. <S> I don't know why, <S> but Sky Tree appears to be absent from tourist documentation completely. <A> See for example this video that displays this awesome view. <S> Not a typical sky scraper-view, but a great view nonetheless. <S> Example still from that video of the view in daytime: <A> Tokyo Tower comes to mind, of course. <S> It's open from 9 am to 11 pm. <S> Great view of Tokyo. <S> It even has a view on Tokyo Tower :-) <A> If your camera has a large enough zoom, the observation decks at Haneda are also a possibility. <S> site link <S> The picture about halfway down on the left with a Pikachu jet shows Sky Tree on the right, and the tip top of Tokyo Tower on the left.
| You can walk the Rainbow bridge and get completely unobstructed views from there. Nearby, the Prince Park Tower hotel has a bar, the Sky Lounge Stellar Garden (I think), which has a great view of Tokyo too.
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Taxi not accepting payment by credit card (although advertised) Tonight, I took a taxi from point A to point B (both being in the same city, Liverpool, UK), but I only had 5 pounds on me, so I asked the driver if I could pay with a card, because it was advertised inside the taxi that I could, to which he responded that he doesn't take cards but the other driver with whom he shares the car does. What he did was, stop the meter at about 5.25-5.50 and drove a few more meters. I previously told him that I only had 5 pounds on me. I offered to go inside my house grab some change, but he said that it's fine, so he accepted the five pounds, and I left. Is this alright? I'm not thinking of reporting him at all, I'm worried he might report me. This happened in Liverpool, UK. <Q> Everywhere I go, all over the world, the first thing I say when I get in a taxi is "credit card ok?" <S> and sometimes "I have no local currency." <S> [I once accidentally said this in my own country because it's my "set sentence" and it just came out.] <S> This is even before I say where I'm going. <S> Sometimes they say no, it's not ok, and I get right back out and get in another taxi. <S> You ask if the deal you and your driver arranged is "ok". <S> It was clearly ok with the driver, or he wouldn't have done it. <S> Is it ok with you? <S> You spent less than you otherwise would. <S> Will someone come and complain about you or ask for more money? <S> No, it's over and done with once you got out of the car. <S> If you were left irritated by it, you could call the taxi company and object, because as you say, they are supposed to take cards. <S> This is probably why the driver went past the 5-pound mark on the meter (there is probably a limit from the company on how much they can be underpaid) and then went even further with the meter off. " <S> Here is a small gift: please don't report me. <S> " You could report it anyway, or you could let it go. <S> I suggest letting it go, but always asking in future before the meter goes on. <A> In the UK we have two kinds of taxi: Hackney Carriage, and Private Hire. <S> The former are known in London as "black cabs" and are present in other cities too. <S> They work off the streets by demand, but they may also be saloon cars or minibus conversions. <S> Private Hire must be pre-booked through an agency. <S> The actual distinction is in the vehicle's license conditions and signage. <S> Now, many Hackney cabs also have a Private Hire account so they can accept bookings too, but if you took that taxi from a rank or hailed it on the street, that is not a contract with the hire car agency. <S> Having said that, although traditionally taxis are a cash business, the trade is moving forward fast. <S> London's black cabs are now required by law to accept card payments. <S> Don't worry, the taxi driver will not report you. <S> He made sure the meter was seen to go over £5 because the metered fare is the maximum that may be legally charged (except for out-of-town journeys by pre-arrangement, and by certain well known taxi agencies who manage to sidestep the local legislation). <A> There is no problem <S> You paid for the journey. <S> You should be happy because the driver gave you a discount on the fare; the driver is happy because they got paid at a rate they were happy with. <S> Taxi drivers are, usually, free to come to a deal to give you a reduced fare, and there is nothing wrong in this. <A> UK taxis have at least three reasons to not take cards when advertised (even though they should): <S> The system that takes cards is linked by a 3G phone, and is sometimes unreliable. <S> If you have no cash, the driver risks not getting paid. <S> Drivers are self-employed and thus pay the cost of the credit card transaction <S> (this is normal of the order of a pound or two, plus 2 or 3% of the fare, so not enormous). <S> This is more significant with lower fares. <S> Some drivers (shock horror) might not report all their cash earnings for tax, therefore cash fares are worth more. <S> Personal experience (London not Liverpool): in London black cabs, offering a credit card used to be very unpopular when advertised. <S> This appears to have changed (perhaps thanks to Uber and Addison Lee) and now paying even small fares by contactless card doesn't generate a grumble, and contactless machines are pretty prevalent in London cabs. <A> What happened was transactional. <S> When you said you only had 5 quid and asked to run a credit card, he compared his interest in the two options. <S> Option 1 <S> : he only gets 5 quid for the ride, but it's sure cash in his hand. <S> Option 2 <S> : he gets 5.75, and maybe a tip, but has to process it through his credit card (which may be broken) and has a bunch of fees and expenses relating to that, and you don't know those fees. <S> Also it may expose the transaction to his boss who may want a cut, and the government who nay want a cut. <S> And there is probably a processing delay of a day or ten before he actually gets spendable money. <S> So he is making a determination of what's best for him . <S> You can rest <S> assured he is looking after his own self-interest <S> , he doesn't know you.
| The only reliable way to pay for a black cab on a credit card was to use ComCab etc.
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What ferries go from Sweden to Finland? I'm in Sweden and I need to go to Finland. I don't want to take a flight or drive there, and I've seen that there seem to be ferries going from Sweden to Finland. What ferry options are there for getting from Sweden to Finland? <Q> Viking Line and Tallink Silja . <S> Direct Ferries has a more thorough list of options . <S> Beware that pricing is complicated, and it's often much cheaper to book a "cruise" and throw away the return than to get a regular one-way. <A> You have not specified the exact point of departure and arrival. <S> But I am assuming you are leaving Stockholm for either Helsinki or Turku. <S> Viking Line <S> ( do NOT book through their English/International website, you can expect to pay four times the regular price if you do so ) <S> TallinK | Silja Line <S> St Peter Line <S> Finally, Wasaline operates the Vaasa-Umeå-Vaasa route. <S> NOTE : <S> Booking a round-trip ticket and not showing up on the way back is against international regulations and at least Viking Line takes that very seriously. <S> So do not do that just because it's cheaper to book a round-trip ticket. <S> They might not bother you at all, but they might very well do and give you hell--that is to say, give you hefty penalties, etc. <A> Adding some information about Viking line- <S> it's free to become a member and in return you get discounts. <S> You can make a round trip in half a day, and it is free for members. <S> The prices to Turku and Helsinki varies, but again members get good deals down to a few hundred Kronas to a family. <S> The catch ? <S> they want you to buy cheap alcohol and tobacco on board.
| Too many to sensibly summarize in an answer that would soon be out of date, but the two core routes with the best schedules, largest ferries and usually cheapest prices are Stockholm-Helsinki and Stockholm-Turku , with the two largest operators on both being Viking line also sails from Kapellskär (100km north of Stockholm) to Mariehamn which is technically Finland.
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When is there a high chance of seeing the aurora from Sweden? In what time of the year is there a high chance of having a visible aurora borealis in Sweden? Are there significant differences between areas in Sweden regarding visibility of the aurora? Obviously this will depend on cloud cover, so it is understandable that there is no certainty of seeing the aurora even if it is happening, so I would plan to be there for several days. <Q> Geographically you want to be in the northernmost third of the country. <S> The further north the better. <S> Auroras in southern Sweden are few and far between. <S> You also need to be away from any big cities to avoid light pollution. <S> The three major cities Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö are both too far south and too light polluted for good auroras. <S> Cities like Luleå and Kiruna have lots of nights with visible auroras every year, to give you an idea of where you want to be to see auroras. <S> Make sure you have something to do if you don't see auroras. <S> January and februrary probably have the best probability to get that cold weather with clear skies. <S> Go do something touristy in an area with possibility of auroras, and if you see auroras <S> it's a bonus. <S> Otherwise it will be a slow, expensive and boring wait for nothing. <S> The Jukkasjärvi ice hotel, the Jokkmokk market, or Skiing in riksgränsen are popular winter attractions in northernmost Sweden. <S> Also consider places in northern Norway like Narvik or Tromsø which have very spectacular scenery. <S> Note that depending on your preferred activity, you may want to wait a little longer into spring. <S> The sun doesn't go up at all for a couple of weeeks in mid winter, making some activities tricky. <S> For example, for skiing at Riksgränsen you want to wait until late march at least. <S> To summarize: Go above 65 deg north if possible <S> Go in mid winter like jan/feb, march or april if you don't want constant darkness. <S> Make saure to have something else planned apart from chasing auroras <A> I researched this a little bit last year when planning a trip to Norway during which I saw several auroras. <S> In theory, the best is around the equinox <S> but you should really go in the middle of the winter, mostly to have as much darkness as possible. <S> There is a multi-year cycle but the peak was a few years ago and waiting until 2025 or so is not very practical advice. <S> There are also short-term fluctuations that cannot be predicted reliably enough to be useful for planning (but get an app to get an alert while you're there). <S> As far as location is concerned, there is a kind of ring or doughnut around the Arctic where auroras are most visible but anywhere in Northern Scandinavia should be good. <S> The biggie is really cloud cover. <S> Planning several days to maximise your chances is good but also think about local climate differences: <S> Local topography (mountains, distance to the sea) can make a significant difference. <S> Compare potential locations using past weather data and decide based on this. <A> You'll have the best chance in Northern Scandinavia and by joining an aurora bus tour that will drive you to wherever the overcast is the least, whether that's in Norway, Sweden or Finland. <S> Many such tours leave at 5 pm and return you to your hotel at 11 pm but sometimes as late as 3 am. <S> The aurora is visible every day during fall, winter and spring above the polar circle provided it's not overcast. <S> But when the solar activity is low, the aurora will be weak. <S> It's worthwhile to take good camera equipment with you. <S> You should have a tripod and a remote control for your camera (or you can use a timer). <S> If you arrive early at a good location, you can often already take pictures of the aurora when it's not yet visible to the naked eye. <S> I've seen the aurora several times in Northern Norway, the very first time was on my camera screen of a picture of the sky just above the horizon in the East to North Eastern direction, it was a one minute exposure at ISO 800. <S> The first time I saw it with the naked eye was an hour later when it appeared much higher in the sky.
| As mentioned in the other answer, the theoretical best time for auroras is not exactly mid-winter but slightly before and after, but this variation doesn't matter much compared to the probability of clear skies, which is usually better the colder the weather is.
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How can I travel to America from Australia with my dog in the cabin or else be with him in cargo? I want to travel to America from Australia with my dog in the cabin or else be with him in cargo. NONE of the Airlines flying out of Australia will let me do this. I am willing to travel very rough in cargo as long as I can stay with my dog. I don't even need food, just maybe water. Flying dogs separately in cargo especially over such long distances is EXTREMELY RISKY. Many have DIED or gotten lost in transit (see [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] ). I am a senior citizen and my dog is my only family member left alive. He means the world to me and I will not leave him behind. Is there any solution to this? I have looked into flying privately but it is far beyond my means. Is it possible to hitch a ride on a cargo plane or military transport plane? <Q> I'd suggest not going by plane then, but rather by ship. <S> It might take longer, but your dog will not have even remotely as much stress. <S> What Peter M wrote still applies, though. <A> Plus no windows, no cabin crew, no toilets from the comfort pov. <S> A number of airlines will no longer accept animals as checked luggage, due in large part to safety of the animals. <S> So if your dog is not very small, chances of traveling together on a scheduled flight to USA are slim. <S> Perhaps you can find a cargo carrier that would allow an animal attendant, but it won't come cheap. <S> Or a private flight, again not cheap. <A> In addition Tom's answer. <S> See Cats and Dogs returning to Australia from the Department of Agriculture and Resources. <S> From that page: <S> When your cat or dog leaves Australia it immediately loses its Australian health status. <S> This means you might not be able to bring it back to Australia at short notice. <S> Please consider the information below before exporting your cat or dog. <S> Cats and dogs can only be imported into Australia from certain countries and, depending on the country, the pre-import preparation time can be over six months. <S> However, if you start preparations in Australia before your cat or dog goes overseas, returning them to Australia can be much simpler and quicker. <S> Also from that page (noting that the USA is considered a Group 3 country) <S> If there is any chance your dog or cat may visit a group 3 or a non-approved country we recommend they have a rabies vaccination and rabies neutralising antibody titre (RNAT) test before leaving Australia. <S> This will ensure they can return to Australia in the shortest possible time. <S> Rabies vaccinations last between one and three years and you will need to check this validity with your veterinarian. <S> An RNAT test with an acceptable result (0.5IU/ml or more) is valid for 24 months from the date the blood was drawn. <S> Please note that you will need to maintain valid rabies vaccinations and RNAT tests for the entire time your dog or cat is overseas. <S> If you don’t do this, your animal will have to meet the mandatory 180 day waiting period overseas following an RNAT test if they have visited any group 3 or non-approved countries. <S> So if you do not follow the rules then you dog will have to spend and additional 6 months in the US before you can even bring it back to Australia. <S> As a personal anecdote (but not related to your situation). <S> I am planning on bringing two cats back to Australia in the next couple of years. <S> To minimize the time they will spend in quarantine custody IN Australia, this will require rabies tests every month for 6 months. <S> At which point once they are shipped to Australia they will still have to spend 1 month in quarantine. <A> Service and emotional support animals can fly in the cabin. <S> If you are not disabled or in need of emotional support, then you do not qualify for a service/emotional support animal. <S> That said, as a senior citizen with no family, you may qualify for a service/emotional support animal to help with disabilities (e.g., hearing loss) on your emotional state. <S> The paperwork for traveling with a service animals is pretty simple (cf. <S> Flying with a service animal ). <S> For a service animal the airline is not allowed to ask for documentation about your disability, but if you ended up in a legal challenge, you would want to be able to document it. <S> For emotional support animals, you need a signed letter from a qualified mental health care provider. <S> The use of service animals is undergoing legal scrutiny since some people who do not need service animals, and even those who do need them, are using untrained animals. <S> That said, at least in the US, there are limited requirements outlining the exact services the animal needs to provide and the training it must undergo. <S> Again, if you are not disabled or in need of emotional support, then you do not qualify for a service/emotional support animal. <A> I know a few dog breeders use Lufthansa airlines to fly dogs FROM Canada worldwide because of some sort of special program they use (although I'm not directly familiar with it or if it is still offered). <S> You could also contact dog breeders in Australia to see how THEY send their dogs overseas. <S> Most dog breeders (I'm talking show-quality pure-breed, fancy-shmancy, dogs) care for their dogs and will only send them in a safe manner. <S> As others have mentioned, if you are planning to go BACK to Australia, be aware of the quarantine requirements. <A> Austrian Airlines allows dogs to travel in the cabin with passengers, up to a total weight of 8kg (including carrier). <S> You would have to fly from Sydney or Melbourne to Vienna, and then on another Austrian flight to your US destination. <S> But it is certainly possible if your dog is small enough. <S> I believe Lufthansa also has similar rules so routing via Germany may also be possible.
| If you are simply concerned about the welfare of your dog and not so much with the requirement that he be WITH you, you could look into a service that specializes in carting animals around. Some cruises allow at least smaller dogs. There are absolutely no passenger airlines flying to the USA that will allow you to ride in the cargo area, it is against FAA rules (no seats, no seat belts, no emergency exits). If you are planning on returning to Australia with your dog then you are going to face strict quarantine restrictions that could preclude you from traveling with your dog anyway.
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How much does the ferry between Rostock and Gedser cost? I am planning to visit Copenhagen for a couple of days. I will be travelling, by car, from Berlin, with 2 other friends. The quickest route is shown by taking the Rostock - Gedser ferry. I googled the cost of ferry and Scandlines says it costs 100€ for the crossing. Is the ferry really that expensive? <Q> €100 sounds reasonable for a vehicle and 3 passengers. <S> It is a 1 hour 45 minute crossing. <S> Did you get your price from Scandlines ? <A> Additionally there is a route through Puttgarden - <S> > Rodbyhavn which takes 17 minutes longer, however is around 30 euros cheaper if you book late. <S> Same price if you book early though. <A> You could try the Puttgarden-Rödby-Route. <S> The Autobahn from Berlin to there is for the most part quite good. <S> The ferry goes hourly and, as the trip is not so far, it is cheaper. <S> Also you´ll drive trough Fehmarn, which is quite a nice island in the Baltic sea of it´s own. <S> Edit: You can get a quote for your trip here (both routes): <S> https://www.scandlines.de/tickets-und-tarife/tickets-und-preise/rostock-gedser.aspx Prices are for one vehicle <6meter length and up to 9 passengers.
| Let me say that I am not an experienced traveller on this route, however as far as I can tell you can get significant discounts to around €33 if you book early and join the SMILE customer loyalty program for free.
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Dealing with extremely dry air in Africa Some years ago, I had an overnight stay in Sahara. I live in a very high humidity climate, so the extremely dry desert air was quite literally choking me, and sleeping was impossible. I only managed to deal with it by wrapping damp cloth over my nose and mouth during the night.I'll soon be spending about 2 weeks in Namibia, where the average humidity is only about 11% (!) these days, so I'm worried how will my high-humidity-adapted body deal with it. Does anyone have any helpful tips? <Q> I face similar problems travelling to winter locations. <S> Stay hydrated. <S> Keep water <S> right where you sleep. <S> Even boiling a pot of water will help. <S> Sleep with you head under a sheet <S> On the plus side, every day will be a great hair day! <A> Coming from the opposite and having asked exactly the opposite question here , switching between different climates is now very familiar to me. <S> It really depends on the individual as some people just seem to adapt better than others. <S> With time though, most do feel a little better but I personally never got completely used to high humidity places, so <S> perhaps you will not completely manage in very dry places either. <S> The damp cloth is an excellent trick. <S> I use it even just to slow down very hot air from entering my nose in places here <S> it is too hot for me. <S> Keep doing that while you sleep since you need to recover well while you travel. <S> Now, if you are staying in a hotel, some places have humidifiers available. <S> Personally these things make me feel much more uncomfortable but many people must like them for those to be popular. <S> During the day and as you go on with activities, use a non-medicated nasal spray. <S> Saline solution is the most common but there are some with aloe that last longer as moisturizing agent. <S> I recommend not to overdo it, so that you get slowly more used to the climate by progressively breathing drier air. <A> You can bring a humidifier along (or buy one at your destination). <S> This will help at night. <S> During the day, be sure to drink plenty of water.
| There are also wet fans that sprinkle the air with water. Bring/buy a room humidifier. Practice good skin care, moisturizers, lip balm , nasal moisturizer (yes, that's a thing ;) Obviously, this will only work if you sleep in a place with closed windows; you can't humidify the desert...
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What's the opposite of a "return" flight? In a round trip, there are two flights. The second one is the return flight. What's the first one called? Is it the departure flight? That seems strange, because every flight has a departure and an arrival, doesn't it? <Q> I would call it the "outbound" flight. <S> By the way I'm not sure "return flight" is unambiguous. <S> In some contexts (such as when booking tickets) it could easily be understood as the combination of an outbound and inbound flight. <S> (Of course, "outbound" and "inbound" are also slightly ambiguous <S> -- they could refer to legs going from or to an airline hub, but that's more from the perspective of operations planning and timetabling than from the traveler's perspective). <A> The airline industry uses the term ' Originating Flight ' for the first flight in an itinerary. <A> <A> Departing flight and returning flight are terms that make sense to me. <S> I note that this is similar to user68196's answer of "originating flight" - the idea is that a return flight is able to refer to a combination of two flights to take you away, and then return you to your original location - so different terms need to be used.
| This could be British but the first thing that came to my mind was "outgoing flight".
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How to fix the "an error occurred while processing your photo" message when applying for a US visa? I'm trying to apply for a B1/B2 US visa through the official website but unfortunately can't get past the "Confirm photo" stage as I see the following error: I've tried to re-upload the photo several times in both Chrome, Android Chrome and IE 11 to no avail. Is there something I can do so that I can complete my application? <Q> I've tried it again with the same photo on the next day and it worked. <A> I found a work around that will allow you to complete the DS-160 if it is crashing at the photo upload screen. <S> You just have to upload a photo that WILL NOT pass the photo verification. <S> When your photo is rejected you now have the option to continue without submitting a photo, it then tells you can bring a photo to the interview with you as in the image below. <S> This will allow you to at least submit the application and book an interview. <S> Other methods may work, keep trying until you get a failure. <S> The website is very buggy and this is the best solution I can find to get past being stuck at the photo page. <A> Just had this issue. <S> The fix that worked for me was to wait a few minutes after uploading it on the screen where it says "the photo passes the requirements <S> *. <S> Then press the "Next" button. <S> I guess that there's a bunch of services talking to each other behind the scenes, and if you press Next too quickly, the photo hasn't had time to propagate fully yet. <A> I wrote to the embassy and they suggested I should try starting a new application from scratch. <S> This time it worked!!! <S> The only difference is that now I filled everything from start to end. <S> Before I saved and upload/retrieve a couple of times. <S> PS: <S> The last time I used Google Chrome in Incognito mode, but I bet that had nothing to do with it... <A> I've had similar experience with that tool. <S> This picture is often given as example <S> but I think the picture that worked for me looked closer to this one . <S> Also, the picture needs to be 600x600 px and under 240k <S> and it can't be blurred. <S> The photo check tool is not reliable in my experience. <A> I did what Mark Clayton suggested - uploaded a bad quality (low resolution) photo. <S> I took it to the embassy with a physical US passport sized photo and it was fine. <S> There were so many people in the queue without photos uploaded on the forms - it clearly happens to a lot of people! <A> I have also had this issue. <S> Tried many times in many ways but not successful. <S> Finally, I used my friend in a different country to upload my picture from his place, and it worked. <S> I guess the internet security protocol has some security issue when we are uploading from developed countries or countries which are not up to date with the current internet security protocol.
| Perhaps their online system is overloaded at certain times and one should simply try again in a few hours. To have my photo not pass the verification I scaled it down in size to 50% so that it was low res. I think the solution was to resize the photo to make the face much more prominent.
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Deported from UK but got a fresh clean passport. Will the US know? My brother who is from Bangladesh got deported from the UK back in 2009 for working illegally while being a student. His old passport was not machine readable. Since then he has obtained a new clean machine-readable passport (no record of previous visas) and visited countries like Thailand, Singapore, India, Malaysia. He is now planning to visit the US to attend my college graduation. If he checks the box to say that he was never deported from any countries, is there any way they can find out about this? <Q> In general, the UK and the US partner closely and it's highly likely that the US will be aware of the UK deportation . <S> If your brother claims he has not been deported, but the US has evidence that he was, the visa will be rejected for lying on the application and it will be very difficult to ever visit the US. <S> I would advise that he disclose the deportation (if asked) and provide strong evidence that he can afford the trip and intends to return to Bangladesh. <S> Even if he doesn't get the visa now, at least he will be able to apply again in the future. <A> The DS-160 form which is used for B1/B2 visa applications never actually asks you about deportations or removals from countries other than the US. <S> Therefore your brother would only have to disclose his former transgression if asked so directly during the visa interview. <S> The likelihood of that happening is impossible to estimate accurately, but should that happen the best strategy is to tell the truth. <S> I would also recommend bringing in any documentation related to the deportation from the UK to the visa interview. <S> If the matter comes up you can pull it out and show it. <S> If it doesn't, even better. <S> While there are in fact numerous data sharing agreements between the Five Eyes countries, there are little details available about how their databases are synchronized and to what extent. <S> Your brother's former history might show up automatically or it might not. <S> The best strategy is to assume it does show up and be 100% open if they ever question this issue. <A> Given the country of origin of the visa applicant you will be highly scrutinized and the applicant record double-checked to verify that the claims are true, sorry <S> but at these times being a citizen from certain countries <S> implies a further degree of investigation. <S> Your plan has a high risk of failure. <S> Present all the facts and try to present a strong case that you do not intend to stay or work in the US. <S> Also, request a very short term visa.
| As for whether or not the US knows by default... nobody really knows.
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3 hours layover at Haneda airport to US I am a Philippine passport holder travelling to US via Haneda. I only have a 3-hour layover in Haneda. From Manila I will be taking PH Airlines and from Haneda to US I will be taking AA (American Airlines). Do I need a transit visa at Haneda airport? <Q> For a 3 hour layover, I suggest that you stay at the airport because sometimes flights are delayed and your 3 hours layover may become 2 hours. <S> In the same time you need atleast 1 hour in an average to find your connecting flight gate and prepare to board the plane. <A> As stated in Timatic , the database used by Airlines: Visa required, except for Holders of onward tickets for a max. <S> transit time of 72 hours through Tokyo Haneda (HND) or Osaka Kansai (KIX). <S> So if the trip is in one booking, you do <S> not need a visa <A> Check haneda custom website . <S> They actually have a section with Visa. <S> It says that you should check with your embassy about restrictions and such. <S> Also I found a PDF from Philippine embassy regarding traveling to japan. <S> regarding to this country passport it says: <S> Philippine Passport <S> • <S> Broken passport is not accepted. <S> Passports <S> must be signed and must have at <S> least two (2) blank visa pages. <S> Make sure before buying your plane ticket that your trip includes visa for transit. <S> Otherwise this could be problematic. <S> So if you stay in the transit zone you shouldn't have any visa trouble :) <S> Hope this helps
| If you are planning to go out of the airport then you need a visa.
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Is the insurance by my credit card company sufficient to visit Belarus without a visa? I will visit Minsk for 5 days without a visa (this has taken effect from this February) but one of the requirement is the medical insurance. To enter the Republic of Belarus in the visa-free regime via the checkpoint “Minsk National Airport”, foreign nationals must have the following documents: a valid ordinary passport or another substituting document for traveling abroad; financial means: at least 25 Euro (or equal amount in dollars or Belarusian rubles) for each day of stay; medical insurance with coverage for at least 10,000 Euros that covers the territory of Belarus. The information is from Ministry of Foreign Affairs . However, I have a credit card that compensates for any medical expenditures while traveling. Can I use this card and avoid spending extra money on the insurance program at the border control? This page titled "Welcome To Belarus: 11 FAQs On Visa-Free Entry " wrote the following but the link on the page is just the same link above, which doesn't prescribe whether the insurance by a credit card company is acceptable. medical insurance with coverage for at least 10,000 Euros that covers the territory of Belarus. It can be an insurance from “Belgosstrakh” or “Eximgarant” which you can buy on the border (at the airport or border control look for a window that says “Obligatory medical insurance”), or it can be an international insurance if it covers Belarus. <Q> I'm not sure what the letter of the law says, but when I arrived to Minsk airport in 2016 and attempted to present my Czech insurance (which specifically mentioned Belarus) to the border officials I was rejected and requested to buy one from the airport counter. <S> Therefore the answer is no , your credit card insurance won't work. <S> To clarify - I speak fluent Russian and was told in clear terms that my policy is not acceptable. <S> Perhaps a different border guard will treat the matter differently. <A> I just entered Minsk and found that my Amex card was accepted as the medical insurance ! <S> At the immigration I handed in my passport and immigration card just as I do in any other countries, and then the immigrant officer asked me to show the medical insurance. <S> I showed my Amex card and told her that my card has the insurance program and covers Belarus. <S> She seemed to not know if it is OK to accept it, and asked to another immigrant officer sitting next to her if it is acceptable. <S> I don't know what they were talking <S> but in the end, she allowed it and stamped on my passport. <S> But judged from the way she reacted, it is possible that another immigrant officer may decline it. <S> For her I might be the first person to show a credit card. <S> Anyway I will enter Minsk again in 2 weeks so would report it if it is declined. <S> But it certainly worked in my case. <S> As to the medical insurance, it is located just in front of the immigration gate, so at least you might like to try your credit card first before being forced to sign up the insurance. <A> I can add very little to the JonathanReez's fair answer, but anyway you should refer to Belarusian embassy in your country. <S> Previously there were evidences <S> when visitors had denials of entry due to invalid insurance company, i.e. the company was not affiliated with “Belgosstrakh” or “Eximgarant”. <S> So the best and most reliable way to check if company is approved is to contact the embassy directly.
| I don't know where are you from and do not know where you credit card had been issued, but usually regional embassies specify allowed insurance companies on their sites, like they did, for example, in Poland or in Lithuania .You can check the Belarusian embassy site in your country and very likely if you don't find your credit card issuer there, then you are out of luck.
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Friend is worried about language barrier at airport in France A friend of mine is worried about missing her flight home when she travels to Paris. Her thinking is that there will be a language barrier and she will miss the announcements for her flight in French. I've told her a couple of times that it's likely similar there as it is here (Canada), that they announce the flight in at least a few languages. In airports here they announce starting with English, then French, and other languages follow. While I've never been to France myself I assume it would be much the same, where they announce flights in French first, then English and other languages to follow. Can anyone confirm this to assuage my friend's worries? <Q> There should be no problem. <S> 99% of city names are the same in French as they are in the native language, and when they're not the same, they're very similar (Moskva/Moscou, London/Londres). <S> Find the gate on the departures board, and sit by it. <S> Pay attention to the time. <S> When people get on the plane follow them and hand your ticket to the gate agent. <S> In other words, the same as in any other airport in any other country. <S> Airports (particularly international airports) are designed to be easy to navigate, even for people who don't speak the local language. <S> You haven't mentioned what language your friend speaks, but the staff at the gate should have someone there who speaks the language of the destination country (e.g., English if she's traveling to an English-speaking country). <A> Many airports don't announce flights at all. <S> I can't remember the last time I was at an airport that does <S> and I can say with confidence that London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol, Detroit and Minneapolis–Saint Paul don't (yes, I know, none of those is in France). <S> Your friend should use information screens to determine which gate they need to go to, and be at the gate in good time – usually at least half an hour before a short-haul flight departs and at least an hour before a long-haul flight. <A> I think the only case where she might have an issue is if there is a last minute gate change, in which case there will be an announcement (likely in French + English and perhaps another language if the flight is going to somewhere where that language is spoken) and folks will start to migrate to the new gate. <S> It pays to be a bit vigilant as the expected boarding time approaches. <S> If she is Canadian she probably understands more French than she realizes and will pick up the new gate number and flight information from the French enough to prick up her ears for the version en Anglais. <S> Other than that <S> , the gates are marked in the usual way on the boarding pass (or, if not, as with early online check-in, available from monitor screens in Departures), and she will find her way to the designated gate, whether it's CDG (Roissy - Charles de Gaulle) or ORY (Orly) <S> airports, by following the signs. <A> I've been to CDG (Roissy - Charles de Gaulle) airport in Paris, and they announce flights in English and French. <S> Also the staff speaks good English and are very helpful but not smiling :). <S> You should be OK. <A> I have flown through CDG numerous times over the last couple of years, most recently in April. <S> My flights have always been announced in at least French and English. <S> I find CDG easy to transit <S> , it's not bad if you're starting or ending your trip there either. <S> Good signage, much of it in English, will help her to her gate. <A> This is valid in all the airports of France. <S> So no worries about that. <A> TL/DR - Don't rely on announcements . <S> I've been in places where there were no English announcements <S> or I couldn't understand what was presumably English announcements <S> ;). <S> In lounges, there's typically no announcements at all. <S> If she's worried about missing the flight, she should go (as close as possible) to the departure gate first to know where it is, and how far. <S> Then, keep an eye on the time and departure boards. <S> 98.7%, announcements at the gate will be made in several languages, English and French for sure. <A> While I have never been in France I have been in a lot of foreign airports. <S> Departure boards are departure boards, fight numbers are flight numbers, gate numbers are gate numbers, times are times. <S> Even without translation the only reason you could have a problem is if you were in a country that doesn't use our alphabet (and not always even then--when the departure boards in China are in their Chinese phase the flight number is still in our alphabet and they normally use our numbers but the city is unreadable. <S> IIRC Japan does this also <S> but it's been long enough I won't swear to it.) <S> In practice I have never seen an airport that didn't show the information in English as well as the local language <S> and I've never had any question of where I should go.
| Flights announcements are always done, among other few languages (French & the language(s) of your country of destination ), in English too.
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Is it considered bad manners to eat in public (on a bench) in Latvia? Recently I got yelled at by a stranger (middle-aged man) when I was eating pizza, which I purchased at a cheap restaurant (and chose take-away), sitting on a bench in Riga. He just said something to me while he was passing in front of me, which I ignored since I didn't understand Latvian or Russian, but then in a few seconds he looked back and said something to me again. It was clear that he was telling me something about my pizza, given his gesture (he used a hand gesture of eating pizza). He didn't stop walking and simply said something to me while walking. I feel he was not in a positive tone. So I wonder if it is considered bad manners to eat in public places in Latvia, such as on a bench or in a park. I found one interesting answer on Quora , to a question titled "What are some cultural taboos in Latvia?" : Another cultural taboo is being disrespectful to food. If you throw around pieces of bread and stuff while eating, expect to be scolded by a concerned Latvian. Is it socially acceptable or considered inappropriate to eat pizza in public places in Latvia? <Q> It's not taboo here in Latvia. <S> However, throwing food on the ground in Latvia would be just rude manner. <S> If You have leftovers just throw out at nearest trash (which we have a lot in public space and must be at every shop/takeaway/building and in most parks near benches). <S> About yelling... <S> well, hard to say. <S> I assume that's individual. <S> Hope <S> Your stay here was OK. <S> Source: being Latvian in Latvia :D <A> No such taboo exists anywhere in Europe. <S> People routinely eat on the streets, in cars, on buses and other 'non-standard' places. <S> There is in fact a folk saying in Slavic countries about avoiding throwing out bread, but it doesn't apply to your scenario and it's not really relevant in modern times when food is plentiful. <S> So enjoy your pizza anywhere you go without concerns. <S> Source: <S> traveling to the Baltic countries. <A> Are you certain it was about the pizza? <S> I was once spoken to sternly by a couple of (the equivalent of) gendarmes in Romania while I was eating pizza in the park. <S> It wasn't because of the pizza. <S> It was because I was sitting cross-legged, which meant I had my shoes on the bench. <S> Once I thought about the state of most Romanian sidewalks, it became clear why this was frowned upon. <S> I took my feet off the bench, and promised not to do it again.
| It's more than OK to eat outside.
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Is this November is a good time to go to Spiti Valley, Himachal India? I am planning to visit Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India on this November first onwards, and planning to be back by the end of the month. How is the road condition now? Local transportation is available. Direction in Google Map <Q> Everything we want to know about Spity Valley trip: available in this blog . <S> Quoting few important points I have noted in this blog <S> The road from Manali closes much before that. <S> The NGOs working to develop Spiti and some for their own development, postpone their activities for the next tourist season, leaving the people of Spiti to face the harsh winters head. <S> Difficulty Level – <S> Extreme Winter is not an off-season in Spiti. <S> Living here in winter is expensive for a Spitian. <S> So, bargaining at the home-stays with your logic of off-season prices is not only rude, its inconsiderate. <S> Water needs to be carried from the hand-pumps. <S> Add to it the cost of wood to keep you warm and the cost of fuel to cook food and tea for you. <S> No one is giving you a place to stay to earn profit in the winters. <S> They don’t want you to freeze. <S> So I will advice you to be generous and grateful. <A> November is unfortunately a wrong time to visit Spiti, as most of the routes that lead you to Spiti will be blocked due to snow. <S> Rohtang pass closes for travelers in November. <S> I hope this helps. <A> November is actually not a bad time to be in Spiti. <S> It will be very very cold though, but still bearable. <S> And roads from Kinnaur side are completely open at this time but not those via Manali/Rohtang. <S> I'm pretty sure you won't have any problem with public transport reaching Kaza. <S> The local buses within Spiti might not be as frequent, and so about that best to check locally with some hotel there. <S> Taxi, etc will be easily available though. <S> Have a great time in Spiti! <A> July is the best time to visit Spiti valley. <S> November is not recommended. <A> Last November we went and it was awesome. <S> The sky was clear snow started in the end. <S> Got places to stay everywhere. <S> Less crowded. <S> I am planning to go on this November as well. <S> Last time visited Chitkul, Pin Valley, Kaza, Langza Vallley, Chandrathal, Kunzum Pass, Rothang Pass and returned via Manali. <S> Beautiful and amazing journey. <A> If you like real adventure (with the possibility of getting stuck), yes it is a good time. <S> According to me April/May is the best time to visit as you will see snow and clear sky. <S> Check the blog. <S> It captures the experience nicely. <S> https://www.adventuren.com/blog/blogdetail/4816
| The transition from cold harsh winter to moderate climate is worth visiting. In early November, when the temperature dips down to -10˚C, the hotels are closed for the tourists and the first spell of snowfall stops the government bus service from Kinnaur. The most ideal time to visit in my opinion is after monsoons - July-August or before that.
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Can I be denied a tourist visa to China? I'm a Canadian citizen born in Iraq. I came to Canada at a young age. Could I be denied a tourist visa to China? The visa agency said I might be. What's the likelihood of this happening? <Q> A Visa Service will inform you of this upfront to avoid any legal issues later, if by chance you are one of the unlucky few. <S> In your particular situation, the chances of a denied visa are likely low. <S> But we don't know your situation (work, background, income, etc) to be certain. <A> Quite likely, perhaps a 20% chance. <S> Despite what others here are saying: Use an agency, because Chinese visas are usually obtained via a "connection". <S> Don't go and apply by yourself. <S> Your passport will probably state your place of birth as Iraq, and that's a huge red flag to them (no pun intended), unlike if you were born in Russia or a similarly "harmless" country. <A> Firstly, avoid visa agencies, as they often charge fees and/or present the paperwork incorrectly. <S> Secondly, it is very unusual for Chinese tourist visas to be denied for Western citizens. <S> If you hand in all the documents required, it's usually an automatic approval (this is my experience with Russian visas, and Chinese ones are supposedly even easier) <S> Go onto this site , select the application centre nearest to you, and follow the step-by-step instructions. <S> You can also apply via post, convenient if the nearest application centre is far from you.
| Any citizen of any country could be denied a visa by any other country, there are no guarantees.
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Pune Airport, India -- When to enter terminal for a 04:10am flight? I've read that at Indian airport, you may only be allowed to enter the terminal relatively shortly before your plane leaves. For a 4:10am international departure from Pune airport in India (on a Saturday, if that matters), when can I reasonably expect to be allowed to enter the terminal building ? Edit: Some places where I read this are: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23167515-post3.html https://www.quora.com/How-long-before-a-flight-are-people-allowed-to-enter-the-Bangalore-airport , answers 2,3,4,7 http://www.indiamike.com/india/domestic-india-flights-f118/12-hours-at-delhi-airport-t196690/#post1594596 https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g304551-i3482-k3135488-How_Early_to_Arrive_at_Airports-New_Delhi_National_Capital_Territory_of_Delhi.html , post 4 <Q> There is no such rule. <S> It will be useful if you can share the reference article. <S> You can enter terminal well in advance but boarding pass will be issued when airline opens the counter. <S> A wayout can be to generate boarding pass online or via automated machines <S> but then if you have luggage you need to wait till airline counter opens. <S> In airports in India, there will be security guards at Terminal entry gates who will validate your ticket and ID proof. <A> I have been warned about the same 'limit' by many colleagues, but have never encountered any such check or questioning (throughout 2016 an 2017). <S> I typically go to the airport lounges about 22:00 for 3:30 flights. <S> I would assume it's obsolete or an urban legend. <A> It depends on the security concerns of the airport. <S> I have spend nights at <S> T-3 (Delhi) <S> and in one instance, slept at the boarding gate and missed my flight. <S> At the same time, they refused my entry (about 9 hours before my flight), becuse January 26 was around the corner and security alerts were issued. <S> You are advised to be at airport 2 hours prior to your flight (domestic) & 3 hrs prior for international flight. <S> In case you are early by not more than 12 hours, you can say that you are coming from a different city and reached early (used that trick once & it worked ;)) <A> It is dependent on airline and airport, and so these rules are documented on airline website and usually also on the booking documentation. <S> On many airports, (some) terminals (after security check) or gates are accessible just before the departure of flight, but this doesn't mean that you should go to airport earlier for check-in. <S> This happens often on small airports, and sometime also on some large airports for some gates (especially for special flights, small planes or special routes).
| You should check with your airline, when you should go to airport.
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How to submit required forms to customs when leaving USA? In a situation when a passenger of a scheduled flight leaving USA has something that has to be declared (like submitting FinCEN Form 105 for monetary instruments), what is the proper procedure for submitting the declaration? As far as I understand, the routine departure procedure in US airports does not involve going through customs. But the instructions for FinCEN 105 state that the form should be filed "with the Customs officer in charge at the time of departure from the United States". So, where does one normally find that "Customs officer in charge" in US airports? Should the passenger simply inform the passport control officer that they need a customs officer? Or maybe passport control officer doubles as customs officer at the same time? Or should the passenger simply make an advance visit to some Customs Office in the airport? Also, if an international flight out of the US begins with a domestic leg, what would be the proper location for dealing with the customs? Can it be done at the first airport? Or should it be done at the last US airport (immediately before the international leg of the flight)? Or, perhaps, can it be done at any US airport along the route? In this specific case the route begins at SFO, proceeds to JFK and then out of the country. Both SFO and JFK certainly have Customs Offices. Does the traveller have a choice in this case, or does it have to be JFK specifically? <Q> It is your responsibility to go seek this out in advance, and they've seized cash from travelers who didn't do so. <S> You can use CBP's Locate a Port of Entry website for contact information. <S> For example, at JFK , their main office is off in building #77, somewhere in the cargo area. <S> But more importantly, that page lists phone numbers. <S> Give them a call, tell them you need to make a currency declaration on your way out, and ask where to go. <S> They'll know the local procedures. <S> Or you should avoid carrying more than $10,000 in cash or other declarable goods. <S> (By which I mean don't carry large amounts of cash at all. <S> Carrying amounts just below the threshold to evade reporting requirements is illegal.) <S> A bank transfer is generally the better option for most travelers. <A> Should the passenger simply inform the passport control officer that they need a customs officer? <S> Or maybe passport control officer doubles as customs officer at the same time? <S> Or should the passenger simply make an advance visit to some Customs Office in the airport? <S> You won't speak to a "passport control officer" on most departures from the USA. <S> Unlike most countries the US does not have passport control for departing passengers. <S> Also, if an international flight out of US begins with a domestic leg, what would be the proper location for dealing with the customs? <S> Can it be done at the first airport? <S> You will need to seek out a Customs and Border Protection officer yourself. <S> Your first domestic airport may or may not be an international airport with a CBP presence, so you may need to do this at your final stop in the US. <A> Here is how it turned out in my specific case: I contacted Customs Office at SFO by phone approximately one week in advance and asked them this specific question. <S> I explicitly explained to them that I have a layover at JFK. <S> Nevertheless, they told me that I can submit my customs declaration at SFO. <S> Just in case, I contacted Customs Office at SFO by phone again two days before departure: to reconfirm and ask about the details. <S> Again, I specifically pointed out that my last stop in USA is JFK, not SFO. <S> They reiterated their original answer (a different person this time). <S> Since my plane was departing rather early in the morning, they told me to come to the International Arrivals area at SFO and call a specific phone number to have a customs official come over and escort me to the office. <S> Just as they instructed me, on the day of my flight I arrived early, came to the International Arrivals area of SFO and started calling the number they gave me. <S> Originally there was no response. <S> I had to call it repeatedly for quite a while. <S> Time was running out. <S> Eventually someone picked up the phone (a third person, judging by the voice). <S> This time the person on the phone sounded quite surprised about the fact that I wanted to submit my declaration at SFO. <S> They told me that in this situation I had to submit my declaration at JFK, not at SFO. <S> Luckily, I was able to find the Customs Office at JFK without any problems and submit my declaration there.
| You'll need to visit the Customs office yourself, which is often in some obscure corner of the airport outside the secure area, possibly in a different terminal from the one you're in (allow plenty of time for this).
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Does Ryanair accept the image of the boarding pass on a mobile phone? ... or must it be from their app? I received a boarding pass (in PDF format) from my agent for my return flight, while already at my destination (Ryanair does not issue them sooner, I was told). I can hardly print it here. Is showing it on my mobile phone acceptable at the airport?Their FAQ mentions an app of theirs which basically does the same (shows the boarding information). <Q> Nope! <S> (Atleast that was so in 2014) <S> @Minezey <S> Hi <S> Have you saved your boarding pass on your phone? <S> MC <S> Twitter @Ryanair <A> Ryanair policies change regularly, but as of September 2017 the message below appears at the point at which you or your agent downloads the PDF boarding pass: 'This is not a mobile boarding pass and MUST be printed for use.' <S> That's not to say that showing the PDF on your mobile phone at the airport would definitely be unacceptable to Ryanair, but if it was rejected, they did give you fair warning. <A> You should be aware that sometimes Ryanair requires Visa check for non-eu citizens. <S> In such case you have to print it anyway. <S> The main information is the QR code (the rectangular bar code) which has all information about ticket. <S> There is no difference is it printed or on the phone. <S> You can even show it from the watch. <S> So I see no reasons it will not work with showing it from PDF. <S> During last my trip people were just putting their phone to the bar code reader, it was not important whether it is app, screenshot or pdf. <S> Meanwhile you should check whether the check in through the app is supported in the airport on the official site.
| Simon, we don't accept PDF boarding pass, you will need to print it out.
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Free travel with S-Bahn with Deutsche Bahn Intercity Ticket I am travelling to Munich from Budapest (Deutsche Bahn). Arriving at Munich Hauptbahnhof. Can I travel for free with S Bahn or U Bahn in the city (given that I have the Budapest ticket)? <Q> This depends on the precise destination on the ticket. <S> If it says "+City", then you are allowed to take another train to get to your destination within the city. <S> This option exists for major cities only and the area and conditions vary from city to city. <S> In Munich most of the city is included, shown as "Innenraum" on the local transit maps. <S> Please see @dunni answer for an additional possibility: If the ticket just mentions Munich and not a specific station (such as Hauptbahnhof / Hbf), you are entitled to continue to any train station (not underground station) in Munich, if the total travel distance is above a certain limit. <S> If not included, the ticket is valid only to Hauptbahnhof. <S> If necessary, you can book the ticket to any S-Bahn stop as well. <S> U-Bahn, Tram and Buses can not be included on a Deutsche Bahn ticket and require an additional ticket. <S> You can buy this ticket using the Deutsche Bahn mobile app and at ticket machines available throughout the city. <S> Don't forget to stamp the ticket when entering the station <S> (there are no gates that force you to do that). <A> If the destination on your ticket is written as "München Hauptbahnhof" or "Munich Hauptbahnhof", then your ticket is only valid to that station. <S> However, if the destination on your ticket is written as "München" or "MÜNCHEN", then a mechanism called "Tarifliche Gleichstellung" has effect, which means, that your ticket is valid to all stations within the city, which are mentioned in that document: <S> https://www.bahn.de/p/view/mdb/bahnintern/agb/tarifliche_gleichstellung/mdb_252525_46561_20170307130917_gleichstellungen_20170201.pdf <S> It's only in German, but if you scroll down to "München" <S> you see the list of train stations. <S> Note however that this applies only to DB trains (meaning the S-Bahn in Munich, no U or trams). <A> As asdfex said, if it says "+City" on the ticket, you can continue to a local destination with it (but only for a single continuation of your main journey -- it's not a day travelcard). <S> Incidentally, I have in the past obtained free onward local travel (even for international trains) by simply making my booking to a local S-Bahn station rather than a Hauptbahnhof -- in my limited experience, the ticket price ends up the same, but I have no idea how universal this is, and of course it won't work for U-Bahn, bus, or tram.
| In your case, I would expect that you don't have a city-ticket, because the conditions for the city-ticket include, amongst other things, that both the start and destination stations must be in Germany.
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What happens if my wallet is lost or stolen while abroad? I am planning a trip to eastern/northern Europe - this will be my first time traveling outside of the United States. My plan was to have a set amount of USD converted to foreign currency, then put most of my expenses on a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees, then just pay the expenses when I return home. It will be a backpacking style trip, so I won't be staying at one hostel/hotel any more than a couple of days. A thought came to my head when a coworker was mentioning pickpockets in a certain city. What if my wallet is lost or stolen while abroad with all of my currency in it? What are my options in order to obtain a replacement credit card while traveling? What steps should I take to prevent losing all of my money & cards at once? <Q> There are two main strategies: <S> Avoid carrying at all . <S> Many hotels have a safe in-room or have a secure storage near reception where they can keep valuable for you. <S> Anything you do not expect to need with you for the day is good to leave there. <S> This obviously creates a gap when you switch hotels or are between cities, so see the next option. <S> Do not carry it in one place . <S> At the simplest, put some cash in different pockets and I would do that with credit cards too. <S> There are tons of other ways to keep money on your person: a money belt, shoe, hidden pocket, shoe, holsters, etc. <S> These are your best defense. <S> If you get pick-pocketed, they will unlikely get it all. <S> If you can robbed and asked to hand over everything or searched, they may get everything but it depends how creative you are. <S> In the unlikely event that it all gets taken from you, you must usually file a police report if you expect to make an insurance claim. <S> Otherwise, call your credit card company or bank and ask for replacement cards. <S> Depending on the type of card you have and if the bank has a local presence, you may get one in less than 24 hours and some even provide emergency cash as a service. <S> You can make this more easy by keeping relevant phone numbers and account info somewhere. <S> One physical copy is nice to have but an online version can save you. <S> Remember to have it in very secure server to avoid identity theft issues. <A> Where are you traveling? <S> The 'good' thing is getting pickpocketed in most developed or developing areas is the same as getting pickpocketed at home... <S> you lose the wallet and whatever is in it. <S> So, the same rules apply: <S> Be careful Don't carry more than you need <S> Report <S> any cards stolen immediately Keep a spare in a secure location <S> Don't carry any travel docs unless absolutely necessary Don't risk getting hurt over any amount or money <S> if you have alternate cards, it may not be worth trying to get a replacement while traveling. <A> Others have already addressed how to avoid loss of all cards and handle replacements of ones you do need to replace, but one really important ingredient is what you do in the mean time while you have no money. <S> Having a purely electronic way to make payment can help with that part of the problem, at least when you're in a location where you can find places to use it. <S> This could include: having a PayPal account and knowing your password to it (but be careful not to access it from sketchy computers or change the password ASAP after you do). <S> having memorized the number for a credit card you did not carry with you and did not lose (i.e. one you didn't call to cancel after the loss/theft), so you can let merchants who are willing to trust you a bit enter it manually or use it online. <A> Never carry all eggs in one basket. <S> In that case you should contact your embassy/consulate, they could lend you emergency funds that would enable you to return home. <S> The best option is never to have all money in your place. <S> Put a part of your money in wallet, a part in another wallet in your belt etc. <S> At best you should have enough money to return home in your backup location. <S> Unless your bank has its agencies in Europe, it might be unrealistic to get credit card replacement. <S> If they have, it should be possible to pay out money without credit card, so you won't be left out of money. <S> But better be safe then sorry. <S> As a general rule, when travelling, never assume you will be able to use your credit card or ATM card. <S> Use it for paying for extras which you don't need, but always have enough money to cover your necessities, like transport and hotel.
| If you have all money and credit card in one wallet, in case of lost, you're out of financial means.
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Buying hotel breakfast without having a room? I'm wondering how common it is for hotels to allow people to pay for breakfast even if they don't have a room. In other words: Come in the morning Pay a fixed price in reception Eat breakfast Leave I did some google searches, and absolutely nothing came up. Do you know of any such hotels and/or what it costs? Edit: I am curious about this because I often stay at places which don't offer as nice a breakfast as many hotels do, and once in a while it would be nice to have a big meal without having to stay at the hotel for one night just to get a good breakfast. <Q> This is common but it really depends on the hotel, so asking so generically is rather broad. <S> In many hotels, breakfast is served in a restaurant on the property. <S> Some rooms include breakfast in the price and others may not. <S> Guests that do not have breakfast as part of the package, can pay for breakfast separately and non-guests can simply pay the price too. <S> For anything but small hotels, the same locale is available to paying customers for other meals, regardless if they are guests or not. <S> Even if you have breakfast included as a guest, you can often pay for extras or for an entirely different breakfast, so it makes sense for the hotel to offer this to non-guests as well. <S> For example, a cold food may be included but people can order warm or cooked-to-order meals. <S> The time I would expect a hotel not to offer this service if for small ones that usually leave a few food items in a room as breakfast for the guests to self-serve. <S> In that case, there would be no attendant to charge for food. <S> Such places are often not accessible directly without going through reception. <S> On the other hand, hotels that operate as restaurants often have an extra door leading to the outside that is used by non-guests. <A> The answer is very simple, At "large, posh" hotels you can absolutely come in to the restaurant (for breakfast, lunch or dinner) or the bars (for drinks) simply as a normal person, pay money, and eat/drink. <S> The full service restaurants in "traditional" hotels are indeed simply "restaurant businesses as such" . <S> Indeed, in most cities the most famous restaurants (for breakfast, or lunch or dinner) are indeed the restaurants situated in a hotel. <S> If the OP is thinking of, let's say, "hotel chains" such as Ibis in Europe, or Hampton Inn etc in the US. <S> At such "hotel chains", simply no , you cannot generally just arrive and take part in breakfast, it's only a thing for hotel guests. <S> The hotel chains don't really have a full service restaurant, they simply have a process where guests get a breakfast in the morning. <S> So quite simply, <S> If you're thinking of "hotel chains" (Eg, Ibis, Motel6, etc) <S> no, they simply do not have "restaurants" as such. <S> There's just a facility where guests are fed breakfast. <S> There's no sense in which you can "go in and pay for a meal" (for example, they wouldn't even have a cash register, etc). <S> If you ask "how to distinguish between the two", the only answer is "ask"! <S> With typical mid-range chains, it's hard to guess which category a hotel falls in. <S> You just call and ask! <S> "Is the restaurant open for breakfast, or only guests?" <A> Hotels that include the price of breakfast in the room fee (aka breakfast is available to all guests) need to know about how much they are spending per-person to break even on food costs. <S> The managers should know this number, and if you are polite (maybe even calling in advance), it's very possible <S> they will just ask you to pay that per-person amount and let you eat. <S> I only know of this in more rural areas where the risk of hundreds of people coming in off the streets to eat breakfast is low, though; it's possible this would be a lot less common in more urban markets. <A> I just wanted to share my experience, I used to have a gym membership at a large hotel chain here in the UK (Village hotels) and they actually advertised breakfast and the walk in price. <S> I have a membership at Hilton and quite commonly use the gym before work and eat breakfast - they offer discounts for gym members.
| At let us say "traditional" hotels, sure, the restaurants are full-service restaurant businesses in themselves : of course you can go in and have breakfast, as at any restaurant.
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How far in advance do tickets on Czech Railways become available near the yearly timetable change? I would like to buy tickets for the night train from Zurich to Prague around Christmas time. This train is listed as number EN 50467 on the Austrian railways site and as EN 467 on the Czech railways site, and it is operated by the Czech rail service. I currently cannot buy tickets on the Czech railways website since it says the date I want to travel is outside of the current window for their time tables, which at this moment (October 1st) only goes through December 9th. However, the train is listed on the Austrian railways website, it just says the ticket is unavailable when I try to purchase one. Is there any way of knowing when tickets will become available for purchase, or of even buying a ticket through some other venue? I would like to go ahead and make hotel plans, but I'm worried I won't end up being able to get the train I am planning on. <Q> The Man in Seat 61 is a good resource for updates on booking windows. <S> I checked his news archives , and found the following in the November 2016 update: Hungary, Czech Republic, Renfe etc... <S> Expect these to open late November or even early December, based on previous years' performance. <S> Unfortunately there's no way around this that I know of. <S> The Austrians are likely to open their bookings earlier than the Czechs, but if the Czechs are operating the service that probably won't help you even if you try to go through the Austrian site. <A> The relevant information from the always excellent Man in Seat 61: https://www.seat61.com/Europe-when-do-train-bookings-open.htm : Many central & eastern European countries still open ticket sales 2 months ahead, such as [...] <S> Czech Republic [...]. <S> Although the Czech Republic now manages 90 days on key international routes. <S> And [...] <S> Czech Railways often don't open bookings for dates after that mid-December Saturday until late November or even early December, so the 60 or 90 days shrinks to as little as 10 days! <S> But don't worry, no-one else can book either, the train won't sell out, and you'll still see cheap tickets when booking opens. <S> So the best advice is to keep checking twice a week or so. <S> The tickets won't sell out that fast, so you're certain to get a place and probably even a cheap ticket. <S> There are companies that can do this checking for you, such as Treinreiswinkel and (I think) <S> Loco2. <S> Information about those can be found elsewhere on the Seat61 site. <S> So don't worry, you're certain to get the train ticket, and can book your accommodation now already. <A> I'm writing from the Czech Republic. <S> If I were you - I would just walk up to the ticket window in Zurich half an hour before departure and buy the ticket then. <S> Alternately, you could buy a ticket from Zurich to the border point <S> (there is always a point on the border - either a real town/village or made up town just for the purpose of the train travel between countries)...and then find the person checking the tickets on the train <S> and they will sell you a ticket on the train for the same price (with maybe an extra fee of just 1 Euro). <S> Either way will work. <S> I travel on trains a lot <S> and I would do option #1. <S> Good luck! :-)
| For regular trains (not sleeping cars) you can ALWAYS buy a train ticket on the day of departure without any problems.
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How to handle possible cancellation of my Ryanair flight? I'm planning to go for a trip with friends to Budapest from Italy for the new year. Basically we found some Ryanair flights but we are worried that our flight will be cancelled at the last minute like some other Ryanair flights on previous times... The problem is that we also want to book a flat (8 guys) with Airbnb and the possibility to get our money back (as said before, a very big amount of money, between 2-3k €) is available only if we cancel 1 week before check-in. Does Ryanair offer compensation if the flight is cancelled at the last minute? Does it provide a different way to get to the destination? Does Ryanair has to offer compensation for additional costs (like airbnb)? <Q> Uh, this is exactly the sort of thing travel insurance is sold for - you have an uncertainty that you want covered, and you don't want to be massively out of pocket if that uncertainty becomes reality. <S> Go and talk to an insurance broker and have them advise you (on what policy to buy) in writing - that way, you should be covered for both the Ryanair uncertainty and any mis-selling of insurance should the insurance company refuse to pay out. <A> Ryanair is obligated to give you the EU flight compensation and they will. <S> Beyond that, do you want a rant on getting what you paid for? <S> Edit: <S> apparently cancellation rights include re-routing to their final destination at the earliest opportunity or re-routing at the convenience of the passenger to the final destination subject to availability of seats. <S> Further, the CAA warned Ryanair that they need to re-route using other airlines as well and refers to flights using alternative airports and that Ryanair is obliged to bear the cost of transferring to those airports. <S> Which is great because Ryanair tends to be fairly unique in their routes from very oddball airports. <A> If you are worried about a cancellation, the answer is simple: Don't book with Ryanair. <S> You may be entitled to compensation <S> https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/30/ryanair-cancellation-flights-refund-rebook-airline <S> but it's complicated and likely to interfere with or even ruin your trip. <S> Compensation policy can also change quickly if things get worse for Ryanair Travel insurance may help, but you need to read the fine print carefully. <S> Insurance only kicks in after all other compensations avenues have been exhausted (which you often have to prove yourself) and even then coverage is often limited to expense paid and that won't get you a new flight. <S> If you want to be sure you can make the trip as planned, book a reputable carrier. <S> Cautionary tale <S> : Monarch Airlines just went bankrupt leaving 100,000 passengers stranded abroad http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/01/news/monarch-airlines-administration/index.html <A> Good luck in getting any service from RyanAir beyond that. <S> Airlines are supposed to provide some basic compensation for delays over x hours in Europe, but that is fairly limited and not covering the total cost of your airbnb. <S> We got stuck in Greece last year when the air traffic controllers were threatening to strike. <S> A lot of flights got cancelled and all passengers were scrambling for hotels. <S> I was traveling with KLM to Amsterdam and my girlfriend was traveling with RyanAir to Dublin. <S> KLM was very helpful and provided a flight with other airlines without any problems. <S> My girlfriend was fully dependent on the flights from RyanAir and she needed to basically keep checking the website. <S> My travel insurance took care of some additional costs (up to a certain limit per day), but was not fully covering everything because I had a fairly basic plan. <S> My girlfriend's travel insurance still needs to pay her claim (after a year!). <S> So check the small print of your travel insurance as well.
| From my experience, RyanAir will not provide any compensation beyond rebooking the flight or a refund.
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What happens to reward points/miles when you are rebooked? I'm planning a short trip just to hit rewards status, which has me thinking about the specifics of earning rewards. With air travel you can plan as much as you want, but sometimes things happen - weather problems, you miss a connection, equipment malfunction, etc. Often this means that you are forced to re-book, sometimes through another city, sometimes on another airline or even train*. In the event of an involuntary rebooking, what happens to rewards points? I would guess that qualifying dollars doesn't change, since you have still paid the same cost. Do you get more (or fewer) miles and segments if you have to take a different route to your destination? If you end up on another airline or on a train, do you lose your points altogether? I'm assuming this varies by airline, so I'll focus on American and United. *From personal experience, during a winter storm I had United convert a plane ticket to an Amtrak ticket at no extra cost. <Q> Typically, you can claim Original Routing Credit (ORC) for the flights you were originally booked on. <S> Useful thread for AA: <S> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/1586992-faq-involuntary-reroute-original-routing-credit-orc-master-thd.html <S> UA: <S> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/928093-original-routing-credit-orc-after-involuntary-re-routing-re-booking-merged-10.html <S> Just to add my personal experience. <S> I've been re-routed multiple times on AA flights intended to be credited to BA, and always received original BA credit. <S> I've been re-routed to Delta and received both original BA credit as well as Flying Blue credit. <A> I had a Lufthansa flight converted to train, and lost the miles; and had re-routings that resulted in more or fewer miles, depending on longer/ shorter routes. <S> So if you don't do anything, it is based on what you really fly. <A> It probably depends on the alliance. <S> Most of my involuntary rebookings involve American Airlines and I was usually credit the miles for the original routing, plus a hefty bonus for the troubles. <S> One time though I had a UA flight rebooked in AC and in that case I did get miles for both the original and the new flight, credited to different award accounts. <S> In any case, I never ended up with fewer than expected.
| If you are rebooked on an airline on a different alliance, you can claim duplicate credit for membership in that alliance too.
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Visa requirements for Dubai airport Good afternoon, I'm flying to New Zealand next year and have a 17 hour layover in Dubai, do I need a visa to leave the airport? <Q> Except for GCC citizens, everyone needs a visa to enter the UAE. <S> The difference is if you can get the visa on arrival or do you have to apply for it in advance - and that depends on your nationality. <A> It depends on your nationality. <S> I flew to NZ with a layover in Dubai, so same as you, and I didn't need any visa, my italian passport was enough. <S> I left the airport with no problem. <S> (not true that "Except for GCC citizens, everyone needs a visa to enter the UAE.") <A> Find out here .
| You might need visa depending on your nationality. If you are travelling with Emirates Airlines, they will provide free transit visa, accommodation and ground transfer for all transits above 8 hours, provided you apply through 'manage booking' at least 24 hours before you fly.
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UK Train - Can I board at a different station I have a train ticket that goes from Liverpool to Hull and has 2 changes. It goes from Liverpool Central to Liverpool South Parkway, Liverpool South Parkway to Leeds and Leeds to Hull. I was wondering whether I can just start my journey from Liverpool South Parkway? Thanks for your time. <Q> It depends what sort of ticket you have. <S> If your ticket is an "Advance" single, this means it's an inflexible ticket, and any trains for which the time is specifically printed on your ticket (or a separate reservation coupon) must be the ones you use (where a time is not printed, the rules are a little ambiguous but it's usually taken to mean you may use any train that does not offer seat reservations). <S> In these cases, by the letter of the rules, you must complete your whole journey, so theoretically you would have to start from Liverpool Central. <S> However, recently the Rail Delivery Group (an industry body which is an association of train operators) have been advising individual train operators to show discretion in these sorts of cases. <S> Coupled with the fact that (as pointed out in the comments below) there's no way for the barrier staff to tell that you've just walked into the station vs having arrived on a train, I would probably be comfortable with starting late at South Parkway myself, but it's up to you whether you want to go against the letter of the rules and so take the (small) risk of having to pay for the journey again. <S> If your ticket, on the other hand, is an anytime single or return, or an off-peak or super off-peak single or return, you can start your journey "late" at Liverpool South Parkway, assuming the fare is for Liverpool Stations to Hull (correct me if I'm wrong on this point as it could change the answer). <S> Since these fares are issued from Liverpool Stations, besides your options for starting "late" at South Parkway, you can also use the other three stations in central Liverpool (Moorfields, James Street, and Lime Street), which might be useful for you if your Leeds train runs from Liverpool Lime Street. <A> If you have an off-peak ticket you can Break of journey is allowed on the outward portion of Off-Peak tickets unless otherwise indicated by a restriction shown against the ticket's validity code and in all cases on the return portion of Off-Peak return tickets. <S> If you intend to start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station, please call 03457 48 49 50 to check if it is available on your specific journey. <S> Source <S> http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46590.aspx <S> If you have an Anytime ticket You may start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station along the route of travel. <S> Source http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46544.aspx <A> I would have no qualms about doing that with any ticket. <S> It is very very unlikely that a ticket inspector is going to stop you boarding. <S> (And once on board at Liverpool South Parkway there will be no issue at all.) <S> As other answers say, it may not be strictly in accordance with the rules, but provided you are not doing so to gain an advantage (i.e. the price from Liverpool South Parkway is the same as from Liverpool Central) <S> then it is going to be fine. <S> It is definitely not fine to get a cheap Advance ticket for a long journey in order to get on halfway along the route where only more expensive tickets are available. <S> But different stations within Liverpool, I wouldn't worry at all.
| You may start, break and resume, or end your journey at any intermediate station along the route of travel on Off-Peak tickets unless the ticket restriction for the journey you are making does not allow it.
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Does Ryanair charge the boarding pass reprint fee in practice? I'm on my way to Stansted airport and I realized I forgot to print my boarding pass and I also can't use the mobile BP as I'm a non-EU citizen. Would Ryanair actually charge me 15 pounds to get the BP? <Q> Completely depends on the agent. <S> When I was in London in January, I failed to find anywhere to print it, and when I got to Stansted, one agent did want to charge me 15 quid. <S> Discretely went to another agent, who printed it for free. <S> Don't know if being EEA or non-EEA matters, but it could (with EEA pax being treated more strictly, seeing as non-EEA pax have to visit the counter anyway). <A> No, Ryanair no longer seems to charge this silly fee. <S> I was in a long line of people who likewise forgot to do it at home <S> and nobody was charged for the service. <S> However I did see Ryanair charging 50 pounds to people who forgot to check-in online, so they probably do enforce some of their rules. <A> Yes, you may be charged. <S> I was charged at Wroclaw airport when I manged to lose my printout between leaving the hotel and the airport.
| Based on others' experiences, it appears some agents may waive the fee, but you cannot rely on this happening.
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Is there a general clue on whether a flight serves meals? My recent flight from Warsaw to Tallinn by LOT didn't serve a meal. They only served a slice of chocolate and coffee, and I got pretty upset with it. The flight time is less than 100 minutes but my past experience on Seoul-Tokyo flight by Korean Air served a meal, so I expected it. On the other hand, on my recent flight from Minsk to Kiev, which was scheduled to take 60 minutes (but was actually only 45 minutes), they served a pack of sandwiches. I asked an attendant for three more packs of sandwiches and it was enough to fill my appetite at the night. I also assumed that if it is an international flight, a meal is served. But I found this not to be correct. Also, as far as I know when I book a ticket, the meal information is not always displayed. I just checked but my flight reservation email didn't display it either. So is there any rule on whether a meal is served or not? How can I find out in advance? I would like to decide if I should eat something before the flight... The question is restricted to non-LCC airlines. <Q> There are no universal rules requiring food to be served on any flight. <S> The decision to serve or not is pretty much up to the airline. <S> And as you have discovered there is a huge difference in what airlines do. <S> I have been on plenty of short flights with meal service and plenty with nothing but a pack of peanuts. <S> I have been on long hauls where food was served too many times and long hauls were a bit more would have been desirable. <S> Many airlines do show some sort of indication of the services provided, but not all do. <S> If you don't see it noted, you can always give them a call if you feel your flight is long enough for a need to eat. <S> But to be honest getting angry because they didn't feed you on a short flight is a bit childish. <S> You, as a traveler, have the bulk of responsibility to take care of yourself, it is not the airline's responsibility to feed you anytime you feel hungry. <A> As with most things nowadays, there is a webpage for it ;-) <S> Actually, there are (at least) two: <S> You can search or browse by airline which should provide you with a good starting point to figure out the food choices for your connection. <S> Feel free to share your own experiences and help these sites grow! <A> For any flight over 3-4 hours, international or not, I would expect a meal to be served. <S> Flights over 8-10 hours will often serve two meals, depending on the timing. <S> If you get more food than that, be happy :-) <S> but I wouldn't expect it. <S> As you said, usually you'll see on your ticket if a meal will be served. <S> It depends where you book, but if a meal is not shown on the ticket it is probably not being served. <S> airline call center employees will often give different answers...). <S> I always bring my own food just in <S> case- tastes better anyway! <S> Happy travels! <A> I think there are a few things here that need to be accounted for: <S> Does the flight itself have catering services. <S> How many meal services there are (this depends on the length of the flight) <S> Is the meal service free, complimentary or charged What constitutes a "meal". <S> The answer to all the above is - it depends entirely on the airline; and there are websites (as pointed to by martin in his answer ) that attempt to tabulate this information but the bottom line is, unless you specifically check with the airline for that specific flight - you will not get a definitive answer. <S> Even if meal service is available on a flight, it may be suspended due to turbulence (this happened to me once on a flight to Amsterdam where the weather got really bumpy). <S> The shortest flight I have been one that served something <S> was the flight from the old Dammam airport to Manama. <S> This flight took off, climbed to 6,000 feet, and then landed. <S> Entire flight time was less than 15 minutes. <S> Upon entering the cabin you were handed: A pack of juice The landing card to fill for Bahrain <S> You had just enough time to finish both before the plane touched down. <S> My most bizarre experience was recently on a flight where (due to weather) I was bumped to a different airline - which didn't serve complimentary meals even though the original airline I booked with did. <S> I ended up having to pay for a coffee on board. <S> Then I have been on some airlines where you can ask for an additional serving of the entire meal (so two complete meals) and were happily taken care of; and then on the Emirates A380 <S> that has a bar that is open during flight where you can enjoy all manners of snacks and drinks.
| Some airlines will have meal info on their websites. The only surefire way to know is to call the airline (and even then...
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I've lost my ID, will I still be able to travel? My wallet and ID were stolen, and I have a Ryanair flight in two days. I don't have time to get a new one (national holiday tomorrow). Will I be able to travel with Ryanair with a scanned copy or a "replacement document" (a paper with the same data as the ID, issued by the government for use in the meantime it takes for the actual card to arrive)? I can also bring a police report stating I had my wallet stolen. That is, will I be able to clear the Ryanair boarding check and the entry passport check? I'm travelling inside the EU (to the UK and back). I'm a Portuguese citizen. <Q> You have a bigger problem than "will Ryanair let me fly" but rather "will I be admitted to the UK". <S> To be admitted to the UK, you must usually have a passport, or an EEA national identity card. <S> You don't have either, which makes admission difficult. <S> You would only be admitted if you can convince the Border Officer of your EU citizenship. <S> If you aren't admitted, Ryanair will be fined, and forced to take you back to wherever you came from. <S> Ryanair won't take the risk of this happening. <S> You won't be allowed to fly. <A> As others stated, you won't make it without an Id, so your best bet is to request a new ID.A Portuguese ID can be requested with very high urgency. <S> You can do it today and still get it today or Friday (depending on your flight schedule it might work), plus it's close enough from the airport to just go there directly after (assuming you're in Lisbon). <S> https://www.portaldocidadao.pt/web/instituto-dos-registos-e-do-notariado/cartao-de-cidadao <S> See "custo" <S> You will pay 50 Euros but it might be worth it. <S> You can request/make it in any "citizen shop"/loja <S> do cidadadão but you will have to get the physical card at "justice campus"/campus da justiça in Parque das Nações, Lisbon. <S> Again, assuming you're in Lisbon, since you have to get it there I would just go there directly ASAP. <S> They're open until 19h. <S> Also, they will give you a receipt that allows you to drive. <S> At least that happens in a regular renewal since they keep your old ID. <S> I am not sure that paper would work for flying as well. <S> You might want to ask there just as plan B. <A> I can only answer to you how the situation in Switzerland and the Netherlands is. <S> Be sure to arrive a couple of hours earlier than normally, because you probably won't be the only one having that issue. <S> Take the following things with you: <S> Flight Tickets <S> Hotel reservation <S> Some kind of document from your village, where they state, who you are A copy of your stolen ID card <S> The police report <S> If you have already ordered a new ID, take a copy of the ordering conformation with you Drivers licence or some other official card <S> A picture which is complient with the picture rules for ID cards About 50-150 Euro <S> This is the goverment website for an emergency passport at Zürich Airport in German <S> And the one in dutch for Amsterdam Schiphol
| You are able to aquire an emergency passport at the airport, when you lose your ID or passport or when it has been stolen.
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Is it possible to get the boarding pass for another flight at a different airport? Consider the following situation. You have a ticket from airline A from airport X to airport Y ,then another ticket (different PNR, airline B ) from airport Y to airport Z . The connection time in between flights is short, so can you ask check-in counter of airline B at airport X to give you the boarding pass for the second leg of your journey? Assume that you don't have any check-in luggage. All the flights are international and you have all the required visas on your passport. <Q> Is it possible? <S> Yes, there's nothing stopping them other then airline or station specific rules. <S> This means there's no way for anyone to answer specifically. <S> But, your best option is online check-in and either print your boarding pass or keep in on your phone. <A> Your best route is to determine if on-line check in is possible for your second flight. <S> If yes, than just do that. <S> If no, it's unlikely Airline B will allow you to check in at airport X. <S> The main reason why online check in is sometimes not available, is that the airline wants to do a documentation check at the check in counter. <S> The staff at airport X may not have the authority or training to check docs for travel to airport Z. <S> They tend to be sticklers about the rules, since the potential fines and legal entanglements are quite bad for the airline. <S> Unfortunately these rules change rather frequently. <S> I see different methods even on the same routes with the same carrier. <S> Sometimes you can check in online and sometimes you can't. <S> Sometimes they check docs at check in, sometimes at the gate and sometimes not at all. <A> Sure it is possible but not always. <S> If airline B has a presence at airport X than it is highly likely they can do that unless the second flight is too far ahead. <S> This happened to me once when I had a 10 hour flight followed by a 15 minute connection (originally longer but shorted due to late departure) and they could not produce the second boarding pass. <S> They said if the flight was more than 6 hours away, the system would not print a pass but this might depend on the airline. <S> Sometimes they do it, sometimes not. <S> Even some airlines that appear the same to us consumers can be different entities. <S> I had a similar connection between two flights and I could not get a boarding pass for the second leg which was domestic upon checking in for the first international leg. <S> I was told they were different companies and used different systems even though to me both were on the same carrier which they sold me over the phone by the same agent. <S> Online check-in is always a good idea. <S> You can sometimes do it from the airport using WiFi or at an Internet Cafe or similar. <S> Most online check-in allows people to check-in 23 hours or so in advance. <A> Depends on the airline and route. <S> In March 2016, I flew PTP-CDG on XL Airways, with an Air France connection to ZRH, and had checked in online for the connection. <S> But nope, the Air France check-in kiosk at PTP would not recognise my booking, either through the reference number or me scanning my identity card, so I had to get the boarding pass at a kiosk located airside at CDG
| If Airline B does not a presence at airport X, you can still try at one of its partners if you know which the airline alliance. That depends on the details and it's hard to determine up front.
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How much time do I need to connect from American Airlines to British Airways at London Heathrow? If I fly through London Heathrow, arriving on American, and on to Prague on British Air and it is booked all together. Will I have to retrieve my bags and go through customs in London? If so, what is the minimum recommended time to allow for this layover? One of the possible flight options just gives me an hour in London, while another gives 5 hours. <Q> I would have no confidence in a layover of only an hour at Heathrow. <S> To begin with, you're almost certainly going to need to change terminals. <S> Long-haul AA flights arrive in Terminal 3 ( https://www.heathrow-airport-guide.co.uk ). <S> All BA flights operate out of Terminal 5. <S> To get from Terminal 3 to 5, you need to take the Heathrow Express train service. <S> This service runs every 15 minutes, and estimated travel time is 20 minutes ( http://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/getting-around-heathrow/travel-between-terminals ). <S> This means you're looking at a possible 35 minutes in travel time alone. <S> Once you're at Terminal 5, you're still not guaranteed a simple dash to your gate. <S> Terminal 5 consists of three concourses: <S> A, B and C. <S> Only the A gates are located in the main building. <S> If your flight leaves from the B or C concourses, you need to take an additional shuttle train. <S> From there, the actual walk to your gate may take up to an additional 10 minutes. <S> As a final complication, many BA flights require the use of shuttle buses to get from the gate to the plane. <S> Because of this, BA guidelines indicate you must be at your departure gate at least 20 minutes before your flight departs. <S> I would not be comfortable with anything less than two hours. <A> Since it's in a single booking, feel free to take the shortest connection, because if you miss it, the airline is obliged to put you on the next flight for free. <S> You also don't need to collect luggage. <A> Choose what company recommend you. <S> Usually you should not collect the baggage, but check-in/baggage-drop will confirm you where you should collect the baggage.. <S> Don't worry about missing the flight. <S> You will be rebooked to the next flight. <A> I don't think an hour is enough. <S> I had to do this connection. <S> My first flight left late and I had only 25 minutes left. <S> I missed my connection and was stuck in London for a day. <S> The truth is the airline was only willing to put me on a flight three days away <S> but I shelled out an extra $1100 and got out of Heathrow on the very next flight 24 hours later.
| In my opinion, leaving yourself an hour layover an Heathrow is nowhere near enough.
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Can't check-in on Ryanair, because an adult is registered as a teen and a teen is registered as an adult On Ryanair online check-in, when I typed my birth date I got an error saying teens must be under 16 years old. Vice-versa for my son (I can't get it to accept the birth date because it says adults must be over 16. How can I correct this? <Q> I arrived at the airport earlier and talked to the person at the check-in counter. <S> It was indeed the case that I was registered as a teen and my son as an adult. <S> They cleared everything up on the spot. <S> They switched our data, correcting the mistake; however, we had to check-in at the airport (free of charge) on both the out flight and the return flight. <A> You need to contact Ryanair to sort this out - I have no idea why they do this as there is no fare difference between a teen and an adult ticket. <S> Ryanair's number is different depending on where you are, but they are all available on their website . <A> Personally I would use the correct month and day, but type in the wrong year of birth. <S> Ryanair doesn't price teen tickets differently from adult tickets, so I doubt they care if someone books the wrong fare type for themselves. <A> If you have this problem ring Ryanair customer services. <S> I had the same problem, I booked a 16 year old as a teen and a teen (14 year old) as an adult. <S> I panicked, especially after reading a lot of the forums, saying it would be a nightmare to change, will cost me money, and I will have to go to the airport 4 hours early. <S> I did have to wait awhile in the queue when I phoned Ryanair <S> but when I did get through it was all sorted for me. <S> The Ryanair emomployee was very helpful, explained what I did wrong, and also checked all the other passengers for me.
| Airlines don't really care if you get those details right and if someone does notice it's always possible to correct the check in data at the airport.
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Is it possible to book a flight at the gate after deplaning from another flight? I am traveling to Santa Barbara, CA. I have flights booked to Los Angeles scheduled to land at 10:05 pm; then I plan to rent a car and drive the remaining 2 hours or so to SB. However, there is a flight from LAX to SBA that departs at 10:35 pm. If it so happened that my LA flight got in early, and the gates were near each other, would it be possible to book a seat on that flight right at the gate, half an hour before departure, and save myself the drive? <Q> That probably depends on the airport. <S> In general, they're not equipped at the gate to sell you a ticket, but it might be possible. <S> If you got in early enough you could leave the secure area, go to the ticket desk, book a ticket (likely expensive) and then come back. <S> You can then check in online, or if not possible, go to the podium for the flight's gate, explain what you did <S> and they can print you a boarding pass. <S> This, of course, assumes you have no checked bags. <A> You may or may not be able to buy at the gate <S> and it's hard to predict whether you can or not. <S> Your best bet would be to try buy one directly on the United App and you can also check in there. <S> United is in terminal 7 and 8 at LAX. <S> Most Santa Barbara flights leave from terminal 8. <S> A 30 minute connection is doable, if you have no checked luggage and the incoming flight is on time, especially if it also gets in at Terminal 8. <S> United minimum check in time is 30 minutes for LAX. <S> You must also be at the gate at least 15 minutes before departure. <S> See https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/airport/process/default.aspx#minimum-reqd-times EDIT: edited ticket availability at the gate. <A> (I've been working adjunct to the airline industry for 20 years--those check-in kiosks you see? <S> That--along with some other team members, of course--was I, starting in 1996, with the first fully successful kiosks fielded for NorthWest Airlines in February of 1997.) <S> So, for this: the numbers won't work. <S> In general, check-ins (never mind purchases) are limited to X minutes before the scheduled departure time. <S> The usual minimum is 30 minutes before departure. <S> You won't be able to get off the plane and over to the next counter in time--because the arrival and departure times are already separated by 30 minutes. <S> Even if you get in early, deplaning and getting yourself to the next gate is going to eat that time pad. <S> No matter the privileges assigned to the gate agent sine code, the GDS (reservation system) will likely reject the new reservation because of time constraints. <S> Even if overridden and you somehow board the plane, your luggage will already be on the way to baggage pick-up when you board and won't be available in SBA when you land. <S> Can't you just rebook online now to add the LAX->SBA segment (assuming it's the same airline)? <S> That saves you the time spent getting to the gate agent, getting the flight paid for, and so on--and your luggage ends up in the right place. <S> Even if it's not the same airline--you could book now and save the extra effort. <A> Yes, Gate Agents <S> can book new tickets (no cash though) but this wouldn't be my first plan because: They have a lot to do otherwise. <S> You still have to comply with the 30-45 min purchase requirement and 2005-2035 is not enough time. <S> If you have cabin luggage only and the cost is not significant to you or whoever is paying, you can either: <S> Book a cheap ticket and risk losing the change fee. <S> Buy a refundable ticket likely at a higher price. <S> Change your inbound to an earlier flight <A> My experience is yes. <S> But you pay double or more for it. <S> At the gate. <S> If a seat is to be had. <S> Not sure of America. <S> Normally you are ahead upgrading seats at the gate.
| The simplest answer might be to try to buy a ticket online, if it will let you, as soon as you arrive at the airport.
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How should a backpacker fill out home address field in immigration/custom cards Arrival cards, Immigration cards, Custom declaration cards at airports often have a field that asks for home address/country of residence, etc... What if a backpacker no longer maintains a residence and therefore has no home address (and has no family that has a home address either)? How should a backpacker fill out that field? Should he leave it blank? Can he write a non-residential mailing address instead? Do immigration/custom officers even care about that field? <Q> While it might seem so, most intentional backpackers aren't necessarily 'homeless' and keep a domicile somewhere. <S> Parents, friends, address of their storage unit, even a PO Box would suffice. <S> Point being, it doesn't have to be a house, apartment or actual living space. <S> For US Persons, it's whatever you use for a Driver License or State ID. <S> If you had to receive official correspondence, what address would you use? <A> Unless you've grown up on the streets you did have an address at some point in your life. <S> No one is going to check if you actually live there <S> and nobody really cares. <S> The field is just a formality in case they need your postal address for some reason. <S> Whether or not you can actually receive correspondence at that address is not anyone's concern. <S> In some countries (e.g. Czech Republic) there is also the option to register yourself as a person without a residency, in which case your address would be the address of the local municipality office. <S> This is the address that many homeless people have, as well as those who try to hide their real location from creditors, ex-husbands, etc. <A> All you need is an address. <S> It is best though if it matches your other documents. <S> For example, nearly every one who travels has a credit card <S> and I do not know of any banks who would issue one without an address. <S> Driver's licenses also have addresses in many country. <S> Using an address that matches helps you use these other documents to confirm your identity and will appear natural when immigration does a cross-check. <S> Should neither apply then you will have to be creative, perhaps workplace or a shared address used for deliveries. <S> The <S> Where do you live? <S> question is often asked at immigration, so I would much prefer to supply an address than leave it blank and try to explain that. <S> Remember that they usually want to know that you can support yourself, so not having an address may raise question about employment. <A> If your passport (or even your national ID card) has a residential address listed (like the French passport/ID) then write down that address. <S> That's what I do in the many countries that I travel to that require an address. <S> The fact that this address may or may not be valid is beside the point. <S> It's on the passport, it's official... :-) <S> If not, write whatever address you last had. <S> It's not like they are going to check, unless you are from a country that is on their shit list. <S> But in that case, you probably don't get visa-free entry, and would have to apply for a visa, where you'd have to provide an address... <S> The probability that their administration will want to contact you is very small -- and generally that would be while you are in-country, which is why they ask where you'll stay. <S> And they can reach you at the border if they really want to talk to you. <S> Likewise, unless you're facing a very suspicious immigration officer (and your attitude justifies their suspicion), you won't have to prove your address. <S> Never once, in close to 30 years of international travel, have I been asked once to prove my address at a border. <S> And I used to carry a backpack and had long hair too! <S> Now, not so much of course... Bottom line, write down your last address and forget about it.
| Write down your last known address and forget about it. Now if you truly have no address written on any ID or bill or other official document, then I would use an old one first or some of close family.
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Baggage rule for international traveller on domestic flight I will be travelling from Minneapolis to Chicago on a domestic flight to catch an international flight to India. What rule will be applied for my baggage from Minneapolis to Chicago? <Q> That depends if this is a single ticket or not. <S> When you have a single ticket covering multiple airlines or a combination of flights with different rules, such as domestic and international as per your example, there is a Most Significant Carrier rule which says which one rule for checked baggage applies. <S> Usually that will make the rule of the international flight apply but the actual agreement (IATA Resolution 302) is not that simple. <S> Cathay Pacific has their own page which briefly explains how the MSC rule works (at least from their perspective). <S> This is just one example, so you should check with the actual airline(s) you are flying for their version. <S> When you have two tickets, then you have two tickets each with their own rule. <S> The bookings do not know about each other, so it makes no sense to expect one booking to affect the other. <S> There is no such rule for cabin luggage , including carry-on and personal items, so for those you must comply with the smallest and lightest allowance of all your flights. <A> There are many variables that can affect this, but assuming both flights are with the same airline and are booked on a single ticket, checked baggage allowance and fees will typically be based on your international flight (i.e. calculated as though you are flying directly from Minneapolis to Mumbai and not on two separate flights). <S> This is also likely to be true if the international flight is with a different airline with which your first airline has a codeshare agreement, but will likely then be based on your originating airline's luggage fees and rules. <S> If the bookings are on separate tickets, then you will pay bag fees on each flight, without regard to your other flight. <S> This can vary by airline, too, so it's best to look up your originating flight's airline's website to see specifically how your airline does this. <A> For luggage (weight) allowance, you can go by the international wheight allowance (usually 23 + 23kg or 23 + 32kg) as long as you've booked all the flights in a single reservation. <S> If the companies are partners, the domestic one (usually just one 23kg piece) will let you check in your international luggage with no extra charge. <S> Regarding security checks and forbidden items, always go by the stricter rules. <S> For instance, Germany has very strict rules against Zippo lighters, they almost apprehended mine once, luckily the guard said he would allow if I emptied out the lighter by removing the filling and wick, and if you put it in the checked luggage is even worse, they can open it and take it away. <S> Denmark on the other hand has no problems with Zippos (even if filled). <S> So my advice is always go by the stricter rules in this matter, or risk having your property apprehended. <A> I flew on Delta this year, on a single ticket going from Seattle to Paris CDG. <S> We had a stopover in Minneapolis. <S> We had no issues with the luggage because it was all handled by Delta in Seattle and considered as an international flight for the whole stretch. <S> Rewind back to December of last year, we flew on Delta from Seattle to Tokyo - this time with a flight to LAX first (also single ticket, denoted as a stopover). <S> We had no issue with the two checked bags policy as outlined in @Rafael's answer, but the flight from Seattle to LAX was treated as a domestic flight, where we were not allowed two carry on items and a personal (they did offer to check them for free, but nobody likes to have fancy electronics be checked - amirite). <S> The LAX to Tokyo portion wasn't an issue because that was an international flight. <S> You should look on the airline's website or give them a call to find out.
| In terms of pure luggage allowances, it depends solely on the airline.
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Why are they not asking me about my passport number for my booking? Is it OK when they are not asking my passport number for the travel? I ask because I bought my ticket and a few days later I realized they did not ask. How do I change my details to enter my document for the travel? <Q> It's very simple. <S> A Passport number (or other valid travel doc) is required to travel, not to buy a ticket. <S> It's not uncommon for first time travelers to buy tickets while their Passport application is still being processed. <S> Note, if you do not or cannot provide a valid Passport, you will be denied boarding with no compensation. <S> You can modify the Passport number any time, probably without cost, either at the airline's website or by calling reservations. <A> Likely you will get an e-mail or (if asked to be contacted in an other way) a text message or a letter, to add your passport information to the booking. <S> For many travels, you do not need to add the information before you check in. <S> If that is so for your travel, you will be asked to add it as part of your checking-in. <S> There are travels, even international ones, where you do not need to give a passport number. <S> If so, you do not need to add your passport number at all. <S> If you do not want to wait, you can usually go to the website of the airline, to your travel agent if they booked for you or call the airline company on their help line. <S> Once you logged into your account or called up your flight with the information given to you, you can find the information where and how to add your passport number. <S> Where I have written 'passport' it can also be an other accepted travel document if that is acceptable for your flight. <S> It is possible that your airline does not allow passengers to alter or add passport numbers after booking the flight, in that case you may have to contact the airline to have an agent to add it for you. <S> (Although this is less likely with airlines that do not ask for the document details at the time of booking.) <S> In some cases, the information can be added as late as when you are in the airport to check in just before the flight, but better ask earlier, as some international travel can only be done if the information is at the airline at least 24 hours (or sometimes more) before travel. <A> This is absolutely normal. <S> A passport is not required to purchase a ticket and you may be doing it for someone else or someone else could be doing it for you, so only need the full name of passenger is needed. <S> This makes the process of buying quicker. <S> Any time after the booking goes through, passengers (which may not be the purchaser) can complete their information, up to right at the moment of booking, although some jurisdictions require that info is send a certain amount of time ahead of travel. <S> A passport is required for international travel but not always for domestic travel. <S> I am not sure there are even exceptions to the international travel requires a passport common knowledge (they may be some close countries that allow travel between them without a passport, a good other question!). <S> In both cases, most countries now change passport numbers. <S> At least the expiry date will change. <A> It very much depends from where to where you travel. <S> If I fly from Europe to the USA, I have to supply my passport number when booking my ticket. <S> OTOH, if I book a ticket to another Schengen country, even with the same airline company, I don't have to supply a passport number. <S> I won't go through immigration when travelling between Schengen countries, and airline companies are not asked for passport numbers. <S> Hence, they don't ask (and I would not be surprised if they are not even allowed to ask for the passport number for such flights). <A> If you are not crossing international boundaries, then passport information is not required. <S> It also may not be required if you do not need a passport for the itinerary (for example, flying within the Schengen zone, <S> GCC citizens flying within the GCC, etc.) <S> In my experience KLM, Emirates, Qatar and Etihad all allow customers to update their passport information online. <S> They even notify you when your passport has expired to update that information. <S> However, doing so is only required if you plan on checking in online. <S> Otherwise, if required, your passport information is collected at the check-in desk or the self-service check-in kiosks.
| Not asking for passport info at booking time, even when required for travel, can reduce issues since someone may renew or lose a passport in between booking and travel.
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What's the current status of direct London-Amsterdam Eurostar trains? In May 2017, there were various press reports that Eurostar would run direct trains from London to Amsterdam by the end of the year; for example, see the London Evening Standard . What is the current status of those plans? Eurostar bookings are open for January 2018, but when I search for London to Amsterdam, any date I try yields Sorry, there are no trains coming back on your chosen date at the moment. Please try again later. It does recognise Amsterdam as a destination though, unlike other Dutch stations not planned to be serviced by Eurostar. What is the latest status on the starting date for direct Eurostar trains between London and Amsterdam? <Q> Edit 4 February 2020 Please note that this answer is now of historical interest only. <S> For the full picture see the answer by @jcaron <S> When are the direct Eurostar trains from Amsterdam to London planned to start? <S> In brief they start from 30 April 2020 from Amsterdam Centraal but only on 18 May 2020 from Rotterdam Centraal as more work on the terminal is needed there. <S> ================ <S> historical bit starts here ================== <S> The situation has moved on now. <S> The man in seat 61 has even stated a page about progress. <S> https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/direct-eurostar-london-to-amsterdam.htm <S> Basically the hope is to start trains in spring 2018 and test trains have already been running over the route. <S> Work has stated on facilities both at Rotterdam Centraal and Amsterdam Centraal to security check passengers going to London. <S> However exact arrangements will be subject to government approval so it may still be the case when the service starts that passengers for London will have to detrain in Brussel/Bruxelles for checks. <S> The article has more details albeit tentative at this stage (February 2018). <S> ========= <S> = <S> edit 9 February = <S> ============= <S> As luck would have it the day after I posted that the CEO of Eurostar rang Mark Smith (aka the Man in Seat 61) to tell him that services will start from 4 April and booking will open from 20 Feb. <S> See his tweet here and various other tweets about the same time. <S> ========== <S> further edit 7 March = <S> ========== <S> So although the trains will return they will only carry Amsterdam Brussels passengers and Brussels London. <S> The stop at Brussels is not long enough to disembark and re-check in. <S> More details on the Seat 61 page linked to above. <A> It's definitely not on track for 2017. <S> The most recent predictions indicate no earlier than Easter of 2018. <S> From the Independent <A> Direct trains (in the sense "remain in the same train") in the London -> <S> Amsterdam direction have been operating since April 2018. <S> However, until now, in the reverse direction (Amsterdam -> London), users had to take a Thalys from Amsterdam to Brussels, undergo security screening and passport control there, and then board an Eurostar train to London. <S> This will change in April 2020 with the introduction of checks directly in Amsterdam, and one-train journey from Amsterdam to London. <S> Direct travel from Rotterdam to London will be introduced in May 2020. <S> See https://travel.stackexchange.com/a/152224/30703 for details. <A> Several Dutch sources claim it will start from December 2017 as well. <S> Before Christmas: https://www.ad.nl/economie/naar-hartje-londen-in-slechts-drie-uur~a8311739/ Before Christmas: <S> http://www.treinreiziger.nl/eurostar-bij-lancering-1-trein-per-dag-naar-londen/ Half December: https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/amsterdam-cs-krijgt-eigen-terminal-voor-trein-naar-londen~a4496377/ <S> The end of this year: <S> https://www.businessinsider.nl/nieuwe-eurostar-trein-uit-londen-geeft-veel-gedoe-op-amsterdam-cs-en-schiphol/ <S> The end of this year: https://fd.nl/ondernemen/1203397/eind-dit-jaar-eerste-hogesnelheidstrein-amsterdam-londen <S> Now, these articles are also from May 2017, and seem to be based on a quote by Eurostar CEO Nicolas Petrovic, so presumably a bit too optimistic. <S> His plans are to start with two daily trips, and add a third around Easter 2018. <S> On the other hand, a 'company source' says 'regular' (as opposed to test driving?) <S> service won't start until Easter: <S> http://railnews.mobi/news/2017/05/25-eurostar-plans-easter-launch-to.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter <S> I haven't been able to find any more recent information, but if they were really starting in December, they would probably have started advertising already. <A> Co-incidentally <S> The Guardian / Mark Smith (The Man in Seat 61) recently published on 9th October 2017: <S> Eurostar plans to start direct trains from London to Amsterdam Centraal next year, reducing the journey time to 3hr 55min. <S> In the meantime, it’s easy to reach the Netherlands by train with a change in Brussels, in around 4hr 40min from £99 return booking with Eurostar or b-europe.com.
| It is now clear that although direct London Amsterdam trains will start there will be no direct Amsterdam service until passport checks can be implemented at the Dutch end.
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How do I access bicycle lockers at UK train stations? In the UK, some train stations have bicycle lockers, such as in Earley or Lancaster . It looks like smaller stations (but not the very smallest) are more likely to have those than larger stations; I couldn't find any at Reading, Paddington, or Birmingham New Street. But the question is: how do I access those lockers? I couldn't find any relevant information on the websites of National Rail, South Western Railway (manages Earley), or Virgin Trains (manages Lancaster); I only find information about taking bicycles on the train, not parking them securely beyond the useless "you can park your bicycle at the station". How would I get apply for access to one of those bicycle lockers? Who manages them? Are they by subscription only, or can I rent one for the day if available? With Google Search, I found results for different parts of the USA and for Ireland , but the UK ones remain a mystery. <Q> Cycle storage appears to be a local amenity, and not centrally managed by the railways. <S> For instance, in the West Midlands, they are operated by Network West Midlands and you would rent one from them. <S> Things are organized as a Bicycle Locker User Club (BLUC) with Transport for Greater Manchester locations. <S> Local councils may also oversee storage facilities, both at and outside of railway and bus stations, for example Wandsworth , London. <S> As with such schemes in the U.S., the bicycle lockers are aimed at local commuters who would ride their bicycles from home to the station, then take the train to work. <S> The Network West Midlands requires a yearly subscription, and initial membership in the TfGM BLUC is for two years. <S> In any case, we may surmise from these requirements as well as the wording of the applications they are not intended for ad-hoc users or visitors— for most of whom ordinary bicycle stands or racks might be deemed adequate. <A> This isn't a set of individual lockers, rather it's a secure bike shed which requires a pass card to access, but I know of a similar facility at Surbiton station <S> (also managed by South Western Railway). <S> I found a blog , from a disgruntled commuter who couldn't get a space in the secure parking shed. <S> It's from 2010, when it first opened, when the franchise was run by South West Trains (SWT). <S> Apparently the way to get a card was to be lucky: <S> I spoke to the SWT police liaison officer on Wednesday 12th <S> May, when I first saw the poster telling us that spaces had all gone. <S> He called me back to say that the station manager had put up a poster and spaces where taken on a first come, first served basis. <S> All places when within the day. <S> Another cyclist told me that he had asked at the service counter and had his name had been written down and was later told he had been successful. <S> [...] <S> I was aware that the secure compound was coming, from discussions with SWT Customer Service Centre, when the construction started, I was actively looking out for a notice telling me how to apply for a place. <S> I did ask at the counter, to be told that customers would find out in due course. <S> If I can miss the publicity then there was something flawed. <S> This would tally with choster's answer that it's a local amenity, and possibly not a well managed one at that. <S> Your best bet may be to talk to station staff to find out local information. <A> It is just a metal box, you turn up, put your bike in, then put your own padlock on the door. <S> Lockers at Blantyre station. <S> Photo from Cyclestreets , by Andypreece, CC-BY-SA <S> So no cost, and no need to book it in advance. <S> But it does mean it is first come first served. <S> Small stations may only have a few lockers, and they are often filled up by commuters in the morning, and in use for the whole day. <S> So you are unlikely to get a space, unless you arrive early in the morning. <S> Most stations have plenty of other bicycle parking, ie racks. <S> This is usually next to the lockers. <S> So no problem finding somewhere to park your bike. <S> Though this means you need to lock it securely to the rack, as well as remove any parts that could be stolen, eg lights. <S> And probably not as much protection from the weather, though some racks are partly under cover.
| At many smaller stations, the bicycle lockers are essentially unmanaged.
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UK Tour - Cash or Credit Card I will be soon travelling to London and I wanted to get a bit of advise from those who have been there already. Would you guys prefer using credit / debit card in café and shopping malls or should we be using cash? I assume for every card transaction I make there will be an international transaction fee because I will be using my Australian credit / debit card. Whereas cash transaction will only be for the price of purchase. Any other relevant advise related to finance and spending would be awesome. Thanks heaps in advance. <Q> For the last 15 years of travel, I have largely relied getting cash from ATMs, and using credit cards for things like hotel bills and car rentals. <S> In the UK, some smaller places might not accept cards, but in most cases cards or cash are acceptable. <S> Amex/Diners cards have much lower acceptance than Visa/Mastercard. <S> It is an unwelcome fact that wherever/however you spend your money abroad, you will have to pay a fee along the way. <S> Do your research on what fees apply and in what cases, but here is what I have found in general: <S> If you buy foreign currency before you leave, you will have to guess how muchyou will need, pay a fee and then carry around great wads of cashwith you. <S> If you do card transactions at checkouts, your bank/credit cardcompany will probably charge you a fee. <S> If you use an ATM to get cash, your bank/credit card company willprobably charge you a fee. <S> The ATM company might also charge you a separatefee (most bank ATMs are free, but <S> some ATMs in convenience shops andbars charge a fee of up to £2). <S> I've not used one, but if you bring a pre-paid currency card, there is probably still a feesomewhere in the process. <S> Anyway, make sure it it backed by Visa orMastercard <S> and you have a reliable way to top it up. <A> You really need to look at the terms on your card. <S> The advantage of getting cash is that you can spread a fixed per-transaction fee across a bunch of purchases. <S> The downside is that card issuers often charge extra for cash withdrawls. <S> If you have a fairly ordinary card then your best bet is probablly to use cash for small transactions. <S> If you are going to use London public transport for more than a day or so <S> and you don't have a travel card with no per-transaction fees <S> then you probablly want to get an oyster card. <S> Contactless travel on london public transport is billled on a daily basis, so fees can quickly build up on foreign cards. <A> You should investigate the Australian market looking for cards which are intended for travelers. <S> There are some marketed to UK residents which have no foreign currency charge and reasonable exchange rate conversions when used outside UK. <A> Check your credit card transaction fees and whether you need to declare you'll be out of the country. <S> Some credit card apps allow you to schedule trips. <S> MasterCard claims that I don't need to <S> but I ran into issues when I went to Paris. <S> Check to see if your bank has a connection with UK banks for cheap or no fee ATM transactions. <S> For me, it was Barclays. <A> You should note that the UK’s smallest denomination bank note is £5. <S> I prefer to use card when visiting if only to avoid coins especially for smaller purchases. <S> My bank charges a fixed percentage for foreign transactions so it might be different if a fixed amount per transaction is charged..
| I use cash for small purchases and credit card for large payments.
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Can I resell my hotel booking? Suppose that person A booked today a hotel room for 3 nights in Dubai to travel in the upcoming February with Hotel Z (room price = 50€). In January, person A changed his mind about the visit and would cancel it. Person B, just realized that next week he has to be in Dubai, so he checked the price and found that room prices are almost 130€. Is it possible for person A to sell his booking confirmation to person B? (Person A sell it for 70€ and person B can save up to 60€ and if there is hosting web service that carries this service, then it can take 10%)... Will Hotel Z mind if such a thing happens? I am assuming that hotel policy is not violated by this kind of booking. And how to make sure of this conduct is acceptable and could work? <Q> Well...yes, it probably violates the terms in some way, especially if persons A and B are unrelated and otherwise unknown to each other. <S> However, most hotels are much looser about who uses a reservation than airlines <S> so it's much more possible than not. <S> Many (most?) actually accommodate this situation by allowing another name to be added for check-in in case that person arrives earlier then the one who made the booking. <A> I have booked (with a legitimate purpose) quite a few hotel rooms for other people. <S> Reservation in my name with my credit card. <S> But I usually mention, from reservation time, that it's for someone else, and mention the name. <S> You could try emailing the hotel, explaining that your colleague is coming instead of you, and could they update the reservation details. <S> On the other hand, a 50 EUR/night hotel in Dubai is at the lower end of things. <S> They might prove to be quite flexible. <S> FYI <S> I had a look at the prices for the Accor group in Dubai next week, plenty of options between 50 and 80 EUR... <A> This boils down to whether hotel reservations are transferable. <S> Most booking of hotels does not require advance information on the guest, they only require information for booking the transaction which is used to charge the reservation either immediately or later. <S> Some hotels charge do not even charge anything until checkout which is going to be a problem since they may charge it to the person who booked. <S> Most times though I was able to substitute a new card at check-in <S> but if the guest does not do so, the original buyer may be charged. <S> In some countries, registration of guest is mandatory and you may have to fill out this information right after booking. <S> This is an exception and I do not remember where it happened to me last <S> but there are several countries that send this information to the local police or an immigration database. <S> In this case you would have to call ahead and ask for the substitution to be made, rather than another guest just showing up instead of the one who booked. <A> You can resell your hotel reservation only if terms permits you to transfer the name on the booking (similar to plane tickets). <S> Without a name transfer there is a risk that hotel won't able to check-in the person to prevent fraud. <S> To avoid the surprise, it's good to confirm the terms with the hotel directly or just take the risk. <S> See: <S> Hotel early arrival for another guest <S> There are several services that offer secondary markets to resell non-refundable travel tickets (similar to Craigslist, eBay or StubHub) such as Hall St , Cancelon , ChangeYourFlight and other similar. <S> See: New sites let you sell unused trips .
| Unlike flight tickets which rarely are, hotels reservations are most often transferable.
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How far in advance can you book a hotel room for an eclipse? In La Higuera, Chile on Tuesday, July 2, 2019 there'll be a total solar eclipse. I thought I'd look for hotels on Expedia but it looks like the farthest out I can book is Feb 25, 2019. timeanddate.com says that Feb 25, 2019 is 500 days away from today (October 13, 2017). I'm guessing that tomorrow Feb 26, 2019 will be available for booking but what if I wanted to book farther out than that? <Q> OTAs (online travel agencies) like Expedia have contracted prices with hotels and most hotels only issue contract rates for a limited future time period. <S> So OTAs limit future date bookings to whatever time period they have contract rates for. <S> As different contracts have different time periods, not every hotel will be bookable during the window offered on the OTA's booking form, returning a no rooms available response. <S> Hotels may accept a direct booking request that far in advance, especially for a major event like an eclipse. <S> The downside is that they may not guarantee a rate at this point in time, but merely pencil you in for that date. <S> Then later when they decide how much they are going to gouge travelers, tell you the actual price. <S> Deposits, how much and if refundable are entirely up to the hotel. <A> In at least this case, hotels in Madras, Oregon booked three years before the August 2017 eclipse , and many reservations made on third-party sites such as Expedia were cancelled. <A> It depends absolutely on the hotel. <S> Small or family owned hotels might allow many years in the future, or only some months; bigger chains typically allow one year ahead. <S> There is no given rule
| I think you are far better making a reservation directly with a hotel than through a third-party reseller, especially for such a special event.
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Any railway stations more than 1 change from London? This question is just for curiosity, rather than for anything practical. Is there any railway station in the UK from which it is not possible to get to London with only 1 change? The obvious candidates for a station like this would be far north/west Wales (but the branch lines either meet the North Wales Coast line, or have direct trains to Birmingham), or Scotland, but I can't see any lines which don't offer a direct service to a mainline. Update As pointed out in the comments, trains from the Isle of Wight (and also Northern Ireland) fall in to this category! It would be interesting if we limit it to mainland though. <Q> Here are a couple of candidates: <S> Whitby and other stations on the Esk Valley Line . <S> The only mainline connection to this line is Middlesbrough, which currently has no direct service to London (it is planned to begin in 2021). <S> See comment below. <S> Thornton Abbey and other stations on the Barton line . <S> It looks like connections would be through Grimsby Town, which also has no direct London service as far as I can tell. <S> Incidentally, these are both in England. <A> Firstly the undisputed ones: Clitheroe to Hall <S> i’ th’ Wood (excluding Blackburn) Barton branch as previously mentioned Baildon <S> Then there are Merseyrail stations from Cressington to Birkdale/Aughton Park/Fazakerley (excluding Moorfields and Liverpool Central). <S> There are sometimes engineering works meaning that London trains run direct from Liverpool South Parkway. <S> (additionally Wigan Walgate is only 100m from Wigan North Western) Reddish South and Denton are reachable from Stockport (no overnightstop needed) <S> however all those stations meet your criteria as there is no way to get TO London from them with one change. <S> Finally stations that don't count: <S> The Wrexham Central to Bidston branch doesn't count thanks to 1 train a day from Wrexham General, although an overnight stop is required. <S> Blaenau Ffestiniog branch doesn't count as there are a handful of London trains that call at Llandudno Junction <S> Ashton-under-Lyne has a service to Leeds, and one from Preston, so doesn't count <S> I think all Glasgow services call at either Glasgow Central or Glasgow Queen Street, the latter being served by the Calledonian sleeper, so they don't count, indeed I can't find a single service in Scotland that is more than 1 change from London thanks to the sleeper. <S> The Whitby - Great Ayton line has summer services to Darlington as previously mentioned (Nunthorpe to James Cook have regular services to Newcastle) <A> Living in Liverpool, I can't believe I missed the obvious fact the Merseyrail Northern Line trains don't go through Liverpool Lime Street - they run from Hunts Cross to either Southport or Ormskirk via Liverpool Central (and so you have to do 1 stop on the Wirral Line or walk to Lime Street). <S> No station on this line has a normal service to London. <S> (However, Lime Street is currently undergoing major renovation, and so London trains are terminating at Liverpool South Parkway, meaning that London with 1 connection is possible for 3 weeks only.) <A> You're asking for stations within the UK. <S> For any station in Northern Ireland, you'd need to change from train to ferry and from ferry to train. <S> On either side, (direct) trains do not connect all the way to the ferry terminal, so that means more than one change even to reach Belfast, and more than two to reach any other destination in Northern Ireland. <A> The West Highland Line is famously about as remote as you can get and have a direct train to London, but it qualifies one day a week - there is a night sleeper service to Fort William through Glasgow Queen Street, but it doesn't run on Saturday nights. <S> Queen Street has no other direct connections to London <S> so you'd have to make a short walk to Glasgow Central to change, and I'm guessing this would count as more than a simple change for your question. <S> More prosaically, trains on the Maryhill Line would also qualify - they only seem to serve Glasgow Queen Street. <A> I think the stations between Kirkby and Wigan Wallgate don't have one-change services to London. <S> ie Rainford, Upholland, Orrell and Pemberton. <S> Their services run between Kirkby and Blackburn, via Wigan Wallgate and Manchester Victoria. <S> There's no direct service from any of those stations to London, you can change at Wigan Wallgate for Wigan North Western or at Manchester Victoria for Manchester Piccadilly. <S> Stations from Wigan Wallgate to Manchester along that line also have a service to Manchester Airport via Manchester Piccadilly (which originates at Southport) and you can change at Piccadilly for London. <S> I can't find any other line through Manchester Victoria that doesn't also have trains to Piccadilly, or have access to another station like Wigan North Western, Leeds, Brighouse, Bradford Interchange or Preston. <A> Eskdale in Cumbria would possibly count here - from London you'd have go up the West Coast Mainline and then change to the Cumbrian Coast Line at either Carnforth or Carlisle then from there go to Ravenglass and change to the Ravenglass & Eskdale Line. <A> Marlow in Buckinghamshire can only be reached via Bourne End, which can only be reached via Maidenhead - 2 changes from London Paddington. <S> I suspect this <S> could be the nearest, about 30 miles away and less than 1 hour total journey time from London Paddington.
| Next there's the stations reachable from London with 1 change, but not To London Kirkby to Pemberton (with an overnight stop), thanks to 1 train a day that runs from Buxton via Manchester Picadilly to Kirkby
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Where can I see the Milky Way in Europe? I'd like to see the Milky Way. There is a lot of light pollution in the area I live in (a value of around 6 on the Bortle scale ). I can see a few stars at night, but not the Milky Way. I understand the Milky Way becomes visible at a value of 4 on the Bortle scale, but I would really like to see it clearly, so I am looking for a place with a value of 3 or lower. I've looked on http://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html but most decent-looking spot appears to be in inaccessible areas, like Eifel National Park which is closed at night. Where in Europe can I clearly see the Milky Way with the following restrictions: Within a day's trip from Antwerp (say up to 8 hours by car or plane+drive and the next day to get back). Accessible without a visa for EU-citizens. Maximum brightness of 3, preferably 2 or even 1 on the Bortle scale. Accessible. I'd like to go there by car or regular public transport. I'm willing to walk up to 10 km if needed. No special gear needed to get there. Accessible at night. If this site is in a park, the park should be open at night (seasonal opening hours are fine, one time a year is not). Not crazy expensive or to access (think private plane or boat). Optionally: an event that creates a dark site where I can see the Milky Way, like all lights out in a city. Photo by Greg <Q> Galloway Forest Park is the UK’s first Dark Sky Park. <S> I understand the BBC wanted to make a feature film there, but when the crew discovered there were no facilities in the style they were accustomed to, they never did. <S> Perhaps that remoteness would suit you. <S> You can fly to Glasgow and take a trip from there. <S> Almost by definition, most easily accessed places will be well populated and have massive light pollution in the sky. <A> One of the best astronomical sites in the world: Pic du Midi Observatory in the Pyrenees mountains. <S> (photo from official website) <S> Tourists are welcomed up there <S> and you can spend a night at the summit (€399 for a double room, including diner and guided star observation). <S> Toulouse airport is at two hours drive. <A> Naturpark Westhavelland <S> Despite being only 70 km from Berlin away, it is one of the darkest places in Middle Europe, equaling even Namibia with 21,78 mag/arcsec². <S> It was considered a Star Park by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) at 2014. <S> Even airglow and polar light observation is possible. <S> German website: http://www.sternenpark-havelland.de/ <A> It's not too far from Antwerp and about as dark (according to your map) as Galloway Forest Park mentioned in the accepted answer . <A> The further north, the better your chances. <S> Given where you live, Scandinavia would be the best bet in my opinion. <S> You want to be further from a city, ideally. <S> Winter gives you enhanced opportunities to see it, due to the longer nights up north (at the expense of the temperatures being colder). <S> You want some place with a good probability of clear skies. <S> Also understand that the aurora can be fickle. <S> You can go weeks or months without seeing it in some places, and then have it several days in a row. <S> The more flexible your travel plans are, the better chances you have to see them. <S> I live in prairie Canada at latitude 50.5 north. <S> I see them off to the north several times a year, but I have seen them directly overhead only three or four times. <S> (One has to be available, and one has to know they're visible.) <S> When they're really good <S> we drive a half an hour out of the city toward the north (so that the northern sky is darker) onto the prairie, where we have clear seeing in all directions. <S> Because the magnetic pole affects the location of aurora, at a given latitude, you're more likely to see them in in western and central North America than in Europe, but the same latitudes in Europe are much more populated and easier to traverse. <S> EDIT: <S> To see the Milky Way, it's a lot easier. <S> Much of the same advice as for the aurora will work, but the northern destinations appeal more for the long nights and the distance from city lights than for other reasons. <S> I'd recommend trying to do both at once - it would be fun!
| Going by the map you provided, Vlieland seems to be a good option. You just need a very dark sky (and ideally a clear view in all directions).
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Airport in Japan without Retina Scan I will be flying at the start of 2018 to Japan and I'm, for various privacy reasons, not comfortable with officials taking a retina scan. Fingerprints ought to be enough! Therefore: Which airports in Japan do not take retina scans? (I know that all of them take fingerprints of all 10 fingers.) I'd be especially interested in personal experiences going through the airports in Tokyo and/or Osaka. <Q> As far as I'm aware, and this is from personal experience since I visit Japan several times a year, these are no airports in Japan that do retina scans. <S> You will be fingerprinted (index fingers only, not 10 digits) and photographed, but the camera used for the latter is akin to a consumer webcam ( see photo here ) and not sufficient to extract retinal information. <S> Also, the facial recognition gates are currently for Japanese citizens only, compare your face against the biometric image in your passport, and do indeed work with a single shot (although they may allow a second attempt if they can't match the first time around). <A> The chaos that would ensue if any airport tried to retina scan <S> everyone would be absolutely incredible. <S> See, I had a retina scan made or attempted to when I applied for my NEXUS card. <S> It is not fast and in my case for example, it failed and so they attempted it multiple times before just giving up. <S> It is telling that the NEXUS centre at YVR schedules these scans (just the scans, not interviews) at 30 minute intervals!! <S> Crazy shit, I know. <S> It is not that these scans take so long <S> but they can. <S> IMO <S> the only place where retina scans are everyday are for NEXUS cardholders entering Canada via air -- and even there, only those who are not Canadian citizens or residents because they have automated machines which do not require such hassle so it's absolutely marginal, a small fraction of a small fraction of passengers. <A> I've come in internationally through Narita, Haneda, and Kansai International Airport, and have never had a retina scan or fingerprinted more than my index finger. <S> They do take a picture of your face at each location, however. <S> As for flying domestically within the country, they don't do any of this, or even check id.
| Retinal scans also require aligning your eyes with the scanner at close range, which is not done at Japanese airports.
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Are airlines required to give the safety briefing in another language if asked? If a traveler on a US airline does not speak or understand English, can that passenger request the safety briefing in a language they would understand? Does the airline have an obligation to provide that translation service? For the purposes of this question, it is limited to only US airlines, but feel free to expand to other countries. <Q> 14 CFR 121.571 defines the FAA's safety briefing requirement for scheduled air carriers. <S> Passengers must be "orally briefed," but it doesn't say that passengers must understand the briefing. <S> AC 121-24C expands on the regulation and provides more information on what the FAA expects. <S> It states: <S> The pretakeoff oral briefing should be given so that each passenger can clearly hear it and easily see required demonstrations. <S> But it does not say that all passengers must be able to understand it. <S> It does, however, contemplate that language difficulties could arise when it comes to exit rows: <S> The information regarding exit seating must be printed on the card in the languages in which briefings and oral commands are given by the crew They recommend that exit row passengers receive individualized briefings, and most if not all US airlines require that you speak English (or another language used by the airline) to sit there, so that you're able to understand instructions in an emergency. <S> A post on the blog AirSafe News expands on this: <S> This advisory circular also requires that an airline provide passenger briefing information in the languages used by the airline. <S> As a practical matter, many international airlines will provide the briefing in multiple languages (sometimes via subtitles on tv screens) to try to reach as many passengers as possible. <S> If that fails, the safety information card provides much of the information in pictorial form. <S> See our previous question In-flight safety instructions for deaf passengers . <A> When the departing has a different official language than English, they also make the announcement in that language at least. <S> Sometimes they also make announcements in an official language of the destination. <S> Some countries have several, up to 4 AFAIK, languages <S> but I have never heard them make announcements in all 4 plus English. <S> It does not matter if the airline is based in the US. <S> It must comply with local regulations, so if one end of the flight says that announcements must be made in a specific language, they do it. <S> Only English is a requirement for all flights. <S> Some people find it silly that given a flight between 2 non-English speaking countries, they still announce in English but having a common language greatly helps. <S> You can ask the staff to tell you what was announced in another language but they are not required to do so. <S> Many flight attendants usually have pins telling people which language they speak, so that you may ask if you find one that speaks a language you understand. <A> From IATA (so more international rules), I just find: 2.38.1 <S> Safety Announcements <S> It is important that passengers understand the safety announcements made on board. <S> Airlines should, therefore, take into account passenger demographics when determining the languages used for announcements by cabin crew and, where necessary, employ the use of translators or video. <S> Announcements should be clear, well-paced and able to engage passenger attention. <S> So nothing about English or other languages. <S> Additionally: <S> In addition, the briefing cards should be designed to be understood by passengers who are totally unfamiliar with aircraft and safety equipment, and who may have a limited understanding of any of the languages used. <S> And people with difficult to understand order ("language barrier" [IATA]) should be reseated from emergency rows. <S> Source: IATA Cabin Operations Safety, <S> Best Practice Guide from https://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/3368.pdf
| Airlines are required to make announcements in English. However, there are no requirements that every passenger should be given an oral safety briefing in a language that is understood by that passenger
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Vegetarian food in Morocco I am visiting Morocco (Fez, Marrakesh, Aït Benhaddou and Meknes) in December. I am vegetarian (no animal products except dairy). Can I survive in these cities? <Q> My boyfriend and I (both vegetarian) were in Morocco for 3 weeks with our bikes. <S> We were visiting Marrakech, Agadir, Essaouira from the big cities and many small villages in Atlas and Anti-Atlas. <S> Though we don't speak Arabic and French (we have only learned some words) we NEVER had any problems with vegetarian food. <S> Mostly we got some vegan Tajine, with different ingredients. <S> We also never have to explain what we mean with "vegetarian" (so they never wanted to give us some fish, for example)! <A> You can survive, as a vegetarian, in most of the known world, Morocco included. <S> Meat eating historically has never been common nor cheap, and today it is <S> so just because it's been one of the cultural exports of the USA during WW2 and <S> now we feel like it's the norm, so we are scared to travel somewhere and not be able to avoid meat. <S> The truth is, aside from the US, people eat and cook much more vegetable than they realise. <S> Moroccans love their meat, but they have plenty of vegetables-only recipes too. <A> I visited Morocco a few months back. <S> Veg Tajine and Couscous are the most common options. <S> For better Information, Please visit my channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJLzR83mYNw&list=PLeolEzFfNLHpWSNodeiy08a7JXCmzoshs <S> *Images taken from Google
| There are not too many vegetarian options but still, it's not too difficult to survive.
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Do you take off luggage tag for return flight and out new one on? Will be flying with easy jet and was wondering for retuning flights the old luggage tag we have on are suitcase. should we take them off before arriving at the airport to return home or leave it as the person will do it for us anyways? Im guessing even at self check in they will have someone who will make sure that old tags are taken off and that the new one is correctly done etc? <Q> Why not just take the tags off? <S> They are for a previous flight, and have a different destination written on them. <S> You don't want your luggage to be accidentally sent to the wrong location, be delayed because of something like this, do you? <S> Most likely if they are still on there, the agent who accepts your luggage will remove them. <S> But there is the possibility that they miss it <S> and it causes delays for your bags. <S> Why take the risk? <S> There does not seem to be much "official" information on this topic, which is probably why you asked the question. <S> I did find this blog post from KLM, which recommends removing the old tags if you don't want your luggage to be delayed. <S> Do you travel a lot and leave all sorts of labels and baggage stickers attached to your suitcase? <S> That may look cool, but it isn’t a great idea. <S> It can confuse the baggage sorting system, because it doesn’t know which label to read. <S> That’s why we advise that you remove all labels and stickers from previous trips. <S> Why not head out with a neat and tidy, hassle-free suitcase? <A> The old tag needs to be removed before the new one is put on. <S> If you don't do it, the staff will. <S> Reasons <S> not to remove the old one: on some airlines, they add a "priority" tag into the sticker. <S> I feel seeing my "priority" tag from the previous flight will remind them to do it again if I am entitled to it, or perhaps inspire them to upgrade me if I am not. <S> This may not be true <S> but it's my superstition <S> it often has your name on it which may be helpful on shuttles or other situations where your bag looks like other people's bags <S> Reasons to remove the old one: the gate staff may be irritated at you that you have left them this menial task to do instead of cleaning up after yourself <S> My compromise in this is that I leave it on right until get to the checkin agent. <S> Then when I am standing there with nothing to do while they endlessly type on their keyboard (what do they do there anyway?) <S> I remove the tag. <S> This ensures that it stays on as long as possible, that the checkin agent sees it, and that I am seen as a polite person. <S> Plus it gives me something to do while waiting. <A> YES. <S> Remove the tags. <S> There are no consequential reasons to leave them on once you leave the terminal. <S> They will be removed for you next flight , 100%. <S> Please help the check in staff by removing them yourself. <S> Spurious bar codes (such as a previous tag) can confuse the scanners risking misdirected or delayed bags. <S> Leaving them on after arrival alerts miscreants that you might be a tourist. <S> They get in the way of handling the bag. <A> As far as I know, the bar codes on bag tags as well as on boarding cards contain enough information (i.e., beyond what is printed on them in legible form) to reference your flight in the global travel databases that have security standards form the 1960s. <S> In other words, old tags and boarding cards might enable someone to find out your name and home address and further travel plans and whatnot. <S> With that in mind, they should be securely disposed of (and not in a common airport bin).
| I've seen the staff ask the passenger to remove the tags or just do it them selves.
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Do I need payment card identification for DB paper tickets? EDIT: Answers have pointed out my information is outdated . Please read the answers before concluding anything from my question! Question before editing: DB famously accept only payment cards, not passports or national ID cards, as identification on the train. Such identification is a requirement for online tickets. Do I need such identification for paper tickets? <Q> According to Mark Smith https://www.seat61.com/Germany-trains.htm <S> what you state used to be true but no longer is: <S> If you wanted to use a German Railways print-at-home ticket (shown as online ticket on bahn.de) you used to have to show your credit or debit card as I.D. on board the train. <S> I'm glad to say that this changed in October 2016, all you now need is a passport or other recognised ID to prove your name to support a print-at-home online ticket. <S> You may or may not be asked for it by the conductor. <S> Only one name is necessary to support a print-at-home ticket, even if the ticket covers more than one passenger. <A> Your information appears to be outdated : The following means of identification are accepted during ticket inspection: <S> German ID card German passport <S> Children's passport Electronic residence permit Asylum registration confirmation (BüMA), European ID card International passport BahnCard (in accordance with the Conditions of Carriage, valid only in conjunction with a photo ID, which may have to be presented on occasion). <A> The question you are linking to is outdated. <S> Since October 1st 2016, you can use any passport or a national id card from an EEA country as identification when travelling with an online ticket. <S> For paper tickets bought from a ticket counter or a ticket machine, it depends on the type of ticket. <S> Most tickets are not bound to a specific person, and for these you do not need any id at all. <S> There are however several kinds of daily passes, like e.g. the Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket, which are bound to a specific person or persons. <S> With these tickets, you usually have to write the name of the passengers on the paper ticket, and the passengers must be able to present a valid id to the ticket inspector.
| No ID is necessary if you select tickets by mail, as conventional train tickets have no names on them and need no ID.
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Travel Issues to Turkey I'm an US citizen by nationalization and Colombian citizen by birth. I currently live in California. I'm planing to travel in November SFO-TLV-IST-SFO. I want to use my Colombian passport to travel to Israel and Turkey, since there are no visa requirements, and currently US citizens are not allowed to travel or get a visa to Turkey. So I'm concerned that I will have issues when returning back to the US since there will be no stamps on my US passport. I heard a new regulation started that officers are supposed to check the stamps of the countries you visited. Please I need some guidance. Thank you. <Q> There is no such regulation (checking stamps), and even if, it wouldn’t be possible to execute. <S> Many people enter the US on a Global Entry card, or through a land border with the passport card, and never use their US passport (I don’t even carry it normally when going to Europe).Also, many countries stamp passports only randomly or not at all. <S> There is a lot of incorrect information about stamps in passports around, like the sequences would matter, or the completeness. <S> None of this matters much; the only thing relevant is that some countries check for their own entry stamp when you leave, and a small number of countries disallow you if you have specific other stamps (of their favorite enemies). <A> For starters it's very likely that the US/Turkey visa situation will be resolved in the next few days. <S> But to answer the specific question you've asked, you will not have any issues if you do not have a stamp in your passport for the countries you've visited. <S> For example, Israel does not stamp passports at all so you definitely will not have a stamp from there ( <S> although you will have a small card with the equivalent details, I've never been asked to provide it by US immigration despite many trips between Israel and the US. <A> I heard a new regulation started that officers are supposed to check the stamps of the countries you visited <S> I have never heard of such US regulations, and have never had my stamps checked (which would take a while even if they tried). <S> So there are no concerns. <S> currently US citizen are not allow to travel or get visa to Turkey <S> According to this article , the situation is a bit different. <S> First, travel for US citizens who already possess a valid visa doesn't seem to be affected. <S> Second, it seems like US citizens just can't get Turkish visas in US <S> , it is not like we are not allowed to get those visas at all. <S> Not to mention, AFAIK, the US Government has no legal power to prohibit US citizens from traveling to a specific country; even in Cuba embargo they only prohibit us to spend money there.
| Further, US citizens are still allowed enter Turkey by obtaining a visa on arrival IF they are arriving in Turkey from a country other than the US, which you will be.
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Renting room in Madrid I'm helping someone organize a study trip to Madrid January-June 2018. We were looking at rooms to rent, and the offer is plenty. The question is, Is it important to rent something in advance, or could this person first go to Madrid and then search for a room while there? Will there be enough availability in January? The traveler is a Spanish speaker, so language will not be a barrier. <Q> I've been living in Barcelona for a few years, and I've done my fair share of apartment hunting <S> so I know the Spanish rental situation relatively well. <S> Is it important to book beforehand? <S> I would say no. <S> I don't know anyone who has done that unless they're coming with some pre-booked program that includes housing. <S> That being said, it probably will take a week or two. <S> You could contact landlords to set up appointments prior to arriving so that when your friend gets there he can immediately start the process. <S> Will there be enough availability in January? <S> I don't think the month is very important. <S> You will always find apartments. <S> However, most apartments are rented for the beginning of the month, so you might have more luck the first week rather than the second week of January. <S> All said and done <S> , it is risky to rent an apartment without seeing it. <S> I wouldn't do it. <S> And there are definitely scams out there. <A> I don't know about Spain and Madrid in particular, but since it is a study trip, I suggest you to ask the university if they have a guest-house or opportunities for short-time rental (1 month, for instance). <S> Then you can do the apartment-hunting directly from there during the first month, with less hurry and stress. <A> I'm not familiar with Madrid, but I always have the attitude that certainty trumps uncertainty. <S> If you know when you will be somewhere, why wouldn't you arrange your accommodations in advance? <S> The risk with waiting is that destinations have events. <S> These events can make a sudden difference in the availability of accommodations. <S> For example, here in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, most of the time if you tried to book a room here on short notice, you could find something, but if you tried to come when we were hosting the CFL's Grey Cup (every decade) or during our annual Agribition agricultural fair, you wouldn't get a room unless you booked months in advance. <S> There is also the possibility of some natural event causing issues; you'd be hard-pressed to get a hotel room in cities and towns near San Francisco right now, because of the wildfires they've had recently (October 2017). <S> If your plans have greater flexibility and you don't need to be right in Madrid but could be an hour or two away, or you want the utmost in flexibility in your plans, then taking your chances isn't such a bad thing to do. <A> AirBNB has a nice selection of rooms for rent in the range of ~300$ a month in a variety of locations. <S> Since the payment goes through AirBNB you can use their conflict resolution in case of trouble which in my personal experience can really help. <S> They also accept international payment easily.
| It's very common for people to come to Spain and get a room at a hostel for a week or two while they search for apartments. It sounds, however, like the person you're helping would be greatly inconvenienced if room availability in Madrid became a problem, so I'd strongly recommend planning something soon.
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Avoid getting sick when traveling by plane Nearly every time I travel I get sick. I have no doubt it is because I am stuck on a plane breathing recirculated air from 200 other people. Once I had an entire vacation to Venice ruined because I spent the whole vacation lying sick in bed in the hotel. Is there any way to avoid this? Maybe wear a mask of some kind? <Q> The moment I started to avoid touching my face, nose, mouth, eyes and ears with my hands <S> I started to have much fewer flu/cold infections. <S> I always use a tissue if I wanted to. <S> As a person who works for an airline and meeting a lot of passengers is a daily routine, this was a big problem for me when I started the job <S> and I find this prevention method to be working perfectly for me. <S> I know that you see this written everywhere <S> , wash your hands properly , etc.. <S> but it really works. <S> Most infections come from touching something and then "introducing it" to your body by touching your eyes or mouth or so on. <S> I see some passengers doing that from time to time. <S> Keeping a hand anti-bacterial gel is also recommended, just don't over do it. <S> I personally do not believe in instant immunity boosters (vitamic C and the like), <S> as far as I know it's not proven to work. <S> The best way is to prevent the virus/bacteria from entering the body, not to let it in then depend on a "boosted" immunity system to fight it. <S> Extra steps specific to aircrafts: <S> Wipe <S> the tray table with something that contains alcohol. <S> Armrests too If you're sitting in a window seat, wipe the window as well. <S> Kids love to stick their runny noses there! <S> The handle will be a good place for all kinds of bacteria. <S> Again, these simple methods will provide enough protection. <S> Do not use any advertised immunity booster medicines, keeping the viruses away is the way! <A> According to this article the air in a plane is quite clean and it is definitely not fully recirculated. <S> However sitting not far away from a sick passenger indeed exposes you to communicable diseases. <S> It is better on the latest planes like Dreamliner, and I do feel the difference flying on them comparing to older planes ( <S> especially @#$@ 747-400). <S> Another major route to get sick is through germs spreading via touch - a typical lavatory in a plane could have been touched by 100+ people. <S> So there are few things you can do: <S> Choose your flight so you're flying on better metal (and especially avoid 747-400) and better seats (business/comfort) if you can; <S> Rest well before the flight. <S> For most people flying is effort for your body, and not rest. <S> Very few people can rest on a flight itself. <S> Carry a small hand sanitizer and use it once you touch something touched by others; To combat dryness in the air, it is recommended to drink a reasonable amount of water and cut down on tea/alcohol (especially alcohol); <A> It is not the cabin air that is making you sick. <S> Only about half the air injected into the cabin is recirculated and that HEPA filtered. <S> This means all the air in the cabin is changed several times an hour with outside air. <S> You are probably getting sick from the high common touch points, such as the screening process. <A> I had exactly this same problem. <S> Before my flights, I run to the local drug store and grab a box of face masks. <S> You can use gloves if you want - personally, I just wash my hands well when I get off the plane.
| You can also wear a mask if it helps you to feel better, but it doesn't stop germs. Also the airplane air is indeed very dry, which does make some people feel unwell. After using the toilet, use a tissue to open the door and when closing it. Also, just as an extra step, buy a mask and wear it.
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Is it okay that I have a container a little over the limit? I recently bought a "travel sized" version of a facial spray that I use so I could bring it on my holiday. But I just looked at the label and saw that it was 118ml, 18ml over the 100ml limit. I just wanted to know if that would still be alright to bring on board. <Q> I mean, you've answered the question. <S> The limit is 100ml, and your container is 118ml. <S> It is therefore, according to the rules, not allowed. <S> As a practical matter, I can't remember the last time anyone has paid that kind of close attention to my liquids, and there's a good chance nobody will notice or care, though this depends on the policies of whatever authority is checking your bags and the particular person you get on the day. <S> If your item is larger than 100ml, you risk having it confiscated, which means you'll be out whatever it costs and won't have it at your destination. <S> Whether or not that's a risk you want to take is up to you. <A> Technically, no. <S> 118ml is larger then 100ml. <S> Practically, probably. <S> A 118ml container is barely distinguishable from a 100ml container, especially if it is not full as the contents are often more visible then the container. <S> Many people will tell you how they accidentally left even larger containers in the bag without issue. <A> The screening process is a bit of a hit and miss, you might get lucky. <S> I suggest you have your "liquids" in the official one litre bag, if they all look the right size they will probably not look very carefully at them. <S> That said, I have personally seen officials carefully looking at the label and rejecting a container that was very slightly above 100ml. <A> I have gone through security mindlessly with a 2L water bottle in my backpack and nobody said anything. <S> I've also had 125ml containers confiscated, because they're over the limit.
| If it's worth a lot of money, don't take it, if not, just put it in the plastic bag with a few other ones that are <100ml on top, and hope they only check 1 or 2 if they check the label at all.
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Exit stamp date not clear; problematic for future? So I got a visa on arrival in a non-Schengen European country for 21 days and everything went smoothly; I got then stamped entry with a clear date and so I enjoyed 7 great days in this country. After 7 days, I traveled back to my country and so everything is fine as I respected the visa rules given and did not overstay. However, the exit stamp on the visa on my passport has the day and almost the month clearly visible but is missing the '1' in the year '17' and so the year doesn't appear clearly. My questions: Will this be ever perceived as a problem for future visas and entries ( EDIT: for other countries, not the same country since I am sure that electronically everything is fine for this country )? I am worried that it may be perceived as 'overstayed' since the complete date is not clear even though I have the same date stamped back as entry to my home country. Usually if people overstay, do they get an 'overstayed' stamp? In that case, any future officer will not care about the date of my exit since there is no 'overstayed' stamp? Thanks for the answers. <Q> It's highly unlikely that an unclear stamp will be a problem, since what matters is the electronic records stored by that country, not the ink in your passport, which may be replaced, lost, damaged etc anyway. <S> It's equally unlikely that other countries will care, since it's not their business and immigration officers are unlikely to be familiar with the intricacies of what exactly counts as an overstay in some other country anyway <S> (eg. <S> Schengen's 90/180 rule has been known to baffle even Schengen immigration officials). <S> Yes, it's common to explicitly stamp overstays, deportations, etc. <A> However, if only the tens digit of the year is missing I would be extremely surprised if anyone thought you had overstayed based on this -- at least not until 2027, when you will have gotten a new passport anyway! <A> Most countries ignore other countries' stamps most of the time. <S> But more importantly, most passports are valid for no more than ten years. <S> The only year that both ends in seven and falls within your passport's period of validity is 2017. <S> If anyone ever calls that stamp into question, you can point this out. <S> Everyone knows that passport stamps are sometimes applied carelessly. <S> There's nothing to worry about here.
| If you are concerned about other countries being upset about you having potentially overstayed, you can carry alternative proof that you really did exit the country at the time you say you did (e.g. an entrance stamp from another country, airline boarding pass, etc.).
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Will a 28-inch suitcase exceed the size limitation in Poland's trains? I'm to arrive at Warsaw airport October 28. Onwards to Poznan by train. I will stay in Poland for more than four months, almost the whole winter, so I have to take lots of cloths and daily stuff. I have a 28-inch suitcase about 29 * 52 * 78 cm, which is under airline check-in luggage limits. But basically a train trip doesn't supply check-in luggage service, so I must take care of my suitcase myself. I'm afraid the overhead racks and space under the seats can not take a suitcase of this size. The PKP website says that oversize luggage should be charged an extra PLN 5.10 fee, but it doesn't specify what is oversize. In China's high speed train I can put large luggage in the shelves at the end of carriage or even in the aisle beside me, but it's my first time to Poland so I don't understand the train there. Also, I found that there are IC, EIC and TLK trains between Warsaw and Poznan. The speed is similar but TLK has a lower price, so is there anything different among these trains, especially the service and inner facility? <Q> Polish train carriages use a mix of open and compartment -style rolling stock. <S> Generally, the open carriages have both overhead shelves and also shelves at the end of the carriages where you can put large items. <S> The compartments have only overhead shelves, but these should be big enough for your case. <S> In my experience, if you are seen to be struggling getting your case onto them you will also find Poles happy to help lift it into position. <S> TLK trains have a lower standard of comfort than IC and EIC - they are generally older, seats are more cramped and they are not quite as clean. <S> However, they are perfectly acceptable for most travellers and there is a first class option that will be more comfortable. <S> Here are some images of first class and second class <S> (I klasy / II klasy) seats on TLK trains. <A> I've carried normal-size suitcases on Polish trains on several occasions, and never had any problems or had to pay any extra fee. <S> As Martin says, the TLK trains are older and less comfortable. <S> They are usually also slower, as (on some routes) the EIC/EIP trains use new high-speed lines - but I don't think that includes the Warsawa - Poznan route <A> Honestly, they don't care. <S> Have it on your laps if you're stressed. <S> Source - I'm Polish
| I do not know what counts as oversize luggage, but I would be astounded if your bag were classified that way given some of the luggage I've seen pass without comment on Polish trains.
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Why did a Customs agent ask a US citizen about residency? I live in Costa Rica but I am a US citizen. The last time I traveled solo back to the States, the customs agent grilled me about how long I live in CR vs the US. He said I needed to reside in the US for at least 6 months out of the year to qualify for residency status. Absurd, I think. Can anyone expand on this? I have to travel solo again next month back to the US, and I would like to be better prepared for any unfair irregularities. <Q> CBP stands for Customs and Border Protection. <S> Proof of citizenship, as other answers have pointed out, resolves the issue of whether you should be allowed to enter. <S> It does not resolve the issue of what customs duties you need to pay. <S> The last question on the first page of the US Customs Declaration and the back of the form require different answers from residents and non-residents. <S> Residents declare everything they are bringing into the US. <S> Non-residents only declare what they will leave in the US. <S> On the other hand, residents get a $800 duty-free exemption, non-residents $100. <S> Your choice of box for Question 15 tells them whether you are declaring as a resident or non-resident, so be careful where you put your answer. <S> Residence and citizenship are separate issues - I am a British, not US, citizen but fill in the declaration as a US resident, because I live in the US. <S> I am not a UK resident, which affects issues such as access to the National Health Service. <S> In complicated, borderline cases such as digital nomads and people with multiple homes, determining residence can be quite complicated, and you can be resident in multiple countries and in different countries for different purposes. <S> In simple cases, if you would unequivocally say "I live in country X", country X is your country of residence. <S> The customs issue is the simplest explanation of a CBP official questioning a US citizen about resident status on entry. <S> Either you answered as a resident and the official thought you might not be a resident, or you answered as a non-resident and the official thought you might be a resident. <S> Either way, they would ask questions related to your resident/non-resident status, such as how much of your time you spend in the US. <S> As long as you continue to live outside the US declare as a non-resident. <S> If questioned by CBP about your non-resident status just answer the questions. <S> It is a legitimate subject for them to ask about, and does not mean they are questioning your right to enter the US. <A> Basically, US Tax Law requires non-citizen residents (so Resident and Non-Resident Aliens) to be taxed under given criteria, including the Substantial Presence Test which is what the CBP officer is referring to. <S> If you are a US citizen, you can ignore his comments - you are taxed differently . <A> In addition to the customs issue, which seems to be a likely explanation, the CBP officer might have tried to gauge if the passport was genuine and belonged to you. <S> One way to make that estimation is to talk about the personal data and the circumstances of the trip. <S> The real owner of the passport will have his date of birth memorized, know where he is coming from and where he is going, and so on. <S> An illegal immigrant with false papers might trip on such questions.
| The Customs and Border Protection officer is confusing your status with that of a Resident or Non-Resident Alien for the purposes of US Tax Law, which a CBP officer is allowed to query your status under.
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In California, is it always legal to drive with your car headlight on? Obviously, in certain cases, California law requires you turn your car headlights on. But when it isn't required, is it nevertheless legal to keep them on, or are there situations when it is illegal to drive with your headlights on? And if so, what are those cases? <Q> Yes, it is absolutely legal to drive with your low-beam headlights on at any time. <S> High-beam headlights must not be used when there is approaching traffic (within 500 feet), or when you are following another vehicle (within 300 feet). <S> regardless the time of day or night. <S> There are actually several sections of road in California that are designated as "Daylight Headlight" zones, where it is recommended to turn your headlights on even during the day in order to increase visibility. <S> I have been driving in California for almost 10 years, and have never driven with my headlights off (at least, in my own car which turns them on automatically when the car is turned on). <A> I can't speak to California code, but I've driven my own Canadian car to California twice since daytime running lights became mandatory here (in 1989 and in 2015). <S> Both times we spent a week or more in California; in 2015 we were about twelve days in the state (nine days in San Diego, three in the Twentynine Palms area). <S> Nobody said a thing about my car having headlights on in the day. <S> On rural roads, particularly undivided highways, it's wise to have low beam headlights on, if your car lacks specific daytime running lights, because it's easier to see you at a distance. <A> When entering a guarded military base gate you may be required to turn off your headlights at night, so as to not "blind" the guards. <S> I did not find a specific law or regulation, but it is often posted on signs and customary. <S> Gate etiquette
| Leaving your headlights on helps with visibility and means you won't forget to turn them on at dusk when they are legally required.
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Why can't I take food from the plane when entering the US? I was on a BA flight recently (LHR-JFK) and I was given a sealed cheese and tomato sandwich by a flight attendant about 90 minutes before landing. Everyone else was given a similar sandwich, probably as an afternoon snack. Because I was not hungry I kept the unopened sandwich on the empty seat next to me knowing that I would probably be hungry after immigration queues etc and I would eat it on the car ride into the city. Just before the plane began its approach to JFK and the flight attendants were doing their last safety checks before landing, the same flight attendant told that I would be unable to take the sandwich from the plane and I would either have to eat it before disembarking or throw it into the bin! Not being hungry I left the sandwich behind. Why can't I take food off the plane? Is this a USA thing or an international thing? This similar question does not answer my question. <Q> The USA has restrictions on the import of food items. <S> Some information is given here . <S> I have on one occasion <S> forgotten items I bought before boarding, intending to snack on the flight. <S> These were detected by a sniffer dog in the immigration queue and the items confiscated - I was not otherwise penalised, but I could have been fined. <S> In your case I guess that the tomato would have been the issue. <A> The airline is required by US law to follow a pretty complex set of rules relating to international garbage in order to prevent pests from entering the US. <S> Many airports have incinerators on-site to comply with USDA requirements, and it's the responsibility of the crew to collect the trash so it can be destroyed. <S> They're not going to account for every edible item on the plane, especially prepackaged candies and snacks, and if you stuff the thing in your bag, they aren't going to start searching the plane for it. <S> But if they see you with something that needs to be disposed of, they will want to ensure the regulations are complied with and dispose of it properly. <S> Specifically, you can refer to 9 CFR 94.5(c) . <S> To simplify (and, you know, consult a lawyer or something if you need legal advice on garbage for your airline), regulated garbage includes all "meals and other food that were available for consumption by passengers and crew on an aircraft but were not consumed" from international flights (except: Canada is excluded and Hawaii included). <S> If you've got regulated garbage on your plane, it "may not be disposed of, placed on, or removed from" the plane unless it is disposed of properly (in this case, that's a fancy way of saying "very expensively"), in a way that ensures it won't introduce agricultural pests and disease. <S> This even applies to leaving food on the plane for the return flight. <S> "Passenger takes the food home and eats it later" is, sadly, not listed as an approved form of disposal. <S> So as I read the regulations, the crew was following the required procedure to ensure that all regulated garbage was collected for proper disposal. <A> While the other answers raise some good points, I think it is important to point out that technically the flight attendant is wrong. <S> You are allowed to bring food into the USA, as long as you declare it to customs, and as long as it is not on the list of forbidden food products (which can change rapidly, for example in response to specific diseases/health hazards). <S> Many (most?) <S> passengers do not declare any food. <S> Bringing an undeclared sandwich can indeed result in fines and other unpleasant consequences. <S> So, the flight attendant is giving some simplified advice to help you avoid these consequences. <S> However, I often travel with lots of other food that I'm going to declare anyways. <S> In situations like this, I've always just included food that I'm taking from the plane in my declaration, and never had any issues with it. <S> The worst that can happen is that they'll throw it away. <A> djna is correct but not complete <S> and it is very country specific <S> "The USA (...)". <S> To answer your last question: no, it is a general rule, that you are not permitted to bring sandwiches outside airplane (so not just US stuffs), for few reasons: <S> custom: food (also animals and plants) is very regulated in all countries, mostly because of possible disease (to agricultural sector). <S> sanitary consideration: plane food is carefully controlled, safe and keep in cold, before to serve it to you, but after some hours on air temperature, the food could not be edible, and if you will have some problem, you will blame the airline. <S> You should also consider that the food was not prepared on the airplane, so it is "relatively" old, so after is warmed up, it should be relatively eaten quickly. <S> For chocolates and snacks, usually the airlines are less severe. <S> Such food is prepared (heated and sealed) so it should not be a concern for both the above points. <S> Customs could not agree, but still safe to eat before you pass the custom. <S> [tomatoes and cheese cannot be disinfected with heat] <A> Just like the EU, UAE, Australia, and USA all have a total ban on personal travellers carrying non-manufactured (i.e. Raw Agricultural) foods, including Dairy. <S> The most serious offenses can result in jail time of up to 10 years! <S> Also, if it has been proved that the Airline supplied the food, then they can also get into serious trouble with CBP.
| Declaring food (even food that is allowed) may delay your passage through customs, and may sometimes result in bags being opened, increased questioning, etc, so probably not worth it for a sandwich.
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What is this black patch on the ocean floor featured on Google Maps? I would like to visit this location around latitude 14.346756 & longitude -80.223648. However, there is a black patch on the ocean floor in Google Maps (only visible in satellite view) . What is this? <Q> If you zoom in, an atoll appears in that area: <S> Yet, this looks a little strange. <S> But also have a look at the group of four black spots north of your area. <S> If you zoom in, the spots are suddenly filled with satellite images. <S> This is just a guess, but I think the usual satellite images are overlaid by a layer of ocean images, and this layer is made transparent where there are coast lines or other areas where satellite images would be better. <S> While the ocean layer is the same for almost all zoom levels, the satellite images are incomplete and not available for all zoom levels. <S> And if there is no satellite image data, the hole in the ocean layer appears black. <S> (if someone wants to hide something there, it would be less suspicious to let it look like ocean) <S> EDIT: <S> While Google Maps does not show anything in its map layer there, OpenStreetMap contains much more detailed information, including the name of that place: Serrana bank <A> I think it's Serrana Bank / Banco de Serrana, "a mostly underwater reef with 6 cays." from Wikipedia <S> The Google imagery is misleading in that it looks like the entire area is an island. <S> The color change is mainly due to the relatively shallow depth in the area with the edges being the reefs. <S> And, surprise! <S> there used to be a US military base there. <A> There are loads of similar artefacts in the Google Maps product forum topic <S> "Data Problems Compendium <S> v 1110 January 19, 2012"
| Its nothing - its an artefact introduced by the Google Maps mapping system due to poor data, imagery or other issue.
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Italian rest areas: Is it OK to sleep in a camper van? I am renting a camper van for a road trip through Italy. Is it ok to stop at a rest area to sleep over? Do you just find a parking space or have to tell someone? Is it legal? What are the rules? Is it generally safe/patrolled? <Q> There are many areas dedicated to campers https://www.camperonline.it/aree-di-sosta.asp <S> You can probably rest in many other areas too, where not specifically forbidden (you'll find this signal , or similar, where forbidden). <S> Of course there won't be services for your camper. <S> Source : I'm italian <A> Wild camping with a camper van is legally the same as camping with a tent. <S> A quote from this answer : <S> Italy: It doesn't seem to be tolerated, in fact most sources I can find seem to say it's explicitly banned in many places. <S> As long as you don't finde a place where camping is specifically allowed, or stay on private property (with permission of the owner of course) you can expect it to be forbidden. <A> As long as you don't open tends or similar <S> and you just sleep, there is an high probability that no one will come at you complaining. <S> Unless there is a specific sign that tells you it's forbidden. <S> Moreover, usually in average size towns the parkings spots that you have to pay for during the day <S> are free during night until 8 am. <S> You can park also there for example. <S> (Another story is the safety of some isolated parking lots. <S> For example large mall parking lots are not very populated during night, so safety could be an issue for someone sleeping inside a vehicle) <A> Living in a Van/Camper/Car is actually a big thing, especially in the US, Europe, Australia, etc. <S> So, in this case, your best best is to Bing/Google things like 'van life italy', 'stealthing italy' or 'boondocking Italy'. <S> You'll get lots of Blogs, Vlogs, YouTube Channels talking about every aspect including non-rest stop places.
| That being said, wild camping is not allowed in most countries within Europe. You will find plenty of free public parking lots where you can spend the night in.
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Thailand visa on arrival. How long does it take to get it? It depends on circumstances but wondering how long it might take to get a visa on arrival in Krabi airport in November? <Q> For avoidance of doubt, I presume you're referring to the paid visa on arrival service for Chinese, Indian and some other nationals, not the visa-free option for most ASEAN and EU nationals. <S> So the answer is... <S> it depends . <S> , how many of those visitors need visas on arrival (most don't, but <S> Chinese do and there are lots of flights from China to Krabi) and even where you're sitting on the plane. <S> In general, though, Krabi is operating well above capacity and you can expect to queue both coming and going: we spent over an hour in line both ways last January, and we didn't even need visas. <A> Visa on Arrival (VoA) vs Visa Exempt (VE) Just to clarify, if you do not get a visa in advance, there are 2 major programs you can enter into Thailand: VE : <S> No cost and most countries get either 15 or 30 days per entry. <S> There is also a Bilateral Agreement . <S> Similar to the Tourist Visa Exempt program, but amount of time ranges from 14-90 days per entry. <S> VoA : <S> You get 15 days and there is a fee for this (2000 baht?), and it is issued at the border immigration, usually in a line dedicated for VoA. Not sure about which land borders do it, but all of the int'l airports should. <S> Lithuania qualifies for VoA. <S> You need 1 passport size photo 4cm x 6cm. <S> They should have some private booth nearby that will do it for a small fee, but I wouldn't rely on that. <S> Also, you cannot extend the VoA for additional time. <S> You must exit and enter again for another VoA or get a visa prior to arrival. <S> Money show requirement: <S> Usually not too strict if you already have a visa. <S> It is 10,000 THB equivalent (for VE) or 20,000 baht per person for most other visas. <S> If you don't go too often, it should be fine. <S> But technically they can ask for it, usually on suspicion that you are working illegally (usually indicated by several VEs in close proximity of each other). <S> I wouldn't worry about it too much. <S> Waiting time: Depends on the queue for immigration arrivals. <S> There were recent reports of people having to wait upwards of 4 hours to get stamped in at some airports . <S> This isn't all the time, but I would allow 90 minutes. <S> You can apply for fast-track service, but that may only be limited to BKK airport only. <S> It might be cheaper to get a SETV from Thai consulate where you are now prior to flying over. <S> SETV would give you 60 days plus option to extend at local immigration for 30 more days (1900 baht). <A> The process was quick for visa on arrival in Krabi airport, just to fill a paper. <S> It is advised to have photo and Thailand currency. <S> Photos can be made before application process but there is no exchange. <S> They charged 60 EUR (~2300 THB) while paying in THB would be 2000.
| If there's no line, you can get one in minutes, but the line length depends on how busy the airport is with arriving flights
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Going from Cambodia to Europe via Thailand and back. Do I need proof of onward travel for the return flight? I have made Sihanoukville, Cambodia, my travel-around-Asia operations-base for some time now. Now I need to travel to Europe and back... To save some cash on tickets, I will be going to the Thai border by bus, get a visa and fly with Finnair, then return back to Bangkok, catching a bus back to Sihanoukville. It suddenly hit me that when returning I will be landing in Bangkok and it's my final destination. And I might be asked by Finnair when boarding for proof of onward travel even if I started my journey with them in Thailand. And usually bus tickets do not 'cut it'. I have Lithuanian passport. Do I need to get proof of onward travel for my return flight to Thailand, even though I am using the same company (Finnair) to do the round trip to my original destination? <Q> The fact that you're using Finnair both ways doesn't matter. <S> What flights you flew before don't concern them. <S> What does concern them is that they run the risk of being fined and having to carry you back to the EU if your visa is denied. <S> While Thai Immigration is a bit lax about such things, they're not entirely brain-dead. <S> And Thai Immigration officers are some of the least nice people you can meet in Thailand. <S> Considering the cost of the VoA (60$, times 2, since you'll enter Thailand twice), you might want to look into going to Phnom Penh and buy a cheap AirAsia flight to DMK <S> (~150$ <S> but you'd need a VoA, so <S> around 210$), or slightly pricier flight with Bangkok Airways to BKK (~220$). <S> That would make your life much easier. <S> Just transfer in BKK with PG, no visa, no hassle, and similar costs. <A> Do you need POOT? <S> The answer is you might. <S> When you dont have a visa already prior to boarding, (VoA and VE) entry, then you are at higher risk of not being able to enter the country. <S> And the airline is technically burdened with having to return you and/or get fined. <S> This is why some airlines check sometimes. <S> In practice, it is rare to get denied entry on VE or VoA. <S> If you have entered 6+ times with VE within 1 year period, Thai immigration computer might shoot up an alert. <S> They may wonder if you are working illegally. <S> The solution is fairly simple: FlyOnward.com a very cheap insurance policy so to speak for your return leg. <S> Or buy the cheapest ticket to neighbor country via other means. <S> edit: pay more for a changeable ticket or add travel insurance to give you option to reuse ticket or cancel and get money back or credit towards new ticket :) Or get a visa ahead of going. <S> Or just go for it. <S> But from memory 7 years ago, they did ask for it at the gate desk when flying from USA to Thailand on Delta I think. <S> After seeing a non-immigrant visa and thinking for a few min, no problem. <S> POOT = <S> Proof of Onward Travel VOA = <S> Visa on Arrival VE = <S> Visa Exempt [entry] <A> Do I need to get proof of onward travel for return flight to Thailand even though I am using same flight company (Finnair) to do the round trip to my original destination? <S> Airlines simply have to satisfy themselves that they will be conveying someone that can either enter the destination country (in this case Thailand) or can show onward travel that does not require entry into the destination country (eg visa-free transit). <S> In your case you say you will be getting a visa on entry into Thailand - so long as this covers a second entry via air or that you are a visa-at-the-border nationality, you will satisfy the airlines requirements for eligibility for entry into Thailand.
| So long as you get a multi-entry visa for Thailand (that allows you to enter via air as well as land - not all visas everywhere allow you to swap methods of entry) when you cross the border via bus, or can show that you are eligible for a visa at the border, you can show that to Finnair and that will suffice that you have permission to enter Thailand and thus do not have to show onward travel.
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How to get a SIM card in Taiwan? I'm Vietnamese. I am looking for some information about travel to Taiwan in this site . Currently, I have a question. How can I get a SIM cardwhen I travel to Taiwan? I want to connect with my family and my boss during the vacation. <Q> Here are the main 3 operators in Taiwan along with the frequencies they use, from https://guidetotaipei.com/article/cell-phones-and-sim-cards : Regarding the location where to purchase raised <S> prepaid SIM card, from http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Taiwan : <S> The cards are exclusively for tourists and at a slightly lower price then in the city, include more data and as well their WiFi access which provides many hotspots throughout the city for the duration of your purchased SIM cards validity. <S> The only identification required for these is your passport. <S> at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE): kiosks are located in both arrival and departure levels. <S> Hours of operation: 8am - 10pm, daily. <S> at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA): kiosks are located in terminal 1 at international arrivals. <S> Hours of operation: 6am - 10pm, daily. <S> Purchasing in the city: You can go to any of the provider stores in town to purchase a prepaid SIM card for regular prices. <S> The difference with this option is that all operators except for Taiwan Mobile will require you to show a secondary piece of identification e.g. a drivers license and have to sign forms. <S> Please note that in stores in the city employees are less likely to speak English as the staff at the airport. <S> Unlike the SIM cards purchased at the airport however, those you buy in a store can be reloaded and the expiry date extended indefinitely as long as the period of time between recharges doesn't exceed six months. <S> Bear also in mind that Taiwanese telecom regulations only allow one phone-number per person to be active at the same time. <S> It will be difficult to check the status of the SIM when abroad, because none of the prepaid options offer international roaming, not even with text roaming only. <S> Opening hours at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) airport (the main airport in Taiwan) can be consulted on http://www.taoyuan-airport.com/chinese/store3_1/1106 . <S> For example, for Chunghwa Telecom: <S> Some pictures from the Chunghwa Telecom in the Terminal 2 (they only accept cash by the way, but there is an ATM ~1 minute walking distance, just ask them where it is located): Regarding the prices, for Chunghwa Telecom, from https://prepaidsim.twgate.net/index_en.html : <S> As you can see, data is cheaper than text messages / phone call, so you may want to use Line as most Taiwanese residents do. <A> At Taipei airport, after leaving the secure area and picking your baggage, there are numerous vendors of SIM cards. <S> They offer different plans with 3G or 4G coverage and different packages, all advertised in large English signs. <S> Most of them are at the edge of the terminal, turning left on exit from baggage claim and walking to the very end. <S> By my calculation, pricing is very similar between them <S> but it does depend on the mix of voice and data you are looking for. <A> The main operators, Chunghwa, Taiwan Mobile, FarEastone, all have a desk selling SIM cards, all located together in the Arrival hall. <S> Can't miss them. <S> They have different plans, although they tend to offer usually the priciest ones by default. <S> You can ask for different options. <S> I've used mostly Chunghwa so far, but they seem to be similar. <S> There can be quite long queues sometimes. <S> While you're waiting in lines you can use one of the free Wifi networks.
| Purchasing at airports: There are kiosks located inside the terminals of both airports of all the major providers, that sell the tourist SIM cards.
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British citizenship, Polish passport, travelling to the US I might have to travel for work to the US - for the first time ever. I am currently a holder of a Polish passport (where I was born) but also acquired British citizenship (didn't apply for a passport though). How does the process look for me when it comes to entering the US? Since UK citizens do not require a visa for entry and Polish citizens do. The trip could be in two weeks. EDIT: Filled in D160 on the 1st, had my interview on the 6th, got my passport back on the 9th <Q> TL;DR: <S> You will need a visa <S> You must use a British passport in order to travel visa-free, which takes 6 weeks to issue, with no expedited service being available for first-time adult applicants . <S> So your only hope is getting an appointment at the US embassy as soon as possible and obtaining a B1 visa. <S> Also, do not, absolutely do NOT , tell US officials you're travelling "for work" or you risk getting sent back. <S> Business is what you're travelling for <A> To elaborate on Patricia Shanahan's comment : <S> Nationality rules are complicated enough that it is not reasonable to expect officials of one country to reliably determine whether someone is a citizen of another country. <S> The passport system allows each country to give its citizens a document that is sufficiently standardized that it can be read and relied on by officials of other countries. <S> If you want US officials to treat you as a British Citizen, show them a British passport. <S> In fact, US law is explicit on this question. <S> From 8 USC 1187 : ... an alien who meets the following requirements: (1) ... (2) National of program country <S> The alien is a national of, and presents a passport issued by, a country which ... (emphasis added) Therefore, presenting a Polish passport will not qualify you for the visa waiver program, regardless of your other citizenship, and regardless of other evidence you may have of that citizenship. <S> As Peter Green notes in his answer , your can either get a British passport and use that for the VWP or get a US visa with your Polish passport. <S> As it's only two weeks before your trip, I would recommend making an urgent application for a British passport if you are in the UK. <S> The cost (GBP 111 to 137, about USD 150 to 180) is similar to the cost of a US visa (USD 160, about GBP 120), but success is far more probable, and the usefulness of the British passport is probably far greater than that of the US visa. <S> You can look up US visa processing times at https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/wait-times.html/ . <S> The current times in London are 7 days for an appointment and 5 days for processing. <S> Belfast is somewhat better, at 3 days and 2 days, respectively. <S> The consulates in Edinburgh and Cardiff are not listed, so I suppose they do not process visa applications. <S> If you are not in the UK and cannot travel to the UK, you cannot make an urgent passport appointment; instead, you can apply for an emergency travel document . <S> To enter the US with one of these, however, you need a visa, so there's no reason for you to pursue that. <A> Assuming you intend to travel to the US by an approved air or sea carrier and haven't done anything that would make you ineligable for the US visa waiver program you have two options. <S> Apply for a British passport, then once you have the British passport apply for an ESTA. <S> When they ask about any other nationalities you have you should tell the truth, you do not want to get caught lying by the US immigration authorities.
| Apply for a US visa on your Polish passport.
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When and to whom should I report a minor amenity not functioning on an airplane? I've recently run into issues with things like outlets not providing any power, seats not reclining even when they definitely should, etc. Obviously they can't fix it during the flight, so it seems like pointless whining to bring it up. I would like their maintenance crew to know it's broken, so they can fix it the next time they get a chance, but I'm not sure the best way to inform them. Maybe they do regular inspections for that sort of thing, and they wouldn't be able to fix it sooner regardless of what I do. I'm hesitant to inform the flight attendants, because I don't want them to think I'm obnoxious, and I have no idea if this is part of their responsibilities or not. If there is a non-urgent problem with the plane that cannot be addressed in-flight, who should I notify, if anyone? <Q> I'm hesitant to inform the flight attendants Don't overthink, inform cabin crew politely <S> and that's it. <S> They will generally know how to handle and will definitely know if, how and where to escalate the matter further. <S> Flight attendants or cabin crew (also known as stewards/stewardesses, air hosts/hostesses, cabin attendants) are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft. <S> These issues fall under the comfort category. <S> It would be very considerate to request assistance about these when they are not very busy. <S> In addition, sometimes they can make the seat recline even after 10 fruitless tries by the passenger. <A> During a time between services , say something like: <S> This power outlet isn't working in case you want to write it up. <S> They will not inform the Captain or call base or anything so dramatic, but the Flight Attendants do have a log for such things. <A> Tell a flight attendant. <S> They actually can do things like reset the power system, which at least once in my experience actually worked. <S> If they can't resolve the issue, though, you can also send feedback to the airline . <S> This ensures that the issue gets reported to maintenance, and may also net you some frequent flyer points or coupons as an apology. <S> Also note that the feedback forms almost always ask "Did you raise this issue with cabin crew? <S> ", so you should still do this first. <A> This is actually a huge opportunity - to get reward miles. <S> Wait <S> until the flight is done, log into the frequent flier account and use an online complaint function to write a note to the airline. <S> Be specific about what flight and <S> exactly where in the aircraft the problem was. <S> Ask for some free reward miles as compensation for the inconvenience. <S> For example, my arm rest on a flight from Seattle to Detroit <S> would not stay up - it would fall down each time I put it up. <S> It is obvious the flight attendant can't fix it. <S> They sent me an email saying "sorry, here's several thousand miles, we'll fix the arm rest. <S> " <S> It is a sort of win-win scenario. <S> The learn about a maintenance issue, with a strong paper trail, and you'll get reward mile. <A> It's always possible that whatever you want to do actually works, but you are simply doing it wrong. <S> Maybe you are pulling the wrong lever of your seat into the wrong direction or you are not pushing the plug deep enough into the socket. <S> So you should ask the flight attendant: <S> Excuse me <S> , I can't get my [thing] to [perform intended function]. <S> Can you help me? <S> This is far more polite than just complaining about something being broken, especially when it turns out it is not. <S> If it turns out it's not you and the [thing] is actually broken, the flight attendant will report it to the maintenance crew so it can get fixed.
| So I just waited until the flight was done, logged into my Delta Skymiles frequent flier account, and filed a complaint.
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Can dual US/UK citizen travel with only UK passport and ESTA? I have a 20-year-old daughter, born in the US to military British parents. She has dual nationality / both birth certificates. Her US passport is expired and Social Security number misplaced. She needs to travel to the USA as soon as possible. Can she travel on her British passport with an ESTA? She can't wait for 8 weeks to get new Social Security number, and then three more weeks for a new US passport. Will she be okay with her British passport with an ESTA? <Q> US law says that a US citizen must use a US passport to enter the US. <S> However US law also says that a US citizen cannot be denied entry to the US. <S> If she makes it to the US border, the most likely scenario is that if they discover that your daughter is a US citizen, she will be given a short lecture from the immigration officer about how she is supposed to have a US passport, before they admit her anyway. <S> That's annoying but nothing more. <S> Some excellent answers to this question indicate that obtaining an ESTA (which you would need to fly to the US using a VWP country passport) is perfectly possible, even declaring your American citizenship. <S> As an alternative, if you can fly in to Canada or Mexico you could then cross the US border without needing an ESTA. <A> She could fly to Canada and enter the US by land. <S> To enter Canada, she can use her US birth certificate, meaning she won't even need to pay for an eTA <S> (if she doesn't have the birth certificate on her, of course she can use her British passport with an eTA too) <S> The alternative would be applying for an ESTA on her British passport, however she should deny holding dual nationality, or the ESTA may be refused. <S> I also can't guarantee that the system won't find out about her US citizenship. <A> The US government used to have a page that read, in part : <S> However, that page is no longer available . <S> The proper course of action for your situation is probably to apply for an emergency passport .
| If you have a true emergency, and are unable to obtain a U.S. Passport before your travels, and only have a VWP-eligible passport, then you will have to apply through ESTA using that passport to travel to the U.S. When arriving at the U.S. airport using the foreign passport, you will have to use the non-resident queue.
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How long should I keep the bag tag and its receipt? When you check in luggage on a flight you get a receipt and also there is a tag dangling from your luggage. Assuming that you received your luggage at your destination, what reasons are there to not throw away the tag and its receipt immediately (maybe even in the baggage claim area)? <Q> This has happened to me twice. <S> The first time was on a journey to Ecuador, where I wasn't thinking straight after about 22 hours of travelling and left the ticket and receipt in the pocket of the seat in front in the aircraft. <S> An airport official of some kind was checking off everyone's luggage against their receipts. <S> As it turned out I was the last person out of the baggage claim area, which I think helped my efforts to persuade him that I was being stupid rather than felonious. <S> The second time was in Mexico. <S> I collected my backpack and joined the queue for the point where they assign you an aisle to be randomly selected or not for a bag X-ray. <S> An official came down the line checking receipts and removing the tags from the bags. <S> When I got near the front I saw a bureau de change, and since I had no pesos at all I left the line to change a small amount. <S> After I rejoined the line, I was checked again by someone else, and asked why my backpack had no tag. <S> Of course, the person who had done the first check was now nowhere to be seen. <S> In both cases I managed to straighten things up by explaining what had happened, but that kind of interaction is unnecessary stress when you least want it and could go much worse. <S> On the other hand, once you're land-side there's a reasonable argument that you should remove and conceal the tag. <S> You're almost always going to be an obvious tourist, but if you can at least not be obviously a tourist who has literally just arrived in the country then that can help to reduce the "scam me / rob me" vibe. <S> Depending on your level of concern about identity theft you may wish to keep the tags until you can shred them to reduce their usefulness to "dumpster divers". <A> To augment the customs part of Peter Taylor's answer: if you are flying within the European Union, then many (most? <S> all?) <S> airports have a blue gate corridor for EU arrivals besides the usual red (goods to declare) and green (nothing to declare). <S> If you are stopped in the blue corridor which is really rare <S> but it does happen <S> then things go much, much smoother if you have your baggage tag. <S> Once you are landside, no point in keeping it. <A> The only reason to keep it is when you are gathering a collection of the tags from different airports. <S> You should not be afraid of a security guy, or a policeman as the tag makes no difference. <S> For example, if you arrive at another country there may be rules regarding what you can bring to the country. <S> There is no difference you brought it in checked in luggage or not.
| You should wait until you have passed through customs and are fully land-side before removing the tag or discarding the receipt, as otherwise you may have some hassle.
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Does my ESTA show on their system when going through border control? I'm planning to go from the UK to the States. I was wondering how the ESTA works. Is it all online, meaning when arriving in New York, will they see that I have been approved on the system when they scan my passport? Thus letting me in. <Q> Yes. <S> It is all electronic, and the information will be available to the border control officers. <S> It's a good idea to <S> bring a print out of the confirmation page <S> just in case there are any questions, and to show the airline you've completed the ESTA process if necessary. <S> Admission to the United States is determined by the Customs and Border Protection officers at the border. <S> An ESTA is required to travel to the United States, but CBP will determine you meet the requirements of the visa waiver program before letting you in. <S> An ESTA does not guarantee admission. <A> It's one of the most underestimated ESTA questions. <S> Print out your number & attach it to the documents. <S> Despite the fact that automatic registration will give out all the information about you, it may be necessary to have the code in the imprinted form at the airport. <S> Read more here .Print out the PDF with your ESTA number and carry it with your other travel documents. <A> You are confusing two concepts, the ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program. <S> The ESTA is an electronic authorization to travel by air or sea to the US. <S> Without that, you can't fly (at least if you're intending to enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program). <S> That's for transportation. <S> Once you arrive at Immigration, they will (probably) let you in, not because of the ESTA, but because of your passport.
| While United States border officials can electronically access your ESTA approval, your airline or carrier may require the printout at check-in.
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Can I refuse to choose seats with additional cost at check-in time? Related to this question , but in my case I actually am in the situation where all normal seats are occupied. This is what happens here: the online check-in system is trying to force me to choose extra legroom seats (since only those are available) and pay the additional cost. It won't let me proceed if I don't do that. However, this company (Eurowings) does allow checking in in person at the airport at no cost: I am therefore wondering whether to not check in online, go to the ariport check-in gate and ask for the free seats since I think I am entitled to them. Can I do that, or is the system right? Should I accept to pay the additional cost when all normal seats included in my ticket price are taken? EDIT Unlike many others, I'm not necessarily inclined to see malice from them here. I have chosen my free seats on their system many times before, always at no cost. This scenario, where all passengers with regular seats have already checked-in online seems quite uncommon and it may very well be that they forgot to implement a solution. <Q> I got their reply on twitter : <S> You will be able to check in at the airport. <S> My colleagues will assign you a seat for free <S> As to whether or not a check in fee will be added the answer is <S> no : with eurowings you can check in in person at no cost. <S> The online process just speeds it up, allowing you to skip the queue when you have no stored luggage, and lets you choose the seat earlier <A> Article 10(1): If an operating air carrier places a passenger in a class higher than that for which the ticket was purchased, it may not request any supplementary payment. <S> The airline could however probably instead choose to deny you boarding (due to overbooking) and compensate you accordingly without violating the regulation. <A> The same just happened to me today. <S> I tried different browsers from my PC , but on a one-stop route I could only select a seat for free on just one airplane. <S> It seemed like I could not select anything but an 18€ seat on the other airplane, nor an option to skip that step, in spite of their disclaimer: <S> Seat reservation <S> You can reserve a seat even after you have bought your ticket. <S> You can do so up to the end of the check-in procedure before departure online or via our call centre. <S> There is a fee per seat reservation (depending on the fare bracket) per passenger and leg (on domestic German flights add VAT). <S> If you do not reserve a seat, you will automatically be allocated one at no extra cost when you check in . <S> Anyway, I tried to check-in from my mobile and even though I could only select "larger seats" again, it did not show any price attached to that. <S> Basically I got a larger seat at no cost . <S> Hope this helps! <A> with the app you can choose your free seat enjoy, the company try to get our money, but if you think that maybe old people that they are not very good with technology will pay for the seat the company make lots of money, they just take advantage
| To answer more generally: If the flight is covered by the EU Flight Compensation Regulation (all Eurowings flights are so), the airline is not allowed to charge the passenger for an upgrade in this situation.
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National Express bus ticket from Luton to Gatwick - booking in advance vs on spot vs train When I check National Express tickets from London Luton to Gatwick airport online, I get 25.9 GBP per person price. Train for the same time is 27.10. There is no significant difference between bus and train. Should I expect to get cheaper price for the bus ticket directly in the airport? <Q> As others have said, the coach is likely to become delayed and take longer. <S> But I'll answer mostly about the train because it's what I'm most familiar with. <S> The main route by rail is a direct Thameslink train between the two stations. <S> It relies on a two-track "core" which runs underground through the centre of London - and so if this track has problems, the entire service is likely to be disrupted. <S> But this is relatively rare, and if it happens, usually they're able to get things sorted pretty quickly, unless it's a particularly serious problem. <S> If there is a problem in the core, you might find you're able to get an East Midlands Trains service to St. Pancras International, and change onto the London Underground Victoria Line to Victoria where you can pick up a Gatwick Express train non-stop to Gatwick. <S> As far as I can see, your ticket will be valid for this. <S> This will likely be slower and certainly less convenient than getting the direct Thameslink service, but it might be worth your while making a backup plan using this route in the unlikely event that there are problems with Thameslink. <S> The rail ticket you're looking up is what's known as a walk-up ticket, which means there's no advantage to buying it in advance, besides perhaps convenience - you're just as able to walk up to the station on the day and buy a ticket for the same price. <S> Most trains on this route are now Class 700 units. <S> These are spacious and sparse inside, as they're optimised more for the shorter journeys. <S> The seats are quite hard and not particularly well-padded, so if you like your seats <S> well-padded <S> then you might not appreciate these trains. <A> Bought bus ticket in the airport from Luton to London for 12 GBP. <S> Earliest option was sold out so took the next one. <S> From London to Gatwick used train for 13.4 which was faster and more convenient. <S> All in all, if you didn't book bus ticket in advance and it is peak time, the better option is train. <A> I would expect any on spot price to be the same or higher than the pre booked price for the same service, with an added risk of no availability. <S> While UK public transport fares are often regulated, there is no obvious reason to hold down the fare on this particular route below what the market will bear.
| The trains from Luton Airport Parkway to Gatwick Airport are usually more reliable (though there are of course exceptions), but you'll have to catch a bus from the airport itself to the railway station, since Luton is not directly rail-served.
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Electronic items to take from US to India I am buying some electronic items in the US to give them as gifts to friends and family in India. I wanted to ask if tablets, cameras, laptops bought in the US work fine in India. I mean there is no issue of frequency or volt or anything like that? I do understand that there is one problem that the charger's plug won't work. Do I need to buy a converter for that? But apart from that, is there any other issue? I mainly wanted to ask about tablets. Eg. this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3MYPOO/ref=crt_ewc_title_srh_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER <Q> India has a 220/240V 50Hz electrical supply, while the United States delivers 110/120V 60Hz electricity. <S> However, most electronic devices like laptops and tablets have dual-voltage power supplies, which accept both. <S> You'll want to make sure this is true for the devices you're buying by checking the label to ensure it also accepts 240V 50Hz power. <S> This will be the case for most electronics, though some appliances won't be compatible if you're looking to bring those back as well. <S> The tablet you linked appears to be dual voltage , so that would be no problem. <S> Devices that charge via USB could also be charged with a USB charger purchased in India. <S> You should note the rules regarding import duty for items brought to India so that you are not surprised by any taxes you are required to pay on arrival. <A> The WiFi channels 12 and 13 are forbidden from being used by FCC. <S> As result, some (not all) electronic devices sold in the US are restricted by the manufacturer from operating on those channels. <S> For more details, see the Wikipedia page. <A> Most electronics these days support dual 110V/120V and 220V/240V. <S> But, as others mentioned, verify what you are purchasing <S> supports <S> 220V/240V. <S> You can get two types of adapters (plug style only - not voltage). <S> 1. <S> universal to India-style [Type D] or 2. <S> USA to India-style [Type D]. <S> I would recommend #1. <S> (I've had good experiences with both OREI and Ceptics brands) <S> The problem that you'll encounter, however, is that electricity goes out sometimes in most parts of India. <S> It's much, much worse in rural areas and NE India, however. <S> I highly recommend a surge protector for the recipients of these gifts. <S> Unless you are bringing multiple items which are identical (say 3+ tablets, laptops, phones, etc.), you should not have any problems with import duties. <S> I have traveled multiple times with two video cameras, audio recording devices, my laptop, two phones, a bunch of microphones, and tons of rechargeable batteries (plus the chargers). <S> No problems entering India - leaving with any of this stuff in your carry-on, can be a bit annoying at security sometimes. <S> Word of warning! <S> I went to India in August (2017) and my LG G3 battery died. <S> There was literally no place which sold these, except some Amazon.in places which all had 1 star ratings. <S> My phone was unusable the entire month I was there. <S> Be warned that if you get a brand that is not serviceable or have replaceable parts in India, any damage will likely cause it to be an expensive paperweight.
| The US-bought WiFi-enabled deviced might face problems connecting to some WiFi networks abroad. As you have surmised, you will need adapters for the physical plugs so they fit in Indian sockets. You might want to seriously consider bringing smaller gifts and offering to buy these electronics while in India to avoid basically all the issues/concerns that you have.
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Meaning of 08:00 EST in North America So, I am confused and slightly angry. I just booked my tourist visa appointment. I got an appointment time of 08:00 EST . My confusion is, is this time PM or AM? If it's PM, will the consulate at Toronto open at 8PM? Why aren't they mentioning that it's PM or AM? When I add it to the calendar (in e-mail) it tells me it's PM, and when I see that calendar in Google Maps, it tells me it's AM. Like really, why is it so confusing :( How do I deal with this kind of time? <Q> Your appointment will be at 8 in the morning. <S> Note that it is common, but usually erroneous, to specify EST during daylight saving time. <S> Your appointment will be at 8 AM according to daylight time or standard time, whichever is in effect on the day in question. <A> Whenever I see leading zeroes in times without an AM/PM qualifier (e.g. "08:00") in the USA, they always refer to 24-hour time. <S> This means that your appointment is almost certainly at 8 AM. <S> I would give them a quick call to be certain. <A> I actually called the third party responsible for scheduling appointments, they told me that it's AM . <S> They sounded pretty obvious about it, like, of course, it's AM . <S> But I am like, you can't be sure unless it's explicitly 'stated' you know. <S> I hope they do attach an AM or PM in the future to make it easier for both sides.
| The leading zero in 08:00 implies that the time is given in a 24-hour clock, so it is not necessary to specify AM or PM.
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Can I go outside Toronto airport with transit visa for a few hours? I am an Indian citizen studying in US on F1 Visa. I have a 6-7 hour layover in Toronto International Airport on my flight from Chicago -> Tornoto -> Zurich -> Mumbai. I am wondering if it's possible for me to outside the airport and get some food and roam around a little bit before catching my flight? Is this allowed on a transit visa? Will there be any issue during Immigration check? <Q> Can I go outside the airport with a transit visa: <S> Yes, you can go outside the airport (it is the VH-1 visa <S> and it is valid for 48hs and <S> it is free. <S> I did, Madrid-Toronto- <S> Buenos Aires with a stop over of 10hs in Pearson International <S> , I was able to go through custom and get out without any problem with an Argentinean passport (the same for all my family). <S> This is also confirmed by others in the same thread (though I do not know whether they are just repeating the information in the above post or have their own experience). <A> Some tinkering here reveals that a transit visa will suffice if you are transit within 48 hours by air, but you need a full visitor visa if you are transiting by land. <S> That implies to me that the transit visa doesn't permit you to leave the airport. <A> I have transferred in Toronto when I was on my F1 visa. <S> The reason that I exited the border control was because the gate that I got off required me to get out of the custom and then go back in again. <S> So when you try to exit the border control, the officer will ask you. <S> I simply replied "I'm just trying to get to this gate to catch my flight which is taking off in 1 hour." <S> so I think without a Canadian visa, you can get pass the officer and get a stamp saying that you entered Canada on your passport. <S> But your reason needs to be valid. <S> But I'm not sure how the officer determines whether you pass through him or not. <S> (I don't think it hurts to try. <S> If the officer says "just stay in the airport. <S> " Then you will know.)
| Apparently, you can leave the airport with a transit visa, according to a forum entry at trip advisor from June 2016 (the entry is #55):
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Is it possible to get through an airport in less than 2 hours? I have never been on a plane before and I am traveling from Orlando to Bogota, in a few months and i have to take a train which should get me to Orlando around 10 and my flight leaves at 1.Its a 30-40 minute drive to the airport and i only need 1 carry on bag.So worst case, i get there with 2 hours exactly.How long do i have to get everything done and should i be worried? Is 2 hours enough time to finish everything? <Q> There are countless variables that will affect how long it takes to get through an airport, ranging from the time to day to what (if any) status you have with the airline, to whether you get given PreCheck access on that day. <S> However given that you only have carry-on bags, you will most likely be able to check-in relatively quickly - probably either online or at a kiosk (again, depends on your airline!) <S> US airports do not have any form of (physical) exit immigration, so the only real wait you'll have will be to get through security, which even on a bad day shouldn't take more than half an hour (probably well less) <S> Even if you did have bags to check 2 hours would almost certainly be plenty of time. <S> Of course, that is presuming that your train isn't delayed, and that traffic isn't particularly bad on the drive to the airport, etc... From a planning perspective, keep in mind that for an International flight there is a legal requirement to check in at least 60 minutes before departure. <S> If the airline allows it, I would suggest checking-in online just to remove this as being a potential issue in case you are running a little late. <A> Almost anywhere in the world 2 hours in enough. <S> The usual suggestion is to come 3 hours in before an international flight is a recommendation but most tickets actually say that you need to be there 90 minutes ahead. <S> Even so, I have made it with much less time in many countries. <S> The first thing to speed things up is for you to do your online checkin. <S> You have no bags to check <S> so it is mostly likely that you will be able to print your own boarding pass. <S> Orlando airport is not so large and I would expect that you would have plenty of time left even if you arrive just 90 minutes before. <S> If your flight is not direct and goes through a domestic destination first, you need even less time. <S> There are a few times when an unusual circumstance caused an airport I was at to be unusually busy. <S> In this case I always still made the flight by pointing out to the staff that I was in a rush due to my own departing flight being sooner than other people waiting <S> and I was moved ahead. <S> In other words, even if you are actually getting late, the staff is there to help you out. <A> While I would have no qualms about getting to the airport 2 hours from flight time for a domestic flight I would not recommend it in your case as you're not used to the system. <S> Airports are big and can be confusing to the uninitiated. <S> Doing something like going through the wrong security checkpoint could delay you enough to miss your flight. <A> Normally, I'd say 2 hours is plenty, but I just stumbled upon an article on wesh.com from July this year, saying that: JetBlue officials are telling passengers that plan to travel out of Orlando International Airport in the next eight months to arrive at the airport three hours early. <S> Airline officials say the recommendation is being made due to construction on the tram system that shuttles passengers to gates 1-29. <S> Throughout the construction period, a single train will remain operational to shuttle customers between the terminal and gate area. <S> Construction on the $90 million project to replace trains that service gates 1 through 59 has caused at least six tram outages since mid-April. <S> You can find the same information on the website of the airport including a list of impacted airlines. <S> Avianca is also mentioned which is the second airline offering direct flights from MCO to BOG. <S> (But of course they might also leave from different gates, too.) <S> But at least today, according to flightstats.com , the flights of both airlines left from the affected gates. <S> The Avianca flight left from gate 28 and the Jet Blue flight left from gate 5. <S> So you should be prepared for needing more time inside the airport since your flight might leave from an affected gate to which the airport tram is not running very often. <S> Or you are lucky and the construction work is already finished when you're flying to Bogotá. <S> Interestingly, JetBlue recommends on their website that you should arrive for flights to Bogotá even four hours before departure.
| “We recommend arriving at the airport three hours prior to your flight departure, and please be sure to check the status of your flight online or via the JetBlue app prior to arriving at the airport,” the website for JetBlue reads. So yes, 2 hours is plenty of time to do this.
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Single ticket from EDI to Leuchars (St Andrews)? The usual route from EDI airport to St Andrews is: Take the tram to Edinburgh Gateway/Haymarket station Take any train to Leuchars (Optionally: Take any bus 99x to St Andrews.) Is it possible to do this on a single ticket, or does it really require three different ones? (Each step seems to be run by a different entity with its own ticket machines.) <Q> No, it's not possible to do it on a single ticket as each of the operators is a different entity. <S> Alternatively you could take a Stagecoach bus 747 from Edinburgh Airport to Halbeath Park & Ride in Fife then change to a Stagecoach X24 bus to St Andrews bus station, which as Willeke suggested can be booked on a single ticket (a "Fife dayrider Plus"). <S> Travelinescotland is a useful site for planning journeys. <A> If this is a regular daily journey can be done with a single ticket for the train and buses, unfortunately it doesn't include the Edinburgh trams. <S> It's a rail+bus OneTicket which is a zonal season ticket available in weekly, monthly or annual versions. <S> It is also possible to buy a train ticket to "St Andrews Bus" which gives you a train journey to Leuchers and a bus journey to St Andrews. <S> You can then buy a plus bus add on ticket for within Edinburgh including the tram (excluding the airport). <S> However these would need to be done before getting to the station, e.g. the day before. <A> When you are controlled, on the tram, you get a free transfer tram ticket. <S> For the return trip, there's a train ticket machine near the M & S at EDI.
| Contra the other answers, the national rail ticket machines will sell a ticket from Leuchars to Edinburgh Airport that allows using the tram.
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Canada to USA customs preclearance and fruits/vegetables As an European citizen living in Canada, I am going to fly from Montreal (YUL) to the USA (SFO). I was planning to bring a sandwich (with tomato, lettuce...) and some fruit to eat on the plane. When flying to the US from Europe, this is fine since everything has been eaten when clearing the customs on arrival. However, it seems that there will be a US customs preclearance at YUL , and bringing fruits and vegetables in the US from Canada is a complicated matter . Will these food items be an issue during the preclearance ? <Q> When you are asked (on a piece of paper or on a screen) if you have any food, fruit/veg, plants or their parts, say yes. <S> Same for meat. <S> When you reach the person, you will be asked in a very bored voice "What food do you have?" <S> (I know because I ticked yes to that after having visited a farm the previous day, and that's what I was asked, leading to a lot of confusion.) <S> The officer will then make a decision and either take your food or let it through. <S> Beef is generally taken including roast beef sandwiches and beef jerky. <S> But not all food will be taken. <S> On another occasion there were a whole pile of apples abandoned just before the pre-clearance <S> and I asked about it. <S> "I don't have an apple," I told the officer, "but are they banned?" <S> "Nope." <S> [this was years ago <S> and they might be now, not the point.] <S> "So why are there all those apples out there?" <S> "People think they are banned and ditch them. <S> They don't come in here and ask me." <S> If you fail to declare food, especially meat, when entering either Canada or the US, you could be fined hundreds of dollars. <S> Declare it. <S> Alternatively, buy yourself some cleared and legal food in the airport after pre-clearance. <A> All food must be declared. <S> It is that simple, meaning <S> , it's not at all complicated. <S> CBP or the Dept. of Agriculture are the ones who make the decision, not you. :( <S> If the officer allows your sandwich, you're good to go. <S> It doesn't matter that it's a sandwich or whole tomatoes, a loaf of bread and a pack of cheese. <S> You must declare it. <S> CBP Info - Food - General Food <A> So you have a sandwich containing a few vegetable like lettuce, tomatoes etc. <S> As a general advisory, you can consult this link for "Fruit and Vegetable Import Advisory". <S> Will it be an issue? <S> It is highly likely that the customs officer will let you go after asking a few standard questions <S> e.g. do you have meat? <S> if yes is it raw or cooked? <S> etc. <S> Worst case situation is that they will "confiscate" your sandwich and throw it away and you can go on to your flight. <S> PS: It does seem that there are no issues in bringing tomatoes and the "above-ground parts" of lettuce.
| No, it won't be an issue but you should definitely declare that you have food.
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ESTA card requirements when traveling in Europe We are US citizens cruising in Italy, France, Spain, Malta and Greece. Do we need an ESTA Card? I have never heard of it. Thanks in advance. <Q> ESTA authorization is a requirement for certain visitors to the US. <S> As a US citizen, you are not able to get it <S> and you do not need it. <S> Furthermore, because ESTA concerns visitors to the US, it is not helpful for people traveling in Europe. <A> The US insists that this authorisation is not a visa and it does involve much less bureaucracy than a traditional visa <S> but nevertheless it allows the US authorities to check out travellers in advance and reject ones they don't like. <S> The Schengen area is planning to introduce a similar system called ETIAS but the system is not yet active. <S> Current plans appear to be for this system to start in 2020. <S> So for the moment as long as they follow the 90/180 rule US citizens can make tourism and business visits to the Schengen area without having to get any form of advance authorisation from the European authorities. <S> They will obviously need to carry their US passport. <S> The non-schengen EU countries also currently allow US citizens to visit without advance authorisation. <S> P.S. Canada and Australia have introduced similar systems but US citizens are exempt from the Canadian one. <A> There's no such thing as an ESTA card in Europe. <S> You will be given a 3 month stamp in your passport as a US citizen when you enter your first Schengen country from that list. <S> There will be no other passport controls on your trip as all these countries are in the Schengen zone.
| The ESTA is a US system where many visitors coming to the US are required to get an electronic authorisation in advance. A US citizen cannot get an ESTA and there is no such thing as an "ESTA card".
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What are the shaving options for the carry-on traveler? This question rustled some jimmies! Now that we have more information I'm rephrasing it to fit in better with the overall picture, which is shaving options for travelers without checked luggage. When traveling with carry-on luggage only, it's not always obvious what shaving equipment we can bring on a plane.For those of us that shave with open-ended blades such as double-edged safety razors or straight razors, as opposed to disposable and cartridge razors, the problem is exacerbated by trips with multiple stops where we have to tediously acquire blades at every destination. Naturally, the most flagrant razor blades are not permitted on a plane, but some shaving equipment is. As a not-too-frequent traveler myself I've never quite really gotten a hang on this, and I end up chasing down razor blades at a kiosk in some far away place at 2AM. There must be a better way! I figure frequent/business travelers must have developed several best practices of dealing with shaving by now. From the perspective of someone who most certainly cannot bring their regular razor onto the plane, what options are there for a traveler limited to carry-on luggage only? <Q> Here's the TSA on the topic: https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2010/08/17/safety-razors-and-disposable-razors <A> Another solution is to bring an electric shaver . <S> While this won't give you the same clean shave as a proper razor blade, but in my opinion it's as least as good as those disposable ones. <S> There are cheap (and lousy) travel shavers, but even the normal sized ones don't take up too much space in your carry-on luggage. <A> I've researched this problem extensively and tried out every type of shavers out there. <S> My current solution is to use the fantastic Philips OneBlade : <S> It can obviously be taken as carry-on, works for a long time without recharging and is very lightweight. <S> You cannot get a close shave with it, but it's amazingly gentle and won't cause any irritation even if you have extremely sensitive skin. <S> It costs less than 50 Euros, so it's an easy purchase even if you're skeptical. <S> There's also a "pro" model with fancy LED indicators, but it shaves exactly the same, so not worth the investment. <A> tldr: <S> Get the free one at your hotel <S> For me, good traveling generally means traveling with less stuff. <S> The things I try to leave at home are soap, toothpaste, razors, and shave cream. <S> But wait - how do I stay clean? <S> What about basic hygiene? <S> Hotels "always" have soap, but what about toothpaste? <S> In the US, most hotels will have "courtesy" packs. <S> Specifically, most hotels will give you a complimentary razor, shave cream, and a toothpaste. <S> So call the hotel where you are traveling too, and ask them if they have complimentary razors. <S> That will lighten your load, if just by a little bit. <S> I suggest continuing to brush teeth though, so bring a small tube of toothpaste. <A> I know depending on the cultures and preferences you are not willing to remove it altogether, but I'm quite satisifed with it. <S> You can get the treatment in a medical institute, but there is also a variety of products you can apply by yourself. <S> An example: SMOOTHSKIN GOLD : <S> These products don't have a razor blade attached and you can bring them safely ( <S> but once you finish it, you don't need).
| Another option is applying a laser or IPL and remove your beard (semi-) permanently. If you are traveling on the cheap, like at a youth hostel, then probably skipping shaving is the way to go. Disposable/cartridge razors are universally permitted in carry-on luggage.
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Should we really expect difficulties when listing only "city of birth" in US passport and what countries have issues with this? We are currently living in Europe, my spouse applied for US passport renewal, we went to US embassy with the application and listed city and country where she was born. Officer stated that we need to change the country since at the time of application the city belongs to a new country recognized by the US, or we can omit the country and just leave the city. She also stated that we will get info about this in the mail. We omitted the country and left the city only. No further info was given to us at that time. 10 days later we got the passport listing city only. 15 days later we got the pamphlet witch states following, "Passport applicants who opt for the city or town of birth designation should be aware that they may encounter difficulties in travelling to , or obtaining visas for entry into, certain foreign countries. " If we were aware of this at the time of the application we would list the new country without any questions. So now we are stuck with this " may encounter difficulties" over our head. What would you do? <Q> NZ and SA passport here. <S> Both list my city of birth as Pietermaritzburg, and don't mention country. <S> 76+ countries <S> later, no problems for me with regards to this. <S> The only problems I've had have been with the "uruwhenua' on the front of the NZ passport (one officer thought it was Uruguay), and the example photo in the NZ passport used to not match the owner's photo.... <S> that was problematic in Central Asia. <A> For example, New Zealand passports only list the city of birth, and not the country. <S> This does not appear to be a significant problem (or any problem) for New Zealand passport holders. <A> None of my passports ever had a birth place stated. <S> I have been to 56 countries without issues. <S> A handful of times an airline check-in person would tell me something like <S> There is an error in your passport <S> to which I just state that it is optional. <S> Sometimes they ask another staff member if that is possible, which just takes them a few seconds, but I have never been delayed at any immigration. <S> Bottom line is that it is a generic warning, I get that too with each passport renewal, but really it does not have much impact for travelers. <A> I've had some minor issues related to this. <S> US passports typically only list the state where a person is born. <S> As it was not in my US passport, I had to go through a fairly lengthy process to get a legalized copy of my birth certificate (including an Apostille) just so they could record the city where I was born.
| This probably isn't a going to be a big issue for you. When I moved to the Netherlands, some of the paperwork for registering at City Hall required the city where I was born.
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Can a French citizen fly from France to the USA with a green card, but no passport? I live in the US where I have a green card. I am in France (of which I am a citizen) and I lost my passport. Can I just use my green card to fly back to the US? <Q> You cannot use just a green card to fly from France to the US because you cannot clear the passport control for departing passengers with the green card. <S> For that, you'll need either a French passport (which you do not have) or a French national ID card. <S> Even if you have both the green card and the national ID, the airline might require you to have a passport, but TIMATIC, the database they normally use to verify immigration documents, suggests that the two documents are sufficient, so you might be in luck. <S> If you do not have an identity card, you cannot get one urgently , but you can make an urgent application for a passport . <S> Acceptable reasons for such an application are limited, however. <S> As you have lost your passport, you may want to review the relevant page at service-public.fr . <A> You will need either a valid passport or valid carte <S> d'identité <S> (CNI) to exit France. <S> If you have a CNI, and end up using that and the Green card, you should print the linked Timatic extract and underline the quoted section with a pen, as it is not widely known among check-in staff that green cards constitute a passport exemption for the US. <S> If they decide to double-check for themselves, remind them to put US in the "Alien residency" field, or the green card won't be listed. <A> Besides the legal requirements, you would always have to check with the airline. <S> I know first hand of a case where a passenger was denied at check-in with a combination of documents that immigration officer had confirmed to me were acceptable. <S> Because of the fines they receive when passegers are rejected, airlines tend to be overzealous about this.
| To enter the US, the Green card is enough, as stated in Timatic , the database used by airlines: Passport Exemptions: - Passengers with a Permanent Resident/Resident Alien Card (Form I-551).
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Shoes to wear for December trip to Europe I will be in travelling to Europe in December around new year and expecting temperatures in the range of -10 to 5 degree centigrade along with Rain. So i am looking for some water proof shoes which will also be warm but when i search online i can only see Hiking or snow shoes which seem to be quite bulky. I will be spending time in cities mainly, so i don't need something which look suitable for going to pubs, bars, restaurants. Can someone please advise what should i go for. EDIT: I will be travelling to Berlin, Prague and have booked some tours in Iceland including glacier walks. For glacier walks i plan to rent snow hiking shoes but if same are suitable for cities then i can probably buy them <Q> For urban tourism in Berlin and Prague it's unlikely that you'll need to deal with anything worse than a centimeter or two of half-melted slush lying in the street. <S> Any pair of rubber-soled closed-toed shoes should do for that -- especially if they are new enough to have a few millimeters of tread left for slipping resistance. <S> Apart from having rubber soles, seeking something explicitly marketed as "waterproof" would strike me as overkill. <S> For keeping warm, you may wish to go for trainers with padded uppers, or better yet fabric-lined leather uppers. <S> Plain leather uppers can work fine too, but depending on how cold-sensitive you are (and how long periods you will spend outside) <S> you may need to supplement them with a pair of warm socks. <S> In any case, bring a surplus of dry socks in case you need to change them out during the day. <A> Some shoe manufacturers make rather stylish boots these days. <S> These might be more suitable if you got a snowfall of a few centimetres or so. <S> Take a couple of pairs of winter socks (e.g. wool) <S> in case you have some colder weather. <A> As noted, you will likely be fine with just sneakers having a decent sole. <S> However, these are great for messy, slushy weather: Men's Boston III <S> I've stepped in 2-3 inch puddles and walked away with dry socks. <S> Rain and snow also don't soak through the top.
| A true pair of winter boots shouldn't be necessary for the temperatures you are describing, unless you are very intolerant of cold.
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What happens if a passenger passes through the boarding gate, but doesn't get on the aircraft? At one time, I was bored because of a delayed flight and that question arose in my mind just for curiosity. I haven't observed any mechanism that checks or counts the passengers who get on the aircraft, so there is a possibility of abuse. I guess airport security is responsible for that. The passenger may try to get on another aircraft or may get in the airport through a different gate. It must be a bigger problem at international airports and terminals. If the passenger is caught, what does airport security do, just arrest? What does the airline do if they realise the incident before or after the take-off? EDIT: In case there is a jet bridge, of course it's tough to do something like that. I am especially intending the gates that are directly open to outdoor (parking area of the aircrafts). The passengers are expected to walk to the aircraft or are transported by bus depending on the distance between the terminal and the aircraft. <Q> I haven't observed any mechanism that checks or counts the passengers who get on the aircraft, so there is a possibility of abuse. <S> Absolutely not, passengers on board are 100% accounted for . <S> You haven't noticed it because it's not done in a very noticeable manor unless there's a problem. <S> This previous thread addresses this situation: <S> What happens if the on-board headcount shows that the wrong number of people have boarded the airplane? <S> What happens depends on the exact situation. <S> If they're found to be a stowaway, they're probably arrested by the airport police. <S> Note, particularly for US domestic flights <S> , there is no safeguard against switching boarding passes since ID's are not regularly checked at the gate. <S> This presumes thought that a valid Boarding Pass and ID were used at the terminal entrance. <A> Strange that it wasn't mentioned: What you describe would be something that a person would do who has a ticking timebomb in their luggage. <S> So the flight would be delayed until the identity of the missing passenger is confirmed, and either the missing passenger is found and brought back on board, or the missing passenger's luggage is removed. <S> That happens when passengers check in luggage and then don't check in themselves, but the same reasoning would apply if you checked in and then somehow managed to not board the plane. <A> It depends on the airport and the country. <S> In Canada, ID is checked at boarding, so a passenger couldn't easily board the wrong flight. <S> A passenger could theoretically spend the day in airport security and not be detected if he didn't board his flight, but there is no harm in this anyway. <S> (It is perfectly possible to get a gate pass to help take a passenger to his gate, without having a flight for yourself - it would be very unlikely that anyone would force such a person to leave the secure area if he wanted to explore the shops and restaurants.)
| If someone mistakenly boards the wrong flight (yes, it can happen) they're just sent off to their correct flight.
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How can I rent a high clearance vehicle in the US? For a vacation in the southwest USA, we're considering renting a high-clearance vehicle to visit locations such as the Toroweap overlook (also known as Tuweep overlook). Regular car rental classifications appear to classify cars as "Small", "Medium", "Large", "SUV" (all cheap), "Luxury", "Van", or "Convertible" (all expensive). I don't know if any of those may be expected to be high clearance. Independent companies rent actual Jeep Wranglers but judging from cars I've seen on similar high clearance roads in the past, a car like the Jeep Wrangler is overkill. How can I specifically rent a high clearance vehicle, without going all the way to specialised jeep rentals which would triple the rental price? NB: See also this sister question on whether terms and conditions would allow driving on unpaved dirt roads at all. <Q> You're not the first to want this. <S> This means a couple things. <S> Second, you are a newbie to this, and they see a dozen people a day who want to off-road but not pay. <S> They know how to head them off or find artful ways to rob them blind . <S> Off-road specialty rentals charge more because their genuine risk is more. <S> Which makes it plain fraud to use false pretenses to get street-driving prices, and gives sly off-roaders no defense against a $1000 cleaning charge or $2000 for "suspension repairs". <S> You don't want to get caught up in that meat grinder. <S> The answer is, contact the auto rental's local office, who knows the territory, and tell them what you plan to use the car for. <S> Ask for their best rate under those conditions. <S> Get a usage waiver in writing, because words mean nothing. <S> Then check with your own insurance too. <S> I know you're not off-roading, but a 406MHz ELT is a really, really, really good thing to have. <S> Hokey things like " SPOT " are not the same. <A> You will not be able to specifically reserve a High Clearance vehicle since that is not an feature most agencies surface. <S> An alternative is of course specialty agencies. <S> However, you can ultimately choose a High Clearance vehicle by working the system just a bit. <S> Here's some tips: <S> High Clearance is >=8 inches (20 cm) and many SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) meet this. <S> Book a mid-sized or higher SUV but prepare to be flexible on features and price. <S> Bing and Google are your friend. <S> When you get to the counter and learn the exactly vehicle, search it with 'ground clearance'. <S> It's very easy to ask for something else. <S> * <S> The Agent won't ask what you searching, and if they do, just say 'safety ratings'. <S> You can pre-search <S> the SUVs a particular agency features to save time. <S> There's lots of YouTube videos on the Toroweap Overlook road, many in apparently factory SUV's. <S> This site describes the road as 'easy to moderate' and 'suitable for passenger cars': <S> AZ Offroading <S> * <S> For clarity, this is not at all unusual, to request a different vehicle than the one assigned. <S> Frequent renters do this to get specific features or even cars they prefer. <A> An alternative option, especially if you're from the US, is to see if you can find a vehicle for sale on the likes of Craigslist. <S> If you can buy a vehicle and drive it for a couple of days, then you can probably sell it for less than it would cost you to rent one. <S> Of course then you still have to deal with the hassle of selling it again, depending on your time commitments, maybe that's worth it. <A> We had (almost) exactly the same plan last year when we were camping on Point Sublime . <S> We had booked the largest SUV to drive around the states (even with full insurance), but didn't want to take the risk of getting it stuck in the mud in the middle of nowhere. <S> So we additionally reserved a dedicated off-road jeep locally for two days (all-in cost about $200 for six people). <S> We got lucky and actually got the biggest car in the lot (Chevrolet Suburban, 4-wheel drive, higher than normal ground clearance). <S> We kept an eye on the weather, checked with a local park ranger, which assured us the road was "in really good conditions" and decided to cancel the jeep and go for it with the Chevy. <S> Everyone has his own definition of "Good conditions"; we made it, but it was still a difficult ride. <S> If we didn't have that much ground clearance, we would have scraped the bottom of the car over the rocky road or got stuck. <S> So I'd still advise to get the proper vehicle for the job and definitely inform with the park rangers about road conditions.
| First, the national car rentals are savvy to the requirements of driving in the area, and can counsel you, and may have offerings for your needs.
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Who should I go after (Expedia, Finnair or Bangkok Airlines) for a missed flight? I had a situation in Bangkok yesterday. I was coming with Finnair joined ticked Vilnius -> Helsinki -> Bangkok (landing 7.25) and then my own separate Bangkok Airlines flight (boarding 8.55) Bangkok -> Phnom Penh, which I bought through Expedia. When I tried to do online check-in for Bangkok -> Phonm Penh on the Bangkok Airlines website, it showed my flight details ok, but it gave me an error instead of barcode, so I contacted Expedia online. Their response: Dear Matas, Your itinerary: 123456789 Thank you for getting in touch in regards to your booking for Bangkok Airways about the email confirmation. This is to inform you that the flight reservation stands confirmed and paid for. I have sent the booking confirmation to your registered email address "xxxx". This email confirmation will serve as your electronic ticket. When checking-in at the airport please carry a print out of the itinerary with the valid passport. I hope you have an enjoyable holiday. Kind regards, XXX Expedia.co.th Customer Support Website was giving an error like there is an error in flight details please contact the booking agent . However on the Expedia itinerary it claimed that I don't need to do anything, just bring it printed to the flight, which I did... The flight in Vilnius took off 40 minutes late and I barely made it to the Bangkok flight, which also departed late and landed at 8.05 in Bangkok, when it was supposed to be there at 7.25. However I managed to get to the boarding gate at 8.20, which was plenty of time. When I gave the printed itinerary from Expedia at the gate, they were about to let me through, but then one girl decided to go ask someone at the desk, which was 5 minutes away. They then talked in Thai for another 10 minutes at the desk and said that I have missed my flight because gates are now closed at 8.40. When I asked what the problem was, as I have paid for the tickets and arrived on time and all they needed to do just let me on the flight and be gone with it, she said that I was supposed to do the check-in 50 minutes before the flight and that if I wanted she could sell me another ticked at 11.30 (everything out of my pocket obviously). I replied that I would have to be a moron to fly Bangkok Airlines ever again after what they had just done to me then took my passport and went my way. Who should I go after to have best chance of getting my money back? <Q> Unfortunately the only person responsible here is you . <S> You knowingly booked separate tickets with a very tight connection, and you lost the gamble. <S> Finnair has nothing to do with this, they promised to get you to Bangkok <S> and they did. <S> Expedia has nothing to do with this, they sold you a perfectly valid ticket. <S> And you not checking in on time for the Bangkok Airways flight <S> is also your responsibility. <S> Yes, it would have been nice if their online check-in had worked, and it would have been even nicer if they had violated their own policies by letting you board without checking in, but they were not required to do either of these things. <S> Your best bet would have been to accept the offer to rebook on Bangkok Airways and plead for lenience, but that's too late now and storming off in a huff did not help - particularly in Thailand, where keeping a jai yen ("cool heart") at all times is a national virtue. <S> About the only option you have at this point is to contact Bangkok Airways support and ask if they can offer you credit or a partial refund as a gesture of goodwill, pointing to the broken online check-in. <A> If it was a split ticket, your only option is probably travel insurance. <S> Many policies will cover the cost of a new ticket in the event of a missed departure up to EUR 500-800, often at zero excess. <S> Quite often the airline is happy to just put you on standby for the next flight at no extra charge, but it is usually at their discretion. <A> The problem with buying airline combination tickets is that most of the time, you (the traveler) is solely responsible for any missed flights that may arise as you are supposed to reach the boarding gate in time regardless whether the previous flights are delayed or not. <S> That is the main reason I don't purchase airline combination tickets from third party sites. <S> Expedia, Skyscanner, and other third party sites don't have the liability to insure you against missed flights as they are after all booking agents for you to book a flight. <S> Likewise, the airlines doesn't care if you have a next flight / previous delayed flights because they don't have the liability to do so. <S> That being said, it is always good to leave a buffer of at least 4 hours between connecting flights especially if the airlines are different. <S> Alternative will be to book connecting flights directly from a single airline. <S> (e.g. flying from Perth to London on a connecting Qantas flight). <S> You're more likely to be covered should there be any delay. <S> Hope this helps. <A> If Expedia sent communications to you from which a reasonable person would conclude that no further action was needed on your part, then they are liable. <S> If Bangkok Airlines failed to properly inform you of their check-in deadline, they are liable (note that more than one party can both be liable for the same harm). <S> If, when you purchased the ticket, Bangkok Airlines made representations that on-line check-in was available, and in was not in fact not available, that can also give then liability, although one factor would be to what extent alternatives were available. <S> If, by the time you discovered that online check-in was not available, you were unable to get a refund, and you were unable to check in in person due to no fault of your own, then they are liable.
| Finnair may also be liable; see https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flight-rights-what-youre-due-when-bad-things-happen/
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Is 'wai' greeting a serious thing? Is it inappropriate to 'over-wai'? This morning I had to go to Phnom Penh and Giant Ibis bus company had all the seats booked. Normally there was always space, but due to high season, the bus was full. However, they were very nice and when they couldn't get me a seat with their competitor's Mekong, which was also full, they allowed me to ride on an extendable seat that blocks the path in the bus. For which I was enormously grateful, so I 'wai-ed' the girl at the desk 3 times with hands very high, and her smile died for a moment. It felt like I have done something inappropriate, although we have been very informal at that point. Is it inappropriate to 'over-wai'? Or to joke about 'wai-ing'? Wai and similar gestures are used to greet and show respect in many parts of South and East Asia: The Thai greeting referred to as the wai (Thai: ไหว้, pronounced wâi ) consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion. It has its origin in the Indian Añjali Mudrā , like the Indian namaste and the Cambodian sampeah Sampeah (Cambodian greeting) <Q> Farang tourists usually don't wai properly, when they do. <S> They're usually quite awkward, and hand placement and movement are usually incorrect, or awkward at best. <S> Foreigners are not expected to, nor expected to know how to. <S> Waiing high three times is weird, at best. <S> That would be something addressed to a monk, maybe. <S> Keep it simple. <S> A single wai, a couple of seconds, mid-height, is enough. <S> Or just a simple thank you. <A> In Thailand, there's a superstition that wai'ing someone younger than yourself takes a year (maybe years?) <S> off of their life. <S> A couple of times when I have wai'ed <S> Thai friends that were noticeably younger than me, I was chided (mostly jokingly) that I had shortened their life. <A> In some places it is rude to wai someone significantly younger than yourself. <S> This may have been a factor as you describe a 'girl'.
| Waiing is also considered in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos an insider's thing.
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Is Timatic always up to date? Or, can Timatic afford to be out of date at any point in time? It is the database airlines and immigration consult to check current visa regulations and latest changes for all the nationalities travelling to every country in the world. Someone claimed in another post that, in a certain case, the info on timatic was out of date by many months and possibly omitted certain visa requirements available to some nationalities but not recorded there. Could anyone please elaborate on the workings of timatic and how it is updated and whether or not its real time info can be misleading/incomplete/unclear? <Q> Is Timatic always up to date? <S> YES , to the point where travellers should not worry about it. <S> Here's a fun video describing some way they do this: Timatic Sourcing <S> Basically, they try to maintain close relationships with the agencies responsible for entry and transit requirements and encourage them to notify IATA before any change takes place. <S> Or, can Timatic afford to be out of date at any point in time? <S> NO. <S> No one in the industry benefits in any way from Timatic being out of date. <S> In fact, it's a huge liability for the airlines. <S> To be clear, try as they do, some random bureaucrat can forget to notify IATA and cause problems. <S> There are also some wonky situations, such as the US Passport/Turkish visa thing. <S> info can be misleading/incomplete/ <S> unclear? <S> Here's the deal with this, it doesn't matter. <S> Timatic can be flat out wrong <S> but there is no way to convince an airline on the spot that is the case. <S> You can be traveling with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson himself, but if Timatic says you need a visa and don't have one, you're not going anywhere. <A> Yes . <S> The new Hungarian COVID rules were put in place in such a hurry (the new rules came into effect <12 hours after the decision) that TIMATIC was out of date for a few hours, between midnight and 4:30am or so. <S> Good thing noone was flying within Europe to Hungary during those hours... <A> TIMATIC / IATA information is NOT always correct. <S> I am certain of this because Italy published new passenger restrictions related to Covid-19 on July 1, 2020. <S> The change included 8 new exceptions to the restrictions such as family members of EU citizens and foreign students. <S> Yet, TIMATIC never updated their information and that caused airlines to block passengers who had a right to travel and who had bought tickets based official information. <S> Quite a poor job by TIMATIC because the updated restrictions were widely available for weeks from embassies and foreign and health minister sources. <S> Even worse, they ignore data errors that are reported directly to their office.
| IATA tries really, really, really hard to keep Timatic current.
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Can you take a coffee on a plane if you purchased it before security? I’m traveling to Paris from Edinburgh next week and confused whether I could get a frappuccino from Starbucks for the flight? I'm not sure if I could get one because of security? <Q> A Frappuccino is considered a liquid. <S> For carry-on luggage , the UK only allows a single small resealable bag of liquids holding containers 100ml or less. <S> Your Frappuccino would not qualify. <S> You cannot bring it through airport security. <S> If there is a Starbucks past the security checkpoint, you can buy one there and bring it on board. <A> You can't bring a coffee through security since, as the other answers say, it violates the rules for what liquids can go through security. <S> It seems there's no Starbucks after security at Edinburgh <S> but there's a Costa and a Caffe Nero ( map ). <S> Indeed, even before the current restrictions, you couldn't bring coffees through security: I tried it once and had to bin it. <S> They can't put your coffee through the X-ray machine because of the risk of spills; visual inspection won't detect any objects you might have hidden in it. <A> As the other answers have pointed out: a frappuccino is a liquid; Liquids are only allowed through security in containers holding less than 100ml, and all of those containers must fit in a single small resealable bag. <S> So the obvious solution is to take a large number of small bottles and decant your frappuccino into portions smaller than 100ml (you'll probably find a tiny funnel helpful). <S> Give it a go and let me know how you get on. :) <A> A somewhat facetious answer, but the only way to get your 100+ mL or hot drink through security is if YOU are the container. <S> Drink up in the queue and bin the cup at the top of the line, and everyone is happy - although you're more likely to need a "pitstop" somewhere before your destination. <A> It's even become a 'newsworthy' checked item, and not just for the liquid content. <S> Secondly, even if bought after security, some Starbucks drinks are now being checked for explosives (!!). <A> You won't be able to bring a liquid you bought before security because of the 100ml liquid rule, as has been pointed out. <S> However it's usually fine to bring a coffee you bought on the secure air side on to the plane. <S> If you are concerned about spills you could bring an empty travel mug or similar with you and transfer your drink. <S> I've never flown from Edinburgh specifically <S> but I regularly fly trans-Atlantic and the only time I've encountered an airport that didn't have a coffee shop air side (maybe not Starbucks specifically but some sort of purveyor of liquid caffeine) <S> was when the terminal was being remodelled and all of the shops were closed.
| Firstly, it's liquid (even fraps), so while a tiny espresso or macchiato might be under the 100ml rule , most coffees will not be allowed through. However, you can buy a coffee after security and take it on the plane.
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Can I change the travel dates on my Schengen application form before the date of the interview? I filled out a form early November to get a Swiss visa (applying in Singapore but not Singaporean) with my travel dates as 19.12.2017 to 02.01.2018. The first available appointment was on the 1st of December and I took it. During the time in between, my travel dates changed to one week later (both arrival and departure). Now, my travel itinerary and supporting documents all have different dates from the dates on the form. What do I do? I can fill out a new form with the right dates without paying any fees but the online ID on that form will be different. As mentioned in the comments, I haven't got my visa yet - the interview is tomorrow. <Q> Give them all possible information, communicate well, don't hide anything, tell them what happened and why your dates have changed. <S> They are humans after all. <S> If they see you don't have any bad intentions, they will try to help you or show you the next step. <A> As mentioned in my comment, this is a total non-issue. <S> Simply point it out as you hand over the documents. <A> Dates on your application must match the dates on other documentation (flight booking, hotel booking, insurance) or there is a chance your visa will be denied. <S> Good luck.
| In my case, I was told that it was fine - I didn't need to do anything. If you don't have time to fill out a new form and get a new interview date, explain your situation to the visa officer right away and convince him to issue a visa that reflects your new travel plan.
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Countries with drinkable tap water? I'm from Austria and where I live it is completely normal to drink the tap water. I heard from my mum who spent some time in france and from my teachers that in countries like the US, France or Spain the tap water is not safe to drink, and if it is drinkable, then only in big cities. But I found many lists and graphics (e.g. http://people.com/food/countries-drink-tap-water-safe/ ) that say that the water in these countries is drinkable. So what's not the truth? I'm especially interested in the tap-water-situation in Ireland, both Dublin and smaller towns like Galway. Is the tap water drinkable there <Q> In much of the developed world and even some lesser developed countries, there is drinkable water on tap. <S> but we do occasionally get a warning posted to avoid drinking water for certain periods of time when the processing facilities has detected an anomaly. <S> Part of making sure tap water is drinkable is testing it regularly. <S> It has been a while since I have been to France but the tap water was drinkable then <S> and so it is in all other European countries I have visited. <S> The WHO (World Health Organization) has guidelines for drinkable tap water and they have a website describing the state of things. <S> Check the global map here . <A> Do you mean <S> safe to drink, or nice to drink? <S> In southern England, the water is very hard, which gives the water a taste that a lot of people find unpleasant. <S> However, the water is harmless. <A> Outside or extremely specific cases, such as Flint or post disaster (Earthquake, Hurricane, etc), the tap water in the US and Canada is perfectly safe to drink , everywhere. <S> Beyond that, I've found the water in Western to Central Europe perfectly safe, as well as Japan, China, the UAE, the Caribbean. <S> Central America, except Costa Rica, would warrant some caution depending on exactly were you are. <S> To young to remember some <S> but I know for sure I've never gotten sick. <S> In Central & Southern Africa, I only drank tea/coffee (boiled) or bottled beverages. <S> Though the hotels will probably insist the water in Capetown or Johannesburg is safe (expect the same in Mexico City). <S> Keep in mind, the people who live there drink the water and they haven't all expired so the water isn't necessarily dangerous. <S> Some peoples' bodies overreact to otherwise harmless pathogens which leads to the proverbial Montezuma's Revenge.
| Normally water is completely safe to drink in Canada and the USA
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Booking flight before new passport arrives? I am booking a flight for January 30 with Cebu Pacific. I tried to contact them about this, still waiting for a reply. One person in our group didn't have a passport and already applied for one. He was told by the authorities that it will arrive on January 20. By then, the flight might be overbooked, or extremely expensive. This person has never flown before, much less leave his home country. I need to accompany this person no matter what, and it is also very important for this person and us to make this trip since it's for attending a marriage that can't be postponed. It's not an easy situation. Is it a terrible idea to book the flight with random passport number and then when he gets his passport we call the airline and ask to fix the number? All other information of the passenger would be the same. Related: For my flight, can I provide my old passport number until my new passport arrives? <Q> The risk is really that the passport does not come in time for the flight, as that would be your/his loss; he would miss the flight, and neither the airline nor the passport office will reimburse you in any way. <A> It is very common to book travel before having the relevant documentation, including Passports or Visas. <S> For this reason, they are not required until just before travel will commence. <S> Book the tickets without entering any Passport or Visa information . <S> Then, when the Passport arrives, update the reservation or provide the information at the airport during checking. <S> Be sure to arrive extra early to do this. <S> Note, if for any reason the Passport or any visas are not issued, you may not be entitled to a refund as it is the travelers sole responsibility to have these before travel. <A> As outlined in a related question , airlines never bother checking if the passport number entered during booking/check-in is actually valid. <S> In the worst case scenario you will be asked to wait for a minute before the flight while they update the number at the boarding gate. <S> So the answer is simple <S> : enter whatever number you want . <S> Just make sure that the person in question has their passport ready by the time they need to fly.
| You typically don’t need a passport number to book a flight; you will only need the passport at check-in .
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Which countries are visa free for both Chinese and Swiss citizens? I'm planning to meet my girlfriend. She's Chinese, while I'm Swiss. And we're having some trouble finding out which way would be the best to meet each other. Because we both would not like to tell our parents about that yet. So I've been researching and I found that Chinese people are allowed to go to San Marino for 90 days without any visa. For me, being Swiss, I'm perfectly allowed to go there, too. But there are some questions regarding that plan. How does she get to San Marino without having an Italian visa? I mean, she would need to cross Italy. I've read the Italians will grant Chinese people transit to San Marino without a Schengen visa or transit visa. Is that true? If so, how would you do that transit? If the plan mentioned above does not work, what do you recommend would be the easiest way to meet each other? ADDED For clarification purposes, I would like to reply to some things that have been stated here. First of all, I can assure everybody that this is not a romance scam. We've met over a year ago and have been calling each other for almost every day in the last 11 months. Additionally she wanted me to come to China, not the other way around. It was actually my idea, that she'd come to Europe. And she's currently in Hainan as a student, so it wouldn't be that obvious to her parents if she left for a week or two. I've first just asked this question because I wasn't sure about the idea with San Marino. It sounded ridiculous to me too, and because there wasn't any other information on the internet I thought I'd give it a try and ask. So I think this question is answered for me now. Either she's going to get a Schengen visa for Switzerland (which I'm not sure exactly how) or I'll try to get to Hong Kong (but where I'm not sure, if she actually can go to Hong Kong as a Chinese citizen from the mainland?) somehow. Thank you all for your willingness to help. <Q> San Marino is landlocked and does not have a commercial airport, so the only way to get there is to cross the land border from Italy, which requires one already to have entered the Schengen Area, with all the visa requirements that implies. <S> Thus the visa-free agreement between San Marino and China is in practice irrelevant for your girlfriend. <S> It is just the symbolic reciprocal counterpart of an agreement that allows Sammarinese citizens to enter China visa-free. <A> Considering that the Swiss passport is quite stronger than the Chinese passport, you should have a look at which countries a Chinese citizen can go easily (no visa or VoA). <S> And from that list pick one that you can go to easily. <S> This is the map ( source ): <S> Among the easier countries: Tunisia & Morocco, no visa. <S> Morocco and Thailand are very nice in the winter. <S> Good choices right there. <A> https://travelfreedom.io/compare/?compare=ch|cn Click on "Show Map" and select "Exclusive" mode, and you'll be able to see which countries you can both travel to. <A> There exists a transit regime to landlocked jurisdictions within Italy, just not quite for everyone. <S> I've read the Italians <S> will grant Chinese transit to San Marino with out a Schengen visa or transit visa. <S> Is that true? <S> It is, basically, the same thing, as with transit to Vatican City. <S> Namely that in exceptional cases, Italy would grant such transit upon very strict conditions. <S> For instance, if a Chinese national had a yacht moored in international waters, and would get to San Marino by a helicopter, they would have to apply to Italian Foreign Ministry for a permission to do so, and such a transit would be granted provided they don't land on Italian soil. <S> Or, if they arrived from outside of the Schengen Area by a private jet, and arranged a helicopter transfer from the airport to San Marino, transferring under border guard officer's supervision. <S> In other words, it is very well off limits to ordinary people, so, unless your girlfriend has a private jet or a yacht, forget it. <S> Go to Belgrade, and meet up there, it's a lovely city, unless you head to the suburbs. <A> She's not getting into San Marino without a Schengen visa, as San Marino doesn't have a passenger airport. <S> Suggestions in Europe are Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine or Turkey. <S> Swiss can go there visa-free (except in Ukraine, your ID card is enough), while Chinese can enter Serbia visa-free, get a visa on arrival in Ukraine and Turkey, or get an e-visa in Moldova and Turkey. <S> All of this said, first and foremost find out whether this person is for real. <A> Based on Wikipedia pages for visa requirements for Chinese and Swiss citizens, I've made a list of countries that will let you both in either visa-free , or with a visa-on-arrival , or on an eVisa . <S> Those countries are: Antigua and Barbuda Armenia Azerbaijan <S> Bahamas Bahrain <S> Bangladesh <S> Barbados <S> Bolivia <S> Djibouti <S> Dominica <S> Ecuador <S> Egypt <S> Ethiopia Fiji <S> Gabon Georgia <S> Grenada <S> Guinea-Bissau <S> Haiti <S> India <S> Indonesia <S> Iran <S> Jamaica <S> Jordan Kenya <S> Kyrgyzstan <S> Laos Lebanon Lesotho <S> Madagascar Malawi <S> Malaysia <S> Maldives <S> Mauritania <S> Mauritius <S> Micronesia <S> Moldova Morocco Mozambique <S> Myanmar <S> Nepal <S> Palau Qatar <S> Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis <S> Samoa <S> San Marino <S> São Tomé and Príncipe Serbia <S> Seychelles Singapore <S> Sri Lanka <S> Suriname Tajikistan <S> Tanzania <S> Thailand <S> Timor-Leste <S> Togo <S> Tonga <S> Tunisia <S> Turkey <S> Tuvalu <S> Uganda <S> Ukraine <S> United Arab Emirates <S> Vanuatu <S> Zambia <S> Zimbabwe <S> That is a total of 72 countries to choose from! <S> Do review specific entry requirements for each country you might want to choose, as the list does not take into account any additional requirements such as using a specific port of entry. <S> Also , while San Marino is technically on that list, I believe there's no port of entry that would be directly inside San Marino and therefore not require a Schengen visa. <S> Thus, your girlfriend would be unable to enter San Marino without a Schengen visa. <A> As Mawg suggested in the comments, the best option is probably just for you to go to China. <S> It shouldn't be difficult to get a Chinese visa as a Swiss citizen and it will probably be much easier than for her to leave China. <S> This also solves another issue, which is quite likely the actual problem here: it doesn't require sending her any money and, thus, rules out this being a romance scam (which, honestly, it probably is.) <S> If she objects to you visiting her in China without sending her money, this is almost certainly a romance scam. <S> If the scenario is real, it will be much easier for her to meet you somewhere near but not at her home without her parents finding out than for her to fly halfway around the world without her parents finding out. <S> In the more likely case that it isn't real, her trying to find excuses of why you need to send her money in order to be able to meet will confirm to you that it isn't real. <S> As an aside, if you've exchanged e-mails with her, you may wish to check the Received-From headers to see whether the source IP address is even in Hainan at all (or China at all, for that matter.) <S> Please also read this question: My online friend is asking for money in order to visit my home country. <S> Is this a legit request or a scam? <A> Found this handy dandy comparison tool that might help: https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=cn&p2=ch&fl=&s=yes Does a side by side comparison of countries, passports, and visa requirements.
| Brunei Cambodia Cape Verde Comoros A few countries in Asia ask for no visa, or a very easy VoA/eVisa: Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand.
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London on Christmas Day I booked an overnight flight to London, arriving on Christmas morning. After I'd made the booking (see note below), I learned from a friend of a friend that a lot of the city shuts down on that day. I've already learned that I will need to take a cab from the airport to the house I'm borrowing, since there's no public transport; and I've read about the £4 surcharge for taking a cab on Christmas. Here's my question: do I have any chance of buying food to get me through that first day? Most anything will do: I just need to sustain myself until the city stirs again. Or should I fill my suitcase with 24 hours' worth of protein bars and instant ramen? (NB: what I'm really asking about here is buying groceries, not going to restaurants.) (Why didn't I think of this when I was booking? Because I live in an urban area where there are trains, buses, and shops available every day of the year. It would never have occurred to me that a city of London's size, activity level, and diversity would shut down so completely.) <Q> All large stores will close on Christmas day because of the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 , which requires stores larger than a certain size to close for the day. <S> Be aware however that small "corner shops" (as they are known in the UK, even if they are not on a corner...) <S> will charge you significantly more for the same goods than you would find at a major store. <A> Just to give you an idea of how empty London is on Christmas morning: One Christmas morning, decades ago, about 10am, I quietly lay down for a couple of minutes in the middle of the junction between Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, just because I could. <S> This was before the Crossrail project, so <S> it was still a 4-way junction with an exit going down to Cambridge Circus - normally an exceptionally busy junction. <S> Not a single person or vehicle showed up. <S> But that's in the very centre of London (literally, the building there is called "Centre Point") <S> Out by the airports, it may be different. <A> London is a very large place, so it really depends which area you are talking about. <S> Typically the centre and banking areas will be deserted as the residents head to their holiday homes in the suburbs. <S> Heavily touristy areas will still be offering limited services to visitors. <S> Suburbs will vary depending on local ethnicity, but most will offer some kind of service. <S> There are many things to consider: <S> London is a major tourist destination, and you won't be the only tourist in the city at this time of year. <S> As a result, most hotel restaurants will be open, although possibly for shorter hours than normal. <S> Likewise other restaurants in popular tourist areas may choose to open for a short while on Christmas day. <S> It's becoming popular and trendy to go out for a meal on Christmas day, rather than cooking yourself. <S> Many restaurants are now offering Christmas specials, so you may find a few restaurants choose to open on Christmas day for this reason. <S> This is probably more prevalent amongst smaller family run places, rather than chain restaurants. <S> Most of these may be fully booked however, but you may get lucky if there's some cancellations. <S> Not everyone celebrates Christmas. <S> In such a multi cultural city like London, you will find it is just another day for many residents and businesses. <S> Most of these will be open as normal (possibly even extended hours due to higher demand due to rivals closing). <S> Most of this applies equally to smaller towns and villages in the UK. <S> Even the small country town I live in, it's still possible to find smaller convenience stores open for business, as well as bars open for drinks on reduced hours.
| However, you will find that most smaller independent "convenience" stores will stay open, especially in London due to the high level of multi-culturalism that exists in the city - non-Christians still need access to basics over the Christian holiday, and many non-Christian small store owners will be happy to serve you on Christmas day, and there is usually one within a short walking distance of most houses in London.
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4 people in a cab in London? Is that allowed? I have found that different cities have different regulations and I have been in places where 4 persons can travel in any cab (3 in back seat, one in front seat) while other cities don't allow front seat for passengers. Of course there are bigger taxis, but I mean in case I don't find one and just get common cabs (1+3 passengers). <Q> London cabs will usually have additional seats in the back which fold up when not in use. <S> This allows up to 5 people to ride in the back. <S> Like below: <A> Usually, it's fairly obvious from looking inside the cab, but a quick look at the rear will tell you. <S> In the image below, it shows "Licensed to Carry 5 Persons." <S> Any cab that doesn't have a plate like this on the back can be considered unlicensed. <S> In London, there are people who drive around in their own cars looking for fares <S> -they don't care how many people they carry, and they're not insured for this work. <A> There are two cases. <S> To legally flag down a cab in London, it should be a standard taxi, and therefore seat at least 5, as described in a prior answer . <S> It is often cheaper to use some form of "private hire" service. <S> They are only allowed to pick up passengers by prior arrangement. <S> As noted in comments on the question, when you contact the service to arrange a ride you can tell them how many passengers, and they should send a suitable vehicle.
| All licenced UK taxis have a plate on the rear of the vehicle indicating how many passengers they allow.
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