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How do I spend money in Sweden and Denmark? I will be visiting Stockholm, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark for holidays in a couple weeks. I live in the US and have a Bank of America bank account and debit card. I will be spending money in Stockholm and Copenhagen for basic expenses like food, local travel, etc. I believe my debit card will incur an international fee on every purchase which I’d rather not pay. It seems as though Sweden and Denmark have their own currencies, Swedish krona and Danish krone, each with different exchange rates to the USD. What’s the best and easiest way to spend money when traveling in these countries? I’d prefer not to carry a bunch of cash. Is there some kind of a prepaid card that I can load up and spend in both countries? What do most people do? Thanks for any advice! <Q> Credit and debit cards are ubiquitous in Scandinavia. <S> You should have no trouble using a Visa card. <S> Before you travel, you could apply for a credit card that has zero foreign transactions fee. <S> You can also take out money from an ATM, like almost anywhere else in the world. <S> Some banks' ATM cards refund ATM fees. <S> Purchases in a foreign currency are no problem with a major credit/debit card (i.e. Visa). <S> Purchases will appear in USD on your statement, possibly with a small foreign transaction fee (typically 3%). <S> As a Bank of America card holder, you can use ATMs from banks that are part of the Global ATM Alliance without paying a non-BofA ATM fee ( <S> but still the 3% Foreign Transaction Fee (FTF)). <A> As was suggested above, you should consider getting a credit card that does not have a surcharge for foreign transactions. <S> Generally speaking, you should have no trouble using your cards in Sweden and Denmark. <S> There are only two things you should be aware of. <S> One is that debit networks are not 100% interoperable with U.S. networks. <S> So your debit card might not work in some stores and smaller banks, but should be fine at ATMs owned by larger banks. <S> The other is that European credit cards are Chip+PIN, while U.S. cards are Chip+Signature. <S> This was occasionally a problem at automated ticket kiosks in railroad stations, since the kiosk would not take the credit card without a PIN. <S> To buy a train ticket, I sometimes had to go to the ticket window and buy from the ticket agent. <A> I would get a card from one of the newer "Fintech" providers that are competing on cost in the foreign payments market. <S> They tend to have low fees, and they are also transparent on any extra they are charging on top of the mid-market exchange rate. <S> That's a notional fair rate where you could convert money from one currency into another and immediately back again with no losses. <S> Most banks and traditional foreign exchange providers will use different "Buy" and "Sell" prices and if you're making a card payment it'll be hard to find out in advance how much they differ from each other. <S> A downside of these providers is that they provide debit cards (less consumer protection) and they don't have the infrastructure of traditional banks for dealing with problems <S> - e.g. there are reports of people's cards being blocked and it being difficult to get them unblocked quickly. <S> So don't completely rely on them. <S> Examples of newer providers are Revolut and Transferwise (I use both but have no other affiliation). <S> Also, if a merchant offers to charge you in USD, it's usually best to refuse the option. <S> The rates will be worse than you'd get even from your own bank, and much worse than you'd get from a cheap provider. <A> Bring more than one card. <S> Especially in Sweden a lot of people never use cash but if you only have one card and lose it you have a problem, especially as a tourist. <S> So get a second card and leave it in your luggage while your primary card is in our wallet or similar.
| Credit cards work everywhere.
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What is the best travel ticket for travelling around Switzerland? A good friend of mine lives in Zurich and I'll be staying at his for 2 weeks this summer. I want to explore Switzerland and wondered what the best ticket for this is? I will be travelling to/from Zurich each day. <Q> SBB offers a Swiss Travel Pass which might suit your needs With the "Swiss Travel Pass 15 days" you can enjoy 15 consecutive days of unlimited travel on the entire train, postbus and boat network of the Swiss Travel System. <S> So basically you can use more or less any public transport (also in cities) with this pass, including some mountain railways and a lot of museums . <S> Besides the 8 or 15 days option there is also a more flexible version (Swiss Travel Pass Flex) which allows to travel on 8 or 15 days within a month. <S> You can actually buy the pass already in advance and print it at home, so you won't need to worry about getting it once you've arrived. <S> Only constraint is "vailable to persons permanently resident outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein" <S> It really depends on your individual travel plans though, so it might be cheaper to get individual tickets instead (or a Flex Pass for just the few days where you intend to travel a lot). <S> If you already know where you want to go to you can use the timetable information on <S> sbb.ch to learn about the cost of the individual tickets. <S> In that scenario you also need to consider the price for the pass for the trams, trains and busses within the city of Zurich (CHF 85 for a monthly pass, about 50 for six day passes). <A> Valid for one month, and for CHF 120 you get 50% discount on all public transport including many mountain lifts. <S> Look up the fares of train journeys you might take at https://www.sbb.ch/ , with or without the discount, and calculate if it's worth it for you. <S> I'd reckon it probably is, in particular if you plan on taking mountain lifts, where the Swiss Travel Pass discount may be no more than the Swiss Half Fare Card discount. <A> If you'll be spending all or most of your time in or along two cities, another possibility (though not specifically aimed at tourists) is the Point-to-Point card , which is a weekly/monthly/yearly pass for just a particular stretch between two cities. <S> It also includes some travel on public transit in each of these cities; you'll need to find out the details for the cities you're considering. <S> My wife and I purchased these for the Bern-Fribourg route during a 15-day trip where we stayed in a city along the route. <S> I think the price at the time averaged to about 15 CHF per person per day, and we avoided the hassle of buying train tickets; we could just hop on any train and go to Bern, Fribourg, or anywhere in between.
| As an intermediate between the Swiss Travel Pass that nohillside mentioned, and buying full fare individual tickets, consider the Swiss Half Fare Card .
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How soon after takeoff can you recline your airplane seat? Airplane announcements always say that that "the seatback has to be in an upright position" for takeoff. However, what's the earliest you can recline your seat after takeoff ? The moment the wheels leave the ground, when the wheels retract, or when the seatbelt sign goes off? For extra credit, does it make a difference if the seat moves back or simply slides down? (I assume that for those business class seats where you need to stand up to flip them down, you have to wait for the seatbelt sign.) And for avoidance of doubt, assume there's nobody behind you because we've already spilled plenty of pixels on that topic. <Q> If you looking for some sort of (semi)official marker, then you should use the cabin chimes . <S> While these vary by airline there is very often a 10,000 ft chime which indicates the 'take-off' phase is over and cabin crew can begin service. <S> There would be a similar final decent chime as well. <S> This is when the announcements are made or video plays. <S> The seat-belt sign is not a good indicator because that is usually at Captain's discretion and often stays on well into flight if there's even a hint of bumpy air, even though it's considered safe for crew to be up and about. <S> For the more complicated hard products, the crew will make the bed when they're ready and tell you to get up when they're ready. :) <A> A senior cabin crewmember here... <S> The "critical" times for flights is 3 minutes after take-off and 8 minutes before landing . <S> This is the time in which the chance of having an emergency is relatively high, this includes some dangerous maneuvers as a result of rejected take-offs, wind shears, bird strikes, etc. <S> So, technically speaking if you count 3 minutes after the take-off roll then you are most likely safe enough to recline your seat. <S> However, this is technically speaking and it's not what you should follow. <S> Unlike what others have said, this is the correct indication to follow. <S> Some airlines allow their cabin crew to move around once the landing-gears are retracted, although moving around the cabin is a bit hard due to the angle of attack, but usually this means the airplane is in a somehow safe situation due to being away from the ground (at least 1,000 feet) and gained some air-speed. <S> Again, this is not for the passengers. <S> Finally, the pilots have an access to a weather radar and sometimes they see a bad weather ahead <S> so they delay the seatbelt sign because it would make no sense to turn it off for a couple of minutes before turning it again. <S> So none of the "technical guidelines" would do you good, the only thing that will indicate that it is really safe is the seatbelt sign. <A> In Economy, I have always interpreted the "fasten seat belt" sign switch-off as the time it is safe to recline the seat. <S> Sometimes, due to turbulence or other reasons, the sign stays on for long after take-off. <S> In that case I tend to wait for the plane to finish its climb and stabilise before I recline the seat. <S> In Business with seats that turn into beds (such as those on international flights), I also wait for the "fasten seat belt" sign switch-off to move the seat to make myself more comfortable. <S> I do not fully lie down until the plane is done climbing. <A> Interestingly, the FAA regulations actually mandate that the pilot must not takeoff until all seats are upright, while the passengers are only commanded to obey flight attendant instructions in the matter. <S> FAR 121.311 <S> no certificate holder may take off or land an airplane unless each passenger seat back is in the upright position. <S> Each passenger shall comply with instructions given by a crewmember in compliance with this paragraph. <S> Takeoff is defined in 25.111 <S> as The takeoff path extends from a standing start to a point in the takeoff at which the airplane is 1,500 feet above the takeoff surface, or at which the transition from the takeoff to the en route configuration is completed and VFTO is reached, whichever point is higher. <S> So technically, after climbing 1500 feet (in most cases) you are out of "takeoff" and should be able to recline your seat. <S> But guessing your distance climbed is difficult, so the chimes at 10,000 are probably your best guide, as mentioned by @Johns-305. <S> Frequently these days I have also heard an announcement that larger electronics such as laptops can now be used, as those are restricted below 10,000 feet <A> In addition to existing answers, a couple of times I flew Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic, the pre-flight announcement stated that their Upper Class seats (which do convert into full flat bed) are certified for take-off and landing at any recline position and therefore there is no need to bring them to the upright position for take off and landing. <S> So, in this case, you can recline even before the flight starts. <A> The indication I've always used is the announcement that passengers may feel free to move around the cabin and/or the crew begin to move around the cabin. <S> I've seen the seat belt sign illuminated for the entire duration of some flights, so it's not a useful indicator. <S> Just because the air is rough it doesn't mean you can't/ <S> shouldn't recline your seat (unless the flight crew issues a specific instruction), <S> but it's a wise precaution to keep your seat belt on whenever you are seated, hence the always-illuminated seat belt sign.
| Legally/policy speaking, you can recline your seat whenever the seat-belt sign is turned off after take off, and placed back upright when the seatbelt sign is turned on for landing, or whenever instructed by the crew.
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Who pays for increased security measures on flights to the US? When I flew to the US from Australia I was briefly interviewed by a private security contractor - asking about my plans in the US etc. Other passengers were interviewed at the gate. I was wondering - who pays for these measures? Airlines? Airports? The Australian government? The US government? If the burden is on the airline, do they each hire their own security contractors to do the interviews? Additionally, flights to the US from Sydney Airport seemed to all take off from a special pen area which you can only enter after being interviewed. Normal gates at Sydney don't have this infrastructure. Does the airport bear the cost of building the new higher security gates? <Q> This is maybe not a conclusive answer, but more than a comment, so posted as an answer:While i can't speak specifically for Australia, in Germany to my knowledge the airport in cooperation with our federal police is responsible for all security related matters. <S> Security checks are usually contracted out (federal police is still responsible). <S> For the costs however, if you buy a ticket, you pay not only the ticket fare itself, but also a bunch of taxes and fee, which e.g. for Frankfurt as departure airport contain a Germany Airport Security Charge. <S> Sydney as departure airport includes a Australia Passenger Services Charge Departure International. <S> So in the end the passenger pays for any operational measures, that need to be carried out by an airport. <A> You pay for it (of course), as a part of your ticket. <S> If you check the details of your ticket, you will see that a large part of it is from up to a dozen fees, for landing, starting, using airport facilities, and using security checks (for each airport on the flight, including stop-overs). <S> For example, often a transatlantic ticket costs only $ 80 or less, and the remainder is all fees. <S> Here a random example: <A> There are a number of airports where such procedures are in place. <S> In Amsterdam, all passengers on US-bound flights operated by US airlines are interviewed by security personnel before their boarding passes are scanned and they are allowed to proceed in a holding area immediately before the gate. <S> As far as I can tell, these people are not affiliated with the airlines and are not wearing anything to identify their employer. <S> In Zurich I have been interviewed in the same way by someone wearing a United uniform before boarding a flight to the US. <S> I was one of the last passenger to board <S> so I went straight to the jetbridge and do not remember if there was a designed waiting area for passengers already interviewed (if there was one it was empty). <S> The interview was much lighter than the Amsterdam ones. <S> In Madrid, an airline agent checking boarding passes "randomly selected" my travel companion for a secondary screening by another agent wearing the same uniform as airport security personnel. <S> They checked his bag (opened it and swabbed it), and he underwent some additional questioning. <S> There is no such additional interview-type screening when travelling from Canada to US, or from Mexico to US. <S> The airline certainly has a presence there, but if they were airline employees they would be identified as such. <S> (I understand that El Al might be an exception and directly hire their own employees for additional security.) <A> Note: This doesn't apply to Australia, but it may be relevant for some visitors to this question. <S> Some airports and locations, primarily in Canada, have a preclearance procedure that sounds remarkably like what you describe above. <S> In those cases, they are actually US Customs and Border Patrol agents who clear you through customs before you board, so that you can then treat the flight itself like a domestic US flight after you clear. <S> These locations are listed on the US CBP page on preclearance . <S> In those cases, the US government pays, at least for the staff; I suspect who pays for the airport to build the walls/etc. <S> to segregate the US bound gates is more complicated, and is some combination of US and local funds, and undoubtedly paid in some fashion by ticket fees.
| On the whole, my sense is that these security agents are paid (directly or indirectly) by the airport, although they might work for third parties.
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Should I hide my travel history to the UK when I apply for an Australian visa? I went to UK with student visa in 2007 and my college was suspended by UKBA. Then I have joined a different college and got extended one more year later that college also blacklisted by UKBA. I was not able to complete my studies and then I came back home (India) before expiry of my visa. I would like to apply Australian student visa after 10 long years. Shall I hide my UK travel history and show them Indian work experience or explain them the travel history. what would be the chances of approving the visa? Does Australia track visa history of other countries? I have new passport which doesn't have stamp and people are advising me to hide the travel history. <Q> No one here can predict how the Australian visa office will act in a particular case. <S> Your UK immigration record attaches to you as an individual , not to your passport. <S> Thus, holding a passport without entry or visa stamps is meaningless. <S> Trying to hide your history is a dangerous and risky tactic. <S> Your best chance is to explain what happened, clearly, truthfully, and with few words, as @Weather Vane models in the comments above. <S> If you lie or misrepresent anything and you're discovered — because Australia and the UK share immigration and visa data — Australia will have you for deception and will ban you permanently. <A> As Joe Malt wrote in a comment <S> The general advice on Travel. <S> SE is to be completely upfront and honest on visa applications. <S> A slightly complicated travel history may cause some difficulty, but if they find out you lied (and the UK and Australia may well share data), it's likely that you'll have much more trouble getting visas in the future. <A> You should not omit it. <S> Yet, you don't need to say which college you went to. <S> You can simply say, "date1 - date2 : UK with student visa" and "date3 - date4 : UK with student visa". <S> If asked, you simply say "I did not complete my studies" <S> You don't need to say anything about college(s) being blacklisted. <S> They blacklisted the colleges not you. <S> You were the victim obviously. <A> Try a different approach completely: "I had a bad experience with UK schools not meeting my standards of honesty, but am looking forward to a better experience with the well-regarded Australian educational system." <S> Stop acting so guilty and make the true story one that works in your favour :) <S> (I work at an Australian University, by the way) <A> As part of the Five Country Conference (FCC) High Value Data Sharing Protocol agreement your data will be shared between Australia, UK, US, NZ and Canada. <S> There are arrangements to share name, biometrics and travel information between those countries <S> Here is an example of how the process works in the UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/557896/biometric-data-sharing-v7.0.pdf
| All of us here advise you not to do this.
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Convenience stores in India Are there many (enough) convenience stores throughout India that sell prepackaged food? Thailand's 7-11 was great for cheese toasties, etc. I am wondering if we can get quick meals and snacks like this too. We are going to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, and Amritsar and really, really do not want to get sick. <Q> Even in small shops you can buy prepackaged food like cakes, or ready to eat stuff etc. <S> which you can heat up in your room. <S> But prepackaged food in India does not mean that you will not get sick. <S> If you want to avoid getting sick in India you have to do: Don’t eat uncooked food <S> (food must be hot) . <S> Don’t eat fruit and vegetables that have only been peeled or not cooked (even salad). <S> Don’t drink tap water. <S> Drink only filtered or bottled water, and ice is bad). <S> Don't eat street food or eat at only popular food locations. <S> My personal tip (optional) : Drink a little schnaps before eating. <S> That will help to kill some of the bacteria and it has always helped me . <S> (If someone doesn't believe my personal tip just ignore it and if one still wants some proof - please just google it and read some studies done in the past - Two of many random links ): <S> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046197/ <S> https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/strong-medicine-drinking-wine-and-beer-can-help-save-you-from-cholera-montezumas-revenge-e-coli-and-ulcers1/ ) <A> There is no 7-11 in India. <S> Convenience stores that sells pre-packaged food that can be heated up like 7/11 are rare. <S> You can visit shopping malls in the area or hypermarket and search. <S> They may sell it. <S> However, noodles, bread, biscuits and other things that can be eaten right away or bit cooking <S> is available in even the smallest store. <S> Just a pro tip <S> : Just because it is packaged doesn't mean it's safe. <S> Stick with popular brands. <S> Especially for water, drink bislery only. <S> There are enough great foods available over there. <S> Try, nan, and similar stuff are relatively safe to eat. <S> For curry, exercise caution. <A> There are ready to heat meals available in many shops and you can get things like upma poha etc (typical Indian food) as dehydrated meals that are reconstituted with hot water.
| Yes, you can buy prepackaged food in convenience stores throughout India and there are many. Always wash your hands before you eat.
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Do I need transit visa for Dublin? I have a flight from BOM-MUC-DUB-YYZ. In DUB, the flight will land at terminal 1. Will not be changing terminals because connecting flight is from same terminal. Can you please tell whether I need transit visa? The website isn't clear about this part. The airlines said i need to confirm from embassy. Traveller holds Indian passport. <Q> The Irish Department of Justice and Equality provides a page where you can check the requirements . <S> By entering the details you provided in your question (Indian citizen, transiting in Ireland) you reach this page . <S> The headline "You do not need a transit visa" is unfortunately misleading in your case, as the page lists further conditions which apply to transfers at Dublin airport. <S> Transit passengers making connections at Dublin Airport should be aware of the following:- <S> In all circumstances you will present to an immigration officer. <S> Unless your arrival flight is in Terminal 2 between the hours of 0400 and 1600, you will need to go landside to make your onward connecting flight. <S> This requires that you seek permission to enter the State (you will need to have the appropriate Irish entry visa if you are visa required for entry to Ireland). <S> Specifically the third bullet point is relevant for your friend - if her flight to Dublin lands at Terminal 1, she will have to seek permission to enter Ireland. <S> That means she will require an entry visa for Ireland ( not a transit visa). <A> The airline is perfectly capable of telling you whether a visa is needed in this scenario; they have a shared database called Timatic which is used for this purpose, and they use it to verify your documents when you check in for your flight. <S> It's not clear why they refused to tell you over the phone, but I can make some uncharitable guesses. <S> Anyway, regarding transiting through Dublin airport, Timatic says you can only do it without a visa in Terminal 2. <S> TWOV <S> (Transit Without Visa): <S> Visa required, except for Passengers transiting through Dublin <S> (DUB) with a confirmed onward ticket for a flight to a third country. <S> They must: <S> arrive at and depart from Terminal 2, and be transiting between 04:00 and 16:00 on the same calendar day, and stay in the international transit area of the airport, and have documents required for the next destination. <A> The visa was not required at all. <S> The airport visa checking officer understood the issue and let the person pass without any issue.
| You should check to see if you need a Visa/transit Visa before travelling and apply if required
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Who goes first? Person disembarking bus or the bicycle? In Greece, where I am from, we don't have bicycles as a means of going to work, like for example in Germany (what a paradox given the weather!), the country I visit now. So, there are bicycle lanes on the pavement, to the side of the street. When the bus stops, you disembark right in a bicycle land. Is there a rule to who has priority? The passenger or the rider? I would expect the riders to be aware that a passenger is about to disembark, and thus slow down or slide, regardless of any rule. However, currently I find myself looking across both directions before disembarking, since I am mostly afraid of the high speed e-bicycles, something that if I have priority, may frustrate the others behind me. <Q> Here is a German newspaper article on the subject. <S> The basis for the rule is § 20 of the German traffic regulations (StVO), whose first two paragraphs translate roughly to: (1) Busses, trams, and school busses, which stop at designated stopping points (sign number 224), may only be passed with care. <S> (2) When bus riders embark or disembark, the bus can only be passed on the right at walking speed and at a distance that excludes the possibility of endangering passengers. <S> It is also forbidden to obstruct them. <S> If needed, one has to wait. <S> Note that walking speed is defined to be 3-6 km/h. <S> Overtaking a bus on the left is a bit different - the rules then depend on whether the warning lights are flashing or not. <A> German traffic code gives transit passengers special priority, all traffic including bicycles may only pass the vehicle on the right at a walking pace and need to yield to passengers alighting or embarking. <S> (From a detailed explanation this website [in German].) <A> Being a cyclist as well as a bus user, I always expect the user of the other mode of traffic to not be aware of what is going on at the street. <S> Where the bus stop is right at the bike lane, so the people step out of the bus in front of the cyclists, you have to slow down when there is a bus there and stop before the doors open, as the people will need to get out of the bus efficiently. <S> (But as a bus passenger, still look for cyclist as there is always the 'nasty word here' that ignores the facts.) <S> If there is a little of a platform between the bus and the cycle path, it is less risky to step out of the bus and away from the door and not be hit by the cyclists. <S> But as a cyclist you should still give way to people getting out of the bus and walking toward the (stopped) bus. <S> See the other answers for (the link to) the legal texts. <A> Generally speaking, bicycles are classed as vehicles . <S> So the pecking order is Boats <S> > <S> Trains <S> > <S> Pedestrians <S> > <S> Bicycles <S> > <S> Motor Vehicles <S> Drawbridges know large boats are coming, and have plenty of time to signal trains to get stopped Trains cannot stop, so peds and vehicles MUST wait Vehicles must yield to pedestrians anywhere pedestrians belong <S> Laws favor bicycles because physics does not. <A> I rode bicycles for 10 years earlier in my life as my primary mode of transportation a long while ago, and pedestrians always have the right of way over any other conveyance. <S> And, the purpose is that... any other kind of conveyance could cause more damage. <S> A bike rider, a skate boarder, a car, a motorcycle.. <S> all of those things are potentially moving faster and have more mass, and thus could cause more damage.. especially to someone who may not be physically capable of moving fast enough out of the way <S> (eg: an elderly pedestrian). <S> That being said... <S> I have also ridden motorcycles for 10 years, and here's the order of operation I mentally follow every time I ride in order to keep myself alive.. 1 <S> ) larger object (that has more mass and could do more damage to me) has the right of way.. <S> every time, even if they're breaking the law 2) if I have to break the law to save my life, I will 3) obey laws if possible <S> So, if a truck is changing lanes into me illegally while not looking... <S> I get out of their way. <S> I would rather be alive while watching them break the law then be dead or in a hospital bed having my wife argue about how the other person broke the law <S> and I had the right of way. <S> So, as a pedestrian.. you would have the right of way getting off the bus, but assume idiots all around you are not paying attention and / or don't know the law and can potentially kill you. <S> Ultimately, you are responsible for your own safety.
| And generally, vehicles must yield to pedestrians doing normal pedestrian things that they are entitled to do, like use a bus stop. Bicycles are legitimate traffic and share roads with motor vehicles, except they have priority in bike lanes obviously. The bicycle riders have to be careful and wait if necessary.
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Without dates, how can I find out - efficiently and freely - when an airline's flying a route? Say I want to visit somewhere like Osaka for 2 weeks, and am flexible on dates the whole year. My priority is the cheapest and most direct flight. I don't care about dates. It obviously takes too much time to type and trial-and-error pairs of dates. How can I find out efficiently for free? How can I view all of the flights between two cities across all dates? doesn't answer my question. You have to pay to use Expertflyer . ITA ranges just for one month, not the whole year. Skyscanner shows the airlines with direct flights between OSA and the US. I checked Delta and JAL's route maps, and they have nothing direct between SFO and OSA. United's flight map (screenshot under) proves it does, but it doesn't advertise what dates. These KAYAK searches including OSA-SFA and SFO-OSA show direct flights. <Q> I have found that their data is not always 100% accurate, but it would give you a better idea of which airlines operate a flight on which days. <S> For example, in the screenshot below, you can see that EgyptAir flies from Baghdad to Cairo every day except Mondays and Tuesdays, while Iraqi Airways flies the same route every day except Mondays and Wednesdays. <A> Question 1: <S> Most (all? <S> I don't think I'm aware of any which don't) <S> major travel search engines allow you to search with flexible dates, including flights within (for example) +/- <S> 3 days of the date you selected. <S> You can also typically specify that you only want direct flights. <S> As almost all routes have schedules which repeat on a weekly basis during each season, checking one week tells you much more than just that week. <S> Actual season dates vary between airlines and regions, but even if you don’t know a given airlines season change dates you can certainly bring your search down to 1 week per month of the year and have a very clear idea of when an itinerary is possible. <S> If you're interested in destinations available to/from a specific airport or via a specific airline, the Wikipedia pages of most major airports and airlines contain lists of the destinations they serve. <S> As of course do their official websites. <S> How effectively any of these sources communicate frequency of a given route is variable. <S> Some, like the United page included in the question, fail to communicate that effectively or at all, others do so much more effectively. <S> For example Hamburg airport’s destination map , where you do have to pick a date first, <S> but once you’ve done so you can click the calendar to select a new date, and each day has a coloured icon indicating whether there are direct, connecting, or no flights to that destination. <S> I'm not answering question 2, as a) travel. <S> SE is not your travel agent, and b) searching for flights as above inherently reveals this information to you anyway <A> Generally speaking, airlines don't change their schedules very often. <S> For most city pairs, at least one airline flies it as a daily route (or many times a day.) <S> If you happen to discover a city that doesn't have daily service, you can follow this algorithm: identify an airline that flies the route for a week in your rough date range, discover which days the option is available <S> (you may have more luck doing this on the airline's own web site rather than on an aggregator) by looking for a flight on each day of the week prepare a hypothesis such as "they appear to fly it Tuesdays and Thursdays." <S> choose a nearby week and test your hypothesis. <S> Refine if need be. <S> optionally, choose a week 6 months away from the first and test the hypothesis again. <S> This will let you know whether your proposed rule holds year-round or not <S> You can then also look through the "news" or "announcements" section of your chosen airline to see if they are announcing that their former once-a-week-service between X and Y is now happening twice a week, or that their "usual seasonal reductions" will be happening on a particular date. <S> This should enable you to build up a reasonably confident pattern. <S> I used this approach to build a 26 leg trip that included a leg that happened only twice a week and another only once a week. <S> The websites of the selected airlines were far more useful than larger search engines for this purpose.
| FlightConnections.com shows the days of the week on which a given flight is operated.
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Do I have to worry about delays in international trains? (UK, Belgium, Germany) I am German and would like to take the train from Stuttgart to Glasgow in August. A flight would be shorter, but I want to take care of the environment and enjoy the landscape a little, not everything has to be fast. Unfortunately I will have to book from different websites and different providers. (Deutsche Bahn GmBH, Eurostar, whatever travels between London and Glasgow) From my experience in Germany I know that trains are sometimes simply cancelled and nobody is interested in how someone gets home. Does anyone have experience with international trains? What happens if they are cancelled? I don't feel like getting stuck in London because the train from Glasgow is cancelled. In Germany it would be a minor problem because I always get from A to B here somehow, but I don't want to experience it abroad. <Q> Unfortunately delays and cancellations are not uncommon. <S> You have a bunch of options here. <S> It seems like www.trainline.com will allow you to book this. <S> You still have to split it into two tickets: <S> Stuttgart to London and London to Glasgow <S> but it's with a single operator <S> and so you will be rebooked for free on the next available train if you miss your connection. <S> Trainline also honors delays from certain income providers including the German ICEs. <S> https://faq.trainline.eu/article/449-miss-train <S> Otherwise I would book this as multiple flex tickets. <S> Overall this will be pricey. <S> A third options would be to simply fly and buy some carbon offsets to mitigate the environmental impact. <A> Firstly, this itinerary can and should be done on two tickets. <S> One Stuttgart-London ( from ~€60 ) and one London-Glasgow (from ~£50). <S> Assuming you get an "Advance" ticket on the London-Glasgow train (that limits you to a specific train), then as per Missed connection even if the connecting Eurostar was delayed you will be allowed to travel on the next available train. <S> (If you get an Anytime or Off peak ticket then you will be able to board any train in any case.) <S> Edit: addressing Owain's point With a CIV ticket from London-Glasgow <S> , you would be legally covered to be able to continue your journey in the event of any delays. <S> These tickets are hard to get. <S> However, despite this, and similarly to the "Split ticket" scenario described in the link I posted above, the UK train operators are very unlikely to prevent you travelling on a later train if a well planned connection is missed due to another late running train service (including Eurostar). <S> See also: Delayed Eurostar arrival in London, going to miss my connection, what to do? <S> https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/missed-connection-due-to-late-runnig-eurostar-query.117260/ <S> [With an advance ticket,] once the journey has begun. <S> If the passenger is delayed and the rail industry [...] is at fault, [...], change to another train of the same company is allowed to get them to their destination with the least delay. <S> This is irrespective of combinations of rail tickets held. <A> If you book this on one ticket you are in a good situation. <S> The railways must get you to your destination, and must take care of you. <S> But even if you are not on one tickets there are certain rights you have. <S> DB and Eurostar are both members of Railteam, and as such if you miss your connection in Brussel of Paris because the ICE was late Eurostar <S> will put you on the next train with free seats. <S> It is important however that in that case that you get an endorsement on your ticket from the ICE conductor.(That is a good reason to print out your ticket, and not rely on an app). <S> You could book this in two sections: <S> Stuttgart - Paris with DB, and Paris - Glasgow with Eurostar (select UK as country)
| The Stuttgart-London leg will be guaranteed - so any delays will allow you to take the next train.
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Does Lufthansa weigh your carry on luggage? I will soon be travelling to Europe, flying Lufthansa, and was wondering about the weight of my carry-on luggage. In my experiences of travelling in Asia, I've never had my carry-on bag weighed, even though I believe it was slightly over the 8kg limit. Is this different in Europe, or specifically with Lufthansa? Should I be more careful to keep the weight under the limit, to avoid charges? <Q> How long is a piece of a string? <S> Having flown Lufthansa over 20 times this year alone and 100s of times in total here are my experiences. <S> If your carry on is large you risk a weighing more often. <S> If the flight is totally full you risk a weighing more often. <S> If you arrive late at check in you risk a weighing more often. <S> It has happened to me 2 times this year and maybe 10 in total. <S> Only 1 time have I been asked to remove something from the bag because it was almost double the allowed the weight. <S> Many times <S> if the excess weight is small <S> it's ok, barring the full flight challenge where weight becomes a factor for fuel and safety reasons. <S> I assume, but I am not an airliner expert so that part is speculation. <A> Yes. <S> According to Carry-on baggage rules at Lufthansa <S> For a smooth boarding procedure, more stowage space on board and a punctual departure, it is essential that your carry-on baggage corresponds to the regulations. <S> That is why we check your carry-on baggage against the permitted dimensions, quantity and weight at departure airports. <S> And from a detailed Trip Advisor post about Lufthansa carry-on baggage <S> My experience - YES. <S> It's weighed at check in and can be weighed at the gate for passengers connecting from a different airline to LH. <S> And I have seen people sent away to consolidate their carry on weight down. <S> Here's what I've done in some cases (chortle chortle). <S> Note you are also allowed a smaller personal item (e.g. laptop bag). <S> I've had cases where I have moved a heavier item (e.g. laptop power adapters/ <S> chords or a camera lens) from carry on to personal item in order to make the weight limit for the carry on, and then moved it back. <S> You can also in some cases use your jacket pockets. <S> I've done that more so with airlines that have a 7kg carry on limit (EVA, Jet Airways). <S> As long as the airline doesn't impose a total weight limit for both carry on and PI that strategy works. <S> Suggest you get a set of luggage scales, and before you leave weigh your bags in certain configurations and plan what to swap from bag to bag. <S> That way you can remain "legal" weight wise and not get stung. <A> Occasionally. <S> In my experience, it happens about in 10%-20% of my LH group flights (including Swiss and Austrian). <S> I have a pretty big roll aboard suitcase which probably triggers more attention than a smaller piece of carry on. <S> In all cases, taking out a jacket or moving something heavy to my backpack did the trick, but I always make sure I'm not horribly overweight. <S> Anything over 8.5 kg can get you flagged. <A> They might, but you should not worry too much. <S> If it is weighted and goes over the limit and the check-in clerk does not let you "pass this time" you have other options. <S> You can swap items form carry-on luggage to checked-in luggage. <S> You can leave the desk and check-in later with some items in your pockets, etc. <S> The best advice, however, is to check-in as early as possible and use small (not bulky) carry-on luggage (backpacks are better than suitcases). <A> You didn't mention if you are going to have checked baggage as well, so my reply is in the case where you don't. <S> I have travelled with Lufthansa in Europe more than 10 times in the past 3 years, and every time I just had a backpack as a carry-on luggage and a laptop bag as a personal item. <S> Because I did my check-in online <S> I just skipped going to the check-in and straight to the security check. <S> Nobody ever weighed my backpack, even though I am sure sometimes it weighed about 10 KG. <S> Also, nobody said anything when boarding or on the plane.
| In reality if you are on time and your carry on is not massively oversize a weighing is actually very rare.
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Is possible to enter in airport's safe area after "miss" the flight? This is a hypothetical situation, but unfortunately may be real: I have a boarding pass but I don't want to take my flight, that departs at 7:00 PM. And, I have no enough money for pay an hotel, so I want to sleep in airport, but in airside area, after the security check. The reason for it is that is safer than outside. However, 7:00 PM is too early for sleeping. What can happen if I arrive in airport at 11:00 PM, hours after my "no-wanted" flight is gone? Will they let me go to boarding gate anyway, even that I had "missed" my flight? <Q> The answer will potentially depend on a number of factors, including the country and the size of the airport. <S> From personal experience in the US, I would not expect you to have any issues entering several hours after the flight was scheduled to depart - presuming it was still on the same calendar day, and presuming there were still flights due to depart from the airport that night. <S> However it's certainly possible that the security staff will look at the time on the ticket and ask about it. <S> In this case you would have the option of claiming you missed the flight and are going to the customer service desk to get re-routed (but expect to be sent back to the check-in desk instead), or claim that your flight is delayed - odds are the security staff will not bother to confirm this. <S> If you try and enter after midnight then it will be a different story. <S> I recently entered an airport at around 6am using a boarding pass for a delayed flight from the previous day. <S> The security staff had a (small) list of flights that has been delayed overnight, and confirmed that my flight was on that list before they let me proceed. <S> Whether what you are suggesting is legal is a different issue altogether, and again will depend on the specific airport. <S> If this was in the US you would be fraudulently accessing the airside area of a federally controlled facility, which is almost certainly illegal in some way or other. <S> Your odds of actually getting caught will, again, depend on the specific location. <A> For instance, there is a huge warning displayed that entering secure area without intention for travel is an arrestable offense. <S> Eventhough mannual checks are minimal for the boarding pass, if you do not travel and try to exit airport. <S> They will definitely catch you. <S> Another instance, almost all Indian airports allow you to enter only with a future ticket and CISF (similar to TSA in US) thoroughly checks the ticket details even before you are allowed to checkin. <S> For some airports like KLIA, Malaysia, the checking of boarding pass are kind of lax <S> and you will mostly be able to get in without any issues. <S> So, it really depends on country and airport. <A> I think it is wrong to assume that airport's airside will always be be a "safe area". <S> The risk of physical violence is certainly diminished because perpetrators have fewer possibilities to escape. <S> However, an airport's airside can be a fertile hunting ground for pick pockets and other thieves: departing passengers are unpacking and repacking their valuables for security screening, transit passengers can be tired and disoriented, and many people are carrying more cash than normal. <S> If you go anywhere in an airport to sleep, take care to secure your belongings. <S> The airport security staff is there to check for weapons and explosives, not to identify thieves.
| On some airports, it is illegal. I've passed through security in multiple countries (including the US, Japan and the UAE) on multiple occasions with a boarding pass for a flight that was scheduled to depart several hours before I was entering - always without issue.
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Does Google Maps take into account hills/inclines for route times? I understand that Google Maps works out travel times based on the speed limit for the road and the current traffic on the road. (When selecting the driving function). When using the cycling/walking function, I assume it works out the travel times by using the average walking pace( ~3mph ) and the average cycling pace.( ~9.6mph ) But does it increase the time if your journey includes a lot of upwards hills, as you would obviously be travelling slower if walking or cycling? And does it decrease the time when there are lots of downwards hills, as you would be travelling quicker (maybe not by foot but definitely on bike)? <Q> Surprisingly, it appears that the answer is YES, Google Maps does make a distinction between uphill and downhill. <S> I routed out a couple of bicycle rides from my home (in Germany) to a city <S> either 90 km away (with a 700 m climb) or 60 km away (with a 1000 m climb), depending on the route taken. <S> I then reversed both routes. <S> In both cases, Google Maps shows a noticeably shorter ride time for the downhill direction than the uphill one. <S> The 60 km route is 5h1m going up or 4h24m going down. <S> The longer route is listed as 5h34m going up or 4h48m going down. <S> Of course, Google Maps doesn't know exactly how fast I ride, but I would guess you can take the percentage difference between the uphill and downhill and do some multiplication to figure out your likely actual time based on your average speed. <A> No. <S> Google Maps works a different way. <S> Google Maps learns travel times by monitoring the pace of other riders . <S> The Google Maps app "constantly" sends data about your location back to the Google servers. <S> It knows you're on a bike, not driving, because you requested a bike route , and because your travel time is not an outlier from other people doing the same. <S> And that's also true for driving; though of course Google gets more data for drivers, so driving data is fresher. <S> Yes, really. <S> Google "spies on you" and observes your movement, nominally for this exact purpose (but they won't refuse a subpoena in most cases). <S> And yes, you agreed to be a lodestar for others, at some point when you clicked "agree" on a term-of-service while interacting with a Google product. <S> You can deny Maps access to your location, but then of course, it wouldn't work at all. <S> This tracking is fairly continuous, even when the screen is off, which means Google knows when you stop for a break, and excludes that time from the data. <S> This provides a very authentic transit time without having to do deep calculation on the effect of grades, tight curves, congestion and road condition on ideal travel times. <S> For instance if a flat, straight rail-trail is heavily overgrown with brush to where you must slow to maneuver around a thicket of overhanging branches, it captures that reality. <A> At least for bikes it does (assuming the topographical information mentioned in the comment is available). <S> I just checked with two cycling routes near my home, both 4,2km long according to Google, one almost flat, the other with a climb towards the end <S> (obviously going downhill the other direction). <S> Result: 4,2km almost flat but slightly downhill: 14min 4,2km almost flat but slightly uphill: 15min 4,2km mostly flat (3km), but a climb towards the end (1,2km): 17min 4,2km mostly flat (3km) and going downhill at the beginning (1,2km) <S> : 12min <S> If these numbers are of any relevance certainly depends on your bike and your fitness level (and probably some other factors, too). <S> I hate riding uphill and my bike isn't made for it, so whenever I had to "cycle" up the hill at the end of no. <S> 3 I would get off my bike and push it, certainly losing more than two minutes compared to a flat route. <S> The same goes for downhill <S> , I doubt I was ever letting my bike run <S> so fast I would acutally gain two minutes... <A> Short answer: <S> Yes absolutely google maps is aware of elevation changes. <S> Longer answer: ... <S> but its fairly far from correct. <S> Example - There's a well-travelled local climb of 2.5 km and 140 metres elevation change. <S> Its an average of 5% but is 10% at the top with a flat bit at the bottom. <S> Google maps predicts 13 minutes to descend and 18 minutes to climb. <S> That's roughly 40% longer to climb than to descend, which is utterly wrong. <S> I personally descended in 3:25 and best climb in 10:30, for a 300% increase in climb time vs descent time. <S> The 20 top riders have descended in under 2:30 and have climbed it in under 6:00 minutes for a 240% difference. <S> So google maps should be predicting a climb in 39 minutes for a descent of 13 minutes or a climb of 18 minutes and a descent in 7:30. <S> Further info: <S> Walking is predicted to be 40 minutes to climb and 34 to descend. <S> Driving is predicted to be 3 minutes either way. <S> Link to route on Google Maps Strava segment for uphill Strava segment for downhill Site is in New Zealand, near Christchurch. <S> I'm roughly in the middle of times for riders on those segments, slower uphill and faster downhill <S> (mass advantage there!)
| tl:dr yes google maps is aware of elevation changes and does try to take that into account, but doesn't fully account for the increased work required to climb a gradient.
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How can I leave a car for someone if we can't meet in person? I'm doing a house swap with another family, and as part of the logistics, at a certain point I have to leave my car for them, and they will pick it up a few days later. This happens to be in Newark, NJ, but the problem is pretty general. We can't meet in advance to exchange keys, and I don't have a third party who could hold the key. Can anyone suggest a way to accomplish this? <Q> Fedex have a service called "Hold At Location", where you can ship a package to a Fedex Location (which generally includes most Fedex Kinkos location which are frequently opened 24x7), and they will hold it for the recipient for up to 7 days. <S> Once the package "arrives" at the location (which might take a day or so, even if you drop it off at that same location), then they will be able to pick it up anytime within the next 7 days simply by showing ID matching the name it is being sent to. <S> In the event that they don't pickup the package within 7 days, it will be returned to you as the sender. <A> Assuming you have two sets of keys, mail them <S> one set of keys in advance and keep using the other to drop off the car. <S> If you think they need two sets of keys, mail the second set to the house once you have dropped the car off. <S> Otherwise just hang on to them and use them to pick your car up afterwards. <A> Make a copy of the key without the chip or without the chip being coded to the original key, this means the car can be opened but not started, secure this key within a magnetic lock box somewhere on the car out of site or in a hitch safe, then store the original key that can start the car in a small combination secured safe within the car. <S> Response based on this link https://doityourselflocksmithing.blogspot.com/2013/02/where-to-hide-hide-key-on-your-car.html <A> You are probably overthinking the risks here. <S> Do what the professionals do. <S> Just leave the car unlocked with the keys hidden somewhere inside, or tucked behind one of the sun visors. <S> The point is, if your car is parked in its usual place at your house, nobody who knows the area is going to <S> assume <S> it can be stolen. <S> If an opportunistic thief can't see anything that is obviously of value inside, they aren't going to waste any time on it. <S> If a professional car thief wants to steal it, the fact that it is locked is no deterrent at all. <S> If they want it badly enough, they will turn up looking like vehicle recovery service employees and take it away in broad daylight, with all your neighbours watching and nobody suspecting a thing! <S> IMO you are taking a far bigger risk granting the use of your car to strangers for a long period of time, than the risk that somebody will steal it during the short transfer period.
| Or if you there are valuables inside the car and you want to lock it (unlikely, since you are leaving it for somebody else to use) then lock the car and hide the key in a front wheel arch, on the suspension. You could simply ship the keys to the recipient, with THEIR name as the recipient, but with the Fedex Hold-at-Location address.
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Do I Need a Passport to Go to Europe? If I will be going from Switzerland to Austria by car, will I need a passport? <Q> A passport, not necessarily. <S> Your national ID card also work and beyond that, the European Union maintains spreadsheets of recognised travel documents and one of those you are very strongly recommended to keep with you. <S> There are three spreadsheets: <S> Part <S> I: <S> Travel documents issued by third countries and territorial entities xlsx <S> Part II: <S> Travel documents issued by Member States and Schengen Associated States xlsx <S> Part III: <S> Travel documents issued by international organisations and other entities subject to international law <S> xlsx <A> The short answer is: yes . <S> The long answer: <S> Switzerland and Austria are both part of the Schengen area, where border controls are generally reduced or non-existent. <S> Nevertheless, while it's very possible that you might cross the border without any official inspection taking place, you should always carry a passport (or equivalent identity document) when travelling internationally. <S> Spot-checks are possible even at borders within the Schengen area, and even ignoring that possibility there are many countries (including Austria) which require you to have ID available at all times. <S> But you should carry some form of government-issued document which can be used to confirm both your identity and your legal presence in the country. <A> If you're a citizen from a country in the Schengen area you need to have your national ID in case you get stopped and your identity needs to be confirmed. <S> If you're not you do need your passport. <S> Most of the time you will not be checked as there are no regular border controls within the Schengen area. <S> If you get checked as a citizen of an EU/Schengen country you will need to somehow prove your citizenship. <S> This doesn't necessarily mean a valid travel document but in the end, it's just asking for trouble not carrying your national ID.
| Depending on your citizenship, a national ID card might be a valid substitute for your passport.
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Do pedestrians imitate automotive traffic? I'm from the USA, where we drive on the right side of the street. When walking, I always felt like heavily trafficked areas manage themselves by imitating the automotive traffic (usually). Pedestrians approaching each other on the foot path avoid collision, typically, by veering right. I haven't spent much time walking in left-lane oriented countries, but I've found myself in Melbourne Australia this week, mostly walking to get around. I feel like the other pedestrians want to veer left, not right. Is this typical, or is it just me? Do pedestrians imitate the order given to their automotive traffic? Do Australians veer left? <Q> In Australia, people are encouraged to keep to the left in busy pedestrian areas. <S> For example, here is a sign posted in a railway station in Sydney: <S> In addition, doors, walkways and other structures are placed assuming pedestrians keep to the left. <S> For example, you may notice that in Australia ticket gates, one-way doors and escalators are placed so that they are accessible from the left, and revolving doors rotate clockwise so you would enter and exit on the left. <A> This actually serves a practical purpose, and relates to something else: walking on a road <S> that does not have an adjacent pavement/footpath, you are instructed to face incoming traffic. <S> That is to say, in countries where you drive on <S> the left of the road, you walk on the right of the road. <S> This means that you can see the vehicles that you (might) need to avoid or wave at to get the attention of, instead of being unexpectedly hit from behind by an inattentive driver. <S> By pedestrians passing on the same side as cars do, it means that the pedestrian who is now closer to the traffic is also facing the oncoming traffic - for exactly the same reasons given above. <A> If you ask a bunch of people this question, you'll usually get one of two answers: <S> Pedestrians pass each other on the same side as vehicle traffic does <S> It doesn't matter <S> The people who answer (1) above will expect you to do so, and the people who answer (2) won't care. <S> What you don't generally want to do is veer to the right , where people who are expecting (1) above will do a little " <S> I'm really trying not to walk straight into you" dance. <S> (Just like in the USA, where if you veer to the left then you run the risk of walking into people who insist on veering to their right. <S> Again, for people who don't think it matters then there won't be a problem either way.) <A> Yes, except on escalators (at least in England). <S> In England, on escalators on train stations and underground stations, "traffic" is actually continental. <S> I was surprised to see signs that instruct people to stand to the right, pass to the left , exactly as one would do in France or Germany, and exactly opposite to wheeled traffic, which of course would pass to the right exclusively. <S> I don't know if this convention applies when not signposted; there tend to be many signs in English train stations (including for such wisdoms as "don't take a suitcase on the escalator", "drink plenty of water", and "if you see something, contact the police") <A> There are actually three options, not two. <S> There are countries where pedestrians pass each other on the right, which generally also drive on the right. <S> But there are also countries like the UK, where there is no general rule (for pedestrians; there obviously is for driving), and pedestrians approaching each other work out which way to go on a case-by-case basis using tiny cues (and sometimes get it wrong, and both of them keep swapping from side to side). <S> When someone from a country that always passes on the same side visits somewhere with no such standard, they tend to bump into people. <A> I can tell you that, as a transplant to Melbourne, I wish people kept to the left. <S> In practise, in this particular city, they seem to wander wherever they please, oblivious to everyone else on the footpath.
| So, if you are in Australia then you aren't likely to run into problems if you veer to the left. There are countries where pedestrians pass each other on the left, which generally also drive on the left.
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Host telling me to cancel my booking in exchange for a discount? I booked through booking.com about 2 months ago, made a prepayment and everything. The place I booked has free cancellation up until 2 weeks prior. Now, the host has e-mailed me offering me a discount on the payment if I cancel the booking? The host says that the booking will still be mine and it will still be reserved for me, they just want me to cancel it. The host also states that it is not mandatory, it’s just an offer. Of course, this sounds so dodgy. I’ve already made a prepayment, so there’s no way I’m going to cancel it and trust the host? Why is the host offering me this? It’s so strange. <Q> Part of the host's contract with booking.com is that booking.com will take a commission fee of 10-25% out of each booking made through them. <S> So if you cancel your booking.com reservation and pay the host directly, the host will get the full amount of your payment, instead of just 75-90% of it, and booking.com gets cut out of the deal. <S> The discount they're offering is a sort of kickback so that you get a piece of the savings also. <S> However, this sort of thing is undoubtedly forbidden by the host's contract with booking.com, so basically they are asking you to help them defraud booking.com. <S> If booking.com finds out about this, they'll probably cancel the host's account, and maybe sue them if they've been doing it a lot. <S> I don't know whether you yourself would be at any legal risk as well, but it certainly doesn't seem like a very good idea to me. <A> TL;DR Keep your original booking. <S> Or maybe they are already overbooked and are looking for the least expensive way out. <S> The thing you have to understand is that between the moment you cancel and the moment you rebook (with the same host or otherwise), you have no room . <S> If you have free cancellation, at least don't cancel until you have a new confirmed booking on better terms. <S> Also keep in mind that booking.com provides added value to you compared to a reservation on the side. <S> E.g. the host will be inclined to give better rooms to booking.com customers who can otherwise trash them in reviews. <S> If you go to a certain place regularly, it's a good idea to forego booking.com and get a reservation directly with the host <S> you know and trust . <S> This doesn't seem to be your case though. <A> The person who has contacted you as "the host" may not be who they say they are. <S> They could be a junior employee who is able to slip you the key to an unbooked room, while pocketing your reservation fee. <S> They could even be a scammer totally unconnected to the accommodation who has found out you are staying there (maybe from your social media posts, or maybe they have hacked into the accommodation's booking.com account). <S> They would take your money, but when you arrived at the accommodation you would have no booking. <A> Other answers have pointed out that the host probably wants to defraud booking.com. <S> They're probably honest to you, but you may not want to count on probably. <S> One similar situation that is probably not fraud: suppose you're staying there already and want to renew your stay. <S> You could do so through booking.com, or directly with the landlord. <S> By then you'd already know them in person, and know the place, so it would be safer for you to do so.
| It's possible that the host found out that the demand on accommodation for the period of your booking went up, so they will have no trouble renting the place for more money to someone else if you cancel.
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ESTA Travel not Authorized. Accepted twice before! Hope someone can give me some advice. On Friday I applied for the ESTA (a group application including my partner) we both were not authorized to travel. He just got his new passport on Thursday July 18 and I have my old one from 2016 still valid until 2021. We have gone twice to the US and in both years, both applications were accepted. My plan is to go and possibly renew my passport to get a new one and reapply (individually) to see if maybe something was wrong with my passport or I didn’t check the third party box in the group application, that I found out you have to have checked if you are filling the application for someone else. I have the ESTA application from previous years and answered the exact same on everything. I don’t know what else to do. I’ll try to call the embassy as well to see if maybe they can help or know why. I’m so scared that we won’t be able to go on vacation this August. Does anyone know why this may be possible? This is what they responded when I asked them why it was denied. We have determined that your ESTA application was denied because Customs and Border Protection received a requested for a refund of the $14.00 application fee. However, you have not been barred indefinitely from applying for admission into the United States, but, you must apply to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to obtain a nonimmigrant visa to enter the United States. Pursuant to Section 217(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the only way to dispute an ESTA application denial is to make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy and apply for a visa. I applied on the official ESTA site No I didn’t file a claim. When I finished the application and paid I saw the charge on my card. It’s the weekend and I can’t call my bank but I’ll ask them. I just don’t know what they would do to be honest. Ok so..... I applied for the B1/B2 visa and they gave me an appointment for the 27 of August!! AND I LEAVE THE 18th! I requested an expedited appointment for the 5th of August and it’s still pending approval. So like an hour ago I check the appointment website and someone canceled!!! For the 9th August! Now I have two appointments one pending approval and one that’s official. I haven’t felt so happy about something in such a long time. I was so stressed. Just hope the say yes and approve the visa. <Q> Renewing your passport won’t help, nor will contacting the Embassy or Consulate - they are not able to provide details about ESTA denials or resolve the issue that caused the ESTA denial. <S> The only solution is to apply for a visa. <S> From the ESTA website FAQs <S> https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/application.html?execution=e1s1 <S> : <S> If a traveler is denied ESTA authorization and his or her circumstances have not changed, a new application will also be denied. <S> Reapplying with false information in order to qualify for a travel authorization will make the traveler permanently ineligible for travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. <S> You could try inquiring via the DHS Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) <S> https://www.dhs.gov/dhs-trip <S> but there are no guarantees that a request for redress through DHS TRIP will resolve the Visa Waiver Program ineligibility that caused your ESTA application to be denied. <A> CBP will deny future ESTA applications if they receive a chargeback for any previous ESTA application. <S> I can think of two obvious ways this can happen: The first is that you disputed the charge on your card yourself. <S> Though you say you did not do this. <S> The second is that you applied for a previous ESTA through a third party web site, that third party applied for your ESTA and then disputed the charge to defraud CBP. <A> If you think this is a mix-up on the CPB side, you can try to apply again: all you risk is the processing fee of $4 per application (so $8 total for you and your partner), and if there were no charge-backs for your previous applications, the new application could get through. <S> I wouldn't hold my breath though: if there was a problem with your credit card, or your bank screwed up somehow, or the CPB made a record on your file (even if by their own mistake), the ESTA refusal will be permanent, and the only way to go to the US is getting a visa.
| A traveler who is not eligible for ESTA is not eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program and should apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
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Is there any direct train from LHR Airport to Newcastle Gateshead? We are to reach at 7.30 AM on LHR from India for further move to Newcastle along with 2 kids. Plz suggest what to do ? Piccadilly Line/ Tube/Taxi/Bus or any other mode? <Q> Take the Piccadilly line to King's Cross St Pancras, and change to an Edinburgh-bound train taking you to Newcastle (there are also Newcastle-bound trains, but those are much slower). <S> Then catch the metro to Gateshead. <A> A very quick search with Google suggests that a flight might be viable. <S> British Airways operate several flights each day from Heathrow to Newcastle with fares as little as £92 <S> ( Google list ), <S> while LNER run trains from King's Cross, starting at £160 - you might get a lower price with advance booking. <S> A direct flight takes just over an hour and will save you time travelling into London, plus three hours on the train. <A> An alternative route which might be better if you have lots of luggage and small children would be to get the Railair bus from Heathrow to Reading and then get a train to Newcastle. <S> There are direct trains and <S> also some which involve a change on route. <A> Heathrow does not have a mainline rail station <S> so there is no possibility of a direct train to Newcastle. <S> There are trains about every 30 minutes most of the day. <S> With four of you a taxi from Heathrow to Kings Cross is also viable, and a good bet if you have luggage. <S> The Piccadilly line is cheapest but slowest, and very hard with luggage. <A> Just for completeness I will mention the existance of National Express Coaches, probably the cheapest mode of transport from Heathrow to Newcastle. <S> A ticket would cost £30.00 per person. <S> The downsides are there are no direct coaches from Heathrow, you would need to travel to London Victoria Coach Station and change there, and the time it takes to travel around 7hrs. <A> Fly. <S> It's much faster and likely cheaper. <S> The LNER train from Kings Cross to Newcastle is only cheaper than flying if you book seats on a specific train, which you realistically can't do if you're flying from India - if your flight is delayed or you're held up in immigration then you'll lose your tickets. <S> The flight takes an hour, the train will take closer to five once you factor in travelling time between Heathrow and Kings Cross. <S> If for whatever reason you have to take the train there's also the problem of getting from Heathrow to Kings Cross at 7:30am on a weekday - either brave a long rush hour tube journey with your family and all your luggage (never nice after a long flight), or get an expensive taxi. <A> For rail enquiries in the UK use the National Rail site . <S> As other answers have pointed out, trains to Newcastle leaves from King's Cross station. <S> The cheapest fares are if you buy in advance for a specific departure. <S> However, that can be risky when coming in from a long flight with risks of delay, as the tickets would be worthless of you miss the train. <S> Best would be if you could get a connecting flight added to your ticket. <S> Might not be possible at this point.
| The most common route taken is the Heathrow Express to Paddington, switch to Kings Cross by underground (or taxi if you have luggage) and take the direct train to Newcastle. With 4 people, a rental car could be the cheaper option, but perhaps not such a good idea after a long flight and jet lag.
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What self-defense weapons are legal in London? I've travelled London many times, and this is the first time I got robbed in broad daylight, in afternoon! Around four youth wearing masks brandished machetes, asked for my purse and everything in it. I surrendered. I was with my 5 y.o., and I didn't try to fight back. I lost my handbag, iPhone, convertible 2 in 1 laptop, wallet, £500 cash. I reported to police, but they said they couldn't do anything. I didn't get a good look of these criminals, and I'm leaving London in a few days. CCTV can't see through masks. <Q> The link that you cite already states the law: Any “noxious substance” is illegal. <S> So this is likely yucky stuff, but with no irritant. <S> It may be disorienting for a moment, but I doubt it’ll incapacitate a determined attacker. <S> For practical advice: Don’t. <S> Even if you were a trained officer, going against 4 armed attackers (or even 2) with just a can of pepper spray would be a recipe for disaster. <S> To put it bluntly: You don’t want to anger a person with a knife if you can avoid it. <S> If you want to feel safer, I’d suggest you look for a reputable self defence class. <S> I assume that there they can teach you how to escape or incapacitate someone if you can’t avoid the confrontation (also, if the spray is any good they’ll probably teach you how to actually use it). <S> Addition: <S> This answer was to specifically address the legality of pepper spray substitutes (which was the gist of the original question). <S> There is already a great answer on defensive weapons in general, so I'm not going to add to that. <S> Also, I did not want to suggest that self-defence training would have made a difference in your situation. <S> No type of weapon or training would have . <S> You may happen to have everyday objects (e.g. an umbrella) that can be of some help against an assailant, even if not in that particular situation. <A> Carrying pepper spray around may get you into trouble with the law, it is probably illegal despite what vendors may tell you. <S> See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defence_in_English_law <S> Self-defence in English law is a complete defence to all non-sexual offences involving the unlawful use of force (i.e. anything from battery to murder). <S> In other words, it results in a charge if a death occurs because minimal force was not used. <S> Generally speaking, the rationale is that the defendant is not guilty of the offence if murder doesn't occur. <S> and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offensive_weapon <S> An offensive weapon is a tool made, adapted or intended for the purpose of inflicting mental or physical injury upon another person. <S> ... <S> Under England/Wales' Prevention of Crime Act 1953, Section 1(1) states it is an offence to carry an offensive weapon on or about the person while in a public place <S> So far as I can tell, pepper spray is normally considered an offensive weapon. <S> In Are there any legal self defence products that I can buy? <S> ... <S> There are other self defence products which claim to be legal (e.g. non toxic sprays), however, until a test case is brought before the court, we cannot confirm their legality or endorse them. <S> If you purchase one you must be aware that if you are stopped by the police and have it in your possession there is always a possibility that you will be arrested and detained until the product, its contents and legality can be verified. <S> ... <S> There are products which squirt a relatively safe, brightly coloured dye (as opposed to a pepper spray). <S> A properly designed product of this nature, used in the way it is intended, should not be able to cause an injury. <S> However, if injury does occur, this may be assault. <A> If you carry anything with the intention of using it against an assailant, it is a weapon. <S> Even walking with your house keys in your hand with a key protruding from your fist.
| The UK police say The only fully legal self defence product at the moment is a rape alarm.
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The best place for swimming in Arctic Ocean So I have overheard a conversation where some guy wondered if it's possible to swim in Arctic Ocean, the only ocean he didn't do yet. I actually have an answer, but maybe there are better options. Are there any accessible beaches on any of Arctic ocean seas where you can reliably swim? I expect the location to be accessible by car or, preferably, also by public transport, and warm enough to function as a beach resort at least eventually. <Q> Scandinavia is brushed by the Gulf Stream and therefore warmer than other regions at the same latitude. <S> So the north of Norway is a good candidate. <S> Norway is part of the Schengen Area . <S> The south-west of Norway lies on the North Sea which is considered part of the Atlantic Ocean. <S> Most of the Norwegian coast is on the Norwegian Sea which is considered part of the Arctic Ocean. <S> The north of Norway lies north of the Arctic Circle . <S> It has beautiful beaches and other scenery . <S> You wouldn't want to go swimming without a wetsuit, but you wouldn't be the only one taking a short dip in summer. <S> The water temperature in summer is never very warm, but in summer, you shouldn't risk hypothermia without warning signs. <S> The warm period is roughly mid-July to late August , with water at about 11–15 <S> °C (and air about the same temperature!). <S> You may even enjoy a dip under the midnight sun until 18 July. <A> I have been there <S> and it's very possible to swim, even if waters are not very warm. <S> However, there are at least two downsides to this answer: the town is problematic to visit without Russian citizenship, and it's located on very closed off White Sea which may be argued to not be "Arctic Ocean proper". <S> Otherwise, accessible by car, by bus from Archangel or by train plus some local bus. <S> OSM of Yagry beach . <A> I have gone swimming at the beach in Churchill, Manitoba . <S> I am not sure how reliable the swimming is. <S> I was there at the end of August, which was so off-season that the main coffee shop in town had closed for the week. <S> The proprietors of my bed and breakfast thought I was crazy, and accompanied me for safety. <S> I remember the water being cold, but not as cold as some places I've swum in the Adirondacks. <S> Regarding safety, the beach is directly behind the hospital, but it is also covered in signs warning of the dangers of polar bears. <S> A day or two later, a few miles away, a man was mauled by a polar bear while he was on a ladder against a building. <S> It's funny you say "preferably by public transit", because you can't get there by car. <S> There are roads in Churchill, but they don't go far enough to get to any other towns. <S> The road for which you do not need to take special precautions ends in Thompson, and routes for cars of any kind end in Gillam , but I was able to take a train from Churchill to Winnipeg. <S> That train took 2-3 days, but does connect you to more normal transit options. <S> Churchill is definitely a tourist destination, but for people wanting to see polar bears, beluga whales, the northern lights, and birds. <S> I spent some of my time there in a t-shirt, but I think most people would not consider it "warm enough" to be a beach resort. <S> I remember meeting an Italian lady there, who gave the impression that she had not yet thawed from the preceding winter. <S> Similarly, I went swimming at Deer Lake , which has a beach without the polar bear warning signs. <S> I remember others using it as a beach, but I don't remember anyone else going in the water.
| The Lofoten Islands are a fairly popular tourist spot which lies a little way north of the Arctic Circle. My own answer as follows: The beach of Ягры , Северодвинск, Russia allow you to swim in Arctic Ocean's White Sea while overlooking occassional nuclear submarines passing by .
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On what tickets or flights are Flying Blue XP earned? I am not sure if this applies generally to other loyalty programmes, or if this question should be about Flying Blue specifically. Flying Blue XP ("Experience points") are earned on flights with KLM, Air France, and some other airlines (it's not clear, I see shorter and longer lists of qualifying airlines). Are they for example earned if: the flight is sold as the ticket of another Sky Team partner, say Delta, and operated by that partner? the flight is sold as the ticket of another Flying Blue partner, say Kenya Airways, and operated by that partner? What if the flight is operated by yet another airline? It's not at all clear to me what the rule is for tickets or flights that qualify for these XP. <Q> The Flying Blue website is a mess, but there's a section which lists all partners, including airlines and how things work with them in terms of XP and miles accrual and redemption. <S> In the case of Delta : <S> WITH DELTA AIR LINES, YOU CAN: <S> Earn Miles <S> Gain XP on eligible flights <S> Earn Elite bonus <S> Miles <S> Spend Miles <S> Extend the overall validity of your Miles Enjoy SkyTeam benefits worldwide <S> EARN <S> MILES AND <S> GAIN XP <S> Earn Miles and gain XP on: Flights marketed as Delta (DL) and operated by one of the SkyTeam airline partners, as per the earning scheme below: Flights operated by one of the following Delta Connection carriers: ExpressJet (EV), Compass (CP), GoJet Airlines (G7), Endeavor Air (9E), Republic Airline (YX) or SkyWest (00), with a booking class mentioned in the earning scheme below Earning Miles and gaining XP isn’t possible for: Tickets with a booking class not mentioned in the earning scheme below Reward tickets (tickets booked using Miles) <S> (and more details on the page, including the earning scheme) <S> In the case of Kenya Airways (which is actually also a SkyTeam partner): With Kenya Airways, you can: <S> Earn Miles <S> Gain XP on eligible flights <S> Earn Elite bonus <S> Miles <S> Spend Miles <S> Extend the overall validity of your Miles Enjoy SkyTeam benefits worldwide <S> EARN <S> MILES AND <S> GAIN XP <S> Flights marketed as Kenya Airways (KQ) and operated by Precision Air between Nairobi and Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Mombasa or Dar es Salaam; or between Mombasa and Zanzibar, as per the earning scheme below. <S> On Domestic flights within Kenya, your XP are doubled. <S> Earning Miles and gaining XP isn’t possible for: Tickets with a booking class not mentioned in the earning scheme below Reward tickets (tickets booked using Miles) <S> (and more details on the page again) <S> An example of an airline partner on which you DO NOT earn XP is Transavia , though you still earn miles. <S> There used to be a difference between Transavia NL and Transavia FR, but it seems to no longer be the case. <S> You will note that in many cases, there are restrictions on the carrier operating the flight, so not all code-share flights allow you to earn miles or XP. <A> Official site says : Gain XP on eligible flights with Air France, KLM, Aircalin, Kenya Airways, TAROM, SkyTeam, or other airline partners except Transavia. <S> The number of XP you gain is based on your flight type and cabin. <S> For example, fly from Frankfurt to New York via Amsterdam or Paris in Economy Cabin = <S> 15 XP(Frankfurt to Amsterdam or Paris in Economy Cabin = <S> 5 XP + Amsterdam or Paris to New York in Economy cabin = 10 XP) <S> Source : https://www.flyingblue.co.uk/en/programme#xp <A> I spoke to KLM directly, and after a few back-and-forth messages, received this: If the flights are marketed by KLM or Air France <S> you are able to earn Miles and XP for these flights indeed. <S> In this example if the flights are marketed by Virgin Atlantic and operated by KLM or Air France, you would not be able to earn Miles or XP. <S> Please check with the loyalty program of Virgin Atlantic if you would earn points with them for these flights. <S> Which I think answers part of my question: the key point is that the flights cannot be marketed by Virgin Atlantic to qualify. <S> It's not clear from their answer that flights marketed by other Sky Team partners do qualify, but the material posted in other answers suggests that they do. <S> I still think that the whole thing is pretty unclear and often very hard to judge on a case-by-case basis.
| Earn Miles and gain XP on: Flights marketed as Kenya Airways (KQ) and operated by one of the SkyTeam partner airlines, as per the earning scheme below.
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Traveling from the U.S to Copenhagen (Munich layover - is 1.5 hours enough time)? I will be traveling with 2 checked bags from the U.S to CPH, with a 1.5 hour layover in Munich. will I have to go reclaim my checked baggage and check it again (It's all under the same booking number/Lufthansa). Is the layover time enough? Do I only have to go through passport control or also security? <Q> Your bags should be tagged for Copenhagen and not made available to you in Munich. <S> As you will not have time to leave the airport during your layover, head straight to your connecting gate, without passing baggage claim. <S> Your entire layover should be in terminal 2. <S> Arriving from an airport in a “safe” country you should normally not have to go through another security check, but it can happen. <S> Just in case, make sure you do not carry any prohibited items. <S> You can still take liquids bought in a US airport or on your arriving flight if placed in a special sealed bag (request when buying). <S> You will go through passport control in Munich, but not customs inspection. <S> Munich is a large airport, but unless your incoming flight is delayed you should make it. <A> As other people said, you won't have to claim and re-check your baggage. <S> I would add that I had multiple times short-time layovers in Munich, even just 55 minutes <S> and I never had any problems, even when my flight had a 20-mins delay. <S> Munich is a very large airport but signs are everywhere <S> so you will know where to go and should be fine! <A> When you go to drop off your luggage at the US airport just confirm with the agent that they'll be booked all the way through to your final destination. <S> As far as checkpoints, you will have to do both security check and passport control, from my experience transiting from WAW to VIE from a US origin flight. <S> 1.5h should be plenty of time to do all this and you should not have any issues!
| You will NOT have to claim and re-check your bags if the entire booking is under the same ticket.
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Declaring a visitor to the UK as my "girlfriend" - effect on getting a Visitor visa? I have a Serbian girlfriend who I have visited in Belgrade 4 times now and she is planning a trip to the UK for her 2 weeks vacation in 2 months from now ( more details here ). When applying for this visa she must state the main reason for her visit, which is for her to see me and stay with me, also some travel to meet my friends and family etc. Thus, she must also state her relationship to me. However, various people who have some experience of/heard stories about UK visa applications for such reasons are constantly telling us that we should never mention that I am her boyfriend or that she is my girlfriend, as she may then be refused. However, we plan to marry after my divorce (in process) is completed in 3-4 months time, so I do not under any circumstances wish to be deceptive so as to risk jeopardising our subsequent application for her to come here on a fiancée/marriage visa, as I read about here . Do the "rumours" hold any truth? Should we do as I suggest and declare that we are boyfriend/girlfriend? Is there anything specific we should be aware of to document and declare about our releationship for the initial Standard Visitor visa? <Q> First of all, I applaud your resolve to be truthful in the application. <S> Definitely tell the truth. <S> Having said that, visiting a boyfriend or girlfriend can indeed be a bit of a red flag to immigration, though it is not an insurmountable one. <S> What the immigration officer will be evaluating is whether your girlfriend is really just coming for a visit or whether she intends to stay in the UK with you and is trying to use the visitor visa to circumvent the normal immigrant visa requirements. <S> So, her application should definitely state her real purpose for the trip, but it should also supply any available information regarding ties she has to Serbia that will help demonstrate that she does, in fact, intend to go home after the visit. <S> Owning or having a long-term rental agreement in place on her residence in Serbia will help with this. <S> Having a job in Serbia will help with this. <S> Family connections and other similar things tying her to Serbia will help with this. <S> Any of that sort of information that she can supply with the application will help her case to demonstrate that she does intend to go home after the trip. <A> From personal experience I don’t believe this is true, and I do believe it is always best to tell the truth in any visa application. <S> My partner is Cuban. <S> It is notoriously difficult for Cubans to get a visa for any destination, and <S> it’s virtually unheard of for a Cuban to be able to meet the financial eligibility requirements in their own right. <S> I have successfully sponsored him for two visitor visas (3 months and 10 weeks respectively) in the last three years. <S> Both the application and my covering letter clearly stated that we are in a long distance relationship, where and how we met, and that my travel history going back several years shows that I regularly visit him in Cuba. <S> He was able to demonstrate stable employment and family ties. <S> Edit: I believe the key point here is that my partner provided credible evidence to demonstrate his intention to leave. <S> If that had not been the case IMHO <S> the visas would have been refused, but on the basis of simple ineligibility rather than because of the relationship itself. <S> “My gf/bf can pay for me to visit them <S> but I don’t meet any of the other eligibility criteria” will likely lead to a refusal from pretty much anywhere, not just the UK. <A> Yes and no. <S> In any case she should always tell the truth and not hide information. <S> Having a parent or a boyfriend could be a cause of denial or a help to get the visa. <S> Such fact is not enough to have a decision, but it should be interpreted with all other information. <S> If she does not have a job nor connection to her home country (and especially if r comes from a much poorer country or where the law is not followed fully), the officer should check further the intention to return. <S> But in some other cases, it helps getting a guarantee of funds and not working in UK. <S> In your case: you say you plan to marry them. <S> This will help: marrying a person who is in UK illegally is troublesome. <S> The important part: officers check that an applicant will not work in UK, and she will return home on time (with reasonable doubts). <S> All information helps the officer to make the decision. <S> Having or not a "boyfriend" is just extra information (which can work both ways).
| The key parts to successfully getting a visitor visa are convincing the officer reviewing the application that the person applying does indeed intend to come only as a visitor and that they have both the means to support themselves during their stay and both the means and intent to go home after their stay in the country.
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Aside from visiting Casinos in LAS, what else is there to do? Aside from visiting Casinos in LAS, what else is there to do? We are going to visit with our staff and are looking for events besides the day to day casino operations. <Q> You can go to see the Grand Canyon by helicopter. <S> The expensive way is a direct flight from McCarran, which also gives you an aerial view of Vegas and the Hoover Dam. <S> This takes a few hours. <S> The cheaper option involves a bus much of the way and takes essentially all day. <S> We did the former a few years ago. <S> The helicopter ride and its views were better than the actual stop in the canyon. <A> Rides such as those over Stratosphere or the roller coaster over New York, New York Shows such as Cirque du Soleil, stand up comedy, magic show etc Shoot machine guns or even AK-47 <S> Go off roading in the desert https://www.trailsoffroad.com/states/NV <S> Red Rock Canyon <S> https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/ National Parks e.g Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon <S> etc <S> this is stretching it <S> but if you have a few days, I might suggest driving to Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Arches National Park, Canyonlands, Sedona etc. <A> In the summer, most hotels have incredible pool areas. <S> Some hotels have pool parties. <S> All year long: <S> Circus Circus has an indoor amusement park with rides and everything <S> The Mirage has dolphins, lions, and more. <S> Lots of shopping <S> Lots of bars <S> Lots of nightclubs <S> You can also play golf <S> And of course you have all the shows, including aerobatics (Cirque du Soleil etc.), magic, concerts, fights, and so on. <S> And it goes on and on. <S> If you have the money, you can stay there for 2 weeks during the summer and not get bored without even gambling.
| Just strolling along the strip to see all these casinos (both from the inside and the outside) and their animations (Treasure Island pirate ship, Mirage volcano, Bellagio Fountains, Venetian Canal and Gondolas...) is quite entertaining There are tons of very nice restaurants
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Why do cheap flights with a layover get more expensive when you split them up into separate flights? I have found some cheap flights from London to Tokyo on Google Flights which I plan to purchase. However, the flight has a layover - the legs are London to Moscow, then Moscow to Tokyo. I thought that, rather than spend 4 hours in a Moscow airport, perhaps I could try purchasing my flights separately to allow a whole day in Moscow, and I'll spend a night exploring the city. However, when I search on the same dates for Moscow to Tokyo, I find that that leg of the flight by itself is far more expensive than buying the combined flight to from London to Tokyo. Is there a reason for this? Is there a convenient way to find flights which purposefully extend layovers for a day or so? <Q> On the other hand, people flying between Tokyo and London have no reason to prefer flights with a layover and require another incentive in the form of a cheaper fare. <S> Similarly, the airline wants to charge as much as possible to each individual client. <S> That means charging higher fares to business travelers and for non-stop flights where they don't face competition. <S> Reducing fares on the very same flights if and only if they are combined with a layover is a way to fill them up and get some money from price-conscious travelers without damaging the revenue from business travelers (the technical term for this is “price discrimination”). <S> But as @choster noted, airline yield management is often counterintuitive and fare rules can often produce side effects so you shouldn't expect any “rule” to hold in all situations. <S> In practice, I am not aware of any surefire way to identify potentially free or cheap stopovers. <S> You can try to read fare rules but it's not especially quick or practical. <S> And, once you have identified a potential layover (perhaps through a regular “round-trip” search), you can enter the details of the connection you want using the “multi-city” feature (i.e. not as separate tickets) to see how much it would really cost. <A> Is there a reason for this? <S> It's a complicated supply and demand equation. <S> Usually, a major factor is that: The direct flights are a premium product . <S> Of the people in London wanting to get to Moscow (or the people in Moscow wanting to get to Tokyo), the ones with the deepest pockets, most urgency or most flexible expense accounts will favour the direct flights and will pay more for the speed and convenience. <S> These tickets are priced based on estimates of what these customers will pay. <S> The indirect flights are a less premium option , sold in a more price-conscious market. <S> There usually aren't enough people willing to pay a premium for direct flights to fill most long-haul routes, so the airlines aim to fill the remaining seats from the market of people looking for slower, more economical routes for a longer journey, by setting lower prices for legs of indirect routes. <S> The market for ~15-24 hour indirect flights from London to Tokyo has many many airlines across many routes (via Moscow, Qatar, Frankfurt, Vienna, Helsinki, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Zurich, Seoul...), targeting price-conscious customers who have likely already rejected the premium ~12 hour direct flights. <S> It may be much further than London-Moscow, but these customers have much more choice and willingness to shop around than, say, someone who must be in Moscow by 11am that day and whose company is paying. <S> There's usually more to it than that - supply and demand is complicated - but this is a reason why they're usually more expensive. <S> Is there a convenient way to find flights which purposefully extend layovers for a day or so? <S> There are a few: <S> For up to 24 hours, which (depending on the airport location, local transport reliability, and immigration rules) may be enough for a little sightseeing, some flight comparison sites, e.g. Kayak, allow you to specify a minimum stopover time and specify specific stopover airports. <S> Beyond 24 hours, most flight comparison sites allow you to build "Multi-stop" or "Multi-city" flights. <S> Check specific airline websites as well, which sometimes include options not available to 3rd party comparison sites <S> (IIRC Air New Zealand have a very good flight builder). <S> For example, on SkyScanner: <S> These generally cost more than equivalent singles and returns where it is counted as a layover, but are often cheaper than booking "premium" direct flights. <S> Why? <S> Because supply and demand is complicated. <A> Airlines make most money with customers on direct flights. <S> The problem is, offering direct flights between every pair of cities in the world is not economically viable. <S> Having layover passengers enables an airline to offer a flight from A to B on a plane with e.g. 100 seats when only 50 people actually need that flight, as the other 50 seats could be filled with passengers who fly A to B as a leg. <S> As a layover is an obvious inconvenience for the passenger, such flights have to be offered at a discount to make them competitive. <S> Airlines may earn very little while doing this (or even do it at a loss), to avoid a bigger loss from flying a half-empty plane. <A> Besides the other reasons given, if there's a problem and the airline has to put you on another flight then it's a lot better for them if they only have to get you to Tokyo rather than having to specifically go though Moscow. <S> With one you are buying London to Tokyo, probably stopping in Moscow along the way but maybe not. <S> With the other you are buying London to Moscow to Tokyo for sure. <S> That certainty is more valuable to you, and higher risk of additional costs for the airline <S> so it's perfectly reasonable for the price of the ticket to be higher.
| One obvious and common interpretation is that people going to Moscow (from London or Tokyo) are often prepared to pay for the additional convenience of a non-stop flight (especially if they are flying on an expense account).
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Unexpected route on a flight from USA to Europe I fly often between London and east coast USA (usually New York or Boston) - and every single time up until now the flight would go along the great circle route . I flew yesterday from Boston to London - and to my mild surprise the flight path went a lot further south - almost along the parallel. I can't get the full flight radar replay (I guess you need a paid membership for that), but here is a picture I took of the inflight progress display a couple of hours into the flight. This was flight VS158 (actually renamed to VS1158 due to change of destination airport). Why would such an unusual path be chosen? I understand that it's unlikely we'd know the exact reasoning for this particular flight, so I'm wondering how and why decisions to route this way are made. Edited to add: the flight was on 6 August 2019. <Q> You can still see them, as of the time of this edit, here: https://www.ventusky.com/?p=43.5;-32.4;3&l=temperature-200hpa <S> (shown are winds at a pressure altitude of 12000m, approximately the cruising altitude of a plane) <A> In short, your flight followed what is known as a "North Atlantic Track". <S> These are paths in the air above the North Atlantic which are used by air traffic control to effectively manage aircraft separation in the North Atlantic (where there are lots of planes and little radar coverage). <S> Planes' entry into these tracks is managed for safety reasons and individualised flight plans are avoided. <S> The specifics of where these tracks are is determined by factors such as winds/jet-stream among many other considerations. <S> There are also multiple tracks in operation at a time, meaning that a BOS-LHR flight will likely be on a different one than ATL-MAD (for example). <S> The Wikipedia article on this is pretty good! <A> I've seen this happen many times when flying from China to America. <S> The thing is, airplanes don't actually care how far away the destination is, but rather they care about the flying time. <S> When you are flying against the wind (as you generally are when heading west in the northern hemisphere) <S> your best bet is the shortest route, hence flights heading west take the great circle route unless there is a political reason to do otherwise. <S> (I've seen plenty of small zigs to avoid entering airspace and I've once seen a zig of hundreds of miles when they didn't want to fly anywhere near North Korea.) <S> However, when heading with the wind you can often find it is more advantageous to take the path with the most wind than to take the shortest path. <S> I've seen a 200 mph tailwind.
| The specific answer concerning your flight is that yesterday there were abnormally fast westerly winds over the mid-north-Atlantic, which many eastbound flights took advantage of.
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Multiday parking in San Francisco I'm taking a road trip round California, with a four night stay in San Francisco. I will have a rental car for the duration of my stay but don't want to drive in San Francisco, apart from arriving and departing. What is my best option for parking? I would prefer to park in a garage for the four nights but I'm not sure if garages allow this, or how much they would charge. I've looked at this https://californiaparking.com/555-jackson-financial-district.shtml which allows me to reserve a space but not sure if it's legit. I'm traveling from the UK and staying in the North Beach area. <Q> As of August 2019 the daily rate is $7 for all stations where parking is available, which is far lower than any garage parking spaces you will find in metro San Francisco. <S> It should be noted that none of the BART stations in SF proper (Embarcadero to Balboa Park) have any parking facilities. <S> Once parked, depending on your station of choice, it will cost you between $3 and $7 for a one-way trip to the downtown San Francisco stations on the BART system. <S> Related links: BART airport/ <S> long-term parking permit reservations Fares, schedules, maps available at www.bart.gov <A> I have built a san francisco parking map for exactly this purpose. <S> If you don't want to pay for parking, you can see the streets where you can leave the car for more than a few days but be aware that you are not supposed to park on-street for more than 72h. <S> If you are ok to pay, you can compare all the prices for on-street and off-street parking and can even book a garage. <A> Enforcement of parking limits on public streets in SF is notoriously strict and persistent. <S> If you park longer than permitted, it's certain you'll get an expensive ticket <S> and it's possible your car will be towed and impounded, costing a lot of time and money to retrieve. <S> Off-street parking is a better bet. <S> Source: I live an hour away, lots of visits to SF, BTDT.
| I would recommend obtaining a long term parking permit at one of the various BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Stations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Visa National - No Exit Stamp From France on Return to the UK I work in the UK on a Tier 2 visa, and am an Indian citizen. I received a two-year French Schengen visa, which has a remark "COURT SEJ. CIRC." (short stay circulation) which I believe refers to the 90/180 rule. On my first trip to France on this visa, I received a French entry stamp at St. Pancras on my way to Paris, but I did not receive an exit stamp when I travelled back to the UK on the Euroshuttle (via Coquelles). I did, however, receive a UK entry stamp at Coquelles. The French border guard at Coquelles didn't even scan my passport. He just took a casual look at it and returned it to me. When I asked for a stamp, he said "Later" pointing further down to the customs area (Douane), and when I asked those officers, they said I'll receive exit stamp after "British immigration". I wasn't surprised to find no French officials after the UK border force check point. Since my passport wasn't scanned or stamped, I believe that according to French records, I still haven't left France and after 90 days of my entry, would be in violation of the 90/180 rule. I tried contacting the French consulate in London by email but I haven't heard back from them. What do I need to do to ensure that their records are updated and I don't face any undeserved consequences? <Q> Currently, Schengen States do not have a central database in which entries/exits are recorded. <S> The evaluation is soley done by physically checking the stamps in your passport. <S> Such a system is however in the process of being implementened: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32017R2226&from=DE <S> I would not worry too much about it. <S> As long as you have other documents and UK stamps in our passport that clearly show you have not overstayed, you should be fine. <A> The only record they keep is the stamps in your passport. <S> You can use the UK entry stamp to prove that you left. <S> There's nothing to worry about. <A> No need to worry about this mishap. <S> The Schengen Borders Code provides a mechanism with how to deal with this and what is acceptable evidence of having exited: <S> The travel documents of non-EU nationals are systematically stamped upon entry and exit. <S> However, the non-EU-country national may provide any credible evidence of having respected the conditions relating to the duration of a short stay, such as transport tickets or proof of his/her presence outside the territory of the EU countries.
| If a travel document does not bear an entry stamp, it may be presumed that the holder does not fulfil, or no longer fulfils, the conditions of duration of a short stay.
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Is it okay to carry a small titanium souvenir in baggage So I made this small titanium miniature of Captain America shield for my girlfriend who's travelling to the US, she was wondering if they'll allow that in baggage/carry in. It's a small 38 mm dia and 0.8mm thick disc of titanium with blunt edges. Preferable to put it in baggage though. <Q> There is no reason why a titanium miniature that small would raise any eyebrows. <S> Titanium & titanium alloy are used to manufacture golf clubs, eyeglass frames, water bottles, etc., and it is hard to imagine that titanium alone would cause any suspicion. <A> You should check with the security. <S> I had to throw my guitar key when is used to tighten the guitar neck in trash. <S> When they found in scanning machine that there was some metal inside my bag. <S> so double check before flying there can be some restrictions to metal objects. <A> However, if you want to be sure that it will not be taken away by airport security <S> you should follow the golden rule and put in in hold luggage.
| If it small enough and if it looks harmless enough you should be fine putting it in your carry-on luggage.
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Can I buy SL Access card with Credit Card? As sweden is 'cashless' , I am wondering if I can avoid currency exchanges altogether by purchasing (and topping up) the SL access card with my credit card. Is it possible? Or should I fetch some cash to get the cards? <Q> Sweden really is cashless, I don't even have a wallet - I pay with my watch or phone - and I only have an SL Access Card (soon you can have your monthly tickets iny our phone) and <S> house keys (because I have a strange door on which smart locks don't fit) besides the phone and watch. <S> Almost all accept cash. <S> You can't buy tickets on busses or on trains. <S> SL has a help page about buying tickets. <S> You can use Mobile Phone Tickets everywhere in Stockholm. <S> Just download the official SL app for your phone. <S> It accepts credit/debit cards and some Swedish payment methods. <S> Ways of getting phyical tickets <S> You will find self-service machines at all larger stations and select smaller ones, they only accept credit/debit cards. <S> All the entrances to train & metro stations <S> are manned and you can buy tickets or access cards there. <S> Many kiosks, or "tobacco shops" as they usually call themselves, sell SL Tickets and Access Cards without markup . <S> Look for an SL Flag or some other mentioning of "SL Tickets". <S> There are also a few SL Center 's in Stockholm. <S> There are 2 at Stockholm Central, also many Pressbyrån there who also sell the tickets. <S> At SL Center they can answer any question you have about the public transportation and they also sell you tickets. <S> Where to find these places Go to <S> SL.se/en and use the map. <S> Choose Sales points and find nearby place. <A> Yes, I bought an SL Access card+travelcard from a manned metro gate with a credit card in February 2019. <S> In May 2018 I bought one with value from the SL Center with a credit card. <S> There is also plenty of retailers that sells SL Access cards and offer topups, probably all of them accept credit cards, at least Pressbyrån does. <S> Check the map here: <S> https://sl.se/en/ <S> Use the icon on the top right and tick sales points instead of stations. <S> Green icons shows where you can buy and top up SL Access. <S> Visa and Mastercard are the universally accepted cards in Sweden. <A> I was able to buy the SL access card and the 7-days pass with the credit card. <S> They asked me for the passport (well, ID), for reason <S> I dunno.(Maybe they needed to check my age?)
| All places that sell SL Access Cards accept credit/debit cards.
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Is there a way to encourage or even force airlines and booking engines to show options with overnight layovers? Sometimes, airlines and booking engines offer options with overnight layovers, and usually present these as unattractive options (and usually they are, because not many people enjoy sleeping in airports). Occasionally though they are in cities where one can easily spend a night, for example with a friend, and this turns the option into an advantage. Is there a way to search for flight options that incorporate overnight layovers? (Of course, it could be possible to search flights from A->B, and then flights from B->C the next day. However, such combinations can be more expensive, and may have different ticketing conditions.) <Q> Searching for flights with stopovers (the term used to describe a long layover, usually over 24 hours, where you retrieve your bags and check them back in when you depart) is not an easy task. <S> Airline policies are very variable in this respect. <S> Some airlines do encourage stopovers in their "home city", pushed to do so by local authorities. <S> They will often have special deals for hotels, transfers, etc. <S> Cathay Pacific used to do that a lot for stopovers in Hong Kong, don't know if they still do. <S> Some of the Middle-East airlines do so as well for a stopover in their home city. <S> Some airlines on the other hand have restrictions on stopovers (as they are seen as a way for business travellers to pay less for flights), including: allowing stopovers only on some fares (the more expensive ones, of course) limiting the number of stopovers limiting where you can have a stopover adding a charge for each stopover <S> Doing a generic search is not easy, especially if you have flexibility on the number of days <S> you are willing to stay, as this adds yet another dimension to the search. <S> The find such fares, there are multiple methods: on search engines which allow "multi-city" searches, enter all the segments. <S> This will usually try to find fares that match the total flight rather than the individual segments. <S> if you are interested in a specific A-B-C combination but are flexible on the dates, you could use tools sur as Expertflyer to: Look up the available fares on A-C Check the fare rules for each fare and keep the lowest fares that allow stopovers in B. Find the matching fare class for each fare (may be different on the different segments) <S> Find which A-B and B-C flights have availability for the given fare class <S> It's quite time-consuming though. <S> You can also use search engines such as Kayak or Google Flights and add conditions: number of stops connecting city time-ranges for departure, arrival or connection times <S> The way you would search depends a bit on whether you are set on a specific itinerary or are willing to consider multiple options. <S> Note that even if the airline does not charge more for the stopover directly, there may be additional taxes ( <S> 1 arrival + 1 departure often costs more than 1 transit in many airports). <S> Good luck! <A> This is another case where the power of ITA Matrix ( https://matrix.itasoftware.com ) comes really handy! <S> In ITA Matrix, you can search for flights with a connection above a minimum length. <S> Usually, if you search for connections longer than 12 hours, that'll yield you a bunch of overnight results. <S> To do this: Visit <S> https://matrix.itasoftware.com/ <S> Enter your flight details as usual Click on "Show advanced controls" and enter minconnect 12:00 or whatever your minimum connecting length you want to have Press search <S> Select your flight, and copy/paste the page into BookWithMatrix ( https://bookwithmatrix.com ) to book <S> You'll be presented with a page of results that may have some nonstop flights, but more importantly, has layovers of at least the length you specified . <S> If layovers are over 12 hours, they're usually overnight! <S> Congratulations! <S> You just got an extra layover in Hong Kong or Beijing. <S> Note that you should also check if the visa policies allow this stopover, and get the needed visas if you want to leave the airport. <S> Once you've gotten a flight, you can head over to https://bookwithmatrix.com/ to book the resulting flight: for example, this flight with a 1.5 day layover in Beijing, with enough time to visit the Great Wall. <A> Airlines websites usually doesn't show all options (they took several years to allow multi-segment flights). <S> Unfortunately, in such way, it is difficult to compare different airlines.
| It's pretty standard for most airlines to offer layovers up to 24 hours, and up to 4 hours domestically. Try external website, where you can filter out easily too short connections (e.g. kayak), or just check the possible flights on different days (and check how many days you can do a stopover), then contact the airline.
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Can Airplane security devices damage games consoles? Okay so I’m leaving tomorrow morning and I wanted to take my ps4 but I’ve been told that the scanners can damage your console and wipe everything on it. Is it safe to bring it? <Q> People put phones, cameras, laptops, hard drives, USB sticks, and all manner of other electronic devices through the airport security scanners every day, all without any damage or loss of information. <S> Your PS4 will be absolutely fine. <A> Are you going to put it in a suitcase and check it? <S> Then yes, it can get damaged by the baggage handling process. <S> Bags get dropped, stacked, flipped and stuffed. <S> It could hurt one of the components of your system. <S> So don’t put it in your checked luggage — or if you must check it as luggage, put it in the original box with the original styrofoam packing, and then double box it in a larger box with more foam packing. <S> Just don’t drop it. <A> The only thing there with even the slightest damage potential is the walk through metal detector, your gear doesn't go through it and <S> even then the only thing that would even remotely concern me would be floppy disks. <S> You know those things where somebody 3D printed a save icon :) <S> Certainly not something that sees much use these days. <A> I brought a classic Wii through full security. <S> I got yelled at for not taking it out of the bag, but no issues with the unit or TSA. <S> The TSA really doesn't use magnetic scanners. <S> X-Rays and millimeter scanners won't harm electronics (or nobody would bring them on trips)
| While I have never brought a game console through security I have carried laptops through security for the last 20 years, never have they been damaged. If you’re carrying it on board as cabin hand luggage then there’s really no problem.
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Bringing Power Supplies on Plane? I have a 36V 8.8 Amp qualtek power supply that I want to bring for a friend. I'm not planning on checking bags so it will have to be carry on. Is this ok to bring on a plane? I can't seem to find any rules on power supplies on airplanes in the US. Looks like this: <Q> I asked them via Messenger and it appears that power supplies are allowed with no restriction <A> The What Can I Bring page does not list this explicitly but it does list Phone Chargers which are similar in function but also Bread Machine, Laptops, Sewing Machine all of which require AC/DC units. <S> Also power inverter . <S> If you want to be 100% sure <S> For items not listed here, simply snap a picture or send a question to AskTSA on Facebook Messenger or Twitter . <S> We look forward to answering your questions, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET weekdays; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends/holidays. <A> If by "power supply" you mean something you connect to a wall socket, and which can then supply DC power to some electronics, then certainly -- people routinely fly with those in their cabin baggage (they might call them laptop chargers instead, but a power supply is what it is). <S> If you're speaking about a battery bank that doesn't need to be receive grid power while it puts out DC, then different rules apply. <A> Practically, most devices without large batteries in them are OK. <S> Batteries are indeed dangerous, hence the limits and the requirements to keep devices with batteries in carry-on. <S> Anecdotally, I once travelled with as similarly looking device which weighted about 16kg and occupied most of my checked in bag.
| In general, electronic devices are allowed, provided they don't contain forbidden substances (anything highly flammable, radioactive, explosive, liquids etc.).
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What are some tips and tricks for finding the cheapest flight when luggage and other fees are not revealed until far into the booking process? I'm finding it ever more frustrating recently to compare and find the truly cheapest flights. Flight search engines are more and more useless as airlines game the system increasingly to list low prices when you'll actually have to pay much more, especially with checked luggage. Often the full amount of fees and taxes will not be shown until personal information and even credit card details have been entered. You can hunt each airline's sites for their luggage fees but they can be hard to find and easy to misinterpret. For my current situation looking to fly from South Korea to a cheap destination in Southeast Asia, the full price often turns out to be double the advertised price! I'm well into my trip so ditching my backpack is not an option. I'm looking for tips from experienced air travellers on how to select a flight when a huge proportion of the price seems to be hidden and obfuscated and seemingly unknowable in advance. <Q> For Aussies such as yourself, my site - Beat That Flight ( and beta Android app ) might be able to help a bit. <S> For example, on a search from Sydney to Hong Kong - on the left side <S> , you can see baggage options, with the perceived difference in price: <S> It's not perfect, and relies on data on upstream providers as well, but makes an effort to try and calculate luggage. <S> I've seen others block searches for airlines like RyanAir in the past as it was just too difficult with all their crazy fee addons, but suspect you'll see more and more features like this in time to come. <A> Kayak is not my first choice of search engines, but I do note that it now attempts to factor carry-ons and checked bags into the price. <S> You have to start the search and then change the zero bags default in the filters. <S> Kiwi.com <S> (which I also am not thrilled with) will tell you which flights allow NO bags, which isn't a great help, but it's something. <S> The extremely flexible app from Azuon.com includes the options in this image <S> Unfortunately, Azuon often as not tells me there are no flights from anywhere in North America to anywhere in (some other huge area) for an entire three-week period! <A> I book flights regularily and actually keep a list of hidden charges for the sites that come up near the top of any search regularily. <S> Then, when I make a new search and see the prices listed, I simply add the hidden charges I know about in my head. <S> Typically, the offers are close enough together that the hidden charges actually do make a difference. <S> It's a low-tech approach and it needs quite a few bookings (and going back out of a site because you consider their charges too high and picking another option) <S> but by now I have a fairly complete list. <A> Swede's have the option to use the website <S> Flygresor.se which can include the surcharge for a checked bag and also for climate compensation and payment method. <S> The site only searches prices through Swedish travel agencies, not directly with the carriers. <S> Because of this prices are only available in SEK and support is very limited. <S> The airline selection could also be limited - hence I only recommend this site for Swedes <S> but of course anyone could use it. <S> If I remember correctly Flygresor.se is a joint venture between all the major Swedish travel agencies.
| Generally, I use various search engines, then check the details on a few (or several) of the cheapest results.
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Does Flixbus make stops on long journeys? I'm looking at a 19h30m long Direct trip with Flixbus. I wonder if there are any longer stops during the trip or if you're stuck in your seat for the entire duration? <Q> There will usually be stops, either planned stops to drop and pick up passengers or mandatory stops for the driver's breaks. <S> Unfortunately, it's sometimes difficult to know in advance exactly when and how long the bus will stop but 14 hours is a very long time to be driving (and illegal in most places, even outside the EU). <S> I have even seen drivers stop more frequently than required (e.g. if the toilets are broken), you can always ask. <S> If there is only one driver, any trip longer than 4 hours 30 in the EU will have at least one break (could be two or be covered by time at the station but a driver is not allowed to drive more than 4/4.5 hours straight. <S> The only time I had a long (6-7 hours) <S> Flixbus journey without a proper break was a night trip with two drivers. <S> Since neither of them drove longer than 4 hours, they were not required to rest and just switched in the middle of the night, with no time to get out of the bus. <A> I just completed 3 long Flixbus journeys and this is what I found out: There are stops , but how many probably depends on the route and the time of day. <S> The stops are announced a few minutes before and usually the driver will tell you how many minutes you got - but the drivers dialect might be hard to understand so if you're unsure then ask the driver or a fellow passenger. <S> I'd say at least 1 longer stop ( 30 minutes ) at a gas station with restaurants. <S> The longest journey I did was over 19 hours long and there were 2 stops, one because we had to take a ferry <S> and then after that just one more. <S> The bus will not leave the station before the scheduled time but may arrive earlier/later. <S> As mentioned, the stops where the driver is changed are just up to 5 minutes and most likely not at a gas station. <S> They are not announced and you're not intended to get off the bus. <S> Something to keep in mind is that the driver will leave at the announced time so you must be back by then. <S> The driver will not check if everyone are back. <A> We travelled on the Flixbus service from Munich to Zagreb departing at 3.15am recently. <S> There were two drivers onboard and we stopped at a service station in Austria after a couple of hours on the road where we stopped for about 15 minutes and were able to get off and stretch our legs and the drivers swapped over. <S> We then stopped in Ljubljana for 20 minutes where once again we were able to get off, before arriving in Zagreb at 11am <S> so I would guess on a longer trip there should be a few stops at least.
| Some stops at bus stations along the way can be longer ones, I suggest checking the departure time in the Flixbus app and see how much time you will have there - it could be anything from 30 minutes to 2 minutes depending on traffic but only 5 minutes is usually scheduled.
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Vegetarian dishes on Russian trains (European part) On Russian long-distance trains that include restaurant cars, should I in 2019 expect that I can buy full vegetarian dishes there? On those pictures of a 2015 menu on the Trans Siberian Express linked by this answer , it seems that virtually every dish contains meat or fish. Should I expect difficulties as an ovo-lacto-vegetarian (but not vegan)? I will be travelling in classes 2К and 2Т on trains 024Й , 042В , 041М , and 009Щ , where the trains do appear to have some 10 minute+ stops to stock up on food (and water) off-train if food on the train is too limited, assuming such is available on the platform. <Q> No , you definitely cannot count on having vegetarian meals on long-distance trains in Russia. <S> In fact even the menu is misleading, as quite commonly only a very limited selection of dishes are actually available on any given train. <S> (They've cracked down on unlicensed sellers, they need to rent stalls now and this has cut down on the selection a lot.) <S> Vegetarianism in general is poorly understood in Russia, and even notionally vegetarian Russian staples like piroshki <S> cabbage pastries may contain lard. <S> You're not going to starve, because you can always buy vegetarian packaged snacks (potato chip, peanuts, etc), but I would strongly encourage you to bring along enough staples to last you until your next stop. <S> Hot water for noodles, porridge etc is always available. <S> You may find my little review of food options on the Trans-Siberian last year useful: https://driftingclouds.net/2018/07/04/from-siberia-to-tibet-life-on-a-train/ <A> @jpatokal is right, "you definitely cannot count on having vegetarian meals on long-distance trains in Russia" (as well as on a menu). <S> However, there might be something in a restaurant car as, e.g., a salad suitable for a vegetarian. <S> In fact, I traveled with a vegetarian girl this July on 056Ы , and she was quite happy with salads from a restaurant car and vegetarian snacks we bought on train stations. <S> There are classes where you can preorder food (full board, half board (breakfast, dinner), only breakfast or lunch or dinner, with a choice from the menu -- unfortunately, I cannot find this info in English). <S> Breakfast is usually a porridge (kasha); however, I don't know whether you are OK with milk or not. <S> Here a passenger provides a review on food options on the Trans-Siberian in 2018 when you preorder food online (the review is in Russian but full of pictures). <A> On all Russian trains I have taken, vegetarian food was no problem. <S> The vegetarian options were much better than on British, French, or Spanish trains. <S> I did not need to use my backup option. <S> For the domestic trains Moscow - Vorkuta and Vorkuta - Moscow, the проводник asked me what kind of food I wanted. <S> When I told her I was vegetarian, she said, no problem. <S> I was served cous cous with vegetables, complete with a Vegetarian sticker which is evidence that they are prepared for this situation: The restaurant car also had plenty of vegetarian options, and I ate my breakfast, lunch, and dinner there. <S> The vegetarian options were marked bilingually and what I wanted was always available. <S> The international train Paris- <S> Moscow also had plenty of vegetarian options in its menu, which were mostly available. <S> The restaurant car was Polish. <S> The international train <S> Moscow-Warsaw did not have a restaurant car, so it had neither vegetarian nor non-vegetarian dishes. <S> Incidentally, the international train Warsaw-Berlin, which is Polish, has the best vegetarian food I've ever had on a train, a tofu-walnut salad that would not be misplaced in a fancy vegetarian restaurant in Berlin. <A> I strongly recommend to bring along food. <S> Train restaurant car's dishes are not popular. <S> It's not the same as meal in planes.
| Beware that fresh/hot food selections at stations are also quite limited, and vegetarian options even more so.
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From France west coast to Portugal via ship? I'd like to go to Portugal from France west coast (example: Brest or Nantes / Saint-Nazaire). Of course we can go there by car, but: I'd like to avoid the 2 days driving for 1562 km (Saint-Nazaire to Lisbon), I don't particularly enjoy driving 4 days (round-trip), it's exhausting, etc. I like being on a ferry, generally a 1 day cruise is something enjoyable, especially for kids Question: is there a ship/ferry that goes from France to Portugal? Note: I did something similar a few years ago to go to Sicily via ferry: Genova to Palermo instead of driving Italy from North to South, it was great, I highly recommend it! <Q> It seems that there is no direct option From this quite old (2012) discussion on Le Routard.com <S> (the website of a popular French tourist guide), there is no direct ferry route between Bretagne and Portugal. <S> Ferries goes to Spain, in Gijon or Bilbao for example. <S> This website confirms it was still the case in 2015. <S> This makes sense, as Portuguese main cities, namely Lisbon and Porto, are on the Atlantic Coast and reaching them would make the trip longer. <S> I found such a trip with Brittany Ferries : Brittany Ferries vous conduit jusqu'en Espagne, à Bilbao ou Santander. <S> Depuis ces ports, vous pouvez facilement rejoindre le Portugal avec votre voiture. <S> Comptez environ 6 heures de route pour aller de Bilbao à Porto par exemple. <S> My translation <S> From these ports, you can easily reach Portugal with your car. <S> It takes about 6 hours of driving to go from Bilbao to Porto for example. <S> Also, their website mentions that it is possible to reach Spain through a short stop in UK: <S> Il existe d'autres possibilités via des lignes avec escale courte en Angleterre. <S> C'est le cas de Roscoff - Santander via Plymouth, ou de Caen-Ouistreham / Le Havre <S> / St Malo jusqu'à Santander ou Bilbao via Portsmouth. <S> Il est également possible de faire une étape à Cork. <S> My translation: <S> It is the case of Roscoff - Santander via Plymouth, or Caen-Ouistreham / Le Havre / St Malo to Santander or Bilbao via Portsmouth. <S> It is also possible to make a stop in Cork. <S> This is what I could gather using French websites. <S> Since there is an important Portuguese community in France, I am pretty confident that if there was another option, I would have found it. <A> The ferry you chose before was a 21 hour ride. <S> The trip you imagine would be twice that, nowhere within sight of land (except on the Spanish end), and through not particularly polite seas. <S> Regardless, that ride does not exist. <S> I concur with not driving, having just done a driving trip twice that long myself, it would be a 2-day trip if you push, when you have the neeeds of family to balance against forward progress. <S> It's an easy flight, of course. <S> For a ferry style experience, consider the train. <S> Get from where you are to Hendaye, France via whichever French trains (regular or TGV) <S> will get you there. <S> Then, ride the fairly nice Sud Express to Lisbon. <A> It's hard prove a negative, but: Nantes to Lisbon is a two hour flight, easyJet, Transavia and Air France all <S> do it <S> , can't imagine there being a high demand for a ship this way. <S> Even the Saint Nazaire-Gijon route was suspended five years ago and that's much shorter. <S> That year is no coincidence -- <S> the Perpignan–Barcelona high speed rail line opened in 2013 connecting the French TGV to the Spanish high speed network so those who do not want to fly could take the TGV. <S> Thus, the 15 hour ferry from Saint Nazaire-Gijon was now only competitive for those travellers who went to Northern Spain, if they wanted to go further inland, the train was faster. <S> Squeezed by flights and train, this ferry died. <S> No wonder an even longer ferry is just not viable. <S> Getting back to Portugal, World travel guide says <S> There are no international ferries into Portugal. <S> If travelling from the UK, you need to take the ferry to France or Spain and continue down to Portugal by car, coach or train. <S> Some sort of cruise is an option <S> but <S> https://www.oceaniacruises.com/baltic-cruises/amsterdam-to-lisbon-MNA190917/ <S> I do not think the pace and price matches your needs. <A> Did you look at the Saint Nazaire to Gijon Ferry <S> >? <S> This would still leave a 7.5 hour drive down to Lisbon, though. <S> Ah, it may be that this service is no longer available :-( <S> Source : <S> Sorry, our Saint Nazaire - Gijon page is no longer available due to this service not running anymore. <S> For an alternative, please visit the following pages
| : Brittany Ferries brings you to Spain, in Bilbao or Santander. There exists other possibilities through lines with a short stop in England.
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Changing a TGV booking I have a TGV train booked from Gare Montparnasse to Rennes. There is 12 days left to travel. Now I want to change the booking from CDG airport to Rennes on that same day i.e., I want to change the boarding station. Do I need to pay charge for this change and if so, how much ? <Q> It depends on your fare, some TGV tickets can be changed, some can be changed for a small fee up to two days before travel, others yet cannot or not without a hefty fee. <S> Additionally, there are very few TGV from CDG to Rennes (one a day, I think), perhaps a handful of possible TGV connections. <S> Most of the time, the train connections shown use local transit (RER) to reach Montparnasse. <S> If you want to do that, you could also keep your current ticket and just buy a local transit ticket separately. <S> Do budget some additional time to navigate the Paris local transportation network <S> (especially if you have a lot of luggage). <S> But @MaxJasper's suggestion is also well worth considering: Le Bus Direct is somewhat more expensive but a lot less hassle in this case as it would bring you directly to the train station from the airport without the need to figure out a local transit connection. <S> The airport website provides additional info on the various ways to reach Paris from CDG , with links to buy tickets when available. <A> Don't waste your time and a lot of money to change your TGV ticket. <S> At CDG jump on Les BusDirect #4 for 17€ and get off at Montparnass Gare and board your TGV to Rennes without hassle. <S> Bon voyages. <S> Les Bus Direct enter link description here <A> The train from Montparnasse to Rennes and the train from Charles de Gaulle to Rennes are different trains, so you are looking to change the booking entirely. <S> Depending on the ticket type you booked, you may be able to get a refund on the original ticket and book a new one. <S> If it is "Modifiable sous conditions", then you should be able to get a refund (minus €5) until the day before departure. <A> You need to change your ticket, this can be done online if you have an e-ticket, the penalty ammount will be displayed there: <S> A exchange quote will be displayed together with any penalties. <S> On validation, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided during exchange. <S> After completing your ticket exchange online, you will be redirected to our search page to select your next journey. <S> ( Reference ) <S> If you don't have an e-ticket: <S> The booking is less than €200: <S> After exchanging your ticket online on “My Bookings”, send your refund request (within 60 days) via <S> our contact form Specify your request by selecting “Train Journey” then “Follow-up Request”. <S> Lastly, fill in the following information in the “My Message ” section: Your surname and first names <S> Your contact details <S> The reason for your request To complete your request, attach a photo of the ticket you wish to exchange. <S> The ticket should be cut in two as seen in the example below. <S> All important details must be visible in order to proceed with the refund. <S> Example of attached file: <S> The booking is more than €200: <S> After exchanging your ticket online on “ My Bookings”, send your refund request (within 60 days) via our contact form: SNCF Service Clientèle <S> 62973 <S> ARRAS Cedex 9 <S> France Include the following supporting documents with your request : The original travel cards (please be aware no copies will be accepted!) <S> The reason for your request with your surname, first name and contact details.
| If your fare allows it and seats are available, it could be possible to change the date and time without additional fee.
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Can my boyfriend, who lives in the UK and has a Polish passport, visit me in the USA? My boyfriend would like to come to visit me in the US. He is currently living in the UK and holds a Polish passport. What are the steps we should take? <Q> Note: he should also follow the rules for Polish citizens, not UK ones as he is Polish and has a Polish passport. <A> He is a national of Poland not the UK. <S> As such, he must apply for a visa. <S> He must qualify for the visa on his own merits, being your boyfriend does not help him. <S> In fact, this may hurt his case somewhat. <S> What immigration is generally looking for to grant him a visa and admit him is: <S> He does not intend to overstay and remain in the U.S.; he has home-ties in the UK, something to go back to. <S> He does not intend to seek employment in the US; that is to say he is successful enough that he can easily afford this foreign vacation. <S> He will not find himself in a predicament where he must fall back on public benefits such as state medicaid (which is federally subsidized), food stamps, homeless housing assistance etc. <S> And, promising to sponsor him is no help. <A> As others have said, a Polish citizen needs a Visa for the US. <S> However, if you're in a pinch for time, you have a US Passport, and he has a Polish, both of you can travel to Canada without Visas. <S> If time doesn't allow for him to get his Visa, that might be your next best option. <S> UPDATE: <S> The US is admitting Poland into the Visa Waiver program. <S> Word on the street is that sometime between January and March, Poles should be able to enter the US for 90 days without a formal visa. <S> https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/05/poland-to-join-u-s-visa-waiver-program-after-decades-long-campaign
| Your boyfriend will need a visa, you can read how to apply for a tourist visa on the website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in the UK.
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How do I find the fastest route from Heathrow to an address in London using all forms of transport? Neither Google Maps nor Traveline.info seems to consider neither Heathrow Express nor cabs. Is there any service that would? <Q> Citymapper , also available as an app for iOS and Android, has never failed me in London or other large cities where it is available. <S> Cabs, Uber, Tube, buses, Heathrow Express, cycling, walking, I don't know of any mode of transport they don't cover, at least in London. <S> The mobile app (but not the website) even finds a combination of public transit and cars-to-hire (scroll to the bottom of possibilities offered): <S> It also shows you the cost and the time of any alternative routes it finds, the best place to be on trains, as well as the best entrances and exits for tube stations. <S> And it calculates time for transfers inside the stations. <S> It's my most important app whenever I'm there. <A> The simple answer is that depending on the address Heathrow Express or a taxi may not be the fastest way to get to your address and routing apps are taking that into account. <S> London is highly congested, road speeds are often 8mph for cars, so taxis can get stuck in that traffic. <S> Heathrow Express goes into Paddington Station on the western side of central London, which is fine if you have accommodations on that side of the town. <S> However if your destination is elsewhere by the time you have got off at Paddington and then found the correct route to continue your onward journey the time saved by using the Express can be eaten up. <S> If you can give us some idea of where the address is further it may be possible to give more focused help. <A> On Google Maps the Heathrow Express will show up if you specify a terminal to depart from. <S> As for Taxi journeys, time wise those would mostly be equivalent to the Car timings on google maps. <A> As comments mention Rome2rio is a surprisingly good solution within a city as well. <S> I never considered it for anything but intercity travel. <S> Google does find the Heathrow Express <S> but you need to kind of force it: if you just enter Heathrow Airport it won't find it <S> but if you enter say Heathrow Terminal 5 <S> then it will. <S> It also suffers from the problem of trying to find the best solution at the minute and a cross London trip has so many solutions that a better one five minutes later will be crowded out. <S> Peruse the schedule explorer option. <S> Also don't forget Google Maps doesn't add time for underground transfers which can be long (or not) <S> -- this adds a lot of manual work to the search. <S> These 3D maps of Underground stations can help. <S> As for using a cab, it's very likely a car can't beat the underground so getting as close to your destination as you can with it <S> is a good idea and then swapping to a cab might be good but you need to manually search the station in the vicinity of your destination. <S> Search for your destination first in Google Maps, then click the [x] clear search button and enter underground station to find the underground stations in the vicinity. <S> Also note the difference between the traditional Hackney carriages and Private hire (minicabs) . <A> Transport for London's journey planner at <S> It doesn't, however, include cabs, probably because these are very expensive and of highly-varied travel times. <S> The latter complaint could also be made of buses, but TFL's are all fitted with location trackers so TFL has a good view into congestion insofar as it affects the buses. <S> This doesn't solve the entire problem as specified, though; sorry.
| https://tfl.gov.uk/ takes all public transport in London into account, so includes the Heathrow Express (as well as more outre options such as the river bus and the cross-Thames cable car).
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Does Norwegian overbook flights? I heard and read about other airlines but not about Norwegian. I read their website and searched for articles, blog posts but there is nothing I can find. Do they overbook flights? <Q> The only possible reason an airline would have not to overbook is that they would be able play this up heavily in their marketing, hoping that passengers concerned about being bumped would choose to fly with them rather than a competitor. <S> Since Norwegian are not in fact bragging loudly about how they don't overbook, it seems safe to assume that they do in fact overbook. <A> Yes, as probably every other airline, Norwegian is also overbooking their flights. <S> They have in the past months received quite a lot of negative press in Norway about this issue. <S> Since all Norwegian's 737 MAX airplaines are currently grounded, they are also regularly flying replacement aircrafts with less seats than originally anticipated and the situation is quite tense. <S> Being denied boarding by Norwegian may have more significant impact than with other airlines. <S> On many routes, Norwegian have very infrequent departures, so being bumped to the next departure may mean that you are stuck for a day or more. <S> You can not assume that Norwegian will transfer you to a flight operated by other airlines. <A> The whole overbooking concept is tightly linked to flexible fares, mostly used by business travellers who change their plans frequently and late, which may leave the airline with many empty and unpaid seats. <S> That's the reason airlines overbook: they need to have someone in that seat so they can get paid. <S> Low-cost carriers usually overbook a lot less than incumbents because many of their fares are non-refundable and non-modifiable or attract high penalties for cancellations or changes, so whether the passenger actually flies or not, they have paid their seat, and there's no need to "replace" them. <S> However, even though in the beginning of LCCs fares were non-refundable and overbooking wasn't needed, the lines have blurred a bit, so it's possible for them to overbook, though this should be in very small numbers (remember that it will cost them dearly if they have to bump someone now). <S> Note that any airline, even if they don't normally overbook, may end up in situations that have the same effect as overbooking : <S> The aircraft had to be switched to a different one with less seats <S> There is a safety issue on board which prevents use of the full capacity of the aircraft (there are damaged seats, seatbelts, life vests, emergency slides, oxygen supplies, etc. <S> or there is missing cabin crew...) <S> There was previous disruption with flights delayed/cancelled/diverted, and there is now a lack of capacity to handle both the original passengers and those who would need to be rebooked (in general those originally booked on the flight that actually departs have priority over those who need to be rebooked, but for a number of operational/PR reasons sometimes it's better to bump one of them). <S> So whatever the airline, you may end up being refused boarding. <S> That's where EC261 comes in :-)
| It is well settled that it is legal for an airline to overbook flights, and the EC261 compensation rules even makes it definite and knowable to the airline how much it will cost them to guess wrong about the number of no-shows -- thereby enabling a crisp business-driven decision about how much to overbook each particular flight.
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Can you turn Airplane Mode off after you land or finish taxiing? Can you turn Airplane Mode off after you land or finish taxiing on a plane? I have seen some turn it off after landing and some after taxiing and I have never heard an official rule stating which one is correct. <Q> There are two ways of looking at this. <S> The physical 'can you' and the legal. <S> From the physical, every single transmitting device on a plane has to be certified to legally fly on the plane in transmitting mode. <S> Most devices 'probably' won't interfere, but even adding a wifi router onboard takes hours of testing, compliance, and certification ( <S> source: <S> I was on the Qantas wifi programme team). <S> Since they can't possibly certify every single variant of mobile phone, it's easier to just say 'turn it to airplane mode'. <S> From a legal point, If you forget, or don't bother (and our scanners could see this happening on almost every flight), it almost certainly won't make a difference, but you are technically transmitting onboard an aircraft with a non-certified/compliant device, which is illegal in many countries. <S> You're also meant to legally always follow instructions of the flight staff. <S> They might seem like just friendly hosties, but there are serious consequences available in most countries for disobeying instructions of the flight crew. <S> So if you're told to keep it off, and they forget to tell you it's ok, technically <S> you shouldn't be turning it on again until you disembark (usually into the terminal). <S> Again, it almost certainly won't do anything bad, but you asked 'can you' vs 'should you' so I'm trying to cover both. <S> Easy option <S> : It's a few min of peace of quiet from your phone and the outside world. <S> Enjoy it :) <A> The effect of leaving Airplane Mode off: your phone will be trying to connect, using maximum battery power, to any phone company cell it can ping during the flight. <S> The connection is guaranteed to fail since at airplane speeds you will be out of that cell's range before a successful handshake is concluded—or at least before significant amounts of data are sent or received. <S> You won't be happy because of battery drain. <S> The phone company won't be happy because any cell that receives your attempt to connect (that's not impossible over several miles with no buildings to interfere) will be attempting to locate your now-far-away phone to hand over to another cell, at maximum signal strength and power; plus, of course, you are briefly using a slot that could be available for another user who won't be miles away by the end of the opening handshake. <S> I know there are stories that your cellphone can somehow interfere with the plane's navigational system, but that's not the case. <S> Once you have landed, and are taxiing to the gate, you can establish a successful connection and use your phone just you would leaving the airport in a car. <S> (This supposes cell coverage in the airport vicinity, which is a given at any major city.) <S> This doesn't answer any question about legal regulations, which vary from one country and airline to another, but explains the physics. <A> On all flights I have taken in the past couple of years, this information was either available in the airline’s information leaflets in the seatback pocket or it was announced when we landed – or both. <S> I cannot remember a flight I took recently where the passengers were asked to keep their handheld devices in flight mode until the aircraft came to a complete stop; they all had some sort of do what you want after touchdown. <S> My experience is limited to flights in Europe, East Asia and between those two. <S> Legal standards may differ. <A> EASA ( European Union Aviation Safety Agency) gave permission for that almost 5 years ago ) <S> But it is the airline company's final decision. <A> As others have said, this will depend on country and airline. <S> That said, in the US, immediately after the wheels touch the ground, I quickly turn off my Airplane mode as my phone will shortly be able to get cell signal for 4G. <S> A few seconds later, attendants have explicitly said that although passengers should stay seated, they can turn off Airplane mode and surf the web as they please. <S> Makes sense since after landing, it should be smooth for the most part getting from the runway to the gate.
| Actually, in Europe you can have your phone or any other device throughout the flight without Airplane Mode enabled.
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Is one hour layover sufficient at Singapore Changi Airport (Indian citizen travelling from US to India)? I'm booking a flight on Singapore Airlines for end of October flying from the US to India, and I have a one hour layover at Singapore Changi. I've never flown this airline before or been to Singapore Changi before. I'm an Indian citizen. Is one hour sufficient time? <Q> Changi is an extremely efficient airport <S> and you don't need to go through Customs/Immigration for a transfer. <S> SQ flights to/from both India and the US use Terminal 3, which you can walk from end to end in 15-20 min, so if your incoming flight is on time, you will almost certainly make your connection. <S> However, if your incoming flight is badly delayed, Singapore Airlines will take responsibility and put you on next available flight. <A> Airports don't come better than Changi -- in terms of efficiency and in terms of helpfulness. <S> Airlines don't come better than Singapore Airlines. <S> If it can be done within a 1-hour layover, then it will be done at Changi. <S> However: It's a ridiculously-tight connection <S> It's a pity not to have a decent layover at Changi -- the world's best airport to have a layover at <S> You'll almost certainly have to go through security again at Changi, though they're very efficient and very nice about it <S> If your flights are all on the same ticket Singapore Airlines will see you get to your destination even if you miss the connection through no fault of your own. <S> If your flights are not both on the same ticket, then the airline's under no obligation to do anything if you miss the connection. <A> If Singapore Airlines is willing to sell you the connection, they are confident you can make it. <S> If, for whatever reason out of your control, you miss your second flight out is their contractual obligation to get you into the next flight to your destination. <S> In practice, 1 hour is plenty for Changi because: you only see immigration if you attempt to leave (or enter) <S> the airport (because ‘Singapore domestic flight’ doesn’t make sense the entire airside part is just considered out of Singapore) <S> when you arrive, you will directly enter the ‘departure’ area of the airport (there are no separate arrival lanes) <S> you will have to go through security again <S> but security is decentralised at Changi, meaning one set of security checkpoints handles about five gates. <S> When I was there this year, in most cases there was only one flight due to depart soon behind one security checkpoint <S> so no trouble at all. <S> In case you are a slow walker, note that Changi has automatic people movers that connect the far wings of three terminal to the central part. <S> There are also a number of conveyor belt walkways designed to speed up your trip.
| I assume your flights via Singapore are both on Singapore Airlines (SQ) and on a single ticket, in which case: 1 hr is likely sufficient, but SQ will take care of you if it's not.
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What US Visa do I need to perform in a theatre I have a specific job offer for a 2 week theatre performance in the US - exactly what documentation do I need please and what visa do I need? <Q> You would most likely need one of the following visas. <S> Each of them has different additional criteria: <S> In particular, it requires "distinction," which is defined thus: Distinction means a high level of achievement in the field of the arts evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition substantially above that ordinarily encountered to the extent that a person described as prominent is renowned, leading, or well-known in the field of arts. <S> P-2 : this requires participation in "a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the United States and an organization in another country." <S> For example, I've seen several plays on Broadway that note that the British actors performing, who are not members of the Actors' Equity Association , are performing under a reciprocal arrangement (with, I suppose, British Equity , though I do not remember for certain). <S> P-3 : this requires cultural "uniqueness," so whether you qualify will depend somewhat on the nature of the performance which you've been offered. <A> The host or organizer of your performance would need to file an application with USCIS for an O-1B visa on your behalf, and you would need to show that you have "extraordinary ability in the arts" through things like press reviews, awards, grants, etc. <S> The USCIS page describing O-1 visas is here . <S> The 'petitioner' (your host) first needs to file an I-129 "Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker", and this should be filed at least 45 days beforehand. <S> In addition to evidence of your ability, your host must show a copy of a written contract or a summary of an oral contract between you and them and an itinerary describing your planned performances. <S> Evidence of your ability is described as: Evidence that the beneficiary has received, or been nominated for, significant national or international awards or prizes in the particular field, such as an Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy or Director's Guild Award, or evidence of at least (3) three of the following: Performed and will perform services as a lead or starring participant in productions or events which have a distinguished reputation as evidenced by critical reviews, advertisements, publicity releases, publications, contracts or endorsements Achieved national or international recognition for achievements, as shown by critical reviews or other published materials by or about the beneficiary in major newspapers, trade journals, magazines, or other publications Performed and will perform in a lead, starring, or critical role for organizations and establishments that have a distinguished reputation as evidenced by articles in newspapers, trade journals, publications, or testimonials. <S> A record of major commercial or critically acclaimed successes, as shown by such indicators as title, rating or standing in the field, box office receipts, motion picture or television ratings and other occupational achievements reported in trade journals, major newspapers or other publications Received significant recognition for achievements from organizations, critics, government agencies or other recognized experts in the field in which the beneficiary is engaged, with the testimonials clearly indicating the author's authority, expertise and knowledge of the beneficiary's achievements A high salary or other substantial remuneration for services in relation to others in the field, as shown by contracts or other reliable evidence If the above standards do not readily apply to the beneficiary’s occupation in the arts, the petitioner may submit comparable evidence in order to establish eligibility (this exception does not apply to the motion picture or television industry). <A> This link tells you the different work visa categories, depending on your education. <S> This link lets you apply depending on your country. <S> You cannot work on a visit/business visa .
| As you are working, you need a temporary work visa. O-1B : this requires "sustained national or international acclaim."
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ID check crossing the Italian-Swiss border by train I struggled to find this info online. How often is my ID requested and checked when crossing the border between Italy and Switzerland (and back) by train (suppose that I have nothing to declare to customs) and which information, if any, from my ID do the border police of either country record when they check it? I'm an Italian citizen >18 years old and I will only carry my biometric passport and driving licence. <Q> I've done this twice. <S> Both times the train stopped in Domodossola and we were told to have our IDs ready for inspection as some guards came through the train. <S> On both occasions they never asked to speak to me; I'm a pale white guy who was travelling with a minimum of luggage so didn't trigger any of their instincts. <S> A friend of East Asian descent tells me that he was questioned on such a crossing however, and on one of the occasions when I was on the train <S> I saw them questioning an Indian guy. <S> So expect their random checks to be somewhat less than random. <S> Regardless you can expect that you may potentially be asked for ID at any time when making the crossing. <A> According to standard rules the citizens of EU it is highly recommended to carry identity card (carta identitá) or passport as the proof of your identity. <S> Please note the ID should not cover the information that valid only inside Italy (it is usually ID card for non-citizens of Italy but residents). <S> Probably somebody can try to travel without it <S> but I suppose he can get a lot of problems. <S> Anyway you can get all the information here <S> According to basic practice any country can perform the control at the border between EU countries but without additional stamps to your passport etc. <S> Based to my practice: Italy <> Switzerland - basic control at the border when guards are verifiying not everybody but some individuals with random checks. <S> They can ask you to show the documents to verify that you have all necessary permits to come to Swtizerland and they can ask you to open the luggage to verify that you have nothing forbidden with you. <S> It could be control or it could be not (for example Sunday evening) <S> so nobody can say. <S> And it is not rare. <S> Mainly 90% that if you will travel by train from Italy you will meet the border Swiss guards team <S> and I suppose it is just 5% that you will meet somebody in train if you will continue from Switzerland to Germany. <S> But for sure it is border crossing and you should obey all the rules according to the documents, forbidden things and cash limits. <S> Before the transparency of banking system in Switzwerland there were a lot of Italian financial police controls at the border between Italy and Switzerland. <S> Now probably it is over. <A> As Italian your passport or, if you have it, your ID card will be enough to pass the border. <S> Your driving license is needed for driving a car but as you travel by train that should not be asked for. <S> As far as I know there is no requirement for travel insurance going to Switzerland <S> but at least one Schengen country asks for it. <S> No other requirements for passing the internal borders.
| If you have your passport or national ID that will be completely fine.
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Moscow SVO airport, how to avoid scam taxis without pre-booking? Is there anyway to tell scam taxis in SVO airport, Moscow without pre-booking? I can't pre-book due to the fact I can't use my phone abroad (receiving SMS messages/calls which is required to book a taxi online). Is there an official taxi desk? <Q> To avoid any trouble with taxis, you can use the Aeroexpress train. <S> It will get you to the city centre for ~8$ (500 RUB). <S> You can use wireless payment options at the automatic gates: PayPass, PayWave, etc. <S> It departs every half an hour for most of the day. <S> The other two Moscow airports also have an Aeroexpress, with the exception of ZIA . <S> Then you can use Uber/Yandex/Gett. <A> First of all, ignore the people that run up to you when you get out of arrivals. <S> They can see you are not a local and will charge you 4 times the price. <S> Never pay more than 1250 ₽ <S> for a taxi to the Red Square . <S> You can order a taxi from the Yandex taxi stand (Uber equivalent), located in each terminal at the arrivals section. <S> This is open 24/7. <S> They may ask your phone to pre-book but often the person behind the desk can use their phone and write down the registration for you. <S> Some more information can be viewed on the airport website here . <A> Travelling without smartphone is nuts, seriously. <S> Fortunately Russian operators (well, at least Beeline, not sure about others) have packages that are charged <S> _per_day_, not per month, have quite good Internet plans, and can be disabled/enabled through Internet. <S> So my suggestion is to get local number in official operator booth at Airport (NOT an "all-in-one" re-seller booths near exit gates, which charge extra!), charge it with small amount (you can ask to lower the amount they offer by default), then disable it through website on day you're leaving the country, so you're not charged for following days, and re-enable it when you come back to Russia. <S> So far, I've seen so good package offers only in Russia. <S> As for taxi: Yandex, Gett, Bolt, whatever works through Internet. <S> Uber got merged into Yandex in Russia. <A> Yes, there are official taxi desks in Moscow airports. <S> Here you can see what they look like: <S> Source <S> This photo was taken at Sheremetyevo 2 years ago. <S> But Moscow is not the world's best place for "offline" people. <S> I'd recommend to buy a local phone with internet as soon as possible. <S> It would be very difficult to plan any trips or buy any tickets without internet. <A>
| You can use Wifi in the airport to request Uber or Yandex taxi If you plan to use taxi hailing, better pick up a local SIM with a data plan (a $5 plan would get you a month of unlimited data).
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Can I stay longer in France than Hungary, if my visa was issued from Hungary? I have a multiple entry visa from Hungary, but since my plans changed, we are now likely to spend more days in France than Hungary. Will there be a problem? <Q> No. <S> This sort of situation happens all the time, as long as you still go to Hungary, use the visa for the same purposes (EG, tourism), and leave within the validity dates of the visa <S> you won't have a problem. <S> The answers given here might also give you some useful insight to the visa. <S> (EDIT: <S> The reason I mention that you would still need to go to Hungary is if you did <S> n't it might look like you applied through that embassy because it is easier to obtain a visa there, when you never planned to actually visit that country, but it is easy to see this is not the case here) <A> You can make minor adjustments to your travel plans after the visa is granted. <S> You can even add or skip entire Schengen countries. <S> You must not misrepresent your itinerary to get a visa. <S> You should avoid giving the impression that you misrepresented your itinerary. <S> The last point is the possible problem. <S> Do you have documentation why you changed your plans? <S> Just a whim or a specific reason? <A> Likely not, but it depends... <S> The rules also allows for minor derivations. <S> And those are the rules for single-entry visas, yours is a multiple-entry. <S> Nobody expects you to have planned every trip to the Schengen area (or elsewhere) in the period a multiple-entry visa is valid, when you get it, so you have more flexibility (and typically only get them when you have a good history). <S> But any visa can be cancelled if the authorities finds reason to suspect it was fraudulently obtained. <S> In your case my guess is you'll be fine, it's really only the assumption of fraud <S> you'll have to worry about. <S> - But the decisions are not mine.
| The rules for Schengen visas say you must apply for a visa from the country that is the main destination for your trip, and names length of stay as the deciding factor for "main destination" if nothing else decides it.
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Visiting girlfriend in the USA I'm going to visit my girlfriend in the US (I am from the UK, 31 years old) for 10 days soon, for the first time. We've known each other 8 years online and have been together long distance for nearly a year. I've read a few horror stories about people being denied entry when it's mentioned they're visiting a significant other in the US. My plan is to just be honest and if asked say my reason for travel is to visit my girlfriend for 10 days. I have a good job in the UK and our current plan is that she will move over here to the UK in around a year. What are the chances of me being denied entry if I am taking my honest approach? I plan to tell them I am visiting my girlfriend. I have accommodation booked for 10 days, plenty of funds to cover the visit and have a hire car booked for 10 days, as well as a return ticket to the UK. One of my worries it that if they want to read messages they will see the word 'marriage' and think I'm going to overstay , but we do also have messages stating that we wouldn't be looking to get married until the end of 2020 or early 21 and that we'd do this all through the correct visa routes. Suddenly got into a bit of a panic over it, even though I know my motives are honest and there is no way that I would overstay my visa or get married at this point. <Q> The visa waiver program allows you to do the things you could do on a visitor visa, which includes "Visit with friends or relatives". <S> What you are actually doing is completely proper and permitted. <S> You will probably not have any problems. <S> Immigration officials must be quite bored with people from the UK visiting the US for a week or two. <S> There will be dozens just on your flight. <S> There are two issues that can cause immigration officials to be concerned about visitors: becoming destitute in the country, and overstaying. <S> You seem to have already covered the first issue, with good provision for your planned travel. <S> If you want to do anything more, collect up some evidence of an established life in the UK. <S> For example: Document your job - a few payslips, anything confirming you are on vacation from a steady job. <S> If you own or rent your home, document that. <S> Put that material in your carry-on bag, but do not produce it unless asked. <S> During your arrival interview, do not volunteer anything. <S> Listen carefully to questions. <S> Stick firmly to your plan of being honest. <S> Do not carry anything that looks like job hunting. <S> No copies of your resume. <S> No tools of your trade - a hairdresser was suspected of planning to work because she had her professional scissors and combs. <A> They mainly want to ensure that you do not seek employment here, typically in menial tasks because employment screening is pretty good in skilled/technical areas <S> go on the dole <S> / seek <S> public servi-- lol, nope, could not keep a straight face overstay <S> The first one can be settled by showing you have skilled, well-paying employment back in the UK. <S> The second one is settled by showing you can easily afford this trip woth plenty to spare. <S> The last one is more critical, because you are apparently planning to live permanently with this person. <S> This is where you need to show that your ties to the UK are significant, or optionally that hers aren't. <S> For instance if you are an assistant manager at Wickes with no other family ties, and she is a career politician, you are portable and she is not, so the plan to move to the UK is not credible. <A> You'll be flying on an ESTA if you're a UK citizen. <S> "Visiting friends and relations" is a standard category of visitor. <S> The fact that you might at some point in the future have a marriage relationship is not at this stage an issue <S> and I really don't see why it should be brought up by you or anyone else. <S> If any question arises, you have a return ticket and only if asked give details of your employment in the UK and your date of return to work in the UK. <S> US Border Control aren't the most pleasant of individuals, but in this instance there is no reason for any problem. <S> Just don't make things more complicated than they are.
| Answer clearly and truthfully exactly what was asked.
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Hazards on road trip through Italian Alps I am planning to spend about a week in Italian Alps in late October. The idea is to hire a 4WD and drive along (ideally) the whole Italian-Swiss border slowly, stopping a lot to "smell the roses" (walking, hiking in the parks, climbing established viewpoints etc.). Occasionally I would drive into Switzerland but will mostly be staying at the Italian side of the border. Nights will be spent at backpackers (are there many?). I have done this kind of thing a lot in New Zealand, and also a bit of Canada and the US, but never in Europe. What potential hazards are there? For example: Dangerous animals (e.g. wolves, bears?) Dangerous people? Ice and snow on the roads (in late October)? Are there places that should be avoided? <Q> I live in the Swiss side of Alps (Valais / Wallis), as far as I know there is no bear here, I'm not sure about the possibility to meet a wolf <S> , I'd not say it's 0, but close to 0% chance to meet one. <S> There are no dangerous people, come on we are educated in Europe, <S> the only dangerous people you would meet will be in dangerous districts of some cities. <S> No snow at low altitude, you have to go very high. <S> (you should also tag Europe as French and Swiss people living close to / in the Alps may also be able to answer your question) <A> At this time of the year, the risk of heavy snowfall is low, but you never know. <S> Of course, the risk increases as you go higher, so it depends on your actual route. <S> Many of the passes and roads on or near the border are well over 2000 meters high, and some may be closed as early as October . <S> Grand St Bernard Pass and Stilfser <S> Joch / Passo dello Stelvio are examples of passes that are open only until September (though not everybody seems to agree on the exact dates). <S> Note that some passes described as "open all year" may actually close based on current conditions. <S> Another possible risk (though very low) is that a road would be closed due to falling rocks, mudslides, or other obstructions. <S> Not dangerous per se (the chance you would be caught in the event itself is really really low), but you might get stuck somewhere <S> you hadn't planned. <S> have chains in your car (and know how to use them) <S> always have enough food and drink in your car to last a day, just in case make sure you always have a charged mobile phone <S> (note that you may not always have a signal, though) <S> download the detailed maps for your area in Google maps <S> have a paper map of the appropriate level of detail <S> make sure you always know your position <S> let people know of your travel plans, and update them if they change. <S> If you actually go trekking/hiking/climbing in the mountains, you definitely want to make sure you have the right equipment to do so (nobody wants to see someone trying to climb the Matterhorn wearing flip-flops ). <S> You may want to consider buying or renting a Personal Locator Beacon in case of an emergency (if you fall and get injured somewhere along the way). <S> See this discussion for some recommendations. <S> You may want to check The Great Outdoors SE for additional recommendations. <A> I think the answer of jcaron is already pretty good. <S> The official weather forecast service of the government (MeteoSuisse) gives some additional information about the first snow in automn in Switzerland. <S> Unfortunately the page is only available in german, french and italian but not english. <S> There is no precise information about somewhere in the alps in Valais. <S> But there is some information about Arosa <S> , this is located to the extreme east of the country. <S> Even if this won't be the same in Valais, it is probably quite similar, since the altitude is the most relevant for the snow. <S> For Arosa at 1878 m above the sea, the first snow in automn falls in average the 10th september. <S> Actually based on my own experience, I think you can expect snow at almost any time of the year above 1500 m. <S> Though, in september and october, it is still quite unlikely under 2000 m and the snow won't stay for a long time. <S> Your best help will be to look at the weather forecast , they always announce snow falls under 2000 m, since this is relevant for car driving on high routes. <S> If it will have snow at the altitude of a route you plan to drive, just avoid it that day: take another route, wait 1 or 2 day and it will be probably gone at that time of the year. <S> Also a good information is the website of the TCS (a car driver association), on this webpage , they show the current situation of all passes. <S> You will see if one is closed or if there is some restrictions (e.g. "truck forbidden", "chains mandatory").
| You probably want to: have a car with snow tires
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How long does it take to travel from Bangalore to Hampi? How long does it take to travel from Bangalore to Hampi and back? Should I first reach the Majestic Bus Stand in Bangalore and take a bus from there? I've been told it takes 7 hours.Am I going to lose an entire day to get there? <Q> There's several buses that leave from Majestic to go to Hampi, they look to all take around 7.5 hours or longer. <S> If you drove yourself then it could be shorter at around 6.5. <S> There is one sleeper bus <S> I can see that leaves at 10pm and gets in before 6am, this could be a good choice as you would be able to travel throughout the night and still get a full day there, also saving you a night of hotel costs. <S> This leaves at 10pm and arrives at 8am. <S> This link also seems useful in explaining the lack of direct flights and trains, as well as providing some alternative buses to those you already mentioned. <A> This is the expected time, it takes 6 hours and 30 minutes to drive there according to Google, a bus takes around 7 hours 30 minutes. <S> You can read train and bus options here . <A> I might be a little late into this. <S> A lot of buses / trains go till Hosapete from Bangalore. <S> You can easily find a bus to Hampi from Hosapete in the morning. <S> They are more frequent too and it takes less than an hour in the morning. <S> The best option is to travel overnight in a sleeper class bus. <S> You can book tickets using https://ksrtc.in/oprs-web/ which is run by the state government. <S> Make sure you reach Hosapete not after 5AM in the morning. <S> Otherwise you might have to wait a while to catch first bus to Hampi. <S> You board your bus from Majestic. <S> However there are other pickup points available along the route within the city. <S> Again, refer to https://ksrtc.in for pickup points. <S> Another option is to reach Hosapete by train. <S> You can refer to IRCTC website for bookings. <S> The station code is HPT. <S> Cost wise, buses are more expensive than sleeper class is train and less expensive compared to 3AC coaches in train.
| There's an overnight sleeper train that goes to Hospet, Hampi is further 30min local bus/taxi ride from there though. The travel time by bus takes 7 to 8 hours by bus.
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When traveling to USA, New York, how to pay (Euro bank account) When traveling from Europe to New York, which is the most cost-effective way to pay for anything? My purchases will mostly be places to eat, museums, stadiums etc. So should I exchange money when I get in the US should I pay everything with my debit card (Master Card) should I withdraw money in the US from ATMs Edit: This question is specific for New York city, while This question is about anywhere in the world e.g. In New York city it might be possible to pay everywhere with debit card and avoid bank fees (in my case), whereas in Kathmandu, Nepal there isnt an option for debit card payments in restaurants etc <Q> You should be able to look on your banks website (or go in and ask) and see what charges they do for this sort of thing. <S> They probably charge a fixed percent of the amount spent. <S> For example, my bank charges 2% any time I pay in a different currency, where as if I withdraw different currency from a cash machine it charges 1.5% and a £1 fee for withdrawal. <S> So for me personally, it would be cheaper to do one bigger cash withdrawal and then pay with that cash, than using my card each time. <S> Alternatively you can look at what exchange places in Greece charge to change money, again for me personally where I live they change 2-3%, so it is still cheaper for me to use the cash withdrawal option. <A> I'd do the same as you would at home (the USA is not that different than the UK). <S> Get some US money before departing for things like taxi <S> so you do not have to search for an ATM when landing; or need to use the airport exchange agencies. <S> Pay cash for things you are used to pay cash, pay with debit card when you usually pay with it and use credit card like you normally do. <S> You are travelling and already spending a large amount of money, so extra fees are not that big compared to the rest of your expenses. <S> Also, make certain you notify your bank (and credit card cie.) <S> that you will be traveling to the US so that your card does not get accidentally blocked. <S> (you can usually do that from the bank or CC websites). <A> The first thing is to check with your bank about the fees. <S> This is my prefered way. <S> If there's a withdrawal fee <S> Like my bank has for non-euro currencies. <S> Use your card as much as possible and withdraw larger amounts in an ATM in the US, when you need it. <S> If the conversion rate is bad. <S> Then I suggest getting cash at a well-known exchange office in your home country. <S> Your bank might help you with this either in office or using special ATMs with different currencies.
| If everything is free If you can make withdrawals in the US without large fees and the currency conversion rate is good then you can use your debit card everywhere and withdraw money whenever you need any.
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Can I adjust automatic gratuities after disembarkation on Carnival Cruise Lines in the USA? I don't want to discuss the ethics or practices of tipping. I just need to know if there is any way to adjust the automatic gratuities after I leave the ship. I know that I agreed to this when signing up online. I just didn't catch that it had to be on the ship. Their website says they don't allow this. But is there any way around this? I called customer service and they told me they will not let me adjust it after leaving the ship. And would not let me escalate the issue to a manager. Can I call and try to get another representative? What is the legal basis for not letting me adjust it after disembarkation? Do I have any recourse at all? <Q> No you cannot. <S> Part of the game that Carnival and the other lines play is that they claim the gratuities are optional but they only let you adjust them in person on the ship on the last day of the cruise (when customer service is at its busiest). <S> It goes without saying that this is deliberate. <S> The legal basis is that the terms and conditions said all this, you agreed, and that Carnival doesn't care if you are p***ed off once they have your money. <S> And anyway the other cruise lines are doing the same. <A> It may be possible; I would certainly try. <S> But you will have to sue them in the small claims court. <S> You would represent yourself, the fee is small ($30 or so), and it becomes part of judgment if you win the case. <S> What you could argue is that the "we charge you automatic gratuities which you have to jump through multiple hoops to cancel" was not part of the original terms in the cruise purchase. <S> I've never seen it presented clearly while buying a cruise - especially if you buy it at 3rd party retailer like Costco travel. <S> And this is an important term. <S> Those terms are introduced later, during the check-in procedure, as part of "cruise contract". <S> However at this moment the cruise has been already paid, and you're not having an option to decline the contract and get the full refund. <S> Thus what Carnival is essentially doing is coercing you into contract modification, adding new terms which were not disclosed during the purchase. <S> And the terms itself are not very clear. <S> Carnival also knows that this practice is shady, considering how deep they hide it. <S> Thus once they are served with lawsuit, they will likely try to settle it with you. <S> Don't waste your time talking to their support, they can't do anything. <S> Like with most American companies, the only people who have real power in the company are those who read the court papers. <A> Can I adjust automatic gratuities after disembarkation on Carnival Cruise Lines in the USA? <S> No. <S> (There are reasons, but are irrelevant because you cannot.) <S> But is there any way around this? <S> No. <S> Can I call and try to get another representative? <S> Yes. <S> (But it won't make a difference.) <S> What is the legal basis for not letting me adjust it after disembarkation? <S> The contract you freely entered into with the cruise line. <S> Do I have any recourse at all? <S> Yes, litigation. <S> (But you have an immeasurably small chance of prevailing.)
| Essentially you can only change the gratuities by giving up several hours of your time on the cruise.
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Remaining in the US beyond VWP admission period Someone from Denmark is here on the visa waiver program (VWP) to take care of her terminally ill sister. What happens if she reaches the end of her 90 day period of admission and she still needs to remain here to take care of her sister? <Q> She has to follow the law. <S> So either she has to LEAVE the country, and return again on another 90 day set . <S> This may raise concern from immigration officials, but if she can prove she's not working in the US, and has a job/life to return to in Denmark, it is permissible. <S> Note, however, that she cannot reset the 90 days by going to Canada/Mexico . <S> You need to leave the continent . <S> Alternatively, she'll have to apply for a different, longer visa. <S> At this stage it'd be worth talking to an immigration specialist, as it can get quite tricky. <S> Final option - if it's an option at all, for the sister to go with her to Denmark. <S> Of course this depends on her ability to be moved. <A> I am not a lawyer, or a VWP expert but I found this information on myattorneyusa.com <S> Keep in mind that any extension is not to exceed 30 days. <S> This extension, if approved, will not have any negative impact on the Visa Waiver requirements and thus, you will not be considered to have violated the terms of the Visa Waiver Program. <S> As for the emergency on which this request for an extension is based, it needs to be legitimate and “real”. <S> The Customs and Border Protection website mentions emergencies that are allowed, such as hospitalization, weather conditions which prevent air travel or in some cases, worker strikes. <S> Absent any of these or similar emergency situations, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may likely deny the extension request. <S> To request this extension of stay, you should schedule an InfoPass appointment with a USCIS officer using USCIS' website, uscis.gov. <S> At this appointment, you should provide documentation and any other evidence to the USCIS officer to support your need to extend your Visa Waiver stay. <S> It is strongly advised to keep any and all records that support your request. <S> These records may include canceled airplane tickets, statements from doctors or airport personnel or any evidence showing harsh weather conditions. <S> I don't know if the described circumstances would count as an emergency or if a 30 day extension would be sufficient but making an InfoPass appointment and discussing the situation with a USCIS officer would seem a sensible way to attempt it. <S> Even if the officer says the sister must leave the USA, they may be able to advise on how quickly a return VWP visit would be allowed in the circumstances. <A> To complement the great existing answers, I'll briefly point out what happens if you overstay the visa waiver program (VWP). <S> The information is taken and quoted from here : 1) <S> Bad news: You will not be eligible for future entries under the VWP, but have to apply for a B-2 tourist visa (and pay the applicable fees) at the U.S. embassy or consulate. <S> At this point, you will need to provide plenty of evidence to prove your "nonimmigrant intent" (that you intend to return to your home country) and that you can afford your trip to the U.S., such as an itinerary showing your return date, proof of your permanent job or residence in your home country, and financial documentation. <S> 2) <S> Good news: <S> You will not be subject to a time bar on re-entering the U.S., if your overstay did not last more than 180 days. <S> Make sure that you have proof of your date of departure (passport stamp or plane ticket, for example) in order to prove that your brief overstay shouldn’t trigger a time bar. <S> I'll gladly correct these points if anyone has additional insights/corrections!
| It is possible to extend your stay past the allowed 90 days in the Visa Waiver Program but only in case of an emergency.
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Why are walk-ins for Global Entry interview typically only accepted when arriving from an international flight? I read on https://millionmilesecrets.com/guides/get-a-same-day-walk-in-appointment-at-these-global-entry-enrollment-centers/ ( mirror ): It may be hard to get an interview, but some enrollment centers accept walk-ins when you are arriving from an international flight. Why are walk-ins for Global Entry interview typically only accepted when arriving from an international flight (and not a domestic flight, or simply walk into the airport without taking a flight)? <Q> Adding this now as an answer instead of a comment:The article refers to Enrollment on Arrival as "walk-in". <S> However, the enrollment on arrivals don't happen at the regular enrollment centers, but rather directly at the immigration booths which you only can reach by arriving on an international flight. <S> Example: In JFK the enrollment center where you can make appointments, is in terminal 4. <S> However, enrollment on arrival is possible in terminals 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. <S> Independent of EoA, you can of course just stop by the enrollment center to check if they have capacity for a walk-in (e.g. because of short notice cancellations), and nobody there asks if you had an international flight (source: own experience in February 2019). <A> You must be returning from an international trip You’ll need to bring your passport, documents providing evidence of residency: a driver’s license with your current address, mortgage statement, rental payment statement, utility bill and a permanent resident card (if applicable) <S> That is one of the requirements for a walk-in, although domestic flights are also available for Global Entry: <S> All Global Entry members are eligible for TSA PreCheck. <S> ( GOV Website ) <S> But to have a walk-in appointment for some reason you need to be on an international flight. <A> You can walk in to any Global Entry interview location and hope to get a walk-in interview once you are pre-qualified for Global Entry. <S> (source: <S> I walked in for my interview without a flight instead of waiting a month for my scheduled interview. <S> If they have the capacity or an opening they will conduct your interview then.) <S> The particular mechanism which you are referring to guarantees a walk-in interview, which is why they are hesitant to say that you can get a walk-in anytime by just showing up at the location.
| To qualify for a walk-in interview, according to the same website you need to arrive from an international flight: Here is how you qualify for an interview on arrival: You must already have received conditional approval
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Will replacing a fake visa with a different fake visa cause me problems when applying for a legal study permit? I have a problem, 4 years ago my passport was stamped with a fake visa. I want to apply for a legal study permit now so my mother sought counsel from this immigration services agents and she took my passport as they said they could remove the fake permit. They removed it but left a huge glue print on the page. The agent then stamped a fake Nigerian permit to cover the stain. Will the immigration officials or consulates verify this permit if I submit my application? <Q> Lose your passport and get a new one without all this fake permit nonsense. <S> (Edit: more precisely, wash it nice and hot as this answer https://travel.stackexchange.com/a/146620/4188 suggests.) <S> Lose everyone between you and relevant authorities, <S> well meaning but clueless family members and also less well meaning agents (also known as scammers, conmen, whatever you want to call these criminals). <S> If you need a visa, bring a clean passport to the relevant authorities. <S> It's that simple. <S> Some choice quotes from various agencies: Australia, Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority <S> Do I have to use a migration agent? <S> No. <S> You do not have to use a migration agent to lodge a visa application with the Department. <S> The Department's website has information about types of visas and how to work out the right one for you. <S> The website also has information on what is required for your visa application and how to complete and lodge the forms. <S> Some forms are available in languages other than English. <S> Canada. <S> Do I need a representative to help me apply? <S> No. <S> The Government of Canada treats everyone equally, whether they use a representative or not. <S> All the forms and information that you need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), visa and/or to immigrate to Canada are available for free on this website. <S> If you follow the instructions in the application guide, you can complete the application form and submit it on your own. <S> If you decide to use an immigration representative, be careful whom you ask for advice. <S> (Personally, I have completed my immigration to Canada without consulting a lawyer. <S> I could, indeed fill out the forms.) <S> Can't find the relevant quote for the UK <S> but we have a great answer about <S> how do I find an immigration lawyer/solicitor to help with my UK Visa application which states <S> Let's say as a working figure 98% of applicants do not need a practitioner. <S> The whole system is designed for normal people who can fill out the form and submit their stuff. <S> It's simple and universally accessible. <A> Other visa officials might check your travel history for a new visa, and if they detect the forgery then it will be very difficult to get a visa. <S> Visa officials will hold you responsible for what that agent did in your name. <S> You lied with that first fake. <S> Why should they believe that you are telling the truth now? <S> The best option for you is to get a new passport. <S> That means the travel history in the old passport cannot be documented any more, which is bad, but it is better than a fake. <A> Put the passport in the pocket of a shirt you don't like, and put that shirt in the washing machine. <S> Wash it nice and hot. <S> Result: <S> the passport is damaged but still extant. <S> Send in the remains and apply for a replacement passport on the grounds of being damaged. <S> This way nobody can accuse you of the fraud where the passport is 'lost' but in fact something else happened to it (sold on the black market, etc). <S> You have evidence to prove your turn of events, and nobody is able to inspect your mind at the point of washing it <S> (maybe you forgot to check your pockets, happens all the time...) <A> Was that fake visa ever used? <S> One hopes not, because if it was detected it is on the record and will cause future difficulties. <S> Tell the passport issuing authority your current one was accidentally destroyed. <S> Apply for your study permit after receiving your new passport and shred or burn the current one.
| The best advice I can offer is to apply for a new clean passport ASAP directly from the issuing authority in your country.
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Where can I get an anonymous Rav Kav card issued? Suppose I'm about to visit Israel. I know that its public transport system uses this card called Rav Kav ("multi-line" in Hebrew). I also know that there are personal-identified and anonymous versions of these cards. Now, you might think it's just a convenience , but - as @chx mentions in his answer - it seems cash payments are being phased out on buses, so a visitor really must get him/herself one. My question: Where can I have an anonymous Rav-Kav card issued ? Note: I'm not asking about recharging/topping-up these cards - that's different. <Q> While Tourist Israel is not government, it's a pretty reliable site and their page has this important note: <S> As of January 2019, Israel made a change to remove cash from bus transportation and use the Rav-Kav card exclusively. <S> OK <S> so we need that card! <S> Almost everyone will enter Israel either at Ben Gurion or Ramon <S> so let's see where we can get a card after landing... <S> The same Tourist Israel page mentions "For travelers looking to purchase anonymous Rav-Kavs <S> , there are several designated locations around Tel Aviv including all of the Tel Aviv train stations, the Central Bus Station (level 6) and in the arrivals hall of Ben Gurion Airport. <S> To purchase a Rav-Kav is 5 nis." <S> Ben Gurion Airport arrivals hall, that ain't a lot of help. <S> This tripadvisor thread to the rescue: <S> Starting Monday 16/4/2018, Israel's Ministry of Transportation has opened a Public Transportation Information Center which also issues Rav Kavs, Israel's public transportation electronic card. <S> The information center is intended mainly for tourists. <S> Opening Hours: Sun-Thu 07:00-23:00, <S> Fri 07:00-15:00 Location: <S> Ben Gurion int'l airport, Terminal 3 and links to the government page in Hebrew which has this photo: <S> And we have a user reporting in the comments the machine next to it sells cards <S> and that's likely open 24 hours. <S> Now, Egged itself obviously has a Rav Kav Card page which lists all their locations, including one for Ramon airport <S> (notably Ben Gurion seems to be missing from their list but we covered that already): <S> Ramon Airport - in front of arrivals exit Sunday to Thursday 7:30 - 22:30 Friday and holiday eves 8:00 - 16:00 Saturday/holyday - from the "going out" time and till 22 Personal note: thanks for the question <S> , I would've never thought they stopped accepting cash and would've looked silly when I try to board the bus in Eilat in January, now I know and I will buy a card at Ramon when I land. <A> There is now a Rav Kav sales point at Ben Gurion airport , at terminal 3, in the arrivals hall, next to exit 2. <S> The Rav Kav website maintains a list of sales points with address and opening hours . <S> I don't know how accurate or complete this information is. <S> You can also buy an anonymous Rav-Kav from a bus driver, with some initial stored value. <S> (Note that since 2019, drivers will not recharge a Rav-Kav that you already have.) <S> But beware that it's not guaranteed in practice that the driver will have spare Rav-Kav available. <S> As far as I know, you cannot buy a Rav Kav from a ticket machine at a train station (but you can recharge one), even an anonymous one. <S> You need to visit a station with a service point during opening hours. <S> The same applies to the Jerusalem light rail . <S> In Haifa, you can buy an anonymous Rav Kav from ticket vending machines located at many bus stops . <A> You can get an anonymous Rav-Kav on every bus. <S> It costs 5 NIS. <S> In fact it's the only pay with cash when boarding the bus. <S> This is what it looks like (sorry for the poor photo quality from my computer). <S> The "Dan" in the center is the bus company whose driver I bought it from and you will notice the lack of photo. <S> Quoting the Israeli Ministry of Transportation : <S> Anonymous Rav-Kav Available for purchase for NIS 5 at sales points including: bus drivers, central bus station, large train stations, info and service centers and at the light railway service center in Jerusalem. <S> Does not save travel information <S> Does not insure the rest of stored value in case of loss and or theft. <S> No reconstruction of tickets In case of expiration Disributing <S> Rav-Kavs is done by the transportation companies, quoting the largest one in central Israel <S> hebrew source : <S> תשובה: <S> כרטיס אנונימי הוא כרטיס שניתן לרכוש מנהג האוטובוס תמורת 5 ש"ח. <S> בעל הכרטיס האנונימי אינו מבוטח ולכן במקרה <S> של אובדן <S> או תקלה בכרטיס לא ניתן יהיה לשחזר את המידע על הכרטיס. <S> בעל הכרטיס יאלץ להנפיק כרטיס חדש. <S> Which is <S> An anonymous Rav-Kav is a ticket purchase-able from bus drivers for 5 NIS. <S> The anonymous card holder is not ensured in the case the card is lost and card information cannot be retrieved. <S> And Egged (the other big one from Jerusalem) <S> English Citation : <S> In contrast to the Personal Rav Kav Card, passenger's personal details are not required when applying for Anonymous Rav Kav Card. <S> An Anonymous Card issued for a one-time payment of NIS 5.00 and may be purchased from the driver or at sales points. <S> Purchase the card from the bus driver or at one of the Al Ha-Kav issue stations for a one-time cost of NIS5.00 <A> You can buy a Rav-Kav at many central bus stations around the country, and the Tel-Aviv train stations. <S> However, the opening hours for the train station Rav-Kav booths are annoyingly limited! <S> (not sure about the bus station booths.) <A> If you want to have everything prepared in advance, you can also head to Ebay and purchase a Rav Kav card in advance by having it shipped to your home address. <S> Some sellers even offer pre-charged Rav Kav cards, so you won't even need to top them up on arrival. <S> This is obviously a more expensive option, as all resellers charge a fee for their services.
| Israeli here, you can buy an anonymous Rav Kav on any bus when you board it.
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How can I locate a missing person abroad? A good friend of mine is currently traveling through Europe by himself for a month. We've been chatting pretty regularly throughout the trip, but since Friday no one I know has heard from him. We're still hoping that it's just a lost phone or connection issue, especially since he was supposed to be in a more rural area around this time, but I am getting a little worried. I haven't reached out to his family for his specific itinerary yet, because I don't want to worry them needlessly, but that would be my next step. Last I knew he was in Barcelona, but I think Portugal was his next stop, and he is supposed to return to the US this coming Saturday. Given that he is on another continent, it makes it much more difficult to try and confirm where he is or to alert authorities if we need to. If we are able to get his booking details, will airlines, trains, hotels, etc. confirm whether he boarded or checked in? Who are the right authorities to contact to get help in this search if we decide it's necessary to escalate? Update: I finally got an email from my friend today, and he is safe and back in the US. He had his phone pickpocketed and was using his precious internet cafe time to get in contact with his phone company. Thanks for all the helpful info! <Q> Ideally the authorities should be contacted when a person is believed to be missing. <S> Now whether you want to do that now or later that's up to you and the family, but I would definitely check with them first. <S> Once you make the decision to alert authorities, I would first alert the US Dept. of State : <S> U.S. Citizens Missing Abroad <S> If you are concerned about a U.S. citizen relative or friend who is traveling or living abroad, you may contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or call our Overseas Citizens Services office in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (from outside the United States and Canada, call 202-501-4444) <S> They will then check with the local authorities: <S> Our embassies and consulates abroad can use the information you provide to try to locate the individual and pass on your message. <S> The more information you provide about the individual, the better we may be able to help. <A> If said person is traveling by public transport or good rental car, I would not worry if there is no contact for a couple of days. <S> Only if the person in walking or cycling and has not reported in at the time they promised to do that I would try to search for him. <S> And in that case I would start by calling his relatives to ask if they have been in contact. <S> Starting an international search through a foreign government (to the country where the person might be missing) is way out of balance for someone who has just not contacted a friend through internet. <S> It has happened to me, and <S> others I know, loosing your phone or having it stolen, crossing a border and finding that your phone does not work for whatever reason in the new country. <S> Just being so busy with life as a tourist that you forget to log on with your usual groups, and so on. <S> You may not be told whether he has used the hotels or transport he was supposed to be using. <S> But if you call the hotel he is supposed to be 'tonight' or 'tomorrow night' and ask them to hand him a message to contact someone specific it should work. <S> In the past it was normal to travel around for months and only send post cards home and nobody worried if a card arrived a day or two late. <S> Now we are connected almost 24/7 and start worrying as soon as contact is broken. <S> Somewhere in the middle is the right level of worry. <S> For me it was calling home every two or three days, so you would get updated on news from both ends. <S> And it was not uncommon to warn that the next call might be late if you headed out into the unknown. <S> Only if there is a good reason to find the person, like a seriously ill close relative they should see before passing away, I feel it is right to start a big search. <S> And then first in the location where they are supposed to be, (and them not being in the hotel you expect them to be.) <S> The local police to that place might be the most efficient. <A> If we are able to get his booking details, will airlines, trains, hotels, etc. confirm whether he boarded or checked in? <S> Not easily. <S> Typically, airlines and hotels do not give out this type of information for privacy protection. <S> However, you can always call and try: smaller hotels or bed & breakfast tend to be less stringent with this. <S> Some airlines and travel agencies allows a traveler to register an emergency contact. <S> They may be willing to disclose basic information (flight taken or not taken, room checked in or not) to the registered person. <S> Otherwise you'd have to go through the authorities per Ozzy's answer. <A> Will airlines, trains, hotels, etc. confirm whether he boarded or checked in? <S> Airlines and trains, probably not. <S> Unless you have the PNR, and you can then probably log into the “manage by booking” section of the relevant sites which may give you some info (this would normally be an invasion of privacy, but if you have the PNR that means they are trusting you). <S> For hotels, just call the hotel and ask to talk to the person. <S> If they have checked in they will transfer your call to their room. <S> Otherwise they will most certainly tell you they didn’t. <S> In the worst case you can ask to leave a message (requesting a call back for instance) and they will pass it on.
| We can also check with local authorities in the foreign country to see if there are any reports of a U.S. citizen hospitalized, arrested, or otherwise unable to communicate with those looking for them.
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Will the UK home office know about 5 previous visa rejections in other countries? I have been rejected for visas 5 times in 4 countries. 3 of those were Schengen countries. Now, I want to study in the UK. Will it be a big issue?. Will the UK home office know everything about my rejection? <Q> The application form asks: Immigration history For either the UK or any other country, have you ever been: Refused a visa <S> Refused <S> entry at the border Refused permission to stay or remain Refused asylum <S> Deported <S> Removed <S> Required to leave Excluded or banned from entry <S> It then asks for further details (what happened, what country, when, and free text details). <S> It will ask for it for as many events as necessary. <S> So, as you will not lie about it, they will know. <S> If you think about lying about it, don't . <S> Having been refused so many times is definitely not in your favour, though we don't know the details about those rejections, when they happened, why they happened, and if your circumstances may have changed since then. <S> Even if the reason for your visa request has changed, you should most definitely make sure you address all the issues they raised before applying for a UK visa. <A> You haven't named the non-Schengen refusal countries, so no one can answer as to them. <A> As mentioned in this SE: <S> Travel answer , you are required to provide such information. <S> If not provided you will almost certainly be refused for deception. <S> As it is, your case isn't strong. <S> 1 visa rejection isn't good, 5 is awful. <S> You should be completely honest in explaining the refusals and the reasons for them. <S> Schengen and UK do exchange information so most likely the home office will know.
| There are good chances they will find out, and if they do, you'll be in a lot of trouble, and will not only be refused a visa, but will most probably be banned for many many years. Given the information contained in this answer in this SE:Travel question , I think the UK is extremely likely to know about your Schengen refusals.
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Where can a UK resident get a Maestro card? Looking for an issuer of Maestro cards in the UK, as I will be travelling to and from and The Netherlands frequently, and do not wish to carry cash and will not be becoming a resident. Mastercard and Visa are not widely accepted there and I have been caught out because of it before. Even though Mastercard own Maestro, they do not issue Maestro cards in the UK - does anyone know where I could get a Maestro card, preferably for a low fee? Bunq bank offer a Maestro for a monthly fee but I'd rather find a more mainstream bank if possible. <Q> Bunq's free account does not come with a card, but you can still use their app to make mobile contactless payments. <S> You might be able to open an account with a mainstream Dutch bank as a non-resident, but it seems from bank websites that they'll all require you to have some sort of connection to the Netherlands, or otherwise have a BSN (citizen service number). <S> You could consider registering in the Netherlands as a non-resident to obtain one of these - there don't seem to be any requirements for who can do so! <A> None of the banks above issue a Maestro Card. <S> The only banks active in the UK who DO issue Maestro cards are a company called Quidity, a company called Splash, and Revolut. <S> And Revolut will only issue you with a Maestro Card if you live in Germany, Austria or the Netherlands! <S> The Quidity card is expensive. <S> £5 for the card, £5 "membership fee" for a year, a 3% transaction fee for every payment, 3% top Up Fee using Paypoint, or for a Credit/Debit Card 2% (subject to £1.00 minimum fee). <S> Oh, and £1.50 ATM withdrawal (+ additional 2% for charges over £50). <S> Still want one ? <S> http://www.quiditycard.com/help02.html <S> Or there's Splash. <S> http://www.splashplastic.com/about.html Same membership and card issuing fees, a mere 2.5% transaction fees <S> , 3% top up Fee using Paypoint, or for a Credit/Debit Card 2.5% (subject to £1.00 minimum fee), and £1.50 per ATM withdrawal. <S> Indeed, there are branches of Albert Heijn that will ONLY accept Maestro - no cash, no other cards. <A> Get a prepaid card <S> You should be able to find a prepaid MasterCard card in shops in Netherlands. <S> You can probably top them up using a Visa. <S> Pre paid Maestro cards seem impossible to find.
| Maestro cards are widely accepted in the Netherlands, Visa and Mastercard less so.
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My passport was stamped with an exit stamp while transiting to another Schengen country via Turkey. Was this a mistake? We were travelling from Valencia to Athens via Istanbul, Turkey. We had a travel itinerary to visit Greece and had a valid Schengen Visa. However the visa officer at Valencia Airport stamped an exit schengen stamp on our passport. When we reached Istanbul, we were denied entry on the onboarding flight to Athens stating that we had a single entry schengen visa and there was an exit stamp on our passport, so we cannot enter schengen country again. Is was a mistake on the part of the visa officer. I am not sure whom I can complain to regarding this. Can someone please guide. <Q> Your thinking seems to be that because you were flying from one country in the Schengen Area to another country in the Schengen area, then you were not really "exiting" Schengen, so should not have been given an exit stamp. <S> This would be absolutely correct - IF you were catching a flight that went directly from Spain to Greece, or went via another country in the Schengen region (eg, Spain - <S> > <S> Germany -> Greece). <S> However Turkey is NOT in the Schengen area. <S> Thus your flight actually had you departing the Schengen area as you flew to Turkey, and then re-entering it when you arrived in Greece. <S> This is true even if you were only in transit in Turkey and didn't actually enter the country - once you walk through immigration in Spain you are deemed to have left the Schengen area. <S> With only a single entry visa it it not possible to take this flight. <S> Your "single entry" was used when you entered Schengen the first time. <S> Flying to a non-Schengen country (eg, Turkey) and then returning would require a visa, and you didn't hold one that was still valid so you were correctly denied boarding. <S> Presuming both of your flights were booked on the same ticket, the airline in Spain should not have actually let you take the flight to Istanbul as you didn't hold the correct documents for the entire trip - however at the end of the day the responsibility for having the correct documents falls to the traveler. <A> Turkey is not in the Schengen area, so going from Spain to Turkey is exiting the Schengen area and therefore your passport gets stamped with an exit stamp. <S> But the exit stamp is actually entirely irrelevant for your problem. <S> The stamp that's a problem for you is your entry stamp from when you first entered Spain. <S> This means that your single entry is now spent, and you're not allowed to enter the Schengen area once more , which you would if you were allowed to fly from Turkey to Greece, as Greece is within the Schengen area. <S> (If you didn't have the exit stamp, it would still be obvious that you had in fact left the Schengen area at some time , since you're currently outside that area rather than still inside). <S> If you don't have a visa that's valid for the itinerary you're trying to follow, that's your problem. <S> Not that of the various officials who are correctly administering the rules. <A> I think in addition to the other answers it might be beneficial to mention that the way the Schengen area works is there are no borders inside the Schengen area. <S> Once you're inside you can go anywhere, it's like a house where only the entrance door has a lock and the room doors don't have locks, once you enter through the entrance door you're in and can go to any room now. <S> But if you want to go to the garden or a neighbour you have now left the house and cannot go to any of the rooms until you re-enter the house again through the main door. <S> Even though you say that you just wanted to go from Spain to Greece, you didn't just go from room Spain to room Greece within the house, instead you rather left the house to go to your neighbour (Turkey) on your way there and because of <S> that now to actually get to room Greece <S> you have to re-enter the house (Schengen) <S> and you don't have permission to enter the house more than one time. <S> But if you wouldn't have left the house (Schengen) you would have been able to go to as many rooms (Schengen countries) as you liked. <A> If you entered and left the Schengen Area in Spain to Turkey then your Single entry C-Visa has been used. <S> A entry stamp for entering the Schengen Area must exist. <S> An image showing the C-Visa and entry/exit stamps would be helpfull to clarify.
| Receiving an exit stamp from Spain to Turkey is correct.
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Which museums have artworks of all four Ninja Turtles' namesakes? I was visiting the Louvre recently, where I tried to ignore the lines to Leonardo's Mona-Lisa and looked at all the other great art instead, such as Michelangelo's dying slave and the many works by Raphael on display. I somehow managed to miss or not notice Donatello's works in the huge museum, but I know that there are several of them as well. Nevertheless, this visit sparked the obvious silly question: Which museums have artworks by all four ninja turtles? Combined of course with my childish desire to visit all of them. The two I found so far are the two obvious places I've already been to: The Louvre The Vatican Are there any others? The next obvious place to look might be Florence, but while there is a lot of each of them, the closest I could find was the Uffizi gallery, which seems to be missing Donatello. <Q> I don't know if they are all on display though. <S> I came to this conclusion by using the website artsy.net . <S> There you can look up individual artist and it will give a list of artworks by them, which can be sorted by institution. <S> I did this for all four of them and there were several who had Leonardo, Michelangelo and Rapahel, but Donatello seemed to be the "bottleneck". <S> Here is what I found for the National Gallery of Art: Leonardo Michelangelo Raphael Donatello <S> All works by all artists are of course not listed on this website, so there may very well be other institutions that also have works by all four artists. <S> Update: <S> After reading @Pere's answer , I realized it might be possible to find information about which works are on display on the museum's website. <S> Here is what I found: Leonardo da Vinci : <S> Two paintings are on display. <S> Michelangelo : <S> Non of his drawings are on display. <S> A sculpture by one of his followers is on display. <S> Raphael : <S> Five paintings on display. <S> Donatello : <S> Strangely, they don't list any original in their collection. <S> The ones on arty.net are not listed at all. <S> They have two copies and two works by followers on display. <S> So you probably cannot visit the museum and see originals by all four artists on display. <A> The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has works for all 4 turtles in its catalog , in particular the Raphael cartoons . <S> There are also some notebooks from Leonardo , and a drawing by Michelangelo (as well as a number of casts of his sculptures in the Cast Courts). <S> I seem to have temporarily broken their search engine, but <S> this page mentions having pieces by Donatello as well. <S> Edit: The Renaissance collection has a number of pieces by Donatello, e.g. this relief . <A> The National Gallery in the UK lists paintings by all four 'turtles' in its Glossary. <S> I don't know if all four are on display though. <S> -EDIT- <S> I saw Donatello listed in their glossary <S> but yes as pointed out in the comments it might not be correct that his work is owned/displayed by them. <S> I believe after more research he is mentioned as he inspired works by other artists (that they do own). <S> For a bonus snippet, while looking at this and depending on your definition of 'artwork by' the V&A in London has work by Raphael, Donatello Leonardo's notebooks and casts of work by Michelangelo. <S> Raphael— <S> The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, 1515 <S> Replicas of two earlier Davids by Donatello and a number of small scale bronzes. <S> A full-size replica of Michelangelo's David <A> According the incomplete data in Wikidata, the only museum with works by the four artists would be the Metropolitan Museum of Arts (still not mentioned in other answers). <S> Donatello and Michelangello have one sculpture each that - judging by their photographs - are on display. <S> One of Rafaello's work is a painting that is on view according to the museum web . <S> Unfortunately, Leonardo's works are just sketches that don't seem to be on display. <S> Other museums have works of three of them: Albertina, Ermitage, Galleria degli Uffizi, Museu Boijmans Van Beuningen, Budapest Fine Arts Museum, Vatican Museums, National Gallery, and Victoria and Albert Museum. <S> Since data are incomplete, those are likely candidates to have works of all four of them. <S> In fact, some of them have been shown in other answers to have those works. <S> Note: I don't link a Wikidata query with global results because it took too long to execute <S> and I had to resort to four different querys and mixing their outputs in R. <A> The Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence <S> has all of them. <S> Can't get an official link though.
| It seems that the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC has works by all four artists in their permanent collections, but for Michelangelo they may only have some simple drawings.
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US entry with tourist visa but past alcohol arrest I’m a UK Citizen, and have a B1/2 Tourist Visa. I applied for the visa as per the embassy guidelines as I was once arrested for Drunk and Disorderly. No conviction was ever made. I attended the embassy interview and underwent a US Medical exam to prove I’m not an alcohol abuser and am in good health. This all came back positive and my visa was approved. I have my visa now. But from what I’ve read, a Visa doesn’t guarantee entry. What are the chances of me now being denied entry by an agent at the border? <Q> But from what I’ve read, a Visa doesn’t guarantee entry... <S> what are the chances of me now being denied entry by an agent at the border? <S> Exceedingly small. <S> That disclaimer is there because the immigration officer (IO) may uncover grounds of inadmissibility that were not considered by the visa officer. <S> For example, the IO may develop a suspicion that your trip is for criminal ends and that you managed to conceal this from the visa officer, or that you concealed some other criminal history from the visa officer, or so on. <S> In cases like that, the US obviously wants the IO to be able to refuse entry. <S> It's also possible that the reason for your trip has changed, especially if it is a subsequent use of a multiple-entry visa. <S> For example, if you show up with a B-1/B-2 visa and the IO discovers that you're planning to enroll in a university degree program, or suspects that you will stay for longer than six months without applying for an extension of status, you will not be admitted. <S> Like many legal disclaimers, this one is there to cover the possibility of refused entry even if it is very remote. <S> In this case, it's very remote indeed. <S> The IO will not normally second-guess a determination of admissibility made by a consular officer who has more time to examine more evidence about you than the IO has in the immigration hall. <S> The thing that's most likely to trigger problems is the IO suspecting that there is new information from interviewing you that the visa officer did not have. <S> I would not be surprised if the IO asks you why you applied for a visa instead of using the VWP. <S> If that happens, of course explain your arrest and the disposition of the case. <S> They might put you in secondary inspection if they want to check your story against some file that they can't look up at the primary inspection booth, but I suspect they'll just stamp you in. <S> As the other answer points out, an arrest with no conviction does not make you inadmissible. <S> As a comment points out, you probably could have used ESTA because of that. <S> But you played it safe and got a visa. <S> You appear to be going out of your way to be compliant. <S> They should thank you for your honesty rather than keeping you out. <A> If you watch any of the documentary series about border forces in any country, you’ll see many cases of people being denied entry, even (or probably even often) when they held a visa. <S> Even if those documentaries are not representative of the whole spectrum of entry refusals, consider the cases they show. <S> In most cases, it’s because they find out that there is a discrepancy between what the person said during their application and reality. <S> The most frequent case is probably people coming on a tourist visa who actually intend to stay, live and work, usually disappearing under the radar as soon as they exit the airport. <S> So entry refusals with a visa are mostly to catch this kind of thing: you said one thing, and you intend to do so something else (or at least they suspect you do), or you weren’t quite honest about everything. <S> Here — at least according to your story in your question — you seem to have done everything you could to be above board (which is quite a change from many other questions here where people want to cheat, lie, misrepresent things to try to sneak in). <A> As you attended the check, and if your record is recently clean you should be allowed to enter. <S> The US GOV website provides a statement for this: <S> Can I be admitted into the United States if I have a misdemeanor or a criminal record (for example a DUI)? <S> Although, if there are multiple convictions for this and/or other misdemeanors, you could be denied entry. <S> Generally, any convictions for drug possession can result in a denial of entry. <S> If the conviction was long ago, you may have to contact the U.S. Embassy, Office of Consular Affairs in your country to obtain a waiver. <S> Other misdemeanors may result in denial if they were recent. <S> A crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT) may be grounds to deny entry to the U.S. For more information, please visit the U.S. Citizens and [Immigration] Services (USCIS) website on General Categories of Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMTs). <S> You should be accepted for your honesty. <A> You're asking about a) the alcohol, and b) whether they will refuse you. <S> They won't refuse you for the alcohol . <S> That matter was settled at visa application time. <S> The only way it will rear its ugly head is if you present to the immigration officer evidencing that the settlement was a lie. <S> They will have done a basic screening for all the usual stuff (means, ties to community, etc.) <S> That is why your admission is so likely. <S> As always, they want to see that you won't overstay, seek employ (unless your visa permits), go on the dole, commit crimes, or be trafficked. <S> As far as some other reason, all bets are off . <S> We can't guess. <S> If there are 12,000 cigarettes in your bags, you're on your own!
| The United States (U.S.) does not deny entry to persons that has a "Driving Under the Influence" (DUI) conviction. Unless you misrepresented things, the chances of you being denied entry are quite small.
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Transit at Athens with Passport Control & Single Entry Schengen Visa My route is as follows: Cairo -> Athens ( Transit ) -> Croatia ( Vacation ) -> Athens ( Rest Of Vacation ). I have a single entry Schengen visa As per the Airlines instructions I'll be going through passport control at Athens while at transit, will that count as "entering" the Schengen Area ? will my passport by stamped for Entry/Exit ? What does actually happen in the Greece passport control ? Will I be able to "re-enter" Athens coming from Croatia since the first time should be considered as transit only ? <Q> You should be certain that the airline is correct about going through passport control during the transit. <S> Find out which parts of the airport your flights will be using and whether it is possible to pass from one to the other without clearing passport control. <S> If the information is correct, then you will need another Schengen visa or to book a different flight. <S> If, however, the airline is wrong, you can make the trip using the visas you presently have. <S> The airport's web page seems to suggest that all non-Schengen flights are in the same part of the airport, so the airline's statement is puzzling. <S> I've been to Athens airport a few times in the last three or four years, but always transferring between a non-Schengen flight and a domestic flight or vice versa, so I have not paid much attention to the non-Schengen-to-non-Schengen situation. <S> If you check luggage and the airline cannot check it through, you will definitely have to clear passport control to pick up your luggage and transfer it. <A> Aegean Airlines has a web page about transiting/connecting passengers at the Athens airport. <S> Under Extra Schengen to Extra Schengen: If you fly to and from airports outside the Schengen Zone, after passing through passport control, head to Gates A1-A23. <S> That seems to imply that you will enter the Schengen area, if only briefly. <A> Unlike at most international airports, transit passport control is performed by border police in Athens. <S> However, passports are not stamped and visas don't get "activated" at this point, so provided your trip is on a single ticket, you can do this trip. <A> This is related to My passport was stamped with an exit stamp while transiting to another Schengen country via Turkey. <S> Was this a mistake? <S> You should apply for a double entry Schengen visa. <S> This allows you to enter Greece and exit it two times even if only for transit. <S> This will be suitable for both your transit and visit. <S> As you leave the transit areas you need a full visa according to <S> Do I need a visa to transit (or layover) in the Schengen area? <S> so this option is suitable. <A> A single entry Schengen Visa may not be used to enter Croatia <S> a <S> dual or multiple entry is required <S> MVEP • <S> Visa requirements overview Third-country nationals who are holders of: uniform visa (C) for two or multiple entries, valid for all Schengen Area Member States; You may be refused to board the plane in Athens to Croatia, since you do not fulfill the requirement of being allowed to return back to the Schengen area. <S> When entering the Schengen Area at the airport you will recieve an entry stamp general A-Visa (Transit) are no longered issued by Counslates <S> When leaving Greece, you would recieve an exit stamp, thus your single entry visa has been used and cannot be used for reentry, whereas a dual or multi-entry can. <S> In cases where the traveler has a Croatia Visa together with a Schengen Single entry Visa only 1 entry into the Schengen Area is allowed either entering or leaving Croatia once directly from/to a non-Schengen Country is needed <S> It would be wise to prepare a valid answer for the question that the Croatia Immigration may ask when and how will you be leaving Croatia? <S> Especially when you do <S> not have a Schengen Visa that can be used. <S> It is very likely that when the Airline used the word transit , they indended it to be understood in the context of transfering from one flight to another and not in the context of an immigration status.
| The stamp in your passport will use up the single entry permitted by your present visa, and you will not be able to use it again.
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Is it impolite to ask for halal food when traveling to and in Thailand? How do people generally react to questions like "Do you serve Halal food" "Is this food halal" "Anything I should know about the food since I eat Halal" I have recently planned a week-long vacation for Thailand where I wish to visit multiple cities and sites Thailand has to offer. I am repeatedly told that being a Muslim I will have to face difficulties regarding food & drinks as non halal food is quite common there and I, being a Muslim, refrain from those things. I will hopefully work my way around restaurants and cafes. but my question is, If i repeatedly ask them if the hotel/cafe serves non-alcoholic and/or non halal products i.e. pork or any other meat not considered halal for us. Similarly, On International/Domestic flights to such destinations, Is it considered to rude to ask for Halal products only? <Q> Thailand actually has a significant Muslim minority (around 5% of the population), so the idea of halal food -- locally known as ahaan <S> Muslim (อาหารมุสลิม), literally "Muslim food" -- is well understood, and you will not be considered rude for asking. <S> Thailand's Muslims are heavily concentrated in the South near the Malaysian border, but Bangkok also has a significant community. <S> That said, no, the average Thai restaurant is not going to be strictly halal, and the Thais do love their pork, so <S> you definitely need to check what you're eating. <S> As elsewhere in SE Asia, halal restaurants tend to say on their signage, with green banners, crescent moon and star logos and the word "halal" in Arabic. <S> This may prove a useful starting point: https://www.halaltrip.com/other/blog/a-muslim-traveler-s-street-food-guide-to-bangkok/ Domestic flights in Thailand are quite short <S> (Bangkok to anywhere in the country is well under two hours), so food is typically not served. <A> I have a very simple rule: <S> If you have to ask, it is not halal. <S> If it was halal you would clearly know it by virtue of signage in any non Muslim country. <S> Halal food in non Muslim countries is a minority speciality and there’s <S> no point in someone serving halal food without promoting it clearly, in such places. <S> So if you haven’t seen the sign on or in a shop, don’t even bother asking. <S> Assume it is not halal. <S> This works for me almost everywhere. <S> Since your question was primarily about Thailand, look for this sign on any food outlet you're interested in. <S> If you don't see that or a similar looking sign, move on. <S> It may not be impolite to still ask, but it doesn't serve your purpose and it wastes your and theirs time. <S> Source <S> So follow 2 steps: <S> Google Halal food near me Go to any possible recommendations and see if they say so. <S> All of the commentators saying It is OK to just ask and accept the word that most of our products are halal unfortunately do not comprehend the concept of halal as a practicing Muslim would take it. <S> Even vegetables, cooked in pork fat, or with one millimeter of alcohol can be deemed Not Halal . <S> Even Fish or Chips, fried in the same oil that Pork was fried in, is considered <S> Not Halal by most schools of Islam. <S> If you really are serious about it, look for the government sanctioned sign! <A> For long distance flights, ordering a special diet meal is a well established procedure. <S> When you have bought your flight tickets, just contact the airline customer service and ask for a halal meal (usually needs to be done at least a few days before the flight). <S> If you forgot to pre-order your special meal, or you for some reason needed to change your flight plans last minute, you can explain this to the flight attendant and they will usually do what they can to accommodate you. <S> As long as you are humble about it, this will not be seen as impolite. <S> For short distance flights, they normally just serve lighter snacks, and it is not possible to make a special order. <S> There is nothing impolite about this. <A> It's definitely not impolite to ask. <S> In some countries (but not in Thailand I believe) it is considered impolite to say "no" so some people would think it is polite to lie and answer "yes" rather than "I don't know" or "no, it isn't halal", so you'd need to be careful. <S> But in many countries, including Thailand, sellers know that they have more potential customers if they sell halal food, so you will have places selling food marked as "halal". <S> I have been told that if you are told that food is halal, when it's not obvious whether it is or not <S> (like you can't really see whether a steak is halal or not), and you are lied to, then you are fine from a religious point of view. <S> The same person (who is not a very strict muslim but knows the rules) told me that he can taste the difference between meet that was slaughtered in a halal way or not. <S> But that is obviously entirely up to you. <S> And obviously you may have problems. <S> The restaurant owner and the chef might not know if their beef is halal and tell you - the rules about being lied to don't mean you can eat beef <S> if it is not known to be halal, only if the chef lied to you and claimed it was halal. <S> If you like fish, you should be fine.
| There is nothing impolite about this. You can definitely preorder halal meals on longer, international flights, you can't count on them being available otherwise. You can always ask the flight attendant about the snacks served and if you are not confident that they are halal you can politely decline.
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Is it impolite to ask for an in-flight catalogue with no intention of buying? Sometimes when I go on a short 1 hour flight, I usually just like to watch the take-off, have a drink and read the in-flight catalogue (just out of interest) and watch the landing. In some airlines, for example Ryanair, you have to ask for the in-flight catalogue. Is it impolite to do so if I have no intention of purchasing an item? Do these flights usually have quite a few catalogues, as I don’t want to deprive the people who want to buy? <Q> Put it this way. <S> Suppose they kept copies of Nature Magazine for passengers to read on request. <S> Would it be impolite to ask for a copy? <S> You have no intention of buying anything, since in our fantasy world, Nature is entirely editorial and has no advertisements. <S> Of course not. <S> The magazine is there for you to browse to pass the time. <S> The same applies to in-flight catalogues. <S> Similarly, it is not rude to walk into a retail store to browse, with no particular intent of buying. <S> Obviously, the shopkeeper is perfectly delighted for this visit, because of the chance <S> the fine merchandise will sway you into a purchase. <S> Every visit is a roll of the dice which costs him almost nothing, so he's sure to win on average. <S> The catalogue publisher thinks the same . <A> Put it this way. <S> You ask for a catalog, you just don't disclose that you already have no intention to buy, because you don't have to, then start reading it. <S> After you finish, you return it to the attendants. <S> You simply didn't find anything interesting/worth to buy <S> No one is obligated to buy anything. <S> How often... have you entered a shop, looked and walked away? <S> ... <S> browsed Amazon/eBay looking for something and ordered nothing? ... <S> asked for the drink list at a cocktail bar and walked away because they are too expensive? <S> Of course, you are preventing someone else who is interested in buying staff from reading the catalogue if they run out of stock . <S> But again, put it like this <S> : it's airline choice how many copies to print. <S> And the airline is the one making money. <S> You have paid your ticket and owe them nothing else. <A> The flight attendants would be more than happy to give you a catalogue. <A> No because the main transaction is your payment for the flight <S> Everything else is incidental or supports it. <S> The comparison you may be thinking of is 'person walks into a bar, looks at drinks menu, buys none, hangs out for an hour and then leaves. <S> Bartender sees them leaving and thinks 'how rude'. <S> However that is NOT the situation with an airline seat. <S> It's more akin to 'person walks into a bar, pays bartender $300 tip to sit down for a bit. <S> Person leaves after an hour. <S> Bartender tells story of most polite customer ever :)
| No it isn't impolite to kindly ask for an in-flight catalogue, irrespective if your intention to buy or not.
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Is a Middle Name a Given Name? My full name is four names long - First name, Middle name, Middle name, Last name. Whenever asked for my Given Name I have always supplied my First name (not either of my middle names). This week I have applied for a Canadian eTA, and put (as per usual) my First name only into the Given Name(s) field. But now I'm wondering, should I have included my middle names also into that form? In my passport I have all four names printed. <Q> According to the help file from the Canadian government for filling out the ETA <S> it says the following on the application: Given name(s) / first name(s) <S> Please enter exactly as shown on your passport or identity document <S> Source: <S> https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/eta/english.pdf <S> (Page 11) <S> So you should put it in, exactly like it says on the passport. <S> If you're not sure what you should put in (not just two name forms, non-latin script) and your passport has a machine readable zone, you should probably use the names in the same grouping as done there. <S> The format are two lines at the bottom of the identity page of your passport where the first line is of the following format: <S> P[4 unimportant letters][family name with blanks and other non-latin characters replaced by <] <S> <<[given names also separated by <] ( [] being used by me to separate the fields). <S> Note that the ETA help pdf has some more detailed explanations that are worth reading for everyone with unusual name(s). <A> " my First name only into the Given Name(s) field " <S> If it asked for "first name" a single name might be acceptable. <S> But it didn't. <S> Notice the "(s) <S> ". <S> That means that there can be more than one name. <S> Notice <S> the "Given", that means all but your family name, which was inherited not given. <S> The form didn't ask for "First name"; it asked for "Given name(s)". <S> Many countries are improving their forms by saying "Given" rather than "First", since there are many societies where the first name is actually the family name.(e.g. <S> in Chinese, "Xi Jinping", "Xi Jin Ping", and "Xi Jin-Ping" are all valid Romanizations of "习近平". <S> "Xi" is first, but it is the family name.) <S> EDIT: <S> @Voo says that the form contains this instruction: <S> Please enter exactly as shown on your passport or travel document. <S> That should remove any confusion. <S> No more, no less. <A> My name is (based on catholic), using the same form as David's answer: <S> A: given <S> (first) name B: <S> middle name 1 (or second first name) <S> C: middle name 2 (or third first name) <S> D: middle name 3 (or fourth first name) <S> E: family/surname <S> To make things even more complicated, my nickname is different than A; it is not in any official paper. <S> So, on my passport I have to use A until D, and not my nickname. <A> If your first and two middle names are printed under ‘Given names’ in your passport, and you are asked to provide ‘Given name(s)’ not ‘First name’, you should include all three. <S> Example: I just applied for an ESTA. <S> I have a first and middle name (I’m known by my middle, not first, name), and my passport shows both names under ‘Given names’ and in the machine readable data section. <S> When I uploaded this section during the application process, the system captured both names in the ‘Given names’ section of the application. <S> Other examples: https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/is-middle-name-part-of-given-name.202730/ <A> Your title question is answered by your question itself: you consider your middle names as middle names, and not as your first name. <S> Thus, I would complete applications so as to track your passport names as closely as possible. <S> In my culture, it'd go like this: <S> A = <S> given (first) name <S> B = middle name #1 C = middle name <S> #2 D = family/surname <S> Like this: <S> If the application has only two fields, enter A and D in the appropriate fields. <S> If the application has three fields, enter A in the first field, B and C (with an intervening space if possible) in the second field, and D in the third space. <S> Different cultures may attribute names differently.
| Whatever names are on the passport you are going to be using should be the names you use on the form.
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We are on WHV, my boyfriend was in a small collision, we are leaving in 2 weeks what happens if we don’t pay the damages? My boyfriend was in a small driving collision in Brisbane last night, it was legally his fault, there isn’t much damage to the other car but a few marks. We are leaving Australia in 2 weeks, what happens if the other driver makes a claim against us and we leave Australia without paying? We are on working holiday visas and literally have no money left so just want to know what the consequences would be. <Q> It'll depend on first, whether or not they raise an issue. <S> If not, all good. <S> If they do, however... Some countries work with each other if you've broken the law, so leaving may not help you avoid it, and may just make it worse for you. <S> You'd also potentially have trouble if you ever wanted to come back to Australia. <S> Also they can share the black mark against you with other countries, as well as you having to declare if if Australia bans you for such an activity. <S> Some of these might happen, and none might happen. <S> But you should pay for it. <S> Firstly, it's the right thing to do, and secondly, you never know what you might want to do in the future that could be affected by the unintended consequences / problems you might cause yourself by skipping the country. <S> And as the world becomes a more and more connected place, the risk you run only increases. <A> IANAL <S> but: If your boyfriend had the appropriate driving licence and insurance to drive the car, whether through eg 3rd party cover on a private car via the owner’s insurance, or rental company insurance, and he has a) notified the owner and insurer/rental company of the incident; and b) exchanged contact and insurance details with the driver of the other vehicle <S> However, it would be wise to check official guidance for visitors on what to do if you’re involved in an accident during a stay in Australia. <S> As other answers have indicated, what you should not do is leave without making proper arrangements to deal with a claim if one is made. <A> If the accident involved a hire car, the hire company will have enough information about you for the police to trace you in your home country, eventually. <S> One of my work colleagues in the UK took a vacation in Australia, and unknowingly was picked up by a speed camera for exceeding the limit in a hire car. <S> He received the paperwork requesting payment of a fixed penalty fine, or a court appearance in Australia, at his home address in the UK about 8 months later. <S> There was sufficient information about the time and place of the incident that he didn't have any doubts that he had actually committed the offence, and it wasn't either an administrative error or a scam. <S> He simply paid the (small) fine by credit card, and that was the end of the matter. <S> If the OP failed to follow the Australian procedures for traffic accidents (I don't know what they are, but for example stopping after the accident and exchanging the legally required information with the other driver, etc) this may escalate into a court case for the legal issues as well as the insurance company wanting to recover the excess payment on the hire car insurance. <S> If the bureaucratic system has to kick into action for some reason, the marginal cost of "ticking all the boxes" for every possible violation associated with the incident is small, so that is usually what happens!
| I think you should be safe to leave Australia knowing that in case of any claim the matter can be settled via your respective insurers.
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What action is recommended if your accommodation refuses to let you leave without paying additional fees? There has been reports in the news that following the financial trouble Thomas Cook is in, some hotels have been refusing to let guests leave unless they pay additional fees. This isn't just a verbal refusal; it includes sending transfer buses away and physical restrictions such as securing the gates and having private security guards physically preventing people from leaving. Personally, I find this quite terrifying that a business would operate in such a way with apparent impunity. Should I find myself in a similar situation what action should I take? <Q> Calling the police might be the way to go in jurisdictions within developed countries, but wouldn't necessarily work in regions where governance is weak. <S> In this case it would be better to pay the fraudulent bill using a credit card and then dispute the transaction once you're safe and sound at home. <S> It's likely that the credit card company will take your side given that the payment was made under the threat of violence. <S> Although it might not get you any money back given the bankruptcy. <A> Holding guests hostage <S> is illegal , no matter what. <S> If you are held "hostage" and they refuse to let you go <S> you can tell them it is against the law of that country. <S> You can also contact the police secretly or send a quick message secretly saying to get the police. <S> You don't want to be violent as you don't want charges on yourself as well. <S> You can get suggestions from In an emergency, how do I find and share my position? <S> as how to find your position quickly and notify people of any emergencies. <S> Some counties have AML to automatically send your location: <S> In some countries, AML (Advanced Mobile Location) will automatically send your location to the emergency services when you call them. <S> Although in this case police assisted as well as mentioned in this news article , but the situation could escalate to a point where law is enforced: <S> “They had people by the doors, guarding the doors. <S> Police were on the outside. <S> The staff were manhandling some guests and fighting." <S> Sometimes you just have to wait it out or avoid such resorts altogether. <A> In this specific situation, the CAA has provided details of what to do at https://thomascook.caa.co.uk/customers/if-you-are-currently-abroad/managing-difficulties-with-your-accommodation/ <S> In short, they advise not to pay anything unless their team specifically advises this in your personal circumstances. <S> Ordinarily the accommodation providers would be expected to accept the CAA's guarantee, which should be far more reliable than Thomas Cook's guarantee that the providers were previously happily accepting. <S> Whether the contact number provided on that page is adequately staffed is another matter of course. <S> In general, the advice would be to contact whoever it is that you expect to be paying the hotel on your behalf (e.g. the travel agent who made the arrangements if they're still trading, an insurance provider, or similar, or in this case the CAA), in order to clarify why the hotel isn't accepting their payment or guarantee. <S> The original documentation providing details of the package, guarantees, insurance, etc. <S> would also certainly have details of relevant emergency assistance numbers, so one can best prepare for unexpected situations like these by ensuring the relevant documentation is printed off and kept to hand. <A> Most hotels nowadays ask for a credit card at the time of check-in for any kind of ancillary charge so such a bait and switch type scheme sounds unlikely from a reputable hotel chain. <S> As many have suggested, if the charges don't appear legit you can dispute them with your card company.
| Contacting the police openly could result in further conflict, as the owners probably wouldn’t want you doing that. If the hotel insists you pay in cash and the police won't get involved, your only recourse is to sue the travel agency when you return.
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Can I voluntarily exit from the US after a 20 year overstay, or could I be detained at the airport? Is one allowed to travel back to one's country of origin using a valid passport issued by the consular office in the US? Would that trigger detention in the airport? Overstayed over 2 decades and have a clean record. <Q> The US doesn't have exit checks. <S> You can always exit the US if you don't have a pending arrest warrant. <S> You won't be detained or deported. <S> You will likely be banned for ten years from coming back to the US and it will be virtually impossible to get a visitor visa afterward. <A> There are 2 aspects: <S> Will CBP allow you to exit the country? <S> Will the airline allow you to board? <S> The US doesn't formally have exit controls, so no agency is systematically checking exit documents. <S> Even if a CBP officer did spot-check you, they'd go " <S> My job is to get you to leave. <S> Since you're leaving on your own, can I carry your bags for you? <S> Guide you to your gate?" <S> Retribution isn't coming. <S> What is coming, is future refusal when you try to re-enter the USA as a temporary visitor . <S> Because you'll have a 10-year ban, and after that, you will have difficulty convincing them that your next visit will be temporary. <S> Today, they just want you to leave. <S> As far as the airline boarding -- If you are a citizen of country X, you are entitled to travel there. <S> You need to show the airline proper proof of that <S> , becuase they have a legal obligation not to fly you somewhere you'll be refused. <S> Your passport issued by that country will suffice. <S> Of course, beware of situations where you select a route through a third country <S> and they want a transit visa or something. <A> technically - unlike most other countries, there are no immigration checks when you leave the country. <S> Departing US after being in US illegally for more than 1 year triggers an automatic 10-years re-entry ban, however, the duration of the ban is only important for certain type of visas (mostly immigrant ones). <S> A non-immigrant visa is unlikely to ever be granted to such a person even after formal ban expires. <S> Technically, it's departing the US after accruing 1 year of "unlawful presence". <S> One could have "overstayed", without accruing "unlawful presence", depending on what status they entered on and other circumstances.
| Yes, you are allowed to exit US, both legally (there is no law which would prevent you from leaving) and
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Driving test in New Zealand? My partner and I are going to New Zealand in November for a few months and the plan is to buy a camper and drive around, checking out the sights! The only slight hitch with this plan is I haven't yet passed my driving test (!!) I have one booked in England but if it doesn't go well I may not have time to rebook and try again before we leave. My question is, can I take another driving test in New Zealand? What requirements would I have to meet to do so? We will be entering with a working holiday visa. <Q> If you don't hold a full driving licence when you arrive in New Zealand you'll need to go through the NZ licence system which starts with a theory test, followed by six months as a learner, a practical test, another eighteen months* as a restricted driver (no passengers!) <S> and finally a third test to get a full licence. <S> * can be reduced to twelve months if you pass an approved defensive driving course More details at the NZTA web site <S> Even if you do pass your UK test, leaping into a camper van and driving in a foreign country is not a good idea. <S> NZ roads are often winding and narrow, there are few motorways and dual-carriageways, and (as a UK driver that's lived in Wellington for eleven years) <S> NZ drivers are not as good as they might be. <S> You'll find insurance difficult and expensive to get. <S> I'd wait until you have had your full licence a couple of years before embarking on a road trip overseas. <A> This is a mistake. <S> Driving isn't book knowledge. <S> Driving is about experience. <S> That is why the process to get a license is so tortuous. <S> And you shouldn't circumvent that by ticking away the months with little actual driving in that time. <S> Buy a cheap old car. <S> Drive it everyday around the neighborhood, then graduate to around town, then go farther, then try motorways. <S> And learn stick! <A> This is impossible as you need to hold a learners licence for at least 6 months before you take the test. <S> From the AA Website : You must be 16 1/2 or older and have held a learners license for at least 6 months to take your restricted practical test.
| Don't attempt to drive in a foreign country until you've racked up years of daily experience driving at home.
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Power Adapter for Traveling to Scotland (I live in the US) I live in the US, and will be traveling to Scotland. I will need to charge my laptop and phone (macbook and iPhone if it matters) while I am there, and I have been receiving some mixed advice about what kind of power adapter and/or convertor I need to get. All my devices have the standard US type B power plugs, while in the UK, as I understand it, they use type G. Some people have said that all I need is a cheap little adapter that converts between type B and type G plugs, like this one . They say that my devices "can handle" the difference in voltage. Others say that I need a fancy converter to convert between the different voltages in the two countries. Which is correct, and why? <Q> Almost certainly, each AC to DC converter <S> you have will support both UK and US voltages, and you do not need a voltage converter. <S> To be absolutely sure, look at the back of your laptop's charger and your AC-to-USB plug. <S> There should be a label that, among other things, specifies supported input voltages and AC frequencies. <S> If it says something like "100-240V" and "50-60Hz" you only need a simple plug type converter. <A> The Apple website states: <S> You should use the appropriate wattage power adapter for your Mac notebook. <S> You can use a compatible higher wattage adapter without issue, but it won't make your computer charge faster or operate differently. <S> Lower wattage adapters don't provide enough power. <S> The adapters are rated at a higher voltage and should be fine. <A> 1) For your MacBook adapter: you need neither . <S> Just simply buy a UK duckhead for your MacBook, already. <S> Either <S> : the outrageously overpriced official "Apple World Travel Adapter set" (which is just five outrageously overpriced duckheads in a box), or (unofficial third-party) <S> individual duckheads (you can't find these on Amazon, only on eBay, for (cough, cough) <S> legal reasons). <S> Yes, the UK duckhead will have an earth prong but probably won't be fused. <S> So don't leave it plugged in overnight or unattended. <S> Context: I just got back from Europe with my MacBook, and before I went I spent the princely total of US$5.50 on UK + EU duckheads (+ $15 for the world travel adapter). <S> I researched this heavily before I went. <S> Apple egregiously abuses so-called "intellectual-property" laws to legally intimidate competitors from selling duckheads in the US, i.e. a piece of plastic with a few metal bits, to preserve their obscene margins. <S> 2) <S> For your phone charger, <S> no you do not need a voltage converter <S> , you just get an adapter (world travel adapter). <S> ; you can even get quad-USB if you have lots of devices. <S> These are the ones with multi-type A/B/C/G with quick-slide retractable prongs, they're lightweight, compact and retractable so they fit nicely into carry-on baggage, good for a quick use at the boarding gate, cafe etc. <S> Ceptics is a superb brand. <S> Just be gentle with the mechanism when you retract one type of prong and extend the other. <S> As to the ambiguities in the phrasing of your question: if "device" <S> = <S> laptop <S> then no you don't need a voltage converter (but do obviously still need an adapter); laptops have universal voltage converters. <S> Only if "device" = <S> shaver/kettle/heater/desktop/other power appliance <S> might you need an actual voltage converter. <S> But that wasn't what the question asked about. <A> Look at the device. <S> If it says 120-240V, you're all set <S> It may say a wider range like 100-240V (or 90-264V which is that +/-10%). <S> 100V comes from Japan, if you're wondering. <S> Your Apple branded chargers will all be multi-voltage. <S> Third party chargers may vary, but in all probability, they're multi-voltage too because of the magic of switching power supplies. <S> Since they are multi-voltage, all you need is an adapter to physically connect the US prongs to the UK socket. <S> This device will contain only copper and plastic. <S> Beware cheap Cheese junk; look for the mark of competent testing labs such as UL, CSA, BSI, TUV, ETL, etc. <S> Most things care about voltage. <S> Some things also care about frequency. <S> So check each device individualy . <S> You've seen C7. <S> It's is the little socket used on everyone else's laptop power supplies, tape recorders, projectors etc. <S> On some Apple adapters, you can remove the plug portion. <S> That exploses an inlet* for IEC C7. <S> You've seen C7 before. <S> You can use any run-of-the-mill IEC C7 cord , or you can get different Apple plug modules for different countries that snap in just like the original, if you don't want to drag a cord around. <S> The standard, bulky UK socket is called a BS1363 <S> It's much more productive to search for "BS1363" than "G". <S> So for instance you might search for a C7 to BS1363 cord. <S> Note a couple unique things about BS1363 that differ from the compact US sockets: <S> The BS1363 socket has a switch on it. <S> If the socket is dead, try the switch. <S> The BS1363 plug has a fuse in it. <S> Yeah. <S> Seriously. <S> So if nothing else is working, check the fuse. <S> * <S> Technically speaking, an "inlet for IEC C7" is C8, but let's not confuse the matter. <S> C7 is what you need.
| A neat and compact solution is a world travel adapter with built-in (twin) USB , better still if it's twin 2.2A USB Any run-of-the-mill IEC C7 cord will also do
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Do Kenya citizens need a transit visa for Egypt? I'm a Kenyan citizen travelling from Italy to Kenya via Egypt. Do I need a transit visa for Egypt? I will not be leaving the airport. <Q> If all of the following apply you don’t need a transit visa : <S> You are transiting through HBE Alexandria airport <S> Your transit time is less than 6 hours <S> You don’t leave the transit area to recheck luggage and don’t pass through customs/immigration If any of the above criteria don’t apply you need a transit visa. <A> You may not need a transit visa if you will be staying for less than 12 hours and remain at the airport for the duration of your stay.[Soure: Egypt Transit Visa Eligibility & Requirements ] <A> The answer is not clear. <S> Entering the OP's data into Timatic returns the following: <S> TWOV <S> (Transit Without Visa): <S> They must stay in the international transit area of the airport and have documents required for the next destination. <S> Visa required, except for Passengers with a confirmed onward ticket for a flight to a third country within 48 hours. <S> They must have documents required for the next destination. <S> This TWOV facility does not apply when transiting through Alexandria (HBE). <S> The first paragraph says TWOV is permitted at HBE under the conditions presented in Daniil's Answer . <S> The third paragraph, however, says TWOV is <S> not permitted at HBE. <S> I don't know how to resolve this. <S> There's more uncertainty further down in the same Timatic report. <S> The following text appears: Passport required. <S> Nationals of Kenya are allowed to enter with an expired passport. <S> When nationals of Kenya travel with an emergency passport, a national ID card or a temporary passport, it must be valid on arrival. <S> Passport Exemptions: <S> Nationals of Kenya with a national ID card. <S> Nationals of Kenya with a machine-readable temporary passport <S> VISA NOT REQUIRED. <S> Minors: <S> Passport not required for minors registered in the parent/guardian's passport if traveling with the passport owner. <S> If minor is traveling on a passport of a parent For details, click here <S> Warning: - Passports and other travel documents accepted for entry are considered valid until the day before the expiration date. <S> It's not clear if the capitalized words "VISA NOT REQUIRED" apply to the sentences above (in which case a visa for Kenyans is not required), or if the words apply to the sentences below (in which case Minor travelers don't require a separate visa. <S> The latter interpretation seems more likely, as the report's previous use of capitalized text — such as "TWOV (Transit Without VISA):" at the top of the Timatic report — must necessarily refer to the text that follows, as there's no text preceeding. <S> I was unable to find a live web link to the Egyptian Embassy in Kenya. <S> Given Timatic's uncertainty, the OP should inquire directly of his air carrier for the Italy <S> > <S> Egypt leg what documentation will be required to allow boarding. <S> If the OP is risk-averse, he should apply for an Egyptian visa or transit visa.
| Visa required, except for Passengers transiting through Alexandria (HBE) with a boarding pass for a flight to a third country within 6 hours.
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I didn't do any exit passport control when leaving Japan. What should I do? I left Japan today on a 3 month tourist visa (I am a US citizen). I guess I was following some other people, or perhaps even I was just waved on, but I didn't speak with the exit passport controller when leaving Kansai International Airport. So, nobody scanned or stamped my passport to confirm that I was leaving. Was this a mistake, and if so, do I need to contact anybody and tell them that I am no longer in Japan? I plan on going back next year so I'd like to resolve any potential issues as soon as possible. <Q> I called the immigration office at KIX, and apparently, as of about a week ago , they are using automated facial recognition gates to quickly check out people staying on temporary visas, so I will not get a stamp. <S> I had been to Japan multiple times before and got the stamp and spoke with an officer, hence my concern. <A> Managing to leave Japan without an exit stamp or having your passport inspected at all is extremely irregular , and I'm quite astonished that you managed to do so, especially by accident. <S> You are almost certainly registered as still being in Japan and, if you do nothing to fix this, likely to run into a lot of trouble the next time you visit. <S> Office contact details are available here: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/info/ Per the site above individual information will not be disclosed by email, so you'll need to call, and I'd start by just stating that you noticed there's no exit stamp on your passport and.you wanted to confirm that your exit was correctly recorded. <S> However, in your shoes I would definitely insist on a written statement that this has been all sorted out. <S> I would also expect that they will -- with some justification -- blame you <S> at least in part and more probably than not ask you to write a " gomen nasai " apology letter for (unwittingly) violating the law, but I would not expect other lasting consequences if your record is clean and your story otherwise checks out. <S> Update: <S> The OP has clarified that they used the new automated exit gates, which indeed do not stamp your passport (and my bad for not remembering this, since I used one last month when I flew out of HND!). <S> However, using the gates most definitely does require scanning your passport, it's just done by a machine and not a human. <A> As jpatokal says, you should contact the appropriate authorities in Japan. <S> However, something else you should do is to collect evidence of your departure. <S> If the Japanese authorities accuse you of overstaying, you should have evidence that you didn’t. <S> You should keep your boarding passes and any receipts from airport purchases etc. <S> Perhaps your passport was stamped on arrival in another country after you left Japan. <S> If there is a Japanese embassy or consulate near you, you could go there in person in order to demonstrate unequivocally that you are no longer in Japan. <S> Ask them to give you some written document saying that you were not in Japan on that date.
| Your best bet would likely to be to contact the Immigration bureau at the airport you left from , in your case Kansai (tel. +81-724-55-1453) and ask for their guidance on how to sort this out.
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Why are seats at the rear of a plane sometimes unavailable even though many other seats are available in the plane? Why are seats at the rear of a plane sometimes unavailable even though many other seats are available in the plane? Example (see the last three rows): I have seen cases where a fair amount of rear seats are marked as occupied while many other seats weren't. I don't think this is a group of people as they could have gotten adjacent seats somewhere else in the plane, and typically nobody wants the last row since the seat cannot recline. The screenshot above was taken for American Airlines (AA) 1717 , which uses Airbus A320-100/200 and flies from Charlotte (CLT) to Baltimore/Washington (BWI). <Q> I work for an airline. <S> Let me offer a much simpler explanation: <S> The seats are taken by other passengers. <S> Seats in the rear are popular because they are close to the lavatory. <S> Depending on the airline, it may also be the first rows to be served in-flight meals. <S> One of the comments questions the pricing scheme. <S> Airlines have plenty of data to determine their pricing strategies. <S> We can aggregate months of data to see which seats are popular. <S> That's thousands of flights. <S> One of the answers state this is done for Weight and Balance consideration. <S> This is incorrect. <S> A modern airplane, like an A320, has a wide enough envelope for us to not worrying about that when selling seats. <S> And, if necessary, the operations department can offset it by loading cargo forward or backward. <S> It may happen that we have to ask passengers to move seats, but it is exceptionally rare . <S> While it is true that certain seats may be blocked for operational reasons, I doubt any airline does this on a frequent basis. <S> Seats are money. <S> With profit margins being so low and the industry so competitive, blocking 10 seats on each of your flights is like shooting yourself in the foot. <S> Deadhead crew is a possibility. <S> However, to have 10 deadhead crew occupying revenue seats, someone in the roster department has screwed up. <S> My guess, based on OP's screenshot, is that a rather large group is traveling together, and they have all selected the rear seats. <A> In long flights, in airplanes that has no crew rest area (bunks) such as A330, airlines reserve the seats at the rear of the airplane for the crew to take rests (shifts). <S> In case the flight was a long haul flight, this could be the reason why the last row is blocked. <S> However, it is clear that the airplane layout you posted is not a wide-bodied airplane and cannot operate a long haul, it could be blocked due to many other reasons: Deadhead crew, a crew that is scheduled to be re-positioned to another location to operate a flight from there, new crew scheduling systems are integrated with reservation systems to book the seats automatically. <S> I assume they book the worst seats for them. <S> Simply defective seats. <S> Weight and balance Storage (seen it in one airline where extra equipment was in the rear seats) <S> Stretcher case (for a sick passenger) where a few seats are reclined and transferred into a bed. <A> Note: for more details, you should ask a similar question to Aviation SE. <S> Airplanes must have the centre of gravity within some limits, and for operational reasons (costs), it is much better to have it much nearer of wings. <S> For this reasons, airlines prefer to put people near wings, and they prefer not to have many people in the rear (with nearly empty airplane). <S> It is the same reason that if you ask to change seat, you may need to return to your seat for landing. <S> Note: because airplanes are (often) longer on the tail then on the nose (compared to wings, which lift the airplane), the back part is much more critical. <S> [On airplanes with rear engines, like many business jets, the contrary is true]. <S> As @dunni wrote in as commentary in an other answer, recently EASA mandates <S> some corrective action on some Airbus 320 neo, so BA, Luftansa (and maybe others) keep the last row empty (but just the last row). <S> This is just a temporary "hack" until the software about load balance is corrected (and so also loading is done differently). <A> Note: After OP revealed the aircraft type in an edit to this question, this answer is no longer applicable to this specific case. <S> Leaving it here as it certainly applies to other cases with different aircraft. <S> This could just be the plane’s seating layout coupled with the airline wanting to keep three identically spaced columns and at least 26 rows for whatever reason. <S> Possibly row 24 is 3+2, row 25 is 1+1 and row 26 isn’t actually a thing. <A> Source : How to survive a plane crash (Telegraph) <S> For whatever truth there is in those findings, it matters only that the general public have internalized this idea as a truth so people tend to select rear seats preferentially on this basis.
| At the back of the fuselage planes get thinner and there is often not enough space for the same seating arrangements used further ahead. To add to the other answers, rear seats tend to fill up first because in a crash...
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Is it possible to do a low carb diet for a month in Sicily? I will be working in Sicily, Italy for about a month. Specifically, in Messina. I very much enjoy my keto diet. I assume I will be socializing and going to restaurants with my coworkers. Will it be possible, both practically and culturally, to eat mostly meat and vegetables while there? Like for example, when they bring me to a restaurant for dinner, will most restaurants have a "hunk of meat" dish? If I eat only veggies, will everyone look at me like I'm crazy? <Q> I don't know about Sicily specifically but in most of Italy this would not be much of a problem. <S> Italians are big on fruits, vegetables, meat & fish. <S> Of course they are even bigger on pasta and pizza :-). <S> A typical Italian restaurant menu has multiple sections: antipasti (appetizers), primi (lots of pastas), secondi (generally meats, fish), contorni or insalata (vegetables and salads), formaggi (cheese course), and dolci (desserts). <S> Almost all restaurants have full sized salads and many appetizers that are carb free or low in carbs. <S> Primi are carb monsters: pasta, gnocchi, etc but Secondi tend to be mostly meat or fish and veggies. <S> It may cost you though: Secondi tend to be the most expensive things on the menu. <S> A "hunk of meat" does not come cheap in Italy: they often value quality over quantity. <A> For example, one of the primi piatti (often pasta) and then one of the secondi piatti (often meat or fish without many sides). <S> It is very normal to have one or the other rather than both, maybe with an antipasto or a dessert. <S> ( http://www.taste-of-italy.com/2014/12/antipasto-primo-secondo-how-to-order.html ) <S> Only ordering from the secondi piatti will likely get the sort of diet you are looking for <A> Sicilian here. <S> Consider it basically a non-issue. <S> In Catania and Palermo there are even a few "Keto-Inspired" restaurants where you can require which caloric intake you're going for, but for the most part I can't think of any restaurant/tavern/pub that isn't serving beef/meat with salad. <S> Actually, I think the opposite is way more uncommon.
| It is quite typical in Italy to have meat and carbohydrates as separate courses.
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Transportation from Barcelona Airport (BCN) to downtown (Eixample area)? We are a group of 8 visiting Barcelona at the end of October. We want to find out what is the cheapest/efficient way to transport from BCN airport to Eixample area where our hotel is located? <Q> Most efficient way <S> The most efficient way is to take a taxi which costs around £25 one way. <S> (Around £6.25 per passenger). <S> The taxi takes 14 minutes. <S> Cheapest way <S> A2/46 <S> which takes around 30 minutes and can cost as little as £2. <S> Alternative routes can be viewed on Rome2rio . <A> Given the current political situation (as of the 15th of October), I'd watch carefully the news to see how events unfold. <S> Do not assume infrastructure will work according to plan. <S> There are plenty of political rallies against Catalan separatist leaders' prison terms. <S> Some of these demos turn violent, and they are blocking partially the roads to the airport and trains. <S> Indeed, it's also possible your flight gets cancelled. <A> It's definitely worth checking out how far your hotel is from the Metro. <S> You pay a bit of an airport premium taking it from BCN. <S> For a lot of people, it's still going to be the sweet spot between cost and convenience, unless you have an excessive amount of baggage. <S> https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/maps/barcelona-metro-map.html
| Alternatively, if you want a cheaper way, you can take the bus
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Is there anything stopping me from checking into my flight twice? When I'm busy, checking in to my flights via the web is often convenient. I get my boarding passes sent right to my phone and I don't need to worry about printing them before arriving to the airport. However, I also like collecting physical copies of my boarding passes. They're cool momentos of my travels more than anything else, and when I get the chance to print them out, I typically do. My question is, if I've already checked into my flight on my phone, can I print another set of boarding passes at the airport? I do like the official airport paper ones most. To make this question more general, consider the unfortunate situation of your phone dying. Having a backup physical copy of your boarding pass could save the day. In essence, is there anything stopping me from making another boarding pass at the kiosk after I've checked in beforehand? <Q> Have done this so many times, with many, many airlines. <S> I often check in online in case I'm delayed by traffic etc, at least I've bought myself some time - <S> but if I get there on time, I too like to get the actual boarding pass. <S> Also for 18 months I worked for an airline in Australia, had to fly regularly <S> and we'd regularly reprint, change, update and cancel boarding passes - outside at check in, at the service desk, and even at the gate, depending on the situation. <A> You have the same seat and the same sequence number. <S> You only print your boarding pass twice. <A> Some airlines even enable you to "check-in" multiple times online or in their mobile app, and give you the option of changing your seat each time you do. <S> Subsequent "check-ins" after the first one are really just updates of your check-in. <S> If you look at your boarding pass, there's usually a "sequence number" (often marked SEQ , but sometimes just a 3-digit number) which shows your rank in the check-in order, and this won't change. <S> Getting a printed boarding pass at a kiosk or desk is quite common, even if you checked in online. <S> It is extremely common if you have bags. <S> Some airlines will now try to cut on the waste and avoid printing a boarding pass if you have already checked-in (unless you ask), but many still do, especially as it makes it easier to put the luggage sticker stubs somewhere useful. <S> Some of the low-cost airlines may be a bit more tricky, as they may want to charge you for checking in at the airport or printing a boarding pass, sometimes outrageous amounts, but I have yet to see an incumbent that will have an issue. <A> No. <S> I do this all the time. <S> Reissuing boarding passes is routine; they're easy to lose, after all.
| No, but it is not considered as a double checkin.
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Can you use a virtual credit card to withdraw money from an ATM in the UK? I'm contemplating getting a virtual credit card from a provider with more competitive exchange rates & fees for visiting the UK. The provider does support the popular smartphone payment apps, so it's possible to pay in (some) stores. Can I withdraw GBP from a UK ATM this way, or do I need a physical card to withdraw money from an ATM? In case it's relevant, the specific providers I have in mind are Revolut and Google Pay, but I'll be happy with any answer that says "it only works if you use so-and-so provider instead of those two". <Q> Alternatively to an ATM, you can ask for cashback in stores. <S> The way this works is that after scanning your items, you can ask the person at the till for cashback of X amount (normally smaller amounts work better as they might not have enough in the tills/the app of your choice might have a cap), they then add that to the purchase amount, charge the contactless payment (in this case Google Pay as you mentioned), and give you the money from the till. <S> I've done this many times before with Google and Samsung Pay without an issue, no physical card needed. <S> The easiest place to do this is at chain stores such as Tesco, Lidl, Morrisons etc as they are very used to it and the large ones are open 24 hours a day. <A> You may want to check out Transferwise. <S> They can provide a real Mastercard that you can use in store and in ATMs, which is backed by their "borderless" account with competitive fees in many situations (though ATM withdrawals are free only up to £200 per month). <A> While the accepted answer is correct (I use a TransferWise card), the user specifically mentioned Revolut. <S> Revolut provides a debit Mastercard (just like TransferWise) <S> and I have used it across the EU (and in the UK...). <S> TransferWise may be available to users from more countries. <S> My wife (Canadian, non-UK-resident) is not permitted a UK card, and uses my Revolut at UK ATMs, but she has a TransferWise account <S> (I don't know if she could get a TransferWise debit card). <S> My favourite is Curve, because it charges back to a credit card, and I switch between my UK MasterCard and my Canadian Visa, depending where I am; and I never have to load it up like Revolut or TransferWise. <S> The downside is that I know you can't get one of those if you are not a resident of the EEA. <A> I just noticed today that a self-service checkout in a Swedish supermarket, where you can pay with either card or cash, now had the option to withdraw money from it. <S> It's the first time I've ever seen it <S> and I guess these could be found in the UK, maybe now maybe later. <S> I know Tesco have self service machines that handle cash. <S> So if you are like me, living without a wallet, then those are a good and speedy option. <S> If you can't find any machines like these then your only options are to ask cashiers for a withdrawal, or to send money to someone you trust and ask them to withdraw it.
| There are a few banks that allow you to withdraw from their own ATMs without a card (usually as an "emergency withdrawal service", with a code you get via telephone banking), but other than that, as far as I am aware, you most definitely need a physical card to withdraw from an ATM.
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Is the tap water in France safe to drink? I am planning to travel to France. When I have traveled recently, I often find myself drinking a lot of water after a lot of walking. Sometimes buying water can be expensive, especially in central areas. I have recently thought about filling up my water bottle in the hotel sink, but was unsure how safe it was. So is the tap water in France (specifically Toulouse) safe to drink? <Q> Tap water (“eau du robinet”) is always safe to drink, unless you have a sign that says otherwise (“eau non potable” is the most common), which is often the case in public bathrooms for instance. <S> Note that in most restaurants for instance, tap water is always an option (“une carafe d’eau”). <S> Whether it’s actually “good” is mostly a matter of taste, and of course it will vary locally based on the origin of the water. <S> Note that if you want to buy bottled water in any supermarket, a large bottle (usually 1.5l) is nearly always cheaper than a small one (way less than one euro for the former, always more than one for the latter), though the smaller ones may be sold refrigerated as well. <A> In 2017 the "linternaute" did some tests on water quality in some big French cities. <S> They wrote an article (in French) about it. <S> They also tested the water quality in Toulouse which seemed to be very good. <S> Personally I would drink water from the tap throughout France, never got sick <S> and I have been on vacation there every year in different places. <S> A rough translation of the text on the page: <S> L'unique réseau alimentant cette commune du Sud-Ouest en eau le fait avec <S> moins de 5% d'analyses non-conformes suivant les dernières analyses des Agences régionales de santé, en terme de "limites de qualité <S> " (les critères pour lesquels des normes non-respectées peuvent représenter un danger pour la santé). <S> Un argument de plus pour inciter les Toulousains à consommer l'eau du robinet, un geste bien plus écologique que l'eau en <S> bouteille <S> , effet de serre oblige : <S> l'eau minérale en bouteille parcourt 300 kilomètre par <S> an en moyenne dans les camions-bennes. <S> Le prix de l'eau du robinet à Toulouse est le troisième moins cher au m³ parmi les villes de plus <S> de 100 000 habitants à la qualité de l'eau du robinet "bonne pour 100% des réseaux" en France. <S> The single network feeding this southwest commune with water does so with fewer than 5% of non-conforming analyses, according to the latest analyses of the regional health authorities, in terms of "limits of quality" (the criteria for which broken standards can represent a health danger.) <S> Another argument for Toulousains to consume tap water, a much more ecological action than bottled water, is the greenhouse effect: bottled mineral water travels 300 km per year on average in trucks. <S> The price of tap water in Toulouse is the third cheapest per cubic meter among the cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants for which all networks in the area had "good" quality of tap water. <A> Yeah, I do it every time I visit and have never had an issue. <S> I see all the locals doing the same thing, the restaurants serve us tap water and the schools have drinking fountains from the same thing. <A> You can get a rough estimation of how safe tap water in a country is by looking at the WHO map detailing the use of safely managed drinking-water sources. <S> Roughly, tap water is OK in countries with >75% of population using safe water sources. <S> This threshold will indeed depend on how certain you choose to be, and the location you stay at. <S> E.g. in decent hotels, tap water will usually be fine even in countries which are just above 50%, because such hotels will have above-average water quality. <S> If you're staying in a sleazy motel on a countryside, it wouldn't be unreasonable to refrain from drinking fresh tap water in countries where less than 90% of water sources are safe. <S> For my level of risk aversion, filling up a bottle from an hotel sink in Toulouse would be fine. <A> But I have a personal rule <S> : do not drink tap water in any place when I am traveling. <S> Why? <S> It could be safe for local residents, but the water could have microorganisms that your body never saw before. <S> I already had issue during trips for different countries and lost part of my vacation staying sick. <S> So, usually I buy a big bottle of water and use my small bottle in my backpack
| I agree that the tap water is safe in the most of countries.
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Can I take the 105 bus into Heathrow Central Bus Station? I'm staying at the Premier Inn on Bath Road the night before my flight out of Heathrow T3. I don't really want to have to fork over £5 per person for the Hotel Hopper bus since I have a travelcard that covers all TfL buses. According to Google, I should take the 111 bus from Oxford Avenue (Stop H) to get there, but since I have little trust for TfL services running as scheduled I would prefer to have a backup option in case the 111 doesn't show up in a timely fashion for whatever reason. Apparently Oxford Avenue bus stop is also served by route 105, in theory doubling my chances of catching a bus without waiting too long at the bus stop, however according to TfL's website, despite the 105 leaving Heathrow Central Bus station to head off towards Greenford, when going towards the airport it terminates just outside at Nene Road. To me this doesn't make a whole heap of sense (since the bus has to go into the station to start the route out, why wouldn't it take passengers in?) so I was wondering if anybody had any first-hand experience that could confirm one way or another. https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/105?direction=inbound TfL's website shows route 105 starts at Heathrow https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/105?direction=outbound But doesn't end there <Q> The 105 does in fact go to Heathrow Central bus station. <S> As to why TfL's website incorrectly states otherwise I couldn't say <A> I have used the 111 before and it is pretty reliable. <S> Whenever I had to depend on it, it came on time <S> but it’s <S> still good to have a second option. <S> As to why the 105 doesn’t go to Heathrow Central Bus Station, I’m not sure <S> but I can confirm it doesn’t go all the way. <S> Maybe not enough bus stands or stops there/ <S> no place for it to park? <S> As to an alternative, you will need to do a bit of walking. <S> There are several options presented with Citymapper (iOS app). <S> Your one bus only choices: <S> 12 minute walk to Harlington Corner <S> Stop J and take the 140 or 285 12 minute walk to Hatton Road North <S> Stop M and take the 285 <S> (all of those buses go to Heathrow Central Bus Station) <A> Note : This answer is posted after the OP has obtained first hand experience, simply for the sake of noting down what I have found in my brief research. <S> Short version : Yes, despite the TfL journey planner and route list saying 105 does not go into Heathrow for outbound (from Greenford, to Heathrow) trips, Bus 105 does go into Heathrow Central Bus station according to multiple sources, including some from TfL themselves. <S> Document from TfL says yes <S> A 2011 public consultation from TfL on route 105 included a map that clearly shows that outbound bus (from Greenford) goes all the way into Heathrow Central Bus station: <S> While the consultation result is not available on the page, given the route no longer serves The Compass Centre (see the route of 105 ), the change is clearly introduced. <S> There are no further consultation on route 105 as of the moment this answer is typed, and hence it is not possible for them to permanently alter the route between then (and in the near future). <S> Data from TfL says yes Someone has submitted a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to TfL, asking for the times that 105 buses has departed each stop in first half of 2018. <S> The response from TfL contained a spreadsheet, in Direction 1 (from Greenford to Heathrow), Heathrow Central Bus Station is on the last column, with the times recorded usually a few minutes after the previous stop Nene Road (purportedly the terminal). <S> As the TfL Bus account do apologise if buses cannot get pass the tunnel into Heathrow (emphasis mine): <S> Route 105 111 140 285 U3 X26 returned to line of route following East Ramp Heathrow protest (Nov 2016) Heathrow Tunnel - Routes A10, U3, X26, 285, 105, 111, 140 are terminating early & unable to serve Heathrow due to a car stuck in the tunnel (Nov 2015) <S> Bus fans says yes Multiple videos and photos uploaded recently shows that the buses themselves are advertised to go to Heathrow Central. <S> Example video from BusesInLondon (June 2018): Link Example photo from Adan Matthews (circa 2018/2019 by registration plate of the bus): <S> Link Example photo from hassaanhc (Mar 2019): Link
| Communications from TfL says yes A quick search on Twitter suggests Heathrow-bound 105 buses do go into Heathrow.
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Can I take the high-speed bullet train Beijing–Hong Kong under Chinese 144 h visa-free transit rules? In a few days I should go fly to Beijing and then would like the 8 hour train from Beijing to Hong Kong using 144 TWOV. The issue is that I have read a lot of articles/discussions online about people getting denied with having Turkish stamps in their passport. The second issue is that I would like to take the high speed bullet train from Beijing West to Hong Kong, but I also read that this train doesn't qualify and only the slow 24 hour train qualify. Third issue that doesn't help to these two previous are final destination Hong Kong, since the growing anti-Chinese protests in Hong Kong. Should I ditch the fly ticket and move on or risk it and go? <Q> The important point is where you will pass through immigration. <S> The 144-hour visa-free transit requires that you stay within a certain area of your arrival point, and depart the country from within that same area. <S> For Beijing, that means that you must stay within the Beijing/Tianjin/Hebei area - which obviously does not include the vast majority of the distance to Hong Kong! <S> As you've said, there are a few options for trains to Hong Kong. <S> The high-speed "G" trains which take around 9 hours, and the conventional "Z" trains which take around 24 hours. <S> Other than the speed, these trains are also different in where you pass through immigration. <S> For the high-speed G trains, both Chinese and Hong Kong immigration occurs in Hong Kong. <S> This means that these trains are NOT eligible for the 144 hour visa-free transit, as you are travelling across much of China before officially exiting the country - which is not allowed under this visa-free transit. <S> However for the slower Z trains, you pass through immigration in Beijing before departing - which meets the requirements of the visa-free transit. <S> The 144 hours visa program is only available to citizens of 53 countries , which does not include Turkey. <S> However, as long as you are a citizen of one of those countries then having a Turkish visa in your passport should not be an issue. <S> I have multiple Turkish visas in my passport, and have never had a problem entering China. <A> While Doc’s answer covers the most important formalities, in case you are interested why you can only take the slower Z sleeper train, <S> The Man in Seat 61 has the answer: <S> The fast G train calls multiple times between Beijing and Hong Kong , making it a ‘normal’ train. <S> TWOV rules require you to stay in a small area of the country (i.e. the Beijing area) <S> but once you’re on that train you could just exit anywhere en route and defy the rules. <S> The slow Z sleeper train has <S> no passenger stops between Hong Kong and Beijing . <S> To quote: The train stops twice between Beijing and Hong Kong <S> but you can't get off the train for a smoke or small walk as they lock the doors. <S> That’s <S> also why they can do immigration formalities at Beijing West: they know that everybody <S> who boards that train will leave China. <S> Thus, that is indeed an international departure in the Beijing area. <S> (In actual operation, the Hong Kong train gets coupled to one from Guangzhou. <S> While passengers between Guangzhou and Beijing can board or alight at any intermediate station, passengers going to our coming from Hong Kong can only board or alight at Beijing.) <A> There are 2 issues here: <S> You have to make sure you're holding a passport in the list of eligible countries, having <S> a Turkish visa stamp on your passport doesn't matter but having a Turkish passport will NOT make you eligible for this program <S> If you use the 144 hour visa, you can only stay within the administrative precincts of your port of entry (Beijing), so getting on a train to Hong Kong would likely violate that
| Thus it IS possible to catch these trains to Hong Kong using the 144-hour visa free program.
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Why is Iceland Air's Saga Premium product classified as Business class? Other than lounge access, I can't see anything in the product that's different from other Premium Economy product. The seats aren't even 180 degree recline! Sure, they are cheaper than business class fares in other airlines, but it feels a bit disingenuous on Iceland Air's part to call it "business" in the first place <Q> It's not. <S> Here's what I see if I go to book a flight on Icelandair's website: <S> The premium cabin is sold as "Saga Premium," as also shown on their services page . <S> Their fleet pages depict "Saga Premium" and "Economy" classes, not business. <S> Which strikes me as fair. <S> It's clearly a premium service as compared to economy, even if there aren't all the benefits you could hope for. <S> They used to have a third "Economy Comfort" class in between, but it never made much sense, was weirdly inconsistent so nobody knew what they were actually getting, and they got rid of it . <S> As Carl notes in a related question , Saga Premium may show up as "business" on some third-party booking sites. <S> These sites are limited by the commonalities of the GDS booking systems and do not generally have the capability to display custom labels for cabin classes. <S> In Icelandair's case, they used to offer three classes until last year, so I suspect it made sense for them to map the now-discontinued Economy Comfort to "Premium Economy" and Saga Premium to "Business," since GDS systems don't let you make up arbitrary names. <S> Ultimately, there is no standard definition for the quality of service to be provided in any particular class, so it's something you have to research on an airline-by-airline and even flight-by-flight basis, as the product may depend on the route or aircraft being used. <A> This page sets out the different fare classes. <S> The difference between economy flex and saga premium: <S> Free headset <S> Free meals Free alcoholic beverages <S> Free champagne Free hot towels <S> 2 32 KG checked baggage vs 1 23 KG checked baggage 2 - 2 vs 3 - 3 seating Plug socket Priority check-in Lounge access <S> 3400 miles points for flights within Europe vs 2550 <S> 4800 miles points for flights to/from North America vs 3600 <A> Then the airline can call a ticket business-class. <S> What happens inside the airplane is really the airline's discretion and the level of services differs dramatically from airline to airline.
| The important external thing (for naming a booking class "Business class") is whether airports recognize it as business class (and get the appropriate fees for those passengers) and hence honor their business class services to those ticket holders.
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How can I list all flight numbers that connect two countries (non-stop)? How can I list all flight numbers that connect two countries (non-stop)? <Q> The Flightradar app allows you to search by route. <S> Searching for the route VVI (Bolivia Viru Viru International Airport) to ASU (Paraguay Silvio Pettirossi International Airport) brings up three flight numbers. <S> Outbound flights: <S> Z7741 <S> Z840 <S> Z8741 <S> Some of these flights go to MVD airport <S> but there is a direct flight every day. <S> Return flights: <S> Z7740 <S> Z8403 <S> Z8740 <S> There are also direct flights every day. <S> Alternative routes can be found on Skyscanner. <S> You may have to play around with the dates to get two direct flights. <S> If you search the flight numbers and you know what dates the flights are you can get a price of around £355 return depending on the dates: In Skyscanner you can search for specific countries, for example Bolivia to Paraugay: <A> All of these methods are only practical if there are really very few flights between the two countries. <S> So if you want a list of all flight numbers between the USA and Canada, you'll have to come up with something yourself :) <S> On the flight search engine kiwi.com , you can enter entire countries as both origin and destination, and you can specifically look for non-stop flights. <S> If you then restrict your date range to maybe one week at a time (in order not to be shown the same flight dozens of times, just on different days), you should get a pretty accurate list of flights between the two countries. <S> If you have an idea <S> what the origin airport might be <S> (e. g. the largest airport in the origin country), flightconnections.com can display all routes from that airport on a map, allowing you to see the routes to the country you want. <S> After clicking on a destination airport, hovering over a date in the calendar on the left will show you all flights on that date. <S> Finally, adding on to Daniil's answer, if you already know that there is only one route between the two countries, you don't have to go to Flightradar24 to see the corresponding flight number. <S> Just enter "flight time XXX YYY" on Google , where XXX and YYY are the codes of the origin and destination airport. <S> A list of the flights will be at the top of your search results. <S> In this particular case however, the flight numbers and timings given by Google do not seem to agree entirely with the airline's website. <A> In this case, it's easy since Paraguay is small and apparently has only one airport that serves international commercial flights. <S> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Paraguay <S> In Paraguay that's only for and only Asuncion (ASU) is the only one that connects outside the country. <S> Click on that <S> and you get a convenient map of all non-stop routes from ASU inclucing one to Santa Cruz, Bolovia (VVI) which is currently served by Amaszonas and Fly Africa. <S> For two larger countries, that search would be rather difficult. <S> You probably would have to work your way through the larger hub airports one at a time.
| The easiest way would be to look at the map in flightconnections.com and click on the airports that show up.
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Use 230V 50Hz electronics in U.S.A I want to visit friends in U.S.A. and may stay there for maybe a month. I would like to bring my electronics with me and need to know how I could use them in America. They use 230 V, 50 Hz (I am from Germany). I think America uses 120 V, 60 Hz (a friend told me). I have seen travel adaptors however I fear putting 120V, 60Hz into my electronics (most don't do 120 V/60 Hz) and then breaking them. <Q> Many electronic power supplies will be "universal" and will work from 100 V to 240 V, 50 or 60 Hz. <S> If the device is universal then you only need an adapter for the plug. <S> If the device is 50 Hz only (unlikely) then it's going to be more trouble than it is worth to convert. <A> You need a step-up 120:230 transformer with a suitable VA rating to cover all the devices you have that are not rated for universal mains input. <S> Computers, phone chargers etc typically are rated for 100 to 230V so they can be used world wide for example. <S> The mains frequency should not be an issue as very few devices rely on it for timing though I do have a clock that does. <S> My local merchant in the UK only stocks 1:1 and step-down transformers since few people in the UK have access to a 110/120V volt supply though they may have equipment requiring the lower voltage. <S> but it is unlikely to be a stock item. <A> As long as non of your electronics have an ac motor in them <S> (very unlikely) the frequency does not matter. <S> You just need to step up the voltage. <S> The cheapest way to to do that is to use an autotransformer. <S> This needs to be rated for the power that your electronics take <S> Your friend may be able to get you one before you arrive <S> They are probably cheaper in the US and they can be heavy. <S> You probably do not want to include it in your luggage. <A> From the comments it seems you are planning on bringing some devices which are quite old (playstation) and in some cases, not the usual portable devices (VCR) and which are labelled for 50 Hz only. <S> Nobody can guarantee you that they will work correctly. <S> It will be quite difficult to have 50 Hz power in the US. <S> Your best bet would be to bring an inverter from Germany with you. <S> You can buy a 12V power supply that runs on 120VAC at 60 Hz, and run the inverter from the power supply. <S> It is possible that some electronics labelled for 50 Hz will work at 60 Hz, but nobody can 100% guarantee this, and given the nature of your devices, which are now irreplaceable and could be museum pieces, I suspect you don't want to take any risk.
| If the device is 230 V only but will accept 50 or 60 Hz then you need a 120 to 230 V transformer with an adequate VA rating for all the devices you have. You need to check the label on each device and see what voltage and frequency can be used on them. Most builders merchants will stock suitable transformers but you may find it easier to obtain in the US. I'm sure you could order a step-up transformer in Germany
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Finding big cacti between Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles I was wondering if there are any huge cacti like these: (I believe they're called Saguaro or something, but I guess similar cacti are fine too) that one can see (in the winter) somewhere along the following route? San Diego - Palm Springs - Phoenix - Sedona - Tusayan - Page - Panguitch - Springdale - Las Vegas - Badwater - Los Angeles I'm aware about Saguaro National Park, but it's too far from Phoenix. <Q> Saguaro cactus are native specifically to the Sonoran desert . <S> This photo outlines where the Sonoran desert is located. <S> According to this TripAdvisor thread , you will not see them 20 minutes north of Phoenix. <S> They seem to stop growing above 3,000 feet above sea level. <S> You should be able to see them south of Sedona, along I-17 interstate highway. <A> Here's a screenshot from Google Street View showing a couple: <A> Your segment from Palm Springs to Phoenix will probably be along I-10, which passes through Blythe at the Colorado River between Yuma and Lake Havasu City. <S> There will be scattered saguaro all along that stretch of road and more densely populated patches just off the highway, especially to the south-east of Blythe in southern Arizona. <S> When I lived in Phoenix 50 years ago, the town (now "city") was lousy with saguaro, cholla, barrel cactus, and prickly pear characteristic of the Sonoran Desert. <S> The stretch of I-17 just north of Tucson is always a great place to see loads of them, but that is not part of your stated route. <S> I also suspect the Colorado River valley between Blythe & Lake Havasu City will not be part of your itinerary; if it were, you'd see all you'd want and more... <A> Leaving the Phoenix area to the east along Highway 60, there are many many Saguaro between Apache Junction and Superior. <S> Leaving the Phoenix area to the south along the I-10, once you leave the developed area (not too far south of Chandler), you again can see many of them, and can continue to see many of them all the way until you hit the border of New Mexico. <S> Leaving the Phoenix area to the west along the I-10 will have some visible near the interstate, though not in the profusion to the east or south of Phoenix. <S> Leaving the Phoenix area to the north along the I-17 will briefly have some visible, but the elevation rapidly climbs several thousand feet out of the valley, and you won't see many after that. <S> Your chosen route seems to be too far north to enounter Saguaro. <A> There is also Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden 10 miles away from downtown Las Vegas. <S> According to the pictures from Google Maps, there are some big cacti there <S> (I don't know whether they are Saguaro or not). <S> Those cacti are not quite "in the wild", but the question as I stated it does not specify whether I'm looking specifically for cacti in the wild. <S> (In fact I am, but nevertheless this answer may be useful to someone.) <A> You should definitely stop at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix; they have great specimens and information. <S> The South Mountain Park and Preserve in SW Phoenix has some great hikes with plenty of saguaros. <S> You can't go to Phoenix without seeing saguaros! <A> This isn't answering exactly what you asked, but if you are travelling through Palm Springs, and interested in the unique flora of the American southwest, you should make a side trip to Joshua Tree National Park , home to the a desert plant just as iconic and even more restricted in range than the saguaro. <S> ( image source )
| You can find Saguaro in South Mountain Park on the south side of Phoenix. The drive on I-17 between Sedona and Phoenix has wonderful views of saguaros from a car, but not places to hike among them.
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Tourist / simple city maps to print Is there any site that provides city maps adapted to be printed at home to an A4? I'm traveling to a country where internet access is hard to get and it would be very useful to carry those maps for the 7-8 cities that I will be visiting. For instance, to beforehand mark the places I want to see or where my hotel is. There are plenty of sites that offer high resolution maps to print as posters, but I need just some simple schema of the city. Note: I am travelling to Cuba but a general answer is okay. <Q> If you have a phone, you can download the maps (offline maps in Google Maps). <S> Often you find some tourist information with maps on airports/bus stations/train stations, but it doesn't seem your case. <S> If you are traveling with a car, take a GPS (offline maps) or buy a road guide: much less troubles. <S> An alternative is to go to a library, and get a guide and you can do copies of the relevant pages. <S> But often they do not have road maps, and the city maps are often confusing (no or bad overview map). <S> I really recommend you to use a GPS device or offline maps on your phone, so that you can select the scale (e.g. how to enter into a city, and to navigate to the right part, and then to the hotel). <A> There are various third-party services offering free printable maps based on OpenStreetMap . <S> Many of these services are listed at OSM on Paper . <S> There you can find, among others: <S> MyOSMatic Inkatlas Field papers and many more <S> The quality of OSM-based maps varies between different geographic regions but can be quite impressive. <A> I use an app called maps.me when I travel. <S> I can download in advance the data for an area I intend to be in and view it as needed off-line on a tablet or smartphone. <S> I can also do a screen shot and then print that if I want paper. <S> The app does navigation when off-line (but sometimes suggests weird unnecessary detours). <S> It also allows me to send corrections to Open Street Map, but its editor is not very well done. <A> There are many sites that have one or a few very good maps, of the cities these sites are for. <S> There are a few world wide maps, like Google and Open Street Map, which have a good standard but are not specialized in touristic maps. <S> In your case I would first look for touristic sites, tourist information -name <S> city- <S> and only next for the maps sites. <S> Those maps can be made more helpful by showing your hotel, those touristy things you want. <S> Whether it is restaurants, places to get money, museums or whatever, all those you want and non extra. <S> If you want you can print a poster size but frame the cut you want and print the screen. <S> (Sometimes you may want to use the 'print screen' option.) <S> And when in a hotel, do not hesitate to ask for a local map. <S> In many places they are happy to hand them out, in other places they do not, asking never hurts. <S> If you arrive in a city and do not (yet) have a map, you can take a photo of a public map with the information you need. <S> (On your phone, your camera or both.) <A> I've used the Printmaps.net editor for a travel photo book, they have highres PNGs (and <S> Illustrator/Photoshop files). <S> Here's a quick map of the Havana Malecón (itchy feet thinking of it): <A> Might not really be what you're looking for since it's not a printed map, but the two times I visited Cuba <S> It is a very detailed map of the whole of Cuba, it has all the street names I needed, the possibility to save points of interest and what I used often is the GPS-locator when sitting in a taxi. <S> It happened one time I got <S> kinda scammed when taking a cab to Havana Center, and I was dropped of a kilometer outside the old center just because it was easier for the driver. <S> Doesn't happen when you can see where you are with the GPS <S> turned on.(That's also the only one time I got scammed, it's an amazing island <S> I and I will return for sure) <A> A quick search and <S> I stumbled on this: <S> The PDF is a 50 pages road maps of Cuba; mostly of the roads outside the the main cities. <S> http://www.cubamappa.com/static/img/carte_guia/pdf_fr/atlas_guia_full.pdf seems to be an offshoot of a French travel site specializing : https://www.novelacuba.fr/
| There are also versions to print on OpenStreetMap, but I find them mostly useful for pedestrians, and BTW now I download their maps on my phone (with one of the many apps you can find). I used the Android app 'Map Of Cuba Offline'.
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Will the price change on Airbnb if I provide my ID later? Recently I booked an apartment on Airbnb and I paid the full amount of money. Then Airbnb asked me to provide some legal documents like ID to finish the procedure of booking, would the booking price change if I submit my ID like 2 weeks later? <Q> But, the host could cancel your booking if you ignore their request to send ID for weeks. <S> If you message them and explain why you can't provide it straight away they could be fine with that. <S> Whereas if the actual booking has not yet been confirmed and is awaiting the ID before doing so, it is as if you haven't pressed the book button at all, the process is not complete so the money won't leave your account, and anyone else could book it in the meantime. <S> This means that the price could change, or the home could be taken by the time 2 weeks is up. <S> The reply I got from Airbnb: <S> Hi Ucie, if the reservation is already confirmed, the price should not change. <S> Can you please send us your email address, so we can identify your account and check. <S> We’ll follow up from there. <S> If you message them at @airbnbhelp they should be able to confirm 100% what case your booking falls under, and they will be the only ones who can say for certain what will happen. <A> You should contact AirBnB support directly; make it clear to them and the host that you will add your valid ID (passport, drivers license...) <S> by such and such date. <S> I would assume (expect?) <S> that if by that time you have not entered your ID, the reservation will be canceled and your money will be refunded ( don't quote me, go to AirBnB support ) From AirBnB: <S> " If you need to come back and finish adding your ID later , that’s fine. <S> Just go to airbnb.com/verify and you can pick up where you left off." <A> Yes, the price could change. <S> By how much it will change, no-one will know. <S> After all, it could be sold already.
| It depends, if you have already paid like you have stated, and the booking has been confirmed , the price should not change according to Airbnb's reply on twitter. The booking isn’t complete until the ID is verified and until the booking isn’t complete the price could always change.
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Where is a celebration-free, little-to-no Christmas skiing destination during the holiday season? I'm trying to plan a skiing trip for Christmas holidays which is when I can use my work holidays, however I do not celebrate Christmas and I do not enjoy the whole consumerist/festive/you-name-it Christmas vibe. Checking a few resorts and packages in the Alps, it seems like they're all going to have massive huge celebrations in the mountains! So I'm considering going somewhere different where xmas isn't too big. Iran isn't an option for this trip as it's on the agenda for the next year Morocco seems to have snow at that time of the year, but I'm not sure what the resorts are like Russia is said to be hit and miss for skiing Flights to Uzbekistan are horrendously expensive Georgia is also similar to Uzbekistan (but less expensive) and since the lifts incident there last year I'm a bit skeptical about going there Turkey is probably one option, but I'd like to know if there are other destinations that I could consider, that would have affordable flights from Europe (no more than a few hundred Euro)? <Q> Well, Serbia and other countries that still use the Juliane calender celebrate Christmas on 7th of January, so that could be an option. <S> In Serbia there is the Kopaonik ski resort that is really good and has plentiful snow that time of the year. <S> Good luck <A> Japan? <S> Pretty cheap to fly to from anywhere in the world. <S> Fairly standard western country prices once you get there (certainly less than the Alps!) <S> Very good ski facilities and ski-worthy weather. <S> Christmas isn't particularly celebrated beyond a bit of themed advertising in shops. <S> Christmas is anormal work day for most people. <S> Japan in general is awesome. <A> Pakistan. <S> It has one of the most beautiful and scenic skiing slopes in the world. <S> Malam Jabba and Naltar to name a couple. <S> There are no Christmas based festivities either. <S> Your flight might be costly but that’s just about it. <S> Rest of the stuff isn’t costly. <S> Malam Jabba Courtesy: <S> dawn.com <S> Naltar <S> Courtesy: Wikimedia Google for Shimshal, Rattu, Nathia Gali, Astore and you will have numerous options. <S> Good Read <A> In general, you cannot find such thing. <S> This is independent if in the destination Christmas is celebrated or not. <S> The same for flights ( <S> but here if you add few extra days, on both end, you can get easily the cheap prices). <S> I assume you are looking ski holidays in Christmas period for the same reason: you (like many people) have free days on such period. <S> I recommend you to work as much as possible on such period, and do holidays in January <S> (if possible, no kids) <S> : you will find good place to ski (because they need to prepare all slopes for Christmas, and be ready for the February holiday period). <S> In such period you have much cheaper holidays (in general, not only on sky regions), but on ski regions you have very very few tourists [but on week ends]. <A> You could try Russia. <S> There are several Ski Resorts . <S> The week of 25th December is very quiet as Christmas is celebrated on 7th January. <A> It's OTT to say they will all have massive huge celebrations. <S> Russia may have a lot of -20'C at that time. <S> Serbia may have small snowfall till January as it's southerly. <S> If you check the events time-table of the stations from their website, and research photos/videos for "skitown noel/christmas 2018" to see the atmosphere, and see if they have a swimming resort for the kids if the weather is bad. <S> The ski-conoisseurs of the alps worry about snow depth at Christmas time, which is often not enough at lower altitudes, so wherever you go, make sure that it will have snowed enough by then. <S> North of the Alps should be cooler for snow. <S> Yes, Nearly all european stations will have an event on Christmas day and some street decorations for a couple of weeks, and New-Year fireworks. <S> Some stations only have a single day of events on the 25th called "christmas celebrations" and "new year fireworks" which is only one day of celebrations. <S> Here is a list of small french stations advised to avoid industrial atmosphere and chrismas celebrations, you can translate it to english, and probaby find similar discussions for Austria and the Baltic states. <S> https://www.skipass.com/forums/enmontagne/stations_ski_france/sujet-142512.html
| Christmas is a massive holidays around the world, often with holidays from schools, so you have many tourists that go around the world in such period, so nearly everywhere you will find price hike.
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Are some Optus kiosks in Sydney Airport a scam? In the international terminal of Sydney Airport there are several Optus kiosks. When I flew to Sydney for the first time, I didn't know that, and I proceeded to the first Optus kiosk I saw (assuming there is only one Optus kiosk in this terminal). I knew that there was a promotion ongoing that would get you 35GB of data for 15AUD (it was in July-August of 2019). However, when I asked the people at the kiosk about the cheapest plan, they said that 30GB for 40AUD was the cheapest plan. Assuming that the promotion I had in mind ended, I went ahead and purchased this plan. But then as I saw another Optus kiosk, and there was an ad "35GB for 15AUD; promotion valid until August 26" (I flew to Sydney well before August 26). So I was wondering if the kiosk I used was some kind of a scam? Here are some additional things I've noticed: That kiosk, as far as I understand, mainly targets Chinese and Indian tourists. (They were trying to get attention of Chinese and Indian people passing by by speaking to them in Mandarin and Hindi.) I was offered a 5AUD "student discount". I agreed. They said there was a 2AUD fee if I pay by card, I said ok. But the final amount I was charged, as per the receipt was more than 38AUD. 2AUD is more than 5.7% of 35AUD, which in hindsight I think is a ridiculously high fee. Plus I have no idea why I got charged more than 38AUD instead of 37AUD. I haven't found the kiosk I used on Google Maps. The kiosk that had an ad about 35GB for 15AUD is on Google Maps though. Also, the kiosk I used didn't look stationary (as opposed to the one which is on Google Maps). <Q> But definitely some dodgy behaviour there. <S> Not offering you the promotion when asked about the cheapest plan: technically they could have been telling the truth in that 30GB for $40 was the cheapest non-promotion plan at the time. <S> Regardless of legality still very shady. <S> Extra charges: <S> merchants are banned from imposing excessive surcharges on customers that use credit cards. <S> From the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) site : <S> The purpose of the ban is to stop businesses from charging payment surcharges that are excessive. <S> That is, from charging a customer more than what it costs the business to process the payment. <S> ... <S> Credit cards usually have a higher cost for businesses, and may cost the business up to 1-1.5 per cent for Visa and MasterCard, and between 1.5-2 per cent for an American Express card payment. <S> It is important to note that different businesses have different costs of acceptance. <S> In general, smaller merchants' costs may be higher than these indicative figures. <S> Check your receipt on what the breakdown of the $38 is. <S> I think $2 is definitely too high. <S> If you wish to take this further contact the merchant detailing the situation and how you want it to be rectified. <S> Make sure your own demands are reasonable. <S> If you and they can't come to an agreement contact the ACCC . <S> Let them know what steps you've taken to resolve the problem with the merchant. <S> This probably won't get you your money back <S> but it may help other travelers in the future. <S> When traveling it helps to do a little research beforehand. <S> I had some relatives come over in July <S> and I got them $10 sims (that came with a $23 rebate!) <S> that came with 30GB each and unlimited calls and SMS to any number in Australia. <A> The kiosk is real, it's Australian cell phone pricing that's the "scam". <S> Pricing plans are hideously complicated, change all the time, and it's common for there to be old plans that are not advertised anymore, but can still be activated if you say the right magic words to <S> the customer service rep. <S> This thread gives you some idea of the complexity: https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2687103 <S> So it's far more likely that the people you talked to either didn't know about the promotion you found, or were under instructions not to mention it proactively (scummy, but not quite "a scam"). <S> Credit card fees are also legal in Australia. <A> REAL SCAM!I think I went to same kiosk as you. <S> I was asking for a 7-day plan with 2-3GB, and they told me the price is $20. <S> Only when the staff inserted the sim and gave me back the card, I realized she sold me a Lebara sim. <S> She also charged extra $2 for service fee. <S> When I checked online, my plan (called as extra small) only costs $16. <S> I used to be in sydney before, but thag time I was given a vodafone sim in my country and on,h went to their kiosk to activate it. <S> They did NOT charge any service fee.
| Not a scam in the sense that they did provide a working sim and didn't run away with your money.
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Can I Check a Hand Truck on an Airplane/Amtrak? So I have this hand truck that I would like to bring home that I brought out in a car, but I am flying back. I figured I can't carry it on, but can I check it? It's about 50 inches tall, 21 inches wide at its widest point, and from the edge of the lip to the back of the wheel is 17 inches. Update:Okay follow-up question, can one bring it on/check it on Amtrak? I plan to fly with JetBlue or American Airlines. <Q> The four largest US airlines have the same maximum size for checked luggage: the length plus width plus height of the item may not exceed 62 inches. <S> ( Southwest United American Delta ) <S> Your hand truck is well over that, so you will most likely not be allowed to check it. <S> Some airlines might allow it for an extra fee, but my guess is that the fee may exceed the value of the item. <S> You may be better off buying one at your destination. <S> Craigslist suggests that used hand trucks go for about $100-200. <S> You might be able to sell this one where you are, to recoup some of the cost. <S> For Amtrak, the maximum size (again length plus width plus height) is 75 inches: see here . <S> You are over that as well. <S> (Note: <S> I found all of these very quickly by Googling for (airline name) + "baggage size". <S> You might try the same if you need to know the answer for any other airlines or transportation companies.) <A> I had a musical instrument in its case that measured almost a 100 linear inches. <S> Lufthansa took it but charged me excess baggage of about $200 (FRA -> JFK). <S> YMMV, especially on domestic routes. <A> You could use a cargo service like American Airlines cargo if you really want to take it. <S> Alternatively, airlines could take it as oversized luggage and charge a extra fee. <S> The baggage guidelines state: 2 free checked bags, up to 50 lbs and 75 linear inches (length + width + height) <S> Oversized baggage accepted for $20/bag (76-100 linear inches)
| Amtrak will take it as oversized baggage .
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My husband is Italian and I'm an African living in Italy with permanent stay. Can I travel to UK without visa? I'm married to an Italian, I'm an African living in Italy with permanent stay. Can I travel to UK without a visa? <Q> A couple of people have deleted their answers about article 10 residence cards because it is not clear whether you have an article 10 card. <S> But we can answer the question conditionally: <S> Your card is an article 10 card if it says carta <S> di soggiorno <S> di familiare di un cittadino dell'unione, which means "residence card of a family member of a union citizen. <S> " <S> The conditions for traveling to the UK with an article 10 card in lieu of a visa are given on the UK government site at Entering the UK as the holder of an Article 10 residence card . <S> It is unusual for EU countries to issue article 10 cards to the family members of their own citizens, but it does happen. <S> Some countries have decided to extend to the family members of their own citizens the same rights that they must grant to family members of other EU citizens, and Italy is such a country, so it is in fact likely in your case that the card is an article 10 card. <S> If, however, you established your residence in Italy before you met your husband, or independently of your relationship with him, then it is rather more likely that you card is not an article 10 card. <S> In that case, you will need a visa. <S> You can apply for an EEA family permit , which is free of charge and (supposed to be) issued under a simplified procedure. <S> As has been noted in the comments, the requirements for you to enter and remain in the UK will end at some point after the UK leaves the EU, so if you plan to travel after January 31, you should pay close attention. <S> Alternatively, if you do not want to be bothered with paying attention, you can apply for whatever visa is appropriate to the purpose of your trip (which you will also need to do if you will be traveling to the UK without your husband). <A> If your travel is after the Brexit date, there might be problems. <S> We do not know when Brexit will be, it might be this Thursday, and we do not know which, if any, transition rules apply. <S> While it is probable that there will be an orderly transition period and that EU citizens and their dependents won't be turned away at the border, anything is possible. <A> Whether or not you need a visa to travel to the U.K. depends on which country's passport you hold and the purpose of your visit. <S> This U.K. government website will help you determine the visa requirements: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
| You can enter the UK without a visa if you have an article 10 card and you are either traveling with your husband to the UK or joining him there.
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How do I call an 8-digit Singapore number from the US? I have an 8-digit Singapore cell phone number that I’d like to call. But I’m in the US, so my question is, what international calling code do I need to put before the 8 digits? <Q> Generally, you dial (international access code) <S> + (country code) <S> + (8 digit number). <S> The country code for Singapore is 65 (easy to google). <S> The international access code from the US is 011. <S> From a cell phone <S> the + key can replace the international access code. <A> Generally when calling internationally there are three parts to the number you dial. <S> In North america this is "011" (in much of the rest of the world it is 00). <S> When calling from a mobile phone you can use the special symbol "+" instead of the international dialing prefix, this is useful when your phone may be used in more than one country. <S> The country code for the country you are calling. <S> Singapore is 65. <S> The national number within the destination country. <S> In the case of singapore this is 8 digits long. <S> In some countries it is customary to write phone numbers including a national calling prefix which needs to be removed when putting the number into international form, but that doesn't appear to be an issue with singapore as they have no area codes in their phone system. <S> So your complete number from the US would be 011 65 XXXXXXXX <A> {International prefix} + {country code} + {number} <S> For Singapore, the country code is 65 <S> From a mobile device: +65 #### ####From a land line: 011 65 #### #### Side note: Since the country code for Canada/USA is 1 <S> you could dial those 9-digit numbers the exact same way: From a mobile device: +1 (212) <S> 555-5555From a land line: 011 1 (212) <S> 555-5555 <A> Since this is a travel forum, I would suggest downloading Skype (free) first and adding a bit of money to it (increments of around US$10) and calling through Skype out. <S> You just pick the country(Singapore in this case) from the drop-down list and it adds the country code and access code prefix (+65 in this case) for you. <S> It (as of the time of this writing) costs USD $0.023/minute plus a $0.049 connection fee, so you can talk your head off for cheap. <S> If the person on the other end uses a computer, you can talk for free, and no need to add money. <S> It's useful for calling people on phones just about anywhere from just about anywhere, and you can use Wifi or cellular service <S> provided <S> it's fast enough (VPN sometimes required). <S> It also allows you to call toll-free numbers that are usually not accessible at all from outside some defined calling area. <S> The 011 prefix you would use in the US and Canada to call overseas from a land line is not necessarily going to be the same if you're calling from another country, but fortunately cell phone networks have simplified things by just using the "+".
| The international dialiing prefix for the country you are calling from.
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What clothing should I bring to Mt. Titlis in Switzerland during December? I am visiting Mt. Titlis in Switzerland for a single day between the 15th of December to the 20th of December. The activities would include riding cable car but not skiing. What kind of clothing is required in this duration of the time period? <Q> In the Nordic countries, we use a layered clothing method, which has the benefit of being adjustable to the weather: First layer: <S> Moisture-wickening technical underclothing <S> Long underpants <S> Long sleeve undershirt Thin socks Second layer: <S> Warm and breathable Fleece jacket and underpants, wool socks <S> Thin wool gloves <S> Third layer: <S> Outer shell Windproof but breathing jacket and pants Thick waterproof two-finger gloves (separate thumb, and other fingers together) Waterproof shoes (eg. goretex) <S> Wool collar or wool scarf that covers your throat, ears and nose Wool or technical hat (beanie) <S> The first layer keeps you warm by removing any sweat and humidity (this is the worst type of cold feeling you can get - being wet and cold!). <S> The second layer keeps you warm even in the coldest of weathers. <S> And the third layer keeps wind and water away, which is essential in cold and/or wet snowy weather. <S> And even the best of warm clothes will be cold if the wind can go through it. <S> The adjustability is helpful, for example if in the morning it is -35 C, but according to the forecast it will warm up to -15 C in the afternoon. <S> Then you just dress up for -35 C in the morning, and in the afternoon, you will probably leave out the second layer. <S> Or if there is no wind or rain, and plenty of sun, you might leave parts of the outer shell out (probably the wool scarf, and windproof pants). <S> Or if you sweat so much that your lowest layer is all wet (despite it's moisture-wickening capabilities), you can remove the 1st layer altogether, and stay warm with the dry 2nd and 3rd layer. <S> Wool and fleece in particular have the added benefit of keeping you warm enough even if they get wet. <S> And they dry very quickly - but keep away from open fire, as they start to burn easily! <A> Winter mountain night temperatures are comparable with the temperature inside a freezer. <S> Daytime temperatures are no higher than those inside a fridge but can be lower and feel lower still. <S> And if you are from a warm climate you need extra layers over what locals would wear. <S> Long underpants and a warm long sleeved undershirt at least. <S> Thermo versions might be needed. <S> On top of that you need a hat, scarf, mittens (or gloves but mittens are warmer) and sun glasses. <S> Keep your outer clothing well closed, up to your neck, unless you feel hot. <S> And good boots that keep your feet warm and dry. <A> It depends how long you are staying outside, as tourist I recommend: <S> [I was there several time] <S> On top, 3 layers are often enough (shirt, pullover, winter jacket), bottom: 2 layers (you can do also with one layer [jeans], as I do it, but if you do not move, depending of winds, it can be cold, I do not recommend it). <S> As shoes: I recommend the moonboot: light and very effective for keeping heat. <S> But they are just good for simple walking on snow, not for hiking. <S> Glove, sunglasses, and bonnet is essential. <S> As tourist, I do not recommend more equipment, and you can heat in restaurant. <S> But if you want to remain outside several hours (and maybe on evening), you need technical wearing: go in a sport shop and ask. <S> [There is too much risk to get wrong equipment if you just order stuff by "name/type"]. <A> (according to the precision you just made) It is difficult to answer. <S> If you just want to go up the mountain, look around, take a couple of pictures, you don't need the whole layers thing and technical winter equipments; you will not stay out that long. <S> I would have regular winter boots; I don't think you will want to venture out and hike; so no need for specialized hiking boots. <S> Also a regular winter coat, no need for a fancy technical and expensive winter coat if you will be using it for just a couple of hours <S> (remember that down in the valley it will not be that cold). <S> Also a good hat and a pair of winter gloves; maybe a scarf if your coat does not cover your neck. <A> It's winter and the elevation of Titlis is 3238 meter. <S> That means the temperatures will be far below 0° C, and it might snow. <S> Bring winter clothes (i.e. a thick jacket, hiking boots if you have them) or ski clothes if you want to go skiing.
| You will need serious winter clothes, meant for serious winter weather.
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Call local emergency number using a foreign mobile number I read about How to make an international emergency call? but not sure if I will be able to call the local emergency number (USA - 911) using a foreign (India) mobile number when I am in USA. Though I have mentioned USA, I would also like to understand how it works in other countries as well. <Q> For all countries, you can just dial 112. <S> Dialling 112 will direct you to the same emergency call centre as phoning the country's emergency number would. <S> In the EU, emergency call centres must provide a translations service. <S> In some countries, a phone does not even need to have a SIM card present to dial 112. <S> 112 (emergency telephone number) : <S> 112 is a common emergency telephone number that can be dialed free of charge from most mobile telephones and, in some countries, fixed telephones in order to reach emergency services (ambulance, fire and rescue, police). <S> 112 is a part of the GSM standard and <S> all GSM-compatible telephone handsets are able to dial 112 even when locked or, in some countries, with no SIM card present. <S> It is also the common emergency number in India and in nearly all member states of the European Union as well as several other countries of Europe and the world. <S> 112 is often available alongside other numbers traditionally used in the given country to access emergency services. <S> In some countries, calls to 112 are not connected directly but forwarded by the GSM network to local emergency numbers (e.g. 911 in North America or 000 in Australia). <S> Note: data-only sims might not be able to dial the emergency number in some countries. <A> The information about 112 in another answer is correct. <S> It is also true of 911, so to address your concerns explicitly, not sure if I will be able to call the local emergency number (USA - 911) using a foreign (India) mobile number when I am in USA. <S> You will be able to do that. <S> If your phone does not recognize 911 as an emergency number, it sends the call to the local cellular network tower, which will recognize that it is an emergency call and send it to the emergency call center. <S> In this case, it doesn't matter where your phone or phone number is from, because the call is handled by the equipment of the local telephone company. <S> Though I have mentioned USA, I would also like to understand how it works in other countries as well. <S> The same thing happens. <S> Whatever provisions may be in place for recognizing certain foreign emergency numbers as such, the local network will always recognize the local emergency number. <A> In the United States, you can make an emergency 911 phone call from a mobile phone without a SIM. <S> As long as your phone can communicate with the network (supports the same frequency and standard), you can call 911. <S> This is governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). <S> The FCC's basic 911 rules require wireless service providers to transmit all 911 calls to a PSAP, regardless of whether the caller subscribes to the provider's service or not. <S> If you do not have service, there are even instructions about calling back in the event your emergency call is disconnected: <S> If you do not have a contract for service with a service provider and your emergency wireless call gets disconnected, you must call the emergency operator back because the operator will not have your telephone number and cannot contact you. <A> Data point: <S> In NZ the emergency number is 111. <S> 112 works to call emergency services from a GSM phone <S> - I just tried. <S> Nobody has ever told me this before now. <S> Dialling 112 from a landline accesses a very slowly and clearly spoken message - ~~= <S> "The NZ emergency service number is one one one. <S> That is ONE ..... <S> ONE .... ONE. <S> Please hang up the receiver then slowly and carefully dial one one one" Repeats .... <A> (I probably shouldn't go and test this, but any emergency number I could think of worked where I live a few years ago.) <S> 112 is more standard in the EU, and 911 in North America. <S> I have gotten connected to emergency services in the EU dialing 911, but don't count on it. <S> It's separate from your phone plan, and separate from regular phone number routing. <S> So it isn't like a regular phone number.
| In any ITU country, dialing 911, or 112 should connect you to emergency services if the phone physically works.
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Taking advantage of Jetblue sale when I already bought ticket? A few months ago I bought a Jetblue "Blue" ticket to JFK on 10/31 for $120. Today Jetblue emails me a sale where that same ticket to JFK on 10/31 is $31. Is there any way ( or trick) where I can take advantage of this price even though I've already bought the ticket? I don't think cancelling is worth it because the fee would just eliminate any savings. Or am I wrong? <Q> The policies for price drops vary dramatically depending on the airline and when you purchased your ticket. <S> but that's not he situation here so that doesn't help you. <S> Beyond 24 hours, some airlines have specific policies around price drops. <S> In JetBlue's case, within 5 days of booking they will issue a credit if a price drops and you contact them. <S> Beyond that 5 days, they will still issue a credit, however it is treated as a change and thus the change fee will be taken from the value of the credit. <S> The change fee will depend on the specific ticket, but will likely be more than the difference in this case, so probably not worth it. <S> Other airlines have different policies. <S> For example, United Airlines will give a credit minus a $50 fee if you contact them within 30 days of booking. <S> Southwest will give you a credit for the full amount due to their lack of change fees for any booking. <S> Keep in mind that the cheaper fare may also have different conditions, such as not including carry-on bags, having a higher cancellation fee if you do need to make a change, etc. <S> Again this will depend on the airline and whether they offer different fare types. <A> Is there any way (or trick) where I can take advantage of this price even though I've already bought the ticket? <S> Typically not, but that depends a lot on the details and fare rules of your original ticket. <S> If it's a fully refundable ticket (unlikely) you can return for cash. <S> If it's a flex ticket you may be able to shift the date (back and forth). <S> have the change fee waived and cash in on the current fare difference. <S> Most likely the change fee will be prohibitively expensive. <S> Read the details for your fare rules, <A> According to this travel article on How to Reprice a JetBlue Flight <S> When the Fare Decreases Jet Blue allows a five day grace period to get a credit voucher or points back on price drops, which is better than most US domestic airline policies. <S> Also noteworthy, having <S> a Jet Blue Mosaic status allows you to get a credit/refund anytime, with no expiration or time limit up to departure. <S> You can always try to call them and negotiate a deal, but since it's been months, you may not be eligible without a rescheduling fee. <A> There is no way to take advantage of this sale.
| For most US airlines, if the price drop occurs within 24 hours of you booking, you can generally just cancel your original booking and rebook at the lower price -
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How to get a large amount of cash abroad if a debit card stops working? I live in France and I was recently traveling to Ireland. During the trip, my debit card stopped functioning. I discovered the problem when I arrived in a hotel and wanted to check in. The card was refused, and the person at the reception invited me to go to an ATM in order to bring some cash, as the hotel accepts only payment by card or cash, and won't accept a bank transfer. But when I tried to get the necessary amount of cash, the ATM plainly rejected the card without even asking for the PIN code. A few other ATMs behaved the same, and the card wouldn't work in a supermarket either. I called my bank, but they just confirmed that there is absolutely nothing wrong with my bank account, and nothing is blocked, so the problem was really with my debit card. The only option they suggested is to try a different ATM. It should be noted that this bank doesn't have any subsidiaries in Ireland. Thankfully, I wasn't traveling alone, and so I could deal more or less with the difficulty of not being able to get my own money. This made me think, however, of what could have happened if I was alone or if the person I was traveling with wouldn't lend me a rather important amount of money to pay the hotel (as well as food and other expenses). So, let's pretend that as a French citizen, I'm alone in either Ireland or the UK, I have no more than twenty Euros in cash, and my debit card stops working (or I lose it or it gets stolen) while I need about six hundred Euros to pay to the hotel right now . What exactly are my options, in a context where I still have a smartphone with Internet access and I can pay by Internet and use PayPal? Is there some way to send oneself some cash or to retrieve it somehow without a debit card? <Q> My advice for anyone who wants to get out of a difficult situation is to not get in that situation in the first place. <S> In this case, the easiest way would be to take a second debit card, or a credit card, with you. <S> But in case you're already abroad and are stuck with a single broken card, you could ask the hotel if it's possible to pay by bank transfer (using your phone). <S> If so, ask them if you can transfer a larger amount in exchange for cash. <S> Or, depending on where in the world you are, you might use PayPal to do something similar <S> I suppose you could transfer money to them, and pick it up from a WU office yourself. <S> If all else fails, contact your country's embassy for help. <A> Both Visa and MasterCard offer worldwide card replacement services for lost or damaged cards. <S> There may have a fee attached, which will probably be taken from your bank account but as far as I can tell Visa will get a replacement card to you pretty much anywhere in the world within a couple of days <S> and I assume MasterCard would be similar. <S> Its literally part of the services they provide. <S> Both providers also do emergency cash advances, probably either via a teller at a local bank or possibly via a card-less transaction at a nearby ATM. <S> And getting a new card definitely sounds like it would save a holiday or trip, especially if you've only just started it! <S> Visa page for lost / stolen / damaged cards. <S> Relevant snippets of text: Get a new card Visa can work with your Bank to expedite the replacement of your card and send it globally within 24 to 72 hours. <S> Call at any time. <S> Freephone numbers are supported 24 hours a day, seven days a week. <S> Language support is available in a multitude of languages. <S> MasterCard page for lost / stolen / damaged cards. <S> Relevant text snippets: <S> When you call our global directory, you can count on a representative who speaks your language, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. <S> Emergency replacement cards Emergency cash advances <S> For the sake of this specific question, the toll-free emergency card services numbers for Ireland (other countries can be found at the relevant provider's link above) are: Visa: 1-800-55-8002 MasterCard: 1-800-55-7378 <A> Sign up for Google Pay / Apple Pay and add your credit/debit cards to it. <S> You can then make contactless payments with those cards using your phone. <S> Open the app and then touch your phone to the payment terminal. <S> This works if your debit card is Visa Debit / Debit MasterCard, but not for Visa Electron / V Pay / Maestro. <S> This will not allow you to get cash, but it certainly will allow you to pay for your hotel, restaurants, and virtually anything else in most of the world where international travelers commonly go. <S> However, be aware that some card issuers, payment processors, and/or terminals may have absurdly small spending limits on purchases made with Google Pay / Apple Pay, or may not accept the payment at all. <S> As always, it is a good idea to travel with at least two different cards from different financial institutions. <A> Clone your debit card to Google Pay, Apple Pay or other country specific app installed on your NFC-enabled phone. <S> It is really unlikely that your card and phone breaks the same time. <S> (As Michael Hampton already answered). <S> My second choice would be:At the hotel reception: cancel your reservation. <S> Make an online booking on the spot with 100% prepayment through booking.com or the hotel's site. <S> You will not physically need your card to do this. <A> Western Union is probably the most straightforward. <S> Something very similar happened me last year. <S> Was on holidays in the Canaries, lost my wallet and had stupidly brought out both my ATM card and my credit card. <S> Rang <S> my bank cancelled the cards but they had no local associated banks. <S> Thought I had emergency cash cover on my travel insurance but couldn't get through to the insurance company, and burned through my phone credit trying to. <S> So was left with no cash, no phone credit, and due to fly home the next day. <S> Eventually emailed a friend at home through the hotel WiFi, we both googled our nearest Western Union office, and he transferred me enough to cover me to get home. <S> I had the money within two hours of first mailing him. <S> Neither of us had ever used it before, but the process was fairly straightforward. <S> I'd definitely recommend it again in an emergency. <A> Some banks offer "emergency cash" facility where they will give you cash, usually via ATM or office of their "friendly" bank. <A> If you include breakfast and possibly even more meals, you are even covered for those costs. <A> In addition to other answers: keep some cash separately from your cards. <S> 200 USD or 200 EUR are welcome (almost!) <S> everywhere and can get you a lunch, a local SIM (and a phone). <S> A local currency may be better (depending on where you are). <A> With Apple Pay, Skrill, or PayPal, if you can find someone you trust who also trusts you, you can pay them, then they give you cash. <A> This is not a general answer, but since your situation and your example were in Europe, doesn’t your bank allow you to identify yourself at an ATM? <S> Every ATM <S> I went to in Spain <S> had an option to withdraw cash without a card. <S> I never tapped it since I didn’t have an account there <S> so I don’t know how they authenticate.
| If your concern right now is the hotel, you can book the hotel online and pay using your bank's app or other online payment methods. Another option would perhaps be e.g. Western Union, but I've never used that myself. Wherever you are worldwide, you can always call Emergency Services with any card-related need.
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Renew British passport which includes visa for return to Australia I’m an Australian permanent resident with an expired British passport which includes my visa to return to Australia after travelling overseas. When I renew my passport, is the visa automatically renewed or do I do that separately? <Q> Australian visas are now electronic, and linked to your passport number. <S> If you don't do this you won't be able to re-enter Australia as a resident. <S> Source <S> In many cases you can do this online . <S> The same page also links to the form you'll need if you're not able to renew online. <S> The thing to remember here is that you must do this before you return to Australia. <A> The British passport office cannot renew another country’s visa. <S> You will need to ask that country’s immigration agency or body to do it. <S> The real question is whether you can travel to Australia using a visa in an expired passport, and we have an answer on that . <A> I renewed my British passport from Australia and then left Australia without thinking about it. <S> When I went to check in at the airport, I was told to wait while somebody phoned Canberra to transfer my visa to the new passport. <S> I would advise being more pro-active than me.
| If you renew your passport you must tell Australian Immigration so that they can link your new passport to your visa.
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Why do airline tickets have titles in addition to names? Every time you book a ticket, the airline website asks you for your title. As an example, here are the options provided on Lufthansa's website: But why do airlines ask for the title in addition to the name? It's not like anyone ever asks you to prove that you're a doctor or a professor. So why not drop the Title field and just ask for the name and gender? (inspired by this somewhat related question ) <Q> Airlines communicate with their passengers. <S> Sometimes, in letters (emails these days) and sometimes verbally. <S> In the past (and much of the software that runs airlines is old, or copied from older versions) <S> proper address included a title. <S> You could no more start an email "Dear Kate Gregory" than you could start it "Hey Kate" (as Netflix does when emailing me.) <S> I know for a fact that airlines I use address me formally in emails, and if I happen to speak to a human, they also do. <S> Like while boarding, "have a nice flight Ms Gregory" as they give me the boarding pass back after scanning. <S> The fact that many passengers don't want to be called Mr Whoever or Miss Whatsit doesn't cause the disappearance of those who do want to be addressed that way. <S> The software exists, and sort of handles titles -- though clearly you can see design decisions from people who never imagined names ending in mr or dr, so the motivation to change it is very small. <A> In Germany, Doctor becomes legally an addendum of the name. <S> Kind of medieval and never updated. <S> The title is written in official identity documents, etc. <S> This does not apply to Professor, but if you make a special case for Doctors, why not go the whole nine yards? <A> Same reason so many web forms reject valid e-mail addresses. <S> Because people who make web forms copy older ones. <S> So the hasn’t-been-needed-for-years “required field” endures. <S> “We’ve always done it that way.” <A> If you think Lufthansa is bad (they only use two titles plus address—or three titles if you include Mr/Mrs as a title), then wait till you see British Airway <S> ’s list: <S> On the other hand, Finnair does precisely what you suggest: <S> Given this glaring difference between three European airlines (and flag carriers) that should otherwise be very similar, I strongly suspect the underlying reason is one of culture, heritage and history. <S> In Germany, the title Dr. has a special legal status, can be added to your ID documents, your credit card <S> and you can insist on being called Dr. Meyer. <S> Prof. does not have this special legal status but still carries a general prestige with it; interviewees, for example on television, will often be titled Prof. in the name badge things that pop up at the bottom of the screen if appropriate (exceptions exist). <S> In the UK, aside from the old distinction Mrs/Miss still being kept (as well as the more neutral Ms being available) and the you’re-not-quite-a-Mr-yet,-boy title master, a lot of those titles that can be selected relate to the old aristocracy or still existing royal institutions (The Rt Hon). <S> While indeed most of the time most of those titles would not be used, proper politeness in formal situations requires being aware of them. <S> In Finland, society is perceived as much more egalitarian. <S> Thus, all those distinctions are irrelevant and it boils down to <S> Mr/ <S> Mrs (although the selection fields are male/female). <S> To further elaborate, allow me to present the booking form of Deutsche Bahn , the German railway company where online tickets are tied to a specific person whose name must be entered. <S> I couldn’t expand both menus simultaneously, the left one simply contains the options <S> Herr and Frau or <S> Mr and <S> Mrs . <S> In a sense, it is identical to Lufthansa’s except it separates the gender and title into 2 × 4 fields rather than one list of 8. <S> (I didn’t think of using the English booking system, sorry.) <A> When travelling with business/first class with e.g. British Airways you may be greeted with your title. <S> I for one have been greeted with "Lord" when flying with Club World. <A> First of all, not all airlines do this. <S> I know plenty of forms that only offer mr/mrs or male/female options - but always at least that. <S> Some offer additional options for that field. <S> If they do, it presumably for a simple reason: They know that at least some of their passengers like to be addressed in that way. <S> And those who do not care can simply select mr or mrs - the inconvenience to them is minimal. <S> How to address your customers is not a question of right or wrong, but of knowing who they are. <S> Instagram will never address users as “dear mrs user”, but if your bank starts important letters with “hey Kate” that would be just as wrong. <A> Title is a part of name <S> The reason for this is that traditionally (at least in some societies) the honorific title is an unalienable part of the full name when adressing someone. <S> It's impolite to omit the title, and it's extremely impolite to use the wrong title - so if you want to address someone in a polite formal manner, you need to know their full name including the title. <S> You can't simply assume a title based on gender. <S> Calling Sir John Doe as Mr John Doe is totally wrong; if your relationship allows that, then you might call them informally as John or Johnny or whatever, but if you address them using a title, then it must be Sir and not Mr, and of course for women there's the marital status implied by the title with you can't know without asking. <S> The other option is to simply avoid using titles at all - but that means using language that's informal and (at least traditionally, at least in some cultures) considered not polite enough for companies addressing their customers with proper respect.
| In many cultures and/or demographics addressing people with their title is considered important and people will take offense if it’s not done.
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Does Global Entry require agreeing to a higher standard of behavior? In another question , someone brought fruit into the country's physical territory, and immigration threatened to revoke their Global Entry status. Any novice traveler could do the same thing as an honest mistake . So why was this Global Entry privilege holder being held to a higher standard? When you sign up for Global Entry, do you agree to educate yourself on the rules of travel, and follow them to a higher level of accountability than an ordinary traveler is held to? Does the application process make you explicitly agree to do or avoid certain things which are common traveler mistakes? Is there a higher consequence for violations? I reviewed the application process as far as was possible using public online resources, but it appears the actual application process is an interactive web app, so you can't even see an application page until you've filled out the page before. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States . <Q> Looking at the reasons for ineligibility they list on their website , I think there are 2 items that may fit the case you describe. <S> I would assume that you can become ineligible at any time, not just during the application process. <S> Provide false or incomplete information on the application; Have been convicted of any criminal offense or have pending criminal charges or outstanding warrants (to include driving under the influence); Have been found in violation of any customs, immigration or agriculture regulations or laws in any country; Are the subject of an ongoing investigation by any federal, state or local law enforcement agency; Are inadmissible to the United States under immigration regulation, including applicants with approved waivers of inadmissibility or parole documentation; or Cannot satisfy CBP of your low-risk status. <S> I think lying to the customs officer (by checking this on the form) about not having fruit, but actually having it, would be considered a violation of customs laws. <S> It could also be argues that CBP may think that the person's act of lying to the office / lying on the form, makes them look like not such a low-risk traveler. <S> That last point can obviously be interpreted pretty broadly, which would fit the "higher standard of conduct" assumption. <S> As noted by phoog in a comment, another way to look at it would be that members of the Global Entry program are held to standards (in order to maintain their membership, not for other reasons) that general travelers are not held to. <S> Global Entry membership should be seen as a privilege, and as such, it can be revoked pretty easily by the agency which administers the program (CBP). <A> Yes. <S> Source: my Global Entry interview last year. <A> See the Global Entry Information Guide . <S> "If you violate any condition of Global Entry or any law or regulation of the U.S., officers may:" is followed by a list of possible penalties beginning with "Revoke your Global Entry privileges". <S> The remaining penalties would also apply to a non-GE traveler. <S> It also calls out specifically "You must declare any fruits, vegetables, plants, insects, meats or meat products, dairy products, animals or animals/wildlife products, disease agents, cell cultures, snails, or soil. <S> " <S> I don't remember my Global Entry interview in detail, but I certainly got the impression that, by using Global Entry, I am taking personal responsibility for monitoring and checking my own conformance to customs and immigration rules, and in exchange CBP reduces the amount of their monitoring and checking. <S> It is not a difference in the rules, but a higher standard of care. <S> If I did not feel sufficiently familiar with the relevant rules to take that responsibility, I would not have applied for Global Entry. <A> Yes. <S> I've got Nexus, which is is Canada specific, but is a superset of Global Entry and I was given a warning when I didn't have the exact dollar amount of the goods that I was bringing into the country ready on hand with the receipts(I just knew they were below that duty free limit) and told that my Nexus would be revoked next time. <S> The explanation was: Nexus(and Global Entry) is a TRUSTED traveler program, i.e. they TRUST you to know the rules and not slow down the express lanes. <S> If you can't do that, you're welcome to go back to using the normal lanes.
| When you go for your interview for Global Entry, you are explicitly told that you will be held to a higher standard and will be held responsible for "novice traveler mistakes," since in exchange for not having as much direct inspection to ensure that you follow the rules, you have to know how to and agree to follow them yourself.
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