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What is the shortest distance Airport to Cologne Germany From San Francisco What is the shortest distance Airport to Germany From San Francisco considering I will take a train to Cologne from there. <Q> There are only two German airports that have non-stop service from San Francisco: Frankfurt and Munich. <S> Frankfurt is closer by about 170 miles. <S> The official flight time difference is not meaningful: 11h 10 <S> m <S> vs 11h 15m. <S> Random factors, like wind, weather, gate traffic, taxiing, etc is going to make more of a difference than the actual distance. <S> Technically Hamburg is the closest German international airport, but there is no non-stop service, so it's not the shortest flight. <A> Both are served by US-American Airlines from the US. <S> There are also non-stop flights to Frankfurt, which you may want to prefer. <S> Airport Cologne-Bonn (CGN) is actually closer, but less commonly used for such trips. <S> Trying to use it for a transatlantic trip typically leads to higher airfares in my experience. <A> One option you can consider is that Lufthansa has a partnership with Deutsche Bahn , the German train operator. <S> You can go to Lufthansa.com and make a single booking consisting of a flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt (operated by either United or Lufthansa) and a train ticket from Frankfurt to Cologne, with a guaranteed connection in case your flight is delayed. <S> In this example, "flight" LH3612 is actually a train from the airport to Cologne, but your air ticket is valid for this train: <S> You'll have to research whether this is cost-effective based on your travel dates. <S> For some random dates I tried next February, the combined air+rail journey to Cologne was $10 cheaper than just the flight to Frankfurt alone, so there could be some savings booking together. <S> There's also a separate program called Rail&Fly . <S> With this, you book a flight to Frankfurt (or elsewhere in Germany) and then click the "Buy train tickets" button to purchase deeply discounted train tickets to/from any station in Germany valid for the dates on or near your flight dates. <S> You can check all of these options to see which is cheapest and/or more convenient for your travel dates. <A> Alternatives for Frankfurt, which has the best connection to Cologne, are Amsterdam (AMS, Schiphol airport, the Netherlands) and Paris, (CDG, Charles de Gaulle, France) and likely a couple more I did not check. <S> The travel time from the USA to Europe will be about the same, maybe a bit less, but not a lot. <S> Both cities I mentioned have direct trains to Cologne and train stations <S> right at the airport, <S> but neither airport seem to have those direct trains, you will have to change between trains if you fly there. <S> So while it may be a good alternative if you have trouble finding well priced tickets to Germany, it will not be better than a good second place. <S> I used the Bahn.de site for the train information, they will also sell German and international train tickets online. <A> Frankfurt Airport has a long distance train station attached to the airport, with a direct link to Cologne. <S> The train Frankfurt - Cologne is pretty much the fastest train run in the country. <S> It is one of the few places in Germany where the ICE actually runs at 300km/h <S> (I have a picture to prove it!), and there is only 1 stop in between, the trip takes about an hour. <S> Munich is 3 hours away from Cologne, at least, and you are still 45 minute away from Munich station, the airport is quite a distance out of the city in the middle of nowhere. <S> You can check the train times on www.bahn.de
| The most commonly used airports for such a trip are: Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) Dusseldorf International Airport (DUS)
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Can I call the airport to see if my boyfriend made it through customs? My boyfriend is in LAX he came from Australia. His next flight is in 28 minutes and I haven't heard from him at all to know if he made it through customs. I'm extremely scared and I'm having bad panic attacks. I'm supposed to pick him up from the airport tonight and I need to know if he's going to be there or not because the airport is a 40 minute drive. Edit: He made it through in the end, and was fine. <Q> There won't be a way to contact anybody at LAX to see if your boyfriend made it through immigration. <S> In my opinion, the best thing to do is to drive the 40 minutes to the airport under the assumption that everything is fine. <S> If he arrives, great. <S> If not, then you will be in the best place to try to find out where he is - you will be able to talk to the airline agents face-to-face. <S> Trying to find out where he is over the phone will be a lot harder. <A> It makes the most sense to plan to go to the airport to pick him up. <S> If he misses the flight, he will have plenty of time in the airport to figure out the wifi and call you, or find a pay phone and call you, or whatever. <A> If you have the booking number (and of course his name), you may be able to use the “manage my booking” section of the website to see his status. <S> If the flight has departed without him, some airlines will actually show him as “no show” on the relevant flight. <S> Or you may see him having been rebooked to another flight. <S> The airport most probably won’t know anything (but you can of course try calling them, you never know...). <S> The ones who would know (but may be hard pressed to give any information for privacy reasons) are CBP (though I’m not even sure <S> it’s easy to reach the local CBP at LAX), the first airline if he was denied entry, and the second airline if he did indeed go through and boarded the flight or was rebooked to a later flight.
| If you have his passport number (and full name and birth date, and his consent), you may be able to check his I94 history online, though I’m not quite sure how fast this is updated. If you don't hear anything, it is more likely that it means he can't call you because he is on the next flight - maybe he had to rush to catch it or whatever and didn't have time in the airport to call.
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How to book Indian buses and trains in advance without an Indian phone number? Is it possible these days to book Indian buses and trains in advance without an Indian phone number? When I look online, all sites and apps require an Indian phone number, which as a non-Indian, I do not have. I’d like to book in advance because of possible limited availability. There used to be work arounds involving spoofed SIMs, but I understand those loopholes have closed. <Q> To book online in IRCTC, you can use a foreign mobile number. <S> It can cost a bit more, but works. <S> You will also get a special Quota for foreigners, so higher chances of booking confirmation on busy routes. <S> For Bus, Redbus is most popular application. <S> It should accept a foreign mobile number. <A> I haven't bought Indian train tickets for a while, but previously when the IRCTC asks for the verification number then you can email them personally explaining the situation, attach a scanned passport image <S> and they'll activate the account for you without an Indian phone number <S> However AFAIK in the recent years when signing up for a new account you're allowed to enter your foreign phone number and verify after paying a small fee. <S> Don't check on Login & Booking with OTP but select "Make Payment" and proceed to the next step. <S> After that click on “Verify Mobile with OTP” to have the OTP sent to your real phone number, then click “Verify Email <S> Id with OTP” to get them verify the email address <A> For IRCTC, This popup happens when there is no tickets availabile in the train or the train tickets are waiting list, as of our booking time. <S> The popup will show 2 options, either you can click "Continue with Previous Booking" or else check the availability of alternate trains on the route which will be shown on the down side of the popup window. <S> Then the page will return to the Passenger details page. <A> I've used them many times and they work ok. <A> That's true the validate phone numbers, and you can call customer care and short out the issue. <S> They may have some anonymous booking options. <S> The redbus customer care number is +91994560000 (24*7)
| By the way, you can take an Indian SIM by providing your passport as ID proof from any mobile service provider official shop. If you encounter problems (like I did) on the IRCTC site, you can book bus tickets with RedBus, Ixigo or MakemyTrip applications on your mobile/PC.
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My passport's Machine Readable Zone is damaged. How do I deal with it? I need your help about my passport. On my passport front page, the last line of the MRZ is damaged. Do I need to apply for new passport, or is this not an issue? <Q> If the machine readable section of your passport is damaged, as it is in this photo, your passport must be replaced. <S> A passport scanner cannot read this. <S> If your passport is a newer e-passport with the chip embedded, this damage also makes the chip unusable. <S> In both cases, the airline and immigration will not accept the document for travel. <S> You can renew your passport now, but you can only use the online portal to do so if it has less than 7 months to expiry. <S> Otherwise you will need to apply via a Regional Passport Office in Pakistan, or your nearest high commission or consulate if you are outside Pakistan. <A> This passport is not just damaged, it has been tampered with! <S> You should under no circumstances have fixed the digits with ink yourself. <S> That blue is clearly an attempt to make the numbers legible again. <S> Be prepared to be questioned when you go to renew this passport , even if the fix was made in all honesty, it is not taken lightly. <S> You can possibly be fined for it as well. <S> Forget the airline or whether someone will accept it or not. <S> If you go to an airport in Pakistan with this passport you might possibly be arrested and asked to explain the fix . <S> Thanks to a comment by @uberqe , here is some relevant information from The Passport Act, 1974 Penalties for certain offences relating to passport.- (1) <S> A person shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both, if he:- ... <S> (d) forges, alters or tampers with any passport or any document which he uses for obtaining a passport; or (e) uses a passport which has been forged, altered or tampered with; or ... <S> Nowhere does the law say that if the alteration is done with a good motive it would be fine. <S> I am not a lawyer but in my opinion, a hand made alteration to fix the passport number or any relevant ID information is a significant alteration. <S> When the passport was water damaged, it was just damaged and that wasn't a big deal. <S> When more ink was put on it, it was altered. <S> I would never use this passport, except for a renewal. <A> The scanners that are used in airports regarding passport control scan (sliding) the passport through the passport control gadget that they have, which in this case is impossible due to the damage on the critical points of your passport, so in the case it will alarm the officer that the passport is damaged. <S> Of course the officer may input the numbers manually; however I'm not sure if someone will let this slide, so I recommend that you get a new passport.
| This passport is no longer fit for use, and the only option is to replace it.
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Why are compartments in western European day trains falling out of fashion? In Europe, railway carriages have had two types of layout: coach-style big room with plenty of seats or compartment cars with a side corridor giving access to small, usually 6-seat or 8-seat compartments. This is for day trains; overnight sleeper services are not covered here. While eastern countries still have the compartment versions running and refurbished (like in Poland for instance), most western countries are phasing out the compartments in their newer trains. This is the case in France (old former-intercity coaches now used on regional services only have those) and in Germany for instance (refurbishments of ICE trains are taking away the compartments and replace them by coach-style seating). Interestingly, some railway companies make a new version of the comparments, but make them a premium product above regular 1st class (like OBB Railjet Business in Austria, Club / Executive in Italian high speed trains) in comparison to something that was available to all classes of travel. Compared to coach-style seating, I found some amenities in train compartments that made the trips more enjoyable, such as: Light switch. Turning that bright light off, especially during early or late hours, makes it easy to get some rest. It is also practical when leisurely watching a movie on a laptop. In general, I like to travel with dim lights or no lights at all depending on the situation. When travelling at night, it is easier to view the scenery outside as well when the light does not reflect into the window. Long row of seats. When the train is not full, one can raise the armrests and lie flat to sleep. Door separation with the corridor. Reduces overall rolling noise. In addition, it allows to be a little noisy at times (loud talking with friends, phone calls) without disturbing the entire carriage. Why is this trend going on? Is there something that most travellers dislike with compartments? <Q> In the past most railways in Europe ran carriages that were built to a common design. <S> These standard UIC designs are still quite common in Eastern Europe, but are disappearing everywhere else. <S> Such a standard UIC compartment car has usually only 66 seats in 2nd class, whereas a open coach has 88 seats. <S> For the operating railways that is big difference, especially in countries where rail is having a bit of a renaissance, and thus passenger numbers are increasing. <S> The new DB IC-4 trains have 100 seats per carriage in 2nd class... <S> Traditional loco hauled trains, using standard rolling stock, are also going away. <S> Railways are increasingly running trains in fixed consists, and most trains ordered now are multiple unit style trains. <A> I think this has to do with: Airplane-style individual seats instead of benches. <S> Movement towards flexible layouts. <S> Instead of having a car of identical 9 compartments, in modern train car you would expect to see: A special area for passengers with disability, kids area, a meeting room, and several rows of chairs with and without tables. <S> It is possible to have mixed-use compartments but it is harder. <S> BTW, a meeting room is practically a compartment, it's just that you usually need to book it as a whole. <S> Also, a different approach to privacy. <S> Of course, on average the open layout is more noisy, but it beats being stuck in a compartment with a noisy/unsafe neighbour. <S> To avoid complaints it is easier to average out the experience. <S> As an added benefit, modern online booking allows you to choose the precise seat that you are travelling on, so there is more worth to customization and less desire to have all seats equal in all aspects. <S> This compared to the time when you had to stuck your face in a booth to book a ticket and was happy if you got the correct train, not to mention the specific compartment or seat. <A> First time poster, just one point to add in addition to the other answers, the change between compartments and corridor style rolling stock in the UK was accelerated by the murder of Deborah Linsley, and concerns surrounding the vulnerability of isolated passengers, particularly in stock with compartment access only from the platform. <S> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Deborah_Linsley <A> A combination of passenger demand and cost efficiency. <S> As explained in DavGin's answer already, you can fit more seats and thus more people into a car with an open seat arrangement. <S> However, that would not have been possible if passengers would not actually prefer that seating. <S> During the years where most trains (including the IC and ICE trains) had both compartments and open seat areas, the later where always more crowded than the compartments. <S> In fact, for a long time I intentionally booked my seats in compartments and typically had it half full, sometimes the whole thing to myself. <S> Until I once got stuck for several hours with a 7-head family that had booked only 5 seats <S> (small children can sit on your lap, right? <S> until they run around everywhere...) <S> and then I understood why compartments aren't popular. <S> I also noticed that people in compartments have a considerably higher average age than in the open seating areas. <S> There might be a trend there as well.
| It is now possible to manufacture a separate comfortable seat for every passenger even in the cheapest class, and compartment can only practically fit benches. I've travelled a lot by train in Germany where this transition is still ongoing.
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Bringing bottled soda on Air France / Philippine Airlines flight to Manila I will soon be flying from Europe to Singapore SIN via Paris CDG (checked through luggage) and then board a separate flight from Singapore to Manila NAIA. I'm visiting a friend and I'd love to bring them a few bottles of "local" soda, but I'm still unsure about whether I can carry those in my checked in baggage without any complications. The soda is sold in glass bottles of 0.75 liters. The flight to Singapore is with Air France, while the Singapore to Manila flight is with Philippine Airlines. I also considered buying the beverage in the duty-free zone (if available) and bringing it in my carry on luggage, although I then wondered whether that will work considering I have to go through security again at Singapore Changi Airport. Any advice is greatly appreciated! TLDR : Flight to SIN via CDG followed by additional SIN to MNL flight. Need to re-clear security at SIN. How do I bring soda to my friend? <Q> Liquids in checked luggage is generally fine, although there some local rule specifically for alcohol. <S> A few bottles of soda should not pose a problem. <S> You need to pack them properly since the checked baggage gets banged around quite a bit and you should monitor your weight limits. <S> Carry on is not a good idea. <S> It's very hard to predict whether you will get another security screening during a connection. <A> I also considered buying the beverage in the duty-free zone (if available) and bringing it in my carry on luggage, although I then wondered whether that will work considering I have to go through security again at Singapore Changi Airport. <S> Since no one else has addressed this possibility, security at Changi allow liquids through which have been bought airside and are in sealed tamper evident bags (and subject to the laws of the destination country). <S> Since security at Changi is at the gate, duty free liquids bought at Changi are routinely provided in tamper-evident bags, so security there are used to seeing them. <A> Soda is likely to be refused and confiscated if you proffer it as carry-on. <S> Whether this occurs will be up to the security rules imposed at the departure airport. <S> The way to bring soda to your friend is to buy it post-security but before boarding your last flight segment.
| If you are able to buy your soda at duty free in France and they can provide it in a tamper-evident bag, then you have a very good chance of it being allowed through to Manilla (although I can't guarantee it obviously).
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What can I do at Hong Kong Airport for 13 hours? Problem: I have a layover of 13 hours on the 15th of December 2019. I arrive 7 am in the morning, depart 8 pm Hong Kong time. I had earlier planned to go out but now I don't think I should risk it. So far I've found the below: Airport lounges (but they seem to be restricted to certain credit card types) ( Never used an airport lounge before ) Regal Hotel (not sure if it's inside security) ( Bit expensive ) Movie Theater Question: What can I do at the airport ( inside security ) for 13 hours? Either something to pass my time, shower, or maybe sleep. <Q> There are more options of restaurants etc. <S> (at generally better prices) if you pass through security and immigration. <S> Only passengers can enter the terminal at the moment (documents and tickets are checked outside the terminal building) <S> so there is very little chance of disruption within the terminal buildings. <S> You’re a few days too early to see Lion King at Asiaworld (which is a convention center that is basically at the airport - one short stop (only HK$6) on the Airport Express away from Central- and actually walkable if you're so inclined). <S> For what it's worth, the risks of going into the city are well within my personal tolerance level <S> (I was there twice last month and did not directly encounter any issues except some delays on the MTR), but I would leave more time getting back than usual. <S> There is also the Disney park which is near the airport (taxi is probably easiest). <S> All the tourism businesses in Hong Kong are hurting badly at the moment, I'm sure your presence would be appreciated greatly. <A> While I understand your reluctance to go to downtown Hong Kong at this time, one of the major tourist attractions is right by the airport. <S> You can get there without entering or passing through any of the main commercial, educational or similar areas that have been the focus of protest, or taking public transit. <S> The attraction is the Ngong Ping cable car that takes you to the village and temple of Ngong Ping and the Big Buddha statue. <S> You can get there by blue taxi in a few minutes. <S> It's often visited by people on layover or about to depart from the airport. <A> Consider going to Macau : <S> It seems that the risk the OP is mentioning for not leaving Hong Kong Airport is the 2019 Hong Kong protests . <S> While that risk is in reality pretty close to none , if you still do not wish to enter Hong Kong, then you can instead go to Macau. <S> Macau is quite small so within ~10 hours <S> you'll have easily seen most major landmarks. <S> For more information, see Hong Kong Airport – Macau – Hong Kong . <S> Door-to-door from the airport's exit door to Macau's territory should take between 60 to 90 minutes. <S> Note that if you take the bus, you have to pass the Hong Kong immigration. <S> If that's an issue, you can take the ferry to Macau straight from the airport instead. <A> You could sleep in a "relaxation chamber" ... which is not the same as checking into a hotel; nor is it one of the airport lounges. <S> Quoting from the Sleeping in Airports guide for Hong Kong : <S> Refreshhh by Aerotel – Location: <S> Terminal 1, Airside, near Gates 35 and 60. <S> Private “relaxation cabins” for single passengers that can rented in blocks of 1 – 6 hours. <S> cabins come equipped with showers. <S> Accessible to Terminal 1 passengers in transit only. <S> Bookings by email: hello.hkg@myaerotel.com . <S> I've not actually tried that. <S> Also, I'm not sure what the prices are, but hopefully it should be much cheaper than a proper hotel room. <S> Note: <S> Check the availability and register for a spot beforehand . <S> @jcaron suggests their HKG location may be closed for refurbishment at the time of writing. <A> Depending on your budget, some offer very comfortable seating, where you can even take a nap, a hot shower, free snacks and beverages, and even a meal. <S> The lounge I used had facilities equivalent to a luxury hotel. <S> You might be referring to the Lounge Buddy app that recently began to work exclusively with American Express. <S> From my experience, ordering directly through the lounge’s website there’s no such restriction, although it’s more expensive. <A> Hong Kong is a very beautiful and unique city. <S> Thirteen hours makes a nice amount of time to explore -- <S> Especially if you've never been before, I think it would be a mistake to skip entirely just because protests are happening. <S> Allow yourself extra time to return before your flight, and go out during daylight if possible. <S> You might avoid wearing black, which is the color protesters wear. <S> Even the most nationalistic partisan protester won't hassle you if you aren't mainland Chinese or dressed like a police officer, and the police won't hassle you unless they mistake you for a protester. <S> It should be simple enough to avoid getting caught in the middle of things -- if you see a mass of people in the street, walk the other way. <S> (Or think of it as an experience and watch from the sidelines! <S> Limit your picture-taking, which can irk police.) <S> From the airport, Kowloon is closer than Hong Kong Island, and it seems protests most frequently happen on the island or the Southern part of Kowloon. <S> In the more Central and Northern parts, you can go to a (less crowded!) <S> Tim Ho Wan, find great char siu, walk through Ladies Market, Flower Market, or the Golden Computer Arcade, or enjoy parks like the Kowloon Walled City park. <S> Closer to Tsim Sha Tsui will be a lot of shopping, Night Market, or Chungking Mansions if you're a Wong Kar Wai fan. <S> And as another user answered, you can also see Lantau peak very close to the airport to enjoy the curving mountainous, seaside landscape.
| Definitely worthwhile to look into the airport lounges. Certain credit cards give you benefits and discounts in some of the lounges, but they should accept all other cards as well. One may get from Hong Kong to Macau (and vice versa) with the 24-hour bridge shuttle bus via the HZMB (Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge) , which takes about 30 minutes.
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Is 4 hours 30 minutes enough to transit from Haneda to Narita airport? My flight is Osaka-Tokyo (Haneda), eta 12:20pm and Tokyo (Narita)-Kuala Kumpur etd 5pm. Do I have enough time to transit and what is the best way to Narita airport from Haneda? <Q> There is a shuttle bus which costs 3,100 Yen and takes approximately 80 minutes (but this is heavily traffic dependent and could thus take longer). <S> The train would take nearer to two hours, but is fairly predictable in terms of journey time. <S> Add in time to get from the plane to baggage reclaim to the mode of public transport, and adding in an assumption that you want to arrive in Narita a minimum of two hours before your flight, and this leaves you with almost no scope for any delays of any kind (long check-in/security lines, missed train/bus connections, late flight from Osaka, baggage reclaim in Haneda taking forever, etc.) <S> If these are on one ticket, confirm with the airline what the expectation is on you to transfer (especially, determine whose liability missing hte second flight would be). <S> If they are seperate tickets, why not consider Shinkansen + Express train? <S> They are more frequent and will remove a lot of the unknowns. <A> ANA has a table on the minimum connecting time at Japan Domestic airports . <S> It recommends at least 180 minutes (3 hours) for domestic-to-international transit between Haneda and Narita. <S> An alternative is to book your first leg of the flight straight into Narita, which should make the transit easier. <A> Yes, this should be plenty of time, there are busses and trains (I would generally recommend the train as it is more reliable) that run between the two airports without any changes. <S> For example: the 13h02 train leaving Haneda would get to Narita at 14h37 giving you plent of time to check in.
| In your case, you should be able to catch your flight, if everything is running on time.
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I will be using a business visa 90 days in Russia, Have anyone faced problems by custom or police about "what kind of business I'm doing?" I will soon receive a buiness visa after one month duration is 3 months.I might sound funny, but will I get into a trouble if im not a buiness man?? I dont even have work, but I mean I have saved my money. But like buiness visa require me to fill in some working information , so I randomly fill in some working information that i have worked before. Will this be a problem?? Have any one also traveled in Russia over 30 days as buiness visa holder? If so please I really hope I can hear from you , I have no one to ask in Taiwan. Is there some regions that business visa holder can't enter? Because I know there are a lot of region that tourist visa holder can not enter, but I mean I'm a business holder. <Q> Customs and immigration officers will almost always ask why are you entering the country, what do you do there and when do you plan to leave. <S> If they are suspicious, then they will question further. <S> Based on that you are in risk of refusing entry and sending back. <S> You should be declaring the same for all visa applications and have to truthfully explain what happened. <S> In short, its a huge risk to get visa under false pretenses and seeking entry. <A> Custom duty is like russian roulette, may they ask you questions may nothing, depend by your nationality and by luck. <S> Or may they don't speak any english and they let you go. <A> So you lied in your application and you are asking if this might cause problems? <S> The answer to that is YES
| You are in risk of not being admitted to country if you lied on the application. On business visa you suppose to have business meeting or something for your company or as freelance to do in Russia, so if they ask you why you are there you can simply say the reason, show your meetings or what you suppose to do there.
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How to track buses in China? Is there any app allowing to track buses and other types of public transportation (at least large cities of) mainland China, which has an English interface? I assume even if one gets Google Maps to work, they won't be showing routes and schedules. <Q> It's likely city-dependent at present. <S> For example, the Beijing Bus App for Beijing seems to be scoping to do that and more. <A> <A> I use a WeChat mini program called 车来了 (as mentioned on another answer). <S> You just enter the bus number and it shows you the real-time route information, incoming buses and estimated arrival time which is pretty accurate — in my own experience. <S> If you do not have WeChat, you can download it from the app store. <S> You can also download the navigation app 高德地图. <S> Simply enter your destination and location, click the mode of transportation (for buses and subway, choose 公交) and it will show all the available modes of transportation, route information as well as estimated arrival time. <S> (Sometimes the 车来了 app does not show any incoming buses when the bus is still operating, I use the navigation app to double check.) <S> Unfortunately, the two apps do not have an English interface, but in my experience, their visual guides are simple to understand.
| there is an app named 车来了 in china,it will tell you when will it comes and where it is.
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Is it safe to drink the water from the fountains found all over the older parts of Rome? When I visited Rome and walked around the older sections, I saw many different types of fountains that were constantly running with water. Some went into the ground, some collected in basins, etc. Is the water coming out of these fountains potable? Safe for visitors to drink from? Any etiquette regarding their use that a visitor should know about? These are the fountains known as nasoni (or "large noses"), for example: <Q> Ah, the large noses . <S> I did last year. <S> Had no issues. <S> There are approximately 2,500–2,800 nasoni in Rome, supplying citizens and tourists with free drinking water. <S> The water coming from the nasoni is the same supplied to the city's households and thus safe for drinking. <S> Further reading: <S> Yes you can drink that - Rome Drinking Fountains <S> The drinking fountains of Rome <A> Modern fountains like this one are recycling their own water instead, so it gets dirty over time, that implies it's not drinkable either. <A> Don't directly drink with your mouth; use a bottle or put your finger one the spout and the water will flow up from the small hole. <S> See this example on youtube . <A> Based on your question, I would assume you are not a native European. <S> I would feel just as surprised if I went outside of Europe and someone told me I must not drink from a certain fountain, just as you would when you see tons of people drinking from fountains everywhere. <S> Fountains in Europe are actually very common, and I believe there are 3 types of water you can run into, while drinking from them. <S> You could come across normal water, just like the one you would drink home. <S> It has been filtered by the city's household water suppliers. <S> The other kind is spring water - coming from the mountains, though in most cases fountains are built at the site where a spring is rushing out locally. <S> It is safe to drink, non-filtered natural water. <S> The third kind is also very common for me, since I come from Bulgaria, though not as common everywhere in Europe - mineral springs. <S> Just as normal springs, fountains are build around the place where such a spring would emerge, but it is actual mineral-rich water you can drink for free! <S> The only article I could find about this in English is this rather short one . <S> It says that only about 30% of the mineral spring are utilized, and this would most likely be due to the rest occurring at hard to reach places. <S> We do however have huge mineral fountains in a few cities where there are above the average by water debit mineral springs. <S> People with multiple 10 liter (~2.62 gallon) <S> water tubs are often sighted at these places, where they stockpile free mineral water for the week.
| Assuming that decorative fountains with statues and a large water basins are also meant by the word "fountain", these are not a potable source - in history, the water must have been taken from a high-level placed water source, which would give power to the fountain, and that source might be a river or a pond or anything else.
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Is using Swiss Francs (CHF) cheaper than Euros (EUR) in Switzerland? We are traveling to Switzerland (mostly Zurich and closeby) for several days later this year and, one of our friends told us to bring Swiss Francs with us as things would be generally cheaper if we pay with Francs as opposed to paying with Euros . Our home currency is U.S. dollars. Is this actually true? (keeping it broad intentionally, but please let me know if any additional details are needed) <Q> The currency of Switzerland is obviously the Swiss Franc, not the Euro . <S> Many businesses accept euros, but: not all do to make sure they're covered against fluctuations of the exchange rate, they will add a "spread" on the exchange rate in their favour, sometimes quite extreme. <S> For instance, even though 1 EUR is about 1.10 CHF at this time, they may very well apply 1 EUR = 1 CHF for simplicity in most cases, change will be given in Swiss Francs. <S> Not that this does not mean you need to buy Swiss Francs before arriving or that you need to exchange Euros for Swiss Francs. <S> Withdrawing Swiss Francs at an ATM in Switzerland will often be the cheapest option (though you should check the charges of your card issuer in terms of exchange rate spread and for foreign transactions). <S> Likewise, you can pay for many things directly with a credit card or debit card with a balance in Euros (or any other currency). <S> Your card issuer will convert the currency automatically, and if your card has low fees, this will often be even cheaper. <S> As pointed out by <S> IMSoP <S> in the comments, if when paying by card the retailer (or rather the terminal) suggests to perform the currency conversion for you (this is called DCC – Dynamic Currency Conversion), you usually will want to refuse, as the rate applied is generally much worse than what you can get from your bank. <S> But again: check the fees for your credit or debit cards before you leave. <S> They're the key to making the right decisions (which may involve getting a new card with better fees!). <A> It is always less expensive to use a country's own currency when in that country. <S> Merchants lose money on conversion fees when they accept payment in foreign currency, and they typically cover that by using a less favorable exchange rate to figure the foreign-currency price than you will find in the banking system. <A> Yes, it's cheaper, the exchange rate is not favourable for the client. <S> If you go shopping for currency upfront, you can find a better deal for exchanging whatever you need <S> and you'll paying a one time fee, instead of a fee in every payment. <S> It's also more convenient. <S> Small businesses won't necessarily accept euros, and they have no obligation to do it. <S> Hotel chains and department stores will probably accept them, shops near the borders probably too. <S> Notice that you will get the change in Swiss Franc anyway. <A> Absolutely. <S> Every time you exchange money, with anyone, anywhere, anytime, they are going to charge you for the privilege. <S> "Exchange" kiosks are all over the place. <S> The ones in London airport are particularly egregious, last I went. <S> Local businesses that don't specialize in exchange may be willing to do the exchange for free to get your business, or they may not, or they may simply refuse to do the exchange. <S> One thing is for sure, though: <S> They will not give you a better deal in the exchange. <S> Ultimately, it's at their discretion, though, and since they're going to the bank to exchange your Euros later, and they have to pay the exchange fee, I would definitely anticipate that 99% of the time they would at least pass that on to you. <S> Protip: <S> Most exchanges post a buy rate and a sell rate. <S> (buy_rate - sell_rate)/sell_rate is a good metric for how hard you're being fleeced in the exchange. <S> 0 is a free exchange. <S> 0.1 (is about a 5% exchange rate) is probably the best you'll get anywhere. <S> Some places in "tourist traps" will be up to like 25%. <A> The answers so far provide you some good insight as to why you might want to prefer cash CHF vs cash EUR. <S> Allow me to add my view on avoiding this altogether. <S> If you are only travelling temporary and you use cash, they you always have some loss as you can'd budget to the nearest centime. <S> You'll end up leaving with some cash CHF which you cannot use elsewhere <S> and you'll probably keep it as "souvenirs". <S> I suggest that you take into account using a multi-currency card, like TransferWise <S> *. <S> This way you can keep an amount of USD in your account and the conversion is made every time you pay with it in CHF, at the mid-market rate . <S> This way, you avoid converting too much or too little, and, more importantly, you avoid the unfair conversion rate of the shops and banks <S> **. <S> As noted by a comment, most credit cards work this way. <S> However, with the credit card of your bank, the conversion is done by them, at a rate that's advantageous for the bank, plus some non-negligible fee. <S> With multi-currency cards, the conversion is done at the mid-market rate and the fee is very small. <S> For even cheaper option, you can foresee a bit how much you will spend and "transform" some money on your card just once, <S> thus your card effectively holding 2 currencies and using the best one for each payment. <S> More details here: https://transferwise.com/gb/borderless/ <S> So if you use a credit card card, the problem can be avoided altogether. <S> And if it is multi-currency, it can be significantly cheaper than your standard bank. <S> * I am not affiliated in any way, I just like their product. <S> ** <S> Some shops, like the post office, do not accept credit cards, only maestro debit cards
| In my experience, banks give the best exchange rates, especially YOUR bank (if you just use a random ATM, your bank will make the exchange).
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Besides TGV train, how can I travel around France from Paris area during a strike? Around two months ago (in October), I bought a TGV train ticket to travel from Paris to Nantes to spend my vacation for Christmas. However, since the 5th of December, train companies are on strike, and there's no telling when it's going to be over (they announced an unlimited strike). Since then, I noticed some trains were already cancelled. Assuming my train will get cancelled (I won't be able to know until 1 or 2 days before departure), are there any different means of travelling within the country without trains nor planes? I was thinking about taxi or Uber drivers, but I don't know if any of them would accept to drive 500 kilometers (311 miles) to the other side of France. <Q> Taxis would typically be happy to do it <S> but you might have to phone a taxi operator directly. <S> If you have trouble finding a taxi then looking specifically for this service ("taxi longue distance") on Google turns up many results. <S> I personally know taxi drivers who provided this service (sometimes to deliver a parcel rather than a person). <S> Private drivers can do it to (I saw some offers on Eurecab ) but the biggest platforms (Uber, Kapten…) do not offer trip this long through their app. <S> The price would however be prohibitive for most people (several hundreds to over a thousand euros). <S> Cheaper means of transportation that remain available: <S> Flights (although there are disruptions there too and you specified no planes) <S> If you cannot count on a negotiated rate, you might however find that cars are running out and the price of a rental is already very high indeed (no cars available at Montparnasse next Friday, one-day one-way rental to Nantes from another agency within Paris with Avis starts at almost €400). <A> SNCF's website suggests the following alternatives during a strike: <S> Car rental with Avis (a traditional rental service) <S> Ride-sharing with BlaBlaCar (a long-distance ride-sharing service) Bus service <S> For the first two options, there are 10% discount offers available on SNCF's website. <S> Unfortunately, I can't speak to the relative reliability, price, speed, etc. <S> of these options; hopefully someone else will be able to do so in another answer. <A> I suggest you travel normally as though nothing is happening but take with you a lunch bag containing water and some food...as well as a blanket in case you need to wait couple of hours in an SNCF station. <S> Then hop on any train heading west from Paris (toward Nates trains <S> 1st head south from Paris). <S> If your train departs from Gare Montparnasse then you most likely find at least one train to Nantes specially when during Christmas yellow vest strikers are more likely to be kind to passengers. <S> If you encounter crowds in Gare Montparnasse do not panic, just hop in any train heading to Nantes direction. <S> However, if your train departs from CDG TGV T2 then you receive info from SNCF within 24 hours whether it is cancelled or not. <S> If cancelled then do not wait in CDG but instead take Direct-Bus for 18€ to Gare Montparnass (MP) because there are many more options in MP Gare. <S> Direct-Bus runs from CDG terminals and drop you right at eastern entrance of MP Gare. <S> If you carry minimal luggage then this can even be fun as you meet a lot of people along the way with similar conditions and in spirit of holidays. <S> Alternatively you can download Blabla App from France App Store and find appropriate transport from Paris to Nantes and then cancel your SNCF ticket. <S> If you live outside France, you need first switch to France on your iPhone. <S> Good luck. <A> I happen to be taking the same TGV line (Paris -> Nantes ) this week-end during the strike! <S> First and foremost, you should double-check that your train is effectively cancelled <S> (if so, you must have received a mail from the SNCF). <S> If you did not receive anything, you're good ! <S> Your train departure will probably be fine. <S> If you've received a mail notification that your train have been cancelled, SNCF will offer you to reimburse your train ticket, or to exchange it free of charge for an other day. <S> The later seems like the best option for you, it may mess up with your schedule a bit <S> but it is worth considering. <S> One point worth mentioning is how will you go to Gare Montparnasse ? <S> You should note that except for line 1 and line 14 which are working normally, every other line encounter issues. <S> Please see the annoucements by RATP (Paris metro lines) : <S> https://twitter.com/ClientsRATP <S> At the moment, the traffic is: Metro 1 and 14 are working fine Metro 4,7,8,9 are perturbed, working only between 6h30-9h00 and 16h30-19h Metro 2,3,5,6,7,10,11,12,13 <S> are not working <S> RER are working between 6h30-9h00 and 16h30-19h <S> Since you have to go to Gare Montparnasse to get the train to Nantes, your best bet is to use line 4.Also use line 1 and 14 as much as possible! <S> If for any reason you do not want to take the train, then you could use the bus which will certainly be cheaper than a taxi ride. <S> Some bus company are BlaBlaBus/Ouibus, FlixBus, Eurolines... <S> Finally there are a lot of electrical scooter in the street in Paris, or bike that you can rent (Velib') to go to the station. <S> Good luck! <A> You could hitch hike. <S> Its more common in France than nearby regions of Switzerland, Germany, UK or Italy, in my experience. <S> Of course there are some risks!
| Long distance busses, both BlaBlaBus and Flixbus operate between Paris and Nantes Ridesharing, the market leader in France is BlaBlaCar Renting a car, if you are so inclined, you can even post the ride on BlaBlaCar to share the costs. Car rental with OuiCar (a service allowing private owners to rent out their cars)
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Is paying for portrait photos good for the people in the community you're photographing? Scenario: You go to a remote village in 3rd world country x. You see a photogenic wizened old man, or woman in traditional dress, etc and ask if you could take a photo. They indicate yes, but also extend their hand for money? I'm not asking the subjective 'should you' as some will argue they're in public, etc, but giving that money - is that the right thing to do for the community? Or will someone getting some money from a foreigner cause more problems ( obligatory clip from Eurotrip ) <Q> TL;DR: <S> Yes . <S> Here's a spin on your question <S> : let's say you asked somebody in the West (say, a street performer) <S> if you can take their photo, and they asked you for money. <S> You would consider if the amount being asked is reasonable, and then either take the photo and give them the money, or you would not. <S> However, you would presumably not start arguing with them about whether "it's the right thing" for them to ask for money, or for you to give it. <S> This applies equally anybody you meet in a remote 3rd-world village. <S> Many photogenic tribes (long-neck Karens, Maasai herdsmen, Aboriginal dancers in Australia, etc) are quite well aware of the fact that Westerners consider them photogenic, and not a few make a living off this. <S> So, if they're asking you for money, and the amount they want is reasonable, pay them. <S> That said, it's tough to separate this from the subjective "should you" discussion: for example, many Karens in Thailand are there as refugees with extremely limited job options outside posing in human zoos for tourists, and the lucrative industry built around this both encourages the status quo and drives young Karens to join it. <S> But if you're concerned about exploitation, the correct response is to not go on organized tours in the first place, so the middlemen don't get their cut. <A> Yes it is. <S> On a group safari in Kenya our lorry rolled into a village and stopped to replenish the water tank. <S> Within a few minutes they had dressed up some of the women in their finest clothes and beads (no jewellery - they were desperately poor) for photography. <S> They wanted 5 shillings from each photographer. <S> I couldn't help but notice that those of us who seemed to be the most well-off were the ones who complained the loudest. <S> Yet it was less than the price of a bottle of soda. <S> Otherwise, what was in it for them? <S> Nothing, after a group of wealthy tourists help themselves to "their" water and drives away. <S> Even small amounts a money make a difference in a cashless economy. <S> Edit: There is a cultural issue here too. <S> In parts of the world <S> it's not just that people do not like to be photographed, or photographed for free, but feel that it somehow damages them: that you are not just making a photograph but really are taking something from them. <S> People can be so offended that they might remonstrate in a threatening way, or even get up and move their temporary home somewhere else, because you have violated them and that place. <S> But by establishing a deal, you know it's ok to photograph them. <A> Anecdotal: We were in Mumbai a few years back; and while visiting the city, we were told not to give money directly to individual beggars because they probably will be mugged later on (especially if giving American money which we had on us at the time), but to give to organized charities (Which we did) <S> If using a local guide, you can ask them. <S> This is the kind of question that could be cross-posted to https://photo.stackexchange.com/ where photographers could have had the same experience.
| So, depending on the situation, if you are "surrounded" by beggars while taking pictures, it is probably not a good idea to do it; but if you are in a remote area, engaging a single person, it might be OK to give away little bit of local money.
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Why can't one use airport luggage trolleys when queuing for the immigration counter in an airport? There typically is no available airport luggage trolley that we can bring to the immigration queue after landing to an airport. Why can't one use airport luggage trolleys when queuing for the immigration counter in an airport? <Q> The airport probably assumes people can handle one carry-on bag and one personal item each without a trolley. <S> There is often limited space for the immigration queues at busy times, and trolleys significantly increase the queue space per person. <A> Between areas of the airport <S> Some airports allow trolleys through passport control, check the text in this picture: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Copenhagen_Kastrup2.JPG <S> This is between Schengen and non-Schengen part of Copenhagen airport. <S> In the other direction you can't see anything that will stop your trolley and you also see a passenger queuing with a trolley: <S> https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:File-Copenhagen_Kastrup2.JPG <S> When exiting the airport <S> At some airports immigration control happens just before baggage reclaim. <S> Bringing the trolley through to baggage reclaim would mean that it must have to go through a security check to get back airside. <S> This would be too costly. <S> Another option is that you leave the trolley when you are in the front of the immigration queue resulting in a lot of trolleys ending up in an unwanted place so staff would constantly need to clear the area from trolleys, which would also be too costly. <S> A third option would be to have an airside area after immigration where you leave your trolley. <S> Then there would need to be one way gates into baggage reclaim. <S> Again too costly. <A> To slow you down. <S> Most of the routes and facilities between the gate and collecting your checked baggage is designed to slow you down, so the wait at the various points is minimised as much as possible. <S> By lengthening the routes and making people carry their own baggage, it spreads out the congestion at immigration etc, making it easier for the pre-immigration observations to happen and the backlog through immigration to be as small as possible. <S> There is a lot of thought that goes into passenger flow through airports at various points, and the airports goals are not necessarily the same as your goals. <S> People tend to perceive inconveniences in different ways - the queue at immigration is often disconnected in people’s minds from the time it took to get there, so forcing people to spread out and arrive gradually rather than bunching up and arriving all at once tends to manipulate people’s feelings because they think the immigration line is shorter...
| The airports I've arrived at do provide trolleys at international baggage claim, where people will be collecting bigger, heavier bags, and often more than one per person, in addition to their carry-on and personal item.
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Avoid long walking when changing between Tokyo subway lines On my last trip to Tokyo, I made extensive use of subway lines (Tokyo Metro and Toei). Very often, there were no direct subway route to my destination. So I have to change trains. And since the subway had a bit of history and development, I have a couple of routes on hand to choose from. I tried to pick a route with minimum walking distance when changing trains. But to know how much I need to walk when planning my trip was a challenge. I looked through the official websites and Wikipedia. No resource on the platform-to-platform distance were available. When planning my trip, I tried to avoid interchanging between two stations with different names, or interchanging with "transfer at ground level", or interchanging at large train station. I believed these clues would hint a long walking distance. These methods might have helped me avoid some walkings, but I still encountered some long walks. For example, my interchange at Mitsukoshimae between Ginza Line and Hanzomon Line took more than 5 minutes, along a long corridor between the two platforms. Had I chose a different route and changed between Ginza Line and Tozai Line at Nihombashi, it would have been a 1 minute walk instead. I know that there is distance information available at the direction instruction guiding passengers to the desired line. The problem is that I do not get to see it until I alight at the interchange station. In such case even if I found that the walking distance at that station is long, I hesitated to get back on the train and try a different interchange station. Question: When planning my trip involving Tokyo Metro and Toei, how can I know how much walking is needed when changing trains? <Q> A simple Hyperdia search should be all you need in most circumstances; just search for your route and see the transfer times that are given for each possible transfer option. <S> For example if you search from Kanda to Otemachi, you see that it does indeed show longer transfer times at Mitsukoshimae vs. at Nihombashi. <S> If you want to see for yourself what the transfer looks like, many people have documented them on YouTube; for example see here and here . <S> You do need to know the Japanese names of the station and lines to know what to search for, however. <A> If you use the Jorudan ( https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en/ ) trip planner, it splits the change time into transfer time and waiting time. <S> The transfer portion can give you an indication for how far away the different platforms. <S> The times given are generally the maximum and on the Japanese version of the site you can specify how quickly you can do transfers ■Jiyugaoka(Tokyu) <S> Platform <S> 5.6｜ <S> Tokyu-Toyoko Line (For Ikebukuro) <S> Center <S> ｜ <S> 10:20-10:32 <S> [12 min]｜ <S> 160 yen ◇Shibuya Platform <S> 5.6｜ <S> Direct <S> ◇Shibuya Platform <S> 5.6｜ <S> ｜ <S> 10:33-10:40 [7 min]｜ <S> 280 yen ◇Shinjuku-Sanchome Platform 4｜ Transfer <S> ｜ <S> 10:40-10:50 <S> [Transfer 6 min <S> + <S> Wait 4 min]◇ <S> Shinjuku-Sanchome Platform 2｜ <S> Toei Subway-Shinjuku Line (For Motoyawata) <S> Forward/Rearward ｜ 10:50-10:57 <S> [7 min]■Kudanshita Platform 6 <A> I personally am very happy with the Japan Travel app ( App store link , <S> Google Play link ) by Navitime. <S> It is very good for finding trips from one train station to another (sometimes it provides bus routes but that is very unreliable). <S> But most importantly, it lets you choose the following options for route search: <S> fastest route lowest number of transfers shortest walking distance lowest price environmentally friendly (whatever that is, never tried; a relatively recent addition) <S> Furthermore, it allows options to avoid rain (i.e. indoor transfers) or least steps <S> but I haven’t tested all of them. <S> It knows which routes you can take with different flat rate passes and it is aware of traffic disruptions. <S> I believe it essentially uses the same raw data as HyperDia <S> but since it is aimed at tourists all its interfaces are in English (and I am not sure whether HyperDia even features a fully functional app). <S> I found it searching for train timetable apps two years ago when I visited Japan for the first time. <S> I am not affiliated with the app or its company in any way. <A> Unfortunately, there is no easy way to do this. <S> The train companies don't advertise long walks, they advertise "connected to ...". <S> Checking the transfer time works in the short-time direction but not for long times. <S> If the transfer time says "2 minutes" that is likely a platform change, but if it says "10 minutes" you don't know if it is a 9 minute walk followed by a 1-minute wait or walking across the common platform (about 5 meters) and waiting 10 minutes for the next train. <S> You have already discovered that different stations have huge differences in transfer distance, that happens a lot. <S> A rather epic difference is Hanzomon to Ginza lines. <S> At Shibuya it's sub-basement to 3rd floor in a different building, at Omotesando ( <S> the next stop) <S> it's across the common platform. <S> "interchanging at large train station" does not guarantee a long walk. <S> Shinjuku is the world's busiest station but is quite compact. <S> JR to Odakyu can be 2 minutes, IF you get off the train at the right place and use the underground transfer gate. <S> Also consider that the transfer time assumes no wrong turns, no lines, no crowds, and a brisk walking pace. <S> Actually getting there in X minutes not guaranteed.
| Tokyo-Metro Fukutoshin Line (For Ikebukuro)
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What's the minimum info I need to provide from an e-Ticket to board a flight? Pardon the naive question, but my travel agent sent me an e-ticket, not thru email but in an URL link within an email. My phone's browser did not get me in, and Firefox also had trouble (probably due do NoScript) but I had no problem viewing the info with another browser. Still, there is a slight possibility, that come check-in time, I again won't be able to access the info. So, and especially with regards to automated check-in kiosks, what's the minimal set of information I need to provide to proceed smoothly? I am assuming that I need: the flight number, time and destination. a passport exactly matching ticket issuance name and info. the e-ticket number itself and only that. I know I can be checked in by an attendant, possibly by looking up the info with my laptop, but I would like to avoid that. And the e-ticket info on the website isn't super printer friendly (I'll look if they have a print-friendly link or I can screenshot the ticket, but the question still intrigues me in principle). <Q> This is dependent on the airline and airport. <S> For some airlines, it’s still just a ticket, and using your passport or other ID you will be able to check-in (either at a desk or at a kiosk) to get your boarding pass. <S> When using a kiosk, you may be able to use other ways to retrieve the file: PNR locator (the booking reference, usually a 6-letter code), frequent flier card or number, etc. <S> This varies quite a bit. <S> But as you’ll often need ID at some point anyway... <S> For others, the “ticket” is actually directly your boarding pass, and they usually need the barcode that is printed on that ticket. <S> Some airports may accept scanning it off a mobile (most do nowadays, but there’s probably the odd exception), all with accept the paper version. <S> Many LCCs will charge you to get the boarding pass printed at the airport if you didn’t print it in advance (or don’t have the barcode on your phone, if that’s accepted). <A> Just your e-Passport. <S> AFAIK: <S> the smoothest process I've ever had was just scanning my e-Passport at the self-service check-ins. <S> This was with British Airways in Gatwick <S> but I've seen similar at many airports. <S> You usually only need the passport at gates too, the boarding pass is only needed for passing security and shopping in the duty free, most of the times. <S> However, if you're not required to prove your ID, like when travelling in the Nordics (where I live) you might not have an ID on you... <S> Another common way is using only the ticket number. <S> They can check if you're on the passenger list and issue you your boarding pass. <S> Low Cost Airlines <S> Being used to the above I thought the same applied to low cost airlines (Wizz Air for example), I had to pay 60 € <S> extra because I hadn't saved the boarding pass PDFs 2 hours before departure, nor printed them 2 hours before. <S> These things are different between airlines <S> and I therefore consider this question very broad. <A> In the browser in which you can access the ticket, hit the print button, and print to a PDF file. <S> Then send that PDF to your phone, in a way that you're sure it gets cached! <A> If you don’t have something the scanner will accept, you have to get an agent or kiosk to print one. <S> This requires a passport or other photo ID, or your name and six-character confirmation, or the card used to buy the ticket. <S> I always print mine in advance, because more than once, the scanner has not been able to handle an image on my cellphone. <S> And with one exception, the kiosks have always failed to scan my passport.
| When checking in manually (at the check-in disk) you only need you passport too.
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Naples. Circumvesuviana train. Are tickets sold for a precise time? I'm going to visit Naples soon and want to take Circumvesuviana train in order to get to Herculano and Pompei. So I have a couple of questions answers to which I cannot google. I prefer to ask these questions here instead of figuring out at the place because as far as I know the locals speak poor English so it should be easier to find the information here. So my questions are: I need to take a train from Napoli Porta Nolano to Herculano Sciavi. Are the tickets there sold for a precise time, like departure at 8 a.m. so I should take exactly this train or I can just buy tickets to Herculano and take this route train departing at any time? When buying tickets should I buy back tickets as well? Or I can buy back tickets at the Herculano Sciavi station? I guess the answer to this should be yes but I would like to know for sure. <Q> Generally speaking, for regional and local trains in Italy you buy a ticket and validate it before boarding ("obliterare" in italian). <S> If you can't find any validating machine, board the train and immediately go look for the conductor or ticket inspector to notify. <S> Tickets are usually one way, so you need one from A to B and one from B to A. Sometimes vending machines can sell the return fare and print two tickets. <S> Basic fare tickets have no boarding time restrictions, just use them before expiration (30 or 90 days after purchase). <S> How to get to "Ercolano scavi" then? <S> Ercolano municipality official website has english instructions available too. <S> EAV Circumvesuviana <S> By Train From Naples – Garibaldi Square, take the EAV – CIRCUMVESUVIANA company, direction to Sorrento or Poggiomarino. <S> There are two stops in Ercolano: the ERCOLANO –SCAVI that is near the Archaeological ruins, and the ERCOLANO– MIGLIO <S> D’ORO that is near the ancient villas of Miglio d’oro <S> , some of which are visitable. <S> The travel time is 20 minutes. <S> The Archaelogical site is 700 metres ( about 0.5 miles ) far from the ERCOLANO-SCAVI stop <S> http://time1.eavsrl.it/ <S> (yeah, no https) <S> Trenitalia <S> You can arrive here also with TRENITALIA company in this case <S> stop at Portici-Ercolano railway station. <S> The archaeological ruins are 1.6 km far. <S> ( about 1 mile ) <S> In this case you can buy tickets online on https://www.trenitalia.com/ from "Napoli Piazza Garibaldi" to "Portici-Ercolano". <S> Fare is 1.6€ one way. <S> If you buy online, your ticket will have date and time you indicated at time of purchase, no need to validate it when boarding. <S> This train stop is a little bit farther from the ruins, about double the distance. <S> Extra suggestions Plan <S> extra time for delays and cancellations. <S> Major italian economic newspaper "Il sole 24 ore" recently ranked EAV - Circumvesuviana 1st of the 10 worst railways of Italy. <S> Make sure to bring enough water with you if travelling during spring/summer. <S> Pay a lot of attention to street scammers, they are very prominent in all italian tourist destinations. <S> If train is packed, remove your backpack when standing. <S> Restrooms might not be available on train. <A> The circumvesuviana trains are local mass transit. <S> Used by people to get to their jobs, schools, to go shopping etc. <S> As such they are part of the integrated public transit system of Campania. <S> This is managed by the Unico Campania consortium. <S> Having an integrated system is quite common in Europe and one of the consequences is hat you can’t really buy tickets for the Circumvesuviana train. <S> So for Herculaneum you would buy a two zone ticket (NA 2) which would be valid for 120 minutes. <S> For Pompei you would need three zones. <S> You can also buy a day ticket for a bit more than two single tickets. <S> So if you want to do both Herculaneum and Pompei on the same day just buy a three zones day ticket and all your travels are covered. <A> No, from what I can tell you buy your ticket when you get to the station, and it's valid for a fixed time period. <S> I've seen lots of references to overcrowded trains with people standing <S> so there's definitely not mandatory seat reservations! <S> I think there are multiple options available, but it's hard to find out what they are. <S> It seems that you can buy tickets valid for an hour or three hours, but you can also buy a three-day pass. <S> I don't know what the prices are for this. <S> In either case be careful, as I've seen lots of reports of tourists being short changed or given a cheaper ticket than they asked for but charged the higher amount. <S> Also note that though I don't know how it works for this system, tickets tend to need validating in Italy <S> , so I imagine you could buy all the tickets you need at the start of your trip then validate them just before you travel.
| What you in stead buy is an ticket for a certain number of zones from Naples, valid on all modes for a certain time. You can look for timetables in their official website
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Is 31st of December a public holiday in Japan? Is the 31st of December a public holiday in Japan? It would be best to get an experienced answer as there is contradicting information in different sites. For instance some sites mention that 31st of December is a national bank holiday. In particular Time and Date says that: December 31 Bank Holiday is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Searching the internet there are several similar mentions. However there are sites that explicitly mention that the 31st of December is not a public holiday in Japan. In particular Japan Guide mentions that: December 31 New Year's Eve (omisoka): December 31 is not a national holiday. <Q> No , it's is not a public holiday. <S> The only legal public holiday for New Year is January 1st, or 2nd if the 1st is a Sunday. <S> However, like Christmas Eve in the West, it's a very quiet day and many businesses, particularly smaller ones, will be closed, and not just the 31st but often several days before/after as well. <S> Source: <S> 国民の祝日に関する法律 , which is the law that defines public holidays in Japan. <A> <A> That said, this period, known as the New Year holiday period, is one of the few (beside Golden Week and Obon) when most companies/schools will completely shut down for a couple of days (usually 1st to 3rd; with extended periods often including 31st and maybe an additional buffer day to access a weekend. <S> This is especially true for businesses such as banks that tend to be closed on weekends altogether: it is rather likely for them to post a note outside staying the days when they will close around New Year. <S> Smaller family-run businesses often decide to close across those the days as New Year’s is a family get-together time but some may be interested in making additional profits from those who want to go out with the families on those days. <S> If you want to know whether a specific shop will open, you have to ask them directly as it’s not really predictable.
| While the vast majority of offices are closed, December 31st is not a national holiday as noted in Japan Guide. According to the relevant law, the only public holiday around New Year’s is the 1st of January.
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Why do some groups of tourists include someone carrying a banner? While traveling in Thailand I have seen a lot of groups of Chinese tourists. But one thing is very confusing to me, every group has someone who was carrying a some sort of banner, and those banners were not unique. What does those banners mean? Why do the tour groups carry them? <Q> It's like that everywhere for guided tours (not just Chinese people) <S> It makes it easier to follow the guide. <S> The guide tour leader will carry a flag so that if/when people get lost they can spot the flag; This is especially the case now because most guides have radio systems so that people can be further away from the guide and still hear her/him. <A> For the same reason that Western and Near Eastern militaries have been carrying "colours, standards (and) guidons" for 7,000 years: so the troops know where the commander is. <S> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_colours,_standards_and_guidons <S> In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander , is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago. <S> The ancient Chinese certainly had something similar, because flags are an obvious solution to the problem of letting troops in battle (and tourists in a crowded area) know where the leader is. <A> This is very common in China. <S> Sometimes the tour leader will dress in minority costume as well (for example in Lijiang), which also helps them stand out from the crowd. <S> It's probably not as necessary in Thailand where it is unlikely a whole gaggle of similar groups will converge on one spot, but the participants probably feel more comfortable having the security of seeing the flag and having a travel company sticker. <S> Photo below (without arrows) from the SCMP . <S> Imagine maybe dozen tour groups, from many different tour companies, simultaneously at a single crowded site (say on a mountainside with a single spot where scenic photos of one or two people are preferred). <S> Everyone is milling about and/or waiting their turn at the photo spot, buying food or souvenirs from the vendors, and it would be very easy to get separated from your tour group. <S> Chinese mass-market tours also tend to cram as many items as possible into their itinerary. <A> As others said, you'll see those everywhere, not only in Thailand. <S> Each tour guide has a stick with some special identifying items, most often flag or stuffed animals, to make them visible in a crowded area. <S> It's also useful for tours that tourists join individually and arrive at the meeting point on their own. <S> European tourist companies more commonly use umbrellas, especially on free-walking tours. <S> I don't know why you said it's not unique <S> but you don't usually see 2 guides with the same flag, even when they both use company flags and come from the same company because in that case they'll choose different ways to hang on the stick In Vietnam and China <S> you'll also see tourist companies giving each tourist a bright color hat so that the whole group can stay together, and one can find the group easily when they lost their way. <S> It's also good for advertising the company
| You might have a number of tour groups simultaneously at a busy tourist site and the use of a flag (and stickers on the participants) helps keep them together and is very much necessary.
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Are UnionPay cards universally accepted in China or would you still need Alipay or cash sometimes? I currently live in the US and could get a UnionPay credit card from the local branch of ICBC. Would having this card be sufficient to never have to use cash or other forms of payments while traveling in China? I could also sign up for Alipay if only having a UnionPay card is not sufficient or just withdraw cash for my trip. <Q> Credit/debit card receptance in China is not great in that most smaller establishments do not accept plastic. <S> If you want to get a drink or some chewing gum or anything like that, unless you go to a Seven Eleven or big chain store, then cards are probably not accepted. <S> Same with restaurants: unless you go to a reasonably large restaurant that is at least mid-end, cards are likely not accepted. <S> I remember when I was growing up in China, paying in cash was the norm unless one is going to a large supermarket or some fancy restaurant. <S> Due to social norms, most people did not have credit cards. <S> You would use cash for everything from hailing a taxi to paying the security deposit for your new apartment (yes, it was actually a thing). <S> However, when QR codes came in, cashless transactions soon became the norm because it was so easy and cheap to implement. <S> QR codes (Alipay or WeChat) are accepted almost universally. <A> In China mobile payments rule, you are more likely to be denied using cash Han mobile payments like Alipay or we pay, <S> even the beggars on the streets use we pay here these days. <S> Even out in the most rural areas mobile payments are preferred. <S> Taxi, public transport, malls, food markets and even high fashion brands they all accept and prefer Alipay or wechat. <S> In my daily life I never use cash these days in China, and I mean never. <S> I exclusively use wepay or Alipay NOTE how we on your UNIONPAY question, that a UNIONPAY card issued outside of China might not be accepted in China, even if it is issues by a chinese bank outside of China, most places n China accept foreign cards but there are still many that don’t and that sometimes includes foreign UNIONPAY cards. <S> So do not assume that your UNIONPAY card will work if issued outside of China. <A> I'd like to say that cash is needed in China. <S> Although most of the shops or markets accept the Alipay or WeChat pay, I think it will be complex for new user to use. <S> There are two kind of ways to pay using Alipay or WeChay pay: Cashier scan your QR code <S> And you scan shop owner's QR code <S> I will be a little difficult for a traveler or new user to understand. <S> So my suggestion is that take your Union Card along side a Visa/Master Card and take some cash with you. <S> But for most individual shops they only accept cash or Alipay <S> / <S> Wechat <S> pay(because <S> there is no service charges).
| Most large shopping mall accept credit card. So your best bet is still cash. Most taxis don't take credit cards.
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Which non-stop passenger flight connects two cities with the largest temperature difference? For the purpose of this question, temperature refers to daily mean temperature in a month (shown as "daily mean" on Wikipedia) of the city/town that an airport primarily serves passenger flight refers to scheduled flights and public charters with a published schedule it can be any month of the year Example: Singapore (SIN) - Moscow (DME) SQ 362 in February, daily mean for Singapore 27.1°C, daily mean for Moscow -6.7°C, difference 33.8°C . <Q> Bangkok to Ulaanbaatar in January: 27.0 °C – (–21.6 °C) = 48.6 °C . <S> Nonstop flights are operated by MIAT Mongolian Airlines, twice weekly (Wednesday and Saturday) from November to March. <S> Timetable . <A> I have done some more research and found a rather obscure one. <S> Full schedule can be found on the Pegas Touristik website . <S> In January, there is a staggering difference of 28.1-(-25.2) = <S> 53.3°C . <S> It also appears that Nordwind Airlines, of which Pegas Fly is a subsidiary, operates a seasonal charter N4 2521 from Yakutsk <S> (-38.6°C in January) to Pattaya (26.1°C in January). <S> At a difference of 64.7°C, we would have had the certain winner here. <S> Unfortunately, according to FlightMapper , that flight stops in Irkutsk for an hour, which is about 20°C warmer than Yakutsk. <A> I nominate S7 6330 Phuket – Irkutsk in January. <S> 28,1 – (–17,8) = <S> 45,9 °C . <A> The mean temperature in <S> Harbin is <S> -17.6°C in January, while in Singapore it's 26.5°C, for a total difference of 44.1°C . <S> The flight time is 7.5 hours. <S> Yakutsk is significantly colder with a daily mean of -38.6° in January, but there aren't direct flights to any warm cities from Yakutsk airport during the winter. <A> A comment noted that all answers to date have both cities in the northern hemisphere (winter in January), so here's one with one end in the southern hemisphere (winter in July). <S> (courtesy mapsofworld.com ) <S> In general, the southern hemisphere has a lot less land mass than the north, and (AFAIK) not a single major city where daily mean winter temperatures go negative. <S> The best I could find is Dubai to Buenos Aires , with 35.5 - 7.4 in July, for a comparatively puny temperature difference of 28.1°C . <S> For other temperature hunters, Riyadh is slightly hotter (36.8) but has less long-distance flights, while Doha and Abu Dhabi are very slightly cooler. <S> On the cool side, Johannesburg hits 9.6 in June (10.0 in July) while Auckland clocks in at a balmy 10.9. <A> I will nominate my personal experience although this may count as an outlier case. <S> In February / March 2018, there was a storm called Beast from the East that hit quite a few parts of Europe. <S> I had to fly from Munich to Chennai during the end of Feb, via Frankfurt (LH 758) with a 2 hour halt. <S> Temperature in Munich = <S> -18 <S> Temperature in Frankfurt = <S> -10 <S> Temperature in Chennai = <S> 34 Difference between Munich (-18) and Chennai (34) = <S> 52 degrees Difference between Frankfurt (-10) and Chennai (34) <S> = <S> 44 degrees <S> I was sitting with my multi layered jacket for a really long time after the flight took off from Frankfurt; I felt like I was melting when I landed in Chennai.
| Pegas Fly operates a seasonal charter EO 2479 from Chita to Phuket , every two weeks, from January to May. I nominate Harbin-Singapore, operated by Scoot (TR 155).
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Can you buy alcohol in EU airports tax-free on arrival? Most times when I've flown within the EU I've passed through the common airside area where people waiting to depart are. This enables fast transits within schengen. I know you have to show the boarding pass in the taxfree when buying alcohol. Will I be denied if I try doing that on arrival? Are you only able to do it on departures? I guess you'll still have to pay taxes, but are you able to purchase anything? I'm not asking about the special taxfree stores for arrivals that are by the luggage carousels, but the normal taxfrees you shop in (usually) on departure! <Q> There are at least some airports where you can do this. <S> In general tax free purchases are for people departing for international destinations, on the presumption that the goods will be exported. <S> Checks are made to establish this. <S> Goods bought in this way are counted against the import limits. <S> London Heathrow is one of the airports that provides this facility, but other UK airports also do. <S> (Technically this only counts as an EU airport for the next month or so). <A> When flying, or actually travelling in general, within the EU, there are no tax-free sales at all, neither to departing, nor arriving passengers. <S> There are still many stores at airports, harbours or ferries labelling themselves 'tax-free', 'duty-free' or perhaps more common 'travel-value' shops, pretending to offer cheaper products, but all sales are still liable to local taxes and duties. <S> Since taxes and especially excise duties, e.g. for tobacco and alcohol, vary significantly between EU countries, buying taxed products in another country may still be a good deal compared to home. <S> Real tax-free sales are in the EU only available to passengers departing to a non-EU country and not available to passengers arriving to the EU from a non-EU country. <S> There are however a few non-EU countries in Europe, where proper tax-free sales are offered to arriving passengers. <S> I know from experience that passengers arriving in Oslo, Norway can buy tax-free products. <S> Wikipedia states that tax-free on arrival is also offered in Iceland and Switzerland. <A> In the EU airports I am familiar with you either can not buy any of the 'taxfree' or specially priced ' <S> buy before you fly' items when coming through the airport shopping area on your way out, as only with a valid boarding pass (and it will be scanned) you can buy. <S> Or you are not coming through the normal shopping area at all. <S> There are airports with 'shops on arrival' but you discounted those. <S> There are also shops which advertise that you can buy on your way out and collect on your return, I assume you will not look for those as well. <S> But as there are very many airports and each has its own layout and rules, you may find the odd airport which does allow you to buy on arrival. <S> There is a way around 'not having a boarding pass' when you arrive by buying the cheapest ticket (and mostly you need to do that far in advance) or by having a hidden city ticket, throwing away your last leg after you have done your shopping. <S> Before you spend money in the airport, do check that the offers are better than you would get in the cities. <S> For the items that I might buy I am not at all convinced they are cheaper in the airport, especially if you do include lower guaranty level or awkwardness of having to return to said airport to get service or replacements. <S> Airport prices are mostly aimed at street prices outside the country, and often to a specific country.
| There are airports which allow tax free purchases for those arriving from international destinations, on the presumption that the goods could have been purchased at the departure point, but were not.
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Trip to iceland: paying for tours or taking bus/car I will be in Iceland for three nights during the new year holidays.The are different websites that offer tours in Iceland with different prices. I can also take bus or rent car and explore by myself. I am wondering which option is more economical, safe, and carefree? <Q> As you only have limited time and it is likely a busy time in winter, I think prebooking tours at this time of year makes sense. <S> But when I was there in September, a few years back, I waited till I was there and could book in one of the many offices. <S> Whether regular buses or a rental car is suitable for you is more a matter of opinion <S> and I do not answer that kind of question (nor do I have the needed knowledge) but you need to consider that if the weather turns real bad with you stranded in your car or without buses it <S> it goes really bad. <S> So before you set out, check the weather forecast. <S> If booking tours, the tour companies will do that for you. <A> Car vs. organised tour on your three categories. <S> Economical: <S> we can’t answer that. <S> If you gave us enough information to figure this out, you’d already know the answer yourself. <S> Safe: also somewhat dependent on what you’re doing. <S> Obviously, if you’re intending to go exploring the (mostly uninhabited) central regions, go mountain climbing, etc, that can tip the safety balance much further towards organised tours - unless you have experience you shouldn’t attempt those activities without guides. <S> But that’s because those activities carry inherent dangers, not because travelling alone is particularly dangerous in itself. <S> As you’re travelling in winter, you should consider the weather. <S> Icelandic winters aren’t as cold as many think, but nevertheless you should certainly expect snow. <S> High winds and fog are also common and can arrive quite suddenly (a saying I’ve heard regularly when visiting Iceland: “if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes”) . <S> If you don’t have experience driving in such conditions, that’s certainly something to think about and may be a good reason to avoid driving yourself. <S> Carefree: <S> If you take organised tours you have to work to their schedule. <S> If you drive yourself you can go more or less where you want when you want (opening hours permitting, but many Icelandic attractions are natural sites open 24hrs a day - although during winter that doesn’t necessarily mean you can see them for more than a few hours even if you can go there). <S> Of course, driving yourself also means you are responsible for planning a realistic timetable to get everywhere <S> you want to go (and back, if applicable). <S> For me, the car is the obvious winner here, but that may be different if you find that kind of planning particularly stressful. <S> The points above about the weather are also relevant here <S> - tours should ensure you don’t find yourself stuck in bad weather without necessary supplies/equipment, if you go by yourself that’s on you. <S> Don’t let this out you off too much: common sense while planning should be enough, just as long as you’re aware of the possibilities. <A> Economical and carefree option is usually when you travel by yourself. <S> There is lots to see there in many places. <S> You want to see all the major Waterfalls, do the Glacier walk, go hiking up some of the well marked hiking trails. <S> do the boat ride on Lake Jakulsarlon ( home to 2 James Bond Movies). <S> But taking tours to all those places might be quite expensive. <S> Still, since you are going in Dec-Jan it might not be safe to drive a car around the island, if you aren't comfortable with driving on snowy roads. <S> And bus schedule may change according to weather conditions. <S> Of course you can check the weather forecast beforehand. <S> But if you're really concerned about safety, better to take a tour.
| It depends which specific trips you’re planning and what kind of car you’d rent, among other things. In many cases being part of an organised tour might offer a little extra security, but if you’re going to travel alone there probably aren’t all that many places safer than Iceland from a personal security perspective.
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Can you bring vitamins into China? I wonder if it's ok to bring standard multi vitamins into China? I usually carry a 100 pill can with me. Is it legal? Will I have to declare it? Should I be ready to show it? Sometimes my total number of pills is around 400 pcs, of different kinds, because I buy large cans and boxes. Is it better to only bring the number of pills needed for the trip and some extra? I don't really need to take any of them, should I just leave all at home? <Q> I'll let others comment on the legal/regulation side (which can be tricky to find when it comes to China), but in practice I went through the Chinese customs with over 100 vitamin pills (from Hong Kong to Shenzhen) in December 2018: <S> nobody asked me anything, I wasn't asked to show them to anyone, and I haven't seen any information about me having to declare them. <A> Normal multivitamins are not a problem to bring to China and there is no need to declare them, just make sure they are in original packing to avoid confusion if bag get checked. <A> As always with medication you can take or leave, I would advice to leave behind. <S> If you do not have pills on you, there is no chance on a problem with confusion and hard to explain because of language problems. <S> If you can take a container, bought with those pills in and with the chemical names on it, I would not doubt as much. <S> But do not take more than you would expect to use in the length of a short visit or for the first few weeks of a long visit.
| There are no legal requirements what so ever so declare vitamins. Take the amount you need and as long as the amount is reasonable for the duration of your stay you will be fine.
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Buy Lonely Planet guides in Istanbul I am in Istanbul and I would like to buy or get the Lonely Planet guidebook of Turkey.Do you have any hint on where I can find it?Thanks <Q> D&R Bookstores are located throughout Istanbul, and they generally stock Lonely Planet books in English - at least for the Istanbul and Turkey books. <S> They also have stores at the airport (airside) that definitely stock the English versions, however if you are already in Istanbul then this likely won't help you. <S> Unfortunately their website is in Turkish only, however you still might be able to work out their nearest store from the locations page , or just use Google Maps and search for "D&R" <A> Istanbul's city centre is highly tourist-oriented, so I'd probably check book shops in Sultanahmet or on Istiklal street. <A> Amazon have a Kindle edition you can download and use with their app on your phone or tablet. <S> They have a paperback version too, if you can wait for delivery
| I recall that there's a book shop right next to Sultanahmet tram station, in the same building as McDonalds; I definitely bought city maps in English there, not sure about Lonely Planet.
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Driving courses for tourists One of my not-so guilty pleasures is to watch Australian dash-cam video compilations; the fun part is to try to figure out all the different driving rules. As a North-American driver, I would be scared out of my wits trying to drive on the left side. This leads to my question: Let's say I decide to take a vacation to any left-side driving country like Australia, New Zealand or the UK and want to rent a car, are there driving schools that cater to tourists? Let's say a couple of hours courses to get up to speed on regulations and stuff like that? Or the other way around, a tourist from Australia comes to North-America. Do such things exists? <Q> There have been a lot of calls recently for some attempt to improve the driving standards of visiting tourists in New Zealand. <S> The Automobile Association here has put together this video to try and address the need. <S> I do know that the local driving schools are generally happy to take on specific training tasks for drivers of all levels of experience. <S> Tell them what you want and they'll accommodate it. <S> However, the instructors are frequently booked ahead for some weeks. <S> You'd need to plan it before you arrived here. <A> I can't say if something like that exists but in general I think you'll be fine. <S> Personally I'm from a right-side country and drove lefty on several separate occasions - you just keep up with everyone around you. <S> It's actually really natural, you'll tend to not to want to drift into oncoming traffic no matter which side you learned on. <S> If you're in a really rural area then you may shift sides on autopilot, but then you'll see another car barreling toward you and remember where you are. <A> I don't think you need a course. <S> You just need to take it slowly and drive carefully at first. <S> I spent two weeks driving in the UK <S> and I found that it comes naturally because the roads, cars, and signage are all designed for it. <S> The only thing to beware of is your reflexes in a sudden encounter. <S> For example, I was driving on a narrow rural lane barely wide enough for two small cars when I encountered an oncoming vehicle at the crest of a hill. <S> My instinct told me to pull right, which was exactly the wrong thing to do. <S> There was no crash, but I remember the angry look on the other driver's face to this day. <S> That was the only incident I encountered in two weeks of driving. <S> Heck, I encounter more than that on my hometown streets. <S> You'll do fine. <S> Just make sure you rent a car with automatic transmission. <S> You really don't want to be learning to shift a manual with your left hand at the same time. <A> You really just need to know the main road rules and road signs. <S> If you're visiting New Zealand, there's a tourist road code quiz you can do for free . <S> The agency you rent your car from will have some advice <S> and there's a booklet called 'Driving in New Zealand' which is multi-lingual and usually provided in the glovebox of your rental vehicle. <S> Finally, you'll be amazed at how quickly you adjust. <S> I live in New Zealand, but I've driven in Iceland, Canada, Australia, UK, Fiji and Italy <S> (Sicily, to be precise, which was the most challenging). <S> After the first half an hour, it feels perfectly natural. <S> But, it does help if you know what the signs mean.
| As for regulations, just stay within the posted limits (obviously the speedometer will match the units in the signs). To my knowledge there's no formal training program that visiting drivers are required to take, although it's being discussed.
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Do exit immigration officers care if you’re heading to a country you are obviously not allowed to visit? In countries with exit controls where you must clear immigration/passport controls when leaving the country, what happens if you try to leave to go to a country that you are obviously not allowed to visit? For example, some countries, including Malaysia, do not allow Israeli citizens to visit them. What would happen if an Israeli citizen attempted to cross the land border between Singapore and Malaysia? Would the Singaporean immigration officials refuse exit or would they not care? Edit One comment said Israelis are actually allowed to visit Malaysia, just with special visas. Then a better example would be, what would happen if an Israeli national tried to cross the border from Turkey to Syria or Iran? There are both countries where Israeli citizens are not welcome. Would Turkish immigration officials stop them and/or remind them they might be refused entry? <Q> As a rule, immigration cares only about the country you're in , what you do afterwards and whether you can enter the next country is not really their problem. <S> You might get a nice officer who tells you if they have concerns if they notice something, but they have zero legal obligation to do so <S> and you really can't count on it. <S> It's highly unlikely they would stop you from leaving, although I vaguely recall a case of this happening on Travel. <S> SE for somebody trying to exit from Poland to Belarus (IIRC) without a visa. <S> Note that this is quite different from how flights work: airlines will check your documentation on departure, but only because they get stuck with the bill and any fines if you're not allowed in. <A> Do immigration officers care when leaving to a country you are obviously not allowed to visit? <S> Typically no, <S> but that's probably not universal and they are likely some exceptions to the rule. <S> Any exception would be likely at a land border since enforcement at ports or airports are handled by the airlines or cruise ship lines and most governments put hefty fines in place to make sure they do a thorough (but not perfect) job at it <S> Consider a land border from A to B. Exceptions could be triggered by cases where any problem entering B would also affect the country A. <S> Let's say you have a single entry visa for A and no Visa for B. <S> At exit immigration, the officer country A would check that you were legally in the country <S> have not overstayed AND they would invalidate your single entry Visa. <S> If you now move on to country B, they won't let you in since you don't have a Visa. <S> Typically they would just sent you back to A, but since your single-entry Visa has been invalidated you can't go back there either. <S> So you are stuck between A and B and someone has to deal with you. <S> In many cases, the exiting country has a process for this, where you would get an emergency transit Visa or some such, but that's a lot of extra hassle and paperwork <S> and so it's a lot easier for country A if the exit immigration officer checks your credentials for entry into B BEFORE they invalidate your single entry Visa. <S> Another example: Exit immigration in Hongkong does a fairly thorough check of your papers at any land border to mainland China. <S> I'm pretty sure they would refuse you exit if there is a problem with your entry credentials into China. <S> Granted, I have never tried, and I'll make darn sure I never will! <S> Overall there are 186 options for country <S> "A" and for country "B", 200 or so possibilities for your citizenship plus a many different visa options and <S> all of these are governed by a different set of laws and rules. <S> These are tens of millions of combinations and making any general statements is always likely to be incomplete <A> Immigration of a country would not know all other countries rules, for potentially everyone from any other country - a huge complexity, and ever changing. <S> They do not care. <S> For flying: If you cannot travel to a specific country with your passport/visa/documentation (without getting a visa/waiver/etc. <S> first), the airline is responsible to not let you board . <S> This is part of their agreement to even be allowed to fly people into the target country. <S> Airlines typically use the TIMATIC database to verify your eligibility to tarvel to a country. <S> [note that it is your responsibility to have all necessary documents - the airline will simple decline you to board]. <S> In practice, you would never make it to immigration, as you are not allowed to get a boarding pass or enter the secure area. <S> There are known cases of people stuck between borders, not being allowed in either country; although typically the country you came from would let you back in, reinstating your previous situation (and put you in jail, if it was illegal)
| For land borders: As you are going in one specific country, immigration probably knows the rules, and might warn you - but it is not their responsibility.
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What's the use for this shower drain cover? I'm staying in an apartment in Mexico and found this mysterious shower drain cover/cap/lid in the bathroom, made out of plastic: Is it to prevent insects from crawling out? To prevent bad smells from leaching? To decoratively hide the shower drain? What's the name of this "device" and how is it supposed to be used? <Q> Having lived in Texas, I would use that to keep out scorpions, which can crawl up drains and even survive the water coming down them. <S> Though I'd also change the strainer to a different design that a scorpion could not so easily squeeze through... <A> The device is a universal drain stopper . <S> It is designed to keep water in a bathtub or sink. <S> Because it works by sitting on top of the drain, it is not necessary for the consumer to worry about the diameter of the drain opening, as is the case with traditional drain plugs that sit inside the opening. <S> These work by creating a seal against the smooth surface of the tub or sink around the perimeter of the drain, being held there by the weight of the water. <S> They are not effective at keeping gases from escaping, therefore, unless the basin is full of water. <S> Furthermore, they are not particularly effective with drains such as the one in the photograph, because of of the joints between the tiles. <S> The material is not flexible enough to seal these joints. <S> The purpose for which this thing has been placed on this drain, therefore, is unlikely to be related to sewer gases, because it will not be very effective for that purpose. <S> It might be marginally more effective at keeping water out of the drain, but probably only for a couple of minutes, so that is also unlikely to be the reason. <S> The speculation that it is to keep scorpions or vermin of a similar size from escaping the drain seems more likely. <S> This would be effective against creatures that are able to swim through the water in the trap, small enough to pass through the metal drain cover, too large to crawl through the tile joints, and not strong enough to move the cover. <S> If there are any local scorpions or other vermin that have these characteristics (cockroaches?) <S> , that's probably your answer. <S> Have you tried asking the owner of the apartment or other people who live in the area? <A> It's a common problem, see for example this Q&A online . <S> While I haven't seen such lids before, I've come across many such drains which allowed sewage odors into the hotel room. <S> This was especially a concern in the following conditions: <S> A well sealed-off room, common with newer hotels in hotter countries to prevent hot air coming in while airconditioners are running. <S> A powerful bathroom exhaust fan, meant to let out steam after a hot shower to combat mould growth. <S> A lack of a proper siphon in the shower drain. <S> I am not sure why they don't always make them properly, though it could be because the floors aren't thick enough to allow for high enough siphons. <S> The lid might be an attempt at closing off the drain so gasses cannot pass though, though I'm not sure if it provides enough of a seal to work.
| My guess is that this would be to prevent sewage smell coming into your room.
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Would you have to remove your jacket for the X-ray machine if you're not wearing anything underneath? Whenever you go through the metal detectors at the airport, you're asked to remove your jacket and put it in one of the plastic trays. On a recent trip this got me thinking - what if you're wearing nothing but the jacket on the upper part of your body? Would you still have to remove it or could it stay on as you pass the X-ray machine? For the sake of the question imagine someone wearing a huge winter parka with lots of pockets. <Q> I cannot speak for the female gender and all airports but recently in Da Nang, Vietnam I spilled an entire cup of coffee on my sweater and had only a thin sports jacket with me <S> so I removed my sweater and wore only the sports jacket through customs and once they realized I had nothing under they asked me to go <S> come to one side for a pat down that was all no need take it off <A> If your jackets is thick enough to hide weapons in it, you will have to remove it. <S> The same is true for your T-shirt(but T-shirts are normally not thick and have no futter), or whatever else you wear. <S> It doesn't matter what is beyond. <S> Obviously, being 'naked beyond' cannot be an excuse, as otherwise every terrorist would just come naked under his jacket... <A> If you are at a TSA controlled security checkpoint then you can ask for a private screening. <S> I don't know about other jurisdictions <S> I vaguely have heard of this issue years ago with a woman who had a jacket with a lot of metal studs/broaches etc, and it caused a lot of attention. <S> Not that there have also been instances in the past of people deliberately stripping down so as to protest against the TSA. <S> Oregon Man Strips Down To Protest TSA <S> At Portland International Airport <A> Whenever you go through the metal detectors at the airport, you're asked to remove your jacket and put it in one of the plastic trays <S> Some airport securities don't ask to remove jacket, regardless of whether you're naked underneath.
| If you don't want to remove anything in public, you can always ask for a separate screening, where an officer of your gender will check you in private.
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How do I provide restaurant with box to return my coat? I reside in the (continental) US. I was recently on a trip to northern California. While there, I unfortunately forgot my coat at a restaurant; a coat that isn't overly expensive, but I find personally valuable. I called the restaurant to ask about it and they managed to find it and were kind enough to offer to ship it if I provide them with the prepaid box. I asked someone working at the restaurant how this process works and they did their best to explain it, but I am still fairly confused after that call. I would've asked for clarification, but over the several times I've called them about this coat, they've been very busy so I didn't want to use up more of their time than I already have. So I went to the internet in search of answers. I've tried searching through USPS and UPS but all I've been able to find is a scheduled pickup that I can pay for, but from what I'm understanding these pickup services require the item to already be boxed up and ready to go by the time it's picked up. So my question: How do I get a prepaid box delivered to the restaurant so they they can use it to ship my coat to me? <Q> If sending one of the employees a couple of bucks via PayPal or something similar, to ship it for you is not an option, this is what I would do: <S> Click <S> Here <S> Pay for a label on USPS's website and email it to the restaurant. <S> Alternatively, you can print it out and mail it to them. <S> Click <S> Here Schedule <S> a Free USPS Pickup: Click <S> Here <S> Good Luck! <A> Perhaps something like this ? <S> USPS will ship an empty prepaid flat-rate box. <S> The large size box is almost $60. <S> I believe you fill out the label when you purchase the box. <S> Some USPS boxes have tape already applied but I seem to remember that the similar large priority flat-rate box doesn't. <S> You may want to ask the restaurant if they have package tape. <S> If not, you may need to send them a roll (also available from USPS). <A> The key is to minimize the amount of "kitbuilding" the restaurant needs to do, because it may be asking a lot for them to receive a box, print out a label, coordinate a pickup, etc. <S> The DIY (slow) option <S> USPS has a variety of Priority Mail boxes which ship at a flat rate (weight does not matter). <S> You walk into the Post Office, look at the boxes, decide which box will comfortably fit your jacket, and pick it. <S> At the counter, buy the postage for it. <S> Do not assemble the box. <S> Fill out the box in the normal way as you would for a package addressed to you. <S> For a "From" address, use some alternate address where someone would be able to receive it. <S> Attach postage, then coarsely fold the box over, once, such that it will fit in a large manila envelope, or wrap it with butcher paper. <S> Address the manila envelope to the restaurant. <S> Take the manila envelope back to the Post Office, and pay First Class postage for that. <S> The restaurant gets the envelope, opens it up, finds the box, unfolds and assembles it, and gives it to the mailperson the next day. <S> The "with help" option <S> The Bay Area is thick with <S> The UPS Store locations. <S> Call one near the restaurant and ask them what they can do. <S> They can probably do "all of the above, that I just said" more efficiently than you can, and at lower postage on a "getting an empty box to the restaurant" side of things. <S> You might even find they have a relationship with the restaurant, or that the UPS Store manager would be happy to eat at the restaurant and bring a box on by. <S> They pack it while the manager eats.
| Order a free flat rate box, and ship it to the restaurant:
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Pay in local currency or in dollars with a credit card in Peru? Until now, I've only seen credit card charges displayed on the POS terminal under a country's own currency. However, in Peru, many terminals display both the local soles and my card's usual currency, Canadian Dollars and the vendor asks me which currency I would prefer to pay in , which I can pick. Now, until this trip, I had come to expect that credit card companies will profit handsomely at my expense by extra charges and perhaps a less than ideal exchange rate. I assume this is still the case. My question in this case is, will those charges, and the final cost to me, be less if I pay in local soles or if I pay in CAD $? Are the displayed CAD/Soles amount, and therefore an implicit exchange rate, telling me the whole story? Assume, if you're not sure about CAD $ specifics, that the choice is between USD $ or soles. Also fine if you have experience with a similar system of currency payment choices in a country other than Peru, I assume credit cards operate relatively similarly across countries. But I am really looking for people who went through it and did the math upon their return. In other words - better to pay in soles / better to pay in dollars / about the same? Note: the vendor is not the one offering me a choice between say 70 soles or 25 CAD and therefore setting the exchange rate, at that point they don't even know where I come from. Its the VISA terminal itself that recognizes my card. So, whatever the merits or not of paying in local currency, that is NOT driven by the vendor's choice of exchange rate (which, yes, I would assume would be worse than VISA's). <Q> their only relationship with you is for this single transaction, whereas your card has some incentive to give you a more favorable rate to keep you as a customer. <S> (Clearly, some issuers will give better rates than others, so it's worth it to make sure that yours is at least in a fair range). <S> I always use my US credit card and pay in GBP when given the choice vs USD <S> while traveling in the UK, and checking the exchange rates when I get home I have always found that my issuer (Capital One, if it matters) has given me a rate very close to the even middle exchange rate. <S> Related: Paying by credit card while overseas cheaper in US dollars or in the local currency? <A> I've never, ever seen a payment terminal that gave you a better exchange rate than your home bank. <S> Worst I've seen in a bank is a 3.0% spread compared to the central bank's rate, while the terminals will give you 5% on a good day. <S> So always decline paying in your home currency and pay in the local currency instead. <S> Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) is a massive worldwide scam that's just waiting to be banned or regulated by the financial authorities. <S> Avoid it like the plague. <A> The Visa exchange rate is pretty close to the market rate. <S> If your bank doesn't screw you by adding a conversion fee (which is often undisclosed), then you should use local currency. <S> Otherwise, you should find out what your bank's fee is and how much the local bank's fee is. <S> If my experience in Spain is any guide (a very big IF ), the local bank's charge is worse, and some ATMs won't reveal what it was until after you receive the cash. <S> And if your bank isn't entirely upfront, you have to make a transaction in local currency and then find out what your bank converted it to in your currency. <S> For many banks, the exchange rate changes many times a day, but the Visa rate (which my bank uses) changes only once per day. <A> But I am really looking for people who went through it and did the math upon their return. <S> It depends on your debit/credit cards. <S> As Danny mentions, typically it's financially preferable to use local currency with your credit card <S> (I confirm it is also typically the case in Peru). <S> If you don't want to do the math each time, you can use a card using currency exchange market rate and without international fee.
| The general consensus on this site is that it's probably in your favor to pay in local currency and allow your card issuer to do the conversion, rather than allow the local vendor or their payment network to do it for you -
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Going from Notting Hill Gate to LCY City Airport - quickest and cheapest way? I wish to find the quickest way from Notting Hill to City airport by train or by taxi or Uber. I have bags. <Q> The quickest way will undoubtedly be by London Underground and DLR. <S> (If you REALLY want the absolute cheapest you can head West from Notting Hill Gate via Shepherd's Bush, the London Overground to Stratford, and the DLR from there, avoiding Zone 1, for a fare of £1.70 peak/£1.50 off-peak, but this will take much longer). <S> However, both Notting Hill Gate and Bank central line stations require the use of staircases. <S> At Bank you can avoid escalators and get a lift to the DLR but must still use stairs to exit the central line platform; at Notting Hill Gate it appears you must use both stairs and escalators. <S> If you are able to carry your bags up and down short flights of stairs and on escalators, then this will likely be the quickest and easiest route for you. <S> This journey will cost £3.30 if you travel in the peak time, or £2.80 off-peak, if you pay with an Oyster card, contactless payment card, or contactless mobile pay. <S> If this sounds too difficult, fear not! <S> Instead you can get a bus, taxi, or minicab (eg Uber) to Green Park or Bond Street station, where there are lifts. <S> From here travel on the Jubilee Line to Canning Town, which also has lifts, and catch the DLR there on to London City Airport. <S> The price for the tube/DLR portion will be the same as above; the price for the bus would be £1.50, and the price for a taxi or minicab I have no idea. <S> London City Airport DLR station has lifts. <S> The TfL Journey Planner allows you to specify escalators rather than stairs, or entirely step-free journeys if you wish. <A> I have bags <S> As noobservergirl points out, the obvious route from Notting Hill Gate to London City Airport is the Central Line to Bank, then the DLR to London City Airport. <S> The trouble is that while the DLR is modern enough to have lifts and level access throughout, the Underground is still mostly stuck in the Stone Age accessibility wise, with no lifts available to the Central Line platforms at either Notting Hill Gate, or Bank. <S> So the question is: are your bags small/light enough that you can manage them on the long escalators of the Underground? <S> From there you can pick up an Overground service to Stratford and then the DLR to London City Airport. <S> According to the map there is level access to the Overground platforms at both Shepherd's Bush and Stratford. <S> If taking the Stratford route on Oyster/contactless then you should touch a pink reader at Stratford to ensure you are charged the correct fare. <A> 46 mins using underground via central line from Notting Hill Gate, and then change onto the DLR at Bank station. <S> If you're heading during off-peak hours (ie early in the morning or late in the evening), then there will be less traffic <S> but I would predict it would be a slightly shorter journey. <S> I use the CityMapper app. <S> It gives you estimated timings using different modes of transport within London. <S> Going by Uber /Car is around a 1hr journey time apparently <A> 42 minutes if you do this: From Notting Hill Gate underground station, take the CENTRAL line terminating at Loughton to BANK station. <S> From BANK, switch to DLR terminating at Woolwich Arsenal. <S> London City Airport is 10 stops from Here. <S> The number of bags, as well as the time you are travelling, will eventually determine if you should use Uber or not. <S> If you are going during peak period and you have lots of bags, it may not be worth it using the train <S> as it may be overcrowded and you may have nowhere to stand or sit. <S> I hope that helps
| The simplest and also quite cheap route is to travel from Notting Hill Gate station on the Central Line to Bank, where you can change onto the DLR to reach London City Airport. Another option that is a bit slower, but might be worth considering if you have to travel with larger bags, is to take a taxi/private hire to Shepherd's Bush.
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What is the incidence of lost luggage in Amsterdam Airport? Years ago, 10% of luggage going through Amsterdam Airport was lost. Is that still true? We have a choice to fly through Paris or Amsterdam to Prague on Delta. <Q> According to this article the rate of bags lost in Europe is about 8 per thousand. <S> That's less than 1%. <S> It goes on to say that 85% of bags reported as missing are delivered within 48 hours. <S> Choose your layover on whatever basis you like, but lost bags shouldn't be an issue. <A> I cannot imagine 10% of luggage ever misconnected in AMS. <S> This just seems sooooo much higher than anywhere else. <S> Moreover, it would imply that KLM as the major user of the airport would have a rate of mishandle luggage at around 10%, which would have put them in an untenable business situation. <S> More importantly, what matters is the mishandled rate now, not way back when: the rate for 2017 was 5.57 per thousands, and Delta now uses technology where they claim to handle 99.9% of all bags perfectly (as reported by the BBC here ). <S> Given that AMS is a major Delta hub, and KLM is so intertwined with Delta, it is unlikely that the DL performance is much worse than announced when connecting to a KLM flight. <S> As an aside: I avoid CDG as much as I can. <S> I have always found AMS to be much more passenger friendly: <S> clean, with a logical layout, and spacious wait areas, all things which CDG is NOT. <A> Last year I was part of the software team of sections of the baggage handling at Schiphol. <S> From the data I saw there they never reached the 10% you claim. <S> Which is lower than the European average of 0.8%. <S> Though that might be because of the number of significant digits. <A> From my own limited experience (fly once or twice a year, always from Amsterdam), luggage handling was very bad in the '90 but is good now. <S> On returning home i hardly ever have to wait more then 15 mins for the luggage to arrive on the belt. <S> Only once had two bags misplaced, they were sent after us on the next plane, this was about 15yrs ago. <S> It used to be in the '90 we had to wait for 45 mins normally and very often they would forget to unload or would only unload half the suitcases. <S> Than after complaints and some more waiting the rest would come. <A> As others have stated the loss rate you quote is probably a misquote, and these days probably irrelevant. <S> Faster connections <1h increase the risk of luggage missing the connection, but they'll send it to you on the next flight. <S> So if you're worried about late bags, pick the airport with the longer layover. <S> Or better yet, plan your flight <S> so the connection has 2h-3h as a layover. <S> On a personal note, i agree with the comments that AMS nicer than CDG, but that is personal taste. <S> Also AMS is more in English then CDG, which is french after all. <A> I think I remember from years back when there was a strike or a system failure there was a huge backlog of luggage in Schiphol, it may even have happened a few times when they were installing the current luggage system. <S> But that was years ago <S> and I have not heard about system failures for a long time. <S> If there was a 10% luggage delivery failure it was to deliver in a timely manner, all delayed luggage got send on bar for a small percentage which had lost tags. <S> It was also always short in duration, like a 24 hour strike. <S> So while there might have been a time when the 10% luggage lost was mentioned in the news, it was never a long term number. <S> Strikes can happen but are much less likely in the Netherlands than in France, so based on that alone I would avoid Paris. <S> I have written this answer from memory, living near enough the airport that news like that makes the small, free, local newspapers and the local gossip.
| The year I was working the number of lost bags was 0.75%.
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Bringing hiking shoes with dirt/soil to the US? I'm soon travelling from Europe to the USA and I'm bringing hiking and running shoes with dirt on them (originating only from the EU and not from any farms). I have already thoroughly cleaned them, but it's hard to get them completely clean. Will this be a problem when entering the USA? Should I do anything in particular? I'm travelling via the preclearance in Dublin, if that makes a difference. <Q> Here is what happened when we tried to get in with dirty boots in March 2016. <S> At Charlotte International Airport, we were spotted and stopped by agricultural inspectors while waiting to collect our luggage. <S> They took us into a separate room and provided us with shoe cleaning stuff. <S> We were made to clean our shoes thoroughly and only let out after the inspectors were satisfied. <S> They were friendly, polite, and entirely reasonable, but we did nearly miss our connecting flight. <S> Last time I brought hiking boots into the US, the customs form asked two separate questions: I am bringing (...) (d) soil or have been on a farm/ranch/pasture <S> I have <S> (We have) been in close proximity of livestock (such as touching or handling) <S> Since we had been hiking in England, crossing common land grazed by cows, we answered "yes" to the first question. <S> See this question for more information . <S> This was a later trip (May 2018) than the shoe cleaning debacle, we had learned our lesson and nothing special happened despite answering yes. <A> U.S. CBP does care about soil on your shoes, but as long as you've made a reasonable effort to clean them, then it won't be a problem, especially if the soil was not from a farm or some such thing. <S> As gerrit mentioned, two of the questions on the customs declaration form that you fill out when entering the United States <S> are: <S> I am bringing (...) <S> (d) soil or have been on a farm/ranch/pasture <S> I have <S> (We have) been in close proximity of livestock (such as touching or handling) <S> When I actually had visited a farm in Thailand and so answered yes to the first of those questions, the immigration officer asked about it. <S> When I told him I had been to the farm in Thailand, he had me go to the secondary agricultural inspection. <S> At agriculture inspection, they asked what sort of animals I had been around and when I told them that it was elephants rather than livestock, they weren't very concerned with that. <S> However, they did still ask whether I had mud and such on the shoes or clothes that I was wearing while there. <S> In my case, it had been dry while I was there and the ground was mostly covered in grass, so I (truthfully) told them that my shoes probably had some light dust, but no caked on mud. <S> They said that wasn't a problem at all and didn't even bother physically looking at anything in my bag. <S> If it had been rainy while I was there and my shoes had actually been muddy <S> , I expect they'd have had me clean them as gerrit experienced, especially if I had been around cows or other such livestock rather than just elephants. <S> Given that they weren't concerned at all about the light dust and such, I don't think you'll have any problem at all if you've thoroughly cleaned your shoes but were just unable to get them completely clean. <S> Since you haven't even been on farms, it sounds like you should truthfully be able to answer 'no' to the inspection questions, in which case they're unlikely to ask about, look at, or care about your shoes at all. <A> Just declare the shoes as soiled and let customs officials handle the rest. <S> I live in Australia <S> , we're an island so these things are strictly controlled. <S> If you've cleaned them well they generally let you through, otherwise they will clean them for you. <S> I actually don't mind the cleaning service, it takes them about 2-3mins compared to my 10min effort. <A> Yes. <S> It's a problem. <S> Yes, you need to declare it. <S> No, it's not a 'big deal' but you're going to have to stop at the USDA booth <S> and they'll take your shoes and disinfect them with some nasty spray. <S> Having them clean as possible will make it easy. <S> But if they're caked in dirt they're going to make you wait while they do it. <S> Source: <S> Been there, done that. <S> Came back from England during Mad Cow with a backpack. <S> And other trips. <A> Something to understand here: <S> Yes, our agricultural inspection people tend to care about mud on shoes--they care about anything that can carry pests or disease that we don't have here (Which is why the lists can seem pretty nonsensical at times--they don't care about the items, they care about hitchhikers.) <S> However, they aren't interested in playing gotcha unless you fail to declare something. <S> If you have any question about whether they care about something you declare it and see what they say--there is no penalty (other than loss of the item-- <S> note that in this case the forbidden item would be the dirt, not the shoes) for bringing forbidden materials. <S> The only time they'll actually penalize you (I've seen it happen) <S> is if you don't declare the material.
| Cleaning them thoroughly should be good enough.
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If my passport allows me to enter a country visa-free, does that guarantee me that the entrance is free of charge or is there any exception? If my passport allows me to enter a country visa-free, does that guarantee me that the entrance is free of charge or is there any exception? I know that for the case of visas on arrival (= when travellers must obtain a visa in order to enter the destination country, but it can be obtained upon arrival), sometime one has to pay a fee, e.g. South Korean citizens have to pay 100 USD for visas on arrival when entering Bolivia (unless they have obtained the visa prior to reaching the Bolivian border, in which case the visa is free of charge), but I wonder for the case of visa-free entrances. <Q> No. <S> An example of charging for visa-free entry is the Tourist Card that visitors to Mexico are required to get under certain conditions. <S> The fee is the equivalent of around $25 USD, so fairly substantial. <S> You may have to pay even if you walk across the border <S> so it’s clearly not a facilities tax. <A> One of the most well-known exceptions to this is the US, which charges a $6 fee to travelers who enter the US via land (who are not US citizens, US permanent residents/immigrants or Canadian citizens) even if their country is in the Visa Waiver Program, and in fact even if they have a nonimmigrant visa. <S> It's possible to pay this online up to seven days in advance of arriving at the border, to speed up the crossing. <A> No. <S> Most European passport holders do not require a visa for Cabo Verde. <S> However, paying an 'airport security fee', either before going, or on arrival, is a requirement. <S> (The wording on this page suggests, however, that if you arrive by sea, you do not have to pay this fee.) <A> Some examples that I can think of in addition to those already presented: The Argentina Reciprocity Fee that had to been paid by US and Canadian tourists: https://onemileatatime.com/argentina-reciprocity-fee-us-citizens/ Cuba requires as tourist card, which costs around ~$50 for US citizens and ~25 for everyone else: <S> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Cuba#Tourist_card_required Technically, visa-free entry to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP, also falsely referred to as ESTA) as well as the corresponding Canadian program (where the authorization is called eTA) also apply to your question. <A> You have to pay in Indonesia when you enter or leave the country. <S> This fee has nothing to do with visas. <A> USA to Mexico was free for less than seven days. <S> But if you tell them you plan to stay longer, they ask for a fee when you leave.
| There is an exception for citizens of certain nearby countries, and the biggest ports and airports.
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How to visit Jewel in Changi on layover without paying extra? If I have a 5+hour layover at Changi Airport, what is the procedure to visit Jewel and the rain vortex without having to pay departure tax? Both incoming and outgoing flights are with Singapore Airlines. If that's not possible, what's the most I can see of it e.g. from a train? <Q> Whether you pay the departure tax does not depend on whether you leave the airport. <S> This official document defines: <S> Transfer passengers: Passengers who, as evidenced by a single passenger ticket, is scheduled to depart from Singapore within 24 hours of his scheduled time of arrival, and on an aircraft with a different flight number, for a destination in another country other than the country from which he embarked on the aircraft by which he arrived in Singapore. <S> There are programs to give shopping credits within the airport (not at Jewel) to transiting passengers. <S> If your layover is more than 5.5 hours, and happens to line up with specific tour times, you can have a free tour of Jewel - the kiosks are before immigration. <S> You can pre-arrange through Singapore Air or take your chances on the day. <S> Times don't line up? <S> Maybe a bus to the Merlion would work for you, details on the same page. <S> If their tour doesn't work for you, you can just walk over to it and walk around then walk back again. <S> That's what I did when leaving recently: my hosts took me to the airport, I checked in and dropped off my luggage, then we went over to Jewel for an hour or so. <S> While I was there, I saw a tram going right past the rain vortex repeatedly. <S> The maps aren't super clear, but it appears to be the T3 to T2 shuttle. <S> I don't know if you can get on that without clearing immigration. <A> If just seeing the artificial waterfall is what you’re after, you can do that at no extra cost from inside the transit area without ever entering Singapore. <S> The transit shuttle from B to E (see Kate’s map ) passes through the Jewel at a nice height to see the waterfall and the surrounding open space; see these pictures I took from inside that transit shuttle in April 2019: <S> Left: <S> View of the waterfall and interior of Jewel. <S> Right: the tracks of the automated people mover passing through Jewel. <S> Click on the pictures for high resolution. <S> My memory is not entirely fresh, it could have been that the shuttles briefly waited in front of the waterfall to provide best views but even if they didn’t they don’t travel that quickly. <S> Note that while there is only one arrival platform in each of the terminal wings, the bit through Jewel serves as a passing area to double the capacity of the shuttles so if you’re in the unlucky direction there’ll be another path of the shuttle between you and the water. <S> Fret not, the shuttle is free and goes back and forth all day so just board again. <S> Also note that if my memory serves me correctly Kate’s map is not accurate <S> ; you want to be on the inner circle to get a view of the waterfall (i.e. the shuttle passes through the part of Jewel closer to terminal 1). <S> I will also point out although it is at best tangential to the other points in this answer that on the other leg of my flight with Singapore Airlines that April (Asia–SIN–Europe return) I had an 18-hour layover, entered Singapore visa-free and went sightseeing in the city without having to pay any additional fee to get back airside. <S> At no point in that transit did I pass any booth that had anything about a departure tax mentioned so reading about it here is the first time I saw it. <A> You don't have to pay anything extra. <S> It is right next to Terminal 1. <S> Even if you have around 2 hour layover, you can comfortably visit. <S> There is an official tour also which can be availed free of charge. <S> It will take longer and your layover needs to be co-inside with the tour timings. <S> It also includes free admissions to otherwise chargeable areas.
| If you are eligible for visa on arrival, or VFTF , then you can clear immigration and visit.
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Which airports serve only international destinations? In this question , concerning the airports that serve the most countries, domestic flights are excluded (i.e. the country containing the airport should not contribute to its destination count). This leads me to wonder - are there any examples of airports where this wouldn't make a difference to the score, as they don't have any domestic flights? An obvious case would be countries that are simply too small to have more than one airport; those qualify, but should probably be noted as such. More interesting would be countries with multiple airports, at least one of which for some reason lacks domestic services. As to which flights count, same rules as the original: Flights must be regularly scheduled, although they can be seasonal, and available to book for individual passengers, to exclude chartering an airline and private flights. <Q> You will have plenty of examples. <S> Any country big (or populous) enough for more than one airport, but small enough so that domestic flights make no sense will be fine. <S> Just one example: Belgium. <S> Non of them offer domestic flights. <S> Simply because it makes no sense at all. <S> Just take the train and it will be faster and more convenient. <A> The country can still be small enough that domestic flights between the airports don't make sense. <S> An example would be Cyprus, which has two international airports: <S> Larnaca and Paphos <S> with no flights between them. <A> Singapore has two civilian Airports - Changi and Seletar airport. <S> Both serves international destinations only.
| There are five airports with regular passenger flights: Brussels , Charleroi , Ostend , Antwerp and Liège .
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Why is the subway in Seoul so cheap? The price for a trip on the Seoul subway starts at about $1.Compared to, for example, the London underground, which starts at about $2.00 (at the time of writing this question) or even Berlin S-Bahn which is about $3.40, this is incredibly cheap. One would think there is a compromise on quality for such a low price, but there really isn’t, especially considering: Extreme cleanliness (and I do mean utterly extremely clean) for the trains, seats, stations, handrails - everything. Superb reliability & speed Free Wi-Fi !!? Onboard TV screens Impeccably maintained stations & trains. Everything seems brand new and super modern. I have even heard that there are heated seats and footrests (but I didn't notice since I visited in summer) All of these are arguably better than some underground trains elsewhere which I found less than clean. I haven’t been to London but I have seen videos and pictures, it doesn't look as clean as Korea? How are they doing this? <Q> For example the London Underground has lots of long lines with overloading problems on the center of those lines, and lighter loads further out. <S> So tube fares involving zone 1 are relatively expensive, outer zones are cheaper and buses are cheaper still. <S> Also I don't know where you got your figures for the London Underground <S> , maybe you were looking at a long journey or at overpriced paper tickets. <S> London Underground fares start at £1.50 (~$2) for an off-peak journey that avoids zone 1. <A> I think that you just have an unconscious expectation that the subway systems of advanced Western countries must necessarily be better than others. <S> The fact is, that they aren't as essential to civilized life there as some other places and actually get way less love. <S> For comparison the Moscow subway: costs 0.6 USD ( https://www.rbth.com/travel/326613-how-to-use-troika-card ) <S> had free WiFi as far back as 2014 very fast <S> (going 80km/h underground is legit scary) very reliable <S> not super new overall, but the old stations and the new ones are gorgeous (the ones build circa 1992-2008 are pretty drab). <S> maybe not as spotless as Seoul (can't compare, but South Koreans are super tidy), but certainly clean enough to put NY and Paris to shame, from what I've seen. <A> Remember that in many places (especially in Western Europe), most users will not use single fare tickets but monthly passes instead. <S> In Paris for instance, even though the cheapest ticket is 1.49 € ($1.66, ticket t+ bought as a carnet of 10 on a Navigo contactless card, valid for travel on the whole metro network, RER inside Paris, Buses and Trams, no transfers between Metro/RER and Buses/Trams), most users have a monthly Navigo pass, which costs 75.20 € per month for the whole region, but their employer is required to pay 50% of that. <S> So even if they just do one return trip per weekday, that's 0.94 € ($1.04) per end-to-end trip, including any transfers on all 4 modes of transportation. <S> And you can travel from one extreme of the region to the other for that price, and of course the cost per trip is even lower if you use public transport more often. <S> The "best deal" in Seoul is the commuter pass which costs 55,000원 for 60 rides but is valid for 30 days only, and is valid for the subway only. <S> If one does only one return trip per weekday, that's 1,375원 per trip ($1.19), which is not cheaper than the 1,250원 ($1.08) <S> cost using single trip fares, and is only a win if users travel more often or make longer (and more expensive on single trip fares) trips. <S> So it is easy to dispute the fact that the cost is lower in Seoul than it is in other major cities. <S> In terms of quality of service, it is probably difficult to compare a relatively recent system (less than 50 years for the oldest part, with much of it a lot younger) with systems that are over a century old. <A> Part of the difference will be the overall standard of living and wage rates. <S> Comparing wage rates is tricky (mean or median?, accounting for the cost of living, whether to deduct taxes & social security). <S> But as a rough indication, look at this: <S> The minimum wage in the Republic of Korea is ₩8,350 (approximately US$7.20). <S> The minimum wage in the Federal Republic of Germany is €8.84 (approximately US$9.80). <S> The minimum wage in the UK is £8.21 (approximately US$10.80). <S> However, the very helpful link in @ceejayoz's comment strongly suggests that the main reason is that the Seoul system receives a bigger subsidy. <A> How? <S> Subsidies. <S> The government would prefer people to use public transport instead of cars - and the best way to get them to do this is to make public transport so good that you'll tolerate its downsides. <S> It also makes commuting easier, which can reduce pressures on housing around cities. <S> The ultimate example of this is Luxembourg. <S> As of this coming summer, all public transport across the whole country becomes free . <S> Having visited Luxembourg last year, I can testify that the cleanliness, quality and punctuality of their trains, trams and buses is better than the UK, France and Italy. <S> Even last year, a return trip to anywhere in Luxembourg, on any bus or train, was only 4 Euros. <S> (And less if you bought a travel card.) <S> The ultimate example in the opposite direction of course is the US. <S> Public transport in the US receives little or no public subsidies. <S> As a result, public transport is universally dirty, poorly-maintained and overcrowded, so everyone drives everywhere. <S> Naturally this leads to gridlock and a greater need for roadbuilding and maintenance. <S> The irony which opponents of subsidies rarely spot is that roadbuilding and maintenance always come out of public funds. <S> Effectively the public therefore subsidise cars from their taxes, because drivers do not directly pay for the cost of having accessible roads (except on toll roads). <S> This is often missed when discussing subsidies for public transport. <S> There is much discussion about how privatised railways and buses should pay for themselves, but much less about cars. <S> Many countries do have some form of tax on vehicles, but to my knowledge no country has a direct ring-fenced link between taxation of road users and money spent on roadbuilding.
| The price for riding a subway system has little to do with the cost of operating it, and more to do with how much the government is prepared to subsidize it and the government's attempts at load balancing different types of public transport. In Seoul like in many other Asian cities, there are no monthly passes with unlimited use.
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Transit at Bangkok on two different tickets I booked two separate tickets. One from Amsterdam to Bangkok BKK (Finnair), one from Bangkok to Luang Prabang in Laos (Lao Airlines). Will I need to go through Thai immigrations to collect my luggage? As a Dutch citizen it says here http://www.consular.go.th/main/contents/filemanager/VISA/Visa%20on%20Arrival/VOA.pdf that I do not need a visa. Does this mean 'faster through immigration'?I have 2,5 hours for transit . <Q> Will I need to go through Thai immigrations to collect my luggage? <S> As a Dutch citizen it says here <S> http://www.consular.go.th/main/contents/filemanager/VISA/Visa%20on%20Arrival/VOA.pdf <S> that I do not need a visa. <S> That means having to queue up with most other foreign nationals. <S> There may be a few nationalities than can go through automated immigration , but the Dutch aren't among them (yet). <S> Note that you have to pass immigration twice, once on your way into Thailand and once leaving Thailand. <S> You'll also have to go through a security check where you have to take off your shoes and have your carry-on scanned. <S> Not a big deal, but it's another queue. <S> Does this mean 'faster through immigration'? <S> Immigration will be fast for you, provided you fill in correctly your arrival and departure cards on the plane. <S> While there are reports of those cards being phased out, they weren't last December when I was there. <S> But like I said, you're in a queue, and if the people in front of you take longer you will still have to wait. <S> All in all, I would strongly advise against such a short connection. <S> While you might make it if all goes well, any hiccups could cause you to miss your flight. <S> If you've already booked your flights, you may want to look into priority queues (e.g. this one , though I can't vouch for them) for immigration (specifically when arriving in BKK, as you want to drop off your bags for the second flight before check-in closes). <S> Note that these priority passes are nice, but they won't help if your first flight arrives late <S> and it's likely you'll still have to wait for your bags to arrive. <A> As your flights are on separate tickets, you need to have: Deplaned (can take a while on a large plane) <S> Reached immigration Queued at immigration Gone through passport control <S> Reclaimed your bags (possibly waited for them first) <S> Gone through customs <S> Reached the departures area <S> Found the check-in area for your second flight <S> Checked in/dropped your bags before the check-in deadline <S> In most cases, the check-in deadline is around an hour before scheduled departure time. <S> However Lao Airlines state that their deadline is 2 hours before departure for international flights . <S> I'd say you have about 0 chance of making it. <S> Remember that if you don't check-in in time, you will be considered a no show, and for most fares (especially the cheaper ones), that means your ticket (including all subsequent segments on the same ticket) will be automatically cancelled . <S> You will be on the hook to book and pay for a new ticket , which, at the last minute, can be very expensive, and will probably imply an overnight stay. <S> 2 hours is pretty unusual, so you may want to check with them if that indeed applies to all their flights. <S> Even if the deadline is shorter, it's still a pretty tight connection if the incoming flight is on time and everything goes smoothly. <S> If there are any delays or complications, it would quickly become impossible. <S> You should look at alternative arrangements. <A> If your flight arrives in time, 2.5 hours is well enough. <S> Suvarnabhumi airport is very well organized, immigration procedure and baggage claiming should not take longer than 45 minutes, from the baggage claim to check-in its not longer then 10 minutes and <S> Lao airlines stuff is quite relaxed <S> so don't worry if you won't make it within 2 hours before departure to the checkin counter.. <S> if your flight has a serious delay (1/2h or more), i would recommend the following : Make sure you have filled your thai arrival card (you get it on the plane), hurry out of the plane and to immigration, ask one of the friendly stuff in front of the immigration that you are short on time with your connection flight, they will let you pass the queue. <S> You still have to wait for your baggage so, but if your are not travelling alone, one of your party can rush to check-in counter and ask them to wait for you and your baggage... <S> It will work, in Laos it always works someway.. :-)
| While you don't need a visa, you still need to pass immigration to enter the country.
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What time of year is the cheapest to travel to Canada from Europe? I live in Ireland and I want to visit some relatives in Canada. Some of them live in Kelowna, BC and some in Langley, BC. Which time of year is the cheapest and which is the most expensive? Also, are there any travel days that are the cheapest? <Q> This is a surprisingly complex question and impossible to give an absolute answer to. <S> You are right that the price of flights vary through the year and some times are more expensive than others. <S> However, the price of flights is also greatly influenced by when you purchase plus other market dynamics such as popular events. <S> That being said, Canada is a very seasonal country with huge variations in weather which also affect volumes of tourists. <S> The high season when flights are expected to be quite expensive is summer when schools are closed. <S> This occurs from the last week of June until labor day which is on the first Monday of September. <S> There is another right season from the week before Christmas to the Monday that follows new year. <S> Schools are closed also during the period and so anyone who wants to escape the cold winter with their kids travels during that week which causes prices to peak even higher than summer prices. <S> Outside of those two high seasons prices are generally much lower, particular to and from Europe because it includes many popular destinations. <S> Flights can cost less than half price! <S> The lowest prices often occur during the months of October and November, than again around April or May which are almost as cheap. <S> The general advice is to book international travel 6 months ahead of time to secure low prices and good flights. <A> Flights are priced on supply and demand and vary a lot. <S> Currently the cheapest round trip from Dublin to Vancouver in February is about 350 Euro. <S> In August this will be at least twice as much. <S> This typically means No school holidays at either country Undesirable weather in the destination <S> No major holidays, business, sports or other events <S> Weekdays that are not good for business travelers (mid-week or Saturday) <S> Crummy connections with long layovers <S> Most of these factors are hard to know <S> so I wouldn't try to optimize any of these factors other than season. <S> There are many search engines that allow you to look for the cheapest flight over a significant time range which makes this much easier than guessing. <S> Keep in mind that flight cost is not the only expense and sometimes spending a little extra money on a better flight option can make the trip much more enjoyable and may also save you money overall. <A> Travel to Canada is very seasonal. <S> The peak tourist season is summer, and specifically from Victoria Day (or May two-four, the last Monday before 25th May) to Labour Day, the first Monday of September. <S> Expect flights in that time to be more expensive. <S> The other peak season is ski season, but whether that affects you is going to be dependent on where you are going. <S> Calgary and Vancouver airports, and to a lesser extent Montreal, will have higher prices at that time, but not as high as summer. <S> The couple of weeks around Christmas will be expensive, like almost everywhere else in the world.
| As the date gets closer, prices tend to increase steadily but then at the last minute, when spots are available, it is possible for prices to drop again, although those flights can be pretty tough with long layovers, many connections and even change of airports. Prices are lower if demand is lower.
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Is it allowed to use custom barcode mobile apps as a boarding pass? Inspired by this question - What types of boarding pass barcodes are accepted at Stockholm Arlanda Airport? Is it allowed by airports and airlines to use anything but the official .pdf they provide or the official mobile app of the airline? For some reason I feel like there would at least be a few raised eyebrows if something not so official was shown at the gate but would still have a barcode/QR code that their scanning device would recognise. There were a number of times I gave my phone to the agent at the gate, and a number of times the agent didn't just scan the barcode but also looked at the information on the phone with their eyes too (a few people below gave even more examples in the comments too). So this is two-fold, considering both going through security (which is probably the easiest as nobody there takes your phone or looks at it) and going through the gate to board the plane (where it can be taken to scan and/or looked at with eyes). And any other extra checks that sometimes may happen as well. <Q> I think your question is flawed because what is important is the content of the barcode itself rather than how that barcode is rendered on your device. <S> In fact, the TSA (in the US) or person at the gate never sees the application when I place my phone face down on the scanner - <S> all they see is if the barcode contains data that correlates with their internal systems and hence enables you to pass through that particular checkpoint. <S> In my case the barcode is rendered via Apple's Wallet application, so it is neither the airlines original PDF of the barcode nor the airlines application. <S> I'm not sure that this is done in the barcode age, but there used to be a website that allowed you to generate fake paper boarding passes that would get you past the TSA checkpoints. <S> Of course, I don't expect that they would get you on a plane, but I think that the idea was to avoid being tracked by the TSA or some such. <A> The general rule is that if the airport allows for e-Tickets or mobile boarding passes it's fine. <S> If not, and only paper boarding passes are, scanning the barcode and using your phone can cause some trouble. <S> If the airport and airline are using BCBP (Bar Coded Boarding Pass) then you can modify the boarding pass as much as you want, if you keep the barcode data intact. <S> You can switch from a paper boarding pass with a PDF417 barcode to a phone app with a Data Matrix if you want. <S> If the airport only uses paper boarding passes then you most likely can't modify the boarding pass at all <S> and you have to use the boarding pass made for you. <S> If you're unsure if the paper copy is needed - keep it¨(especially if flying with a low cost carrier like Wizz Air). <S> Also, if you're able to have your boarding pass in your phone, don't worry about battery level - once past security you should be able to board the plane using just your passport, or in some cases your ID/drivers license. <S> This is from my experience and there could be exceptions. <A> The significance of the barcode lies in the encoded data. <S> If you create a copy of the barcode, it will encode the same data, so it should be acceptable. <S> If you create your own barcode, you will not know what data to encode in it, so it will not be acceptable. <A> As a general rule, for any company, I would say no! <S> You can't just bring the barcode in any situation. <S> There are several companies that explicitly don't allow this. <S> A notable case is Ryanair. <S> They will only accept your e-ticket if in their own app. <S> This can happen for several reasons: <S> Commercial reasons Making sure you use their app gives them the chance to cross-sell or upsell stuff to you. <S> Having their app installed is always an advantage to any company Operational reasons <S> Although the content of your ticket is in the barcode having the ticket with the relevant information printed can still be important. <S> In the case of system failure, they can still look at your data. <S> In some situations, it's faster (and cheaper) to do a visual inspection in an e-ticket rather than reading the bar-code.
| Although in theory fine - as others have mentioned - the content in the barcode is the relevant data, you shouldn't use another app unless you're absolutely sure the company accepts it.
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Is wearing perfume in public transports or rooms bad in Japan? While visiting Japan I almost never find people wearing relatively strong fragrance in the trains or public places in Japan. Is it considered rude or no manner when using relatively strong perfume? I know some people are sensitive to certain smell that can make them sick or headache. Is it the reason? <Q> This is considered rude in most places in the world, it isn't unique to Japan. <S> In Japan its rare to run into that one in a thousand person who just doesn't care the way you might in Britain, China, Turkey, or wherehaveyou. <S> Eating smelly food is also a rude thing to do. <A> From Wikipedia's article on Body odor : <S> East Asians (Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese) have fewer apocrine sweat glands compared to people of other descent, making East Asians less prone to body odor. <S> I don't really have too much of an issue myself as I grew up in North America, but my cousin who lives in Japan used to complain about foreigners wearing excessive fragrances. <A> I've lived in Japan for several years and this isn't my experience at all. <S> It is quite common to encounter Japanese people with strong perfume, cigarette odours, halitosis, or body odours. <S> Public transport is quite crowded and you will come into close contact with many people. <S> Everyone becomes accustomed to their own smells and may be unaware of the discomfort that it causes others. <S> As in every country, some individuals are more considerate of those around them than others. <S> One thing to note is that using deodorant or antiperspirant products is not a common cultural practice in Japan. <S> It's not something many people do on a daily basis and these products have limited selection and availability in Japan as a result. <S> Fragrances and perfumes are seen as for special occasions but people do wear them in evenings and on weekends. <S> It's a pernicious myth that Japanese people don't get sweat or have body odour <S> , it's common especially in onsen and the hot, humid summers. <A> I have not been to Japan yet, but I spent quite some time in a few cities in mainland China to share my perspective: <S> most locals did not wear perfume/deodorants in their daily commute, either when traveling by bus or metro; most did not have strong body odor, but some did, especially those that spent hours laboring in more intense physical activities; based on conversations I had with a few locals, it seems they do not use perfume/deodorants for the following reasons: they do not feel the need to use deodorants to counter their body odor; intense odors coming from a person are considered as something odd in daily life (whether they are pleasant or foul smells); perfumes are expensive products in their minds; I ate local food in hundreds (if not thousands) of restaurants while in there and, despite the fact that Eastern Asians have less apocrine sweat glands under their armpits (as mLstudent33 detailed ) <S> , I personally believe that diet has a significant impact due to meat, fish, onions and garlic (with high sulfur compounds, particularly when eaten raw) being consumed in lesser quantities than in the western world (for those curious enough, here's an article explaining diet relations to body odor ). <S> Of course there are several restaurants serving these in larger quantities but, from what I have seen, locals do not eat these dishes daily. <S> I am not East Asian myself <S> and I personally stopped using deodorant while staying in there after a few months, since that even in hot "sweaty" days, my body odor was almost absent. <S> In Kung Fu classes, my sweat did not seem to have an intense odor, at least none of the locals avoided training with me or commented about my smell (that I heard, that is :), but I did feel some of my classmates odors (none seemed to use perfurme or deodorants while training).
| Japanese and East Asians don't get as much body odor because they have less apocrine sweat glands so they don't need as much perfume, cologne, etc. The only possible 'Japan' part of this is that Japanese people broadly tend to be a lot more considerate of others and make more of an effort not to disturb fellow-passengers than in many other countries.
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Is there a website or a code that will suggest dates for the cheapest flights? For example, I want to travel from London to New York. My dates are flexible departure (July) and return (September). I want my output to be the dates for which I'll get the cheapest flight (instead of manually trying out multiple options on Skyscanner or any other flight search website) <Q> This seems to be a pretty common feature. <S> For Expedia, for instance, you can choose "Show flexible dates". <S> Google Flights also has it under "Date Grid". <S> It doesn't seem to show time of day, however, so searching for the lowest fare will likely get you a lot of red-eye and such. <A> Beat That Flight (my site), has this feature which I term Flexisearch , eg: For Australian based users, at least, it also does this focusing on popular routes. <S> Example: <S> Melbourne to Tokyo : <A> As other answers have mentioned, there are numerous sites offering this. <S> However, all those are showing you which is the cheapest day to buy a flight now . <S> This allows you to find a low price but those may not be the lowest prices because it is highly likely that purchasing the same flight a different day comes to a different price. <S> Instead of doing the search now, you can have a service searching for you. <S> These are called Flight Alerts or Travel Alerts . <S> You subscribe to a service and set some parameters, such as origin, destination (can be specific or broad) and frequency of alerts. <S> You can also allow them to select the cheapest dates or give constraints such as weekends, months, etc (depending on the service). <S> You can choose weekly alerts to diminish volume of email but you might miss the very best price in that case. <S> There are a lot of flights to discard though since you cannot constrain the duration of the trip or just because some might be overly complex for your tastes. <A> Thgere is an app called Azuon which I used for a long time. <S> It was far more flexible than any search engine. <S> It required a subscription for full features, but even in demo mode, it would give you prices and dates, and then you could use another service to find what airline it was on that date. <S> I stopped using it because it started giving absurd results, but that was on Mac with a windows emulator. <S> It might be that the unwrapped app on Windows still works.
| If you are keen on getting a certain flight, you can ask for daily alerts and every day you will get an email that lists the cheapest flights to your selected destination. The main service I have used for this is Kayak and that in fact purchased from the alert email several times.
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Recommended time for global entry interview on arrival? Is there a minimum time that should be planned to allow a global entry interview on arrival? I'm arriving in IAH, but I have a domestic connection 1h50m after scheduled arrival time that goes to my final destination. I can't find any real guidance as to what is recommended. It's also a little hard for me to get out to the airport for an interview in general, so I'm also a little leery of paying the $100 and not being able to complete the process for several months. <Q> Actual data point. <S> Off the jet bridge at 2:20, in line for global entry interview at 2:27, finished with interview at 2:40. <S> There was one person in the middle of their interview when I arrived at the special interview booth, which for my particular arrival I guess was on the other “side” of the arrivals hall. <S> I guess every airport has a different layout. <S> This is probably highly variable, but it probably helps to hustle off the plane, etc. <A> When I arrived in New York JFK and wanted to do the interview on arrival, the officer told me the wait time would be around 1 hour, until another officer would be available who could do the interview. <S> This was in February 2019, right after the end of the shutdown. <S> So with barely 2 hours connection time, I would ask them how long it would take, but I would prepare for not being able to complete the interview in such a time window. <S> But another point that sounds strange to me: usually the EoA counters are in the section where international flights arrive. <S> So you need to complete the regular immigration process anyway. <A> Luckily IAH is on of the airports that have Global Entry On Arrival ( https://www.fly2houston.com/newsroom/articles/cbp-launches-global-entry-enrollment-arrival/ ) <S> No appointment is needed. <S> Just find the signs for Global Entry Upon Arrival near the manned immigration stations. <S> Otherwise, I’ve found that at the regular Global Entry Offices if you have a tight schedule, you can tell the officer when you checkin and they try their best to accommodate you.
| You would do your immigration checkin and global entry interview at the same time.
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Where is the smallest park by area? As I stated in the title, where is the smallest public park (owned by government, local government or a charity such as RHS)? <Q> Technically Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, USA. <S> It is a circle 2 feet (0.6 m) across. <S> It was named an official city park in 1976, and is operated by Portland Parks & Recreation. <A> I nominate Tjoffsans Tivoli in Malmö , Sweden. <S> It is an amusement park for mice (also known as amousement park) created by Anonymouse MMX . <S> It's not owned by any government, but it's public and maybe it could be classified as a charity. <S> It looks like it covers an area of approximately 1-2 m². <S> It's unclear whether it is still open though. <A> The other answers show non-official parks or "novelty" parks that you cannot actually fit a person into. <S> Hence, I nominate Jack Early Park, San Francisco, CA. <S> It has a flight of stairs leading up to a concrete platform with two benches. <S> You get a nice view over the bay. <S> I could not find any data on its size, but from having been there myself I estimate the area to not be much more than 25 m² <S> (only counting the platform, not the stairs). <S> It is hard to find a good picture of the whole park, since it is a small platform. <S> I recommend viewing the 360° view on Google . <S> (c) 2009 Bryan Costales <A> Of course, in Japan everything is smaller. <S> This one is 0.25 square metres, complete with bench. <S> However, it's not technically a park, but a road feature, so it doesn't qualify for the Guinness Book of Records: <S> See Japanese Wikipedia or a local web page for more details. <A> While not the smallest park in the world, the smallest park in the UK is Prince's Park in Burntwood, Staffordshire. <S> Photo © <S> Geoff Pick via Wikipedia Commons, CC-BY-SA Google Street View link <S> It was built in 1863 to commemorate the marriage of the future king Edward VII, and in 2013 was the location for the UK's shortest fun run, with the slowest competitor finishing in a mere 55 seconds: link . <A> I nominate the small corner lot at North Pacific Avenue and Mission Street, Santa Cruz, California. <S> I concede it is not named as a "Park," and doesn't appear in the City's list of parks , but it is treated as a park by the City and its residents, and is maintained by the City. <S> Here's a Street View Picture. <S> The public area is between the blue wall and the street from which the photo was taken: <A> Here is a link to it on google maps. <S> And here is a link to the charity <S> that manages it as well as several others in the area. <S> I can not find any official information, the charity does not give it on their site. <S> Google maps gives me about 100 x 82 meter, which would give me 8200 m², but that is not very precise.
| I bet that the Heemskerk Lunet 10 does make a good chance as the smallest 'national park like' park, as it is a rather small bit of ground owned by Noordhollands Landschap.
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Returning to the US with a US Passport expiring within 6 months If my US passport expires in November of this year (2020), and I want to travel in the UK beginning in March, will I need to renew to be able to board a plane back? I may be returning as late as May or June, so my passport would expire within 6 months when returning to the US. <Q> You have an absolute right to enter the country of your citizenship . <S> That's what citizenship means. <S> They can punish you for lack of paperwork, but the punishment is civil, and can't include refusal to enter. <S> However, they can detain you indefinitely while the proof of citizenship is obtained . <S> However, you cannot get on an airplane without proper documentation <S> that meets the airline's and government's standard. <S> So the "absolute right" is limited in practicality. <S> The passport needs to be merely "not expired" to fly home. <S> If you're doing a land crossing, an expired passport will work, but you should expect 5 lashes with a wet noodle. <S> If a citizen is doing a land crossing, a plain Real-ID, non-"enhanced" driver's license will also work, but expect 50 lashes with a wet noodle (comprising, in actuality, of some imposed delay and a stern lecture). <S> A citizen can show up at a land crossing with no documentation at all, but expect some delay while they confirm your identity. <S> It will really help to have a good story . <S> I believe they have some actual civil penalties they can throw at you if you make a habit of it (they know). <A> You must also: … have a valid passport for the duration of your stay <S> You do not need to renew your passport for your proposed trip. <S> Note that EU countries in the border free Schengen area do require 6 months validity for entry, but not for the whole proposed trip. <S> Even if you want to visit France, for example, you don’t need to renew unless you enter less than 6 months before November. <A> You can return to the US as long as your passport is valid on the day of arrival. <S> If your passport expires two months after you arrive, so much the better. <S> The US has a six month rule for the passports of certain foreign countries, but it does not apply to US passports. <S> You should also check whether the countries you're visiting have similar rules. <S> Many do, but the UK does not.
| The UK does not have any minimum passport validity requirement other than that your passport is valid for the duration of your visit :
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Is there any car ferry between anywhere in the UK and anywhere in mainland Europe that charges per car and not per person? I'll soon be continuing my world hitchhiking trip from Germany to Scotland. When I need to use ferries I try to find one that charges per car because I can try to hitch a ride with somebody taking their car on the ferry. If there is no such ferry then I'd also like to know and I'll put aside some money for the ticket. <Q> A quick check on the most basic ferry of all, Dover-Calais with P&O, reveals that the cost of a car is the same no matter how many people are in in it . <S> Simply check the price on this site and vary the number of people. <S> I suspect that most other routes are the same. <S> However you do have to book the number of people, so your plan to hitch a ride is unlikely to work. <S> And security considerations would probably prevent it happening anyway. <A> The Eurotunnel might be your best bet as they do charge per car (and up to 9 passengers.) <S> It is also the quickest crossing. <S> That said, security is quite heavy on channel crossings, and the penalties for people smuggling high <S> so I suspect that it will not be easy to find someone willing to offer a lift. <A> https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/london-to-amsterdam-by-ferry.htm <S> https://www.seat61.com/Ireland.htm <S> It’s probably best not to try and circumvent the ferry rules when you’re travelling across an international border, they could deport you which would be very bad.
| You can also use the train ferry which is subsidised and not super expensive to the Netherlands and Ireland:
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When traveling from the EU to the USA, what kind of power adapter am I going to need? I'm going to be traveling from the EU to the USA for a few days. During my stay, I need to be able to charge personal devices such as my laptop, my phone, and my shaving machine. Coming from a country with 230V and 50Hz power, what off-the-shelf equipment am I going to need to use the 120V and 60Hz network in the US? (I see adapters on Amazon that convert the shape of the plug but they explicitly mention that they don't convert voltage or frequency, so I'm a bit puzzled about their usefulness.) <Q> The first thing to do is check all your appliances. <S> Check wether they are multi voltage. <S> You will see that printed on them somewhere. <S> I have yet to encounter a laptop or mobile phone charger that was not good for 100-250V, 50-60Hz. <S> Those kinds of adaptors have been accepting a wide range of AC voltages and frequencies by default for a long time. <S> The shaver may or may not be an issue. <S> If it is a battery powered one, with a charger, then in all likelihood that charger will accept any voltage as well. <A> As others have said, almost all laptop and phone chargers will support 100-250V at 50 or 60Hz . <S> They have switch mode power supplies, which for various technical reasons I won't go into, are very easy to build to support all the world's major domestic voltage and frequency standards, so almost all of them are built as such. <S> Check on the chargers themselves to be sure. <S> It's also quite likely your shaver will support this; again, check on it to be sure. <S> If this is the case, a travel adaptor would be sufficient, converting the shape of the plug only. <S> However, a word of warning. <S> I would also suggest buying from a reputable retailer in your home country (maybe an online one), and not from a site like Amazon or eBay where a huge variety of companies can sell things claiming to be other things with limited policing, and where fakes are common. <S> Sure, in all likelihood there won't be a problem, but I wouldn't want to be putting myself in danger of electrocution or fire, which are both certainly possibilities based on the horrific adaptors I've seen in the past. <S> On the other hand, things bought in reputable retail stores or from the websites thereof are generally quite good at complying with all relevant electrical safety regulations. <S> Even if it costs a bit more, to me this is worth the peace of mind. <S> On a similar note, buy one that is solely designed to convert US sockets for EU plugs. <S> These tend to be a lot more sturdy and safe than the ones designed to convert anything to anything. <A> I see adapters on Amazon that convert the shape of the plug <S> but they explicitly mention that they don't convert voltage or frequency, so <S> I'm a bit puzzled about their usefulness. <S> This is called an Adapter : <S> The European plug will be adaped to the US power plug (it will not convert the 240V to 110V AC power source) . <S> Most (if not all of all) <S> Laptops can switch automatically between the 2 (dual-voltage), so only a plug Adapter is needed. <S> For your phone, which will probably be based on a USB-Charger, the plug Adapter can also be used. <S> For your shaving machine you will have to look at the label. <S> If it states: "110-240V~/50-60Hz" (dual-voltage), then a plug Adapter can also be used. <S> (A quick search shows that many do, but make sure that 60 Hz required in the US is also supported) . <S> Not using a Converter (where needed) from a 240V (European) appliance to the 110V (US) should cause no harm, it will just not recieve enough energy to work properly (the raser may run slower). <S> The answer linked below gives many useful details about the whole topic. <S> Sources : <S> Converter vs Adapter
| If all your appliance are of the "any voltage" kind, than all you need is a plug adaptor that adapts the shape of your EU plug so that it fits in a US socket.
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Not stamping my foreign passport at US border I have a question about having not been stamped in my passport at the US border. I am a non US citizen and arrived to JFK airport last year with a B1/B2 type visa. A woman officer standing at the lines asked me where I was from and then told me to use the APC machine. So after filling all the steps at the APC machine a white little paper with my photo and info was printed which I gave to the officer who was standing thereby. He did not even look at my passport or the paper I gave to him and just let me in to the baggage claim. I was so confused cause I knew for sure I needed a stamp in my passport, that's why I returned back to the same officer and re-asked if I needed a stamp. On this he started kidding me like "GO GO HOME GIRL" and smiling (meaning that I did not need tge stamp).So what else should I have done? I collected my baggage.After that I'm still confused and nervous about the fact that I don't have an entry stamp.How do you think will I have any problems when I travel to US again while entering <Q> The USA (as well as many other countries) are moving away from passport stamps to digital entry records. <S> You can look up your USA entry record here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/ <S> It will tell you when you entered, how long you were granted entry until, what status, and when you left. <S> It’s good to occasionally check to ensure it’s correct. <S> For other countries, you can usually find the government database by googling “countryname entry record”. <S> For Canada such a search yields: <S> https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/agency-agence/reports-rapports/pia-efvp/atip-aiprp/thr-rav-eng.html <S> Sometimes you need a physical entry stamp even when its become optional at the airport. <S> For example, Japan has moved to electronic passport entry but visitors still need the visitors passport stamp for JR Rail Passes and duty free. <S> but it’s an extra step. <S> For Canada, for example, I’ve had to ask for a stamp even at a manned booth. <S> If you really need a stamp, then ask the officer when he or she still has the passport in his hands as it becomes difficult for them once they clear the screen for the next visitor. <A> So what else should I have done? <S> Trusted that the officers were correct, or asked to speak to a supervisor who might have been able to explain the system in more detail and with more seriousness than you seem to have gotten from the officer. <S> How do you think will I have any problems when I travel to US again while entering[?] <S> As amply explained elsewhere, you will not. <A> Given that the entry stamp has some value to landlords and small shops who do not pay staff to keep up on immigration changes, I would have asked them to do the formality of the stamp, framing it as a souvenir of your travels. <S> Entry officers may do this as a courtesy if asked. <S> If you happen to live near a land border with Canada, the border is festooned with sleepy little border crossings where a state highway meets a provincial road. <S> An officer there might be more inclined to indulge a vanity request for a paper stamp. <S> Just don't go too small, or you may face a TV camera instead of an officer.
| There’s a secondary station at immigration in japan where you can request a stamp
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Air travel UK to USA with a hyphen in my surname - will it be a problem? I'm flying from the UK to the USA for a holiday in a few months with Virgin. My surname has a hyphen in it, but it seems that Virgin's computers cannot handle this, so they have removed it and my surname appears as a single word. I've heard that staff at check-ins can be quite strict about details matching. Is there going to be a problem for me at any stage? <Q> You should check your passport's machine readable zone. <S> Most countries seem not to add characters like hyphens there, and may substitute it with a space (encoded as a <) instead. <S> You should make sure that the name the airline has matches the MRZ. <S> But most likely it will not be a problem. <A> My name has a hyphen that I always include in my bookings. <S> Airlines sometimes put it on the boarding pass and sometimes don't, and I've never had any problems. <S> Edit: <S> worth noting that another answer now reports someone having problems with United, who I've never flown with. <A> Some combination of the hyphenation on my green card, passport, and boarding pass, caused a validation error that didn't allow me, via the terminal, to confirm that I had a valid travel document to visit the United States. <S> I now always have to visit a physical agent who is easily able to override the validation error and confirm that I have a valid travel document. <S> I am not able to check in online or via the self-serve terminal. <S> This is purely anecdotal, of course, but if you do need to check-in at the airport, you should give yourself the full amount of time that the airport and airline suggest, to ensure that you are able to get potential issues like this sorted out with a physical agent, if needed.
| I have had an issue with a hyphen when checking in and validating my green card with United at their self-serve terminals at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) when traveling to the United States.
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Can you let someone else use your boarding pass to get into a travel lounge? Let's say I was traveling with a friend. My friend is flying economy whilst I'm flying first class. Could I visit the lounge, get the food and all that jazz, then exit the lounge, give my boarding pass to my friend and let them check the lounge out to see what the lounge life is all about? <Q> In some cases, your status may allow you to bring in one or more guests . <S> This is very specific to each airline/program and the various levels, though, so you'll have to check the details for your own loyalty program. <S> This page gives some general rules. <S> They say that access via your travel class (business, first...) usually doesn't allow you to bring in a guest. <S> On the other hand, most programs (but not all) allow you to bring a guest if you get access through your frequent flyer status, with a few conditions and exceptions, though. <S> So, again, check the specifics for your combination of frequent flyer program / status / airline / type of flight (domestic or international) / class of travel. <S> Note that the number of guests is usually limited. <S> Even as a Flying Blue Platinum member, I can't (or couldn't the last time I tried) bring more than one person in a lounge, for instance. <S> However, giving your boarding pass to someone else <S> so they can enter without you <S> is most probably a breach of the terms and conditions of the program . <A> In recent years, I have encountered with all major airlines that they want to see your boarding pass and a valid ID. <S> As a consequence, you can of course walk out and in as often as you like, but someone else with your boarding pass (and ID!) will have trouble if he doesn't look a lot like you. <S> It is also a clear violation, and if caught, you will not only lose your access right, but also potentially be disqualified from their frequent flier club, losing any miles already collected. <S> As others mentioned, depending on airline and status you might be allowed to bring a guest, but they have started to be a lot less generous there too - just because you are Platinum Select member with an international business class flight <S> doesn't mean you can bring your wife (with an economy boarding ticket) for free <A> You might be able to pay an entry fee (maybe with a discount because of your eligibility). <S> It is said that it is cheaper than staying in the "normal areas": you have less time to wait near boutiques and restaurants, so possibly less expenses. <A> Could you? <S> Yes. <S> Should you? <S> No. <S> Better for you to load up on snacks in your bag, get a drink in a red cup/fill a bottle, and leave. <S> I flew 100k a year until recently and regularly brought doggie bags out. <S> I also got to take guests, and would grab total strangers for fun. <S> Sometimes it was good, sometimes they thought I was a creep. <S> To each their own. <S> Edit: I'm just going to leave this here: If you hand your ticket to your friend, they go into the lounge- <S> what ticket do you have? <S> Your friends? <S> If the TSA stop and decide to search you or your friend, what ID are you going to show? <S> Is it reasonable to explain you traded tickets so your buddy can get into a lounge? <S> Sure- <S> TSA or the police might not blink, but they are going to pull them out to look and be sure. <S> Just not worth it for a cheap brownie. <S> However the Sushi in Japan on the other hand... <A> SAS doesn't check IDs, they use automated gates where you scan your boarding pass or passport <S> and you can enter and exit how many times you like.
| Legally no, but often there is just a check of the ticket (and a scan of ticket, so that you may enter only once).
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Traveling with a photocopy of a European ID across Europe Is it allowed/accepted to travel with a photocopy of an ID (in order not to lose the real one) rather than the ID itself or would it create issues with the local police in case of checks? I mean, do they have some sorts of verification system or database checking in order to see whether the data displayed on the photocopy are authentic or not, since the same issue can come up with the real ID itself? Sorry, I forgot to mention some crucial details.I didn't mean traveling by plane, but I mean simple border crossings and coming backs (e.g Netherlands-Belgium or France-Luxembourg). <Q> No. <S> Official ID documents have many features to prevent forgery or manipulation. <S> They might also be officially invalidated when a new one is issued before the expiry date. <S> A copy has none of those -- it might easily be photoshopped. <S> The only use for a photocopy or digital scan is as a handy reference of all the relevant data, in case the original gets lost. <S> That way you have the document number when you file the report. <S> Follow-Up: Just to clarify, EU countries are not in the habit of arresting people just because they don't have ID on them. <S> In fact, many don't require citizens to carry IDs. <S> But anyone could get into a situation where the authorities want to record the ID of all involved persons and take official statements later. <S> For those who can show ID, no problem. <S> For those without it, there could be inconvenience. <S> And the sort of EU-wide automatic database query which the OP envisions doesn't exist. <S> Authorities in one member state can send questions to another, but that takes time. <A> No, it's not acceptable. <S> Besides the police, what's the point? <S> How are you travelling? <S> Most airplanes, some trains, checking in hotels, renting a car: they all require some form of identification. <S> For crossing borders too, and even for Schengen borders you might need some official ID. <S> If you lose your credit card, you might use your ID for getting money through Western Union or similar services. <S> Take your ID with you, and leave the passport at a safe location. <S> If you want to reduce the chances of losing the ID use a travel belt, hidden pocket or neck pouch. <A> As often, what the EU mandates is that other EU citizens are treated on a par with citizens. <S> It's still up to the country to regulate police checks, registration and identification requirements as they like. <S> Depending on the jurisdiction, holding or carrying government <S> sanctioned ID <S> might or might not be mandatory and the likelihood of a check varies widely. <S> You might also end up needing some identification document following other interaction with the police (accident, etc.) <S> There is at least one country (the Netherlands), where not carrying ID is a (minor) criminal offense, punishable by a fine. <S> The downstream risks for you as an EU citizen are limited (you won't be found guilty of illegal stay, deported or banned from reentering the Schengen area or anything like that) <S> but without any ID document, you first need to establish that you are in fact an EU citizen. <S> I have heard of several cases of citizens being retained and put through the process leading towards a removal. <S> Even if the mistake was ultimately cleared up, it would result in a few extremely unpleasant days/hours. <S> That's one of the reasons I suspect the photocopy might in fact be useful. <S> In practice, even when the police insists that ID is mandatory (possibly illegally), if they are convinced you are an EU citizen, doing something about the lack of ID is just a burden. <S> Lots of paperwork for something that's not a crime, won't result in a valued outcome in their performance statistics, etc. <S> They might seize on the copy to let you go with a verbal warning. <S> Something similar happened to members of my family (with non-official non-photo ID like credit cards).
| What you can do is get yourself both an ID card and a passport if your country issues cards, and take one or the other within Europe. There is no EU resident/citizen database authorities could use to double-check your data and no EU-wide rule regulating this matter.
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Why would you cancel a non-refundable hotel reservation? I was wanting to cancel a hotel reservation on Expedia but when I clicked on the cancel link I get this message: The room/unit type and rate selected are non-refundable. Should you change or cancel this reservation for any reason, your payment will not be refunded. Given that is there any reason to cancel the reservation? Sure, it might be nice, as it'd allow the hotel to rent the room out to someone else but if they're not going to be "nice" by letting me cancel the reservation then I don't know why I would be "nice" to them. <Q> Etiquette generally demands that if you reserve something you're not going to make use of, it's polite to cancel your reservation. <S> Even if you can't summon any desire to be nice to the hotel's owners after being subject to their inflexible cancellation policies, think of it as being nice to your fellow travelers, as your cancellation just might help out someone else who is in need of a room. <S> This is often less true with rooms booked through a third-party booking site like Expedia, but if you call the hotel directly, they can sometimes, entirely at their discretion with no guarantees of success, be accommodating even with non-refundable reservations, especially if you have a good reason (medical emergency, serious travel delays, etc...) <S> and/or are open to flexibility (they may let you shift the dates or apply the cost as a credit toward a future stay). <A> I have cancelled a non-refundable hotel booking twice. <S> In one case, I had booked through the hotel website. <S> I cancelled several months in advance (altered flight times meant spending night in a different city than planned). <S> Much to my surprise, I received a 100% refund. <S> In another case, I had booked through a hotel aggregator website. <S> I cancelled several days in advance (altered travel plans due to French train strikes) and I received no refund. <S> Recap: I cancel just in case the hotel or booking agency refunds me anyway — it happens. <A> Apart from etiquette, an actual use case: I have separate insurance for certain events (death of a family member or travel partner, illness, etc) <S> so I don't get refundable rooms as they are more expensive. <S> Sadly, I had to cancel rooms (and flights etc) <S> a number of times. <S> The insurance will ask you to cancel the room/flight/whatever, and then send them the list of all costs left after refunds. <S> If the refunds are 0, then so be it. <A> You may want to cancel if your credit card offers insurance and needs you to cancel to make the refund. <S> Also, you may have to pay taxes to the city ("tourist tax" or "stay tax") when staying at the hotel. <S> These are only paid when you actually spend the night, so you can avoid paying them by cancelling your room. <A> The reason is very simple: so that you can claim for the non-refundable costs on your travel insurance (you do have travel insurance, right?). <S> The insurance company will want to see an official cancellation to be sure that you definitely did not stay at the hotel. <A> Getting a refund isn't necessarily the only option when cancelling. <S> Some places will let you cancel (directly through them, not through a third-party website) and receive an alternate form of compensation such as a voucher to use towards a future visit, or the equivalent amount of loyalty program reward points. <S> This is more common with air tickets than with hotels <S> but I've found that if you call the hotel and are polite to their booking manager, they usually try to do what they can to keep their customers happy. <S> Also note that there are legitimate cases where you can cancel a non-refundable reservation despite what a third-party website tells you (they tend to err on the side of protecting their commission). <S> Read the fine print carefully. <S> Example: if you booked the hotel and air/train tickets at the same time, you are often able to get your hotel refunded if the flight/train is cancelled, rescheduled to a different day, or otherwise significantly changed in a way outside your control. <S> Local law may also give you additional rights that supersede anything the website tries to tell you. <S> Hotel staff will know more about local law than you will, so the best course of action is usually to call them, be honest and polite, and ask them what your options are. <A> All answers give a very focused reply to a question. <S> Let me use as a reference, the work of a recent Nobel laureate . <S> Recently behavioural economists have been focussing on lack of rationality in human decision making. <S> Your question is very reasonable from a <S> What's in it for me perspective. <S> However not all humans are like that. <S> Many have demonstrated that they would rather provide convenience to someone else even though they have already paid for it. <A> Aside for multiple reasons already mentioned, your cancellation will make the room available for someone else to book. <S> You might consider this of no relevance to you, but one day you might be the person looking desperately for a room.
| I cancel just in case the hotel or booking agency refunds me anyway — it happens.
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What are the rules around intersections with flashing lights? I will be travelling to the USA (from the UK) and renting a car. I have been looking into the various traffic laws and rules, signage etc. as well as potential routes to take for the journey, and I came across an intersection for which I don't understand the rules. The intersection appears to be controlled by lights but there are only two lights, rather than three. Aspect 1 Aspect 2 Aspect 3 These are the different aspects of the lights I can see from Street View (zoomed in). It's not quite clear to me whether the lights may be flashing or alternating, or even off occasionally (or if they're "off" because the camera caught them between aspects). I am familiar with the rules around typical three-light traffic signals, single flashing yellow (proceed with caution) and single flashing red (treat as stop sign). What are the rules of these two-light signals? Are there online resources which describe these rules? Are these types of traffic light only found in Alabama, or are they common across the country? <Q> You probably won't find double flashing lights like this in any driver's manual or even online documentation. <S> They're quite old and they never were common. <S> What they were was confusing. <S> I'm writing only from personal experience and memory, as I don't expect to be able to find anything online that old. <S> Both of the lights here flash yellow, and it is just a general caution signal. <S> It does not necessarily mean you need to slow down or stop. <S> On the cross road, both lights flash red, and there is also a stop sign, so traffic there must stop. <S> These caution lights were most likely installed because of the junction's slightly unusual layout. <S> On the priority road, one lane is separated and does not stop; the other lane is exclusively for traffic turning onto or from the lower priority road. <S> My best guess is: This T-junction is more like an italic T - the angle is close to 45 degrees! <S> - <S> and so there is much less visibility for people who wish to turn here. <S> Thus the intersection most likely had a lot of accidents in the past, leading to this redesign with flashing caution lights and a separated lane for through traffic. <A> Are there online resources which describe these rules? <S> Each state has slightly different rules. <S> The Department of Motor Vehicles (or similarly named agency) in each state typically produces a pamphlet (probably a PDF nowadays) that gives the most important rules, meant for new drivers studying to take the driving test in that state. <S> In Alabama the relevant agency is the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency , and they provide a Drives License Manual . <S> Are these types of traffic light only found in Alabama, or are they common across the country? <S> I've never seen it in Califoria or Illinois. <S> But a single flashing yellow light is a fairly common indicator for "caution". <S> Edit <S> Having written that, later the same day I drove past this sign in California, which uses the same double flashing yellow lights to indicate caution, though not hung from wires above the middle of the street: <A> I have never seen a flashing traffic signal in the US with a red light below a yellow light <S> so I believe both lights are alternating the same color. <S> IThis type of signal is not in the Drivers License Manual for Alabama. <S> Using Aspect 1, and starting with the lanes from its point of view, the left lane is a left turn only lane. <S> Drivers should stop due to the flashing red signal but can proceed whenever it's clear. <S> The right lane is continuous flow--drivers there do not have to stop for the intersection. <S> The road entering from the left has a right-turn only lane with a Yield sign. <S> The other lane is a left-turn only lane controlled by a stop sign. <S> The opposite direction has a dedicated right-turn only land controlled by a yield sign. <S> The left lane is a through lane and has no markings on the road itself. <S> Based on that, I think the light for this direction is flashing yellow. <S> Be aware, but you shouldn't have to stop. <S> For the original viewpoint (opposite direction to this), I believe the light is flashing red because the lane is a left-turn rather than a through lane. <S> Although the Alabama Motor Code section 32 5a-34 does state that if there's no line to stop at the intersection of the two roads. <A> Since in one picture the upper light is on, and in another picture the lower light is on, most likely the flashing alternates between the top and bottom light to draw more attention.
| A flashing yellow light means drivers should use caution in the area of the light.
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What is a good way to find new western friends in a foreign city? I moved to Cebu around a month ago. I'm working from home as a computer programmer. I've been living abroad and travelling for a year now. I'm regularly meeting women and people from the local culture, but sometimes I miss having male friends and people with my own cultural background. Especially as living in some countries is a culture shock, it's nice to talk again with people with a western cultural background.I'm a great fan of www.meetup.com, but unfortunately there are not many people in Cebu using it. What are other good tips to find like-minded people while travelling? <Q> There is no one solution for this. <S> Some suggestions... <S> Irish pubs. <S> Quiz nights. <S> Walking tours. <S> Hash House Harriers. <S> Toastmasters. <S> Internations. <S> Critical Mass. <S> @Taladris' answer made me realise there are more: Alliance Française. <S> Goethe Institut. <S> British Council. <S> Here are two more that I often check for: Gallery openings. <S> Facebook events (with an international focus). <A> I'm not familiar with the Philippines expat scene, but googling "philippines expats forum" returns a whole slew of results, and there's at least one forum dedicated for just Cebu as well. <A> Here is what has worked for me in South Korea. <S> Pretty sure that most of this applies also to Cebu. <S> For example, You can try to use social networks. <S> There are certainly expat groups on Facebook. <S> You can also search for more specialized groups such as French in Cebu , Expat Mums in Cebu , Hiking in Cebu ... <S> Meetup is an application that is used to organized events, in particular, social gatherings. <S> You can join such a gathering to meet locals and foreigners. <S> Groups on Couch Surfing organize events for travelers, expats and locals. <S> You can also "hijack" some applications to fit your needs. <S> For example, you can use language exchange applications (e.g. HelloTalk) in your own language to meet people from your country. <S> This does not always work since they may think you are wasting their time. <S> You can also use this to meet locals that are interested in your mother tongue; they may know some of your compatriots leaving in town and/or have stayed in your country and know your culture. <S> there are certainly bars whose patrons are mostly foreigners. <S> They usually have Facebook pages in English and organize events like concerts, trivia nights, tacos tuesdays, <S> Halloween parties, Saint Patrick days,... Embassies and cultural centers organize events regularly. <S> The French cultural center of my city have parties with wine and cheese that attract fellow Frenchies from far away. <S> Look for churches/mosques/Jedi temples that have English services.
| Virtually any country or city with a foreign community also has an expat forum online, and these often organize social get-togethers. Search Expats in Cebu or Foreigners in Cebu .
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What is the world's largest publicly accessible air-conditioned space? Living just off the equator, in a place that's hot & humid all year around, I find myself longing for places with pleasant, predictable, climate-controlled environments. So: What is the largest publicly accessible air-conditioned space in the world? Largest by volume (cubic metres) Publicly accessible means anybody can enter (entrance fees are OK) Air-conditioned means that the space is kept to temperatures less than typical ambient outdoor temperatures (so heating alone doesn't count) Must be a single enclosed space (building, mall, atrium, dome, greenhouse etc), not just a single air-con plant providing cooling to a number of different buildings <Q> I would think it is the Tropical Island Resort in Germany. <S> Apparently it has 5.5 million m³ of volume space. <S> It is kept around 26 <S> °C all year around. <A> I have not yet been able to find the volume of the Iran Mall , in Tehran, but its area is 1.4 million square meters, and it appears to be multi-floor. <S> Based on a comment by Neusser , 1.4 million square meters is the total floor area, so I can only count one floor height. <S> At 3 meter height, that would give it a total volume of about 4.2 million cubic meters, 5.6 million cubic meters at 4 meters. <A> The O2 arena in London is an air condiditoned space of 2.79 million cubic meters. <S> Looking at Wikipedia's list of largest buildings , this may well be the largest-volume building that is both publicly accessible and air <S> conditioned. <S> There are only 8 buildings larger in volume than the O2, but their main spaces are either not publicly accessible, not air conditioned, or both (unclear about the Tropical Islands Resort mentioned in another answer, but it would seem reasonable to forego air conditioning for an indoor water park located in a cold climate). <A> I'll kick off with one: <S> ㎥ of space kept to 23-25 <S> °C all year around. <S> For comparison, ambient temperatures in Singapore hover around 30°C. <A> https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/facilities/vab.html <S> The VAB covers 3.25 hectares (8 acres). <S> It is 160 meters (525 ft 10 in) tall, 218 meters (716 ft 6 in) long and 158 meters (518 ft) wide. <S> It encloses 3,664,883 cubic meters (129,428,000 cubic feet) of space. <S> The building has at least 40 MW of air conditioning equipment, including 125 ventilatorson the roof supported by four large air handlers (four cylindrical structures west of the building) to keep moisture under control. <S> Air in the building can be completely replaced every hour. <S> The interior volume of the building is so vast that it has its own weather, including "rain clouds form[ing] <S> below the ceiling on very humid days" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Assembly_Building <S> But I dont know if you really can visit it ( https://space.nss.org/you-too-can-visit-the-vehicle-assembly-building/ ) <A> Boeing's Everett Production Facility is the largest building in the world by volume at ~13.4m cubic meters . <S> It is climate controlled. <S> At approximately 98 acres, it is larger than Disneyland but smaller than Magic Kingdom. <S> Public tours are available for a fee. <A> Maybe stretching the spirit of the question (not man-made, entrance fee <S> ~$3000 USD), <S> but perhaps the Hang Sơn Đoòng Cave <S> - it has a continuously connected volume of 38.4 million m³. <A> I wanted to mention indoor ski slope, like the biggest Alpincenter Bottrop , but apparently a ski slope is way smaller than a mall... <S> If the roof is at 4m we stand at a volume of about 77k cubic meters.
| The Flower Dome at Singapore's Gardens by the Bay is the largest greenhouse in the world as listed in the 2015 Guinness Book of World Records, clocking in at 195,000 What about the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
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Switching terminals to shop (Charles de Gaulle)? I have a connecting flight in CDG and I would like to shop in the departure area of Terminal 2E. I will arrive at terminal 2E and then I will depart at terminal 2F so I am wondering whether it is possible for me, once I land in Paris, to go to the shopping area of terminal 2E or if I must go to terminal 2F. Moreover, can I still claim tax-free? My next destination is always in Europe but I will be leaving the EU ten days later and I already have the flight ticket for that. Thank you! <Q> CDG is quite huge and confusing as per my experience. <S> So, if you have more time then only do your shopping. <S> As you can see you have to go through Security while going to 2F. <S> Thus, if you have a proper time you can. <S> Regarding taxfree, You can claim your tax back before you head home (you can't claim now while entering Europe). <S> If you find yourself inside Paris Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2F, here's where you should head. <S> Remember: Non-EU shoppers must bring a completed and stamped Tax Free Form in order to request a tax free refund <A> I don't think this is possible: <S> When you land at either of 2E's concourses, you are airside for immigration purposes, but landside for security purposes. <S> To enter either of 2E's shopping areas, you need to go through security. <S> I would be surprised if they let you go through (they check and scan boarding passes). <S> I know they will at least tell you it's the wrong terminal <S> , I don't know if they would actually prevent you from going through ( <S> but I would be surprised if they didn't). <S> Depending on the exact combination of the concourse you land at and the concourse you may want to visit there may be some special cases where you could enter the departures area, but I highly doubt so. <S> Also remember that you will have to go through immigration, and this can be very, very, very long at times in CDG, especially if you have a non-EU passport and do not have status. <S> Even the boss of Paris airports has publicly complained about it. <S> You want to make sure this is sorted out as quickly as possible, and once you have done that, you definitely won't be able to enter the 2E departures area. <S> You'll also have to go through security to reach 2F departures. <S> It's probably a better option to shop anywhere else in the EU (outside of airports, I mean) and claim a tax refund. <S> There are related conditions (including minimum amounts), but it should be relatively straightforward. <A> Therefore, it is mostly irrelevant if you can make it to that area or not, but my guess is you can't. <S> You claim you are flying on internatioanlly after ten days, you will be able to shop then.
| You can only buy tax-free if you have a boarding pass for an international flight with you; they want to see it.
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Is it possible to add a Frequent Flier number after the flight is booked? My university is responsible for booking flights on my behalf. I wanted to know if it's possible to add my frequent flier number and credit the miles to it after the flight has been booked? Is it airline dependant? For this particular flight, the most likely choices are SIA, ANA or JAL <Q> Generally, yes. <S> Final selection typically happens during check in and most check in processes have an explicit or optional step explicitly for this. <A> In case you don't do it before the flight... <S> As alluded in other answers, pretty much all airlines allow you to "claim missing miles" even after the flight. <S> If the frequent flyer programme is for the same airline, then you usually do it online <S> and it's pretty straight forward <S> (I've done it quite a few times). <S> If it's a partner programme (e.g. you're flying on BA, but the FF is from American), then it'll be more hassle. <S> In either case, make sure to save your boarding passes - either electronic versions or printed/issued ones. <A> This is, as you say, airline dependent. <S> I know several airlines that do, and the best way for you to find out in your case is to contact the airline. <S> In your case I would also contact your university travel department and see if they will add a frequent flier number when booking. <A> I don't have first-hand experience with the airlines you mentioned, but any other airlines I have seen lets you add frequent flyer numbers at any time. <S> If you have the booking code and your name, you should be able to sign into view the reservation and add the frequent flyer number. <S> You can also have it added at check-in (online or in person) and sometimes even after the flight. <A> As already stated more than once, it is definitely possible. <S> However, you should check whether you have a contract saying that all frequent flyer benefits/points on university-paid travel belong to the university. <S> I have had a contract like that (though it wasn’t with a university). <A> It is always possible to add the Frequent Flyer number later. <S> The easiest place to do so (in my humble opinion) is when dropping off bags at a manned terminal. <S> They will request to see your passport/ticket/boarding pass (assuming online check-in) anyway <S> and you can just hand them your frequent flyer card additionally to get it entered. <S> If you are unlucky and don’t have the option of a manned check-in/bag drop-off desk, the next best option is probably at the departure gate although I haven’t tried that myself. <S> Finally, most airlines offer a manage my booking form where you can, for example, request a specific diet or pre-order extras. <S> Often, this will also have a field to enter your frequent flyer number and programme, typically as part of the passenger details. <A> I had a similar condition where the company booked a ticket for me. <S> But while doing boarding, I asked the Airlines staffs to add credit on my frequent travel card as ticket was under my name. <S> In addition, I took a flight from Finnair and forget to add my frequent flier. <S> However, later I logged in to my frequent flier site and add the ticket number. <S> It takes 48 hours and once airlines confirmed, I got my credit on Frequent flier. <S> So as per my knowledge, JAL is in ONEWORLD and you can easily on it. <S> Best of luck and have a safe journey. <A> You should be able to do that on the airlines website once you have your booking code. <S> As a last resort, you can always get it added at the airport, even after you checked in. <S> Just make sure to do before the flight; afterwards is also possible, but a lot more tedious. <A> In most cases, you can either add it during the check-in process or ask any departure-gate agent working for the airline, after check-in and passing security. <S> It doesn't necessarily have to be the gate agent for your flight, so you can go to a different desk (as long as it's the same airline) if that helps even out queues. <S> Usually, this can also be done at a layover airport if you have one with sufficient time, but I wouldn't recommend relying on that (tarmac holds can shrink even long layovers unpredictably!).
| On almost all airlines you can select/change frequent flier accounts as often as you want until check in.
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Is it snowing in Moscow in January/February 2020? There have been some reports that Moscow has seen the warmest winter this season (2019/2020) and that "fake snow" had to be brought in! Is this true? Has the situation changed? If we're planning to travel in the last week of Feb (or first week of March), can we expect to see a Moscow covered in a blanket of snow? What about surrounding smaller cities? <Q> I'm not in Moscow, I'm in Nizhny Novgorod (450 km East of Moscow), but we also did not have much snow a month ago, and now we have a rather decent snow cover. <S> Maybe less than on average year, but it is clearly here and fairly thick. <S> Moscow being West from us usually sees a bit less snow, but I guess they must also have some snow now. <S> You can google for online webcams from Moscow, this is one I found just now , and it shown some snow layer in one of Moscow parks. <S> In fact, the news about fake snow are from around New Year time. <S> It is not unusual nowadays to have New Year holidays with little to no snow in western Russia (in particular, both in Moscow and Nizhny), so the news about fake snow seems at least possible. <S> However, usually still a lot of snow accumulates during January and February and partially March. <S> Late February and early March is the snowest time of year, and surely you will see a lot of snow. <S> The only thing to note is that Moscow streets are often very well cleared of snow, especially in tourist areas, so you will probably not notice the snow at first. <S> But in any parks you should see it. <S> Also, as any big city, Moscow is warmer than its surroundings, so it usually has less snow than countryside around it. <A> I just returned from Moscow to the USA. <S> I was there from the end of December to Jan 17th 2020. <S> This is the fourth New Years Eve in a row I have spent in Moscow. <S> This winter was by far the warmest <S> I have seen in the past 4 years. <S> In the past 4 years, Moscow has had some very harsh winters and some of the biggest snowfall on record. <S> Unfortunately this year (2020) <S> that has not been the case. <S> I think it snowed only 2 days while I was there in January, and usually it snows every single day in January while I am there. <S> We did not have the winter wonderland experience we usually get. <S> I hope this helps. <S> Can we expect to see a Moscow covered in a blanket of snow? <S> What about surrounding smaller cities? <S> I would expect to see Moscow covered in a blanket of sludge. <S> When I was there a few weeks ago, a local told me "This isn't snow, this is mud.". <S> I had to laugh. <S> Do not slip and fall in that sludge. <S> You've been warned. <S> Surrounding cities depends on location. <S> We went to our dacha in the Dorokhovo region, about two hours east of Moscow. <S> We did get snowed in (and the car broke down) and it was a winter wonderland. <S> But it did not last but two days and melted soon after we returned to Moscow. <S> So, from my recent experience, I do not think you will have a winter wonderland snow experience in Moscow for late February/early March this year. <A> I am from Moscow and travel there often. <S> It used to be very snowy in winter, over the years the amount of snow has decreased. <S> There might be wet layers of snow (not a lot) in paths but not on roads as they are cleared well. <S> There is more snow in outer cities and parks in Moscow. <S> If you want more snow go to Siberia :)
| I find more snow in February, every 3/4 days if can snow and you can get quite a big layer (almost as high as your foot).
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How to get clean shirts when the hotel doesn't offer a laundry service? I'm living in hotels right now and some hotels doesn't offer a lundry service. I've considered full service laundry where I can pick up my laundry ironed and ready to wear and also laundromats. I have yet to find a laundromat with drying rooms where I could put my business shirt and I'm not sure they'd survive a dryer. <Q> That is what people do who do not stay in hotels with laundry services or who do not want to spend their time cleaning and ironing their shirts. <S> This service can be found at some laundromats, some hotels will tell you where to find them, dry cleaners will often offer the service. <S> And for the other places use your search abilities as every area will use different names. <A> In the USA, most hotels above the very lowest-price have an ironing board and iron in each room, or will loan you one on request. <S> I have hand-washed many shirts in the room's sink, left them to drip until mostly dry, then ironed them myself. <S> I did the same in Germany once, now that I think about it. <A> I solve this by washing my clothes in the bath, and drying them in the cupboard. <S> The difficult bit is rinsing them, using a detergent designed for wool (eg. <S> woolite ) helps.
| Do not go to a laundromat but do go to a service where they clean and iron the shirts and return them to you in the hotel or keep them in the shop for you to collect.
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Can you land your private helicopter on Viking Line cruise ships? Helicopter taxi services are everywhere near the baltic coasts. Can you take a helicopter taxi to a Viking Line cruise ship en route? Or is that not allowed? Are only ambulance helicopters allowed to land on the ships? I recently asked a Viking Line customer service agent who gave me a quick "no" as an answer but I guess they're not trained to answer this type of question so I wonder what the real answer is if it's something else? <Q> The answer is probably no for all practical purposes. <S> In most countries, landing a helicopter on a vessel is a matter of agreement between those responsible for the vessel (e.g. owner and captain), and the aircraft. <S> In addition, there may be flag state requirements on the vessel for manning of the helicopter landing deck with appropriately trained crew and firefighting equipment. <S> Insurance companies may have a say on this as well, as no one wants to lose either a helicopter or a vessel. <S> So theoretically, you could probably reach some kind of agreement that would allow this, but it seems hugely impractical, prohibitively expensive, and practically impossible. <A> The answer is yes you <S> can <S> and no you <S> may not . <S> They probably have the capabilities for the sake of emergencies. <S> Cruise ships contain a lot of guest. <S> A lot of paying guests. <S> A lot of paying guests who don’t own helicopters. <S> Helicopters are extremely noisy. <S> The engines alone can be ear piercing even from a distance. <S> The rotor blade noise adds to that. <S> That is not conducive to a relaxing cruise. <S> Allowing a non-emergency landing for the sake of one guest would not be tolerated. <S> If you have the bird, book your own private boat. <S> They can at least take you to shore where there will probably be a heliport. <A> <A> It's no big deal to have a chopper on a cruise ship, example: http://travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Riding-the-helicopter-on-the-Scenic-Eclipse ($400 a flight) <S> It's unlikely <S> that the specific cruise brand asked about would have this service, or, it would be widely advertised . <S> Like the other answerers, I have no factual information on whether the specific cruise brand asked about would have this service.
| Technically helicopters can land (well, almost), but Viking Line says that In more serious cases we can use helicopter transport or evacuation boat. They don’t allow it for the sake of practicality. Like another answer states , it is about permission and capabilities.
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What's the longest scheduled helicopter flight? I'm looking for the longest scheduled commercial helicopter route in the world. It could be seasonal but should be recurring and anyone should be able to purchase tickets for the route. <Q> There is a scheduled helicopter route from Malaga <S> (Spain) to Ceuta <S> (Spain, Africa mainland). <S> There are two more (as I write) flights today: <S> Flight no. <S> HTY242 departs 10 Feb. 2020 at 18:35 arriving 19:05 Flight no. <S> HTY210 departs 10 Feb. 2020 at 21:25 arriving 21:55 <S> The distance is 71 miles (114 kilometers). <A> The last column is price (С for plane, В for helicopter). <S> I assume same route can be flown with either plane or helicopter <S> , what does that depend on, I know not. <S> Btw, it costs slightly less than $300 one way. <S> I'm yet to try that, hope to do that one day. <A> Try https://blade.flyblade.com/ <S> According to their website, flights from KJFK to Manhattan, Monday through Friday, 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM local times costs $195 per person with one carry-on. <S> Or https://helijet.com/2015/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Helijet-Schedule-Information-FW19-20.pdf <S> Straight line distance is 53 Nautical Miles (98 km). <S> Considering obstacle and airspace clearance, it might be more expeditious for them to take a slightly longer route than direct. <S> Or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_helicopter_airlines <S> You seem to have a strong interest in helicopters. <S> Have you thought of saving the money you would spend on random flights. <S> Instead, putting that money into lessons. <S> You might not get to finish your license on that amount of money. <S> But, it would be an experience you will never forget. <S> If you do get the license, it is something you will have for life (barring it being invalidated for violations of aviation regulations or safety protocols). <S> Time in a Robinson R-22 would cost you $250-300 an hour including fuel, maintenance, etc. <S> An instructor would cost you an additional $50-100 an hour. <S> You could solo (fly on your own without an instructor) in as little as 10 hours.
| Vas'kovo airport of Arkhangelsk has scheduled helicopter flights to Shoina at a total distance of ~420 km:
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Are there luxury tourist train excursions in the USA? In various countries around the world, tourists can book luxury train excursions. Those typically run only several times per year, use heritage carriages, are far more expensive than regular trains, are booked as full packages including luxury meals and excursions, and may take up to two weeks. Some examples: RENFE Al Andalus , 7 days / 6 nights, prices from €3,700 per person Belmond Royal Scotsman , the Grand Western Scenic Wonders, 7 days, prices from £10,450 per person. Shongololo Express , 15 days, from R95,400 per person The Rocky Mountaineer , 2-3 days, from €1172.88 per person. For such journeys, the travel experience and excursion itself is the aim, not entirely unlike an ocean cruise. Are there any such luxury train excursions in the United States? <Q> There are no luxury train services in the United States. <S> The two long-distance services, Amtrak and the Alaska Railroad, do offer premium services on their regular routes with greater comfort and privacy and a higher level of service than coach. <S> You can even buy multiple bedrooms on Amtrak and have them merged ensuite for more space, or buy out a whole car, as sports teams or other groups sometimes do. <S> I would recommend taking a sleeper car trip if one ever has the opportunity, and the service is very friendly; just understand that even by American standards, nothing about the experience would be mistaken for "luxury." <S> The way luxury rail travel is done in the U.S. is on private rail cars , which are attached to one of the aforementioned operators' trains. <S> This is more comparable to chartering a yacht than it is to booking an ultra-premium airline seat, but is common enough that Amtrak provides guidelines for privately-owned railcars , and there is an American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners . <S> AAPRCO provides a list of travel opportunities for members of the public (often for promotions or repositioning), but for the luxury experience you'll likely need to go through their directory of cars available for charter and contact the owner directly to negotiate a booking. <S> There are any number of operators, like Los Angeles-based L.A. Rail , that do rent out cars to the public. <S> Seattle-based Puget Sound Private Car is another, and Pittsburgh-based Berlin Sleeping Car another. <S> I have never used any of these companies and do not endorse them, but I cannot find any centralized portal to them, and there are likely to be many more in different parts of the country. <S> Berlin suggests a range of $2500-7000 per day; like a yacht charter, the circumstances and services of each trip are unique and will be priced accordingly. <A> This Grand Canyon train tour is the only luxury one with which I am familiar. <S> The Train Texas and Colorado also have a couple that sound interesting. <S> Texas State Railroad Colorado Scenic Rails <S> There are others in Texas. <S> They are more nostalgic than luxury. <A> While not exactly a train cruise, if you acquire your own personal rail car, you can get Amtrak to transport you . <S> We also provide many services, including 480v standby power, water, ice, septic, car wash, parking, and switching.
| Amtrak provides the ability for rail/train car owners to have their privately-owned rail/train cars attached to our trains between specified locations to see North America in an extraordinary way.
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How can I tell if old US currency is usable? I have American bill notes. I don't know if I still can use it or not. How can I find out? <Q> The note in the image is definitely not genuine. <S> Taking it to a bank would be a waste of time. <S> Federal reserve notes are printed entirely in green and black. <S> There should be no red. <S> United States notes were printed with red seals, but the design was rather different, and they of course did not bear the title "Federal Reserve Note. <S> " <S> The letter in the left seal, which should be black, should match the first letter of the serial number, but they do not match. <S> The text above that seal should be black. <S> The 100 superimposed on the right seal should be black. <S> The right seal itself should be green. <S> For some examples, have a look at Wikipedia <S> As noted by others, the signatures indicate that the note should say series 1993, but it does not. <S> The red elements appear to have been lifted from a genuine 1930s federal reserve note and printed in monochrome red instead of the original color. <S> As noted by others, genuine US banknotes remain valid indefinitely, but this note is neither genuine nor valid. <A> no US bill or coin has ever been de-monitized . <S> You may have trouble getting a business to accept older bills because of the absence of anti-counterfeiting measures, but banks should be willing to accept them. <S> For exceptionally old money, you may be able to find a collector who will pay considerably over face value for it. <S> Unfortunately, what you've got there is a low-quality counterfeit, with a mix of elements from very different time periods. <A> Mr. Franklin looks so youthful...... <S> That looks like the 1929 Federal Reserve series (which was printed for decades). <S> The Secretary of the Treasury signature is Lloyd Bentsen, and his tenure was 1993-1994 (December). <S> The Treasurer is Mary Ellen Withrow, March 1994. <S> So that gives us a fairly narrow window of the banknote's vintage. <S> The condition looks like Fair - folds, wrinkles, small tears. <S> So given that it is barely 25 years old it is worth face value. <S> That's assuming it isn't counterfeit. <S> Take it to a large bank (in the USA), ask them to verify if it is real money or not. <S> If it is, the bank will be happy to give you newer / smaller banknotes. <S> If you do not live in the USA, good luck. <S> Rather unlikely your local bank will accept it for exchange, simply because this denomination was a very popular one for the forgers. <S> If you have access to a black (ultraviolet) light, try it on the banknote. <S> If it glows brightly it is most certainly fake. <S> Real money never lights up under UV light, but you can see things like flourescent threads in the paper.
| Genuine US currency is always usable --
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Using self-service gas pumps in Israel - with Hebrew-only interface After traveling quite a bit in Israel by car I still can't figure out how to use gas pumps at the gas stations. All pumps I've seen were self service ones where you pay by car at the pump. Also none of them would allow you to change the language from Hebrew to anything else. Issue with it is that they will ask you some questions and expect some answers. Every time I had to ask someone for help and they would come, press some buttons on the keyboard but I still have no idea what it was. So: what questions are asked? what answers do I have to provide? why none of them has interface in English? <Q> Almost all gas stations in Israel have full service pumps, where you pay a little more and are taken care of. <S> Unfortunately you're right - the interface is Hebrew only <S> and I know no way to change it. <S> You're asked two questions - the license plate number (that's easy) and your id number (equivalent to American SSN). <S> The questions are normally, not always, in this order. <S> The main problem is not having an id number. <S> It's part of the credit card verification process, so you can type something arbitrary and hope the transaction is approved. <A> Even when using self service you can still get help from the gas station workers. <S> If you want you can always pay slightly more and get full service, where they will fill gas for you. <S> Most stations will have both types of pumps. <S> To know the difference, in Hebrew full service is שירות מלא , self service is שירות עצמי <A> what questions are asked? <S> what answers do I have to provide? <S> Typically (perhaps always), what you get is: "Swipe credit card" (and it could be tricky to get it right - make sure you use the correct one of 4 ways to do it). <S> "Enter your ID number" (associated with your credit card) <S> "Enter car registration (= car plate) number" (with no dashes nor spaces) <S> why none of them has interface in English? <S> There isn't a good reason IMHO. <S> Maybe it's cheaper than to have a multi-language interface? <S> And a lot of these machines are probably 1980s technology. <S> Also, maybe there's assuming only locals will have a credit card and the rest will opt for full service anyway. <S> Actually, it's even worse than the screen interface, because the keys often have Hebrew labels printed on them. <S> So you might have המשך or הכנס instead of <S> Ok/Enter. <S> At least there's color-coding sometimes for the keys - Green for <S> Ok/Enter, Yellow for correction, Red for Cancel. <S> Not always though.
| If there are no workers outside next to the pumps, you can always go inside (usually to the nearby convenience store and pay at the till, this is also how you pay in cash for gas.
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How do I know whether an airline seat upgrade at gate was free? I just flew via Air Canada from USA to Toronto directly. Before boarding, I asked at the gate if any upgraded seats are available. In response, the representative simply gave me a business class seat without any further information. There were a couple more business seats available during the flight, and it seemed like the flight wasn't completely full. It dawned on me later on that this upgrade may have not been free. The booking was done through an agency my company uses, using the company credit card. I'm worried that the upgrade was not free and was charged to the company credit card. I don't have a frequent flyer status with Air Canada nor its affiliates, nor any other usual reasons for free upgrades. How can I find out whether this was a free upgrade or not, beside (hopefully needlessly) worrying HR? <Q> It'd be fairly unlikely that they don't quote the price to you. <S> Here's your ticket (whispers to themselves, that's $10,000). <S> If no monetary value was quoted to you, it was free. <S> If not, you've got a fight on your hands and a potential PR problem for the airline. <S> You could always call the airline before HR and ask them what class of ticket you received, and the cost of the ticket? <S> If the cost has remained in economy levels, you'll have an idea. <S> Quote the PNR (6 digit confirmation code) and your name/seat numbers, they should be able to find it. <A> Anything else would be impossible to prove for them <S> - how could they ever prove that you agreed to pay X for it, or that you even asked for an upgrade? <S> If this were possible, they could just charge anybody they feel like an upgrade fee. <S> Also, they wouldn't have access to your credit card to directly charge it either. <S> All this shows is that - depending on availability and situation <S> - you can still get an upgrade simply for nicely asking. <A> I’ve flown a million miles in 10 years across 13 airlines. <S> I’ve been upgraded hundreds of times at the gate and it’s free. <S> You walk up, ask to be put on the upgrade list, they put you on it, and that’s the end of it. <S> By the way, be VERY nice to the desk attendant. <S> You can then get upgraded 1 of 2 ways. <S> First, it can happen preboard. <S> Just watch the screen, your name, and you either get upgraded preboard or not. <S> The close outs for all boarding include all upgrades. <S> Second, is post-board. <S> Maybe 1-2 out of 10 times after I board, about 15 minutes later some attendant comes back to my seat, and let’s <S> me know I’ve been upgraded and kindly walks me up to an open first or business class seat. <S> Thats usually because someone didn’t make the flight at the very last minute. <S> At that point the flight attendant with the boarding attendant will discuss eligibility and visual dress code they can see if the few who are in coach on the upgrade list, and if you look professional and were not a jerk back at the desk, and you don’t look like you’ll be a drinking problem up in First, you get the upgrade. <S> I’ve chatted up dozens of attendants and pilots, and that’s the long and short of it. <S> And no, there is no charge for the upgrade. <A> Airlines don't usually give someone a seat and send them a bill later. <S> As you were not asked for payment, the upgrade was complementary. <S> They do offer paid upgrades but in that case, they specify the cost up front. <S> It will happen when a flight very full but not completely and more so for flights where the upgrade makes much more of a difference. <S> When flying US to Canada, it is similar to a domestic flight and therefore the amenities of business class are often little more than a larger seat (or even just increased space between seats and an additional tray) but complementary snack and beverages. <A> It is highly unlikely there would be a share that you did not sign for, it opens for to many misunderstandings and liability issues. <S> Depending on your frequent flyer status etc there are normally many free upgrades to be had <S> but I have found and also confirmed with people who work in the business that most of the time the people who work the gate dont go though the hassle unless you ask. <A> In a nutshell, we could say that if nobody asked you to pay at that moment you can simply relax because you won’t have to pay anything. <S> Airlines have decent CRM systems which suggest who is suitable for a free upgrading in first place. <S> Since you’re saying you had no Frequent Flyer card with that airline <S> I’m quite sure you got lucky. <S> They had free seats and they applied you that upgrading. <S> I’m still not sure how “upgrading” was that (another cabin or just an “XL seat”?) <S> since we boarding operators use to justify “Operative Upgradings” or waived ones. <S> They might just told you to seat at that seat and didn’t update the seat you had on the system, who knows. <S> Boarding times are so tight and clock is continuously ticking. <S> Hope you enjoyed the flight! <A> Nah, I dont think theres a way they can charge you without quoting a price. <S> You are upgraded when the flight is full and you can not be accomodated in economy, When the flight is close to empty and they have the resources in business class, when a person who has booked a business class seat but does not show up.
| If you didn't sign for any payment, it was a free upgrade, period.
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Would it be hard for a woman to pass Ireland immigration who is travelling alone from HK My boyfriend is a UK citizen. He is now living in Belfast temporarily. I want to meet up with him in Dublin travelling from HK (Visa Free) (connecting flight in Amsterdam). I will have a return ticket to fly back to HK in 2 weeks later from Dublin. But I'm worried I will have a hard time at Dublin immigration since I'm travelling by myself as a female (I'm 29). I had a hard time at Belfast immigration 2 months ago. He questioned us and nearly refused me entry. I don't know if UK immigration has the record or not. If they do, I don't know if UK and Ireland immigration share the information, or they are separate and don't share information. Would it be hard for me to pass Dublin immigration? Also, I have two options flying to Dublin from HK: connecting flight in London connecting flight in Amsterdam Since I had a hard time at Belfast immigration, changing flights in London will not be a good choice for me, right? The story of having a hard time in Belfast immigration: I hold a Hong Kong passport which grants me visa-free to the UK for 6 months. I first arrived in the UK as a visitor on 31st Oct, 2019 with my boyfriend. The office just asked me some general questions and gave me a stamp (refer to pic 1) saying "Leave to enter for six months" from Heathrow airport immigration. He didn't ask if I have a return flight ticket to HK. After couple months, I left the UK for Amsterdam with my boyfriend for a short vacation on 27th Dec, 2019 and re-entered the UK on 29th Dec, 2019 at Belfast airport. This time, the immigration officer gave me a hard time after learning I didn't have a return flight ticket to HK (plus, I think it's because my boyfriend's attitude wasn't that nice to him). He took my passport and detained me and walked away (I guess he went to the office). After he came back, he interviewed my boyfriend not me. After the interview, he said to my boyfriend there are two options: (1) send me back to Amsterdam right away, or (2) I can enter but have to leave the UK by 31 Jan 2020. Of course he chose the second option, and got a stamp similar to the one from Heathrow saying "Leave to enter for/until 31 Jan 2020" (refer to pic 2) Other than that, he didn't give me any documents or anything. <Q> I agree with the existing answers, but wanted to raise a subtle issue that you may be able to adjust to improve your chances. <S> In the title, you call yourself a "girl" rather than a "woman". <S> During your previous entry at Belfast the immigration officer ended up talking about you with your boyfriend, rather than talking with you directly, and you let your boyfriend decide what you were going to do. <S> It is possible that you are subconsciously communicating an attitude of dependence, rather than of being a fully competent adult. <S> That could matter, especially if you travel without a visa and need to convince the immigration officer, in person, that you will not overstay. <S> The more you give an impression of dependence, the higher the perceived risk of overstay. <S> The ideal impression to give is that you are a capable woman, running your own life in Hong Kong, although you do enjoy visiting your boyfriend. <S> Of course, you also need solid documentation of that life, as discussed in earlier answers. <S> I have have traveled internationally while alone and female many, many times, starting in my early 20's, and it has never seemed to be a problem. <A> Bring hard copies of any and all evidence of ties to HK (in a soft binder) to present at Dublin/Belfast airport if asked, and never lie about anything. <S> Signed/stamped employment/school letter with contact details, utility bills, proof of family ties, proof of income, bank statements, return ticket, notarised invitation letter from your boyfriend etc. <S> Anything and everything to convince them that you can support yourself without resorting to employment/public funds and that you'll return home, and not live in Ireland/the UK through multiple visits. <S> Have a look at this post , especially the "DOCUMENTS I CARRIED ALONG" section. <S> If you want the opinion of border control at Dublin airport, you can e-mail them at bmu@justice.ie . <S> In that case, explain your circumstances (ties to HK) in detail and tell about your recent problems in Belfast. <S> Don't mention anything irrelevant, but everything that is relevant. <A> Would it be hard for a girl to pass Ireland immigration who is travelling alone from HK? <S> Not usually. <S> Would it be hard for a girl to pass Ireland immigration who is travelling alone from HK (when you are obviously using it as a means to avoid UK immigration hassles)? <S> Yes . <S> The problem is not your gender or where you are from, but the fact you are obviously using Ireland as a way to avoid UK immigration. <S> The two immigration services are in close cooperation and are on the lookout for just this kind of thing. <S> As others have already said, apply for a UK visitor visa, clearly stating your ties to home and the fact you have a return ticket. <S> Either that, or encourage your boyfriend to visit you in Hong Kong. <A> Instead of taking a risk at the border, you may want to consider asking for a UK visa. <S> If you get rejected at the border, this will mean lost money (the cost of the ticket and any other non-refundable reservations you may have made), a stain on your record, a lot of hassle and trouble (as you noticed last time, it can be quite stressful when they start asking questions beyond the usual, so imagine if they actually say "no", put you in a holding room — which in some places in more of a cell than a room, and send you on the first flight back home). <S> Given that: You have a boyfriend in the UK <S> You have already stayed about 3 months in the last 4 in the UK, if I understand your travel history <S> The last time you entered the UK, you were given only a one-month Leave To Enter instead of the usual 6 months You may seem to be trying to circumvent UK immigration by using alternative means of entrance in the CTA <S> The chances you would be rejected are not negligible. <S> Requesting a visa will give you more time to gather all the required evidence (and understand what they expect — even from someone who would normally allowed to enter without a visa) and present your case in better conditions (with a lot less stress) than at the border. <S> You may also want to check if there aren't any types of visas that could be more adapted to your specific situation <S> (it's unclear from your questions whether you are planning to spend a lot of time in the UK with your boyfriend or even intend to marry him). <S> Weigh the pros and cons of the various types of visas carefully though. <S> As to the title of the question, no, being a girl travelling alone should not make much of a difference, if at all. <S> It's more likely it's your travel history which is the issue.
| Getting a visa, even though not a guarantee that you will be allowed to enter the UK with one, would significantly reduce your chances of being rejected at the border (if you were truthful in your visa application).
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Booking lodging along the west coast of USA My girlfriend and I are planning to travel down the west coast of USA for a few weeks in the spring (late April to May). We've heard in Europe you almost have to book lodging ahead of time otherwise you likely won't find anything. Is this the same for the west coast of the US? Or are we likely to be fine if we're using a travel app like Expedia to book a day or two in advance? <Q> As in Europe, in the USA it does depend on your mode of transport, your willingness to find alternative travel options, <S> the actual place you will be at any given moment and how flexible you are in what kind of accommodation you are accepting. <S> If you travel by car, book online a few days ahead of time and are flexible in your length of travel day, and are willing to accept a wide range of accommodation, you do not need to worry at all. <S> On the other hand, if you travel by train or long distance bus and you will only have one or at most two options for travel per day and not a lot of flexibility, and you are picky on the kind of hotel you stay you better make sure you have a kind of lodgings you are happy with before you are stuck in a town with no alternative and no transport out. <S> Most people will be somewhere in the middle. <S> But the general rule is, when you have more options to get to a hotel somewhere else, you need to worry less to book ahead. <S> If you travel by 'once a day' transport, like trains in the USA, you better make sure a hotel (or whatever) holds space for your arrival, but in many cases booking a few days ahead will do. <A> You'll be traveling after most schools' spring breaks end. <S> A few universities may finish their spring semesters in early-to-mid-May but that shouldn't cause too many problems. <S> There are no federal holidays in that period either. <A> The West Coast of the USA ranges from National Parks and wilderness areas to some of the largest urban areas on the continent. <S> In popular tourist areas with limited accommodation, such as the Big Sur , you may well be too late to book anything for your trip 3 months in advance. <S> When we vacation in North America, we typically try to book our stay 5–7 months in advance, but we book refundable accommodation. <S> In some places, even nearly 6 months ahead is too late and we cannot be sure to stay in our preferred location. <S> If closer to the date it appears that accommodation does not sell out at all, we may cancel our bookings allowing for a more flexible schedule. <S> If it shows that accommodation does sell out, then at least we will have a place to stay in our preferred area. <S> (In my experience, in Europe none of this is necessary as one can almost always arrive at a campground unannounced any time of year anywhere in Europe. <S> This may be because in popular areas in Europe, there are many many campgrounds, the French Ardèche region probably has thousands of them. <S> The density is far lower in North America. <S> Similar is true for cabins; Europe has lots of semi-deserted rural areas with a surplus of accommodation, this is not true in western North America, although I've found it to be somewhat similar in Newfoundland, which is the only part of eastern North America I have relevant tourist experience with.)
| This strongly depends on where you are going, what kind of accommodation you are looking for, and how much you are willing to pay. Outside of local holidays and popular weekends, with a car you hardly ever even need to book ahead, as long as you are willing and able to stretch your day by a bit and have checked out there are enough hotels/hostels/campsites with cabins or whatever you find acceptable within reach.
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I was deported and my ban period ends this year, will I be able to return to the US? I got deported because I worked illegally in the States and they banned me for 5 years. This period ends later this year and I'd like to go back and visit my friends. Will they let me? What type of visa do I need? <Q> You would need to show that your life circumstances have changed such that there is no probability of you overstaying your visa in the US seeking employment falling back onto public services (food stamps, medicaid, medi-Cal, public housing etc.) <S> committing crimes or terror here <S> (that's an easy one) <S> The way to show that is a well-established life in a country where you are lawfully present, which gives you high incentive to return to your life there, and also high disincentive to stay in the US. <S> DavidSupportsMonica has an excellent answer describing what that looks like. <S> If you're still an itinerant free spirit, it ain't gonna happen. <A> Will they let me? <S> This depends whether you can prove you have a good income <S> and you don't need to work. <S> This also depends on you proving you will stay with your friends and that you have enough funds for your trip. <S> No-one can say yes or no certainly <S> but if you provide the right proof and obeyed your ban you do have a chance. <S> What type of visa do I need? <S> You need a B-2 visa : <S> B-2 visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons travelling to the United States temporarily for tourism, pleasure or visiting . <A> US law regulating the issuance or refusal of visa applications requires the officer examining the application to presume that the applicant has immigrant intent. <S> A successful visa application must disprove this presumption. <S> Proving that something (here, an overstay) will not happen in the future is logically impossible, and in the real world very difficult. <S> The most powerful evidence is what @Harper - Reinstate Monica mentions as a well-established life . <S> In other words, such strong ties to one's country of citizenship or residence that the applicant will not overstay in the US and will return home after the US visit. <S> These factors can include the applicant's having ongoing, valuable, and long-term employment, owning a well-established business, the ownership or long-term lease or rental of real property where the applicant resides, and family connections such as children, parents, and a long-term spouse who rely on the applicant (both fiscally and emotionally) and to whom the applicant will thereby be compelled to return. <S> Personal bank accounts that reflect long-term, regular, and predictable deposits and withdrawals consistent with the applicant's claims of work, salary, and costs of living will be helpful. <S> Owning property in which the applicant doesn't live is much less persuasive, as is savings and other assets. <S> All of these can be managed remotely or converted to cash and transferred internationally. <S> They will add little or nothing to your application; given these assets' portability, they may well count against you. <S> Having friends or family in the US will weaken your application, as the examiner will see them as resources to support you if you overstay. <S> Still, you must honestly answer all the questions on the visa application. <S> If you do not and are found out by the examiner — and they have lots of resources to check on your answers — you will be banned permanently for misrepresentation. <S> Even if you demonstrate compelling reasons to return to your country of residence after the visit, as described in this answer, your application for a visitor visa may well be denied because of your US immigration history. <A> For any nonimmigrant visa, such as the B-2 Visitor visa that would be appropriate in this case, one of those requirements is demonstrating nonimmigrant intent, and another is willingness to follow the immigration and criminal laws of the United States while you are there. <S> Although your ban period is up, you will have to convince the consular officer, who will absolutely have reviewed your removal case and past records, that you aren't going to do it again. <S> You can make your case by showing "significant ties" to your home country such as a family and desirable job. <S> But you will still have a hard case to make. <S> If you lied to immigration officials in the past (for example, if you intended to work in the US when you applied for the visa or entered the country, and they have reason to believe that is the case), you would have a lifetime ban for "material misrepresentation to obtain an immigration benefit."
| You will be eligible to apply for a visa, but you must still meet all the requirements to obtain one.
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Mobile Data/ Portable WiFi for Japan I will be in Osaka Japan from the UK, from late March through to mid-April and my mobile plan is extremely expensive in Japan for roaming. Can someone suggest the best option? I have had a look around and can see there are options for buying/ renting a portable WiFi hotspot. I am looking for 5GB + of data and as fast of a speed as possible. I am also open to putting a different SIM in my phone if possible. Which is the best option in 2020 & where can I get them from, please? <Q> This website (no affiliation) provides an option for portable WiFi, it can be delivered to the airport. <S> 14 days costs $70 with unlimited access. <S> There are other options as well but this is one of the cheapest ones I found. <A> As always, the prepaid sim wiki is your friend. <S> Due to legalities it is hard to impossible to buy a voice SIM, but you can get data SIMs. <S> Of <S> you come through Hong Kong <S> There are also several „global“ SIM operators if you travel a lot - a few of which offer eSIMs for new iPhones and the like. <A> Personal experience: there are multiple websites which offer renting of portable wifi router. <S> Most of them offer an easy pickup at the major airports (for example this one) . <S> At the end of your holiday you just give it back using a mail box with the provided envelop. <S> But the problem I experienced is that it's easy to manage if you are max 2 people. <S> But more than 2 it gets difficult since in crowded places people can start to walk away, maybe get lost (it happened twice to me) <S> and so they are out of connection. <S> The problem could be even worse if, like in my case, your local SIM will be completely offline in Japan. <S> So my advice is to buy a local SIM, which has a reasonable traffic limit at a much lower price than the router. <S> They are sold everywhere, also at the airport. <S> Of course each person has to buy one, but I think it's much easier to handle. <S> And in an expensive trip such as one in Japan, I don't think 50 euros (or dollars) <S> more for a SIM card will change your life. <A> My last trip to Japan, I bought a 3GB travel SIM from Yodobashi Camera for around 3000 yen. <S> There was a cheaper option for 3GB as well <S> but I had a reason for the more expensive one <S> (I forgot what it was though). <S> I don't remember if they go all the way up to 5GB, you might need a PocketWifi for that, but my recommendation is whatever you do don't get it at the airport because you'll probably pay through the nose.
| The option to rent a SIM or mobile WiFi router has already been mentioned; a lot of Airbnb places also used to provide mobile routers. you can buy up a „Japan“ SIM by China Unicom in shops at HK airport.
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MIA Airport - connecting international flight with domestic flight I am flying from Peru to MIA and connecting to SFO. The layover time I have is 2 hours and 35 minutes. Is it enough for me to get through immigration (I am not a US citizen) and get to the departure gate? note: I'll have carry-on only and I book my flights with one airline. (book together with AA but the inbound flight is with Latam airline) <Q> There are two benefits of having a single ticket. <S> The airline has already evaluated the connection, with their knowledge of the flights and airport, and decided to book it. <S> If anything goes wrong, such as an unusually long delay on the first flight, the airline remains responsible for getting you from Lima to SFO, and will handle re-booking on a later flight etc. <A> Not to be overly contrarian, but the answer is "probably". <S> That ticket meets minimum connection time (MCT), but at a particularly busy time immigration in MIA can be an absolute mess. <S> I would expect you'll be okay, but don't dawdle and, once through, go straight to your connecting gate. <S> Since you booked it as one ticket the airline (whoever is actually operating the MIA-SFO flight, whether that's AA or someone else) will be responsible for rebooking you if you miss the connection. <A> If you are eligible, use the Automated Passport Control (APC) <S> kiosks. <S> OP does not indicate country of Passport.
| Yes, AA has full confidence you will be able to make that connection.
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Mexican Travel to Germany I have some questions as Mexicans dont need visa for Germany. I plan to make a trip of only two weeks to Germany. Will, they are questioned at the airport/Immigration? such as Where is He/She staying/Hotel Booking? How much money you have? How much money should I have in my account/Cash to declare immigration? And if I have a letter of invitation from a person in Germany, how much money should I show to immigration? Or at the airport, nobody will ask anything about these things? Thanks <Q> They may or may not ask. <S> They might ask you about this plan to gauge your credibility . <S> They want to see if you react like a tourist who has just spent a day in an aircraft, or like an illegal immigrant who can't even remember the birthdate in his own passport. <S> Do not "show" money unless they ask about money. <S> Without an invitation that covers room and board, that should be roughly €45/day. <A> I don’t think it’s <S> likely you’ll be asked many questions, if any at all. <S> However, if they were to ask you something, I think it’d be for proof of an airplane ticket of you leaving Schengen after 90 days of entering, or a credit card showing you have sufficient funds for your stay. <S> It’s advisable to always carry these things regardless of where you go. <A> Like everywhere, immigration controls have the goal to make sure they let in people with legitimate reasons (tourism, business, visiting friends or family...) <S> while keeping out people who are actually trying to immigrate (initially pretending they're just there for tourism, but planning to remain in the country, stay under the radar, work illegally, etc.). <S> This actually applies whether you need/have a visa or not. <S> When you have a visa, most of those checks are done in advance (though at the border they may check for consistency). <S> When you don't, this has to be checked when you enter then country (or the Schengen Area, in this case). <S> In the vast majority of cases, they will ask a few questions. <S> They may be as innocent as "how long are you staying for", "what's the purpose of your visit" or "where are you staying", and then off you go. <S> They may be a lot more detailed if the passport control officer has any doubt regarding the intentions of the traveler. <S> The traveler should have a return ticket they can show on demand. <S> They should have money or means of payment that allow them to sustain themselves, consistent with where they intend to stay. <S> If they are staying with friends or family, less is expected than if you are staying in hotels. <S> It doesn't need to be cash, credit or debit cards may be appropriate. <S> But if they do have doubts, they can indeed ask for more details, like showing a balance or a credit limit that is consistent. <S> If you are saying you are staying with someone, they may want to call them if they have any doubts. <S> The real keywords here are consistency and credibility . <S> If your story is consistent and credible, it should be real easy and quick.
| You should have enough money (cash or bank account) for your stay and the return trip. You should have a plan where you stay after you leave the airport, e.g. a hotel reservation or the invitation of a friend.
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Moving between Schengen Countries I am a citizen from a non-Schengen country but I do not require a visa to enter the Schengen region. If I travel to a Schengen country ( which I think will be Romania; too many uncertainties still) and then travel to Spain or other Schengen region country, will I still have to go through customs check? I am looking for a way of simplifying my trip by maybe just taking a train or traveling by car. There is a related post : Do I need a multiple-entry visa for an intra-Schengen layover? But it does not seen to address my question. <Q> For the non EU Schengen countries there is likely to be a customs check but no passport stamp, they might want to see your passport but when you are legally in the Schengen area, that is no problem. <S> At or near all borders they can check your passport although they will not stamp. <S> EU non-Schengen countries will check and stamp your passport. <S> But when traveling within the EU there will be no customs check. <S> Be sure you know which countries are in the 'no passport check' Schengen area. <S> In this Wikipedia page you will find a clear map and a lot of text explaining which countries are in Schengen. <S> Romania is not yet in Schengen. <A> Schengen is an area of free circulation for people , so it removes systematic border controls of IDs. <S> Customs are for goods , not people. <S> Most customs checks are removed within the EU . <S> Even though most Schengen countries are in the EU and most EU countries are in Schengen, there are exceptions both ways: some EU countries are not in Schengen, like Ireland or Romania some Schengen countries are not in the EU, like Switzerland. <S> This means that there will be ID checks between Romania and the countries in the Schengen Area. <S> There should be no systematic ID checks when travelling between countries in the Schengen Area, but there are exceptions (related to the migrant crisis and terrorism risks), and there can be random checks, at the border or anywhere else, really. <S> You must always carry ID at least when crossing borders, ideally always, especially if you look like you could come from a country which is considered a high risk of illegal immigration. <S> There will be no customs checks between Romania and other EU countries, but you may find some between other Schengen countries, like Switzerland. <S> Note that even within the EU there are a few restrictions on what can be transported across borders, like cigarettes or alcohol, due to specific tax regimes. <A> The internal borders of the Schengen area have no systematic immigration checks. <S> There may be random spot checks, but if so you will be asked. <S> It is a very good idea to carry your passport. <S> (Some countries do not conduct checks at the border, but they run random checks in the border area. <S> Legally it might be a difference if you are asked for your papers as you step over the line or 100 metres onward, for practical purposes it isn't.) <S> There are still certain customs limitations. <S> You can carry goods for personal use, but over certain limits there will be a legal assumption that it is no longer personal. <S> Again no regular checks, but failure to declare excess goods may be punished. <S> Also note that Switzerland is Schengen but not EU, check the conditions which apply.
| When traveling from Schengen EU country to Schengen EU country by direct border you will not see customs, if you fly between Schengen EU countries you might see customs but can ignore them by going through an EU lane or nothing to declare.
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Exactly where can you go with a single-trip ticket in Berlin? Inspired by this question about UK inter-city rail. In Berlin, a single-trip ticket is valid for : "a single journey towards your destination", changing trains/buses "as many times as required", for 120 minutes (stopping in the middle and then getting back on is explicitly permitted, provided it's within this time window). The ticket records your origin, but not your destination. Tickets are checked "randomly" by plainclothes inspectors. How can I tell which routes I am permitted to take? Here is a U-Bahn/S-Bahn map for reference . I am not permitted to reproduce the map here. Suppose that I am at Wedding (top-centre of the middle zone) and I want to go to Tempelhof (bottom-centre of the middle zone). I can take the U6 line (purple) which cuts through the middle of the map. No changes are required. Alternatively, I can take the Ringbahn (brown lines) in either direction. Both directions look about the same length. No changes are required. Are these routes also allowed? Suppose that I am at Wedding again, and I want to go to Innsbrucker Platz (3 stops left of Tempelhof). The smallest number of changes required is 0 (taking the ring). If I take the U6 to Tempelhof and then the Ringbahn to Innsbrucker Platz, I might get to Innsbrucker Platz sooner, but this route includes a change of trains, which is not required. Is this route allowed? If "unnecessary" changes of trains are allowed, is there a limit? Can I get from Wedding to Innsbrucker Platz via Wedding -> Stadtmitte -> Potsdamer Platz -> Yorckstr -> Bayerischer Platz -> Innsbrucker Platz? (4 changes, when 0 would do) <Q> Don't sweat the fine print too much. <S> In practice, you can take any train or bus within the travel zone and the 120 minute validity period - provided <S> you don't go back to where you came from. <S> The is no limit on the number of changes or stopovers. <S> The ticket inspectors do not know your destination, nor can they tell how often you have changed (or plan to change) <S> trains on your trip, nor do they care. <S> While the language of the rules suggest that they'd like you to buy a ticket for each individual "trip", that is something that isn't enforced in practice (and can't be under the current system). <A> In practical application the question is, at the time you ticket is checked are you travelling clearly towards the station where your ticket was originally stamped. <S> If the answer is yes, then it looks like you are doing some kind of return trip which is not allowed. <S> In all other situations you are ok. <S> So doing a bunch of unnecessary changes is fine as long as you are travelling roughly in the same direction. <A> The validity of the single tickets is, as described in VBB's terms and conditions: <S> Diese Einzelfahrausweise berechtigen zu einer Fahrt mit beliebigem <S> Umsteigen in Richtung auf das Fahrtziel über den reiseüblichen oder <S> durch die <S> Fahrplanlage bedingten Weg. <S> My translation: <S> So, following the wording in the T&Cs you are required to take the 'usual route', which in practice will mean the shortest, fastest or most convenient route. <S> Any route suggested by BVG's trip planner will be ok and any detour beyond those suggestions will at least be open to interpretation. <S> I don't have the impression that the ticket inspectors are particularly picky, but you shouldn't try to exploit the room for interpretation too much. <S> The other option 'or via a route required by the current traffic/schedule situation' applies in case of schedule interruption or delays, in which you are allowed to take a detour if it helps you reach your destination faster. <S> To your specific question, I would say: Taking U6 from Wedding to Tempelhof takes 18 minutes, while the Ringbahn takes 30 minutes and is therefore a significantly longer trip, both in travel time and distance. <S> The T&Cs explicitely excludes 'round trips', which are defined as '... <S> trips, which along a different route lead to a destination, which could have been reached on the outward trip'. <S> My interpretation is that you in this situation are required to take the U6. <S> In this case, the BVG trip planner will suggest both routes and there should be no problem to use either of them. <S> This is indeed a case of interpretation, but I would guess that the route with a number of unnecessary changes is ok. <S> It is tedious, but you are not making a significant detour and are always moving toward your destination.
| The single fare tickets allow a trip with any number of changes in direction of the destination via the usual route or via a route required by the current traffic/schedule situation.
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Traveling to the USA on ESTA after being in Syria I have a situation here and I do not know what would be the best approach. I have dual nationality, French and British.I have travelled to Syria (but not by plane), I took a car overland from Lebanon and spent 3 days in Damascus. The Syrian stamp is on a French passport that is now expired .I currently hold a British passport and a brand new French passport (without any stamps). What gov.uk and gouv.fr website mention: "The ESTA allows approved applicants to travel to the USA for up to 90 days" if you "haven’t travelled to Libya, Iran, Iraq, North Korea (DPRK), Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 2011" And I would need to apply for B1/B2 visa to travel to the USA My questions are: if I apply for ESTA Visa Waiver how would they know I have been to Syria ? What are the risks doing so ? Would it be better to apply for ESTA with my British or French passport ? I just don't want to hassle for B1/2 Visa if possible. <Q> Hello and welcome to Travel Stackexchange. <S> I'll try to answer your questions, however I currently can't provide sources, just from memory: DON'T ATTEMPT IT! <S> if I apply for ESTA Visa Waiver <S> how would they know I have been to Syria? <S> Because it's a French passport, the risk is quite high that they have the info from the French authorities. <S> As Traveller mentions in the comments, the VWP (Visa Waiver Program) participating countries "are required to share intelligence and cooperate in matters of security with the United States [and] you can’t be sure exactly what immigration data is shared". <S> What are the risks doing so ? <S> The almost 100% risk is being banned from the VWP formally - which you technically already are, as you aren't eligible with your travel history - and maybe also being banned from any other visitor's visa to the U.S. for misrepresentation, fines, imprisonment, deportation, getting on terrorism watchlists, etc. <S> when discovered. <S> Would it be better to apply for ESTA with my British or French passport ? <S> The best way would be to apply for a B visa as officially required. <A> As the answer by JakeDot said, don't even try. <S> Since you traveled by car and through a land border, they may be a realistic chance that the French authorities never learned about the visit in the first place. <S> However, you cannot be sure that the visit wasn't recorded in some database, as visits to Syria are under scrutiny. <S> You may want to consult a professional for this one, especially if you have any ties to Syria, have an Arabic name or anything like that. <S> Basically, from the US point of view it <S> will sound suspicious that you just took a car and went to a country that is in a civil war and for which there are clear travel advisories. <S> If you apply truthfully, you are legally fine, but you may wake sleeping dogs and have to overcome the initial suspicion - at least. <S> If you lie, and they find out, all alarms can go off. <S> You can be banned for life , and you may end up on any kind of watchlist. <S> And the US share those with their allies, causing you trouble elsewhere. <S> In such a case I wouldn't bet everything on an opinion of someone on the internet, but at least consider consulting a specialist. <A> if I apply for ESTA Visa Waiver <S> how would they know I have been to Syria <S> As you entered and exited overland, they're very unlikely to know. <S> Don't bring any pictures or other evidence of having been to Syria, though. <S> What are the risks doing so? <S> It would involve lying on an official form. <S> If discovered, you can say goodbye to ever setting your foot in the US. <S> Would it be better to apply for ESTA with my British or French passport? <S> On one hand the UK shares a fair deal with the US as part of the Five Eyes agreement; on the other hand your trip was on your French passport. <S> As such I'd go with the British passport, declaring your French citizenship and your current (empty) French passport. <S> I won't say " DON'T ATTEMPT IT! ", but rather: up to you to judge, as I realistically can't see you not getting away with it, but know you'd be in violation of the law.
| I would not recommend trying to get an ESTA, the B2 visa would probably be less of a hassle.
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Is Ann Arbor within reasonable Lyft/Uber range of DTW? My family is going to a wedding in Ann Arbor. From a map, it looks like it's within reason to Lyft or Uber from the DTW airport. (Where "reasonable" means something like "under $50".) Does this make sense or are there any gotchas? I know this can be calculated with the app (or various online price estimators), but I'd really love to hear from a local or someone else with personal experience. <Q> Both Uber and Lyft apps allow you to enter both a "from" and "to" location that is nowhere near your current location. <S> Thus you can simple open the app, enter DTW as the pickup location, the location of your wedding as the destination, and it will give you a price for that journey. <S> This allows you to confirm that taking such a journey is feasible, and roughly how much it will cost - although obviously the cost can vary based on the time of day/traffic/etc. <S> Looking at the moment, Uber is quoting a little under $40 from DTW to Ann Arbor. <A> <A> I'm not a local, but a while ago I worked at Ford and lived in Ann Arbor for a time, so <S> I did that commute every day. <S> This can be very bad in rush hour. <S> If you're arriving in the evening after 7pm, you should usually be safe. <S> If you're getting a hotel for the weekend, consider that Ann Arbor is not a small area, and it has limited access to I-94 along the west side. <S> If you want to minimise costs from the airport, then staying somewhere in the south-east or east of the city should make your Uber cheaper. <S> Assuming of course that someone local can give you a ride to the wedding. <A> I write this answer from a Lyft going from Ann Arbor to DTW. <S> Booking this ride on Lyft cost $50, whereas it was $100 on Uber with surge pricing. <S> I’ve seen it as low as $35. <S> So yes, for convenience, Uber and Lyft definitely work. <S> But as other answers mention, there are better options for more like $13/trip. <A> Since you said you want personal experience, I have made this trip a few times via Uber while visiting Ann Arbor. <S> It should be reasonable, though my last trip was 2 years ago <S> ($36 at ~8 AM). <S> There can be a large amount of traffic slow down in the morning on a weekday, as Graham's answer indicates. <S> The pickup time was a bit longer than I was used to, I think it took 10-15 minutes for the driver to arrive at the Airport. <S> I also took an Uber from the hotel to the wedding venue, it is a very common area for weddings so the driver should be familiar with where to take you. <A> Rent a car for cheap. <S> I was just in Ann Arbor a few months ago. <S> My wife goes all the time. <S> If we are there for only a day, Uber makes sense for a one time round trip from the airport and back. <S> If you are there for more than one day, rent a car. <S> Unless you want to burden family members with schlepping you around, it’s more convenient for everyone. <S> Plus, Ann Arbor is a pretty nice area. <S> And, except for rush hour, the drive is easy. <S> It would be worth the $20-30/day or so as long as you do not have to pay for hotel parking. <S> We usually don’t.
| Also consider the Michigan Flyer https://www.michiganflyer.com/ A bus from DTW to Ann Arbor that goes 13x a day. Your main gotcha is going to be the state of I-94 (and I-275 as an alternative route).
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Is it safe to plug a power strip into a voltage converter? My voltage converter has only one 110V outlet. Is it safe to plug a 3-outlet 110V power strip to the voltage converter? The voltage converter is a 1100W step down 220V to 110V converter: 2020 Professional DOACE 2200W Voltage Converter, All-in-One Travel Converter Step Down 220v to 110v with Power 10A Dual Adapter 4-Port USB UK/US/AU/EU International Plug Converter [UPDATE]: Thank you for the advice thus far. To improve the question: I want to deliver power to an HP EliteBook 8460p and peripherals (mouse, keyboard). The intended location is Manila, PH. All peripherals plug into the laptop (NOT into the converter). NO printers. A 65 Watt external AC adapter is also included. Thanks again for your kind assistance. <Q> Broadly speaking, there are three types of device that can be used to "convert voltage". <S> I am listing them from worst to best. <S> The worst are thyristor-based phase-cutters: these reduce the RMS voltage, but they do not reduce the peak voltage, using them with anything other than a resistive heating load is a BAD idea. <S> In the middle are autotransformers. <S> These provide a proper waveform, but there are two problems with them. <S> Firstly, if a wire breaks inside the unit while under light load they can expose the load to full input voltage. <S> Secondly, if the supply is connected with reverse polarity (many countries do not have polarised sockets, so this is not uncommon) then the live to neutral voltage will be reduced, but the "neutral" terminal of the output will be at the input voltage relative to ground. <S> The best, but unfortunately the bulkiest and most expensive, are isolating transformers. <S> Unfortunately, many power strips contain "surge protection" between the live/neutral and the earth which is set to activate at just over the normal operating voltage. <S> If such a power strip is plugged into an autotransformer that is connected to a reverse-polarity supply or plugged into a thyrister <S> based converter <S> then smoke is likely to result. <S> So if you are going to use a power strip with an autotransformer, then you need to make sure it either doesn't have surge protection between L/N and earth or that the surge protection between live and earth is suitable for 230V usage. <S> With a thyrister based converter things are even worse, you need to either ensure there is no surge protection at all or all the surge protection is suitable for 230V use. <S> Assuming your device is <S> https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Converter-International-Converters-Countries/dp/B07MZQ8DQV <S> there is no way that device is large enough to contain a 2.2KW transformer. <S> So either it's a crappy thyristor based converter or the 2.2KW rating refers only to the adapter part of the product and <S> the voltage converter part has a much lower rating. <S> Unfortunately the information printed in the unit is too small for me to read in the Amazon photo. <A> Plugging the power strip into the converter is not a problem. <S> The problems may start when you plug things into the power strip. <S> In an edit you mention wanting to power up a (laptop?) <S> computer. <S> Most laptop computers accept 100 to 240 volt and do not need a converter. <S> I have even seen warnings not to use a converter on those. <S> You will find the power input range on the plug or the block in the lead. <S> If your computer does not accept the wide range voltage input it might be cheaper to replace the lead with block, which is already a kind of converter. <S> It converts from the mains to what your computer actually uses. <A> There are several possible failure points in this stack. <S> Provided these are resolved in a manner satisfactory to you, using these two devices together will be OK: <S> The power converter's specifications are accurate. <S> Not all spec claims are valid and true. <S> The power strip's plug, cord, and sockets are of standard design, and internally wired correctly. <S> The plugs to be plugged into the power strip are likewise of standard design and internally wired correctly. <S> The current to be drawn from the power <S> converter - i.e., the total consumption of the power strip (which may have some internal circuitry) and whatever other power-consumers are plugged into the power strip - must be less than the amount of power the power converter can deliver. <S> The power converter can deliver its rated power for whatever time the loads will be connected to it. <S> The converter and power strip are (as Weather Vane correctly observes in a Comment) in a stable physical arrangement. <S> If that's the case, you'll choose to proceed (or not) depending upon your judgment regarding the apparent quality of the devices, their reviews by other users, the brand name under which they are sold, and the possible consequences to these two devices and anything plugged into them if something goes wrong. <S> EDIT: <S> @Peter Green has posted an answer as well, which provides excellent additional information about assessing the voltage converter. <S> I upvoted his answer.
| The power converter's plug and socket are of standard design, and internally wired correctly. The answers to some or all of these matters might be unclear.
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How to apply for US passport card when I already have passport book? I have a US passport book, and I would like to apply for a US passport card (to have in addition to my passport book). If I apply using form DS-82, submitting my current passport book as proof of citizenship, does it get returned to me still valid, or does it get cancelled? Is it possible to apply for a passport card using form DS-11 and avoid sending in my current valid passport book (submitting a birth certificate instead)? I would prefer answers with official sources, which I have not been able to find myself on the US State Dept website or on the forms themselves (which are written quite ambiguously). <Q> I have found nothing official on this, but at least one third-party passport information site recommends placing a sticky note on your passport saying "do not cancel," so it seems that cancellation is not inevitable, but that it may happen accidentally from time to time. <S> Ifk <S> you're very eager to prevent <S> that, you could try to get the card in person at an agency (although that requires impending travel plans) or try David's approach of using DS-11 and not sending the book at all. <S> But that does carry an extra fee of (if I recall correctly) $35. <A> You must prove both US citizenship and identity in a passport or passport card application. <S> A passport is commonly used to prove US citizenship, but it isn't the only method. <S> The DS-11 form contains this text applicable to US citizens who were born in the US: <S> Submit a previous U.S. passport or certified birth certificate. <S> Passports that are limited in validity will need to be supplemented by other evidence. <S> A birth certificate must include your full name, date and place of birth, sex, date the birth record was filed, the seal or other certification of the official custodian of such records (state, county, or city/town office), and the full names of your parent(s). <S> Thus, if born in the US, you may satisfy the citizenship requirement by obtaining a certified copy of your birth certificate. <S> County recorders can supply such certified copies at moderate cost. <S> (If you were born outside the US, the requirements are different, and may be harder to satisfy.) <S> As for the identity requirement, the DS-11 says: You may submit items such as the following containing your signature AND a photograph that is a good likeness of you: previous or current U.S. passport book; previous or current U.S. passport card; driver's license (not temporary or learner's license); Certificate of Naturalization; Certificate of Citizenship; military identification; or federal, state, or municipal government employee identification card. <S> Temporary or altered documents are not acceptable. <S> As with citizenship, your passport is one way to declare identity, but it is not the only way. <S> EDIT: <S> note, however, that @phoog has answered below reporting a $35. <S> additional fee for filing a DS-11. <A> If I already have a passport book, can I use the DS-82 to get a passport card? <S> Yes. <S> If you have a passport book and you are eligible to use Form DS-82, you may apply for a passport card as a renewal by mail even if it is your first passport card. <S> Learn more about the U.S. passport card. <S> Seems you should use the form DS-11 . <S> DS-11 is for applying for a new document and allows you to specify Passport Card as the new document. <S> This is just what I found after a quick search and it could be incorrect.
| You may be able to apply for a passport card without submitting your passport book.
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What's the best way to get from Gare Du Nord to Viking Cruise ship? What's the best way to get from Gare Du Nord to Quai Maurice Berteaux 78230 Le Pecq if we want the fewest transfers for the cheapest price? <Q> The cheapest way will be to use the RER taking about an hour, but this means you will have to transfer lines. <S> The ticket costs under €5 and you use it for both trains. <S> You can buy these at the machines in any station. <S> From Gare <S> Du Nord you take either the B or D line to Châtelet - Les Halles. <S> (The train will read as GARE DE CORBEIL, and you get off on the first stop) From Châtelet - Les Halles you then change trains and take the A line to Le Vésinet - Le Pecq. <S> (The train will read GARE DE ST GERMAIN and you'll ride it 10 stops) <S> From there you then have a 16 minute walk to board the ship. <S> Alternatively it will take around 45 minutes in a taxi, but will cost considerably more. <A> Fewest transfers = <S> = Metro, RER, then walk to the quay (two transfers, then a long walk) <S> Perhaps a combo would appeal: <S> Metro, then train to Le Pecq, then taxi from the train station to the quay. <S> Your choice! <A> This is a map of line B , you want to take the train eastbound from Gare <S> Du Nord <S> one stop to Châtelet-les Halles . <S> Then you want to change to the A line and take the train westbound to Saint Germain-en-Laye . <S> From there according to Google Maps it is a 19-minute walk: <S> From the station walk to GARE DE ST-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE and take the line 01 bus towards GARE DE RUEIL-MALMAISON and get off at PONT DU PECQ , from there it is only a 1 minute walk, the route is shown below: Similar journeys can be planned on this site . <A> Take the RER E to Hausmann St-Lazare (one stop), then change for the RER A towards St Germain en Laye and get off at Le Vésinet Le Pecq. <S> From there, walk 1.5 km and the ship is across the river Seine.
| taxi, from Gare du Nord directly to the quay (no transfers) Cheapest
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Is a Swiss identity card proof enough to be able to purchase alcohol in Scotland? I will be travelling to Scotland later this month and plan on visiting a few pubs and drinking some alcohol. And, while I am above the legal drinking age of Scotland, I can look quite young sometimes and get carded somewhat frequently here in Switzerland. My problem now is that I currently do not posses a valid passport as it expired about 6 years ago, but I do posses a valid Swiss identity card with a picture of me alongside my birthday. I didn't worry about this until a few days ago when a friend said that Scottish pubs do not accept Swiss ID cards as proof of age and that I should carry my passport with me instead. Now, after doing some research, I found drinkaware.co.uk which lists these three options: A photo driving license A passport A proof of age card, such as the PASS card from the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme As I posses neither a driving license, a passport nor a proof of age card, it seems like I'm out of luck. So I guess my question is this: Will I be able to purchase alcohol in pubs and restaurants with just a Swiss ID card? <Q> It heavily varies by place and even by person serving you. <S> Despite their being legally acceptable PASS cards are rarely accepted. <S> They’re unfamiliar to most people so if they doubt your age they won’t accept them. <S> A Swiss national ID card would likely carry the same stigma. <S> Its a fairly well known trick amongst kids to get fake foreign ID and put on an accent. <S> Usually a driving license is the only thing that will pass muster. <S> It also often varies heavily by what you are ordering and your general behaviour and manner. <S> Very often I found when I was young that some pubs would happily serve people they knew to be under-age if they felt you were sensible enough and weren’t going too mad. <S> At shops too expect more scrutiny if you’re buying several bottles of cheap vodka vs. A bottle of decent wine along with your food shopping. <S> However….this is very much based off regular life in the UK. <S> In touristy areas there will probably be more familiarity with foreign ID and the concept of national ID cards. <S> I’d suggest getting a provisional driving license if possible. <S> If not then make sure to take a photocopy of your passport alongside your ID card, just in case. <S> Being on your best behaviour and acting like an adult is overall the best way to ensure you get served. <A> In reality most places in the UK tend to be quite relaxed about the situation. <S> Some countries like the USA are strict and you will be asked for ID almost every time if you are under 25 or 30 years old. <S> But it does not occur so often in the UK in pubs and clubs (supermarkets are often stricter). <S> But of course some places will be stricter than others. <S> (I also used to look young when I was 18 - 20, but in reality was very rarely asked to prove my age!). <S> But if you are asked to prove your age the issue you are going to face is that the average person serving drinks or allowing admittance to licenced premises has probably never heard of let alone seen a Swiss national identity card. <S> Or any national identity card! <S> This is because in the UK there are no identity cards issued at all. <S> And all international travel is done with the use of a passport only. <S> This is why the official advice is a photo driving licence, a passport, or a UK only "proof of age card". <S> As these are accepted and trusted sources, and most people would have experience of them and trust them. <S> And they are difficult for the average under 18 drinker to easily forge. <S> This is probably where your friend suggested using your Swiss passport. <S> As even if they have never seen one before, most people would feel confident about it proving your identity in comparison to an ID card. <S> In the UK then it is up to the person serving you to decide if they feel you are old enough or not <S> and if not ask for ID. <S> So it could be that: - You never get asked on your whole trip - You get asked in some places and they accept your Swiss ID <S> - You get asked in some places and they reject your Swiss ID <S> So I would suggest that to be safer you could take your passport anyway. <S> They either won't look at or care about the validity. <S> Although, of course the photo has to be recent enough so that it still looks like you! <S> Or you can risk it. <S> But accept that in some places you might get refused and you need to go somewhere else. <A> If the picture clearly looks like you and the card has your date of birth in an obvious format like 03/10/1995 (or 1995/10/03 although we are less used to the ISO standard in the UK) then you should be OK. <S> Even 03 Okt 1995 although that may take some explanation. <S> I suggest you say that you only have your Swiss document <S> but it does have the date of birth and point to it. <S> If the date is labelled in any of the official languages of your country you may strike lucky and the server can read that language. <S> Note by the way that the rule applies to buying alcohol for someone not just your self. <S> I have had one of my lunch companions asked for ID when I tried to buy a bottle of wine for three of us to share. <S> So if you get rejected in the supermarket it is no good turning to the old age pensioner behind you in the queue and asking them to buy it for you.
| Considering how similar they are to UK licenses a Swiss driving license would likely be fine but a national ID might be iffy as we have nothing comparable in the UK.
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Ways to get to New Haven from Windsor (preferably with public transportation)? - Connecticut, USA I'll be in Windsor (staying at the Hilton Garden Inn) over this weekend, and I was looking to spend one of the days exploring New Haven. Is this possible by means of public transportation? I don't have a car and I don't want to spend too much money on an Uber/Lyft/etc. I checked the area on Google Maps, and I noticed there are a couple of bus stops nearby. However, it's not like the CTFastrak where they have off-board machines that you can use to purchase an all-day pass. Is it possible to do so for the bus, and is the bus the most cost-effective way to at least get to the Hartford Line station (where I plan on taking the train to New Haven). <Q> The Hartford Line train works well. <S> Note that besides the Amtrak schedule posted by Danill, there is additional train service on this line provided by the State of Connecticut (CTrail). <S> The same ticket can be used on either service (with the special exception of the Amtrak Vermonter). <S> Full details and a combined timetable are at https://www.hartfordline.com/ . <S> The most economical way to get to the train station is probably a local bus; they are operated by CT Transit. <S> Your closest major stop seems to be the Poquonock Park & Ride, just a couple blocks from your hotel. <S> From the local system map (also linked from <S> https://www.cttransit.com/ <S> but only shows up if your browser window is sufficiently wide), it looks like you could take Routes 32/34/36 to the train station in Windsor. <S> But another option would be to take Route 30 which runs to downtown Hartford and stops at Hartford Union Station. <S> This will give you more train options, as there are some trains that run only between Hartford and New Haven without continuing to Windsor. <S> Make sure to check bus schedules because some routes run infrequently or only on weekdays. <S> You can buy a single trip or day pass on the bus with cash (change will not be given). <S> There is also a contactless <S> Go CT card , which is convenient to use but a bit difficult to obtain except by mail. <A> As explained elsewhere by CTtransit , you can also purchase it in advance by mail or online , and 10-ride local tickets can also be purchased at various Stop & Shop supermarkets (including 1095 Kennedy Road in Windsor). <S> That may be plenty; I haven't been to New Haven in over half a decade now, but I didn't find anything of interest beyond the Yale campus and the waterfront. <S> As for getting from Windsor to New Haven, the bus is incredibly inefficient. <S> There are half a dozen trains a day in each direction, and advance-purchase tickets are under $10. <S> It isn't especially scenic, but the bus is much less comfortable and takes more than twice as long. <A> Times can be checked for specific days using the Amtrak route finder , example times for tomorrow: <S> The location for the stations: <S> Amtrak Windsor CT Station - 41 Central StreetWindsor, CT 06095-2908 <S> Amtrak New Haven State Street Station - 259 State StreetNew Haven, CT 06519 <S> Amtrak New Haven Union Station - 50 Union AvenueNew Haven, CT 06519-1754 <S> Using the fare finder, a one-way value fare for one adult is $9.25.
| For getting around New Haven, as explained on the CTtransit fare schedule , you can purchase an unlimited local rides one-day bus pass for $3.50 on the bus by pressing the "Get All-Day Pass" button. There is an Amtrak service from Windsor to either New Haven State Street Station or New Haven Union Station , the train runs throughout the day.
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How safe is it to fly on a 22 year old Thai Airways Boeing 777-200? I am travelling to Bangkok and just got to know that I will be flying on a 22 year old Thai Airways Boeing 777-200, how safe is it to fly on a plane this old? <Q> The age of the aircraft has never been the root cause of an aviation catastrophe. <S> It's the maintenance, the crew and the safety policies/procedures of the airline. <S> A new aircraft that is not maintained well or being operated by a bad crew for an airline that does not have good safety practices is far more dangerous than a 30-year-old well-maintained aircraft that is being operated by an experienced crew in an airline that knows how to enforce good safety practices. <A> If you look at the average age of aircraft, 22 years isn't actually that bad. <S> https://www.bts.gov/content/average-age-aircraft <S> I'd be more interested in checking out the accident rating of the individual carrier. <S> Do they service their aircraft properly. <S> Do they maintain them in the top standards... <S> If they do, nothing to worry about. <S> Following On, 2017: <S> https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/thailand/articles/thailand-air-safety-rating-upgraded/ <S> They have been under serious scrutiny so things will have been done right! <A> I think the myth here is that an older aircraft isn't safer because of wear and tear. <S> That's not really true due to maintenance requirements. <S> If you want to, you could fly in a Douglas DC-3 <S> (1930s aircraft) <S> today if you had enough time and money to find the operator. <S> Any aircraft can be operated if it is still maintained. <S> The reason aircraft get retired from commercial airlines is generally they become expensive to maintain , not because they stopped being airworthy. <S> Airlines don't buy one airplane, they buy a fleet, which includes the maintenance portion. <S> The larger picture there is you need <S> Trained pilots Mechanics to repair them Available parts <S> It's #3 that will eventually drive an aircraft out of general use. <S> Delta, which flies the MD-80/88/90 series, is set to retire the aircraft in 2022 . <S> Delta will remove the MD-90 two-years earlier than previous plans to “realize fleet simplification benefits,” said Jacobson during the airline’s second quarter earnings call on July 11. <S> The airline will replace the aircraft with ones from its current orderbook, which includes 77 Airbus A220s(sic, likely A320) and 144 Airbus A321s and A321neos, he added. <S> The early retirement of some MD-90s was understood to be to support the in-service fleet, with parts from the removed aircraft available to support operational aircraft. <S> In other words, Delta cannibalized some of its fleet for parts, and may be actively doing so with its rolling retirement. <S> McDonnell-Douglass (who made the planes) is now owned by Boeing, and production of the MD-90 ceased in 2000 . <S> These planes can still be flown after Delta retires them, but Delta will have a hard time (i.e. expensive) sourcing new parts, which makes less sense for an active carrier airline operating thousands of aircraft around the world. <S> Other aircraft of similar size are in production and their parts are more plentiful. <S> The planes will be sold to secondary carriers. <S> You might have seen one in the news recently, when the US government chartered a flight with <S> Kalitta Air (likely operating a 747-400) to evacuate US citizens exposed to the coronavirus . <S> These companies operate smaller fleets and, since they get cheaper used aircraft, the increased cost of finding parts will be offset. <S> TL;DR <S> The Boeing 777 is still in production. <A> Here is a thought, to complement what other answers explain about maintenance and safety. <S> At the moment of writing this, there are 166 Boeing 777-200 in flight: <S> This happens 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and you never hear about it. <S> That's how safe flying is. <S> If you extend to the whole Boeing 777-family, the number of aircraft in flight at this very moment increases to 680, and the picture looks like this: <S> The pictures are from Flight Radar 24 .
| It is as safe as any aircraft in commercial airline use, regardless of age.
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Getting a refund from TAP Air Portugal related to COVID-19 My international conference in Europe this May has been canceled due to the COVID-19. I have a ticket, purchased from TAP air Portugal, from Toronto, Canada to Lisbon. Because it is a non-refundable fare, they don't want to give a refund. They won't allow me to reschedule later than May 31 of this year. This won't be useful for me. What options do I have? I'd prefer to get a full refund. (I am a US citizen if it matters) Note: They offered to refund just the taxes, which is about 10% of the value. That's not horrible, but I'd rather have the whole thing returned. <Q> Travel insurance could pay out if you have “event cancellation” cover. <S> However, since the the Canadian government does not advise against travelling to Portugal, it’s unlikely that most generic policies will pay out. <S> I would say that your best option is just to wait. <S> It’s possible that the flight could be cancelled either due to official travel advisories or reduced demand. <S> In this case, you’ll be eligible for a full refund. <A> Try calling the airline and asking for a cancellation. <S> Most airlines are giving a full refund with almost no questions. <S> If they are not giving you a refund, I would say hold on to your ticket for a couple of days and try for a cancellation again. <S> With the corona situation, only looking to get worse, they might realize the intensity of the situation and give you that refund. <S> Source: <S> Cancelled flights and hotels to/at Germany with 100% refund <A> Today (17th March 2020) the airline have revised their policy which is now much more generous and flexible (at least in terms of rebooking without a change fee or the offer of a voucher). <S> Last updated: Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 17:20 / 05:20 PM (WET) <S> Due to the current situation of Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have <S> extended the possibility of rescheduling your flight, without paying the associated change fee, for any TAP route and for any travel date. <S> From now on, the reservation change can be made up to 24 hours before the departure of your first flight, rescheduling the new trip to any destination and flying until December 31, 2020. <S> Alternatively, we fully refund the amount paid for the purchase of the ticket, by issuing a voucher, sent by email, valid for one year, for use on a future journey of your choice. <S> (there's another page of details) <S> https://www.flytap.com/en-gb/latest-updates <S> I've just changed my flights from March to October and paid just over 4 euros (5USD) for miscellaneous charges <S> (I'm not fussed about this tiny charge in the circumstances). <A> My husband and I were supposed to go to Portugal on March 5 for 10 days. <S> We spoke with TAP representatives 3 different times in the days leading up to our trip, and they said our ticket was non-refundable, even though COVID-19 was already a global issue and Portugal's health director had assigned a "red alert. <S> " We had thought about getting travel insurance, but companies told us that we would not be covered for cancellation, claiming we already knew about COVID-19. <S> My advice: wait to cancel your flight, since TAP might/hopefully offer refunds as things get worse <S> (there are currently 25 confirmed cases in Portugal.) <S> But don't cancel the tickets beyond your scheduled flight, because the penalties are much more costly. <S> I submitted a complaint letter to TAP, but received no confirmation that they received it. <S> And their phone lines are inaccessible at this time. <S> It's a mess! <A> On March 20 we were told that they would deduct $250 per direction (I.e. $500 round trip) and then give the balance as a voucher that had to be used by the end of the year. <A> I inquired on March 20 too and they said a 70euro per person to cancel a full fare, refundable First class ticket. <S> I was holding out for a cancellation & full refund. <S> today, I checked and flight is now cancelled and only a voucher for full amount, with travel started by 12/31/2020. <S> Now, I wish I had cancelled and paid the $156 for 2 tix. <S> I still would have received a $700 credit back on my card.
| Since you bought a non-refundable ticket, the airline does not have to refund you.
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Is it possible travelling Sweden WITHOUT credit or debit card? I've heard that in Sweden (Stockholm, Gothenburg), you can only pay for public transportation by credit/debit card, or an app on your phone. As an electronic payment hater, is it possible to travel the country (by public transportation) as tourist (including Stockholm, Gothenburg) WITHOUT a credit and debit card (and no app as well)? I mean, the Swedish Krona is a state-recognized means of payment, so if I come with cash, theoretically they are legally obliged to accept it and can't really refuse to sell me a ticket, or can they ? <Q> I'd go to the store Pressbyrån and get a prepaid debit card to use during the stay. <S> Using cash will be hard, many places don't accept cash. <S> It will also be much more expensive. <S> If you only want to use cash you will have to plan your trip very well so that you know what places accept cash. <S> Getting tickets for public transportation during the evening and night will be near impossible using cash and you will then have to use mayor brand cabs that can be twice as expensive as app cabs - and that is if you manage to find them without using their app... <S> You will also most likely have to use manual checkouts which will make you spend time in queues, time you could spend doing other things. <S> If the stores have self-service checkouts that accepts cash <S> it's just one machine. <S> You will will barely be able to order food delivery as very few couriers bring cash. <S> You can't use the e-scooters if you don't have a card! <S> When I hang out with people living without a debit card they frequently ask me if I can pay using my card as it's much cheaper and the service is so much better. <A> Is it possible to travel the country (by public transportation) as tourist (including Stockholm, Gothenburg) WITHOUT a credit and debit card (and no app as well) <S> In Stockholm it is possible. <S> You will need to purchase either a single ticket, an SL card containing pay as you go credit, or an SL card containing a period ticket (24 hours, 72 hours, 3 days 7 days etc). <S> You can buy these from train & metro stations and some retailers like Pressbyrån or 7-eleven. <S> Buy the card with cash, then use it on public transport. <S> You cannot "buy a ticket" on a bus/ferry - using any payment method - you must have a single ticket already, use the SL card, or use the app. <S> More information from SL: https://sl.se/en/fares--tickets/ <S> Gothenburg has a similar system: <S> https://www.vasttrafik.se/en/tickets/ <S> For other regions, you'll need to do some research. <S> Booking long distance trains will be more difficult. <S> You will need to buy tickets from an SJ ticket office and they will charge a booking fee for this. <S> As others have mentioned, buying a prepaid debit card using cash will make life a lot easier. <A> You have recieved other good answers on how to buy the tickets. <S> Not all places will take cash, not all places will accept all cards (few take Diners for instance), some will take Swish (where you pay from an app in your phone).
| Regarding cash it is up to the place where you want to purchase something to choose what forms of payments they accept and if you do not want to or can not pay in that way you will need to go elsewhere. Overall a VISA or Mastercard works in almost all places in Sweden.
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How to cancel and get refunds for train tickets for Italy? I have a train travel booked through Germany, Switzerland and Italy.All three legs of the travel are booked through bahn.de, and the Germany into Switzerland leg I can find back on the system of that site. I have asked a question and they will (or at least should) get back to me on that. The other two legs, (one from Basel to Milan, the other from Milan to Naples,) are booked by bahn.de on Trenitalia, and the German site does not recognize the PNR number for the booking. In most cases I would not bother to try to cancel/get a refund as they are super economy tickets which do not allow refunds, but with the health situation in Northern Italy, I want to try to get a partial or full refund, (just like I would get from the airlines if they have to cancel flight.) I hope someone is able to tell me how to ask for the (partial) refund or whether it is better to wait till almost the day of travel. The date on the ticket is 18th of March, 2020. <Q> Italian long distance train tickets work along a completely different system then German train tickets. <S> Italian trains have passenger manifests. <S> German trains don't. <S> That is why you cannot find any Italian PRNs in the German system. <S> Deutsche Bahn does not use PNRs at all (as they do not care the slightest bit about who is on their trains...)You <S> could try if you can find your PNRs on the Trenitalia website. <S> But I do not know if you could cancel your tickets there. <S> Cancelling tickets you should do via the agent you booked them with. <S> If you created a login with bahn.de you should be able to see your orders there, and maybe cancel them, and you can otherwise just email them. <S> But you also may just be out of luck. <S> I had to cancel a trip to Germany because of the COVID-19 situation, and I am not getting any refunds either. <S> See if your travel insurance will refund them. <A> This should allow you to cancel if the tickets are DB tickets. <S> Otherwise the conditions of the other operators will apply. <S> Do you may have to cancel the Italian tickets through Trenitalia. <A> In the end I did get a mail from the Italian railways, giving me an option to ask for the money. <S> I had however already tried to get my money through the German site I bought from and decided that one way of claiming back was enough. <S> However, the German site replied after the intended travel date that they were unable to handle my mail as they did not recognize the booking reference. <S> I also had tickets for a train travel in France, they also contacted me to apply for cancellation or re-booking. <S> Same with several ferry companies. <S> Most of the time, the money was only the 'normal' cancellation option or a voucher or a re-booking. <S> I would combine it into that most 'surface transport' <S> give the same options for cancellation as the airlines do at this time, suffering under the same kind of money problems.
| Deutsche Bahn allows you to cancel you travel if the reason for travel becomes obsolete - this includes quarantine at the destination.
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Covid-19 virus day by day chart? Do you know any website(s) where I could check how many COVID-19 cases Italy had 10 days ago? Let me explain: We are travelling to the Dominican Republic at the end of this month with transfer in Germany (Frankfurt). At the start of this week, my country (Slovakia) banned all flights to and from Italy. So I would like to check how many cases were there in Italy about 10 days ago, to maybe predict the future cases in Germany (possibility that all flights to Germany will be banned too). At this moment, our travel agency doesn't want to cancel our trip, and neither do we, because we would lose 80% of our money. <Q> There is plenty of info for each country in there. <A> Have a look at the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus dashboard <S> You can access their database directly if you wish to do your own modelling on the projection of the virus. <S> There are also daily situation reports documenting progress of effects of the disease in relevant countries. <A> The official WHO website is the best so far, it only shows clinically proven cases. <S> However, it's a bit late sometimes. <S> https://www.who.int/redirect-pages/page/novel-coronavirus-(covid-19)-situation-dashboard <A> I kinda like Mackuba.eu . <S> It uses the data of the Johns Hopkins CSSE. <S> And it creates nice graphs for every country. <A> Worldometer is a good source for list of countries summary with individual links to (at present) <S> 9 countries daily numbers and graphic results for different combinations newly infected, recovered, deaths and comparisons Daily list of new reports with a link to the original source A <S> based on Johns Hopkins University <S> CSSE data showing Map results for regional areas (where available) <S> Do you know any website(s) where I could check how many COVID-19 cases Italy had 10 days ago? <S> Goto Germany , Italy or the United States , scroll down to the graphs: Total Coronavirus Cases in... <S> Daily New Cases in... <S> Active Cases in... <S> Total Coronavirus Deaths in... <S> Daily New Deaths in... <S> Newly Infected vs. <S> Newly Recovered in... <S> Outcome of Cases (Recovery or Death) in... <S> Place your finger/mouse over the desired date <S> : Feb 21 (when the outbreak in Italy started) <S> The main total Case Graphs page offers the same functionality. <S> Sources : <S> Coronavirus Cases: Statistics and Charts - Worldometer Case Graphs Confirmed Cases and Deaths by Country, Territory, or Conveyance <S> Latest Updates sorted by day (latest first) and continent in great detail per country, with link to each source <S> Archive - February 2020 Coronavirus News Updates Africa Algeria <S> Asia <S> China <S> Hong Kong Indonesia <S> Malaysia <S> Philippines South Korea <S> Australia Australia Europe Austria <S> Belgium <S> Denmark <S> France <S> Germany <S> Greece Ireland Italy <S> Netherlands <S> Norway <S> Poland <S> Portugal <S> Spain <S> Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom Middle East <S> Iraq <S> Iran <S> Israel <S> Turkey North America Canada United States South America <S> Brasil Coronavirus Symptoms (COVID-19) <S> Coronavirus: Interactive Map Germany, Europe and World with numbers (in German) <S> Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) - Johns Hopkins University <A> Just adding the official graph of Protezione Civile on the same platform as John Hopkins one: http://opendatadpc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/b0c68bce2cce478eaac82fe38d4138b1 <S> Cases are broken down by region. <S> Data comes from official sources (Ministero della Salute). <S> I recommend checking their official website too for official news (italian only). <A> I don’t know of a website publishing historic day-by-day data, but this one <S> https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries <S> includes a detailed historic commentary on the figures so you could probably work out what you are looking for based on the data as at today and tracking back through the commentary to the date you’re interested in. <S> However, I agree with @Gerrit - it is impossible to draw any meaningful conclusions at all from such an exercise. <S> There are too many variables eg population tested, date when testing began in Germany and on what basis etc. <A> I also like this blog post with realtime charts about the corona virus: https://blog.datawrapper.de/coronaviruscharts/#column-chart-Italy <S> https://blog.datawrapper.de/coronaviruscharts/#column-chart-Germany <S> P.S.: <S> I'm not affiliated with this company. <A> Computer science students build coronavirus tracking website <S> TrackCorona - Live Map: https://www.trackcorona.live/map
| You can check it at Worldometers.info . Coronavirus-Monitor (from the Berlin Newspaper Morgenpost)
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How risky is a 2 hours layover in Paris Charles de Gaulle considering the COVID-19 situation? I shall be traveling to the US from India on 10th June this year for an internship, accompanied by my family. I booked a round-trip Delta flight recently; it has a ~2 hr layover at Paris Charles de Gaulle. I'm deliberating on whether to cancel my tickets and choose some other route. Currently, there seem to 334 COVID-19 cases in Île-de-France (source: Wikipedia ) but that does not appear to be a considerable percentage considering the ~12 million population in the region. I'm looking for some advice here, preferably from someone who has visited Charles de Gaulle recently or is well aware of the situation there. Obviously no one can accurately predict what the situation will be in June, but perhaps one can extrapolate a few things from the current scenario. <Q> Unfortunately my crystal ball isn't working today, but I will try to provide an answer anyway. <S> I don't know why you are worried about a 2-hour layover in a location in 3 months time, which currently has very few infections. <S> Shouldn't you be more concerned about spending 12+ hours in a thin metal tube within a few centimetres of hundreds of people? <S> Even if you did catch it, then the vast majority of people survive and are not badly affected and don't need hospital treatment of any kind. <S> And as of 11th March some 4,300 people have died of the illness. <S> Out of ~120,000 infections. <S> And I believe that every death was somebody which already had underlying heath conditions. <S> Source: <S> https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-death-toll/ <S> Compared to 1.25 million people who died in road traffics accidents (2013 https://www.who.int/gho/road_safety/mortality/traffic_deaths_number/en/ ) then you should probably be more worried about taking a safe means of transport to/from the airport! <A> Nobody can tell you what the situation is on June 10th. <S> Coronavirus might be gone, or all flights from India might be cancelled, or all flights to France might be cancelled. <S> At the airport, you can reduce your risk: Stay away from people (5 meters), especially coughing people, don't touch anything, wash your hands after touching anything. <A> If the flight will be happening at all, and if you are even allowed to fly - which is both unclear today - your worries about some hours in CDG are unreasonable. <A> At the moment, assuming you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, or in a fairly small set of other aliens, you cannot enter the US within 14 days of being physically present in the Schengen area. <S> If that restriction is still in place on June 10th, you will have to cancel or re-route your flight. <S> But who knows: in three months' time, maybe the Schengen area restrictions will be lifted. <S> Maybe India will have millions of infections and be added to the restricted list. <S> It's impossible to say. <S> If I were you, I'd just keep my plans in place and adjust them as necessary closer to the actual trip, based on the public health measures in place at the time.
| Your additional risk in CDG is minuscule compared to the risk in the indian airport, the US airport, and the flight itself.
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Why is there a weight limit for carry-on luggage on some airlines that is enforced even when the plane is almost empty? Why is there a weight limit for carry-on luggage on some airlines (e.g., 7 kg for China Airlines) that is enforced even when the plane is almost empty? <Q> At what point should they not enforce it? <S> Half full? <S> Quarter full? <S> Can you imagine the arguments! <S> And then - when you are packing at home, most passengers don't know how full the plane might or might not be. <S> So it's a bit impractical. <S> Logically it's more sensible to enforce a limit, and then gate agents might just have an unofficial policy of some leniency where they see fit. <A> The weight of the luggage affects the fuel consumption, and the airline might very well adapt how much fuel the put on the plane to the number of passengers. <S> If they were to allow all the passengers to bring extra luggage, just because it fits, they would use extra fuel, and have to pay for that. <A> The main reason for the weight limit (and its enforcement) is that the airline wants you to pay for the extra weight. <S> It is a major income stream. <S> Once you pay the fee, the plane can easily fly with the extra weight. <S> Unless you bring an extra ton , it is just noise for the needed-gas calculation - they wouldn't add more gas just because a passenger brings an extra heavy carry-on (or is overweight himself). <A> I don't think these limits exist for one reason only. <S> Each airline analyses the pros and cons of their options and set a limit. <S> Besides the already mentioned reasons I am presenting a few other: The weight limit in carry-on luggage also relates to the maximum weight the overhead compartments can hold. <S> Although sturdy there are limits. <S> I could not find an official source mentioning this but found people mentioning this here and here . <S> Since flight attendants often help with those bags, it's possible that this limit is also a way of protecting the cabin crew. <S> To avoid the baggage-retention-related incidents as explained here . <S> Your question is if the plane is almost empty. <S> Of course, the fact that the plane is almost empty is not known to anyone when packing. <S> To allow this the airline company would have to inform customers about the weight limit increase in a clear way beyond any doubt. <S> Even with the existing fixed limits, there are already tons of questions (as you can easily find in SE) about luggage weight. <S> This uncertainty would only bring extra costs in customer support and time loss when boarding customers. <S> Even if this was feasible in a practical manner, companies may be unable to predict how many passengers there will be for a given flight with enough anticipation. <S> If there is a delayed flight they might have to re-route customers filling what was previously an empty plane. <A> There is no reason for the airline to not enforce the rule, regardless of how full the plane is. <S> Customers will either pay to put their bag on the plane, or they will pack less. <S> Why would they refuse to take $25+ from anyone who wants to check their bag? <A> For one: to be safe. <S> There is an average passenger weight (which includes also carry on baggage). <S> This affect the configuration of the airplane, the required fuel, and the emergency fuel . <S> Because these calculations are done by maybe by dispatcher, but the pilot need to verify and input in the plane computer, one do not want that there was different opinion on the inserted numbers, and so maybe going on low fuel ( <S> and this means paperwork and possibly penalties, but for sure an expedite landing, so good for passengers). <S> Additionally carry on is checked on very last moment. <S> How do you know that airplane is half full? <S> If your estimates were wrong, it will take time to correct, and it could cause delay to the airline (or just denied boarding). <S> Maybe at last minute an other airline has to cancel a flight, so they will rebook many passengers on your flights (and this will take some time, do load new baggage and doing the new paperwork ), but so now you have extra weight which was not accounted. <S> Let's also say: it easy money for airline, and so they enforce such rules, OTOH <S> the average weight seems to be lower then modern passengers. <A> As many have said, it affects the weight of the plane, which other have said affects how much fuel the plane consumes, which of course costs the airline money. <S> However, one thing few, if any, have mentioned is the safety implications; if the plane is heavier and it needs to make an emergency landing, there are implications that are going to be needed, such as time and fuel dumped. <S> Additionally, there have been accidents on the smaller (turboprop) planes that have been attributed to excess weight on the plane ( here is an example ). <S> I'm not particularly sure how much this relates to the decision of airlines themselves to charge extra for extra baggage, but do keep this in mind.
| It's probably also easier to enforce the limit at all times, rather than taking countless discussions with passengers on whether slightly overweight luggage is acceptable on a particular flight (and people would start such discussions if the airline did loosen those rules). Even if the plane is nearly empty, the airline has an opportunity to collect baggage fees, and they have no compelling reason to waive that opportunity. Yet another reason to keep a limit is safety.
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Is denial of entry for passport holders / residents of home country legal? Are there any countries on earth that can legally deny its own citizens entry into said country? I'm excluding transit to different countries to reach the destination. It's also irrelevant to the answer on what happens after the person has entered the country (Like arrest or quarantine) I'm specifically asking if a national of a country (holder of said countries passport) or resident of a country (with valid residence permit for said country) is standing at the border, could they legally be denied entry? <Q> Yes in some cases. <S> From https://www.aclunc.org/our-work/know-your-rights/know-your-rights-us-airports-and-ports-entry <A> East Germany used to deny entry to some of their citizens over the years. <S> can legally ? <S> They were their own legislation. <S> Who would force a country to let their own citizens in? <A> No. <S> See this answer on Politics Stack Exchange : <S> Internationally speaking, there are actually no countries using the exile or banishment in their current legislation because this is regulated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, so (to repeat <S> ) there's no country (so far) using exile in their laws. <A> If a national of the country with no other citizenship, no for countries which are signatories to the treaties to avoid statelessness (this does not include the US). <S> If the person has multiple nationalities, they could revoke their citizenship. <S> This is usually only permissible for acquired nationalities rather than those you get by birth, but this is country-dependent. <S> If a permanent resident of the country, they could simply revoke their permanent residency. <S> In many countries, this may be quite difficult or limited to extreme cases, and there could be regulations that protect one from such a measure, but it's definitely possible in at least some countries. <S> The details would be specific to each country (and the reason for them to want to reject those people). <S> If the question is related to the current Covid-19 situation, then of course even if they let you in, this could be followed by immediate quarantine.
| Lawful permanent residents cannot be refused entry unless their travel was not brief (more than 180 days) or they engaged in illegal activity after leaving the United States as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(13)
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Can 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic be a reason for refusal for my Schengen visa application? I'm planning a trip to the Netherlands mid-April, and I've already made reservations. I understand that because of the current coronavirus pandemic, I may have to postpone my trip or cancel it entirely. However, instead of deciding now, I'd like to decide later (in April) if I should continue with my trip plans or cancel it (depending on travel advisories issued by my country (India) and the Netherlands, which would apply at that time). Which requires that I proceed with my visa application now (as I must apply at least 15 working days earlier). I understand that it is quite likely that I may have to cancel or postpone my trip (the global travel situation seems unlikely to get better by next month, but I want to stay optimistic, or at least not regret that I could have applied for visa in March if situations in mid-April do get favourable for a trip). My concern is if the current coronavirus pandemic can be cited as a reason for visa refusal by the Netherlands embassy. I.e., does the current pandemic increase the likelihood of visa refusal when compared to normal circumstances? Are there any rules in visa policy of Schengen Area that concern with situations like this? UPDATE: To clarify, my concern here is if the current pandemic will increase the likelihood of visa refusal. (Whether or not I'll be able to travel to the Netherlands in April is a different issue). The reason I'm separating these two concerns is because with new EU visa rules , I may qualify for a long validity visa (as I've been issued multiple Schengen visas in past), so if in the unfortunate case I've to postpone my April trip, I can do so & re-plan on a much shorter notice. Whereas if I don't apply for a visa now and do so later, I'll have to plan for weeks in advance again (as I must apply for a visa 15 working days / 3 weeks in advance). UPDATE: If the Netherlands issues a travel restriction in near future, will that result in a visa refusal or application rejection? UPDATE: I decided to not apply for the visa and cancelled my travel plans. <Q> There are restrictions in place, but AFAIK no current restrictions for Indian citizens/residents applying for Dutch visa. <S> On the other hand, the Czech Republic closed their visa processing centers in China and Hong Kong several weeks ago , effectively preventing residents of China from applying for a Czech visa. <S> It is at the moment difficult to predict what happens tomorrow or in the next days, but it is of course not impossible, that more Schengen countries will follow and impose restrictions on visa issuance. <S> Independent of the visa, it may also by mid-April be impossible to travel to the Netherlands. <S> Several Schengen countries have today or in the past few days established very strict travel regulations or bans, effectively preventing many or most tourists and visitors from entering. <A> As far as I can see, both in the Schengen Border Code and Visa Code Handbook , the term threat to public health is only applied against an applicant as reason not to grant a visa or entry (i.e. the applicant is the cause of the threat) . <S> In the scenario that the Schengen Area itsself poses a threat to public health (to which a visitor would count as someone being threatened), would be a valid reason not to let visitors enter or refuse to accept a visa application. <S> But I could find no statement that explicitly states this. <S> The travel history of a visitor should not be disadvantaged by such a refusal. <S> Article 2 Definitions ... <S> 21. <S> ‘ threat to public health ’ means any disease with epidemic potential as defined by the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organization and other infectious diseases or contagious parasitic diseases if they are the subject of protection provisions applying to nationals of the Member States. <S> ... <S> What do the travel restrictions within the EU as well as to the Netherlands mean for me as a traveler? <S> The Dutch government has adopted the decision of the EU to tighten the entry conditions of persons wishing to travel to the Netherlands from third countries, until 15 May 2020 . <S> You should assume that this ban will be extended by a further 30 days. <S> Can I still apply for a visa? <S> As a visa holder I have obtained a valid visa before the entry ban. <S> Can I travel to the Netherlands? <S> No, you cannot enter unless you fall under the category of exceptions of the travel ban . <S> Sources : <S> Q&A's Travel restrictions for the Netherlands (travel ban) <S> Q&A's Short-stay Schengen visa <A> No, from visa perspective, it won’t affect your case. <S> However, there maybe some travel restrictions in-place. <A> Whatever happens, if you apply right now, your chances of getting a visa will be best. <S> If your application is rejected because of Coronavirus fears, that wouldn't be held against you in the future. <S> Obviously having a visa will not guarantee that you can enter the Netherlands. <S> There might be no flights.
| No, at the moment it is not possible to lodge a visa application.
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Possibility of delayed luggage during transfer at DXB The flight is with Emirates, a quality airline, and each time during layover is a 5-hour and a 3.5-hour gap. And since the flight number is different each time, I think it’s reasonable to assume I will be switching planes. I am only asking because I have lost my baggage once during flight change about 6 or 7 years ago on Lufthansa, and got it back several days into my trip. There was hardly any time for me to get off and rush to the other gate to get on again, and I fear that was probably why my luggage got lost. I think there is a reasonable time gap and even though I bought the cheapest ticket available, I hope my luggage arrives with me, on time. Is this unwise of me? What are your opinions on luggage getting lost? Does it matter where the transferring airport is? Or maybe the airline handling it? <Q> Luggage handling is much better than it used to be and large airports have sophisticated systems to track and transfer luggage. <S> The main issue is generally connection time in which it is possible for a luggage not to make the transfer, even though sometimes it does and the passenger doesn't nowadays. <S> With a large connection time, chances of your luggage being lost are minimal. <S> Depending where your connection is, you may be able or even asked to perform the luggage transfer yourself. <S> It really depends but the agent at the drop-off location should tell you. <S> When in doubt, ask if the luggage is checked all the way through? <S> If the answer is no , you will have to pick up your luggage at the intermediate stop and bring it to the appropriate baggage drop location of the airline you are flying next. <S> Failure to do so is probably a common cause of luggage getting lost , although they will usually sent it along on the next flight and even ship it to your home or ask you to go back to the airport so that you can clear it through customs yourself. <A> As a rule, most air luggage is not lost. <S> Some may not make the same plane as you do, but that is mostly for very short connections. <S> It will catch the next plane and gets delivered to you the next few days. <S> 3 to 5 hours is a normal transfer time and you do not have to worry about your luggage not making it. <S> But always keep your valuables and needed items, like medication, in your carry-on luggage. <S> (And when gate checking luggage, take out your medication and passport and so on.) <S> Best also keep one change of clothing (at least underwear) in your carry-on. <S> That way you can wait for your luggage if it is delayed without having to buy replacements. <A> The risk of a few days delay is always there, but higher on a short connection. <S> I put the following in my carry-on: A change of clothing. <S> If you have two sets of clothing you can haveone set being cleaned while wearing the other set, and have cleanclothes every day. <S> Essential medications: I might put vitamin pills in my checkedluggage, but prescriptions I must take every day go in my carry-on. <S> Tickets, passport etc. <S> Travel-related papers, such as a printout of hotel reservations. <S> For business travel, laptop and any materials I need for the firstfew days of the trip. <S> I might put multiple copies of a handout inchecked baggage if there will be time to get a new set printed beforethey are needed. <S> Of course, valuables go in the carry-on. <A> The existing answers are all excellent, but none addresses your questions explicitly: Is this unwise of me? <S> It is not unwise to prepare for possible delay of your checked luggage. <S> It is unwise to worry too much about it, though, since there's not much you can do to reduce the chance of your luggage being delayed. <S> What are your opinions on luggage getting lost? <S> It stinks, but airlines who have lost my luggage have always handled it quickly and professionally. <S> Does it matter where the transferring airport is? <S> Absolutely. <S> Some airports have better systems than others. <S> Or maybe the airline handling it? <S> Airlines often hire third-party ground service providers, so it may not actually be the airline that is handling the luggage transfer, but yes, it does matter who's handling it: like airports, some companies are more effective than others.
| It is not unwise to hope that your luggage arrives on time. This depends on the jurisdiction where you land. The risk of total loss is very low.
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How do you 'self-isolate' in a hostel dorm room? NZ, Aus and other countries are now requiring people to self-isolate for 14 days to ensure they don't have Covid-19. There can be some rather strict ramifications if you fail to adhere to this. What I wondered after seeing a question on FB (disclaimer: I run the beatthatflight facebook page) - how does one self isolate as a backpacker/traveller who is planning on staying in hostel dorms?? <Q> Go home if you can! <S> If travel restrictions make this impossible, contact the relevant authorities for advise. <S> Usually there are some exemptions for essential travel, and travelling from a potentially crowded hostel to your home <S> may well count as valid travel. <S> If you are travelling in another country than your country of residence, contact your embassy. <S> Many embassies are attempting to repatriate their citizens. <S> Chances are your embassy is already working on trying to reach you if they know how to contact you (I received an email from my government already, but I have my home and job here and the situation in my mother country is no better than here, so it makes no sense for me to repatriate). <S> Now is not the time to travel for non-essential purposes. <A> In NZ, (and I imagine Australia) <S> you can't Police removed a traveler from a hostel yesterday and have forcibly quarantined her <S> and she will deported at the end of the 14 days. <S> There are now three backpackers currently in custody for not following self isolation correctly. <S> At this point you need to have a correct self isolation plan when you enter the country. <S> If the Ministry of Health doesn't consider it appropriate or think the traveler is taking it seriously, they won't be allowed to reach customs. <A> traveler who is planning on staying in hostel dorms Make a different plan. <S> Your question assumes that the hosteler simply will not change accommodation plans and will perform the self-isolation in a hostel . <S> Not gonna happen. <S> The hosteler must find out what the government considers to be a viable self-quarantine plan. <S> And then make that plan, whatever it takes . <S> Get to a different space where self-isolation is actually viable. <S> Upgrade to a hotel room, find a friend willing to accommodate, secure food and entertainment supply etc. <S> per what the government considers reasonable. <S> And they better be able to answer questions about that plan if immigration asks. <S> If the hosteler is unable to change plans, then it's time to either self-arrange to leave the country... or contact the embassy and ask for assistance in repatriation... or avail local government assistance. <S> That rubs wrong a visitor's agreement not to rely on government services, but I'm sure the government would prefer you ask for help in this case. <S> If the hosteler is unwilling to change plans, that misses the entire point of immigration, which is that you agree to be a lawful citizen and a boon to the nation (e.g. bringing tourist activity and funds). <S> Flouting the law deserves the swift boot. <S> As Dave Smylie reports, that is exactly what is happening in New Zealand to a pair, and to a single. <S> In one case, the fundamental flaw was a 2 week visit (that would be spent entirely in self-isolation, then fly home). <S> There were no travel adjustments, change to an appropriate facility (e.g. hotel with viable food service, microwave etc.), no stocking on food or entertainment. <S> The only thing that made sense was that the tourist intended to flout the restrictions. <S> So the boot they got! <S> Worse, here's the mechanism: They are in "jail", immigration detention, where they will sit out the 14 day isolation. <S> After that, they'll be given a deportation order, and freed on their own recognizance to arrange transport, gather their things and self-deport. <S> I call that "giving them enough rope to hang themselves" :) <S> Of course Immigration is watching, and their conduct will decide whether they ever again visit NZ, or countries that NZ interchanges data with. <A> There are instructions for people who are self isolating in a shared space. <S> They are aimed at people sharing a spacious home with their family, but they can apply here too. <S> There are summaries by the trusted news sources <S> CBC and BBC that quote medical authorities. <S> You should: <S> stay inside. <S> Don't go outside, especially to restaurants or grocery stores. <S> Arrange for food and supplies to be brought to you if you live with others, stay 2 metres away from them and do not touch them. <S> Do not share a bed. <S> Do not share dishes and cutlery even if you wash them well between uses. <S> use a different bathroom if possible. <S> (A friend doing this keeps metal cutlery in her room and washes it in the bathroom.) <S> If that is not possible, only use the kitchen when no-one else is there, and clean thoroughly (again, with ordinary household cleaners) just before you leave. <S> The difference in a hostel is that the people you live with may not care about you as much as housemates or family do, and that there may not be separate bedrooms for each person, much less separate bathrooms. <S> Nonetheless, get as much separation as you can and use separation-in-time when you can't use separation-in-space. <S> Use your phone to organize and order things, pay for things, etc.
| If you are travelling in your country of residence, go home and self-isolate there. The bathroom you use should be thoroughly cleaned every day with ordinary household cleaners if possible, have others bring you food on disposable dishes and keep the garbage in your room until the isolation is over.
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COVID-19: some EU countries closed borders for foreigners - are EU citizens foreigners? A lot of countries in the EU are now closing their borders due to COVID-19. I'm looking for an answer that applies to all such EU countries that have shut their borders for "foreigners", however, to use some example for my question, Poland states : Entry into Poland is still allowed for: a) Nationals of Poland, their spouses and children. c) Passengers with a temporary or permanent residence permit. Now, as a not-Polish citizen but a citizen of another EU country, my understanding has always been that by default we have a temporary residence permit for any EU country we would like to travel to? (And obviously after 5 years we automatically get a permanent residence permit if stayed in the country) Does this count as having a temporary residence permit (if I don't normally live in such country but would like to travel or transit there as a EU citizen)? P.S. There's a similar text for Czechia, Lithuania, Slovakia which is not as vague as Poland's: Passengers are not allowed to enter Czechia. - This does not apply to nationals of Czechia. - This does not apply to passengers with a Czech residence permit for stay over 90 days or for permanent stay. 1. Passengers are not allowed to enter Lithuania -This does not apply to nationals of Lithuania -This does not apply to residents of Lithuania Passengers are not allowed to enter Slovakia. -This does not apply to nationals and residents of Slovakia. They must remain in quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. But still vague whether arriving into the country as an EU citizen is considered that you do have residence. <Q> Yes, EU citizens are foreigners. <S> The Czech regulations now only allow Czech citizens, foreigners with temporary residence over 90 days and permanent residents to enter the country. <S> Graphics by the Ministry of the Interior of CR <S> Details can be found in this document . <S> From midnight from Sunday to Monday, the ban to entry is extended to all foreigners, not only from high risk epidemic countries. <S> Foreigners residing in the Czech Republic with temporary residence over 90 days or permanent residence are excluded from this measure. <S> The prohibition of entry, as referred in point I. of the Resolution, does not apply for: Czech citizens or foreigners with temporary or permanent residence permit in the Czech Republic, who are demonstrably regularly crossing internal borders, i.e. cross-border workers working within 100 km from the state border, citizens of Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia <S> who are demonstrably regularly crossing internal borders, i.e. cross-border workers working within 100 km from the state border, EU citizen transiting through the Czech Republic territory to his/her home country – this evidence of transit must be accompanied with signed declaration of honour, foreigner with residence permit in another EU Member State transiting through the Czech Republic territory – this evidence of transit must be accompanied with signed declaration of honour. <A> To answer another part of your question (and comments) that doesn't seem to have been addressed directly: there is a clear difference between being an EU citizen and having residence. <S> In fact, in normal times, your right to enter another EU country for a short-term visit is stronger than your right to take up residence in the same country. <S> After some time, EU citizens even become “permanent residents”, being granted additional rights. <S> This is first and foremost a material fact, not necessarily tied to a specific document (even if it's typically possible to request one). <S> For example, if you have a job and a home in the country and spend most of your time there, you're a resident. <S> In practice, showing health insurance cards, bank cards, public transit passes, etc. <S> all go towards establishing that even if you don't have formal proof or a specific permit or registration. <S> Obviously, in the rush to fight the outbreak, I doubt all the restrictions have been carefully crafted to take such situations into account but some countries have indicated that residents are welcome to return to their homes. <S> This should in principle cover third-country nationals who require a permit and EU citizens who do not. <S> Incidentally, that's not your situation but many countries also make an exception for cross-border workers. <S> Conversely, I don't know any that would grant non-resident EU citizens the same rights as their own nationals. <A> I think we have to expect more incomplete and poorly translated information bulletins during the next weeks. <S> If we look into the wording, as the regulation is currently published by the Polish Government , the exception applies to: • persons who have the right of permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Poland or a work permit A 'residence permit' (as in a physical document) is not necessary. <S> The 'right of residence', which EU/EEA citizens have, is adequate, as of now, to be allowed to enter Poland.
| I am not aware of any EU country that has put travel restrictions in place and makes no exception whatsoever for (some) EU citizens.
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What happens to my Schengen visa application being processed during coronavirus? I submitted my application a week ago, before the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. I am just wondering whether they can reject my application because of coronavirus, or would they still issue me a visa but advise me not to travel? I had applied for the Netherlands. <Q> This is a very dynamic and unprecedented situation, so nobody knows for sure what will happen. <S> So below is more of an opinion rather than known fact. <S> As it currently stands, travel into the 26 EU states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, is prohibited for 30 days and as such travel is banned for all non-EU citizens or residents (except UK citizens). <S> Assuming your travel request falls within this period then the following is likely. <S> They could reject you current application and tell you to reapply inthe future. <S> That this rejection will not be looked upon negativelywhen you apply, and you should get a full refund of any fees paid. <S> Or they could put your application on hold and ask you in the futureif you wish to proceed or not with new dates. <S> If not, then you wouldget a full refund. <S> They could approve your visa, but issue it with different dates and/oran extended travel period. <S> e.g. instead of 90 <S> in 180 days, then 90in 270 days. <S> If the borders don't reopen in time, you have toapply again. <S> You may or may not have to pay the fees again in such a case. <S> Stop processing and ask you if you wish to postpone or withdraw yourapplication, and refund the fees Stop processing temporarily. <S> Continue processing when the situationimproves, if your application is far enough in the future <S> Reject the application, and tell you to reapply again when the situation is clearer. <S> Refund the fees. <S> If the visa is rejected due to the Corona shutdown, then it will not be looked upon negatively when you apply again in the future <S> and you should get a full refund. <A> I applied for Netherlands visa from Pakistan, today I received the passport with a visa for 45 duration Multiple entry until 22 May, 2020. <S> I must say that they cannot reject the visa on the base of corona. <A> R.B, I also submitted my application last Friday in London for France <S> and I got my passport today with a rejection piece of paper. <S> I've had 5 Schengen visas in the past <S> and I was surprised when I saw that it wasn't issued this time. <S> The piece of paper said that due to the current situation and the outbreak of the virus, the consulate decided to not issue the visa and the fees will not be reimbursed, which is absurd. <S> Ideally they should have either put the application on hold or not issue the visa (understandable given the decision of the EU of closing the Schengen space) and refund the visa fees. <S> Instead, I got the passport back and no refund. <S> I will be complaining to the embassy (I don't think TLS had anything to do with this) <S> and I hope that they will either refund people or reprocess their applications in the future for no feed.
| If your travel request is for later than this period then the following could occur: Issue the visa but advise you that you will only be able to travel ifthe borders reopen.
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Leaving major cities during COVID-19 pandemic My wife and I live in a major US city (Chicago) and are considering leaving for now to stay with family in a rural area a few hours away. Our reasons for this are mostly safety, seeing some of the reactions to toilet paper/groceries being low makes us both very concerned for what kind of civil unrest might happen in the coming weeks. Our thoughts for why it would be good to go: Avoid possible looting/rioting/violence Emotional reasons (being with family, having more space) Easier to keep distance from people with a much smaller population around you Possible reasons to stay where we are: Possibly spreading the virus (my wife has had a light cough for a few days, but no other symptoms) Health organizations asking us to stay put (although we would remain inside once we got to the new place) Maybe we're just overreacting and the chance of civil unrest right now is very low I would like to know if there are any official recommendations on if this kind of travel is discouraged/forbidden, or even unofficial reasons why one option might be better than the other. Please let me know if this belongs in another network or if I should add/remove anything. UPDATE: Thanks for the advice, you've all made us reconsider and we'll be staying put to not risk spreading anything. <Q> Travel of this sort is either permitted or it's not. <S> If there are restrictions on travel in your area you should follow them. <S> If there are not then it's allowed. <S> For example, if you were in Italy or France on this day (March 21 2020) then such travel would be forbidden - it's not essential travel. <S> As I understand it there are no restrictions on internal travel in the US - but that's the situation today <S> and it could be different tomorrow. <S> You should also listen to the advice of medical professional about what is discouraged. <S> Anything you do that increases contact increases <S> the chance of spreading Covid-19 is going to make the overall situation worse - and most kinds of travel will result in increased contact. <A> The question asks "I would like to know if there are any official recommendations on if this kind of travel is discouraged/forbidden, or even unofficial reasons why one option might be better than the other." <S> In the US, travel and similar restrictions are being handled mainly by state and local governments. <S> Chicago is in Illinois. <S> The State of Illinois has prohibited non-essential travel. <S> See EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 (COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 8) . <S> "All travel, including, but not limited to, travel by automobile, motorcycle, scooter, bicycle, train, plane, or public transit, except Essential Travel and Essential Activities as defined herein, is prohibited." <S> The various essential activities listed in the order do not seem to me to cover leaving Chicago to stay with relatives or to avoid potential civil unrest. <A> In Norway people have done exactly this, and now the military is forcing people to return to their homes. <S> They argued, that healthcare in rural areas is minimal or nonexistent, and that if the people get sick later, they will either overrun the rural healthcare centers, or not get treatment at all. <S> Coronavirus: Norwegians told to leave countryside cabins and return home “Go Home!” <S> Norway PM Orders Norwegians to Leave Mountain Cabins <A> If you do, self-isolate for 14 days before getting close to family. <S> Don't be "that guy" - you know the one. <S> The selfish one who becomes the "index patient" for that county. <S> Treat it just the same as New Zealand is treating visitors. <S> Can you go on a 6-week grand tour of the Lord of the Rings filming sites and all of NZ's wonders? <S> Welcome with open arms -- but you'll be spending the first 14 days sequestered in a hotel room. <S> They have the right idea. <S> Do that. <S> If your rural friends have a lick of sense, they'll make you do that anyway. <S> Unfortunately many people do not have a lick of sense, and in the moment of hello, are far more concerned with being viewed as disapproving or stand-off-ish, and cannot resist going in for that hug. <S> So I wouldn't even see the family until day 15 and would stay in a hotel. <S> Unless they really get it , and have a fully isolated in-law apartment they can toss you into. <S> Don't trust the country, either Also don't go assuming everyone in the country is immune. <S> You're not the only one doing this. <S> You could sit out the 14 days and feel safe being all hugs... and unbeknownst to you 2 days earlier your family spent time with the Joneses who made contact 2 days prior with "that guy". <S> Operating on emotion will not work (wishful thinking, fear, etc). <S> Operating on science, fact and unflinching care is the only reliable thing. <S> And that's hard enough when you have to cat-herd <S> a whole family into good practices they don't really believe in. <S> One more thing. <S> Guns. <S> There are lots of guns out there. <S> Either don't touch them, or go all-in , learning gun safety, especially gun law (rules of engagement), then gun self-defense (guns are not an <S> "I win button") - and squeeze off bare minimum 300 rounds among at least 5 trips to the range. <A> Let's suppose you succeed in getting away to your family living a few hours distant. <S> Have you stopped to consider the probable reaction of others in the community there. <S> Things have got very nasty in the Scottish Highlands in relation to numerous campervans and motorhomes coming from England to escape the Coronavirus, overwhelming the limited food resources in a time of shortage, causing a health hazard as campsites have been closed by government order, and potentially overhwhelming overstressed medical facilities in a remote and scattered area. <S> You can probably expect a violent reaction from many of the locals.
| If your medical professionals are asking you not to travel unnecessarily, don't do it.
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Will Canadian citizens be denied entry to Canada during COVID-19 border closure? I am a Canadian citizen currently in the United States. After calling CBSA at 1-204-983-3500, they indicated that returning to Canada right now would be considered "non-essential". Does that mean as a Canadian citizen, I would be denied entry to Canada? Wouldn't this be illegal/unconstitutional to deny a Canadian citizen entry to Canada? <Q> According to this tweet from Public Safety Canada about the border restrictions on non-essential travel across the US-Canada border starting March 21, under "Permitted Travel", it includes: Canadian citizens, permanent residents and status Indians can cross back into Canada. <S> So you should not be denied entry to Canada. <A> The messaging is not 100% clear on this. <S> However it appears that Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning home will be considered essential travel and will be admitted. <S> However if you are resident abroad then you will be admitted only if your travel is essential, even if you are a Canadian citizen. <S> If your reason for travel is not essential you will be turned away at the border, and if you have Covid-19 symptoms you might also be turned away. <S> Being a citizen does not automatically get you admitted for any reason. <S> Moreover if your reason for wanting to return is non-essential then you would be strongly advised not to travel from where you are now to the Canadian border, and doing so may be contrary to local regulations in the US, depending on where you are. <S> Such travel, and subsequent travel from the border to your home would increase the risk of being infected and infecting others. <A> My wife, a Canadian citizen, and I, a U.S. citizen but a Canadian Permanent Resident, returned from the U.S. to Canada on Saturday, March 21. <S> We had been snowbirds in Florida since November. <S> Things may change, but the Prime Minister has called for Canadians to come home. <S> In driving, we passed numerous motorhomes and 5th-wheels with Quebec plates. <S> At customs, we said we were asymptomatic (which we are), and were told that we were to go straight home and isolate ourselves there for 14 days, with absolutely NO leaving of the property. <S> We are much relieved to be home in Canada, where good neighbors pre-stocked our fridge and pantry and turned on the heat and lights for us. <A> Not directly an answer to the original question, and IANAL, but... <S> At least for the practice in the Old World, so hopefully applicable in similar legislations elsewhere, citizens have a constitutional right to return to their home country. <S> Nowhere else it says however what happens afterwards - e.g. by current extreme-measures laws, they can be subject to quarantine lock-down, maybe not in their home but some other facility. <S> But as long as it is on the country's territory, the constitutional right to cross the border homewards has been fulfilled. <S> There is no guarantee whether you'd soon get to the actual home (building) or not. <S> Here in Europe, generally people with permanent residence visas are also allowed to enter. <S> to reduce migration and spread of the virus. <S> Likewise, with planes generally down (maybe expect repatriation/evacuation charters to go rarely) and cars forbidden to cross borders, your ability to achieve your constitutional right to get to the homeland <S> can be compromised/delayed by technical constraints. <S> You are allowed to leave, but have to walk across the ocean, that kind of thing.
| Generally nobody is allowed to leave (except foreign citizens repatriating to their homelands, and truck drivers ensuring movement of food, medications etc.)
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Is travelling with 1 friend permitted in the UK now that the lockdown is enforced? There is a lockdown in the UK. I'm a student living at Warwickshire. I planned a 2 day trip a long time ago to the south of England, and I will be travelling by car with my friend (only 1 friend). With the current lockdown rules, will I be stopped and fined? What are the possible consequences? Update: I'm not going anywhere! Thanks for the answers! <Q> I will be travelling by car with my friend (only 1 friend). <S> With the current lockdown rules, will I be stopped and fined? <S> From Coronavirus: Boris Johnson's address to the nation in full - BBC News <S> That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes: Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible <S> One form of exercise a day - for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household; Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and Travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home. <S> That's all <S> - these are the only reasons you should leave your home . <S> Since none of the above conditions are fullfilled, very likely. <S> What are the possible consequences? <S> A fine , the amount of which has not yet been announced . <S> The legislation can be viewed at: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 <S> section 6: Restrictions on movement section 10: Fixed penalty notices <S> "The Times" from 24th March suggest this will be from 30£ to 1000£ (third paragraph): <A> With the current lockdown rules, will I be stopped and fined? <S> What are the possible consequences? <S> If you're lucky, you will be stopped, fined, and sent home. <S> If you're unlucky: You get sick from COVID-19. <S> You pass on COVID-19 to (many) others, some of whom may die, and more who will have to go to a busy hospital. <S> You get fined or even have to go to jail (with the actual sentence possibly postponed until after the pandemic). <S> Currently (2020-03-24) <S> no jail in the UK, but things might move fast <S> ; in other countries it's already possible <S> (e.g. in Germany it may be a Straftat to violate the rules in some cases rather than an Ordnungswidrigkeit — I don't know how Straftat or Ordnungswidrigkeit best translate to the English language or UK law, but literally Straftat means something like "punishable act"). <S> That doesn't seem to be the case in the UK currently (BBC reports fines), but who knows how quickly this may change if fines appear ineffective? <S> I am not a lawyer <S> but I would not assume it will remain with just fines if those are shown to be ineffective and the situation is worsening daily. <S> Do not endanger the lives of others. <S> Do not travel if you can avoid it. <A> For your information... story dated 22:56 24 March: <S> Police have been stopping cars to make sure people are only making essential journeys. <S> It comes after Boris Johnson yesterday put the UK on lockdown, ordering Brits to remain in their homes unless they have a valid reason to go out. <S> He warned that police would issue fines to those found disobeying the new rules, and today officers have been on the streets making sure drivers do not flout them. <S> The four reasons you can now leave your home are: shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible one form of exercise a day - for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home Update 26 March: <S> Police set up checkpoints to stop drivers during coronavirus pandemic <A> Since the question and most of the answers were written, what had been strong recommendations from the government have been turned into regulations with the force of law, in the form of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 . <S> Of relevance to this question: 6.—(1) <S> During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse. <S> There then follows a list of reasonable excuses, which includes things like shopping for food, exercise, seeking medical assistance, providing care or assistance, going to work if it's not practical to work from home, and the like. <S> A trip, presumably for leisure purposes - whether with members of your household, or with one friend, or on your own - is not on the list, so would not be allowed. <S> Anyone breaking the regulations can be fined. <S> The fines start at £60 (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days), and then double for each subsequent fine, up to a maximum of £960. <S> The regulations (at least in their current form) expire on 26 September 2020. <A> On the other hand, there is little chance that anything or anyone will stop you, so long as you are following the general social distancing rules. <S> UK policing strategy is generally "consensual" so there are unlikely to be any random "stop and search" checkpoints on your trip. <S> There is no shortage of fuel in the UK. <S> In fact supermarkets have started a fuel price war, with price cuts of 20% or more. <S> Aside from the obvious infection risks, the biggest question to consider is what you plan to <S> do during this trip, since only essential businesses (supermarkets, pharmacies, etc) are still open for business. <S> Don't expect to find any "tourist activities" still operating.
| The morally correct answer is obviously "don't do it".
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Jewish person visiting American friend in Qatar I'm an American Jew, and my American college roommate is an expat who has been living in Qatar for the last few years. He is Catholic. I told him I want to visit him but he has repeatedly warned me that as a Jewish person this might be a risky move for me, due to his perception of Qatar's opinion of Jewish people. Is there any truth to what he is saying? If so, is there anything Ican do to still ensure a safe trip? <Q> No , there is virtually no risk to visiting Qatar as a Jew, nobody even needs to know you're one since US citizens can visit without a visa and your religion is never asked. <S> You may draw some attention if dressed in full-on Hasidic clothing though. <S> That said, for time being this is a moot point, since Qatar has banned all non-citizens from entering until the coronavirus crisis calms down. <A> You are playing with fire here, since there is a not-so-remote possibility you will be detained as an 'Israeli spy' in a dictatorship with no human rights culture. <S> Qatar funds Hamas and does not recognize Israel. <S> If you have Israeli citizenship you could be in trouble, if you visited Israel or know Israeli people you could also land in trouble. <S> How would they know? <S> That's a function of how Jewish is your name and how much work they (or their intelligence) will do on your name, looking it up on Facebook, checking it against leaked lists of Israeli citizens and so on. <S> I don't want to scare you <S> so I'll say that the probability that something bad could happen to you is very low. <S> But it is there . <S> And if something happens you will be in a dictatorial country at the mercy of their government. <S> To minimize your chances of trouble I'd suggest you speak with people in the Jewish community who know people who went to Qatar or to other Arab countries and keep a very low profile there. <A> This might seem like an oddball answer, but I've done the following with a British colleague of mine that was Jewish when we were travelling into Saudi Arabia a few years back: <S> I gave him my golden cross on a neck chain <S> (I've been raised as a catholic) <S> We met up before border control <S> He put it over his polo shirt at border control <S> He hid it under his polo shirt afterwards <S> We both forgot to ask for / give it back when we left, so <S> I'll have to fly into the UK or he'll have to fly into Germany to give it back. <S> ;-) <S> So ask your American catholic colleagues if you can borrow theirs and give it back when you return! <S> >:-) <S> P.S. Leave your tefillin back home... <S> ;P P.P.S. He has a non-jewish name <S> so YMMV
| Ask other Jewish people and don't trust random strangers that are not Jewish.
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Are hotel staff happy if a customer stays at a hotel for a long time? In general, would hotel staff find it unusual/weird for a customer to stay at a hotel for an extended period of time (e.g. 3 months)? Wouldn't that mean more money for them? Given the current crisis right now, would hotels prefer to have a single customer stay for a long time or a multiple customers stay for a short time? <Q> For example, cheap hostels often have a rule about locals not being permitted to stay more than say, 2 weeks (to prevent down and out people taking advantage of cheap accommodation, ruining the traveller 'vibe' that the hostel might be seeking). <S> Have also seen a limit similarly on actual travellers - they want travellers, not backpackers on their working holiday just using it as a base. <S> This might be for the mood, or also because they might rely on commission from activities for example, that they get from frequent different travellers. <S> Saying that, a friend lived in a hostel in London for 18 months, while working. <S> I've done a few weeks in a single hostel in Argentina, Vancouver, and Melbourne, Australia, and gotten to know the staff, shared BBQs, drinks and the like. <A> As Mark already mentioned it depends on the hotel/hostel type. <S> He is giving one version. <S> I've seen many places having such policy. <S> But there is the opposite case. <S> There are many examples of rich people who decided to live in a hotel at a given moment in their life. <S> And that never was a problem for the hotel. <S> A known case is Calouste Gulbenkian. <S> A rich Armenian who settled in Lisbon and lived 13 years in Hotel Aviz . <S> But there are many more examples. <S> Including people who live in cruise ships most of the year (these are kind of floating hotels). <A> I work away from home and regularly stay at hotels for a month or more, sometimes going home for weekends and sometimes not. <S> My longest stay was for 3 months late last year at a hotel near Amsterdam, Netherlands (Joy Hotel - basic and cheap, but very clean and nice). <S> I have never experienced anything except goodwill. <S> It's nice to get to know the staff a little better, learn their names, and chat with them regularly. <S> I think most hotels are glad of both the income and the vote of confidence <S> you're giving them by staying their regularly. <A> Multi-weeks and months is not unheard of in the hotel business; a lot of people stay in hotel, both for tourism or business for a long time. <S> I does not matter one way or the other; it might even be easier on the staff as they do not have to make the room every day. <S> I think that people staying one night in a hotel is more burdensome. <S> UNLESS the client does not allow hotel staff in the room for regular maintenance (cleaning, bed changing...) <S> and it result in the room degrading. <S> (I assume there are rules and regulations for that)
| Without exception, the hotels have been very welcoming and happy with my extended stays. Depends on the place, often, and what they're aiming for.
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