Travel Advice

There has been some buzz lately of a startup called Yore Oyster. Here is a summary of what they do.

At present, Yore Oyster offers tips and tricks (presently only for Canadians) on how to get up to 80% off flights using a combination of loyalty points and strategic airline selection when using these points. An easy to read (and free!) PDF is the first step to getting started.

The guide offers some basic, but good insights into flight pricing and the suggested strategy to get the lowest prices. They recommend using a combination of Aeroplan points collected through American Express‘s loyalty cards and using those points strategically on other non-Air Canada airlines (they recommend Delta as one of their top picks). They also offer a concierge service to those looking for additional help implementing the above strategies.

One note: Their American Express links on their webpage are affiliate links (similar to what I’ve used throughout this post) so each time someone clicks-through and signs up, they get a small kickback form American Express ( I on the other hand only get bonus Aeroplan points each time someone signs-up). Personally, I have no issue with this as startups have to make money somehow, but more of an FYI as to why they might be pushing the American Express card over say TD’s Aeroplan card. From personal experience, I find that Amex isn’t as accepted as MasterCard or Visa, which might explain the ‘first year free’ promotion. For those of you looking for a great card, I highly recommend the CapitalOne Aspire card (no affiliate links).

Traveling around the world is an adventure, no doubt about it; but one of the worst parts of visiting a new time zone is the accompanying jet lag. The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination and not be able to have fun because you are just so tired from the plane ride. The good news is there are some things you can to in order to stave it off.

Hydration
Drink water. Lots of water. It sounds cliché, but it really does work. It helps keep your body going and can help avoid the lethargic, tired feelings. Make sure to avoid caffeinated beverages; the perk helps for a few minutes, but you will ultimately crash and feel worse off than you did before. Also, avoid alcoholic drinks, because they serve the exact wrong purpose. They will only dehydrate you more, making you sleepy when you arrive.

Act Like You are in Your New Time Zone
As soon as you get on the plane, figure out what time it is in your destination and set your watch accordingly. If it is in the middle of the night during your ride, try to sleep on the plane and wake up refreshed. You might want to think about taking a mild sedative in order to help get you nice and rested. On the flip side, if it is daylight where you’re going, do the best you can to stay awake so you will sleep at night when you are there. Bring movies or puzzle books, or something else to stimulate your brain while you are on the long haul flight.

Get Outside
If you arrive and it’s in the middle of the afternoon where you are, but you’re still so tired, stay outside. Sure, go ahead and drop your stuff off in your room, but avoid looking at the comfortable bed for too long. Instead, find something to do that will keep you moving, but will not push you beyond your limits. Find a park with a nice view and people watch, or go to one of the smaller museums and walk around. This way you are still enjoying your destination, but you aren’t trying to take on one of the big “must-sees” right off the bat.

Stick to the Meal Times
One of the biggest mistakes people make is avoiding eating because they are tired. In fact, not eating will make you feel worse in the long run, because your body will be using up its energy trying to keep you going. You can even start this a few days before you go, by catering your meal times to your new time zones; at the very least, make sure you do this on the plane. When you notice it’s dinner time, have a little bit of protein; if it’s breakfast, have a light pastry. It doesn’t have to be a huge, elaborate meal, but something akin to what you would normally be eating around that time.

By following these few simple steps, you can mostly avoid the jet lag after a long day of traveling. This way, you are refreshed and ready to experience whatever adventures await.

Light Exercise
Keeping your body in motion is a vital component of not succumbing to jet lag, but be careful not to overdo it. During your flight, just stretch your legs and walk up and down the aisles every now and again. When you arrive at your destination, take a quick walk around to familiarize yourself with the area or take a dip in the hotel swimming pool. Don’t run a marathon or try to do 1000 sit ups; all you need is just enough to keep our body alert. On the flip side, don’t do anything too relaxing, either, such as tai chi, yoga, or mediation. Just some light motion will help keep your body awake until you are ready for bed.

Plan Your Flights Accordingly
Now, this one might be a little tricky, since travel websites and ticket prices may not be so flexible, but if you can, try to schedule your flight so you arrive in the early afternoon at your destination. This way, you have time to see one or two things, have dinner, and then head on back to the hotel. Also, it will be daylight when you arrive, so your body won’t think it’s time for bed yet. Anything you can do to help trick your internal clock a bit is a good thing on such a long trip.

Do Not Over or Under Sleep
A common mistake people make is trying to stay awake the night before a long flight, so they will sleep on the plane. While it sounds good in theory, often people find they can’t doze off on the flight and end up being overtired when they land and tempted to fall asleep as soon as they see the hotel bed. Conversely, some people think that sleeping twelve to sixteen hours before they travel will keep them awake and focused until they are ready to go to bed. What they don’t realize is traveling is tiring. You may think that it’s easy sitting on plane for six hours, but really, you’re constantly worried about luggage, children, connecting flights, or whether or not you’ll like the in-air movie. It’s stressful. Instead, just try to get the normal eight or so hours of sleep. If you can, try to sleep the same hours as your new time zone for a few days before you go, but if that’s not an option, don’t try to overcompensate.

Don’t Stress
As mentioned, traveling can be a stressful experience, but it doesn’t always have to be. The more you relax, the easier time you’ll have resting on the plane and feeling like you can enjoy the time on your vacation. Pack ahead of time, so you have time to squeeze in all of the last minute items. Plan your flights so you have time to look around the airport between connections and you don’t have to rush from one gate to the other. Anything you can do to take even a small load off your mind will help.

 

Safe Travels!

Are you a hardcore rewards points collector? Want to be?

If you’re a collector of Air Miles, Aeroplan (or any other flight company reward) and have a travel or points related credit card, be sure to use a strategy that is similar to the below to maximize the points you earn. You can earn up to 4 times on the same purchase!

Step 1:
Login to your Air Miles account and go to the Air Miles Shop section.

Step 2:
Choose one of the partners you can shop from (there are hundreds). e.g. Expedia, Coach, GAP, etc. You will get linked out to the vendors website. Note the below! Start over if you close your browser window by mistake.

This will get you Air Miles points once a purchase is made.

Step 3:
Make sure you make the purchase using your travel rewards credit card.
This will get you your travel rewards points (whatever it is).

Step 4:
If you book flights or travel, you will earn the usual flight/travel points from the travel company or airline. Moreover, many Air Miles partners have their own rewards system (e.g. Expedia, Amazon, IHG, Priceline, etc.)
This gets you even more points!

Real life example:
Booking a flight through Expedia (via Air Miles) will get you:
1. One Air Mile for each $35 spent
2. X points via your credit card
3. X points via your airline’s reward program
4. X points toward Expedia’s reward program.

So next time you shop for anything, be sure to see if you can get it for the same price (or cheaper!) online and watch the points rack up!

 

Unfortunately, living the 4-hour Work Week still requires checking-in and being connected. If you regularly mix work and travel like I do, these product are a must to ensure you never miss a beat!

1. USB Charger. Any USB Charger!
Getting disconnected from the inability to charge your device is the worst! Avoid this with a backup USB power pack like the Motorola P4000 that’s compatible with most major phone brands, including Apple and Samsung. Light-weight and easy to carry.
Available on Amazon (affiliate link) (non-affiliate link)

2. Foldable Phone Charging Platform
‘Cause some phone companies don’t give you enough cord, this platform will allow you to charge your device anywhere regardless of the height of the outlet.
Available on Restoration Hardware

3. iPhone Charging Bracelet
Too many cords making travel life complicated? Try the Cabelet Charging Bracelet by Kyte&Key where the charger turns into a fashionable bracelet.
Available on FancyCrave

4. Roll-up Travel Charger
If you do a lot of group trips where you’re sharing a room with others power outlets can be a rare commodity. With the Roll-up Travel Charger, everybody will be able to charge their devices without the frustration. It even rolls-up into a nice leather case.
Available on Restoration Hardware

A cool simulation shows why you should sit far behind a sick passenger. Researchers at the FAA Center of Excellence at Purdue University, created this simulation of a sneezing passenger using ANSYS to study the mechanics of pathogen travel in airplane cabins. Read more at the ANSYS Blog.

This week, especially if you’re on Reddit, you may have heard the name Elizabeth Gallagher. Unfortunately, Elizabeth and her partner Jordan Axani (both from Toronto) split-up before leaving for an around the world trip.  So Jordan offered to fly someone named Elizabeth Gallagher around the world for free (the name has to match exactly), or be forced to forfeit Elizabeth’s portion of the flight, with no refund. “To date, you have little recourse. You can change your dates, which costs a few hundred bucks per flight, or you can cancel it altogether, forfeiting the entire price you’ve paid. Neither are exactly compelling options.,” as per a posting on Yore Oyster.

As you can imagine, this blew up around the world getting picked-up by numerous news outlets.

Out of this though came Connections, an online platform that allows others in similar situations post similar trips/flights.  Yore Oyster states, “You’re at your desk on a Tuesday afternoon when an email hits your inbox: You’ve been matched! Someone has posted a two-week roundtrip flight to Europe in your name, and you can claim it absolutely free. Pretty great, right?”

So although the chances might be slim, you just never know when you might get that email telling you that there’s a free flight available!  Sign-up here.

Some flights currently available:
Kelly Marshall – Toronto to Paris Round-Trip
Jon Benson – Toronto to San Francisco Round -Trip
Jordon Bishop – Prague to Tokyo One-Way
Vancouver to New York City Round-Trip

Can’t take credit for these.  Borrowed from Distractify.  Personal thoughts* below for some.

1. Use a private or incognito window when booking flights and hotels online.
Travel sites often track your visits and will raise the price simply because you’ve visited before.
*Turns into a whole ethics argument, but according to the Wall Street Journal “Offering different prices to different people is legal, with a few exceptions for race-based discrimination and other sensitive situations. Several companies pointed out that their online price-tweaking simply mirrors the real world. Regular shops routinely adjust their prices to account for local demand, competition, store location and so on. Nobody is surprised if, say, a gallon of gas is cheaper at the same chain, one town over.”

2. Keep loose chargers and cables organized with a glasses case.

3. Use straws to carry travel-size amounts of skin care products.
*Good idea, but seems like a little too much work.

4. Put a dryer sheet at the bottom of a suitcase to keep your clothes smelling fresh.
*I do this every time.  Highly recommend this.

5. Use a spring from an old pen to protect chargers from bending and breaking.
*I guess this is a good idea, but is it that much of a common problem?

6. Skip the long lines for airport bathrooms.
It may seem like common logic, but the first bathroom in the terminal is the most crowded one. Use the next one to skip the long waits and save precious time.

7. Use a binder clip to protect the head of shaving razors.
*Good idea.  Save you from carrying the whole razor holder.  Also, if you have an electric one, take the battery out to avoid security issues if it turns on by accident.

8. If you forget your wall plug, charge devices through the USB slot on a TV.
*Like!

9. Roll clothes, instead of folding, to save tons of baggage space.
*I’m undecided on this one.  I feel like there are some more creative ways to pack.  See here.

10. If you have clothes that need to be folded, use tissue paper to keep them from wrinkling.
*I’m undecided on this one too.  How much of a difference can it make?

11. Use a pill container to keep jewelry organized and untangled.

12. Scan important documents before leaving for your trip.
*If you’re not doing this already, start!

13. Tuck your soap and wash cloth together with this easy-to-fold pouch.

14. A shower cap is an easy way to cover the bottoms of shoes.
*I still use a plastic bag as I find it keeps the smell contained as well.

15. Put smartphones in airplane mode to save battery and charge faster.

16. Keep your headphones from tangling by winding them around a binder clip.

17. Keep hair clips tidy with an empty Tic Tac container.

18. When packing, line collars with a belt to keep them crispy.
*A must for business travelers!

19. Sit in the seats near the wing of the plane for the least turbulence.
The seats along the wings of a plane usually have the least amount of bounce when flying because it has more structural support.

20. Keep your travel-size containers and refill them, instead of buying new each time.

21. To use Google Maps offline, type “OK Maps,” and the visible area will save for future access.
*This is very handy and should be part of your trip planning!

22. Instead of buying water at the airport, bring an empty bottle along and fill it up after passing security.
*Good way to save money for sure if you’re ok with tap water.

23. When reserving airline seats for 2 people, get the aisle and window.
If no one takes the middle seat you get a full row, and if someone does, just ask to switch so you can sit next to your travel partner.

24. Pack your suit coats inside out to keep them clean and avoid creasing.
*I find this works for all articles of clothing

25. Wait to buy airline tickets until 3 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Typically this is when the big Airlines reduce their fares in order to compete with the discount airlines like Southwest and JetBlue. If you’re looking to save some money, this is the time to buy.

26. To prevent messy spills in your luggage just unscrew the lids and place a simple patch of saran wrap on the top and screw them back on. This will prevent any liquids from ruining your trip.

27. Get the WiFi password for many establishments by checking the comments section of FourSquare.
*Sometime a simple good search will work as well.

28. Use your GPS when traveling abroad.
If you’re travelling abroad without an international plan, turn on airplane mode and turn off data to use the GPS without connecting to the internet. Simply load the Google map of the area before heading out the hotel, and you’ve got a fully functional map to navigate the area.

29. Get a free cell phone charger if you forgot yours at home.
Forget your charger? Often times hotel front desk’s will have a box full of chargers left by previous guests.

30. Skip the wait at the baggage claim.
Even if it’s not, marking your bag with a fragile label leads to gentler handling by airport staff. Also, they’re often loaded on the top of the other luggage meaning it’s one of the first to come out at the baggage claim.
*Can’t help by feel like this is like parking in a handicap spot when you’re not handicapped.  Airlines are required to balance the weight of luggage to ensure a safe balance on the plane so I’m somewhat against this.

31. Get free WiFi at airports
When you’re at the airport, add “?.jpg” to the end of any URL to get around the ludicrously expensive WiFi. Alternatively, you can sit right outside an airport club lounge: Wi-Fi signals often glide through the walls.

32. For bonus points, travel with a power strip and be the airport hero.

33. On your last day in a foreign country, collect all your loose money and give it to the homeless.
*Big fan of this one!

If you’re tired of trying to stuff your jacket into your backpack when it’s not needed, try the Jacket Gripper (not an affiliate link) to save you the hassle and space. It also acts as an extra layer of protection from pickpockets (just make sure you don’t have any valuables in the jacket itself).

Knowledge is power. Being aware of these scams could potentially make the difference between a great trip and a disastrous trip.

Fake Flyers in Hotels.
Known Areas: Worldwide
It’s common to walk into a hotel room to find various flyers for food and services around the hotel vicinity. Unfortunately, some of these can be fake (including ones using credible branding) and are meant to scam guests out of their credit card numbers. You may think you ordered pizza, but in fact are providing a shopping spree for the people on the other end of these flyers.
Tip: Always use the internet to confirm the legitimacy of the vendors before calling.

Fake Calls to your Hotel Room.
Known Areas: Worldwide
Similar to the Fake Flyers, if you get a call in your room from someone claiming to be from the front desk asking to confirm your credit card number (i.e. because it didn’t process properly the first time) you should be suspicious.  Hotels will never ask you to confirm your credit card over the phone (they’ll ask you to swing by the front desk). If you give your info over the phone, you might be giving away your financial details to a scammer.

The Fake Distraction
Known Areas: Airports and train stations
Scam: This scam comes in different forms. Essentially, there is some sort of distraction like someone spilling water on you or an old lady falling in a public place. As you and others are distracted, an accomplice swoops up as many bags as they can carry.
Tip: When something out of the ordinary happens, look around you first and keep in physical contact with your belongings.

Security Line Budding
Known Areas: Airports
You’re about to walk through a metal detector when the person behind you cuts ahead of you. You’re annoyed, but you let them go as you don’t want to make a scene near the security area.  They then repeatedly set off the alarm; they forget to remove their watch, then cell phone, then change, so you continue to wait. On the other side, an accomplice has snagged your belongings.
Tip: Wait until the last moment to put your stuff on the x-ray machine. Also, keep an eye on your stuff if you get held up at the metal detector. If you see some fishy business, alert the agent.

Hacking via Wi-Fi
Known Areas: Airports, hotels, StarBucks and other public areas with ‘free’ Wifi
It’s hard to turndown free Wi-Fi. This fact has made hacking all too common at hotels, cafés, and other public venues. A free W-Fi hotspot is set up and made public for anyone to access. Sure, the Internet is free, but while you’re checking Facebook, your data is getting sent to the host’s computer. Just like that, they have access to your usernames and passwords.
Tip: Only connect to legitimate networks. Check out this list of airports with free Wi-Fi so that you know you’re connecting to a secure network. At a hotel, don’t connect to another guest’s Wi-Fi hotspot. Instead, ask the front desk for the hotel’s preferred network and use it!

The Cash Swap
Known Areas: Istanbul
You’re new to the country and getting the hang of the currency. You take a taxi, and when you arrive at your destination, you pay the fare with a 50-lira note. Without you noticing, the driver switches your payment with a 5-lira note, which unfortunately for you looks quite similar. Since you’re not totally sure they’re wrong, you give him another 50-lira note.
Tip: Be confident. Familiarize yourself with the currency before you go, and pay attention when you pay for services. If you think you’re getting scammed, threaten to call the police. Local law enforcement officers know about this trick, and the driver probably won’t want to lose his license.

The Tie Up
Known Areas: Paris and Rome
As you’re walking around famous monuments and tourist areas, a charismatic man/woman comes up to you to start a conversation. Before you know it, they’re tying a bracelet around your wrist/finger. Then he demands payment. Of course, you can say no, but if you do, they’ll scream that you are stealing the bracelet. Most tourists give in to the pressure and pay just to prevent a scene.
Tip: If someone is being overly friendly, you should be suspicious. And if they get close enough to easily touch you, just walk away.

Bait and switch
Known Areas: Almost everywhere
You’re planning a vacation on a budget, and you find an amazing-looking hotel in your price range. It seems too good to be true, but the pictures on their website look idyllic, so you enter your credit card info and book the room. Unfortunately, when you arrive, you discover that the hotel is a dump, and they won’t refund your money. In some countries, one-star hotels will even copy the name of a popular hotel just to lure tourists to their location.
Tip: It always pays to book through a reputable tour operator because it will take responsibility for the booking and guarantee that you don’t lose money. Sites such as Oyster and TripAdvisor are also great resources for checking out reviews from customers who have stayed at the hotel.

Exchange Rate Skimming
Known Areas: Western Europe
You hand your credit card to the merchant and they give you the option to convert your credit card transaction to your own currency. You agree because it seems like it would be cheaper than the credit card exchange rate. Unfortunately, it’s not.  It’s called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), and by using a conversion rate that is higher than the going rate, the merchant is making an extra profit off of your purchase.
Tip: Always pay in local currency.