Genius Travel Tips

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!

Zipline from Spain to Portugal

A new zipline that connects Sanlucar de Guadiana, in Andalucia, Spain, to Alcoutim, in Algarve, Portugal was launched in 2013 by Limite Zero. Limite Zero is a project of Englishman David Jarman, which offers those who dare a 2,362-foot-long zipline crosses the Guadiana River at 50 feet above sea level reaching speeds of up to 45mph.

How it works:
A 4×4 takes you to the departing platform, set near Spain’s San Marco Castle, and in less than a minute, you arrive on the Portuguese side, no passport required. (Speeds can reach up to 45 miles per hour.) A short walk takes you to Alcoutim village, where a small passenger ferry awaits anyone who needs a ride back to Spain; fare is included in the 20 euro price.

Melia Cayo Coco, Cuba Review

 

TL;DR:
If you are looking for a remote island experience with white beaches and crystal blue water, this is a great destination.

Cayo Coco:
Cayo Coco is a very remote area of Cuba with very little around it. It is very quiet with limited activities outside of the resorts.

Where I Stayed:
Melia Cayo Coco
This is a medium sized 5-star resort. The food was above-average, or very good for Cuban standards. Amenities are well maintained, but limited in quantity. Rooms sometimes have water issues and the beds were ok to sleep on. Luckily you won’t spend too much time in the rooms. Overall, the resort was great for Cuban standards, quiet and safe.

*As an added bonus, if you stay at the Melia Cayo Coco you get access to two other 4-star Melia resorts. There is a paid (very cheap) shuttle between each one and each offers its own variety of activities and beaches.

Recommended Activities:
Being so remote, if your resort offers bike rentals, be sure to go for a bike ride on the empty roads. It’s a rare experience anywhere in the world.

At night, there is an off-resort night club in a cave (with bats!) that’s a unique experience. The price includes unlimited drinks, but be prepared to wait in line (or make friends with a bartender at the beginning with a nice tip to help speed things up).

Canadians no longer pay $132 fee to enter Chile

Canadian citizens no longer require a visitor visa to enter Chile.

Canadian visitors and business people can now stay for up to six months visa-free, which is consistent with all other visa-exempt travellers. The old ‘reciprocity fee’ of $132 the Canadian and Chilean visitors had to pay at each other’s incoming airport was also cancelled.

The new policy could save a Canadian family of four nearly $600 when travelling to South America.

In 2013, 10,500 Chilean citizens were issued a visa to visit Canada and approximately 31,000 Canadians visited Chile during the same period.

The change came about when a recent visa policy review found that Chile meets Canada’s criteria for a visa exemption.

Jacket Gripper Coat Attachement

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).

Traveller Scams to watch out for.

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.

Save Money in Ireland via B&Bs

This is from Redditor u/IrishSchmirish.

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Firstly, I don’t own or have any interests in any B&Bs.

I hate when I see tourists staying at soulless hotels dotted around motorways. I don’t know if it’s the same in other countries but, in Ireland we have really high quality Bed & Breakfasts that cost a third of the price of a shit hotel. They’re often family owned and run by people who REALLY care that you enjoy your stay. They have their homes and livelihoods invested in that.

I have had so many great experiences:

  • The owner of a B&B I stayed at in Limerick had a daughter that worked for a large US airline. I was travelling on that airline the following week. She rang her daughter to, and no word of a lie, “put in a good word” for me. I was upgraded to firstclass. Mental.
  • Another B&B owner fucking serviced my car!! Well, he did an oil change and checked the brakes etc.. He’s a mechanic and was doing his kid’s car so did mine as well

You often meet crazy/funny/lovely/honest people running these places and to me they represent the best we have.
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