Travel Hacks/Tips

[PineappleSkip]

Door alarm... most hotel rooms these days have those sliding lock things thingsas protection.

I have been in a particularly entertaining HEAT training (always run by ex SAS types) where I was told always use a door jammer (google it) in hotels and always hang out the 'do not disturb' sign when leaving your room. And the thing about the second key. And never ever hang 'please make up my room'. And lots of other remarkable things.
I can't remember why, but the sliding door lock is untrustworthy. Mind you, if you're one of these ex CIA types, nothing and noone is trustworthy.
Cheers skip

 

[AnnaB]

A suitcase inside a suitcase is helpful if it is a shopping trip in the US.

I had that once coming back from holidays. Bought a new one and wanted both to come back with me. Lucky as when we arrived the outer suitcase had been ripped open on the side (seam and all) and it was only due to the fact that we had two suitcases that saved the contents.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

A suitcase inside a suitcase is helpful if it is a shopping trip in the US.

We use the suitcase in a suitcase for our trips to the USA and also have a couple of bags that are really flowery in design on the outside, they never go missing and easily spotted once luggage arrives.

 

[JohnK]

I do understand the reasoning behind it, but it's the most coughbersome and annoying document to carry everywhere. I carried for 3 months when I lived in London and got caught in a torrential downpour, resulting in getting soaked and the cover peeled apart!! Thankfully, the guy at the AU Embassy told me to glue it with a UHU stick and it served me well until I filled it up. (Could have paid 250 quid to replace, but a it was brand new and wasn't wanting to spend yet another $500!!)

My passport is now 6 years old but a few years back I was in between hotels in Pattaya and played golf that day so kept passport in my back pocket throughout game. Passport got soaked from rain/sweat and has smudged the photo page, and some of the early stamps in passport.

The passport is fine except for smudge. I am able to use Smartgate no problem. And no problem scanning passport in Asia and not a word said by any immigration officer. Everytime I leave Australia they start to lecture me about damaged passport. What's the problem I ask? Oh you might not be allowed into the country you are visiting and they run off to see supervisor.

Thinking about it again they now have me paranoid about US day trip in 3 weeks time. Don't need a new passport but just in case some checkin agent refuses to issue me a boarding pass.

 

[Boca68]

My passport is now 6 years old but a few years back I was in between hotels in Pattaya and played golf that day so kept passport in my back pocket throughout game. Passport got soaked from rain/sweat and has smudged the photo page, and some of the early stamps in passport.

The passport is fine except for smudge. I am able to use Smartgate no problem. And no problem scanning passport in Asia and not a word said by any immigration officer. Everytime I leave Australia they start to lecture me about damaged passport. What's the problem I ask? Oh you might not be allowed into the country you are visiting and they run off to see supervisor.

Thinking about it again they now have me paranoid about US day trip in 3 weeks time. Don't need a new passport but just in case some checkin agent refuses to issue me a boarding pass.

I had a similiar situation on a previous passport.

I was in Malaysia, yep, hot, sweaty and passport in moneybelt (which I have not used since). Turned up at Johor Bharu to enter Singapore and proceeded to get a game of 20 questions from Singaporean Immigration. Passport was damaged from sweat and now stained. And, in hindsight, it could have looked like it been attempted to alter it, if you were suspicious of those kind of things.

But, I did use it several more times, until eventually lost in USA and cancelled. (only to be subsequentally found the day after).

I advise, if you use a moneybelt and place your passport there, put it in a zip lock bag first. Especially if in tropical countries.

 

[JessicaTam]

My passport is now 6 years old but a few years back I was in between hotels in Pattaya and played golf that day so kept passport in my back pocket throughout game. Passport got soaked from rain/sweat and has smudged the photo page, and some of the early stamps in passport.

The passport is fine except for smudge. I am able to use Smartgate no problem. And no problem scanning passport in Asia and not a word said by any immigration officer. Everytime I leave Australia they start to lecture me about damaged passport. What's the problem I ask? Oh you might not be allowed into the country you are visiting and they run off to see supervisor.

Thinking about it again they now have me paranoid about US day trip in 3 weeks time. Don't need a new passport but just in case some checkin agent refuses to issue me a boarding pass.

Only on AFF would the statement "US day trip" go unremarked!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

A suitcase inside a suitcase is helpful if it is a shopping trip in the US.

We were able to do that thanks to your tip about a set of three Samsonites at Costco for USD287.00 or thereabouts.

 

[get me outta here]

Would having 2 cases (if you were a solo traveler), commit you to a taxi/Uber/car?

We were able to do that thanks to your tip about a set of three Samsonites at Costco for USD287.00 or thereabouts.

 

[cove]

Very good ozbeachbabe!
If you are happy with Samsonite then Costco US usually have them at great prices.
Did you go the Kirkland chocolate coated macadamias at Costco? They are yummy.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Would having 2 cases (if you were a solo traveler), commit you to a taxi/Uber/car?

Depends. I've often managed to negotiate my way between Paris and CDG or ORY on the metro with two cases and a carry on.
The stairs weren't fun though. The metro has not put much effort into accessibility.

 

[Archphoto]

My passport is now 6 years old but a few years back I was in between hotels in Pattaya and played golf that day so kept passport in my back pocket throughout game. Passport got soaked from rain/sweat and has smudged the photo page, and some of the early stamps in passport.

The passport is fine except for smudge. I am able to use Smartgate no problem. And no problem scanning passport in Asia and not a word said by any immigration officer. Everytime I leave Australia they start to lecture me about damaged passport. What's the problem I ask? Oh you might not be allowed into the country you are visiting and they run off to see supervisor.

Thinking about it again they now have me paranoid about US day trip in 3 weeks time. Don't need a new passport but just in case some checkin agent refuses to issue me a boarding pass.

John, I was actually more concerned about it for all the US travel I had to do, than leaving AU. Admittedly the photo page was fine, so maybe not so noticeable that it was indeed damaged, but it didn't even cross my mind . . . .

Funny how you're supposed to keep it so safe, yet expected to keep it on your person at all times - sweat in tropical countries is a real PITA, in fact the only time since 2001 that I've kept my passport on me at all times, was when we had a photoshoot in North Korea.

That was the *ultimate* PITA - trying to shoot and organise stuff with some huge plastic, ziplock file hanging around your neck. 2 days in I'd stuffed it (and my assistant's) into the camera bag, praying a North Korean soldier wouldn't get trigger happy and shoot first, ask "where's your passport??!!" later.:shock:

 

[JohnK]

Planning leave from office is always on my mind when I am going away for 2 weeks.

The traditional way of organising trip is to finish work on Friday afternoon and travel on Friday/Saturday and return on the Friday/Saturday 2 weeks later so a good 2 weeks away.

What I find works better for me is to say travel Wednesday night/Thursday and return to work on Tuesday/Wednesday 2 weeks later. Still gives me 2 weeks away but the 2 short working weeks either side of the full week away make it feel like a 3 week trip as the 2-3 days at work go very quickly.

Do that 3-4 times a year and it feels like you have been away longer. Yes I know it's all in the mind but now that I'm used to it most of my 2 week trips will get planned that way.

 

[Skyring]

One of my best investments was a set of fluro orange suitcases. Absolutely awful colour, but they never go missing. I invested in those after my black bag with orange-pink straps got lost in Bali and took over an hour to locate. It can be spotted a mile away.

Another thing I always bring is roll up compression bags. I use them for washing, shopping bulky items or just to keep things in order in my suitcase. Sometimes great as I can fit as much into a small suitcase as I normally would need a big one for.

I have a couple of bright yellow rolling duffles. Easily spotted, and with (mostly) clothes inside, they can be squashed to fit into odd places. They have a sled bottom with two wheels at one end and a handle at the other.

I buy some Systema storage containers for things that can't be squashed (like Tim Tams), and I love the compression cells for keeping track of multiple small items that would otherwise turn into a disorganised mess on the bottom. A recent addition is a Woolies reusable bag for laundry. I just hang it up by a handle somewhere, or stand it on its flat bottom and toss in the dirty clothes.

Probably my most useful bit of travel kit is a powerstrip with six Australian outlets and two USB sockets. Along with a universal plug converter I can get recharging capacity for my wife and I in most places. I could use one with a longer lead - often the only spare powerpoint is located under the bed or behind a dresser or something.

Not so much a hack, but a handy thing to have is a stock of small gifts. Those little koalas that grip onto the edge of a shirt, for example. Or a big bag of Chupa chups. Good to hand out to kids you meet along the way.

 

[AnnaB]

Oh, and I would like to thank the person who suggested dryer sheets in the luggage. It has just worked a treat during this trip where it has been hot, humid and damp. All my clothes still smell like freshly washed and its absolutely super! Next time I will remember to bring a few fresh ones in a zip-lock bag to refresh every so often.
Great tip!

 

[PLANT]

Dryer sheets? Just line the bag with a sheet?

 

[Steady]

Dryer sheets? Just line the bag with a sheet?

........................

 

[Pushka]

Dryer sheets? Just line the bag with a sheet?

Different concept. These are small and fragrant.
Its a great idea. I will try too.

 

[get me outta here]

Take a couple of strong pegs for hanging up drip dry washed heavy items on thier hangers. Also handy if the curtains don't quite meet in the middle.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I always take a couple of these clips, so if you buy some snacks and don't eat it all, you can seal up the bag it came in. I also take zip loc bags of various sizes for things that just might spill or leak once opened.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I always take a couple of these clips, so if you buy some snacks and don't eat it all, you can seal up the bag it came in. I also take zip loc bags of various sizes for things that just might spill or leak once opened.

+1 Shampoo bottles love to leak. Always put shampoo in zip lock!

Cheers skip