Travel Hacks/Tips

[Fiches Mouser]

My tips from my few years travelling here and there
1/ Always have some cash
2/ Have some idea in advance of how the taxi/transport system works at the other end if going to a new location, for lots of reasons.
3/ Memorize your passport details
4/ Buy shirts that dont require too much ironing, irons are not always available
5/ Be nice nice to cabin crew, hotel staff, hire car staff - I am surprised at how frequently this act alone comes back to you with some sort of reciprocation
6/ Pack a bottle of red if you are checking luggage. For drinking purposes.

Superb tips. All of them.

 

[Geegeela]

Very small snap lock plastic bag with chocolate powder for cappuccino, particularly in Europe.

 

[Boca68]

I have a travel wallet in which I keep local currency, one credit card and my driver's license for ID.
Then I have one set of cards in my Australian wallet, and another set in my passport wallet.
The Australian wallet stays in my checked baggage, passport wallet stays on my person during flights (in case of evacuation).
Both go in the hotel room safe for the rest of the trip.

From personal experience, for me, this is a big no-no.

All my CC and cash is on my person or in carry-on. When going through security, anything on my person is placed in an outside pocket of carrry-on, then once through scanning. It's placed back in my pocket. I personally , tend to wear GAP chinos for long hauls. For two reasons, comfort and the fact the old fashioned coin pocket is large enough to hold some folded up cash and 1 or 2 cards. And also , they are inexpensive.

I have had items stolen from checked baggage on at least 2 occasions. Both times when using TSA approved locks. And both times when luggage is checked through to final destination. i.e - its sitting at the transit destination for a few hours with idle hands around.

The TSA locks, mostly the key operated but also combination, are a thiefs dream. The master keys for most , if not all ,are easy to obtain if you wish to have them.

I certainly abide by the motto, "nothing valuable in your checked luggage"

 

[get me outta here]

I never put anything that valuable in checked luggage. I've had some strange things happen in checked luggage.

 

[kaktusdigital]

Mens Real Leather Belt Money Tresor Vintage G | eBay
i took one of these money belts to europe, works well when you store several 500 euro notes. The belt itself is real leather and it just as comfortable as a normal one, it just has small zipper/

 

[get me outta here]

I thought €500 notes for just for drug dealers, and they don't like changing them.

Mens Real Leather Belt Money Tresor Vintage G | eBay
i took one of these money belts to europe, works well when you store several 500 euro notes. The belt itself is real leather and it just as comfortable as a normal one, it just has small zipper/

 

[Cruiser Elite]

kaktus why would you want to cart around €500 notes?

 

[Dr Ralph]

works well when you store several 500 euro notes.

Where do you get those cashed?

 

[kaktusdigital]

kaktus why would you want to cart around €500 notes?

i get a great exchange rate from my usual place, they just don't do small notes unfortunately.

its really emergency cash in case of loosing my wallet..

500 notes only for drug dealers? ok, all those funny looks @ restaurants make sense now...

 

[Dr Ralph]

Very small snap lock plastic bag with chocolate powder for cappuccino, particularly in Europe.

Just the snap lock bags are great.

 

[kaktusdigital]

Where do you get those cashed?

My usual destination is Paris, so galeries lafayette are more than happy to take it. As are the expensive restaurants Le Cinq.. etc..

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Crikey - I just spent 2 weeks in the states with less than US100 in my wallet the whole time - Prestige on return indicates multiple €500 equivalent bounced around here, there and bloody almost everywhere - but I thought carting amts like that around consigned to history some time ago.

 

[Cynicor]

Yeah, I think you should check out these sites Kactus. You'll be amazed at the technology available now
http://www.visa.com.au/
http://www.mastercard.com.au/

 

[albatross710]

It's a good idea to have at least two credit cards as hotels and car rentals will put a hold on funds for varying amounts so unless you've got a huge limit on your card you could find your card being declined due to insufficient funds particularly if you are checking in and out of hotels frequently.

IN this thread so far there has been two conflicting methods for carry cash and cards. My method


1. Carry two different credit cards, not linked to the same account (ie not a Westpac Visa/Amex mix), have to be separate funds

2. When travelling with Mrs Albatross we arrange the cards so that we aren't use Additional cards on the same account. SO that if one card is stolen, we are not totally without access.

3. I still prefer to spread my cash/card around my travels. There will be some in my wallet (front pocket when overseas), some on my carryon, some in my checked bag. Same for the credit cards, one in my wallet, one in my checked bag.


General tip for Y

On board the aircraft, wear a long sleeve light jumper, leaving my shirt hanging up so I look fresh upon arrival.

After removing shoes, store them in the overhead locker. Stops them getting lost under the seat.

USe the pre-printed departure cards in the BNE app.


Alby

 

[amaroo]

I bought one of these from Officeworks and use it at home and it works just fine for me. It would also be good for travel if you have multiple devices.

Finally walked into a Officeworks today.



The amaroos have given it a test run this afternoon with all ports used - great suggestion TH

 

[parsonstrish]

I think I've watched too much tv shows like 'border control', etc. my laundry powder of choice is omo sensitive, one of the reasons is I have allergies.
I've not taken any in my luggage, due to my paranoia of being taken to a 'windowless' room, slightly exaggerated.
i realise omo is not a prohibited drug, can anyone see an issue my putting some in zip lock bag in my baggage? Silly ?, I know but still somewhat of a real concern to me. Washing clothes, using sheets, towels while overseas with product with smells isn't much good.

 

[medhead]

Yeah, I think you should check out these sites Kactus. You'll be amazed at the technology available now
Visa Australia
MasterCard® | Credit Card | Debit | Products | Contactless | Consumer

Unless they have implants under the forearm these days, I'm not sure how it'll help with a stolen wallet. (or even a loose wallet)

i get a great exchange rate from my usual place, they just don't do small notes unfortunately.

its really emergency cash in case of loosing my wallet..

500 notes only for drug dealers? ok, all those funny looks @ restaurants make sense now...

 

[Cynicor]

I just carry more than 1, and have a spare outside of my wallet if I was really that paranoid. Plus most of the higher end cards will same- or next- day courier a replacement out to you.

But if you read the rest of the posts, it obviously isn't ONLY emergency spend...

 

[JessicaTam]

I think I've watched too much tv shows like 'border control', etc. my laundry powder of choice is omo sensitive, one of the reasons is I have allergies.
I've not taken any in my luggage, due to my paranoia of being taken to a 'windowless' room, slightly exaggerated.
i realise omo is not a prohibited drug, can anyone see an issue my putting some in zip lock bag in my baggage? Silly ?, I know but still somewhat of a real concern to me. Washing clothes, using sheets, towels while overseas with product with smells isn't much good.

I carry a couple of very small plastic containers with enough washing powder for my stay. They have traversed many security screenings with nary a hiccough.

I once a had a single €500 note that no bank was willing to change. I was also knocked back at the post office. So I bought a stamp!

 

[Cult of one]

I know that it seems silly but having done this myself .... always remember when leaving in the dark (late or early flights) it will be sunny when you land. Take sunglasses in checked luggage.

Asprin to help prevent DVT
Lip Balm (dry cabin air)
Pens. Plural
Scan everything and email it to your self or cloud server dump it
Google translate (really quite good now)
Vodafone now does $5 per day global roaming and you get your full allocation from home
Telstra air partners with Fon in europe for 16 million free wifi hotspots world wide
Wherever you are going they have shops, don't stress you can buy it when you get there
Imodium
Smile and enjoy everyminute