Difference between revisions of "Travel Tips"

From Burden's Landing
(Registering with the U.S. State Department)
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When traveling internationally, it's a good idea to [https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ register your trip] with the State Department in case of emergency.
When traveling internationally, it's a good idea to [https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ register your trip] with the State Department in case of emergency.
Currency exchange at Travelex (in the U.S. Bank building, next to the Castro Theater):
443 Castro Street<br />
San Francisco, CA<br />
415-552-3108
Electricity: [http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Stay_Plugged_In_While_Traveling "Staying Plugged in while Traveling."]
=== International Cell Phones ===
[http://www.thetravelinsider.info/2002/0308.htm Eight part series] on international cell phones.
[http://www.telestial.com/ Telestial.com] seems to be the most promising place for SIM cards and phone information. They also have a call-back service. Their prices seem good, and they seem reputable.
Hostelling International USA sells [http://www.hiayh.ekit.com/ekit/MobilePurchase/Service_ckglobal SIM cards] and refurbished phones.  The prices seem high, and the phones are very old.
Other possibilities:
* [http://www.cellularabroad.com/cellAbroadppsc.php Cellular Abroad]
I'm investigating the Siemens A70 unlocked GSM phone as a second phone for international travel. There seem to be some [http://cgi.ebay.com/Siemens-A70-A71-new-GSM-phone_W0QQitemZ300033285442QQcmdZViewItem decent deals] on eBay.
== Transportation ==
RashmiSinha [http://twitter.com/rashmi/status/1244157523 tweeted] about [http://www.seatguru.com/ Seat Guru], which helps you identify the most desirable seats on a plane.
=== Driving ===
In Canada, you need a [http://www.explore.canada.travel/ctc/ke/things_to_know_2.jsp?cat=4013&localeId=16#driver Non-resident Inter-Provincial Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card], which you can get for free from your insurance company.
=== Cheap Fares ===
Start looking about two months before trip, when sales start appearing.
A good way to fly cheaper to continental Europe is to fly to London, then find cheap round trip fares to final destination.  For fly/drive deals, see [http://www.autoeurope.com/ Auto Europe] and [http://www.go-today.com/ go-today.com].  Also, it can be cheaper to fly to JFK (NY) and then to European destination rather than flying direct from other states.
* http://cheapflights.co.uk/
* http://www.lupustravel.co.uk/
* http://www.airtourscancellations.co.uk/ (for extremely last minute flying)
Amsterdam is second to London in this regard.
* http://holidayspot.nl/ (in Dutch)
* http://travelbrokers.nl/ (in Dutch)
[http://www.icelandair.com/ Icelandair ] offers free seven day stopovers in Iceland for anyone heading to or from continental Europe.
Underbid on [http://www.priceline.com/ Priceline] 20 percent less than the lowest airfare you find.
[http://www.johnbreslin.com/ John Breslin] recommended [http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/ RyanAir], a super cheap airline in Europe (based in Ireland).
== Hotels ==
[http://www.tripadvisor.com/ TripAdvisor] has worldwide listings and user ratings. I used it to find a place to stay in [[Sedona]] for November 2005.
Call to make reservations during regular office hours.  I have had many poor experiences with evening staff who didn't know anything, gave me misinformation, or were generally rude and unhelpful.
=== Web Sites ===
* [http://www.smarterliving.com/ Smarter Living]
* [http://www.digitalcity.com/ Digital City]

Revision as of 04:39, 17 May 2010

Also see Road Trip Tips.

Must have items:

  • Outlet Extender. Great for airports.
  • Sink plug. For doing laundry in your hotel room.

Traveling Internationally

When traveling internationally, it's a good idea to register your trip with the State Department in case of emergency.

Currency exchange at Travelex (in the U.S. Bank building, next to the Castro Theater):

443 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA
415-552-3108

Electricity: "Staying Plugged in while Traveling."

International Cell Phones

Eight part series on international cell phones.

Telestial.com seems to be the most promising place for SIM cards and phone information. They also have a call-back service. Their prices seem good, and they seem reputable.

Hostelling International USA sells SIM cards and refurbished phones. The prices seem high, and the phones are very old.

Other possibilities:

I'm investigating the Siemens A70 unlocked GSM phone as a second phone for international travel. There seem to be some decent deals on eBay.

Transportation

RashmiSinha tweeted about Seat Guru, which helps you identify the most desirable seats on a plane.

Driving

In Canada, you need a Non-resident Inter-Provincial Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card, which you can get for free from your insurance company.

Cheap Fares

Start looking about two months before trip, when sales start appearing.

A good way to fly cheaper to continental Europe is to fly to London, then find cheap round trip fares to final destination. For fly/drive deals, see Auto Europe and go-today.com. Also, it can be cheaper to fly to JFK (NY) and then to European destination rather than flying direct from other states.

Amsterdam is second to London in this regard.

Icelandair offers free seven day stopovers in Iceland for anyone heading to or from continental Europe.

Underbid on Priceline 20 percent less than the lowest airfare you find.

John Breslin recommended RyanAir, a super cheap airline in Europe (based in Ireland).

Hotels

TripAdvisor has worldwide listings and user ratings. I used it to find a place to stay in Sedona for November 2005.

Call to make reservations during regular office hours. I have had many poor experiences with evening staff who didn't know anything, gave me misinformation, or were generally rude and unhelpful.

Web Sites

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