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Thread: Travel tips

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    Travel tips

    I'd like to share with you all some travel tips I've learned over the years. (Sorry this is a cross-post from the other site. I'm trying to be more active in both.) Do you guys have any more tricks of the trade to make travel more enjoyable and comfortable? Any unusual ways to cut down on expenses?


    Here are my suggestions:


    Cabeau Evolution travel pillow and Midnight Magic sleep mask. I have never been a believer in neck pillows until trying them on. The more expensive "Cool" model doesn't have much support and isn't worth the extra cost in my opinion.


    BeoPlay H8 Headphones. Yes, ridiculously expensive at $500 retail, but I use them daily and prefer them over other premium headphone brands (like V-moda and Bose). Comfortable, noise canceling, wireless, and easily accessible controls by touch. It's possible to get them for about $350 on Amazon with a few tricks.


    NeroGiardini Italian leather boots (145€) with a zipper to get them on and off easily in security lines and at Buddhist temples (if you're into that). Probably unnecessary if you have TSA Pre-Check, although not every airport has this line.


    Definitely apply for Global Entry if you frequently travel internationally. Premium credit cards will reimburse you for the expense, so all it costs is your time. You'll be able to use the diplomat and crew lines at US immigration.


    Wear a light jacket with zipper pockets to quickly stuff your pocket contents into while in the security line. Simply toss your jacket and belt into a tray and sort it all out later while rushing to the gate.


    Get a premium credit card with free VIP lounge club access like Priority Pass. I get so many free meals and drinks from airline lounges, during flights, and while playing in casinos I hardly ever pay for a meal unless I'm craving something (Taco Bell). The lounge wifi is usually excellent, power adapters are abundant, and the very best ones have showers, massage chairs, and top notch liquor. Keep in mind not all lounges are airside (post-security), and you might be denied access due to overcrowding, unusual hours of availability, or simply being in the wrong terminal.


    Be as flexible as possible about your departure and arrival airports and be creative about finding a cheap connection to get there. Consider taking a cheap regional flight, bus, train, ferry, or one-way car rental. Make sure you know in advance of any size/weight limitations and hidden charges for your checked and carry-on bags.


    Rare, extremely cheap flights due to fuel dumping and OTA glitches (so complex I'll leave it up to you to research on your own). I have flown multiple times round-trip from Northeastern USA to Asia for around $500 USD. I've seen even better deals from LAX for $400.


    Google Flights website for gathering a general strategy to piece together cheap flight routes and dates.


    Momondo website or app for finding the absolute cheapest ticket prices with specific airports and dates. For example, the absolute best price might be on an Italian travel website priced in Norwegian Krone.


    Highly recommend Charles Schwab Bank checking account for ATM fee reimbursement, no foreign transaction fees, and a decent currency exchange rate. They also don't flag me for fraud prevention nearly as often as Bank of America, even after informing them in advance of my travel plans.


    Set an alarm 5 minutes before a flight's announced boarding time for a quick visit to the restroom (exception: Tokyo and New York flights do sometimes board earlier than listed. It's funny how they apologize to everyone for even a 5 minute delay in Japan; they off-handedly blame you for causing even the slightest delay in New York).


    Pack up and start walking toward the gate when they announce 1 tier status higher than your boarding level without being too sneaky about it. This doesn't work in Asia where everyone lines up orderly at all once (exception: the Chinese must not have a word for "line" in their language).


    Some air carriers offer an online auction to bid on empty premium or business class seats about a week prior to departure. I always bid the smallest unit just above the absolute minimum and have had a 75% success rate. Most recently was upgraded to business class on a new 787 Dreamliner for about $100 extra per person each way on a 6 hour international flight. There are subscription websites catering specifically to discounted business or first class tickets and is probably worth the cost if you always travel at the front of the plane.


    Many countries have Uber or Uber-like apps for incredibly cheap car, motorcycle, and even Tuk-Tuk taxis. Eliminates the need for haggling over prices, which is sometimes difficult for foreigners in places without meters. You'll probably need a data plan to take advantage of this where free wifi is spotty.


    Get a cheap foreign pre-paid SIM card to have a local number to keep in contact with friends and access wireless data on the road. Consider getting an annual plan if you visit frequently enough. For example, my local number for free roaming anywhere in North America and 2.5 GB data is a $17 USD/month plan from Telcel in Mexico (it is getting even cheaper due to the more favorable exchange rate, thanks to Trump and Peña Nieto lol). A friend of mine also recommends Google Fi for cheap international rates, but the SIM needs to be activated on a certain model phone in advance. If you love to travel to such exotic places that you own a Thuraya satellite phone, we seriously need to meet because we were apparently separated at birth.


    Upon arriving at a new international airport, I walk as quickly as possible to beat the potential long lines awaiting you at immigration. At least you can probably beat most of the passengers on your own flight (exception: Colombians arriving in Bogotá walk fast!) If necessary, use the bathroom inside the baggage claim area prior to customs since the bags usually aren't ready yet.


    Since I basically live out of my suitcase, clean shirts and jeans are immediately folded and put neatly back into the suitcase. Shove the socks and underwear on top with a heavy jacket as extra padding. Seriously who folds socks and underwear neatly except my wife?


    Flight attendants always travel with the same "go bag" with only the essentials. I usually never add or remove anything from my suitcase so I can keep it under 20 kg. If in a pinch to cut down on weight, throw away any large, cheap liquids or move a pair of jeans to your carry on.


    I travel with both a large yet light suitcase and a backpack carry on which can be packed heavily without getting any attention from evil gate agents (no wheels = ok, even for Spirit!) I still try to keep the backpack under 10 kg for both own comfort and in case they ask to weigh it. Many cheap carriers restrict the carry on to 7 kg, and you can usually remove a heavy laptop to get this under weight. I also can't fit on a motorcycle taxi with both a large and small roller suitcase (large suitcase goes sideways on my lap in the middle and the driver, usually a malnourished Khmer, practically sits on the handle bars). All this luggage, two passengers, and a driver can also miraculously fit in a small Tata!


    "Borrow" as many hotel complementaries as possible, especially bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, and good quality toilet paper (the nickname for this is my "collection" and whenever in Atlantic City or Las Vegas I'll flat out raid unattended maid carts at casino hotels without mercy. This is the true reason Revel went bankrupt.). Avoid any bottles with loose caps that may open or explode in your bag. I even go out of my way to decide which bar soap to use (the hotel's or my own) based on its size and number of nights before checking out. Many AirBnB apartments don't supply toiletries or even towels, and it's good to have extras on hand. Cheap toothbrushes, tooth paste, and a small deodorant should be kept in the carry on for use at VIP lounge showers, if available. On a similar note, also take the hotel's laundry bag to hold dirty clothes Inside your suitcase.


    Booking.com, Hotels.com, Kayak, TrivAGO, and Agoda to help find cheap hotels. Some offer an extra discount if booking via their proprietary app.


    AirBnB for stays longer than 3 nights (just my rule of thumb), especially in areas where hotels are expensive. You will also avoid any excessive hotel taxes or resort fees. I've only had one bad experience with AirBnB in the last 3 years.


    Priceline "name your own price" to quote a larger or nicer car rental for practically the same price as the publicly listed economy car rate. Recently I was able to upgrade with Hertz from a small, boring Kia to a Jeep Compass SUV for $3 extra per day. The company Sixt has a good selection of cars but pre-authorizes $2,000 USD on your card for whatever reason. Same nonsense with Alamo car rental in Guatemala 16,000 GTQ and Hertz on an remote island for €3,000.


    iatatravelcentre.com for detailed information on currency import/export restrictions.


    travel.state.gov to quickly search visa requirements for US citizens traveling abroad and official State Department travel warnings (always read but mostly ignored). I do take them seriously if they have relocated all US embassy staff out of the country. I've worked with the government long enough to know their overall credibility and low tolerance for perceived imminent threats. For example, I'd personally feel safer in Tehran now than in Stockholm, Paris, or Frankfurt.


    Google Maps and CityMaps2Go apps to have maps and driving/public transit directions already pre-downloaded on your phone when wifi may be unavailable later (Apple Maps sucks). GPS location is very accurate at finding you pretty much anywhere in the world.


    CamScanner is a great free iOS app for scanning receipts digitally to help with your accounting records. It also works offline when there is no Internet, and files can be stored and emailed as individual PDF files. On a similar note, I've been using QuickBooks Self-employed online version to help prepare for taxes this year.


    Google Fi phone service and the Pixel XL are excellent for international data roaming in most countries (although excluding much of Africa and remote islands). I don't know why I've suffered this long without it.


    Apple Passes app is convenient for storing digital boarding passes. I still prefer a paper copy so I can fold one end on inside my passport photo page and the other at the right visa stamp page to make the immigration officer's life easier at departure (sounds a little OCD but it seriously saves time when you have about 50 pages to comb through).


    I keep track of my flights meticulously using the iOS calendar app, however be very careful of the time zone when filling in the times (I missed a flight once because I recorded the flight info while in Caribbean and the flight was departing from Asia, meaning I arrived 12 hours too late.
    In the notes, I also write down my flight number using the abbreviated airline code and flight number together as one word (for example: DL557 for Delta flight 557). This makes a cool hyperlink you can click on to quickly see boarding gate and status without Google or loading an app. I also keep in my notes the six digit alphanumeric code (is it called the record locator or PCN?) to have in case asked at check-in. These codes are so insecure it's scary, so be careful because a hacker could refund or reroute your entire flight knowing just this code and your last name.


    Check the labels of your favorite clothes to see from where it was manufactured just in case you happen to be visiting there. For example, most people know Under Armour is a company based out of Baltimore but they have a huge manufacturing plant in Cambodia. Through some networking I found a guy to buy 100% genuine boxer briefs normally retailing for $30-$40 USD in bulk for just $2 each. They don't appear as defective goods that failed quality control, so I'm guessing they "fell off the truck". My supplier's quantity is limited to about 50 per month in all different colors and styles (the most obnoxious was one with a Christmas pattern, but I guess he's not too familiar with that holiday).


    Flight attendants on long haul flights often eat the same in-flight meals after serving their passengers, and airlines seem to always have the same meals on rotation. If you're impartial about deciding what to eat, ask the flight attendant which she prefers to likely get the best tasting option.

    If you order a vegetarian, low sodium, or any other dietary restricted meal when booking your ticket you'll always get your meal first before other passengers. It's not like you need doctor's orders to select any of these meal choices, but you'll be limited to whatever they bring you. It will probably piss them off if you all of a sudden decide you're a carnivore after specially preparing your meal.

    The pilot will usually signal for passengers to remain seated 20-30 minutes prior to landing. If you want to use the bathroom facilities while still onboard, try setting a timer on your cell phone for 40 minutes prior to the estimated arrival time or monitor the flight map screen. There's rarely a line for the bathroom at the end of the flight before the captain's announcement. It's also an optimal time to brush your teeth if you have or brought a small toothbrush and mini toothpaste for really long flights.

    The qualify of service and facilities at airport lounges, even within the same airport, can differ greatly. I usually have a few options to choose from at large airports with my complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, and I'll go out of my way to walk/bus/air train to an entirely different terminal if time isn't an issue and it's accessible within the same security zone. I generally prefer the lounges linked to large Middle Eastern airlines (such as Etihad) which have beautiful facilities and interesting meal choices. I'm spoiled by the shower facilities and zero-gravity massage chairs found at the best ones. Other lounges like Air France have good selection of cheeses and other unique French things (including stuffy attitudes from staff). Unbranded generic airline lounges, especially land-side or domestic terminal ones, are usually the worst. Most of these lounges have time restrictions of around 3 hours, but I've stayed in one for as long as 16 hours without being asked to leave. Sometimes they ask you to just sign back in to reset your time, and it shouldn't bother you if it's a complimentary service. I'll even bring a complete stranger in with me as a guest if he/she is next to me in line and about to pay cash to enter.

    I try to always bring the following with me to keep conveniently in the seat back pockets: a cell phone recharger (full power adapter and USB), a pen for filling out immigration/customs forms, and the audio cable for my BeoPlay H8 wireless headphones (if the Bluetooth battery runs out or to connect to the in-flight entertainment with noise cancellation on).

    When checking-in for a flight on a self-service terminal or via mobile app, I always check to see what new seating options are available. I'll change my seat last minute to one next to exactly 1 empty seat to eliminate the possibility for couples flying together or next to a premium seat. Sometimes you'll find random premium seats that have been opened up for free. I often pick near the rear of the plane (but not too close to a bathroom) because I'm guessing most people pick from the front seat options, too lazy to scroll down the screen. Sometimes you get lucky and can even lay down over three empty seats. If you arrive very early to check-in, you might get assigned to an exit row with much better leg room but limited or no recline. As far as I understand, at least a couple adults must be seated there during every flight, and airlines often block those out as premium seats.

    There are numerous ways to get a complimentary upgrade from an economy fare ticket to business or first class, but an entire book could be written on the subject. It is often determined by your ticket's bucket fare class and personal status with the airline to determine your "rank in line". Premium airline-branded loyalty credit cards often help, but these can have $395-$450 annual fees.

    As long as you don't have any checked luggage, or can request to have it delivered it to the baggage claim for an overnight layover, you can miss the last leg of a flight on purpose. Airfares are extremely complicated and you can piece together longer routes to obscure airport destinations for cheaper rates. This will negate the rest of your ticket (so don't do it on the first part of an itinerary), and I believe some airlines get fined whenever a customer does this, but it can save you hundreds of dollars. I've heard of an airline taking revenge against a customer's frequent flyer miles after pulling this off too many times, so tread carefully before deciding to do this. If you're entering the US from an overseas special US customs terminal like in Dublin or Abu Dhabi, you won't be able to retrieve your luggage once landed in the states, and it will be automatically transferred to your connecting flight.

    Always pack at least a swimsuit and an extra t-shirt with your carry-on luggage. This way in case your checked luggage is lost or delayed, at least you can hand wash whatever you are wearing and relax on the beach or by the pool while it dries.


    On a lighter note, I don't know much about Texas Hold'em Poker but it didn't take long to figure out a small raise pre-flop against the in-flight machine only poker game is almost always the right play. I'm also a high roller at Al's Casino


  2. #2


    1 out of 2 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    The difference is it's useful info and not just rambling.

    BTW, I think I've seen this post before :-)

  3. #3


    2 out of 2 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Quote Originally Posted by Three View Post
    Well we have a new winner for longest post. I guess I get the Silver Medal. Freight man probably read two sentences.
    Actually, I read most if it. It didn't give a lot of extraneous bullshit detail and puffery, coupled with a long winded style, so typical in many if your posts.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Bubbles's Avatar
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    I read most of it too, but my eyes glossed over a fair bit. I don't do much flying, have almost no interest in international travel, and have even less interest in fancy gadgets. The OP was much more concise. I was glad to see a long post without superfluousness like many other long posts on here.

    The only thing on travel I have to add is if you only bring a carry on, you don't have to wait around for checked bags. I live out of my carry on. It's less crap to carry around and it cuts out a lot of hassles and time. If I'm gone for more than a few days, laundry mats are easy to find. I'd rather goto a laundry mat than lug extra bags around with me.

    Three, it's good to see you be funny ^.^ I like it.

  5. #5
    Random number herder Norm's Avatar
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    vagabond, thanks for a truly wonderful post.
    "I don't think outside the box; I think of what I can do with the box." - Henri Matisse

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    Quote Originally Posted by Three View Post
    Well we have a new winner for longest post. I guess I get the Silver Medal. Freight man probably read two sentences.
    I'll post a cruise trip report next that may beat your silver medal lol... sorry I didn't add a TLDR for you, but I'm glad some people may get something from it.

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    Well that was a good read, complete brain dump about modern travel. i am not quite that organized. I am more of a "What country are we in?" kind of guy.

  8. #8


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    Quote Originally Posted by Three View Post
    You call it rambling because you don't understand it. When people call it rambling it makes me realize I didn't go into enough detail to get them to understand and makes me be more thorough at explaining in my next post. I will be sure to be more thorough on my next post explaining something that most would have trouble understanding.
    Quote Originally Posted by Freightman View Post
    It didn't give a lot of extraneous bullshit detail and puffery, coupled with a long winded style, so typical in many if your posts.
    Bingo!

    T3 - More detail isn't the answer. Being cogent and concise is. Don't pretend you are James Joyce or Tolstoy :-)

  9. #9
    Random number herder Norm's Avatar
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    And we just watched Anna Karenina last week.
    "I don't think outside the box; I think of what I can do with the box." - Henri Matisse

  10. #10


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    Quote Originally Posted by Norm View Post
    And we just watched Anna Karenina last week.
    Be nice if I could watch posts instead of reading them.
    Anna Karenina would be one of T3's short posts. I was thinking "War and Peace."

  11. #11


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    Thanks for posting all those tips, vagabond. I'll have to bookmark this post for future use. I don't travel nearly as much as you do and it's usually to the same places. I haven't traveled internationally for AP and it seems like that's all you practically do. Not that I'd find the information useful right now, hopefully in the future -- but what kind of tips do you have for traveling internationally or even within the US (assuming you're a US citizen) with money // wire transfers to casino // wire transfer to bank?
    "Everyone wants to be rich, but nobody wants to work for it." -Ryan Howard [The Office]

  12. #12


    2 out of 2 members found this post helpful. Did you find this post helpful? Yes | No
    Always file the FinCen 105 form at customs prior to departing and arriving on international flights from the US if bringing a bankroll over $10k. You can find this form online, but I usually bring stacks of paper versions to have ready. Also be sure to declare with customs at the destination country and at any overnight layovers. I usually book itineraries with many stops so I have extra time in casino cities along the way and can get some extra rest breaking up long flights. Prior to booking a ticket, I always check for any visas I'll need and if there are any crazy currency controls (ex. Colombia, India, and Ukraine). I always just bring cash, usually USD or EUR but sometimes a bankroll of 20 max bets in local currency leftover from a previous visit. You'll want crisp new bills without any tears or markings because those are often unacceptable. If I'm new to the country and don't know about the rates, I'll exchange just a little from the ATM using my Schwab Bank account to get a fair rate, although this is capped at $2k daily. The casinos sometimes offer better rates and will exchange back to USD at the same rate during the same casino day, but not always. Unfortunately there's not much out in foreign casinos for machine play except progressive slots.
    Last edited by vagabond; 09-17-2017 at 03:46 AM.

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