What are your favorite travel myths?
Jul 30, 2015, 9:46 am
#76
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
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That you have to get to the airport at least 3h before departure. Well, OK, I can think of some airports where this may be the case, but Gatwick isn't one of them.
That Ryanair have pay toilets. Amazing how that particular one of O'Leary's headline-grabbing non-suggestions stuck so well.
That you're banned from taking your own food on board all LCCs. A useful one for them have people believe, that.
That travel broadens the mind. It broadens an open mind, perhaps, but narrows a closed one.
That you need to get foreign currency before you leave your home country (although a reserve can be useful).
That duty free is good value...
And an old favourite for UK-based travellers - that all foreign animals have rabies.
That Ryanair have pay toilets. Amazing how that particular one of O'Leary's headline-grabbing non-suggestions stuck so well.
That you're banned from taking your own food on board all LCCs. A useful one for them have people believe, that.
That travel broadens the mind. It broadens an open mind, perhaps, but narrows a closed one.
That you need to get foreign currency before you leave your home country (although a reserve can be useful).
That duty free is good value...
And an old favourite for UK-based travellers - that all foreign animals have rabies.
Jul 30, 2015, 10:01 am
#78
Join Date: Jul 2014
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I have always wondered about duty free and thought that perhaps I was missing out on some "secret" deal.
Perhaps it's a good deal if you're from a country like Brazil where all imports seem to be 5 times the price?
Jul 30, 2015, 10:55 am
#79
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Jul 30, 2015, 11:35 am
#80
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Jul 30, 2015, 12:06 pm
#81
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
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The UK is almost completely free of rabies, thanks to being an island, and having very strict animal import policies (slightly more relaxed now). Domestic animals used to be subject to 6 months mandatory quarantine - even a day trip to France would trigger this. There is now a pet passport scheme for certain animals and destinations.
This was underlined by a series of frankly terrifying posters at ports, airports, even on beaches!
This was underlined by a series of frankly terrifying posters at ports, airports, even on beaches!
Jul 30, 2015, 12:17 pm
#82
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The UK is almost completely free of rabies, thanks to being an island, and having very strict animal import policies (slightly more relaxed now). Domestic animals used to be subject to 6 months mandatory quarantine - even a day trip to France would trigger this. There is now a pet passport scheme for certain animals and destinations.
This was underlined by a series of frankly terrifying posters at ports, airports, even on beaches!
This was underlined by a series of frankly terrifying posters at ports, airports, even on beaches!
Jul 30, 2015, 1:58 pm
#83
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 44
"You're travelling to (pick one: Turkey, Morocco, India, Oman, UAE, etc., etc.)? Aren't you scared?". I laugh, because I picture some mother in a place like Beirut saying, "You're going to (pick one: Chicago, New York, L.A., Detroit, etc.)? Do you know how many people are shot there? Aren't you scared?".
Jul 30, 2015, 2:18 pm
#84
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Jul 30, 2015, 4:46 pm
#85
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I always check duty-free liquor when traveling abroad. While a good majority of the choices are no bargain compared to what I can buy at home, I almost always find a few things that are bargains. For example, Cointreau liquor overseas is frequently as cheap as 1/2 the price I pay at discount stores in the US.
Jul 30, 2015, 5:13 pm
#86
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: NYC, DAB
Posts: 254
I see this at DAB all the time. In fact, one can generally distinguish locals from those from out of town by how far in advance they show up for their flight. While most locals would know that one does not need to show up more than 1 hour in advance, I have seen many people show up 2-3 hours in advance and be unpleasantly surprised to see that there isn't much to do there.
Jul 30, 2015, 9:36 pm
#87
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The Honeymoon story is true for my wife and I albeit from the days when one used a travel agent to book flights.
We were sitting at the gate on for our BA flight to Paris and I was asked to return to the desk. The GA took my economy boarding cards and tore them up BEFORE telling me we'd been upgraded to business. After I'd recovered from the shock, I could see his screen and it said 'honeymooners'. Looks like the Travel Agent ahead told them.
We were sitting at the gate on for our BA flight to Paris and I was asked to return to the desk. The GA took my economy boarding cards and tore them up BEFORE telling me we'd been upgraded to business. After I'd recovered from the shock, I could see his screen and it said 'honeymooners'. Looks like the Travel Agent ahead told them.
(it can even be more convenient to take eurostar/eurolines)
Aug 4, 2015, 2:22 pm
#88
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Seattle, WA
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It's just as much a myth to say that duty-free is never a good value.
I always check duty-free liquor when traveling abroad. While a good majority of the choices are no bargain compared to what I can buy at home, I almost always find a few things that are bargains. For example, Cointreau liquor overseas is frequently as cheap as 1/2 the price I pay at discount stores in the US.
I always check duty-free liquor when traveling abroad. While a good majority of the choices are no bargain compared to what I can buy at home, I almost always find a few things that are bargains. For example, Cointreau liquor overseas is frequently as cheap as 1/2 the price I pay at discount stores in the US.
Aug 4, 2015, 4:50 pm
#89
Join Date: Jun 2013
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I don't think this is a myth, heavier electronic devices need to be stowed to prevent being projectiles (we can argue whether you'd have bigger issues if that happens during landings).
Aug 4, 2015, 9:39 pm
#90
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