Do you know more travel tips?
Mar 21, 2016, 1:07 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,346
To all air passengers: these days they let everyone off the plane so there is no need to rush to the front the second it lands.
May 10, 2016, 10:41 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
Here are my tips:
1. When you see a Packaged Tour or Hotel and Air too good to pass up book it right away and plan/get time off later. Also ask the company if you can extend your airline ticket. May be cheaper to do it this way than buy a new ticket on your own if its part of a tour book a week before and stay a week after. Then use online hotel booking websites to your advantage.
2. Always try and fly on the most exotic flights/itineraries. Yes it may be Air China but heck if you are saving $$$$ then go for it. Chances are you will remember the flight for a long time. But if you want to travel then you can't always fly on your first choice of airline.
3. Its way cheaper to book your hotel room rather than use a Cruise Line or other Tour Company unless its part of a packaged tour. You will end up paying Double Occupancy when you could book the hotel room on your own and get your second guest free.
4. The less you pay the more fun you will have. What if you booked a 5 star hotel for $175 in summer in Vegas vs $300 in winter? You will just learn to adapt but for staying at a nice hotel that normally goes for more your benefits will outweigh the disadvantages.
If you eat a good dinner at a locals restaurant and paid $20 vs $50 for a touristy place then you may feel guilty unless your goal is to spend a lot of money.
If you see locals sitting down at a restaurant or coffee shop take the time to meet with them even if they don't speak good enough English and you don't speak enough of their language. Be polite.
5. If you have an IRROPS on a flight ask the agent that in return for their delay ask if she or he can book you with a partner carrier such as Singapore AIR CDG-SIN-SFO and ask for a few days at SIN. It won't cost the airline anymore to grant you extra time. Use it to extend your trip. Book an exotic itinerary back home.
6. If you are seated with a passenger from the city you are going to visit and you feel comfortable and adventurous give your business card and ask to meet at a restaurant or bar. Also ask if he or she can give you a brief walking tour of the city. At the very least ask where locals go and write down the notes. You will have their cell# and ask politely if they don't mind you calling. Invite them for breakfast lunch or dinner to their favorite place and you will have a friend for life. You can do the same for a fellow passenger too.
7. When taxing a Taxi don't rush to the first cab. Ask around in line for those going to the same hotel you are going to. Split the cost. It will be better than Uber or LYFT.
8. The night before an early morning flight find a 24 hour Starbucks or some other 24 hour place. Go there and order something and find a quiet place to catch a few winks. Some places have a couch or a comfortable chair. Just put on some eyeshades and some earplugs. If sleep gets hard then get something more to drink . Then go to the airport. You can do the same for flights arriving at Midnight etc.
9. If you want to get a good breakfast go to hotels like Embassy Suites or Residence Inn with Hot Buffets. Approach the front desk looking presentable with a smile and say that you are not a guest but will be a potential one and smile and offer to pay . Generally you won't be charged or will get it for $10. I have done this on roadtrips even before a flight and then get dropped off by their shuttle. I have saved lots of money this way.
10. Find out the local happy hours. Google"Happy Hours". You can enjoy Craft Beers for $6. For instance at the Hotel Valencia at Santana Row they have good mixed drinks and craft beer for $7.
11. The firs thing you want to do when you arrive at your hotel in a new city is to go and find a good place to rest. Plan to walk 1 hour after arriving before eating your first meal. Your first meal in any country should be simple and not too heavy on the system.
12. Sign up for TMobile Simple Choice North America with unlimited calling,texting and Data Packages plus International roaming with 20 cent calls, Data and Text are included in 140+ countries. They also have free WiFi Calling and in Canada and Mexico you are not charged roaming for everything. They also provide you with free streaming of select video and audio services that does not go against your data. You need at least a 6GB plan. Also you get Data Stash of up to 20 GB of Data per 12 month period once it goes beloe 20GB it will add up until it reaches 20GB again.
1. When you see a Packaged Tour or Hotel and Air too good to pass up book it right away and plan/get time off later. Also ask the company if you can extend your airline ticket. May be cheaper to do it this way than buy a new ticket on your own if its part of a tour book a week before and stay a week after. Then use online hotel booking websites to your advantage.
2. Always try and fly on the most exotic flights/itineraries. Yes it may be Air China but heck if you are saving $$$$ then go for it. Chances are you will remember the flight for a long time. But if you want to travel then you can't always fly on your first choice of airline.
3. Its way cheaper to book your hotel room rather than use a Cruise Line or other Tour Company unless its part of a packaged tour. You will end up paying Double Occupancy when you could book the hotel room on your own and get your second guest free.
4. The less you pay the more fun you will have. What if you booked a 5 star hotel for $175 in summer in Vegas vs $300 in winter? You will just learn to adapt but for staying at a nice hotel that normally goes for more your benefits will outweigh the disadvantages.
If you eat a good dinner at a locals restaurant and paid $20 vs $50 for a touristy place then you may feel guilty unless your goal is to spend a lot of money.
If you see locals sitting down at a restaurant or coffee shop take the time to meet with them even if they don't speak good enough English and you don't speak enough of their language. Be polite.
5. If you have an IRROPS on a flight ask the agent that in return for their delay ask if she or he can book you with a partner carrier such as Singapore AIR CDG-SIN-SFO and ask for a few days at SIN. It won't cost the airline anymore to grant you extra time. Use it to extend your trip. Book an exotic itinerary back home.
6. If you are seated with a passenger from the city you are going to visit and you feel comfortable and adventurous give your business card and ask to meet at a restaurant or bar. Also ask if he or she can give you a brief walking tour of the city. At the very least ask where locals go and write down the notes. You will have their cell# and ask politely if they don't mind you calling. Invite them for breakfast lunch or dinner to their favorite place and you will have a friend for life. You can do the same for a fellow passenger too.
7. When taxing a Taxi don't rush to the first cab. Ask around in line for those going to the same hotel you are going to. Split the cost. It will be better than Uber or LYFT.
8. The night before an early morning flight find a 24 hour Starbucks or some other 24 hour place. Go there and order something and find a quiet place to catch a few winks. Some places have a couch or a comfortable chair. Just put on some eyeshades and some earplugs. If sleep gets hard then get something more to drink . Then go to the airport. You can do the same for flights arriving at Midnight etc.
9. If you want to get a good breakfast go to hotels like Embassy Suites or Residence Inn with Hot Buffets. Approach the front desk looking presentable with a smile and say that you are not a guest but will be a potential one and smile and offer to pay . Generally you won't be charged or will get it for $10. I have done this on roadtrips even before a flight and then get dropped off by their shuttle. I have saved lots of money this way.
10. Find out the local happy hours. Google"Happy Hours". You can enjoy Craft Beers for $6. For instance at the Hotel Valencia at Santana Row they have good mixed drinks and craft beer for $7.
11. The firs thing you want to do when you arrive at your hotel in a new city is to go and find a good place to rest. Plan to walk 1 hour after arriving before eating your first meal. Your first meal in any country should be simple and not too heavy on the system.
12. Sign up for TMobile Simple Choice North America with unlimited calling,texting and Data Packages plus International roaming with 20 cent calls, Data and Text are included in 140+ countries. They also have free WiFi Calling and in Canada and Mexico you are not charged roaming for everything. They also provide you with free streaming of select video and audio services that does not go against your data. You need at least a 6GB plan. Also you get Data Stash of up to 20 GB of Data per 12 month period once it goes beloe 20GB it will add up until it reaches 20GB again.
May 13, 2016, 8:30 am
#49
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: FRA (formerly JNB)
Programs: LH M&M
Posts: 169
-dont tip your porter, taxi drivers, bellboy or the curbside checkin guy. They should be expected to do their job without waiting for a tip.
-make sure you stand right at the front of the boarding area, so you can be first on the plane. If anyone says anything, make sure your emotional support pit bull gives them a growl.
-since you are first on the plane, find a nice seat and sit in it, putting your bags in the FC bins along the way. When the owner of your new seat arrives, give him your boarding pass and tell him you will be happy to give him your original seat. This will save plenty in ASR fees in the long run.
-if you weren't smart enough to wear sandals, then immediately take your shoes and socks off. This is standard practice amongst those in the know.
-once the plane stops, jump up and dash past as many people as you can so you can be first off the plane.
-at the baggage carousel, make sure to stand in front of everyone else, in case your baggage gets mistakenly pulled off by someone else.
OK so now for the serious list:
- I like to research things so I know what to expect. There are hundreds of ways in which the Internet and smartphones have made traveling easier - use them.
- be flexible. Sometimes things go wrong, learn to roll with them and don't take it too seriously
- being polite costs nothing and often means getting treated much better in return
-this might be controversial but IME when choosing a hotel, rather go for a better, more expensive 3 star then the cheapest 4 star, and so forth. In fact it's probably better not to judge on stars at all
-make sure you stand right at the front of the boarding area, so you can be first on the plane. If anyone says anything, make sure your emotional support pit bull gives them a growl.
-since you are first on the plane, find a nice seat and sit in it, putting your bags in the FC bins along the way. When the owner of your new seat arrives, give him your boarding pass and tell him you will be happy to give him your original seat. This will save plenty in ASR fees in the long run.
-if you weren't smart enough to wear sandals, then immediately take your shoes and socks off. This is standard practice amongst those in the know.
-once the plane stops, jump up and dash past as many people as you can so you can be first off the plane.
-at the baggage carousel, make sure to stand in front of everyone else, in case your baggage gets mistakenly pulled off by someone else.
OK so now for the serious list:
- I like to research things so I know what to expect. There are hundreds of ways in which the Internet and smartphones have made traveling easier - use them.
- be flexible. Sometimes things go wrong, learn to roll with them and don't take it too seriously
- being polite costs nothing and often means getting treated much better in return
-this might be controversial but IME when choosing a hotel, rather go for a better, more expensive 3 star then the cheapest 4 star, and so forth. In fact it's probably better not to judge on stars at all