{"id":195,"date":"2013-11-12T03:54:23","date_gmt":"2013-11-12T03:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saviowong.com\/travel\/?page_id=195"},"modified":"2024-02-12T04:58:48","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T04:58:48","slug":"practical-stuff","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/saviowong.com\/travel\/practical-stuff\/","title":{"rendered":"Practical Stuff"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following are some of the practical matters that may help you while you are on your trip:<\/span><\/p>\n

Money<\/span><\/strong> — I would recommend bringing 1 or 2 credit cards, a debit card that can access an ATM, and some local currency. \u00a0In many countries in Europe, particularly in self-served kiosks in train stations, only the chip-and-pin credit cards are accepted.\u00a0 A debit card is handy because ATMs are ubiquitous even in remote places. \u00a0Although most banks will charge a transaction fee, \u00a0you get a slightly better exchange rate. Don’t just rely on your credit or debit card. \u00a0You should have some cash just in case. \u00a0The best place to exchange money is usually a bank and the worst place is usually an airport.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use a money belt to keep most of your cash. \u00a0If you are out for an evening stroll, just take a small amount with you. \u00a0If your room has a safe, use it.\u00a0 Make a copy of all your travel documents, credit and debit cards. \u00a0In the unfortunate event that you lose any of them, a copy will speed up its replacement process. I usually just take a photo with my phone and email it to myself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Safety<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>— Employ the usual standard precautions when it come to safety. Read the guidebooks to learn about the standard scams. \u00a0For example, if a stranger invited you for a drink, he or she might disappear just before the arrival of a hefty bill.\u00a0If you don’t feel safe about a place, leave.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before going out for a walk, check with the hotel staff or the locals. Beware of deserted alleys or streets, especially late at night. \u00a0Beware of your electronic gadgets; they worth a lot more money in some countries. \u00a0If possible, try to blend in with the locals.<\/span><\/p>\n

On my first night in Dublin earlier this year, \u00a0I’d my wallet pick-pocketed. I had a money belt that I didn’t use and I left all my ids in my wallet. \u00a0Both things that an experienced traveller would never do. \u00a0I chalked it up to over confidence and jet-lag.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phone<\/strong> <\/span>— \u00a0For me, the one single device that has changed the way I travel is my smartphone. \u00a0In addition to using it as a phone, you can download useful local information such as maps and travel guides. \u00a0With a smart photo, you are only one phone call away from getting help. \u00a0With a translation app, you don’t even have to speak the local language.<\/span><\/p>\n

The cheapest way to use a smartphone is to purchase a local SIM card. \u00a0However, your phone must be unlocked. \u00a0Unlocking a Blackberry and Android phone is fairly cheap. \u00a0Unlocking an iPhone will cost you quite a bit more. \u00a0When I was in Poland (August, 2015), I purchased a SIM card for about $3 that gave me 2G of data was good for a week. \u00a0SIM card in Budapest (July, 2014) turned out to cost me more because I purchased one with unlimited calls (I have nobody to call) but limited data by mistake.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do shop around. \u00a0In San Francisco (Dec. 2015), I was able to purchase a SIM card from T-Mobile for $50 with plenty of data for the month. With that plan, I got a free locked phone that listed at $45. So, the card costed was $5.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, even with a locked phone, you can still access free WiFi. \u00a0Get to know your phone so that you know you are using WiFi and not data.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are going to use your phone without<\/em> a local SIM card while you travel aboard, including the USA, make certain you turn off the roaming feature. \u00a0The really, really expensive charge is data roaming. \u00a0Making an occasional phone call home may cost you a few dollars but, depending on your plan, 10 minutes of roaming may run your bill to hundreds of dollars. \u00a0It is a good idea to call your provider to see what options you have before you travel. \u00a0For example, for a nominal fee, most providers have a plan allowing you to access your emails but not data.<\/span><\/p>\n

A great article on cell phone plans and SIM cards\u00a0<\/a>for Canadian travellers (courtesy of CreditWalk<\/a>.ca)<\/span><\/p>\n

My SIM Cards Shuffle game [added on August 2016]<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I spent eights weeks (55 days) in multiple countries in Europe this summer and purchasing a local SIM card became trickier. \u00a0Pay-as-you-go SIM cards typically only last 30 days but, in Europe, they do cover multiple countries. \u00a0So, I purchased a Vodafone SIM card when I was in Amsterdam where I started my trip. \u00a0For 20 Euros, I have 4 GB of data, 1000 texts and I think 100 minutes of local calls for 30 days and it covered all the countries (Holland, Belgium, England, France, Spain, and Portugal) where I would be going. \u00a0So I was set for the first 30 days. \u00a0After explaining to the clerk at the Vodafone that I needed more than 30 days, she offered to sell me 20 Euros of credit that I could use to top after 30 days. \u00a0I thought it was a good idea and purchased the voucher to be used after 30 days. \u00a0I was told 20 Euros would give me another 2GB. \u00a0The process to top up seemed to be more complicated than it should be but \u00a0I took careful notes of her instructions. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Things worked splendidly, in Holland, then in Belgium and then in England for first several days I was there. \u00a0Then suddenly, without warning, it just stopped working and my iPhone kept saying I couldn’t connect to the network. I knew there was plenty of data left because I could text and find out but it stopped connecting to the local ISP. \u00a0It was frustrating because it had been working and it just seemed to stop randomly. \u00a0So, I visited a Vodafone store and spoke with a young man about the issue. \u00a0Well, I was using an iPhone 6 from Canada, a Dutch SIM card and trying to access a British ISP’s network. \u00a0Vodafone England is not the same company as Vodafone Holland so I am stuck with a SIM card that wouldn’t work in the early part of my trip. \u00a0I ended up given up on my Dutch Vodafone SIM card and purchased a 10-pound British Vodafone SIM card. \u00a0I was back online in England and all was well. \u00a0Until, somehow, I managed to use up the 1GB data my second SIM card while I was still in England. \u00a0 I popped my Dutch SIM card in my phone hoping it would work again but no dice. While I was pondering what to do next, I chanced upon a Three store. \u00a0I have used a Three SIM card before when I was in Hong Kong a few years ago and\u00a0\u00a0was very happy with it. \u00a0After speaking with a very knowledgeable young agent at the Three store, I walked away 20 pounds poorer but with a SIM card that has 12GB of data, 1,000 texts, 200 minutes or some incredible amount that I would never able to use within 30 days. There was only one catch. The Three SIM card would work in all the countries that I would be visiting except Portugal. I figured I would take my chance with my voucher with my Dutch SIM card when I get to Portugal.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Three SIM card worked really well and I practically stopped using any free WiFi because there was no way I would reach 12GB of data in 30 days. \u00a0The next challenge was when I arrived in Portugal. \u00a0I could still use the Three card but I would have to pay for data roaming. \u00a0I couldn’t do that even if I wanted to because it was a pay-as-you-go card and I had no credit on it. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That was when I put my Dutch SIM card back in my iPhone. \u00a0After I turned off data roaming as I was instructed, I reset my phone and texted a long string of numbers to activate my voucher, and resetting my phone again as instructed, and I did this a few time because it did not work! \u00a0Vodafone was quick to text me back, probably with some excellent instructions, except there were in Dutch. \u00a0I finally figured out I was to call in the string of numbers and not text them. \u00a0Happily, I was back in the cyberspace with a voucher I purchased almost seven weeks ago. \u00a0Except I was not told because I was using an already activated SIM card, the 20 Euros would have given me 2GB of new data, but just not all at once. \u00a0So, each day, 1 Euro would come off from my credit and I would be given 100MB for the 24 hours. \u00a0If I used more than 100MB within the 24-hour span, additional amount, I couldn’t remember how much, came off from my credit. \u00a0At that point, I didn’t really care since I was only in Portugal for four days.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, all in all, there were a few bumps along the way but I must say I was extremely pleased that I had plenty of data when I was in Europe. \u00a0Smart phone has made travelling some much easier. \u00a0I was able to use Google Map to find out the options and best way to get from point A to point B, WhatsApp to coordinate last-minute meeting times and places with friends, look up the official websites of potential sites to find out opening hours, read reviews of restaurants I just came across, Skyped a hotel to confirm a booking, etc, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

I just wish my home provider doesn’t charge the ridiculous amount of money for data roaming and I didn’t have to play the SIM cards shuffle game. \u00a0Just in case you need to know how much I would have to pay Bell Canada if I purchased their travel plan. \u00a0For 300 MB, I would have to pay about 50 Euros. \u00a0That is 300 MB. \u00a0I think I used between 6 to 8 GB for my trip. \u00a0Even if I reduce my use to say just 3 GB, that would be 50 x 10 = 500 Euros. \u00a0 Instead, I spend about 70 Euros and probably would have been less if my Dutch SIM card worked in England smoothly. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Packing list<\/span><\/strong> — Travel light will make your trip more enjoyable. \u00a0Don’t forget your luggage will probably be heavier on your return trip. \u00a0Also, if you are going to use any discount airlines, a checked bag may negate all your saving. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is good to have a packing list. \u00a0If your trip is longer than a week, visiting a laundry mart could be part of your experience.\u00a0 I once spent a couple splendid hours at a laundry mart watching a glorious sunset in Woody Point, Newfoundland.<\/span><\/p>\n

With cell phone, tablets, digital camera, computer, you may need more than one adapter. \u00a0Try to find a universal adapter that have a couple of USB ports for charging your devices. \u00a0An adapter is not the same as a converter. Adapter allows you to ‘change’ the plug to fit into local outlets while a converter changes the voltage. \u00a0Most modern devices can handle both 110 or 220 Volts. \u00a0However, make sure you check. \u00a0For example, I know some older hair dryers can only handle 110V.\u00a0 You don’t want to start a fire in a foreign country, or anywhere. \u00a0If you must have that hair curler, it may be cheaper to buy one locally.<\/span><\/p>\n

Handy Apps<\/span><\/strong><\/span> — I use several apps while I travel:<\/span><\/p>\n