Question Re: Travel Tips in Additional Q&A

Travel Tips

former_member42743 — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 14:56:19 GMT

Ok.. I know there are columns on travel tips out there in the general internet world. And most of us already know the biggies. Like hydrate well before and during any flights as airplane cabins are usually very dry. Wear easy to slip on/off shoes through the airport, (Ever been behind a woman with shoes with wraps half-way up her legs? Or hiker types with boots laced up to mid-calf?). Have your laptop ready to pull out before you get to the screening tables. These are tips you'll find at almost any travel blog.

But I know that SAP consultants are some of the most traveled folks in the world. I'm looking for some of the more unusual or unique tips that some of the traveling consultants have incorporated into their routines. I KNOW there must be some good ones out there. Some that maybe other SAP traveling consultants haven't thought of. Maybe how they save space in packing? What makes their trip go smoother? Items that are must-have's or that do double-duty.

I'll start with a few. When I was flying out weekly, I had my blue, black, green, and gray weeks. This made it easy to pack each week as I would only need one pair of shoes and belt. With two pairs/styles of slacks of each color it was easy to grab the two pants, and the matching shirts that went with them for the week. No thought to gee.. what was I going to wear. Plus when they were washed when I got home, the whole complement of colors were washed together and ready to go for another full week.. Ok.. yes boring... maybe predictable, but I'm a guy.. boring is what we do. Packing was literally done in about ten minutes. Now the ladies might have more trouble with that. But I don't want to stereotype so I'll leave it at that!

Another tip, and hopefully many of you do this. I designate one exterior, zippered pocket of my carry-on for airport security items. While in line I drop everything into that pocket. Coins, watch, belt, cell phone, wallet or billfold (mine had metal clips in them). These all get scanned in the machine while secured in my bag and I'm not standing at the conveyer belt after going through, taking all my stuff out of the little trays. When I get to the waiting area, I can take my time to empty the pocket and put everything back on.

And lastly, I never keep all my credit cards and cash together. A few cards and some cash in my wallet. Backup cards and backup cash located elsewhere. Sometimes in my laptop case or in the carry-on. If I'm in an area really prone to pick pockets I make sure items are in front pockets and/or zippered pockets and its not all in one place. When in public, (outside of actual travel), I only carry one credit card on me with an intentionally limited credit limit. I don't need a card with any more than a $500 credit limit most of the time when I'm out. I also split my $$ up when I'm carrying it. Some in the wallet, some of it elsewhere. Another pocket sometimes. I've even carried money and credit cards in my shoes sometimes. It's easy to tuck in a couple of 20's into your shoe or even your sock as a back-up. (Did that often when biking). The point is to split them up so if you are a victim of a pick pocket or robbery, your losses are limited and you're not stranded some where with no cash or credit. Along these lines, leave a list back home with a spouse or trusted relative of all the credit cards you took along, along with contact info and credit card numbers. That way, if you are a victim, you can get the info to cancel everything. It doesn't help if the list is stored electronically in your STOLEN computer or cell phone! And it shouldn't be there anyway because if they steal those, they have your credit card info!

Looking forward to hearing some really good tips!!

Re: Travel Tips

RafkeMagic — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 11:13:50 GMT

Nice tips, but kind of "American" focussed. I don't do as much travelling as before (lived in the US for a while and in that period I spent quite a lot of time "in the air"). Anyways, for Europeans, you probable only have 1 (or 2) credit cards, so you have to protect that one (or two) very well!

I like the tip about the "airport security items"... I usually have one of those "hip bags" (I know, not very fashionable, but quite practical actually) where I put in my Phone, cash, wallet, ...) before going into the security checkpoint.

If you do travel a lot (like you seem to do), it might be interesting to keep at least one extra pair of underwear and a clean shirt in your carry on (in case your luggage gets lost - happened to me a couple of times). I used to keep a deodorant handy as well, but that seems to be "dangerous".

I also kept some "wipes" in my carryon in case I had to go to an airport restroom... they're usually not that clean.

Also, for about a year, they never "found" my "hand gel" in my carry on (I was always glad to have that on me).

Re: Travel Tips

former_member42743 — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:35:30 GMT

Yep, definitely American focused. I am American and travel primarily in the US, but with several trips a year abroad somewhere. 90% business.

But I'm sure many folks here are not American and would like the tips other worldly travels can provide.

The underwear and shirt in the carry on is a good one. I rarely have to worry about that as I rarely check luggage and only have a carry-on. Unless I'm away for 10+ days, I can usually manage with my carry-on.

I also have a tiny of container of wipes.

Re: Travel Tips

RafkeMagic — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 13:21:06 GMT

another one for US travels:

if you have non-returning flights (meaning you go from A -> B then from B -> C and go back from C->A - actual example: you live in A and work in B, but over Thanksgiving you're visiting friends in C) with different "tickets" you're considered "suspicious" and most likely your boarding pass will have a code "SSS" (or something similar) on the bottom

in that case, skip the entire line (if there is one) at the security check in and tell them you're "special"

(they give you a full check, but it might be a lot faster than waiting in line)

Re: Travel Tips

former_member42743 — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 13:26:00 GMT

Interesting! See.. I knew I'd learn something!!!

Re: Travel Tips

Former Member — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 19:50:22 GMT

Perhaps you could show them that your social security number has an 8 in it, which means lucky & special? 🙂

My trick: in the hotel, hide the pen on the desk away. Then they replace it with a new one the next day. Then switch them -> you have a pen with a full ink cartridge... !

I also have some tips on hotel towels and smuggeling guns accross borders if anyone is interested?

Cheers,

Julius

Re: Travel Tips

Former Member — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 20:46:47 GMT

I am one of those females for whom packing often takes considerably more than 10 minutes.

So when I was traveling, I generally wore a black skirt with a jacket on the plane, and packed one pair of black slacks with the tops, so that the blouses/ cardigans mixed and matched well. I would also leave clothes and other things at the hotel in an extra carryon bag if they did not need to come home with me for the weekend, so my athletic shoes, umbrella, spare jacket, nice scented candle, framed photo of the dogs, OTC pharma supplies, etc all stayed there for the duration of the project.

Gretchen

Re: Travel Tips

former_member42743 — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 23:42:31 GMT

I've noticed that many of the pens in some of the US hotel chains have very little ink in them. I understand that the chains buy them cheaper that way. They only have about 1/10 of the ink that a normal retail pen has. Even the note pads usually are only about 5-10 sheets thick. No thanks on the gun smuggling! Even if I was interested, I wouldn't express it here. My government is probably scanning this as I type! FF

Re: Travel Tips

former_member42743 — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 23:47:22 GMT

Yes, planing the travel wardrobe can help a lot in packing as well as saving time. Sounds like the dog photo is a must have! 🙂 That's why my IPad is now a total essential. I have an app called Nightstand that images the iPad into a digital picture frame which I use when I travel. It also doubles as a clock radio as it has an alarm clock, and custom playlists for going to sleep to or waking up to. FF

Re: Travel Tips

gleo_SRAM — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 15:26:20 GMT

Shower Caps - you can never have enough of them. After I polish my shoes I wrap each one in a shower cap to protect the rest of my clothes!
Always fill the car with enough petrol/diesel to get you home when you arrive back on a Friday night - nothing worse than knowing you wont make it home and have to stop.
I always have a drink and some fruit/nuts left in the car for snacking on on the drive home.
And if you are Irish ... a pack of Tayto (it always says - you are home now).

Re: Travel Tips

former_member42743 — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:52:05 GMT

There's a use for the free shower caps I often find in the hotel rooms that I never steal!

I have had that experience of being low on fuel in my car when I got home. Not a good feeling!!

Here in the Philly area, I usually make a stop at the Wawa for a coffee and snack. Your right, that make it feel like I'm home.

Re: Travel Tips

Colleen — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 05:54:27 GMT

As an Australian, my two airport ones are:

airport scanner point (less invasing than USA) - don't wear bangles/jewellery or belt that will set of scanner. Use excuse to wear thongs (aka flip flops or jandles or whatever else) so I don't have to take shoes off.
International flight and I'm not business class to take express queue - always buy a wooden trinket so I have something to declare to customs. I jump the random queue. The customs office asks what I'm declaring and then just directs me through the line without getting everything else scanned.

Hotels/Places - always be nice to the waiters/room keeping and they'll look after you (I realise not unique). I've had the head chef in a hotel in India write give me a recipe as I loved the dish so much and the rest of the staff prepared a care package as a farewell gift to tide me over at the airport.

Long term in city/area - get the taxi driver's personal number and skip any queue or haggling over fare prices and you message them whilst the plane is taxing to the terminal.

Finally, train your partner to have a drink awaiting your return when you get home late Friday night (that one, I'm still working on but I'm not commuting any more so I doubt he'll master it).

Re: Travel Tips

Akshay_G — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 07:33:52 GMT

Colleen Lee wrote:
Hotels/Places - always be nice to the waiters/room keeping and they'll look after you (I realise not unique). I've had the head chef in a hotel in India write give me a recipe as I loved the dish so much and the rest of the staff prepared a care package as a farewell gift to tide me over at the airport.

That's so nice of them! India is always hospitable

Which dish btw? I got inquisitive

P.S. - Writing from India

Re: Travel Tips

former_member46 — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 07:43:37 GMT

Had to look Tayto up, I've learned something new right there

Also I use plastic grocery bags to wrap each shoe instead of shower caps. The shower caps are too important

I'm a very picky eater. When I'm headed to a new location, I usually take a box of granola bars with me so i'll never starve if the food isn't to my taste

Re: Travel Tips

Colleen — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 07:46:42 GMT

Hi Akshay

I was in Chennai and it was the Madras Chicken.

They were awesome and generous people as well as my chauffeur - he took me home to meet his family and I receive Happy New Year messages from him months after I left. His wife tried to get me to try on a Sari.

I have to find a reason to go back and see India properly!

Regards

Colleen

Re: Travel Tips

gleo_SRAM — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 07:47:58 GMT

The real beauty of Tayot Gali is that they taste different with the seasons. You can't get potatoes to taste the same all year round so you get a sense that the crisps reflect what's going on with nature. I worry about crisps that taste the exact same all the time - what is in them!!!

Plastic grocery bags in Ireland now cost .22c (we are being kind to the environment and getting people to use long life / reusable bags instead) so the old shower caps work out cheaper 🙂

Re: Travel Tips

Akshay_G — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 08:14:24 GMT

Colleen, Vow!

That's so awesome.

Yes, there's a lot to see around here.

And yes the assorted spices over here are one of the kind

-Akshay

Re: Travel Tips

former_member42743 — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 11:59:39 GMT

Thanks Colleen, Gill, and Gail! Some great tips there!

The Taxi driver tip is really great. I'll definitely use that the next time I need to do a long-term commute. Right now I'm somewhat close to home and only stay over a few nights.

Re: Travel Tips

Former Member — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 23:04:15 GMT

Awesome stuff
A few things that suited me well:
- I hate sorting black socks. Particularly, if it occurs to me Sunday night that they are all on the washing line mixed up. There are small feet-shaped devices to hold pairs together during washing, which makes it much easier. But the really lean solution is to buy 50 pairs of identical socks, so you don't have to worry any more (don't forget to negotiate a discount )

- Unless your brain is structured fundamentally different than mine, you'll never manage to pack all the cables and connections you need. So, it pays to by laptop charger, iPhone cable, ear phones etc twice (if you are a heavy user, they'll wear off over time anyway, and you need another pair earlier, if you only have one) and leave one set in your bag.

- always have a multi-adaptor in your luggage. Most hotels can provide them, but not all - and the UK one in particular can be in short supply. Note: European plug <> European plug. In theory they are harmonised, but some German "safety" plugs have thicker pins than others and I ended up in Italy as well as Chile with a German plug not fitting in. However, it worked with the multi-Adaptor set on "German in" and "German out" - weird, but the "in" always allows for max thickness and "out" is the thin version (some adaptors need to be forced into this combination, a sthe "think" it doesn't make sense). There are also some weird Italian plugs with a 3rd pin in the middle, thouigh this never bothered me, as I have only ever had British and German plugs.

- I used to travel with second mobiles covering e.g Germany when going there a lot. But it's a nuissance and peopel will usually not call you on a second number anyway. I now found that many providers, e.g. Vodafone UK, offer a contract, where you pay a flatrate per country per day (2.50 in the EU) and then it's your home rates and data allowance. Not too cheap, but a convenient and safe solution. (you may want to switch roaming of, while on trains, with such a contract. I once went from London through France and Belgium to Luxembourg and on to Germany, so it annoyingly added up to 10 quid by synching emails, although I would have needed it in only one country)

- have a good smartPhone App for translations. There are multi-language ones translating criss-cross, but they are usually lower quality. Better to have one with your language translating from and to all other relevant languages.

- if you are an EEA citizen and your country issues ID cards, make sure your ID card expires at least a year before or after your passport. So, if one of the two expires, you've gote still one left to allow at least for European travel. That beats the convenience of having them both done on the same day only to find them both expired at the airport one day.

Same trick works with two passports for peopel with dual citizenship.

Note to German expats: you can now get an ID card from the German embassy in your host country as well - it's no longer passport only as it used to be until early this year (at least it works in London, but I guess it's the same everywhere)

- make sure your partner knows where to find you in case of an emergency and don't assume they'll always remember your week's itinerary you mumble on departure. I'm lucky to have a setup, where I can share my outlook calendar with her. And I copy and paste my hotel and flight bookings into my appointments anyway, so I have them easily accessible on my phone calendar as well. So she can see this as well.

Re: Travel Tips

former_member46 — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 08:38:39 GMT

That is soo cool!! I need to try them! Wonder if they sell outside Ireland too...