I travel... a lot. The below is a summary of my findings thus far.
- Before you go
- For packing, separate your dopp kit into 2:
- One has liquids-only (toothpaste, deodorant, hair product, etc.) to comply with the 3-1-1 requirement, and
- The other has non-liquids (toothbrush, razor, floss, etc.). And of course, make the liquid-only bag easily accessible.
- Look into how you are going to be "connected."
- (least desirable) AT&T international plan is quite expensive, but for $40 for 1 month you get a reduced call and txt msg rate, however the data plan is atrocious.
- I hear other providers have better int'l plans, such as Verizon.
- (adequate) I came across Tep Wireless (www.tepwireless.com) that is a cellular connected MiFi AP. The service is "meh." It costs about $15-$20/d with device rental plus data access.
- A bit pricey at $100 for 5 days or so.
- It worked great for me when I was in Brussels, but awful when I was in Geneva. Jury still out on this one.
- (sort-of-preferred) Lyca Mobile or other Pay-As-You-Go SIM card providers are good if you have another cellphone laying around for only travel. Cost is best as there is a one-time set-up fee of $20 and then you reload online when needed.
- Effective 16 June 2017, there will no longer be additional roaming fee charges, as I understand it. So this is a pretty decent solution that I plan to investigate.
- Downside, is getting it to work in each geography and limited customer service.
- (prefered) Know Roaming. They provide international SIM cards for your unlocked phone with reasonable data/txt rates.
- Funding
- Not everywhere accepts American Express anymore, especially in the EU.
- Travelex has a re-loadable Mastercard that will provide beneficial exchange rates in various currencies, which you can fund with your Amex and reload online, if needed.
- While you are there
- When you arrive, and before you "exit" baggage claim (most are on the landing-side of one-way doors) get your bearings and look around.
- Some airports provide free public transport for a certain time period, e.g, 80 minutes.
- Others also provide free wifi for a limited time, where your boarding pass assists with that access.
- If you have never been to a certain city, look for a Starbucks to get an idea on a fairly safe area.
- They are everywhere and will likely be in a decent area
- Very helpful the first time I went to Berlin.
- At the hotel:
- Hot is ALWAYS on the left. "C" on the handle may mean Caliente or some other variation, but it doesn't mean Cold. This is one thing standard throughout the world, from what I've experienced.
- Ask the desk for a tourist travel pass (or similar) if they exist. Some locations provide limited time discounts (or free) for public transportation. E.g.:
- Geneva: free from hotel
- Hong Kong: Octopus card for reduced travel fees.
- Useful Apps (for iPhone)
- CityMaps2Go
- A pilot-friend of mine told me about this one. it's really nice and provides the capability to download maps for off-line viewing. AND you can also add lists and mark locations based on those lists, e.g., Places I've Stayed, or Good Sushi.
- Microsoft Translate
- Download the languages you need for offline use before you leave. This is a great little app for translating menus!
- Google Maps
- Download the offline view of the location you are headed to. Belt and suspenders for location with the CM2G app, above.