KI7TU's Reference Page - Travel Tips
This is far from complete, but I don't know how soon I'll
have a chance to complete it, so I'm going ahead and making this
version available now.
I've traveled quite a bit, both for pleasure and on business,
over the years, and I have learned a few "tricks" to
make travel easier and more fun.
I've shared quite a few of these tips with various people on various
occasions and in various ways, but have decided to put them together
here to be able to point people at them (without my having to
retype everything into an e-mail, and also without the risk of
my forgetting to mention something).
For what it's worth, my travel experience
(as of late 2015) includes 4 trips to
Europe, 4 trips to Australia, 2 to Hawai'i, one to the Caribbean,
3 brief trips to Canada (two of them "day" trips),
several visits to Mexico (though it's been a dozen years or more
since my last one to Mexico), and every year several within the
48 states.
(My record year was 17 trips in one year -- that's about one
trip every three weeks.
That was OK at the time, but would be
a bit much for me today.)
Although I enjoy flying (I grew up around aircraft -- my father
was an aircraft mechanic), I don't enjoy airports or what passes
for "security", so I generally drive if time permits.
I should probably mention that I am physically handicapped,
having limited walking abilities.
I use a cane when I walk, and for further distances (such as
going through a museum or at a convention) I use an electric
scooter.
I will mention more about this in various sections below.
Please don't be insulted by any of them.
Some may seem obvious to you, but, unfortunately, they're
not all that obvious to everyone.
I hope you find this useful!
DISCLAIMER: These are based MY experiences ONLY.
Your experience may (and probably will) be different,
and I make NO guarantees about them.
-
Go light:
We've all heard it -- "travel light".
For someone who doesn't "go" that often, pile
what you think the bare minimum is on your bed, then
put at least half that back in the closet and drawers.
-
Be prepared:
There are a few things that tend to come along that
rarely get used. (They're in my suitcase, and being
physically handicapped, I almost always check the suitcase.)
-
I usually pack a tiny sewing kit, that includes a needle,
some tiny scissors, thread (in several colors) and a couple
of spare buttons.
- One of those small rubber bottle type ice packs.
You can scare up enough ice for it at most hotels, if you
manage to have a small injury.
- Just a few adhesive bandages
- Although it's usually in my carry-on, I have a couple day's
supply of my favorite pain reliever med.
-
"Ditty bag":
For things like toiletries and shaving stuff,
I have a thing that is designed to hang from the "robe hook"
or the shower rod in the bathroom.
It has see-through (vinyl) compartments.
I try to always keep a complete set of stuff in it.
I started this back when I was traveling a lot for work,
often on short notice.
Having a set of toiletries and shaving gear ready for me to
grab certainly sped up packing a lot, and it also guaranteed
that I wouldn't miss something.
To keep it up to date, when I run out of something at home
(for instance, toothpaste), I usually go and get the one out of
the travel kit, then the next time I'm at the store I'll get
a new one to put into the travel kit.
(I generally don't fiddle with travel sized toothpaste.
I do, however, use a travel sized mouthwash, though I refill
the bottle from the one at home.)
If I know I'm going to be going somewhere in a few days, I'll
take a few minutes to make sure everything is OK in the travel
kit, especially if it's been several months since my last trip,
just to make sure I didn't forget to restock something.
-
Passport:
Always bring your passport.
You may have to take the "scenic route" home.
It has happened, although not to me personally, that a flight
changing in Mexico or Canada is more convenient than trying
to get home staying Stateside.
Also, if you're trying to get from upstate New York to Michigan,
or vice versa, it can be shorter to drive through Canada.
Or you might just change your itinerary for an unplanned
visit outside the U.S.
In any of these events, you'll need your passport.
-
Meds:
One of the downsides of getting older is that you have to
take more and more pills.
When you travel, that means another (hopefully minor)
headache.
It's generally easier to make sure you have enough of all
your pills on hand so you won't have to find a pharmacy
on your trip.
If you have an insurance plan for your prescription meds,
many of the insurances will allow one or two
"vacation over-rides" a year, which allow
you to get a refill sooner than normal.
If the pharmacist says it's too soon to get a refill
before you leave, make sure that the pharmacist knows
you are planning travel so that they'll request the
vacation override from the insurance company.
There are advantages to using small, local pharmacies,
but on the other hand, using a big chain pharmacy
means that you can often find one while traveling,
provided you're staying in the U.S.
These days, most of the chains can get your info
through their computer, provided you got your last
refill from their chain.
Dragging along all of the big bottles of stuff doesn't
make sense, especially for the "over-the-counter"
pills (such as vitamins).
Many pharmacies (notably Walgreen's) carry packages of
50 or so small pouches.
I use these and count out the appropriate number of
pills on the OTC stuff, however, for prescription meds
I take along the original bottles.
BTW, it's always best to take two or three day's extra
meds along in case you get delayed in getting back.
One last thing: NEVER put prescription meds
in your checked baggage.
Putting the non-prescription stuff into the checked
baggage should also be avoided, but sometimes you just
can't avoid it, but in any event have a few day's worth
in your carry-on in case your checked baggage
"takes the scenic route".
-
Baggage:
Many, though by no means all, airlines have started charging for
checked baggage.
If you want to keep your baggage with you at all times, then
you really need to limit what you carry on.
If, like me, you prefer to check a suitcase, then be sure
to verify how much the airline charges, and include that when
comparing prices.
- Make it unique:
Make sure your luggage is unique looking, and you can
spot it from a great distance, even if surrounded by exactly
the same model bag.
One way to do this is with colorful tape.
You can put it on handles, and I've seen big "X"'s
on the sides of bags using various color tape.
You can be creative when you do this.
By the way, I try to always take a picture of what my baggage
looks like on this trip.
It can come in handy if something gets lost (or damaged).
And, of course, don't forget to have a name tag on it.
Put your cell phone number on the tag.
If you don't want to put your home address, consider putting
your office address.
I also stick business cards in every compartment of every
bag, just in case the outside tag gets lost.
-
Long flights: You've likely heard it before, but it bears repeating:
it's best to get up and walk around a bit every hour
or two, especially on long overseas flights.
If you can't get up and walk around (for instance,
when, because of weather, the pilot keeps the
"fasten seat belt" sign illuminated), try to
move your feet and legs a bit.
This helps blood circulation (helping, they say, to
prevent "deep vein thrombosis"), and also
can keep you from feeling too stiff when you get to your
destination.
- Seat belts:
PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE when you're in your
seat, keep your seat belt on!
It doesn't have to be tight, but it should be buckled around you.
If you don't care enough for your own safety,
at least show that you're not an inconsiderate rude lummox
when it comes to other people's safety.
I have seen instances of "clear air turbulence"
where, without warning, the airplane suddenly dropped
enough where anyone not wearing their seat belt was
banging their head against the cabin ceiling, then plopping
down into either their neighboring passenger or the aisle.
If you plop down in my lap, you'll be having some,
uh, "interesting" discussions with your insurance
agent, my attorney, and, likely, with a judge, explaining
just why you endangered others by not having the
belt on.
-
Cane:
If you use a cane to get around, a window seat is much
preferable as you can slip your cane down between the
seat and the cabin wall.
In other seats, you'll probably have to put it in the
overhead bin, meaning you'll have to get someone else
to get it out for you (as they invariably get pushed
to the back of the bin, with heavy bags in front of
them.)
Unfortunately, crutches often won't fit in the space
between the seats and the cabin wall.
-
Passport as ID:
I find it more convenient to use my passport to get
through TSA than using my driver's license.
My passport fits nicely in my shirt pocket, along with
my ticket sheath, and is a lot more convenient to get
out of that pocket than my driver's license.
Also, the TSA agents see passports often enough to know
just where to look for the info they need, while if
you are on the other side of the country, the TSA agent
you get may never have seen a driver's license from
your state, so may take longer to find the info on it.
-
Rental car insurance:
If you even think you might rent a car, check with
your insurance agent.
Some auto insurance policies provide some coverage on rental
cars, and if yours is one of them, you may be able to safely
decline the "optional" coverage on the rental car.
Also check with your credit card company, as a few credit cards
offer insurance for cars that are rented using their card.
And, of course, if you're traveling for the company you work
for, you should see if they have coverage.
-
Airport wheelchairs:
If you have any trouble walking through the airport, ask for
a wheelchair at the first desk you stop at.
Sometimes there will even be someone at the entrance to
the terminal building you can ask for this service.
I normally try to use "curb side check" for
my baggage, and they will always be happy to call for a
wheelchair.
The wheelchair comes with an attendant to push it,
and since this person is nominally an employee of the
airport, it means that you get to go to the front of some
of the lines.
At some point, when you're talking to one of the airline's
employees, ask that they request a wheelchair for you at
your destination.
They'll put in the request electronically,
and usually, the wheelchair (and attendant) will be waiting
right outside the airplane when you're getting off the
aircraft, though once in a while you'll have to walk up
the jetway.
I generally tip the wheelchair attendant about $5.
-
Scooters:
Today I usually take my electric scooter with me.
I first tried this in early 2014, as I was considering visiting
a museum at my destination, and would need it there.
To do this, it's best to note it when you make your reservations.
You'll need to know what type of batteries it has (e.g.,
sealed lead acid, "spillable" lead acid [like most
car batteries], etc.) and check the appropriate box.
(You can also take along spare batteries, but I don't even
own any.)
Also, you should have a good idea of approximately how
much your scooter weighs, because they'll ask you that
when you get to the gate.
Be sure to get to the gate area a few minutes early, so
you can talk to the gate agent, who will need to fill
out some paperwork and put some special tags on your scooter.
Be sure to remove anything loose.
I always put the charger and it's power cord into my
carry-on bag, because I try to find an outlet anytime
I expect to be sitting in one place for 15 minutes or
longer.
My scooter can come apart into 4 major and a couple of
minor pieces, so can go into a normal car trunk.
I've put a label on each piece reading "Please return
to", my name, and my cell phone number.
You'll automatically get "pre-boarding".
You take the scooter to the end of the jetway.
Assuming you can manage to walk into the airplane,
you take your keys, and then they'll put the scooter
into the cargo hold of the airplane.
When you arrive at your destination, give them an
extra few minutes by waiting for most of the other
passengers to get off, and your scooter will be
waiting for you as soon as you step off the airplane.
NOTE: Be sure to check that the lever to engage the
motor to the wheels has been put back into the
operate position.
(I've had it left in the neutral position about
a quarter of the time. They have to do that to move
it around without the keys.)
Also, if yours has an adjustable handlebar, you'll
likely need to adjust it,
and make sure the adjustment is tight.
Since a scooter is considered "medical equipment"
there's no charge for this service.
-
Snacking:
I almost never take "munchies", drinks, or other edibles
with me on my road trips to eat while driving.
In my humble opinion, it's much better to stop every hour or so
and get out and go into a convenience store and buy something.
It means that I'll get to stretch my legs, and get a little
exercise.
I do, however, advocate carrying some food in case of emergency,
such as breakdown or encountering a natural disaster.
I usually carry a few
"Heater Meals®",
which are the
civilian version of the military's MREs (Meals Ready to Eat).
I've had at least one occasion when I was just too pooped to go
out and find a restaurant, so had one of these in the room.
You can find them at the larger sporting goods stores, or get
them on-line.
I also keep a couple of gallons of water in my car.
(I generally replace them about once a year.)
You can get gallon bottles of water at the grocery
or drug stores for around a dollar.
I do shop around a bit to find the ones that have the
most rugged looking bottle.
You can drink it, or if your car overheats, you can put
it in the radiator, but you can't drink radiator fluid!
-
Precheck the vehicle:
Do I need to mention it?
Be sure to check things like tires (tread depth, pressure, and
date of manufacture),
oil level, radiator fluid level, brake fluid level,
air filter,
windshield
washer fluid level, windshield wiper blades, etc.
If you don't know how to do it yourself, take it to a mechanic.
(Most of the oil-change places do these things as part of the
service, for what it's worth.)
-
Watch the gas gauge!
You no doubt have a favorite brand of fuel.
I generally start looking for my favorite brands when I get
down to half a tank.
As I get further down, I get more into the acceptable
category.
And there have been a few times when I'll buy whatever is
available.
-
Tourist info centers:
Stop at them.
Most states have a visitor's welcome center near the state
border.
You can usually get the official state map for free,
as well as more info than you want on local attractions.
One thing that's sometimes worthwhile looking for is
a magazine with hotel and motel discount coupons.
They generally get you a better discount than either AAA or
AARP.
They always have restrooms, and in general, they're kept clean.
(What would your impression be of a state whose
"official" restrooms weren't clean?)
A few even offer a free cup of coffee, at least at certain
times of the day.
In Australia, look for the blue "i" sign.
They're in virtually every town.
They'll give you a sheet indicating the interesting things
along the road between them and the next town, and many
offer a free cup of coffee.
When I was last there, in 2004, most had a computer that
visitors could use to check their e-mail (for free), though
it was sometimes a fairly slow link.
-
Room reservations:
I generally don't like to book hotel rooms in advance along
the way when I'm driving cross country.
The primary reason is that I don't know precisely how far
I'll get before getting too tired to go on.
Also, it can be hard to tell which hotel or motel is going
to be close to where I'll be traveling.
(I've seen times when I'd be going to a certain hotel,
several miles away from the road I was traveling, and
pass several more appropriate ones.)
Also, the coupon books (mentioned above) can come in
handy, though I've seen a couple of instances when I
took a look at the place from the parking lot and decided
to keep on driving, glad I hadn't given them my
credit card number to reserve a room.
-
Ask for discounts:
When I do walk into the hotel or motel to get a room,
I am in the habit of having both my AAA and AARP
membership cards out, and ask if either will do me any
good.
It's often worth the effort to ask.
Remember, the worst they can do is say "no"
Also remember that some restaurants will give you discounts.
For instance, Denny's gives a 15% discount for AARP members.
Carl's Jr. (a fast-food place) gives student,
military (both current and former), and senior citizen
discounts (though you can't "stack" them).
-
Memberships that pay for themselves:
I find that I get enough discounts because of my AAA card
that it more than covers the basic membership.
Also, you can stop by the local AAA office and get free
maps for every state (though they sometimes have run out),
as well as regional maps plus a map of the U.S.
Their maps are pretty good, and use consistent symbols from
one state to the next. Canadian maps are often available,
too. And they have tour books, though be aware that most
of the attractions listed have paid to be in it, so it
is far from complete.
And I've used the AAA road service several times.
One other tidbit: you get a small discount at NAPA
Auto Parts stores if you show your AAA membership card,
though it's usually less than the sales tax, every bit
helps.
I am also an AARP member, and that membership, too, pays
for itself in discounts.
Denny's Restaurants give a 15% discount for AARP members,
and since I attend at least two club meetings a month at
Denny's, that alone pays for the membership.
I've run into some motels that give a discount for AARP
members but not for AAA members.
Another tidbit is if you have a Walgreen's
"Balance Rewards" cards, and you're 55 or over,
the cash register will sometimes print out a coupon for
a free year of AARP membership. (As one of my coworkers
used to say, "free beats cheap every time!")
-
Passport required:
First and foremost, always take your passport!
By the way, although you can pay extra to have the process
expedited, it's generally best to go ahead and get a passport
as soon as you start thinking about traveling outside the U.S.
Our passports are good for 10 years, so even if you get
one for travel a few months from now, then don't go, you're
still set for the next nine or so years.
(If you go somewhere that you need to get a visa for, they
generally require that your passport not expire for a year.)
Although technically you don't need a passport to get into some
countries, you need one to get back into the U.S.
Canada, for instance, won't let you cross the border without
showing your U.S. passport because they don't want to get
stuck with you.
-
Driver's license:
There is a document called an "International Driver's
License" and I one time made the mistake of getting one.
For North America, Europe, and Australia, at least, you do
NOT need one -- your U.S. driver's license is good
enough.
The International Driver's License is merely a translation
of the appropriate info from your U.S. driver's license,
which you still need to have.
When I got my IDL, I had to pay AAA something like $10 or $15,
and that was probably 30 years ago, so, no doubt, they've gone
up in price.
You might need one in some other parts of the world, I honestly
don't know.
-
Credit cards:
Check your credit cards to see if there's an international
transaction fee.
Some credit cards charge extra if you have a charge outside the
U.S., others don't.
Although they may not be the very best exchange rates, my
experience is that they're very good.
Check that your card has a "chip" in it.
(Look for some electrical contacts just above the first four
digits of the number.)
As of late 2015, there has been a big push to get these to
all U.S. customers, but there still may be some out there that
don't have it.
You will have a LOT of trouble using cards without
the chip in many foreign countries.
-
Foreign currency:
Getting some foreign currency used to be a ritual before any
foreign travel -- but that was before the days of ATMs.
And I usually had to pay an additional $25 or so for the
FedEx letter, as well as a fee for the exchanges. I don't
do that any more.
It has been my experience that any international airport of
any size has an ATM in it somewhere.
With one exception, ATMs always give you money in the local
currency, and if you have to pay fees, they're usually fairly
small.
Most of the fees are per transaction, so it's best to get
enough cash to last a few days.
By the way, that one exception that I mentioned is that on
U.S. military bases abroad, there will be two ATMs side by
side, one giving U.S. dollars and the other giving the local
currency.
It's been my experience, too, that many places (especially
touristy places) will accept U.S. dollars, but they have
a large markup for doing so.
It's usually better to use a credit card so that they get
their money in the local currency.
Many years ago, for my first trip to Europe in the early 1980s,
I got travelers checks denominated in pounds sterling (British
money).
To get them, I had to go to the American Express office, and,
as I recall, paid a small premium for them.
I've found in more recent years that many places are not very
eager to accept travelers checks, so I haven't bothered with
them in more than 20 years.
By the way, I almost never use my ATM card when I'm at home, so I do go
over to my branch and make a withdrawal through their ATM
(this minimizes the fees) once at least a week or so before
I travel.
-
Insurance:
Check with your insurance agent to see if you have any coverage
abroad.
You might want to consider getting a policy that will help pay medical
expenses while abroad, though (knocking on wood) I've never had any.
Many, though I doubt all, U.S. auto policies cover driving into Canada.
Most do NOT cover travel into Mexico, and you'll need a separate
policy.
Although you can usually get one at a shop on the U.S. side near the
border, it is likely to be a lot less expensive to get one from your
regular agent if their company provides them.
Also ask if your insurance gives any coverage on rental cars abroad.
No point in paying for coverage you already have!
I've been to several countries, and each is, well, different.
I'm putting together a few tips that I've found useful for some of
them.
I'm also including a section for "Europe-specific" tips,
even though Europe isn't really a country.
There are a few things that apply to every country I've
been to in Europe.
In general, most Australians really like Americans, and try to
make us feel very welcome.
There are some historical reasons for this: America has come
to the rescue of the Australians on several occasions.
The first time was in the 1790s, shortly after the founding
of the so-called Botany Bay colony, when there was a crop
failure, and a couple of Yankee Clippers showed up wanting
to do some trading. When they found out about the famine,
they took off, going to southeast Asia, and returned a few
weeks later loaded to the gunnels with rice.
The most recent event was during WW-II when the British had
taken all of the Australian military to fight in Europe.
The Americans showed up and kept the Japanese from conquering
Australia (the way they had the Philippines).
- Take a washcloth:
Unless you stay strictly in "American-style" hotels
(which I strongly recommend against, as they cost more, and
you get a better flavor of what the Aussies are like by staying
in the places where they do),
you should bring along a wash cloth and a zip-lock bag to put it
in.
The places that cater to domestic Australian clientele do not
provide a wash cloth.
- Think Left!
The Australians, like the Brits, drive on what, to Americans,
is the Wrong Side Of The Road.
(Sorry, Brits, but we out-vote you!)
This causes no end to the number of (mostly) near disasters
with the Yanks.
(By the way, the rest of the world considers ALL Americans
to be "Yankees". Get over it.)
In some places, notably around Sydney, you'll see
"LOOK RIGHT!" on the sidewalk at road crossings.
On-coming traffic is coming at you FIRST on the RIGHT HAND
side, unlike in the U.S., where you look left first.
If you do happen to rent (or as they say, "hire")
a car, you'll need to constantly remind yourself to
"Think Left".
- Beware: Two Nations Separated By a Common Language
There are many cases where the Aussies and we Americans use
different words, and sometimes we use the same words to mean
different things.
Here are a few cases:
- Chicken Salad Sandwich In the States, of course,
this would get you a sandwich with chopped-fine chicken, celery,
and pickle mixed into some mayo and spread between two slices
of bread.
You can imagine my surprise when I ordered a "Chicken
Salad Sandwich", and what I got was a boneless roasted
chicken breast, some lettuce, and some other salad-type
veggies between two slices of bread. IMHO, it should
have been called a "Chicken AND Salad Sandwich".
- Lemonade In the U.S., this gets you a mixture
of lemon juice and sugar in water, usually with ice.
In Australia, it gets you what we would call (generically)
"7-Up®".
- XXXX is a brand of beer, not a movie rating.
(I was a tiny bit disappointed when I found that out.)
The local joke is that it's called "XXXX" because
Queenslanders can't spell "beer".
And, of course, there are some things that they call one
thing that we call another.
For instance:
-
Aussies say rock melon, while Americans say
cantaloupe.
-
You might see flake on the menu in Oz, but
if the same was on the menu in the States it would
be listed as shark.
-
Some, though by no means all, of what we call
drug stores are called by the British
term chemist shops in Australia.
-
Tylenol® (generically acetaminophen)
is called Paracetamol in Australia.
(I've checked this with pharmacists in both Australia and the U.S.)
-
You may see a restaurant called Hungry Jack's in
Australia.
It's because years ago someone already had the
trademark in Australia for Burger King,
and the international chain was unable to get permission
from the holder to use it.
However, they apparently came to some sort of a deal in
time for the Sydney Olympic Games, so you do see
Burger King restaurants in some areas.
One point that might help on this is that if you have trouble
understanding something an Australian says to you,
re-parse it as though it were Brit-speak.
That often helps.
-
Culinary differences:
Besides the differences in names, there are a few things to note:
-
Salad bars, while they do exist, are sparse by U.S. standards.
(I've heard restaurant managers in Oz mention that they were
amazed by the salad bars in the U.S.)
-
Beets are the de facto national vegetable of Australia.
If you like them, be sure to stop into a McDonald's
in Australia and have a "McOz" burger -- it's
basically a Big Mac with a thick slice of beet on it.
It is the only standard item on Mickey D's
menu anywhere in the world that will get me to go
in just for it.
-
Sugar packets are little tube shaped objects, rather
than the bags we are used to seeing in the U.S.
(I know that this is a minor one, but it may save
someone some embarrassment.)
-
No tipping:
In Australia, restaurants and such are expected to pay
their workers a "living wage" so that they
don't have to rely on tips.
If you get truly exceptional service, you might leave
a small gratuity, but in general, the waiter's wages
are included in the price on the menu.
-
Hotel/Motel differences:
It is my personal opinion that you should avoid the
hotels and motels that try to be "American"
in Australia. For one thing, they can be a lot
more expensive.
Also, you get much more of the "local flavor"
staying where the Aussies stay.
You will note a few differences, though, besides
just the washcloths as noted above.
- Most Australian hotels and motels, in
my experience, are equipped with a small
fridge, a microwave oven, and an electric
tea pot.
They will usually have some instant coffee.
Coffee makers, as seen in rooms the U.S., are a rarity
in Australia.
(Or at least they were the last time I was there, which
was 2004.)
I should mention that if you're staying several nights
in one place
you might stop into a grocery store.
There is a version of "instant" coffee that
I've never seen in the U.S., but is, IMHO, much better than
what we get Stateside.
It's basically a can of syrup, and you put some
into a cup of hot water and stir.
Although the cans are small, they still have enough
for several days, and will keep a few days in the fridge.
The major brand is Nestle, though there are other brands.
-
In the U.S., we generally find an "ice bucket"
in the room, and can walk down and fill it.
In Australia, many of the hotels have an ice dispenser
that dispenses a cup full of ice at a time.
(Some are coin operated.)
Until fairly recently, electricity was much more expensive
in Australia than in the U.S., thus making ice was much
more expensive there.
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Hotels and motels that were built prior to about 2000 were
equipped with a system that required you to slip your room key
into a switch which allowed the room lights and the A/C to be
turned on.
This system guaranteed they were turned off when
you left the room.
Again, this was prompted by the high price for electricity
that Aussies historically had to pay.
There are a few things to be aware of for all of the countries I've
been to in Europe.
- English menu:
Restaurants in touristy areas in Europe, in general,
have menus that are printed in a variety of languages.
(I've counted as many as six languages in one menu,
though they were seperate sections.)
It has been my experience that restaurants that cater to
a more local crowd will often have a copy of the menu
that someone has translated into English (though often
not the best grammar or spelling).
Being able to ask for the English menu in the local
language can be quite helpful.
- Signalling the waiter:
Many Americans have problems with this. The convention
is that if you lay down your knife and fork crossed on
the plate, you're just "resting" and intend
to keep on eating.
But if you lay them down pointing in the same direction,
you're done and want the waiter to take the plate away.
There are a few important tips for travelling to Italy.
- Keep your receipts:
Italy has "tax police" and they are allowed
(under Italian law) to stop people who are leaving
restaurants and ask to see their computer-printed
receipt for their meal.
(THey are limited, if I recall, to doing so within
100 meters of the restaurant.)
If you cannot show them your receipt, you get a
not-to-large fine (the number 20 Euros comes to mind,
but that memory is more than a decade old, plus it
may have changed by now), and if they determine
that the restaurant did not give you a receipt (or
if it's not in the proper order), they go and give
the restaurant a much larger fine (in the hundreds
of Euros).
Although the tax police generally leave tourists alone,
I have known Americans who have been stopped by them.
- High crime rate:
Italy, especially Rome and south, has a very high
crime rate.
One of those packets that you put around your neck and
under your clothes to hold pasports, credit cards, and
money, is well worth the trouble.
Pick-pockets are rampant, as are purse-snatchers.
A favorite tactic for the later is to come up to a
victim on a motorscooter with a razor knife, and slice
the strap on the purse, and make off with it.
(You can get purses with steel fibers in the strap
to thwart this, but you have to be sure to not having
it just hanging on your shoulder, but around your
neck.)
Man or woman, you are well advised to not walk alone
in southern Italy, especially not in the larger tourist
areas.
- Bad driving:
In my opinion, southern Italy is a place where you should
try to avoid driving if at all possible.
The Italian drivers are unbelievable until you have actually
encountered them.
I have driven a time or two on the Autostrasse (the Italian
version of Germany's Autobahn), but I will go to great
lengths to avoid driving "surface streets" or
ordinary highways in
southern Italy.
(By the way, the Autstrasses are mostly toll roads.)
This screen last updated: 30-Jan-2016
Copyright © 2015-2016 by Clark Jones