rapid travel chai: introduction to international travel - ftu tpa 2013

Introduction to International Travel

Stefan KrasowskiRapid Travel Chai

Itinerary

Me & You

Planning

Tips

Miles and Points Beyond the Same Old, Same Old

Me & You

Planning

Tips

Miles and Points Beyond the Same Old, Same Old

©Stefan Krasowski, All Rights Reserved

Who Am I?

I lived in China for 8 years

I work in international business

I plan obsessively

I travel fast

I come back exhausted

My wife is the opposite

I lived in China for 8 years

I work in international business

I plan obsessively

I travel fast

I come back exhausted

My wife is the opposite


My Dream Trip

My Wife’s


Who Are You?

You have more miles than some nations……what matters to you?

The flight?

The hotel?

The destination?

The people?

The food?

What else?

You have more miles than some nations……what matters to you?

The flight?

The hotel?

The destination?

The people?

The food?

What else?©Stefan Krasowski, All Rights Reserved

Planning


Where to Go?

Explore outside your social media bubble

Consider offbeat and offseason


Yamamoto’s Bunker,East New Britain,Papua New Guinea

Where to Go – UNESCO Sites

Jesuit missions and German yerba mate farmers, Paraguay


Where to Go – Traveler’s Century Club

Anne of Green Gables & lobster suppers,Prince Edward Island, Canada


Air – Research

Wikipedia’s airport and airline pages


Air – Passes

If you think awards are confusing and frustrating…

Passes come and go, often

Complicated booking

Gotchas abound

If you think awards are confusing and frustrating…

Passes come and go, often

Complicated booking

Gotchas abound


Air – Booking

Find flights on ITA Matrix

Locate booking options on Hipmunk

Priceline is getting really good


Air – Budget Airlines

skyscanner.com andwhichbudget.com

Price all the extras

Know the airport –where in ‘London’?

Know the terminal –Malaysian remote LCCTs

Air Asia is awesome

skyscanner.com andwhichbudget.com

Price all the extras

Know the airport –where in ‘London’?

Know the terminal –Malaysian remote LCCTs

Air Asia is awesome


Air – Obscure Airlines

OneTravel for hard to ticket airlines

Get reservation record AND ticket number


Air – China Flights

China domestic flights have full-fare set by government

Full-fare free to change flight and even airline!*

Global sites only price full-fare tickets

China sites price discounts:

ctrip, eLong, travelzen

Payment process can be a hassle

*Can be a challenge, easiest to attempt at airport

China domestic flights have full-fare set by government

Full-fare free to change flight and even airline!*

Global sites only price full-fare tickets

China sites price discounts:

ctrip, eLong, travelzen

Payment process can be a hassle

*Can be a challenge, easiest to attempt at airport


Air – China Flights


Rail – Where?

East Asia and Europe

Overnight trains save time, save hotel


Photo by alantankenghoe, flickr

Rail – How?Advance web bookings can be difficult and/or deceptive

Deutche Bahn for schedules


Same train $149 or $80

Rail – Passes

Research, compare, cost alternatives

May need to purchase before arrival (e.g. Japan)


Swiss Pass 2nd Class is $298 for 4 days – yikes!

Bus – Where?

‘Executivo’ business class services in South America


Bus – Tips

Beware the near empty bus that is ‘leaving soon’

Your stuff will be either with you or with someone else

Prepare for heat, prepare for cold

Be a camel

Beware the near empty bus that is ‘leaving soon’

Your stuff will be either with you or with someone else

Prepare for heat, prepare for cold

Be a camel


Taxis - Tips

Beware taxis hanging out at hotels

Hail taxis that are moving

If the locals use radio taxis, you should too

Taxis for day trips are impromptu guides

Beware taxis hanging out at hotels

Hail taxis that are moving

If the locals use radio taxis, you should too

Taxis for day trips are impromptu guides


Taxis – India

India’s airport government prepaid taxis:

Cheap and safe

Don’t exit the airport!


Driving

Exhilarating or stressful?

Know your companions

Driving on the left is surprisingly easy

International Driving Permit (IDP) is an annual pain

What to do in hitchhiker countries?

Exhilarating or stressful?

Know your companions

Driving on the left is surprisingly easy

International Driving Permit (IDP) is an annual pain

What to do in hitchhiker countries?


Rental Cars – Booking

Booking sites often ‘location not found’/’sold out’

Try rental agency websites

…but status is often worthless

Try AutoEurope (not just for Europe)

Booking sites often ‘location not found’/’sold out’

Try rental agency websites

…but status is often worthless

Try AutoEurope (not just for Europe)


Rental Cars – Gotchas

Ayers Rock:100 km +$0.23 per km!


Riga, Latvia: $43 to pick up at 7 pm!

Ayers Rock:100 km +$0.23 per km!

Rental Cars – Insurance

Credit card CDW exclusions – Ireland, Israel, Italy and more

Citi ThankYou & Dividend Platinum Select

True worldwide CDW

Get a certificate of coverage

Chase Ink & others may be worldwide 11/1 – stay tuned

Insurance often mandatory, sometimes included

Supercover expands coverage/lowers deductible

Credit card CDW exclusions – Ireland, Israel, Italy and more

Citi ThankYou & Dividend Platinum Select

True worldwide CDW

Get a certificate of coverage

Chase Ink & others may be worldwide 11/1 – stay tuned

Insurance often mandatory, sometimes included

Supercover expands coverage/lowers deductible


Hotels

Don’t stress – too many options

Chain hotels…are chain hotels

trip advisor for brainstorming

Local hotels at hotels.com

Mom & Pops at booking.com

Don’t be afraid to walk-up

Alternative accommodation

Don’t stress – too many options

Chain hotels…are chain hotels

trip advisor for brainstorming

Local hotels at hotels.com

Mom & Pops at booking.com

Don’t be afraid to walk-up

Alternative accommodation


Tips


US Passports

Get the large passport book

Get a passport card for land & sea & backup ID

Enroll in Global Entry/NEXUS/SENTRI andadd to airline profiles for TSA PreCheck

Have scans and copies

Get the large passport book

Get a passport card for land & sea & backup ID

Enroll in Global Entry/NEXUS/SENTRI andadd to airline profiles for TSA PreCheck

Have scans and copies


Duplicate US Passports

Great for frequent travelers who need visas

A must for frequent Israel/Middle East travelers

Easy process

Only valid for two years

Great for frequent travelers who need visas

A must for frequent Israel/Middle East travelers

Easy process

Only valid for two years


Visa Requirements for US Citizens

166 countries Visa Free or Visa on ArrivalSources: Henley & Partners, Wikipedia


Visas for US CitizensEmbassy websites are getting better

travel.state.gov is reliable

Specialist visa agents vs big generalists like CIBT

10-year India and 3-year Russia tourist visas

Must pay Argentina reciprocity fee online in advance

Yes, you need a visa for Australia

Embassy websites are getting better

travel.state.gov is reliable

Specialist visa agents vs big generalists like CIBT

10-year India and 3-year Russia tourist visas

Must pay Argentina reciprocity fee online in advance

Yes, you need a visa for Australia


Money – Cash

Cash is still king – be like a first date, crisp and clean

Carry a cheat sheet of fx rates

Change money on arrival, not departure

Avoid Travelex!!!

Traveler’s checks are dead

Schwab debit card –no fx fee + ATM reimbursements

Cash is still king – be like a first date, crisp and clean

Carry a cheat sheet of fx rates

Change money on arrival, not departure

Avoid Travelex!!!

Traveler’s checks are dead

Schwab debit card –no fx fee + ATM reimbursements


Money – Credit Cards

Card acceptance still low outside upscale bubble

Logo in the window may only mean local cards

Chip and Signature cards work most of the time

Chip and Pin cards for heavy Europe travelers –Andrews FCU, PenFed (FlyerTalk list: bit.ly/195PoQS)

Card acceptance still low outside upscale bubble

Logo in the window may only mean local cards

Chip and Signature cards work most of the time

Chip and Pin cards for heavy Europe travelers –Andrews FCU, PenFed (FlyerTalk list: bit.ly/195PoQS)


Handy Credit Card Benefits

Chase – several cards have trip delay coverage

Diner’s Club – lounge access, airport shuttles in Brazil

Discover – accepted all over China via UnionPay

Chase – several cards have trip delay coverage

Diner’s Club – lounge access, airport shuttles in Brazil

Discover – accepted all over China via UnionPay


Tech

Prepare to be offline – Google Maps offline

Unlocked phone + local SIM card

Encrypt – TrueCrypt

Get a VPN – WiTopia

Prepare to be offline – Google Maps offline

Unlocked phone + local SIM card

Encrypt – TrueCrypt

Get a VPN – WiTopia


Insurance

Insure yourself, your trip, oryour stuff?

Annual or per trip?

Credit cards often insureyour trip and your stuff

I insure myself – GeoBlueTrekker Choice annual plan

insubuy.com,travelinsurancecenter.com

Insure yourself, your trip, oryour stuff?

Annual or per trip?

Credit cards often insureyour trip and your stuff

I insure myself – GeoBlueTrekker Choice annual plan

insubuy.com,travelinsurancecenter.com


Health

CDC Yellow Book cdc.gov/travel

Know generic names of your meds

Plan ahead for vaccines

Malaria pills pros and cons

International Certificate of Vaccination

CDC Yellow Book cdc.gov/travel

Know generic names of your meds

Plan ahead for vaccines

Malaria pills pros and cons

International Certificate of Vaccination


Safety

Don’t be:DrunkDruggedDebauched

Especially when youdon’t speak thelanguage or know thelegal system

The Rapid Travel Chai ‘3 Ds’ of Travel Safety

Don’t be:DrunkDruggedDebauched

Especially when youdon’t speak thelanguage or know thelegal system


Luggage

Backpack = maximum flexibility, bag never leaves you

Wheeled = less flexibility, sometimes more comfort

Convertible = good at nothing

Checked luggage = asking for trouble

Backpack = maximum flexibility, bag never leaves you

Wheeled = less flexibility, sometimes more comfort

Convertible = good at nothing

Checked luggage = asking for trouble


Packing

Unless going to the moon, you are not going to the moon

Go to onebag.com


Miles and points beyond thesame old, same old

Miles and points beyond thesame old, same old


What’s a good flight award?

It’s not just about long-haul

Short, expensive flights are great awards

Africa, Pacific, South America flights


Some offbeat flight awards

Star Alliance:Copa in Central AmericaEthiopian and South African for AfricaAvianca Taca for northern South America, Tam for Brazil while still in StarTurkish Airlines for Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa

OneWorld:Avios for Australia (Qantas), Europe (Iberia and Vueling),Russia (S7), southern South America (LAN)

SkyTeam:Tarom for Eastern EuropeAeroMexico for Central America and even Europe and AsiaChina Eastern + China Southern for trips around Asia, especially Central AsiaDelta + Air France to Europe via Dominican Republic or HaitiDelta seasonal JFK flight to Prince Edward Island, Canada

Star Alliance:Copa in Central AmericaEthiopian and South African for AfricaAvianca Taca for northern South America, Tam for Brazil while still in StarTurkish Airlines for Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa

OneWorld:Avios for Australia (Qantas), Europe (Iberia and Vueling),Russia (S7), southern South America (LAN)

SkyTeam:Tarom for Eastern EuropeAeroMexico for Central America and even Europe and AsiaChina Eastern + China Southern for trips around Asia, especially Central AsiaDelta + Air France to Europe via Dominican Republic or HaitiDelta seasonal JFK flight to Prince Edward Island, Canada


Hotel Awards

Expand to Carlson, IHG, Best Western, Choice Hotels

International locations often much better than US


Holiday Inn ShanghaiPudong Executive Lounge

Radisson Royal Hotel, Dubai

Earning Miles at Local Hotel Chains

Local chains often earn miles – Delta alone has 29 partners!Hilton HHonors WorldwideStarwood Hotels & Resorts WorldwideMarriott InternationalInterContinental Hotel GroupAccor HotelsBest Western InternationalCarlson Rezidor Hotel GroupChoice Hotels InternationalHotel JAL CityHyatt Hotels & ResortsLangham Hospitality GroupThe Leading Hotels of the WorldMandarin Oriental Hotel GroupMARITIM HotelsMillennium Hotels and ResortsNew Otani HotelsNikko Hotels InternationalOkura Hotels & ResortsPan Pacific Hotels & ResortsParkroyal Hotels & ResortsThe Plaza HotelPrince Hotels & ResortsLa Quinta Inns & SuitesThe Ritz-Carlton®RotanaShangri-La Hotels and ResortsTaj Hotels, Resorts & PalacesWorldhotelsWyndham Rewards


Hilton HHonors WorldwideStarwood Hotels & Resorts WorldwideMarriott InternationalInterContinental Hotel GroupAccor HotelsBest Western InternationalCarlson Rezidor Hotel GroupChoice Hotels InternationalHotel JAL CityHyatt Hotels & ResortsLangham Hospitality GroupThe Leading Hotels of the WorldMandarin Oriental Hotel GroupMARITIM HotelsMillennium Hotels and ResortsNew Otani HotelsNikko Hotels InternationalOkura Hotels & ResortsPan Pacific Hotels & ResortsParkroyal Hotels & ResortsThe Plaza HotelPrince Hotels & ResortsLa Quinta Inns & SuitesThe Ritz-Carlton®RotanaShangri-La Hotels and ResortsTaj Hotels, Resorts & PalacesWorldhotelsWyndham Rewards

Elite status

Carry all your frequent flyer cards

Carry hard copies of key benefits

Expect disappointment…and pleasant surprises


Airport VIP Lounge,Livingston, Zambia

Thank You

[email protected]@rapidtravelchai

rapidtravelchai.com


rapid travel chai: introduction to international travel - ftu tpa 2013

Travel

backup id

carlton rotana

drunk drugged

prince edward

departure

upscale bubble

rental agency

travelzen