One thing I find invaluable is a little pen LED flashlight. You can buy these anywhere including drugstores in the states. They costs $5 - $6 and the battery lasts years. Great on airplanes (during the night) when you want to see the combination on your bag's lock or search your bag for your earbuds. Great in guest houses and hotels that have insufficient lighting in the closets or safes. Useful for seeing the menu at a dimly lit restaurant or club. Best $5 I've ever spent for a travel item. It looks like a thick pen. The ones on Amazon that say they are pen flashlights generally are way bigger than the little drugstore version I use and love. Mine was made by Energizer. Target has it for sale for $5.19.
Good call, those things can be really helpful. I actually have one of these, it's not something I use all the time, but when you need one its very helpful!
This ist the best Travel Video I have ever seen. There are a ton of Videos from UA-camrs, but I am not sure if they ever leave their house. His recommendations are usefull.
Thanks for the video. Those are great suggestions. I have the same Leatherman, and my experience has been similar to yours in that security almost always takes a close look at it. I just keep it in my 3-1-1 bag so that it’s easy for them to see. Good suggestions about making copies of the important docs. Another thing I’ll do when traveling abroad is to write down the address and phone number of the nearest US embassy just in case.
Thanks! Security almost always looks at my Leatherman for short domestic flights, but not as often for international for some reason. I've never had them take it away though.
Do you mean how to get money when you travel? I take 2 debit and 2 credit cards, find cards that don't have international fees (ie Charles Schwab). Keep one set on you, and the other set in your backpack. Make copies off all credi cards, passport, luggage, contact info etc. and keep it in your pack. Bring only the identification, card, and cash you need for the day, leave everything else in your bag/hotel/hostel. Unless I'm going somewhere where it's hard to get money (ie Cuba, Haiti), I usually don't bother getting cash in advance. Use an ATM when you arrive to your destination, you get the best exchange rates. This only didn't work for me once, when I took a train from Germany to Prague, got to the station late, nothing was open and nobody had change for my big ATM bills 🤣
Bank ATMs offer best wholesale rates. Bank foyers safer than on street ATMs & usually have cctv. Beware ATMs in shops which usually have a transaction fee. If offered, don’t take option to be debited in your own currency which is usually a poor rate. Use cards which you can freeze/unfreeze on your phone banking app in case of loss/theft/temporarily mislaid.
One thing I find invaluable is a little pen LED flashlight. You can buy these anywhere including drugstores in the states. They costs $5 - $6 and the battery lasts years.
Great on airplanes (during the night) when you want to see the combination on your bag's lock or search your bag for your earbuds. Great in guest houses and hotels that have insufficient lighting in the closets or safes. Useful for seeing the menu at a dimly lit restaurant or club.
Best $5 I've ever spent for a travel item. It looks like a thick pen. The ones on Amazon that say they are pen flashlights generally are way bigger than the little drugstore version I use and love. Mine was made by Energizer. Target has it for sale for $5.19.
Good call, those things can be really helpful. I actually have one of these, it's not something I use all the time, but when you need one its very helpful!
This ist the best Travel Video I have ever seen. There are a ton of Videos from UA-camrs, but I am not sure if they ever leave their house. His recommendations are usefull.
Wow, thanks Achim!
Very good advice , thank you
thank you so much you give so much insight on the travelling perspective
Thanks Jaap!
Thanks for the video. Those are great suggestions. I have the same Leatherman, and my experience has been similar to yours in that security almost always takes a close look at it. I just keep it in my 3-1-1 bag so that it’s easy for them to see.
Good suggestions about making copies of the important docs. Another thing I’ll do when traveling abroad is to write down the address and phone number of the nearest US embassy just in case.
Thanks! Security almost always looks at my Leatherman for short domestic flights, but not as often for international for some reason. I've never had them take it away though.
Care to comment on cash and money access?
Do you mean how to get money when you travel? I take 2 debit and 2 credit cards, find cards that don't have international fees (ie Charles Schwab). Keep one set on you, and the other set in your backpack. Make copies off all credi cards, passport, luggage, contact info etc. and keep it in your pack. Bring only the identification, card, and cash you need for the day, leave everything else in your bag/hotel/hostel.
Unless I'm going somewhere where it's hard to get money (ie Cuba, Haiti), I usually don't bother getting cash in advance. Use an ATM when you arrive to your destination, you get the best exchange rates. This only didn't work for me once, when I took a train from Germany to Prague, got to the station late, nothing was open and nobody had change for my big ATM bills 🤣
Bank ATMs offer best wholesale rates.
Bank foyers safer than on street ATMs & usually have cctv.
Beware ATMs in shops which usually have a transaction fee.
If offered, don’t take option to be debited in your own currency which is usually a poor rate.
Use cards which you can freeze/unfreeze on your phone banking app in case of loss/theft/temporarily mislaid.