The Travel Thread

[sixthsense]

 

Dredd aint replying. Anyone else?

 

 

Food is easy if you're in Tokyo, there are many Nepali's running indian restaurants and carry Gorkha beer . You can have a decent meal in about 1200-1600 yens. If you eat non-veg and mind you i'm not taking about indian chicken masala, then you've lots of choices ranging from korean to chinese in most of tokyo just that the menu will be in japanese.

 

Travel - Avoid Taxis at any cost unless you're stuck in the middle of night with no other option. Metro is the best way to get anywhere but the ticket system if confusing and understaing it is a huge pain. Get a "passmo" pass from the vending machines in metro stations which you can recharge and it automatically calculates the shortest route for your travel and cuts the appropriate amount when you exit the station. Also it works on all vending machines which is comfortable. From the airport get on to Narita express which is a train service which will take you to the city center for around 3k yen.

 

Always carry the address of your hotel or remember the no. at the end of the address For eg. 678-2345. this is used by the taxi drivers as they might not know the address by reading it. Also Japanese taxis have automatic door-opening systems, so do not try to open the taxi door. Stand back when the cab comes to a stopif you are too close, the door may slam into you. When you leave the cab, do not try to close the door; the driver will do it automatically. A red light on the dashboard indicates an available taxi, and a green light indicates an occupied taxi. They've a separate peddle which opens the door from inside, yeah it seems crazy .

 

Pronouncing japanese words is very easy as the language is very phonetic. So the "Arigatoo gozaimasu" would be read with no skips or silent letters.

 

Let me know if you want something specific to know as i know people who keep travelling every month from my office.

[theneurotoxin]

Thanks guys

 

 

we are looking at the paris combo pass for travel and museum pass. Louvre, Notre dame and versailles make it atleast 2-3 days occupied

 

one day for eiffel summit, and maybe dinner there (the 2nd floor one, or if we really want to spend the one on the top floor, JUles Verne) ; planning to take that Sienne tour followed by Dinner at Eiffel as shown here

 

the remaining 2-3 days for relaxing and just being. (or meandering!) . Will try and fit in the cemetry that BoomShankaram mentioned.

 

Dont want it to be too hectic, just so that we can see a lot of places. Want to make the most out of a few good places.

 

 

PARIS help needed...

 

Planning a 1 week trip to Paris in August, with parents, wife and sis. A post retirement treat to dad.

 

anyone been there?

 

any idea on the rental apartments out there? are they safe, worth the money?

 

whats the best area to stay? things not to miss...

 

any gyan would be great.

Where to stay is difficult to answer without knowing the budget but I'd pick Marais. Place Vendôme & 6eme arrondissement would be my next choices. Try Airbnb for rental apartments. Guess you've got most of the touristy stuff covered above. Some other things to consider:

 

Grom — I'd be surprised if you find better ice-cream than over here. Berthillon, if you prefer sorbets.

Le Bon Marché — So much better than Galeries Lafayette.

Rue de Lombards — Jazz scene of Paris.

L'As du Falafel near Place des Vosges — If you want to try falafel in Paris.

 

Word to the wise — popular cafes like Le Fouquet's mentioned a few posts above tend to be overpriced tourist traps. Mr Mojo Risin's resting place has been vandalised; not much to see there and the catacombs nearby are way more creepy if you're into that sort of thing. I'd skip Père Lachaise unless you're a huge Doors/Oscar Wilde fan, there are far better things to cover. Head to the Louvre early in the morning before the herds hit the place if possible and don't forget the musee d'Orsay. Better in many ways. And when you're going to the Eiffel tower, approach it from the Trocadero metro. One week is plenty of time to explore the city by yourself on foot — the best way to discover it.

 

Finally, if you want to go to a baller hotel while you're there — George V. Best views & lobby in town.

[sixthsense]

Buddy that post is a year old now...

[godspeed4476]

Any tips on travelling alone to Kathmandu and Pokhara?

[godspeed4476]

OK guys, need real urgent advice from folks who take the connecting flight routes frequently.

I am currently planning a Mumbai- Egypt-Russia-Mumbai trip. The flight from Mumbai to Cairo is direct, however, for flight between Cairo to Moscow, there is a change of planes in Amman (Time for change of planes 1 hour 45 mins), and then for the return flight to Mumbai, there is again a change of plans in Amman, however, they are providing only a measly 40 mins. I have used a single airlines website to get the flight schedule, and i am under assumption that since the airline is advertising those schedules themselves, there would be a good chance to take those flights on time (or why would they show connecting flights with such a low change time), i may be wrong. I have only once taken a connecting flight, and tht too was for Maldives.

I am going to make the query on the companies helpline, when they will open up on Monday, but i am a but skeptical they would be able to help much.

Will i be provided with alternative arrangements if i miss any of the connecting flights?

Please help

[sixthsense]

Yup if it's the same airlines that is making you change the planes then they will take care of it even if you miss the flight. I've had 2 instances where I missed the connecting flight. If the next flight is within 8 he's they will genteelly provide you an accommodation for some good inside the airport. If the next flight is like next day or something then they usually provide you a good hotel (usually not below 4 star) and all meals free with transportation.

 

Generally they won't put you in any other airlines and you would have to wait for their next flight to the same destination. Also sometimes your luggage may go and you can be left behind due to lengthy boarding procedures. I've been in this situation once but I always carry a spare change in my hand baggage.

 

Edit : they will also take care of the transit visa of the country you got stuck in.

Edited March 29, 2013 by sixthsense

[godspeed4476]

 

Yup if it's the same airlines that is making you change the planes then they will take care of it even if you miss the flight. I've had 2 instances where I missed the connecting flight. If the next flight is within 8 he's they will genteelly provide you an accommodation for some good inside the airport. If the next flight is like next day or something then they usually provide you a good hotel (usually not below 4 star) and all meals free with transportation.

 

Generally they won't put you in any other airlines and you would have to wait for their next flight to the same destination. Also sometimes your luggage may go and you can be left behind due to lengthy boarding procedures. I've been in this situation once but I always carry a spare change in my hand baggage.

 

Edit : they will also take care of the transit visa of the country you got stuck in.

Thks mate, I do know for the fact that the airlines(Indian ones) hold up the departure of flight in case the passengers from connecting flight have not arrived. I never took a connecting flight myself (except for maldives, where it was super smooth transition), hence was a bit worried as i would be doing the trip solo. Nice to know the airlines provide free accommodation and food, now i wouldn't mind even if i miss the flight back home (Infact after reading your post, i kind of wish that i actually miss the flight and somehow get a free stay in amman ).

Connecting or not, i always keep my monies on myself instead of putting it on the luggage. Usually, i only carry a very small bag(big enough to fit in cabin) and a notebook bag. However, since this time, the destinations different weathers, Egypt being hot and Moscow being cold. I would have to risk taking a large bag and put it in luggage section

[sixthsense]

I wish the same when traveling alone. I had the pleasure of roaming around and visiting Doha for a whole day courtesy Qatar airlines. By spare change I meant an extra T-shirt, shorts etc. As in long flights you might not know when you need it. Never traveled Indian airlines but all other airlines will not hold the connecting flights as they can't make the other passengers wait.

 

In my experience 40 min is very short and if your flight is even 20 min late then you can be pretty sure to miss the flight. It actually depends on the airport and boarding procedures.

[Babyzelda]

Godspeed

 

What airline are you using? I have twice had a plane waiting for me alone,

 

Last month my connecting flight from Graz to Munich arrived late and the flight to Mumbai was waiting about 35 minutes (Lufthansa)

 

In October Emirates kept a flight waiting for 5 of us to New York in Dubai.

 

From what I know EU carriers have better laws in terms of what to do for customers in terms of delayed flights or missed connections.

 

P.S that's a really wild travel plan Cairo with Moscow have a great trip.

 

 

I am going to make the query on the companies helpline, when they will open up on Monday, but i am a but skeptical they would be able to help much.

Will i be provided with alternative arrangements if i miss any of the connecting flights?

Please help

[ctrl_alt_del]

@Godspeed: I highly doubt airlines would hold a flight. Every second spent at the gate is additional money to the airport out of the airlines pocket. The captain and FA's first job is to get the boarding done and the door closed as a flight is not considered to have departed on time until the door have closed. Once the door has closed, a plane can sit 2 hrs on a runway waiting for its turn and still be considered to have departed on time.

 

TL;DR - Do not bank upon airlines holding back a flight for connecting passengers.

[sixthsense]

True, I've waited inside Airbus for 3 hrs cause snow got built up on the wings but the gate were closed so we couldn't go back. For me it were 3 big happy hours of champagne .

[godspeed4476]

I wish the same when traveling alone. I had the pleasure of roaming around and visiting Doha for a whole day courtesy Qatar airlines. By spare change I meant an extra T-shirt, shorts etc. As in long flights you might not know when you need it. Never traveled Indian airlines but all other airlines will not hold the connecting flights as they can't make the other passengers wait.

In my experience 40 min is very short and if your flight is even 20 min late then you can be pretty sure to miss the flight. It actually depends on the airport and boarding procedures.

Godspeed

What airline are you using? I have twice had a plane waiting for me alone,

Last month my connecting flight from Graz to Munich arrived late and the flight to Mumbai was waiting about 35 minutes (Lufthansa)

In October Emirates kept a flight waiting for 5 of us to New York in Dubai.

From what I know EU carriers have better laws in terms of what to do for customers in terms of delayed flights or missed connections.

P.S that's a really wild travel plan Cairo with Moscow have a great trip.

I am taking the Royal Jordanian flight bro, and yes you and sixth sense are right, they will take care of the connecting flight and in case I miss the flight, the will provide me with accommodation, I had mailed the Royal Jordanian guys and they have replied that since we are booking the flights through them, they would be responsible for everything, and if I am to miss a flight they would re book me on a different flight free of cost.

I am doing the Egypt and Moscow coz both have been my fav destinations and the tickets are working out for both of them in reasonable price, I have to sort out the foolish Russian visa requirement of tourist voucher and would would book the ticket probably by Tuesday ( if prices don't shoot up)

 

@Godspeed: I highly doubt airlines would hold a flight. Every second spent at the gate is additional money to the airport out of the airlines pocket. The captain and FA's first job is to get the boarding done and the door closed as a flight is not considered to have departed on time until the door have closed. Once the door has closed, a plane can sit 2 hrs on a runway waiting for its turn and still be considered to have departed on time.

 

TL;DR - Do not bank upon airlines holding back a flight for connecting passengers.

No mate, they do hold the flights, I have xperinced it 2wice, once when I was flying out to Heathrow from mumbai, I always take a direct flight and always fly jet coz of travel miles. The jet flight was delayed more than 3 hours, only because the connecting flight of their code share partner was delayed. Tht was some experience, people were literally fighting with the ground staff, trying to explain them how it was all wrong, and the ground staff was literally not bothered about it. Even though I like jet airways, they are perfect example of "idiot devo bhav" , I mean making your own 300 +passengers inconvenient so that you can get on board 2 passengers from codeshare partner is foolishness.

2nd time the Srilankan airlines from Colombo was delayed as many passengers did not arrive from connecting flight

[Babyzelda]

Mate,

 

Doing the voucher online or via a local travel agent? In most cases online is better and faster. Also if possible do go to St. Petersburg also (time permitting)

 

And my brother in law is from Kathmandu, so let me know when u do plan to travel, he left in 1994 lol but still can help you.

 

 

I am doing the Egypt and Moscow coz both have been my fav destinations and the tickets are working out for both of them in reasonable price, I have to sort out the foolish Russian visa requirement of tourist voucher and would would book the ticket probably by Tuesday ( if prices don't shoot up)

[godspeed4476]

Mate,

 

Doing the voucher online or via a local travel agent? In most cases online is better and faster. Also if possible do go to St. Petersburg also (time permitting)

 

And my brother in law is from Kathmandu, so let me know when u do plan to travel, he left in 1994 lol but still can help you.

 

 

I am not planning to stay in a hotel at either of the places, maximum I would stay for 2 -3 days in a hostel in both th places. I would be spending atleast 9 days in Egypt and 7 days in Russia. For the hotel confirmation, I have thought about booking a hotel online and then cancel the booking after I get the visas( will book a hotel which charges zero or low penalty for cancellation). However, the Russian tourist voucher thing, I don't have any idea how to get that done, will appreciate any help or inputs for this issue.

I had once flown to thailand, making a fake travel Iterniary in MS word, but this Russian thing is too risky to do it.

I am not going to Nepal anymore buddy, just did my taxes and due to no planning, I have had to pay a high amount this time(high for me) in fact I was so demotivated, tht I though about cancelling this whole thing today, but then I thought if govenement is going to take my money and waste it, why not I do the same and have some fun while doing it

[godspeed4476]

I've found this website for the Russian tourist visa invitation and hotel reservation confirmation,

http://www.waytorussia.net/Services/VisaSupport/Tourist.html?Submit=Get+It+Online+Now

It's costing me 30$, do u guys think I can get it cheaper anywhere else or should I just go for this

[Babyzelda]

Sorry I am late but yes all charge similar or more for express service.

 

Use Intercontinental.com for booking they have rates which don't charge you.

 

I've found this website for the Russian tourist visa invitation and hotel reservation confirmation,
http://www.waytorussia.net/Services/VisaSupport/Tourist.html?Submit=Get+It+Online+Now
It's costing me 30$, do u guys think I can get it cheaper anywhere else or should I just go for this

[godspeed4476]

But the intercontinental guys won't provide a tourist voucher, tht damn thing is required or visa. I guess I'll just wait till day and even enquire with local travel agents over here.

[Babyzelda]

Check PM mate,

[ctrl_alt_del]

You guys are too lucky it seems. I have never had a flight wait for us, even when we had a plane full of people missing their connecting flights.

[HarishProGamer]

It happened once, During my Trip to Bhutan.. Official.

 

I reached Kolkata Airport some 25 mins late... Still they kept the Flight on Hold!... I was escorted by some Policemen, They dropped me to the Flight, When I went inside, I just loved the look of all the air hostesses and the passengers, Like a Boss!

Some months Later, Another friend of mine had a Golden Luck due to his connecting Flight got delayed from Dhaka.... He reached Kolkata lately but still Indigo was on hold due to our very own SRK!! He was travelling from Kolkata to Mumbai during IPL season, He, his family along with the Team mangers and my Friend were the last one to board the airbus towards the Flight, He was so damn lucky! But that bugger didn't even spoke to any of them, Was wondering how SRK must have felt. My friend hates Bollywood movies.