Travel tips

Having done a lot of travel recently as part of our latest trip, primarily to Europe and the UK from New Zealand, we have learnt a number of things along our way or reused tips gleaned previously. In no particular order:

Trains & Trams

1. One train may in fact be multiple trains. Check what the number your train is and make sure you’re getting onto the right carriage. We had a conductor tells us we were on the wrong train on our way to Maastricht (the train we were on was in fact hitching a ride and the correct train was a few carriages ahead).
2. Trains are a great way to get around Europe. We have used them extensively throughout Western Europe and the UK.
3. Storing luggage on a train can be challenging
• Sometimes it is possible to store a bag in the gap between front and rear facing seats.
• At the end of each carriage there is sometimes space for luggage.
• Above seats is okay for packs and small bags.
4. 1st class can be good for a bit of extra room and comfort in some countries (e.g. Germany), however in others (e.g. Netherlands, Belgium) there is no noticeable difference.
5. Buying a return trip can be cheaper than one way. We found this when travelling from Luxembourg to Brugge, and were able to make use of the return trip later when going to Brussels.
6. Be aware that you may need to change trains to get to your destination.
7. Take food & water with you for long train journeys. NB: Check you are allowed to eat/drink on board.
8. With some tickets, you aren’t actually buying a ticket, but are putting a prepaid amount onto a card.
9. Each individual travelling often needs their own ticket / prepaid card.
10. There is often a button on ticket machines for English.
11. With prepaid cards and some tickets you often need to validate as you get on and logoff as you get off.

Luggage & Bags in general

1. Have bags with good wheels or be prepared to carry them. Our Samsonite bags would have been dragged tens of kilometres when I consider how much ground we’ve covered with them in airports, railway stations and around city streets.
2. Pacsafe bags give you an increased level of security. We have been using these for handbag and man bag and they have features such as a clip to lock the zip on, wire through the straps so they can’t easily be cut and a wire mesh that is part of the bag’s fabric.
3. Locks on bags give you an increased sense of security. I prefer to avoid locks that require keys and have number locks. A lock with a cable could also be useful for locking your bag to something on the train (although I haven’t personally done this).
4. A day pack can be useful for shopping and for carrying washing to and from laundrette.
5. Stuff sacks are good for segregating clothing in a bag/pack to make them easier to find and to separate dirty clothes.
6. Having checked in luggage that is not a dark colour is usually easier to find at an airport (we have red and yellow bags).
7. Weigh your bag before you go to the airport (if you think it may be too heavy).
8. Clear out your wallet/handbag of unnecessary stuff before leaving.

Planes

1. Noise cancelling headphones make flights more enjoyable (even when not listening to music). I also have a theory that they reduce the impacts of jet lag due to not listening to the loud drone of the engines in full force.
2. The temperature in trains and planes can vary between too hot and too cold. Be prepared. I often wear a thin Icebreaker merino wool t-shirt and Kathmandu shorts that have zips to put longs on.
3. Many people say not to drink alcohol on a plane. I find I feel fine at the other end if I have water in-between each drink, but also don’t go overboard either.
4. Keep hydrated on a plane.
5. When flying we try to get into the destination timezone asap and consequently stay up a bit later if required. Similarly when we arrive at the destination we try and adapt straight away.

Driving

1. GPS can be very useful for navigation, particularly in places like Cornwall where there are lots of un-named lanes.
2. Car parking can be very expensive. Consider dropping the car off the rental agency instead (in some countries).
3. When renting a car, ask about the road rules, any specific speed limits, toll roads, the type of petrol the car takes, any restrictions such as taking the car on boats, whether each driver needs to sign something, and make sure all dents are noted. Paying a few extra dollars for a bit more insurance also gives a bit more peace of mind.

Navigation & The Wisdom of the Crowd

1. Cached Google Maps are good for navigation when offline e.g. in a train and not wanting to use data, or when lost and wandering around a foreign city.
2. Ask a local for their recommendation of restaurants and bars i.e. where they would go.
3. Crowdsourced reviews can be great for determining where to eat/not eat, what to do, where to stay etc. e.g. Tripadvisor, Foursquare, Google Places, Local review sites such as Yelp.
4. Some accommodation, cafes and restaurants have free (or cheap) Internet access. McDonald’s is often a good option. Also try searching for “free wifi” on Google maps.
5. Finding geocaches can be a good way to see different things in a city (particularly multi-art geocaches that are oriented towards this).
6. Having the address of your destination written down in the local language can make getting directions easier & to give to taxi drivers.
7. In terms of finding a laundrette, searching for wash on Google Maps seems to work well in many countries.
8. Use Google Streetview to understand where to stop if taking a tram or bus when arriving in a city.
9. If staying in a big city for a while it can be cheaper to get city transport passes that require ID photos, so having a spare photo on hand can be useful.
10. Maps, Tours & Bus timetables can be downloaded to some phones.

Food & Beverages

1. Some places have discounts or specials for Foursquare users. I, for example, got a free beer in San Francisco.
2. Coffee in planes is usually bad.
3. Coffee in Europe that has milk in it tends to be bad. go for Espresso instead.
4. Beware dodgy water and buy water if unsure.
5. Beer can sometimes be better value than buying water in restaurants.

Money

1. Many places (inc. accommodation) only take cash. Check. Also, be conscious of fees to take cash out. We have found that we tend to use our standard Eftpos card when travelling to get cash out (cheaper than a cash advance on a credit card, for our cards at least); this had a Plus logo on it which other than Brugge, we have found almost every money machine supports. Having a backup card, in case one gets gobbled by a machine, lost or for whatever reason doesn’t work is is also recommended.
2. When travelling in the US (in particular) have $1 notes easily on hand for tipping.

Travel documentation

1. Store copies of important documentation Online. I’ve used Dropbox and Webmail on recent trips. Dropbox provides a 2GB account for free.
2. TripIt is excellent for collating all your travel information. I also make sure to print off a copy as a backup and store as pdf.

Electronic devices

1. A wifi-enabled device can be very useful for research and booking tickets as you travel.
2. A 4 way plug is a valuable addition to your travel luggage if you have multiple devices that require power. With one travel adapter you can power multiple devices.
3. A computer (with a decent sized hard drive) and/or a large USB stick can be good for backing up photos from your camera.
4. Roaming on mobile networks can be very expensive (particularly for data). Consider getting a local SIM card or just using Wifi.

Travel Repairs & Related Accessories

1. Take duct tape wrapped around a pen. It can be useful for repairs.
2. Dental floss can be good for repairs.
3. A pocket knife can be good for picnics. Don’t forget though to pack it in checked in luggage when on flights.
4. A hotel sewing kit is worth taking for emergency repairs.

Accommodation

1. B&B’s can be an excellent choice for accommodation. The best accommodation we have ever stayed in (inc. hotels and motels) was in fact a B&B in Brugge where there were lots of additional extras and the added value of having a local available to answer questions.
2. Some accommodation (B&B’s and Apartments in particular) will not provide soap and shampoo.
3. Accommodation in Europe often has heritage status and lots of stairs with no (or tiny) elevators. Consider this when deciding what luggage to take and when booking accommodation.

Other

1. Know how to tell the time using 24 hour clock. Timetables are often in 24 hour time.
2. When travelling in winter wear layers (this makes it easier to warm up or cool down).
3. Knowing a few words of the language of the country you’re travelling to is useful (a few numbers, where’s the toilet?, the bill/cheque please?, thankyou)

A much longer and slightly soggy walk around Amsterdam

After Simon's ridiculously early morning walk, we did the conspicuously touristy thing and took our guide-book in hand and proceeded to follow the author's self-guided walking tour of central amsterdam.  We started out at about 8:30 which meant that many places were not yet open, but in some ways this was nice too as it also meant we had many places to ourselves - and seeing as we walked back rather than following instructions and catching a tram, we also had a 2nd opportunity to visit the places that were closed earlier. Having said that, we're really bad indoor tourists and I don't actually think we set foot inside a single recommended building.  Ah well, we were happy. Despite walking more than 7km, mostly in the rain.

Where did we go and what did we see?  Well, a lot of it was more about just taking it all in, enjoying the architecture, observing the customs and spotting all the small details.  And noticing how even everyday things become less familiar when you're half a world away from home.  Such as fruit.  We walked past a number of fruit stalls today and invariably they were selling many fruits we were unfamiliar with, along with varieties of usually familiar fruits that were far from it -  like the strawberries that looked almost like raspberries, except that I am aware that strawberries are the only fruit who wear their seeds on the outside, and these little guys clearly had their seeds on show.  Anyway, I digress!

We wandered from our place (I find I fairly quickly refer to where-ever I'm sleeping as 'home') across a few canals and through a few alleyways until we reached Damrak - the main street that stretches from the Centraal station down to Dam Square.  From there we wandered along Damrak to Dam Square observing sights along the way.  We joined the street at about the Beurs - the old stock exchange building, which apparently is an early example of a "modern building, emphasising function over looks".  Personally I think it far more attractive than most 'function over form' buildings I am used to!  Apparently Simon didn't like the photos he took here, so if you're curious, use Google. Wait!  My crappy Mac skills are to blame (oh, did I fail to mention our apartment also has a Mac for our use?!)  Found a glimpse of Beurs.

We reached Dam Square and I did the cheesy deed and read out all the details about the various buildings and monuments around the square.  I personally found the guy cleaning windows in the palace the most notable feature.  I don't know why, but he was quite fascinating!  And the buildings of course were absolutely gorgeous.  I remember at some point wandering through here thinking how fabulous it felt to be back in Europe.

Next we wandered down on to the pedestrian only Kalverstraat.  Here we stumbled upon the 'hidden catholic church'.  I was again taken with the small details - the parrot and dude with set-square carvings above the door.  Is he a mathematician? Or a priest? Or who?  Wandering off to google briefly...   Didn't help.  If anyone knows, please comment and enlighten me!  The parrot is explained, but not the dude with the set square.

Directly across the road from this was a McDonalds where we were amused to see a traveller hunkered down with laptop in hand, taking advantage of the free-wifi hotspot.  I'm really not sure why he didn't just go inside and sit more comfortably and order a coffee or tea.

Next we were meant to wander down an alley to the entrance to the Amsterdam Museum, but it was not yet open, however we still photographed the entrance and learnt about the use of XXX and the crown in the Amsterdam coat of arms.  Apparently the 3 Xs symbolise heroism, determination and mercy, whilst also representing the crucifixion of St Andrew - the patron saint of fisherman.  And the crown dates back to the 15th century and Maximilian I.  (I'm not relaying details here, I'm sure wikipedia has it all for the curious).

 We also popped in to the Begijnhof, however photos were strictly not allowed, despite the man clomping around taking photos from pretty much every angle.  I appreciated the peace and tranquility of this interior courtyard surrounded by connected houses.

Our next point of particular interest was the flower markets lining the western side of the Singel canal from the Mint Tower back towards Centraal.  Our first sight of this was from the other side of the canal.... (yes, Simon has hat hair - persistent rain and coat-hoods will do that.  The guidebook is also quite damp by this stage).

The array of flowers, seeds and bulbs on display, ooh and cacti, was just amazing.  Every single shop had something new and fabulous to admire or marvel at.  The bonsais were wonderful - including a bonsaied olive tree, and the variety of colours of tulips simply amazing.  There was in all honesty, far too much to try and take in along this stretch. And a few too many photos to boot. I've tried to keep it the bare minimum! (The canned marijuana seeds were export quality btw.)

From here on, the notable points for us were once again in the little details.  The cheese shop, the park full of bronze lizards, the clothing shop "NZA - New Zealand Auckland", the madness of parked bikes - what to do if yours is at the back?, people riding bicycles whilst holding an umbrella.

Once we'd completed the prescribed tour we randomly wandered back to Kalverstraat in search of somewhere to have lunch.  And lunch is the subject of a further blog post.

Leaving San Fran, Arriving in Amsterdam

We had another of those rather long and confusing days yesterday, whereby the entire day consisted of signficantly more than 24 hours.  Actually, thinking about it, I think we had 2 days yesterday, but still they totalled more than 48 hours.  San Francisco seems such a distant memory already!

Well, we started the day (Sunday) by wandering down from our hotel to Powell St station again.  This seemingly shortly and therefore surely uneventful walk was anything but.  I have no idea what was going on in San Fran (must check), but we saw zombies, birdmen, walking booths, catgirl, people in their PJs and all manner of oddities!  Ok, just checked, and it must have been Bay to Breakers - a fun run where people dress up, or apparently down (naked).  We didn't see any of the latter costumes!

We managed to get on a train car that was packed with people making their way to the run which made for a fairly festive atmosphere for the first leg of the train journey.  Again, I was interested to watch the architecture and the neighbourhoods on our way to the Airport.  I was surprised by the long lines of connected wooden houses, many of which looked terribly run down.  More exploring is required in San Fran, but that was always planned for our return visit on the way home.

After checking our bags in and getting boarding passes for the next 2 legs of our journey we grabbed a late breakfast / early lunch at a little bar at the airport.  One of the things I love most about food in the US is that you can reliably get a good, fresh and generously sized salad no matter where you are.  My garden fresh salad with chicken and the most garlicly garlic dressing I've ever eaten was enormous - I'd have put out a similarly sized salad as a side for a meal for 4 people at home.  Simon's burger and fries by all accounts was also pretty good.

Our flight was on Lufthansa's new A380 (started flying from SF last Tuesday!).  I can't say we had much more room than usual, but it was nice to once again have touch screen AV units, and we both felt we travelled much better than usual and that the flight did not feel the full 11 hours long - I think it was actually a lot quieter than I am used to on the plane, although I did still use my noise-cancelling headphones for the whole flight.  The last 20 minutes of this flight were a little tense as I had noticed a situation developing about 5 rows in front of us where a women was not conscious, and the crew were not entirely sure what to do - there were about 7 of them conferring in panic-ed tones for some time before eventually putting an oxygen line on her.  This was all occurring as we were beginning our descent in earnest and in fact preparing for landing.  We ended up all remaining seated for quite some time even after taxiing while they managed the situation.  I have no idea of the outcome, but it certainly added a bit of adrenaline to our arrival in Frankfurt. Perhaps this contributed to the flight feeling shorter than it was.

We walked for well over 20 minutes through Frankfurt airport to casually have our passports stamped (I mean seriously casually, I know this is called a formality, but there was nothing formal about the procedure!) Eventually we wound our way to our departure gate about 20 minutes before boarding.

We sat next to a Melbournian who lives in Hanoi and had a tour group of Vietnamese people coming up to Amsterdam later in the week.  We spent most of the flight discussing Outrageous Fortune with him, which he obviously really enjoyed - good to know the show is as well received by non-kiwis.

I thought this flight was meant to be 1:50 long, but it turned out to be a very brief 55 minutes.  Approaching Amsterdam was absolutely lovely - albeit brief, in that there was a massive bank of cloud to descend below, and by the time we had actually cleared it there wasn't a lot of approach remaining!  But the outlook, whilst obviously wet, was also lushishly green, and the canals and brick buildings were a wonderful welcoming glance at our home for the next 8 nights.

Did we go through any form of customs at Amsterdam? Not that I can recall.  I know we taxied further than I've ever been before, to what Simon appropriately observed as 'the arse end of the airport'.  So once again, we walked for miles, well, at least a kilometer, to collect our bags and clear 'customs'.  This involved walking through a door titled 'nothing to declare'.  Literally.  Just waltz on through.  I always find that so odd, being so used to the very detailed and thorough checks at NZ border control. One thing that immediately struck me at the airport - all of the official airport signs and directional signs were solely in English.  There were a couple of billboards in dutch, but that's about it.

Train tickets from Schipol to Centraal were stupidly easy to buy, although it was good to confirm that Simon's credit card (chip card) actually works in the machines here.  Mine wouldn't have.

On arrival at the insanely busy Centraal station we eventually located Tram 2, bought a couple of tickets from the conductor and promptly got off at the first stop (I hadn't realised it was quite that close, but still, it was worth it to avoid dragging our suitcases over the cobbled streets).  The conductor spoke perfect english - just like pretty much every single person we have encountered since.  I don't know if I'm insulting people when I ask them if they speak english or not, but on the otherhand, I don't like to assume!  Still, most shopkeepers have instantly conversed with us in english anyway, and if not, I pointedly ask Simon a question or make a remark to him and they fairly quickly catch on and switch languages from then on anyway.  I feel so bad not making any effort at the language, but it seems to be unnecessary and acceptable.

Moving on - we jumped off the tram and wandered through a couple of little alleyways and over a couple of canals to finally arrive at 86 Sous, our below-road-level apartment for the next 8 nights.  Edwin was on his balcony ready to greet us with a friendly wave as he saw us approaching over the bridge, then gave us the tour of the apartment, instructions on using the TV, the Mac, the Nespresso machine, to text him if we needed the underfloor heating adjusted from upstairs, and then through his fabulous list of bookmarks online with many recommendations for places to eat, for both lunch and dinner!  A splendid host if ever there was one!  I've been excited about staying here since I first found it, and arrival has well met my expectations!  From the old original beams in the ceiling, to the orchid murals on the bathroom doors, the industrial wall lamps, the boat window to the eclectic range of furniture.  Oh! And of course the electronic adjustable bed!  Home sweet home indeed!

Once we'd settled in we wandered out to get some supplies - water, bread, cheese, soap, shampoo.  We didn't however bother to find out where a supermarket was before we left and took quite a while to eventually find one.  But that's all part of the charm of travelling and exploring as far as I'm concerned.  We did eventually find a place up near Centraal station and got what we needed and had a look at all manner of things we've not seen before.  I especially appreciated the number of pure fruit drinks you could buy that had nothing but fruit in them - not a hint of added sugar anywhere.  I chose a cranberry and raspberry smoothie that we later really enjoyed.

On the way back, we popped in to Kaasland, which we had passed on the way - a fabulous little cheese shop with all manner of cheeses on display.  We bought a small wedge of truffle gouda and a lovely soft white goats cheese.  Home again home again, and then past home for another block and a half to find a bakery and buy half (yes half) a loaf of bread to have our cheese with for breakfast the next day.

We had planned on heading out for a cheap and cheerful dinner later, but both fell asleep for a couple of hours and when we woke at 8pm-ish we were both absolutey shattered and instead elected to keep ourselves awake for timezone adjustment purposes, but to finally go to bed at 10pm. It was a thoroughly good night's sleep I can assure you!

Finally, a few 'local' photos - from across the road immediately outside our door, and then about 20 meters away looking away from the canal (Herengracht).  The ubiquitous bicycles, and a typical canal view.