I'm not an experienced world traveler. In fact, my international expeditions thus far in life have all taken place in Canada (which, honestly, is no different than being in the USA). I've heard stories from friends and loved ones about their travel experiences, though, and there is no shortage of anecdotes online. These, of course, are sprinkled with a healthy dose of horror stories--being mugged, being kidnapped, losing your passport and not being able to return home. All of this has made me very wary over the years of branching out in my destinations of choice.
Now, however, I find myself faced with the prospect of visiting not only one, but TWO very different countries: Guatemala next spring, and the Philippines in a year and a half.
What I'm most worried about is having my money, credit card and passport stolen. I'm inordinately afraid of pickpockets even here in the US (at Universal Studios, for example, I walk with my hands in my pockets so that I can be physically touching my money), and I've heard how much worse it is overseas. The easiest and most appealing solution that has been offered to me thus far is to carry everything in one of those under-your-shirt money belts. I've heard, though, that they can be quite bulky and uncomfortable, so I was curious which brand was the most preferred and what other options I might have. Tonight, I sat down to research my options in that regard.
The first thing I came across was actually an actual belt ... at least, at first glance. This has a hidden zippered compartment inside for storing money, a driver's license, a credit card, and even a single key. This option appeals to me, because I would wear a belt anyway--no added, uncomfortable bulk under my clothes required. Plus, it's just fun! I'd feel like James Bond--just a little bit!--with my Top Secret Compartment Belt. The downside is that it's obviously not big enough to carry my passport or boarding pass. In the US, I would just leave these things in my hotel room. Overseas ... not so much.
So I searched on, and found a wallet that's large enough to hold my passport, ticket, credit cards, money, and a partridge in a pear tree. As a bonus, it also blocks RFID, thereby preventing technologically-savvy criminals from obtaining your electronically-stored information. It folds in half and hangs from a lanyard, which allows you to wear it around your neck and tuck it inside your shirt. While it's certainly safe from being pick-pocketed there, it's not in any way secret--people are gonna see it, and unscrupulous fellows will know that it holds your treasured goodies. This, experienced travelers warn, makes you a more tempting target for muggers. Ack!
Not satisfied with that option, I continued to search and came across the Hidden Pocket by Eagle Creek. Large enough for money, credit cards and passport, it hooks to your belt and then tucks inside your pants! That made me think it would be uncomfortable, but the reviews on Amazon.com almost unanimously agree that it's soft, light, and you hardly realize you're wearing it. And as long as your pants aren't super skin-tight, no one else can tell you're wearing it, either. Sounds like a winner to me!
So, after carefully considering the various options, I think I will probably go with both the belt and the hidden pocket. That way I can split my money and cards up, so even if one of my anti-pick-pocket devices fails, I only lose half of my stuff.
This research has also taught me some valuable lessons that I'd not have realized otherwise. The first is that things like the Hidden Pocket and the James Bond Belt aren't intended to be used as wallets--if people see you take them out and/or take money out of them, it sorta defeats the purpose and makes you a target for mugging. The experienced travelers advise to carry money for the day's activities in your pockets like normal, and use the hidden compartments for the rest of your money and things that you need to keep secure by keeping on your person because the housekeeping staff at the hotel can't be trusted.
Some also suggest carrying a decoy wallet--something to appease an attacker and buy you time to get away before they decide to search you more thoroughly. They say, if you get held up, to THROW the decoy wallet as far as you can and then RUN in the opposite direction. While the robber is busy absconding with your decoy (which they purportedly won't open until they have left the scene of the crime), you escape to safety. Assuming, of course, that you don't get shot for irritating the bad guy when you throw it.
Who would've thought this would all be so complicated?!
Showing posts with label Visit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Visit. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Planning a Visit: Guatemala
So! After educating myself about exactly where Guatemala is located, I decided just for the heck of it to do some research into which airlines fly from here to there. Turns out American, United and Delta all do, and for FAR less than it's going to cost us to fly to the Philippines in 2014!
"Hmmmm," I thought to myself. "Baltimore to Guatemala City--with a layover in Miami--takes less than seven hours. That's doable for a four-day weekend!" This is particularly significant because in 2013, Julio and I will be doing a series of mini-vacations, one four-day weekend each month. We'll be alternating who plans each month--mine are the odd months.
After speaking with Julio, we decided that it's okay to trade days between our months ... so I'm thinking that March will be a three-day weekend, allowing for five days in May, which is when I'm thinking of making the trip.
Next step in the investigation process: pass agreements! I know we have one with Delta. A little research has revealed that we have an agreement with American as well, and it will cost a mere fraction of the commercial airfare to get there!
So it looks like this plan is a go! I'd better scurry myself to the Post Office tomorrow and get my Passport application rolling!
ETA:
On the flip side, reading the State Department's warnings and advisories about traveling to Guatemala makes is sound ridiculously dangerous and downright terrifying. Yikes!
"Hmmmm," I thought to myself. "Baltimore to Guatemala City--with a layover in Miami--takes less than seven hours. That's doable for a four-day weekend!" This is particularly significant because in 2013, Julio and I will be doing a series of mini-vacations, one four-day weekend each month. We'll be alternating who plans each month--mine are the odd months.
After speaking with Julio, we decided that it's okay to trade days between our months ... so I'm thinking that March will be a three-day weekend, allowing for five days in May, which is when I'm thinking of making the trip.
Next step in the investigation process: pass agreements! I know we have one with Delta. A little research has revealed that we have an agreement with American as well, and it will cost a mere fraction of the commercial airfare to get there!
So it looks like this plan is a go! I'd better scurry myself to the Post Office tomorrow and get my Passport application rolling!
ETA:
On the flip side, reading the State Department's warnings and advisories about traveling to Guatemala makes is sound ridiculously dangerous and downright terrifying. Yikes!
Friday, August 3, 2012
Planning a Visit: Flights
Today, I tackled the daunting task of beginning to research flight options for a visit to my girls. I have specific things I'm looking for: a non-stop flight from the U.S. to Manila, from a city to which SWA flies, on an airline on which I can Non-Rev travel (aka, save myself a whole lot of moolah by using my airline-employee benefits).
My first choice was Delta. I had been told that they have a non-stop flight from Detroit, MI, to Manila. Unfortunately, I was told incorrectly. Delta does not have ANY non-stop flights from the U.S. to Manila. Strike One.
Next, I did a general search for airlines that fly non-stop from anywhere in the U.S.to Manila. Most were airlines that I had never even heard of. Strike Two.
Philippine Airlines DOES have a couple non-stop connection to U.S. cities. However, I have been warned in the past about the questionable levels of safety on non-U.S. carriers, so more research was in order. Like any airline, PAL has its share of incidents and accidents. However, it doesn't seem out of proportion compared to our U.S. carriers. And they are accredited by the IATA. So things look good on that front.
Even better, PAL has non-stop flights to Manila from San Francisco AND Los Angeles, both of which are cities served by SWA. Score! I think we will opt for SFO, if the flights cooperate. I'm not overly fond LAX.
There is currently one flight per day from SFO to MNL. It leaves SFO at 9:15PM and makes a "technical stop" (whatever that is) in Guam. It arrives in Manila at 5:30AM ... two days later. So if we leave SFO on a Tuesday night, we land in Manila on THURSDAY morning! Yow!
Coming back, there is no stop in Guam. The flight leaves at 10:30PM, and arrives in SFO at 6:30PM on the same day. Haha! That's pretty whacky. =) We'll probably wind up spending the night in SFO, and then flying on Southwest back to Baltimore the next morning.
So there we are! It's still far too early to actually arrange for travel passes ... but now the initial research is done!
My first choice was Delta. I had been told that they have a non-stop flight from Detroit, MI, to Manila. Unfortunately, I was told incorrectly. Delta does not have ANY non-stop flights from the U.S. to Manila. Strike One.
Next, I did a general search for airlines that fly non-stop from anywhere in the U.S.to Manila. Most were airlines that I had never even heard of. Strike Two.
Philippine Airlines DOES have a couple non-stop connection to U.S. cities. However, I have been warned in the past about the questionable levels of safety on non-U.S. carriers, so more research was in order. Like any airline, PAL has its share of incidents and accidents. However, it doesn't seem out of proportion compared to our U.S. carriers. And they are accredited by the IATA. So things look good on that front.
Even better, PAL has non-stop flights to Manila from San Francisco AND Los Angeles, both of which are cities served by SWA. Score! I think we will opt for SFO, if the flights cooperate. I'm not overly fond LAX.
There is currently one flight per day from SFO to MNL. It leaves SFO at 9:15PM and makes a "technical stop" (whatever that is) in Guam. It arrives in Manila at 5:30AM ... two days later. So if we leave SFO on a Tuesday night, we land in Manila on THURSDAY morning! Yow!
Coming back, there is no stop in Guam. The flight leaves at 10:30PM, and arrives in SFO at 6:30PM on the same day. Haha! That's pretty whacky. =) We'll probably wind up spending the night in SFO, and then flying on Southwest back to Baltimore the next morning.
So there we are! It's still far too early to actually arrange for travel passes ... but now the initial research is done!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Saving for a Visit: The Early Stages
A few weeks ago, I began saving for a trip to the Philippines to visit my girls. I plan to go in January 2014, which leaves me a year and a half to save. I'm off to a great start (I think) with a couple hundred dollars socked away ... but I don't really even know what my target amount is.
Some of it has been easy to research. Airfare, thanks to my employment, is going to be a fraction of the normal cost (around $300 each for me and Julio). Hotels ... well, the Marriott in Manila is $185 a night, which is quite steep for a 4-night stay. I love the Marriott, but I think I will have to look elsewhere. Ideally, I'd like to keep the Manila hotel under $500 total. Luckily, CI can recommend safe, reliable hotels in each of the Sponsorship cities. So I'll get their list, and go from there.
Then there will be transportation from Manila to Tabaco, and from Tabaco to Legaspi. We can take a bus, or we can take a puddle-jumper plane. Each has its own safety concerns. I may opt for the bus, though, since I'm not traveling alone. On the other hand .... it's a six-hour drive. Yikes!
After that, I've figured on $100 each for my girls to go shopping while I am there. So that's $800.
I'd like to visit maybe two of my metro Manila girls each day, and then use one day to take all of them to an amusement park or water park or pool. So that's admission for me, Julio, our CI translator and driver, each girl, and whatever members of their families come along. One of my fellow LiftOne sponsors often visits her children in the Philippines, and she mentioned that there is a place called La Mesa quite near one of the Sponsorship centers. This seems a likely candidate for my outing with my girls. Admission is $3 per person, making it an inexpensive venue for group fun! Of course, my girls may not own swimsuits ... I'll have to ask about that.
By very, very rough estimate, I'm pegging the expense at around $3500. I think I'll set my initial savings goal at $5000, to give a good buffer. So if I save around $300 a month, I'll surpass that goal. That's completely doable ... it's only two overtime shifts per month!
Some of it has been easy to research. Airfare, thanks to my employment, is going to be a fraction of the normal cost (around $300 each for me and Julio). Hotels ... well, the Marriott in Manila is $185 a night, which is quite steep for a 4-night stay. I love the Marriott, but I think I will have to look elsewhere. Ideally, I'd like to keep the Manila hotel under $500 total. Luckily, CI can recommend safe, reliable hotels in each of the Sponsorship cities. So I'll get their list, and go from there.
Then there will be transportation from Manila to Tabaco, and from Tabaco to Legaspi. We can take a bus, or we can take a puddle-jumper plane. Each has its own safety concerns. I may opt for the bus, though, since I'm not traveling alone. On the other hand .... it's a six-hour drive. Yikes!
After that, I've figured on $100 each for my girls to go shopping while I am there. So that's $800.
I'd like to visit maybe two of my metro Manila girls each day, and then use one day to take all of them to an amusement park or water park or pool. So that's admission for me, Julio, our CI translator and driver, each girl, and whatever members of their families come along. One of my fellow LiftOne sponsors often visits her children in the Philippines, and she mentioned that there is a place called La Mesa quite near one of the Sponsorship centers. This seems a likely candidate for my outing with my girls. Admission is $3 per person, making it an inexpensive venue for group fun! Of course, my girls may not own swimsuits ... I'll have to ask about that.
By very, very rough estimate, I'm pegging the expense at around $3500. I think I'll set my initial savings goal at $5000, to give a good buffer. So if I save around $300 a month, I'll surpass that goal. That's completely doable ... it's only two overtime shifts per month!
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