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Departure Lounge

Share your travel information, advice, hints and tips. Please choose from one of the countries or regions below.

Number of topics
Branches
38,687

Africa

Looking for a latte in Lesotho or a truckin' good transcontinental time

5,922

Americas - Canada

Dog sledding, Maple Leafs and more shoreline than the Caribbean

4,395

Americas - Caribbean

Fun, sun and sand in your shorts

20,271

Americas - Central America

From the cloud forests to the blue holes

6,622

Americas - Cuba

It's more than just cigars, rum and old cars

10,849

Americas - Mexico

Akumal to Zipolite, Aztecs to Zapatistas.. y tequila!

42,414

Americas - South America

Supplement your Shoestring with the word from the road

14,598

Americas - United States of America

From sea to shining sea

4,292

Asia - Central Asia

Here a 'stan, there a 'stan, everywhere a 'stan 'stan

32,264

Asia - Indian Subcontinent

Not only elephants, snake charmers, price rises, immodium and curry in a hurry

31,680

Asia - North-East Asia

From teaching in Tokyo to travelling through Tibet

23,118

Asia - South-East Asia Islands & Peninsula

Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore

26,507

Asia - South-East Asia Mainland

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam

27,091

Asia - Thailand

The lowdown on the land of smiles

18,002

Australasia & Pacific - Australia, New Zealand & Antarctica

Do they speak English? Is there a bridge to NZ? Are kangaroos poisonous?

3,941

Australasia & Pacific - Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea

Sun-drenched beaches, swaying palms, rising ocean levels...

23,372

Europe - Eastern Europe and the Caucasus

Czech out all the vital info

5,234

Europe - Scandinavia

Fjords and hiking, meet some Vikings - Nordic Europe will be to your likings!

9,887

Europe - UK & Ireland

Two islands, infinite opportunities, all on one branch

33,288

Europe - Western Europe

Bacalhau to bratwurst, frites to zabaglione - Also, there's art

14,287

Middle East

...and does anyone know about that Israeli passport stamp

Recent threads in this category:

Read

posted
03-Dec-2009 21:07
by: sh5rb99 »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:49
by: qwovadis »

3 replies , 37 views

Visa Problem in Argentina-Chile-Brazil-etc

Greetings all,

Im currently in El Calafate, Argentina and will be heading to Puerto Natales, Chile this afternoon. I am a dual citizen of the UK and the US and entered into Argentina on a US passport. Id like to switch to a UK passport to ensure that I dont have to pay the reciprocity fees of the US (which are quite ridiculous by the way). From what I have researched, I understand that there is NO visa fee for US citizens when entering into Chile overland, but that flying into Santiago international is when it costs $100.

My question is: when I do the border crossing in Chile, will they want to see a tourist visa from Argentina in my US passport or can I just hand them my UK and switch nationalities? Should I just hand them both passports or is this when it can get dicey? The reason why I would want to do this is for later on in the trip to not have to pay visa fees in th... more »

Read

posted
03-Dec-2009 14:29
by: chrsconnolly »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:48
by: gogolbo »

5 replies , 46 views

rock climbing

Can anybody give me any good links to rock climbing places, I really want to do some climbing while I am in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, I will be in the central to Northern parts of the three countries so can anyone help me out? Give me names of good places to climb and good groups to organise a climb with? (I will not be able to bring my harnass with me just my shoes)
Even any sport climbing/bouldering place suggestions would be welcome

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posted
02-Dec-2009 03:38
by: berkutchi »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:48
by: berkutchi »

3 replies , 106 views location: India

Train ticket in advance / Delhi - Haridwar - Delhi

Hi all,

I'll arrive in Delhi in the morning of 13th January, and I need to visit Kumbh Mela in Haridwar immediately. I'd like to know how to book train tickets in advance.

I need to get to Haridwar during 13th, then stay there for work 14-15, and return to Delhi on 16th (my flight to next destination is in the early morning of 17th Jan).

Can I book train tickets online, or through some travel agency in Delhi ? Because of the very limited time for Kumbh Mela, I'm not looking for the cheapest budget options but the most reliable way of getting there & back.

Thanks for any help !

Read

posted
18-Sep-2009 15:25
by: leeanthonyhk »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:47
by: leeanthonyhk »

10 replies , 432 views location: Indonesia

Currency to be paid in Borobudor/Prambanan and ATM question

Everyone went to Borobudor/Prambanan paid USD12/USD11.
Because I don't have USD on hand, exchanging just small amount for the admission fee is not fun for me. So I am wondering can I pay the admission fee by Rp.? If yes, how much (Rp.) would it be?

How much can I take once (or per day) in a ATM in Yogjakarta with my "Plus" bank card?

Thank you.

Read

posted
04-Apr-2007 00:25
by: Yonaton777 »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:46
by: juergy »

12 replies , 1,183 views location: Togo

Safety Situation in Togo , Getting Car in Lome

Anyone know the safety situation in Togo for crime? I was planning on maybe embarking on a trip through Ghana, Togo and Benin. Reading USA State Department reports are gruesome as usual and essentially make the place look forbiddable. However, I would still like to go and would like to know any safety issues people had when travelling in the country. Is it dangerous to travel at night? I would probably doing all travelling during the day. Anyone know of problems of carjackings, robberies, etc or areas to avoid; especially in Lome. My friends are Ewes from Ghana and would guide me and translate, as I don't speak French. I know in the past I heard of political unrest in Togo, but I think that most of that is not a major problem to tourists as of now. My goals are to travel to the remote villages and small towns and experience the richer culture of West Africa I thought was lack... more »

Forum: Africa
Read

posted
02-Dec-2009 05:53
by: teebee2 »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:45
by: LizandAlan »

7 replies , 132 views

Anchorage, AK - 2 Days

I have a business trip coming up to Anchorage and will have 2 days on my own. I have never been to Alaska and wondering how to best spend the little free time I have and make the most of it. I don't need hotel or restaurant suggestions...more along the lines of things to do - visit a national park? drive a specific route?

Suggestions?

Read

posted
03-Dec-2009 01:48
by: belcampo_1978 »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:45
by: davidh »

3 replies , 71 views location: Uganda

Can i use my Mastercard in Uganda and Rwanda (not my creditcard)?

Hi, i have a Mastercard debit-card (if that;s what you call it, it's not a creditcard),
and i'm heading of to Uganda and Rwanda within a month.
I've read a lot about this, but the info is either unclear, and/or very dated.

Does anyone have any recent information on the use of a Mastercard-debitcard in Rwanda and Uganda?

Thanks!

Forum: Africa
Read

posted
03-Dec-2009 23:51
by: JonMW »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:45
by: JonMW »

5 replies , 50 views

9 hour layover in JFK

Possible itinerary with a ~9 hour layover in JFK between ~2:45 pm and 11:45 pm on Dec 12. Don't have to recheck bags as both flights are with Delta. Looking for suggestions as to how to occupy myself and if it's worthwhile heading into Manhattan. How long does it take to get there from the airport?

Cheers.

Jon

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posted
29-Nov-2009 19:45
by: dustyroad »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:44
by: chitralguy »

6 replies , 186 views location: Nepal

Everest Base Camp Trek (25th January - 8 February 2010)

Hi all,

Anyone interested in joining us?

We know it's going to be in the middle of winter but we have no other time to go and we would really love to do this. The only real worry would be a flight delay form Lukla-KTM.

Any tips from anyone regarding this trip would be extremely helpful. Especially those who have travelled in the Jan - Feb period, or have any information on possible flight delays.

Thanks a lot mates!

Read

posted
29-Nov-2009 15:50
by: chomsky4prez »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:44
by: Websterella »

4 replies , 93 views

SEATTLE BEST HOTEL FOR NEW YEARS EVE W/ MY BF

Anyone ever stay where you could see the Space Needle to get a view of the fireworks or are the hotels near there not too nice? I live in Seattle but want to spend the evening celebrating away from my home....any recommendations. Price not over 250.00. Anything special you can think of...my BF's been away and I'd like to surprise him for New Years.

Read

posted
03-Dec-2009 04:48
by: JeremyintheCzec... »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:44
by: Websterella »

15 replies , 291 views

Pages 1 2

American control of Aliens.

From the respected British journalist, Gavin Esler, who recently arrived in America:

When I arrived from London two days ago I was stopped as usual by the immigration authorities. I handed over my passport, my completed immigration and customs forms, was fingerprinted and photographed.

"Why are you here?" the Homeland Security lady asked me.

"Because the president is scheduled to announce a big increase in US troop numbers in Afghanistan."

"Who do you work for?"

"The BBC."

"How do you spell that?"

Hmmm. A tricky one. How do you spell BBC?

"Er, B... B... C..."

The lady looked at me.

"Do you have any identification?"

"You are holding my passport," I said, with a smile.

I tell this story because, while I love America and lived here for many years, the ways of the US bureaucracy are often beyond weird. more »

Read

posted
03-Dec-2009 10:47
by: JJack »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:43
by: 10caipirinhas »

4 replies , 96 views

a tiny bit of common sense is slowly entering the public consciousness

Canada is being criticized by some for not setting aggressive enough targets for carbon emissions. But what with the recent exposure of data manipulation that has been going on by "scientists" at the Climate Research Institute, the mainstream media is finally starting to report both sides of the story.

After several years of refusing to report any views contrary to the nonsense put forth by Al Gore and his disciples, we are seeing more and more newspapers starting to print the opposing views. And journalists that have been insisting that "the science is settled" are suddenly starting to question this science (something they've been shamefully remiss about in the past).

Human-induced global warming will eventually go down in history as just one more example of human folly, along with the impending ice age reported in the 70's, Y2K, SARS, bird flu, and H1N1.

Read

posted
25-Nov-2009 14:16
by: tsargrendel »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:42
by: thesteppenomad »

9 replies , 233 views location: Russia

JFK-Moscow Aeroflot in Late March

Hey, I'm thinking about flying to Moscow from JFk on Aeroflot in late March and I have a few questions. I've been hearing some pretty bad things about Aeroflot and I'm wondering if there's anything to these reviews, as most of them are at least a year or so old. So has anyone flow this route recently? How is Aeroflot? Thanks

Read

posted
03-Dec-2009 23:32
by: ellalangoon »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:41
by: zincou »

1 replies , 16 views location: Syria

Cross Post - Single female traveling alone in ME?

Just cross-posting this in all the individual country threads. As an added note - the list of countries is not the order of which I would plan to travel them.

Hi all

Can anyone tell me what it’s like travelling in the ME independently (in particular as a single female)? I’m considering planning a trip there for Dec 2010/Jan 2011 (only time I can get off from work) but have been told I should only go with a group (that should have at least 1 guy in it) to avoid harassment. Can’t convince anyone I know to go with me. I have looked into various tour companies such as Intrepid, Kamuka and Peregrine, but the problem is I’d like to take in Turkey (would like to, at the very least, incl. Cappadocia, possibly Gallipoli & Troy), Iran (mostly for Persepolis), Syria, Israel (mostly Tel Aviv, but also Jerusalem & maybe Bethlehem), Jordan (for Petra), Lebanon & Egypt. As one of my main goa... more »

Forum: Middle East
Read

posted
28-Oct-2009 01:17
by: chitralguy »

last reply
04-Dec-2009 01:41
by: chitralguy »

1216 replies , 11,083 views location: India

Pages 1 2 3 4 ... 82

I'm listening to,,,,,,,

I'm listening to the Bollywood song

" Aja main hawaon pay bitha kay lai chaloon Tu hi to meri dost hai,
Aja main khlaoan main utha kay lay chaloon tu hi to meri dost hai.

And you????

 

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