Transportation / Guide Services
| Unusual Experiences | Food | Other
Tips |
Lodgings - Africa | Asia
| Europe | Caribbean |
My family
and I travel all over the world for fun and business, and we have accumulated
a number of tips, cheap ways to do things, knowledge of things that aren't all
that easy to find out, oddities, and other tidbits (such as sharing recipes
for our favorite world foods) along the way. As they occur to me, I will post
more.
My first
and foremost tip: Learn enough of the language to be polite! Hello, goodbye,
please, thank you, you're welcome, and the numbers (plus "how much is that?",
an important one for me) are completely learnable for anyone in any language
(except maybe tonal languages like Mandarin, and even those you can memorize)
and are the best thing you can do for yourself to ensure a better experience
on your trip. Many people abroad don't like Americans. Sometimes it's because
we're arrogant and expect everyone to speak English. Sometimes there are other
reasons, like the fact that Americans I have observed are often outright rude.
OK, you can hate me for that statement, but I can't tell you how many times
I have watched "situations" develop that need never have happened
with a few cultural manners. (See second tip below.) You
can do your bit to be a traveler, not a tourist, by following the above advice.
Second
tip, study the etiquette of the country to which you are travelling. I really
like the "Culture Shock" series, but any good guide will do, or even
reading reputable websites that give you the same information. This is especially
true if you are a business traveler. I can't tell you how much grief that an
etiquette book saved us on our recent business/pleasure trip to Japan, on the
matter of business cards for one, and many other things too, like what to say
to the host before and after the welcome banquet. Don't say the polite thing
and you're a barbarian. Do, and you're at least a well mannered barbarian!
Americans
are more casual than almost anyone else in the world. Therefore, we can offend
other people unwittingly just by being "us". Please take the customs
and manners of the countries you visit seriously, as you would expect travelers
from other countries to do in the US.
That said,
here are links to specific facts, tips and tricks for you. I thrive on cheap
lodgings, although occasionally I will stay at a 4-star hotel if the price is
right (see Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur). I have listed the ones I have stayed in
and the ones I have booked for 2007 trip to Europe here (hotels from 2009 trip
to Asia added 9/11/09). The transportation hints work for me, except that the
European airlines are all new to me this year - will report back after I have
flown in May/June 2007 (they were awesome, no problems at all - revised 9/11/09).
The unusual experiences are things I think everyone should do, since they're
just so cool. And I enjoyed international food and wanted to share. At some
point I will post specific restaurants in the places we have traveled. Here's
my list so far...
Transportation
/ Guide Services (return to top)
Lodgings
by Area (Many are $100 or less a night, depending on travel
season. Sometimes we splurge. Always splurge once each trip, is my advice) (return
to top)
Africa/Egypt
- Cairo - Oasis
Hotel, pool closes at night for hookah bar, otherwise nice (stayed 2001)
Asia
- Bali
- Villa
Jamrud at Tirta Gangga Water Palace
- Former Sultan's
palace, extensive water gardens that are all yours to use and swim
in. Not very expensive (stayed 2005 and 2009, wonderful experience)
- Home of the
Wombat Song
- Tegal
Sari Hotel, Ubud
Rent the wooden room if you can, it's awesome! (stayed 2005)
- Updated 9/11/09:
Stayed in the Deluxe double with the hot tub outside while children stayed
in wooden room. Another wonderful room. I really don't know which one
I would pick at this point when I go again!
- Japan
- Watazen Ryokan (stayed 2007, see my review on trip
advisor)
- Malaysia
- Le
Meridien - Kuala Lumpur (stayed 2005)
Very cheap, nice people, just a great experience, central location right
over train station
- Kuala
Lumpur Hilton (2009)
Very cheap for a 4-star, awesome swimming pool that we didn't go in because
of lightning, and wonderful food. Actually right next door to Le Meridien,
shares an entrance
- There is not a lot
to see in KL. Shopping
is awesome, especially at the cultural
center (don't let the taxi drivers take you around to special factories,
they're a rip-off). Petaling street is a lot of fun but bargain hard,
especially around closing time.If they say "Only for you, 180",
you say 60 and stick to it. Walk away if they don't come below 90, and
buy it for 65, whatever "it" is - that is, if you really want
"it". My kid got very good at this and she's 18 - you can do
it too!
- Singapore
- We stayed in two
places, one on the way in-country and one on the way out
- Coming in:
Crowne Plaza Changi is right in the airport. Very convenient if
you arrive at 2am as we did. It was far from the city but so worth
it. Taxi drivers really don't like to take you to the cheapo terminal
from there though to make in-country flights, since they then have
to wait andother 1-2 hours in line and the fare is not much.
- Going Out: Changi
Village Hotel. Like a Ramada Express, nothing fancy, not worth
it for the price. THe rooms do NOT look like they do on the website
- Sumatra (2009)
- Cubadak
Paradiso
What can I say, it IS paradise. We stayed in the hut that's over the water,
and it's about 1/3 to 1/2 what you'd pay in Tahiti for the same thing,
plus the food (fresh from the sea daily, plus meat and pasta dishes) is
included. It's a bit far from the hut to the dining room if you have a
bum knee like I do, but somehow I made it when that dinner bell rang.
The only place I have stayed where you have excellent snorkeling by jumping
off your porch (deep side only please). Marc and Dominique are fabulous,
and I was well taken care of even though I never met Nanni and Federica.
Try it, you'll love it. Only thing to watch for: the drivers in Sumatra
are...interesting. Close your eyes and pray, meditate, whatever. You'll
be happier.
- Hotel
Batang Arau
Hotel is funky and great, buy the Kopi Luwak there is you are going
to buy it at all, excellent food, surfer ambiance. Very steep stairs!
Padang is, however, the armpit of the world and we were glad to go to
the Highlands the next day with Jack
(can be contacted through Bagoes Cafe in Maninjau, more than adequate
English, likes to play American Rock, knows wonderful places, take his
word for it - you won't be sorry. Excellent guide and careful driver!
- Echo
Homestay
Jack
arranged this, it was SO worth it. Monkeys hooting all night, good food
and cheap, interesting ambiance, nice trails and hiking if you have time
Thailand
- Bangkok - Royal
Orchid Sheraton, not that expensive and incredible views. Try the
terrace at night for dessert buffet and river views (stayed 2005)
- Chiang Mai - Tamarind
VIllage (stayed 2005)
Caribbean
Europe
- England - The
New Inn, Salisbury (14th Century) (stayed 2001) If you're taller than
6', you will have to ben in the rooms. I at 5'7" couldn't stretch my
arms much over my head to take off a t-shirt. Lots of fun and atmosphere,
and a great rose garden behind the hotel for evening food.
- Finland
- Hotel
Porvoon Mitta - Porvoo (about 50km outside Helsinki, we love staying
out in the countryside). Great village, on a river, close to everywhere
we wanted to go, excellent food (there is an escargot restaurant right
behind the hotel, something you just don't see in Scandanavia much).
- France -
- Italy
- Castello
della Serre - Serre di Rapalano, Tuscany awesome, awesome awesome1
great location, and Salvatore gives the best tips for where to go in the
countryside. Stay, even if the cheap rooms are gone. You won't be sorry.
Check out my review on trip
advisor)
- Alcova
del Doge - Mira near Venice, wasn't as nice as I would have thought,
too far from Venice even with a car due to traffic jams, wouldn't stay
again if my target was Venice. Otherwise, I would. The food was good,
cheap cokes, comfortable room, although parking was dodgy
- Malta - Gharb,
Gozo (stayed 2001)
- Scotland - Barcaldine
Castle (stayed 2001) Go for it! We will be staying again when we go back
in 2010.
- Thailand - Elephant
Rescue Park, stay overnight or longer
- Bali - Bali
Children's Project - visit the school, teach English for a day or a year.
These people are SO nice!
- Bali - Canyon
Tubing and riding quads in the jungle. Not to be missed!
- Bali - Ubud, good spa
Sang Spa, will pick you up, very good food during the day, great prices.
Get the all inclusive package, you'll be happy
- Berlin - Nocti
Vagus, a dark restaurant. Incredible experience. Make sure you get your
waiter to reveal him or herself after the dinner - I was so shocked at what
I thought he looked like (as I made it up in my head from his voice) and what
he really looked like. Makes one wonder. We didn't spill, had wonderful food,
and were passing things back and forth like pros midway through the meal.
- Rome - do the tour
under the Vatican! There's an old Roman necropolis under the Vatican and
you literally get to stroll through it, plus when you come up, you're in parts
of the Vatican that I had never seen before. Reserve two months or more in
advance.
- Rome - Capella
Capuchini: The Capuchin monks have been arranging their dead as artwork
for centuries. One of the most unusual displays I have ever seen
- Rome - And for something
purely fascinating - centuries of Rome and multiple cultures in one spot.
Basilica
de Santa Clementina
- Seattle - Underground
Seattle
- Singapore - Try the
fish reflexology at Underwater
World on Sentosa Island. I'm serious. Tiny fishes nibble at your feet
as they soak. The first few seconds (ok, minutes) are weird but after that
it's really nifty. And no, they don't bite - the just nibble away that dead
skin. The one at the aquarium was the best, we saw, the rest had very few
fish. Take the big fish if you have the choice, more fish and less people.
The best part? getting your feet and legs massaged in the chair afterwards
and listening to the new people scream! I wish I could remember the name of
the henna tatto place we went to in Little India. She was wonderful. It's
upstairs, and in back of her brother's art shop. If I remember more, I will
post.
- Singapore - Go to the
Night Safari,
very unusual and interesting
- Singapore - swim
with pink dolphins. They really are pink (more so if they're older). Joint
admission with Underwater World, which is an interesing if small aquarium
(it's not Monterey, OK?)
- Kyoto - Maiko/Geiko
(Geisha) Makeover
- Kyoto - Arashiyama VIllage,
the Bamboo Walk, beautiful and great shopping!
- Bali
- Curacao -
- Japan
(how to eat cheaply)
- Egypt
- the grilled foods
and salads are incredible, go ahead and eat - find a buffet - we ate at
one in Giza a lot but can't remember the name
- Rome
(and everywhere else)
- If you're like me,
you like ice in your drinks and that ain't happening in Europe. Or Asia.
So if you need a safe ice fix, head for your nearest Hard
Rock Cafe. That's right. I've never been to one in the US, but I have
been to many in Asia and Europe, all to keep my dentist in business by
chewing ice. You know who you are! Have at it!
Last updated 12/12/2009