A solution to lack of onward ticket problems is to book a fully flexible
flight out of the country, show that as onward proof and then get a refund
once you're in.  Depending on the airline/tariff, you can typically recoup
95% of the ticket value this way (often the ticket face value minus an
administration charge).  It's a cost each time, but I like to think of it as
insurance.

cheers
Steve




On 1 February 2010 01:04, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...> wrote:

> Hi Josh
>
> I don't think dress has much to do with it in this case.  I was dressed in
> shorts and shirt no better and no worse than 90% of the other people
> checking in.  I'm mid 40's respectable looking etc .  The important thing
> to
> realise is that you have two hurdles.  (1) to be allowed to board your
> plane
> in the first place (2) To get through immigration when you actually arrive.
>
> For (2) your dress, wealth etc is relevant.  The  immigration officer is
> really just trying to stop illegal economic migrants so will generally have
> the flexibility to take a view and just waive you through.  Your real
> problem is with (1) because generally speaking the airlines will be fined,
> often quite a bit of money if they do allow someone to travel who
> technically shouldn't be allowed in the country.  I've been to the phils 4
> times and had onward ticket issues each time.  Sometimes the airline staff
> will take a view sometimes not. In reality (1) there is a 99% chance that
> PI  immigration wont cause a problem and even if they did, the bottom line
> is that i would just make an online booking for the cheapest international
> flight available so they are not really taking a risk. However it's all
> pretty random, maybe  i was unlucky in picking an particularly officious
> checkin guy this time, maybe they had just been sent a memo warning them to
> be sure everyone had onward tickets,  but for sure next time i will write
> down a fake flight number -  with a different airline - as an insurance
> policy.
>
> As a general rule i find the best way to deal with these issues is to stay
> calm and unemotional.  Escalating to a superior is risky as if the guy is
> just playing it by the book, the supervisor may just confirm this qnd you
> are then entrenched.  Try to find out the minimum needed to satisfy his
> "tick this box" requirement, this won't always be clear he started off with
> " a print out of your ticket" and ended up with just the flight number
> would
> be ok.  te guy felt a bit guilty about it all, and  when i was late to
> board
> - having wondered in the wrong direction for the gate, ran about 1 Km
> around
> the airport looking for me to get me on the flight in time.
>
> Apart from the Phils, the other problem where i have had big  hassles is
> New
> Zealand (typically it countries with no land borders - or dictatorships
> such
> as Myanmar that are of concern.  In the NZ case Qantas wouldn't let me
> board
> for Australia as i had a coffee stain on my passport, so i had to go back
> to
> Wellington and get a new  passport issued.
>
> On 1 February 2010 07:21, joshesq <joshesq@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Wade,
> > If you don't mind telling us: How were you dressed when you ran into your
> > problems at the aeroport? I have heard a few anecdotal stories like
> yours,
> > but have never had even a question on any of my extended trips (and a
> good
> > thing; I now almost never have onward tickets for a majority of the
> > countries I visit). I always assume that they let me through without a
> > problem because (1)I am a USA citizen and (2) I am not dressed like a
> > stereotypical backpacker (ie, I don't have long dirty hair, tie-dyed
> shirts,
> > etc.), and (2) I am carrying $20,000 worth of camera equipment with me.
> In
> > other words, I don't fit at all the profile of someone who will overstay
> his
> > visa/visit.
> >
> > Can anyone else confirm this? Anyone dressed like a businessman who still
> > was asked for proof of an onward ticket at the aeroport? For those who
> were
> > asked for this, how were you dressed, and what kind of luggage did you
> have
> > (ie, what did it look like to an outside observer?)?
> >
> > Wade, quick-thinking on your part, to call your hotel and get a flight
> > number to provide. From now on, whenever I do make a flight without an
> > onward ticket, I will spend the 5-10 minutes on-line in advance, so that
> I
> > have (fictitious) flight information that I can provide if necessary.
> >
> > -josh
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

cool  did u ask  her  if  she  has  collected  my laundry and  given it to
the penthouse to  look after?

On 1 February 2010 16:26, Steve James <stephenjohnjames@...> wrote:

>
>
> A solution to lack of onward ticket problems is to book a fully flexible
> flight out of the country, show that as onward proof and then get a refund
> once you're in. Depending on the airline/tariff, you can typically recoup
> 95% of the ticket value this way (often the ticket face value minus an
> administration charge). It's a cost each time, but I like to think of it as
> insurance.
>
> cheers
> Steve
>
>
> On 1 February 2010 01:04, Wade Allsopp
<wade.allsopp@...<wade.allsopp%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Josh
> >
> > I don't think dress has much to do with it in this case. I was dressed in
> > shorts and shirt no better and no worse than 90% of the other people
> > checking in. I'm mid 40's respectable looking etc . The important thing
> > to
> > realise is that you have two hurdles. (1) to be allowed to board your
> > plane
> > in the first place (2) To get through immigration when you actually
> arrive.
> >
> > For (2) your dress, wealth etc is relevant. The immigration officer is
> > really just trying to stop illegal economic migrants so will generally
> have
> > the flexibility to take a view and just waive you through. Your real
> > problem is with (1) because generally speaking the airlines will be
> fined,
> > often quite a bit of money if they do allow someone to travel who
> > technically shouldn't be allowed in the country. I've been to the phils 4
> > times and had onward ticket issues each time. Sometimes the airline staff
> > will take a view sometimes not. In reality (1) there is a 99% chance that
> > PI immigration wont cause a problem and even if they did, the bottom line
> > is that i would just make an online booking for the cheapest
> international
> > flight available so they are not really taking a risk. However it's all
> > pretty random, maybe i was unlucky in picking an particularly officious
> > checkin guy this time, maybe they had just been sent a memo warning them
> to
> > be sure everyone had onward tickets, but for sure next time i will write
> > down a fake flight number - with a different airline - as an insurance
> > policy.
> >
> > As a general rule i find the best way to deal with these issues is to
> stay
> > calm and unemotional. Escalating to a superior is risky as if the guy is
> > just playing it by the book, the supervisor may just confirm this qnd you
> > are then entrenched. Try to find out the minimum needed to satisfy his
> > "tick this box" requirement, this won't always be clear he started off
> with
> > " a print out of your ticket" and ended up with just the flight number
> > would
> > be ok. te guy felt a bit guilty about it all, and when i was late to
> > board
> > - having wondered in the wrong direction for the gate, ran about 1 Km
> > around
> > the airport looking for me to get me on the flight in time.
> >
> > Apart from the Phils, the other problem where i have had big hassles is
> > New
> > Zealand (typically it countries with no land borders - or dictatorships
> > such
> > as Myanmar that are of concern. In the NZ case Qantas wouldn't let me
> > board
> > for Australia as i had a coffee stain on my passport, so i had to go back
> > to
> > Wellington and get a new passport issued.
> >
> > On 1 February 2010 07:21, joshesq <joshesq@...<joshesq%40yahoo.com>>
> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Wade,
> > > If you don't mind telling us: How were you dressed when you ran into
> your
> > > problems at the aeroport? I have heard a few anecdotal stories like
> > yours,
> > > but have never had even a question on any of my extended trips (and a
> > good
> > > thing; I now almost never have onward tickets for a majority of the
> > > countries I visit). I always assume that they let me through without a
> > > problem because (1)I am a USA citizen and (2) I am not dressed like a
> > > stereotypical backpacker (ie, I don't have long dirty hair, tie-dyed
> > shirts,
> > > etc.), and (2) I am carrying $20,000 worth of camera equipment with me.
> > In
> > > other words, I don't fit at all the profile of someone who will
> overstay
> > his
> > > visa/visit.
> > >
> > > Can anyone else confirm this? Anyone dressed like a businessman who
> still
> > > was asked for proof of an onward ticket at the aeroport? For those who
> > were
> > > asked for this, how were you dressed, and what kind of luggage did you
> > have
> > > (ie, what did it look like to an outside observer?)?
> > >
> > > Wade, quick-thinking on your part, to call your hotel and get a flight
> > > number to provide. From now on, whenever I do make a flight without an
> > > onward ticket, I will spend the 5-10 minutes on-line in advance, so
> that
> > I
> > > have (fictitious) flight information that I can provide if necessary.
> > >
> > > -josh
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Its possible that whether or not you already have a visa might be a
big part as well. I flew from seattle to beijing on a cheap oneway
ticket and had no problems... I had a valid 1 year multi entry Chinese
visa in my passport. I was worried again when I got my KL to India
1way ticket, so I went to the airasia shop in penang and they gave me
a printout of the rules they follow... In this case, all that was req
was a valid Indian visa, which I had. A few moments ago I bought a
flight from Kolkata to KL... This time no visa - malaysia gives 90
days on arrival. However, I don't know if its a visa on arrival or
visa waiver which I suspect are two different things. I also don't
know if having a visa like I did for china and india guarentees (bad
spelling) you entry or not... there's certainly no promises from
malaysia that they'll even let me in. In which case airasia is
reeponsible for me and thus may not let me board. In past years i have
flown between the usa and england and thailand on 1ways with no
problems. Tho the stiff in the UK asked alot of questions but seemed
quiickly satisfied with my very detailed itinerary that found me out
of the country in 2 weeks time. A very friendly German immigration guy
took great delight in patting my big bavarian beer belly and remarking
on my very bavarian last name so who knows what other factors these
border guys take into account (grin)

On 2/1/10, Steve James <stephenjohnjames@...> wrote:
> A solution to lack of onward ticket problems is to book a fully flexible
> flight out of the country, show that as onward proof and then get a refund
> once you're in.  Depending on the airline/tariff, you can typically recoup
> 95% of the ticket value this way (often the ticket face value minus an
> administration charge).  It's a cost each time, but I like to think of it as
> insurance.
>
> cheers
> Steve
>
>
>
>
> On 1 February 2010 01:04, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...> wrote:
>
>> Hi Josh
>>
>> I don't think dress has much to do with it in this case.  I was dressed in
>> shorts and shirt no better and no worse than 90% of the other people
>> checking in.  I'm mid 40's respectable looking etc .  The important thing
>> to
>> realise is that you have two hurdles.  (1) to be allowed to board your
>> plane
>> in the first place (2) To get through immigration when you actually
>> arrive.
>>
>> For (2) your dress, wealth etc is relevant.  The  immigration officer is
>> really just trying to stop illegal economic migrants so will generally
>> have
>> the flexibility to take a view and just waive you through.  Your real
>> problem is with (1) because generally speaking the airlines will be fined,
>> often quite a bit of money if they do allow someone to travel who
>> technically shouldn't be allowed in the country.  I've been to the phils 4
>> times and had onward ticket issues each time.  Sometimes the airline staff
>> will take a view sometimes not. In reality (1) there is a 99% chance that
>> PI  immigration wont cause a problem and even if they did, the bottom line
>> is that i would just make an online booking for the cheapest international
>> flight available so they are not really taking a risk. However it's all
>> pretty random, maybe  i was unlucky in picking an particularly officious
>> checkin guy this time, maybe they had just been sent a memo warning them
>> to
>> be sure everyone had onward tickets,  but for sure next time i will write
>> down a fake flight number -  with a different airline - as an insurance
>> policy.
>>
>> As a general rule i find the best way to deal with these issues is to stay
>> calm and unemotional.  Escalating to a superior is risky as if the guy is
>> just playing it by the book, the supervisor may just confirm this qnd you
>> are then entrenched.  Try to find out the minimum needed to satisfy his
>> "tick this box" requirement, this won't always be clear he started off
>> with
>> " a print out of your ticket" and ended up with just the flight number
>> would
>> be ok.  te guy felt a bit guilty about it all, and  when i was late to
>> board
>> - having wondered in the wrong direction for the gate, ran about 1 Km
>> around
>> the airport looking for me to get me on the flight in time.
>>
>> Apart from the Phils, the other problem where i have had big  hassles is
>> New
>> Zealand (typically it countries with no land borders - or dictatorships
>> such
>> as Myanmar that are of concern.  In the NZ case Qantas wouldn't let me
>> board
>> for Australia as i had a coffee stain on my passport, so i had to go back
>> to
>> Wellington and get a new  passport issued.
>>
>> On 1 February 2010 07:21, joshesq <joshesq@...> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> > Wade,
>> > If you don't mind telling us: How were you dressed when you ran into
>> > your
>> > problems at the aeroport? I have heard a few anecdotal stories like
>> yours,
>> > but have never had even a question on any of my extended trips (and a
>> good
>> > thing; I now almost never have onward tickets for a majority of the
>> > countries I visit). I always assume that they let me through without a
>> > problem because (1)I am a USA citizen and (2) I am not dressed like a
>> > stereotypical backpacker (ie, I don't have long dirty hair, tie-dyed
>> shirts,
>> > etc.), and (2) I am carrying $20,000 worth of camera equipment with me.
>> In
>> > other words, I don't fit at all the profile of someone who will overstay
>> his
>> > visa/visit.
>> >
>> > Can anyone else confirm this? Anyone dressed like a businessman who
>> > still
>> > was asked for proof of an onward ticket at the aeroport? For those who
>> were
>> > asked for this, how were you dressed, and what kind of luggage did you
>> have
>> > (ie, what did it look like to an outside observer?)?
>> >
>> > Wade, quick-thinking on your part, to call your hotel and get a flight
>> > number to provide. From now on, whenever I do make a flight without an
>> > onward ticket, I will spend the 5-10 minutes on-line in advance, so that
>> I
>> > have (fictitious) flight information that I can provide if necessary.
>> >
>> > -josh
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

--
Sent from my mobile device

yes it  sometimes seems a matter of  what they had for breakfast this
morning which is why its  so  difficult to
give  concrete advice.  But i think the general idea is  that if you are
going somewhere where you think there maybe  an issue its best to have a
clear 9if  fictitious  )  itinerary in mind,  they  dont  like  well Im not
sure how  long aIll be  there and  where  i  will go next.

On 1 February 2010 18:25, chris <email.christopher@...> wrote:

>
>
> Its possible that whether or not you already have a visa might be a
> big part as well. I flew from seattle to beijing on a cheap oneway
> ticket and had no problems... I had a valid 1 year multi entry Chinese
> visa in my passport. I was worried again when I got my KL to India
> 1way ticket, so I went to the airasia shop in penang and they gave me
> a printout of the rules they follow... In this case, all that was req
> was a valid Indian visa, which I had. A few moments ago I bought a
> flight from Kolkata to KL... This time no visa - malaysia gives 90
> days on arrival. However, I don't know if its a visa on arrival or
> visa waiver which I suspect are two different things. I also don't
> know if having a visa like I did for china and india guarentees (bad
> spelling) you entry or not... there's certainly no promises from
> malaysia that they'll even let me in. In which case airasia is
> reeponsible for me and thus may not let me board. In past years i have
> flown between the usa and england and thailand on 1ways with no
> problems. Tho the stiff in the UK asked alot of questions but seemed
> quiickly satisfied with my very detailed itinerary that found me out
> of the country in 2 weeks time. A very friendly German immigration guy
> took great delight in patting my big bavarian beer belly and remarking
> on my very bavarian last name so who knows what other factors these
> border guys take into account (grin)
>
>
> On 2/1/10, Steve James
<stephenjohnjames@...<stephenjohnjames%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
> > A solution to lack of onward ticket problems is to book a fully flexible
> > flight out of the country, show that as onward proof and then get a
> refund
> > once you're in. Depending on the airline/tariff, you can typically recoup
> > 95% of the ticket value this way (often the ticket face value minus an
> > administration charge). It's a cost each time, but I like to think of it
> as
> > insurance.
> >
> > cheers
> > Steve
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 1 February 2010 01:04, Wade Allsopp
<wade.allsopp@...<wade.allsopp%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Josh
> >>
> >> I don't think dress has much to do with it in this case. I was dressed
> in
> >> shorts and shirt no better and no worse than 90% of the other people
> >> checking in. I'm mid 40's respectable looking etc . The important thing
> >> to
> >> realise is that you have two hurdles. (1) to be allowed to board your
> >> plane
> >> in the first place (2) To get through immigration when you actually
> >> arrive.
> >>
> >> For (2) your dress, wealth etc is relevant. The immigration officer is
> >> really just trying to stop illegal economic migrants so will generally
> >> have
> >> the flexibility to take a view and just waive you through. Your real
> >> problem is with (1) because generally speaking the airlines will be
> fined,
> >> often quite a bit of money if they do allow someone to travel who
> >> technically shouldn't be allowed in the country. I've been to the phils
> 4
> >> times and had onward ticket issues each time. Sometimes the airline
> staff
> >> will take a view sometimes not. In reality (1) there is a 99% chance
> that
> >> PI immigration wont cause a problem and even if they did, the bottom
> line
> >> is that i would just make an online booking for the cheapest
> international
> >> flight available so they are not really taking a risk. However it's all
> >> pretty random, maybe i was unlucky in picking an particularly officious
> >> checkin guy this time, maybe they had just been sent a memo warning them
> >> to
> >> be sure everyone had onward tickets, but for sure next time i will write
> >> down a fake flight number - with a different airline - as an insurance
> >> policy.
> >>
> >> As a general rule i find the best way to deal with these issues is to
> stay
> >> calm and unemotional. Escalating to a superior is risky as if the guy is
> >> just playing it by the book, the supervisor may just confirm this qnd
> you
> >> are then entrenched. Try to find out the minimum needed to satisfy his
> >> "tick this box" requirement, this won't always be clear he started off
> >> with
> >> " a print out of your ticket" and ended up with just the flight number
> >> would
> >> be ok. te guy felt a bit guilty about it all, and when i was late to
> >> board
> >> - having wondered in the wrong direction for the gate, ran about 1 Km
> >> around
> >> the airport looking for me to get me on the flight in time.
> >>
> >> Apart from the Phils, the other problem where i have had big hassles is
> >> New
> >> Zealand (typically it countries with no land borders - or dictatorships
> >> such
> >> as Myanmar that are of concern. In the NZ case Qantas wouldn't let me
> >> board
> >> for Australia as i had a coffee stain on my passport, so i had to go
> back
> >> to
> >> Wellington and get a new passport issued.
> >>
> >> On 1 February 2010 07:21, joshesq <joshesq@...<joshesq%40yahoo.com>>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Wade,
> >> > If you don't mind telling us: How were you dressed when you ran into
> >> > your
> >> > problems at the aeroport? I have heard a few anecdotal stories like
> >> yours,
> >> > but have never had even a question on any of my extended trips (and a
> >> good
> >> > thing; I now almost never have onward tickets for a majority of the
> >> > countries I visit). I always assume that they let me through without a
> >> > problem because (1)I am a USA citizen and (2) I am not dressed like a
> >> > stereotypical backpacker (ie, I don't have long dirty hair, tie-dyed
> >> shirts,
> >> > etc.), and (2) I am carrying $20,000 worth of camera equipment with
> me.
> >> In
> >> > other words, I don't fit at all the profile of someone who will
> overstay
> >> his
> >> > visa/visit.
> >> >
> >> > Can anyone else confirm this? Anyone dressed like a businessman who
> >> > still
> >> > was asked for proof of an onward ticket at the aeroport? For those who
> >> were
> >> > asked for this, how were you dressed, and what kind of luggage did you
> >> have
> >> > (ie, what did it look like to an outside observer?)?
> >> >
> >> > Wade, quick-thinking on your part, to call your hotel and get a flight
> >> > number to provide. From now on, whenever I do make a flight without an
> >> > onward ticket, I will spend the 5-10 minutes on-line in advance, so
> that
> >> I
> >> > have (fictitious) flight information that I can provide if necessary.
> >> >
> >> > -josh
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ------------------------------------
> >>
> >> Yahoo! Groups Links
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
>
> --
> Sent from my mobile device
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: visa rules, I was told the following link was the offiical word and is
what airline employees will see on their screen.
It's an invaluable link to have handy.

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_info\
rmation/visa_passport_information/






On 1 February 2010 11:44, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...> wrote:

> yes it  sometimes seems a matter of  what they had for breakfast this
> morning which is why its  so  difficult to
> give  concrete advice.  But i think the general idea is  that if you are
> going somewhere where you think there maybe  an issue its best to have a
> clear 9if  fictitious  )  itinerary in mind,  they  dont  like  well Im not
> sure how  long aIll be  there and  where  i  will go next.
>
> On 1 February 2010 18:25, chris <email.christopher@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Its possible that whether or not you already have a visa might be a
> > big part as well. I flew from seattle to beijing on a cheap oneway
> > ticket and had no problems... I had a valid 1 year multi entry Chinese
> > visa in my passport. I was worried again when I got my KL to India
> > 1way ticket, so I went to the airasia shop in penang and they gave me
> > a printout of the rules they follow... In this case, all that was req
> > was a valid Indian visa, which I had. A few moments ago I bought a
> > flight from Kolkata to KL... This time no visa - malaysia gives 90
> > days on arrival. However, I don't know if its a visa on arrival or
> > visa waiver which I suspect are two different things. I also don't
> > know if having a visa like I did for china and india guarentees (bad
> > spelling) you entry or not... there's certainly no promises from
> > malaysia that they'll even let me in. In which case airasia is
> > reeponsible for me and thus may not let me board. In past years i have
> > flown between the usa and england and thailand on 1ways with no
> > problems. Tho the stiff in the UK asked alot of questions but seemed
> > quiickly satisfied with my very detailed itinerary that found me out
> > of the country in 2 weeks time. A very friendly German immigration guy
> > took great delight in patting my big bavarian beer belly and remarking
> > on my very bavarian last name so who knows what other factors these
> > border guys take into account (grin)
> >
> >
> > On 2/1/10, Steve James <stephenjohnjames@...<stephenjohnjames%
> 40gmail.com>>
> > wrote:
> > > A solution to lack of onward ticket problems is to book a fully
> flexible
> > > flight out of the country, show that as onward proof and then get a
> > refund
> > > once you're in. Depending on the airline/tariff, you can typically
> recoup
> > > 95% of the ticket value this way (often the ticket face value minus an
> > > administration charge). It's a cost each time, but I like to think of
> it
> > as
> > > insurance.
> > >
> > > cheers
> > > Steve
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 1 February 2010 01:04, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...
> <wade.allsopp%40gmail.com>>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hi Josh
> > >>
> > >> I don't think dress has much to do with it in this case. I was dressed
> > in
> > >> shorts and shirt no better and no worse than 90% of the other people
> > >> checking in. I'm mid 40's respectable looking etc . The important
> thing
> > >> to
> > >> realise is that you have two hurdles. (1) to be allowed to board your
> > >> plane
> > >> in the first place (2) To get through immigration when you actually
> > >> arrive.
> > >>
> > >> For (2) your dress, wealth etc is relevant. The immigration officer is
> > >> really just trying to stop illegal economic migrants so will generally
> > >> have
> > >> the flexibility to take a view and just waive you through. Your real
> > >> problem is with (1) because generally speaking the airlines will be
> > fined,
> > >> often quite a bit of money if they do allow someone to travel who
> > >> technically shouldn't be allowed in the country. I've been to the
> phils
> > 4
> > >> times and had onward ticket issues each time. Sometimes the airline
> > staff
> > >> will take a view sometimes not. In reality (1) there is a 99% chance
> > that
> > >> PI immigration wont cause a problem and even if they did, the bottom
> > line
> > >> is that i would just make an online booking for the cheapest
> > international
> > >> flight available so they are not really taking a risk. However it's
> all
> > >> pretty random, maybe i was unlucky in picking an particularly
> officious
> > >> checkin guy this time, maybe they had just been sent a memo warning
> them
> > >> to
> > >> be sure everyone had onward tickets, but for sure next time i will
> write
> > >> down a fake flight number - with a different airline - as an insurance
> > >> policy.
> > >>
> > >> As a general rule i find the best way to deal with these issues is to
> > stay
> > >> calm and unemotional. Escalating to a superior is risky as if the guy
> is
> > >> just playing it by the book, the supervisor may just confirm this qnd
> > you
> > >> are then entrenched. Try to find out the minimum needed to satisfy his
> > >> "tick this box" requirement, this won't always be clear he started off
> > >> with
> > >> " a print out of your ticket" and ended up with just the flight number
> > >> would
> > >> be ok. te guy felt a bit guilty about it all, and when i was late to
> > >> board
> > >> - having wondered in the wrong direction for the gate, ran about 1 Km
> > >> around
> > >> the airport looking for me to get me on the flight in time.
> > >>
> > >> Apart from the Phils, the other problem where i have had big hassles
> is
> > >> New
> > >> Zealand (typically it countries with no land borders - or
> dictatorships
> > >> such
> > >> as Myanmar that are of concern. In the NZ case Qantas wouldn't let me
> > >> board
> > >> for Australia as i had a coffee stain on my passport, so i had to go
> > back
> > >> to
> > >> Wellington and get a new passport issued.
> > >>
> > >> On 1 February 2010 07:21, joshesq <joshesq@...<joshesq%
> 40yahoo.com>>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > Wade,
> > >> > If you don't mind telling us: How were you dressed when you ran into
> > >> > your
> > >> > problems at the aeroport? I have heard a few anecdotal stories like
> > >> yours,
> > >> > but have never had even a question on any of my extended trips (and
> a
> > >> good
> > >> > thing; I now almost never have onward tickets for a majority of the
> > >> > countries I visit). I always assume that they let me through without
> a
> > >> > problem because (1)I am a USA citizen and (2) I am not dressed like
> a
> > >> > stereotypical backpacker (ie, I don't have long dirty hair, tie-dyed
> > >> shirts,
> > >> > etc.), and (2) I am carrying $20,000 worth of camera equipment with
> > me.
> > >> In
> > >> > other words, I don't fit at all the profile of someone who will
> > overstay
> > >> his
> > >> > visa/visit.
> > >> >
> > >> > Can anyone else confirm this? Anyone dressed like a businessman who
> > >> > still
> > >> > was asked for proof of an onward ticket at the aeroport? For those
> who
> > >> were
> > >> > asked for this, how were you dressed, and what kind of luggage did
> you
> > >> have
> > >> > (ie, what did it look like to an outside observer?)?
> > >> >
> > >> > Wade, quick-thinking on your part, to call your hotel and get a
> flight
> > >> > number to provide. From now on, whenever I do make a flight without
> an
> > >> > onward ticket, I will spend the 5-10 minutes on-line in advance, so
> > that
> > >> I
> > >> > have (fictitious) flight information that I can provide if
> necessary.
> > >> >
> > >> > -josh
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> ------------------------------------
> > >>
> > >> Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Sent from my mobile device
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My experience here is when it comes down to the airline it's a
question of standard policy- when I did a one-way from USA-Japan
stopover- Bangkok on United the check-in kiosk didn't do a thing for
the leg to Japan but automatically made an agent ask to see my proof
of onward travel for the Thai part of the journey.  Flight was for two
months in the future on another airline but the agent accepted the
story.

Likewise some airlines are sticklers about the number of pages left in
your visa- Swiss Air refused to board my father onto a flight to South
Africa once because he had less than a page left in his passport, but
someone from the same conference got through on another airline with
the same circumstances. (But then another friend also was marched by
South African immigration to a counter to buy a ticket out of the
country, so maybe they're just real sticklers.)

Actually, what I ended up doing on my rtw towards the end was go onto
a site like kayak.com the day prior to a flight to an area requiring
proof of onward travel, copy a relevant entry showing me flying back
home to the USA to Word, and printing it out.  These days most tickets
are electronic and they're not going to check beyond the printout
unless you look particularly suspicious, and this worked for me well.
As for suspicious customs agents, while comparing notes with others it
appears that one of the biggest things you can do to help you get
through easily is make sure you have a place you plan to stay the
night, either book a night somewhere or find a name in your guidebook.
  After all, customs are just on the watch for those trying to sneak in
for work so if you look like a tourist you should be fine.

As a final note someone mentioned NZ, which I agree is one of the
sticklers when it comes to immigration- I was a student there a
semester and when some in my group forgot to bring their proof of
onward travel on a trip to the Cook Islands, the flight was delayed
several hours until the main office could be called and their tickets
confirmed.  And everyone there had a student visa!  I've heard the
reason for this is because NZ very often has young tourists in
particular who arrive without a WHV and fall in love with the place
and stay longer then allowed... other than that the Japanese can be
strict and I'm still not certain why I got the third degree when
visiting Ireland- guess the customs guy was bored and for some reason
didn't like how I didn't know anyone in the country, until I
remembered "my friend in Galway."

Happy travels (and Wade let us know how you find the Philippines, I'm
very curious!),
-Yvette



On Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 8:19 AM, Steve James <stephenjohnjames@...> wrote:
> Re: visa rules, I was told the following link was the offiical word and is
> what airline employees will see on their screen.
> It's an invaluable link to have handy.
>
>
http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_info\
rmation/visa_passport_information/
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 1 February 2010 11:44, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...> wrote:
>
>> yes it  sometimes seems a matter of  what they had for breakfast this
>> morning which is why its  so  difficult to
>> give  concrete advice.  But i think the general idea is  that if you are
>> going somewhere where you think there maybe  an issue its best to have a
>> clear 9if  fictitious  )  itinerary in mind,  they  dont  like  well Im not
>> sure how  long aIll be  there and  where  i  will go next.
>>
>> On 1 February 2010 18:25, chris <email.christopher@...> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> > Its possible that whether or not you already have a visa might be a
>> > big part as well. I flew from seattle to beijing on a cheap oneway
>> > ticket and had no problems... I had a valid 1 year multi entry Chinese
>> > visa in my passport. I was worried again when I got my KL to India
>> > 1way ticket, so I went to the airasia shop in penang and they gave me
>> > a printout of the rules they follow... In this case, all that was req
>> > was a valid Indian visa, which I had. A few moments ago I bought a
>> > flight from Kolkata to KL... This time no visa - malaysia gives 90
>> > days on arrival. However, I don't know if its a visa on arrival or
>> > visa waiver which I suspect are two different things. I also don't
>> > know if having a visa like I did for china and india guarentees (bad
>> > spelling) you entry or not... there's certainly no promises from
>> > malaysia that they'll even let me in. In which case airasia is
>> > reeponsible for me and thus may not let me board. In past years i have
>> > flown between the usa and england and thailand on 1ways with no
>> > problems. Tho the stiff in the UK asked alot of questions but seemed
>> > quiickly satisfied with my very detailed itinerary that found me out
>> > of the country in 2 weeks time. A very friendly German immigration guy
>> > took great delight in patting my big bavarian beer belly and remarking
>> > on my very bavarian last name so who knows what other factors these
>> > border guys take into account (grin)
>> >
>> >
>> > On 2/1/10, Steve James <stephenjohnjames@...<stephenjohnjames%
>> 40gmail.com>>
>> > wrote:
>> > > A solution to lack of onward ticket problems is to book a fully
>> flexible
>> > > flight out of the country, show that as onward proof and then get a
>> > refund
>> > > once you're in. Depending on the airline/tariff, you can typically
>> recoup
>> > > 95% of the ticket value this way (often the ticket face value minus an
>> > > administration charge). It's a cost each time, but I like to think of
>> it
>> > as
>> > > insurance.
>> > >
>> > > cheers
>> > > Steve
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > On 1 February 2010 01:04, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...
>> <wade.allsopp%40gmail.com>>
>> > wrote:
>> > >
>> > >> Hi Josh
>> > >>
>> > >> I don't think dress has much to do with it in this case. I was dressed
>> > in
>> > >> shorts and shirt no better and no worse than 90% of the other people
>> > >> checking in. I'm mid 40's respectable looking etc . The important
>> thing
>> > >> to
>> > >> realise is that you have two hurdles. (1) to be allowed to board your
>> > >> plane
>> > >> in the first place (2) To get through immigration when you actually
>> > >> arrive.
>> > >>
>> > >> For (2) your dress, wealth etc is relevant. The immigration officer is
>> > >> really just trying to stop illegal economic migrants so will generally
>> > >> have
>> > >> the flexibility to take a view and just waive you through. Your real
>> > >> problem is with (1) because generally speaking the airlines will be
>> > fined,
>> > >> often quite a bit of money if they do allow someone to travel who
>> > >> technically shouldn't be allowed in the country. I've been to the
>> phils
>> > 4
>> > >> times and had onward ticket issues each time. Sometimes the airline
>> > staff
>> > >> will take a view sometimes not. In reality (1) there is a 99% chance
>> > that
>> > >> PI immigration wont cause a problem and even if they did, the bottom
>> > line
>> > >> is that i would just make an online booking for the cheapest
>> > international
>> > >> flight available so they are not really taking a risk. However it's
>> all
>> > >> pretty random, maybe i was unlucky in picking an particularly
>> officious
>> > >> checkin guy this time, maybe they had just been sent a memo warning
>> them
>> > >> to
>> > >> be sure everyone had onward tickets, but for sure next time i will
>> write
>> > >> down a fake flight number - with a different airline - as an insurance
>> > >> policy.
>> > >>
>> > >> As a general rule i find the best way to deal with these issues is to
>> > stay
>> > >> calm and unemotional. Escalating to a superior is risky as if the guy
>> is
>> > >> just playing it by the book, the supervisor may just confirm this qnd
>> > you
>> > >> are then entrenched. Try to find out the minimum needed to satisfy his
>> > >> "tick this box" requirement, this won't always be clear he started off
>> > >> with
>> > >> " a print out of your ticket" and ended up with just the flight number
>> > >> would
>> > >> be ok. te guy felt a bit guilty about it all, and when i was late to
>> > >> board
>> > >> - having wondered in the wrong direction for the gate, ran about 1 Km
>> > >> around
>> > >> the airport looking for me to get me on the flight in time.
>> > >>
>> > >> Apart from the Phils, the other problem where i have had big hassles
>> is
>> > >> New
>> > >> Zealand (typically it countries with no land borders - or
>> dictatorships
>> > >> such
>> > >> as Myanmar that are of concern. In the NZ case Qantas wouldn't let me
>> > >> board
>> > >> for Australia as i had a coffee stain on my passport, so i had to go
>> > back
>> > >> to
>> > >> Wellington and get a new passport issued.
>> > >>
>> > >> On 1 February 2010 07:21, joshesq <joshesq@...<joshesq%
>> 40yahoo.com>>
>> > wrote:
>> > >>
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Wade,
>> > >> > If you don't mind telling us: How were you dressed when you ran into
>> > >> > your
>> > >> > problems at the aeroport? I have heard a few anecdotal stories like
>> > >> yours,
>> > >> > but have never had even a question on any of my extended trips (and
>> a
>> > >> good
>> > >> > thing; I now almost never have onward tickets for a majority of the
>> > >> > countries I visit). I always assume that they let me through without
>> a
>> > >> > problem because (1)I am a USA citizen and (2) I am not dressed like
>> a
>> > >> > stereotypical backpacker (ie, I don't have long dirty hair, tie-dyed
>> > >> shirts,
>> > >> > etc.), and (2) I am carrying $20,000 worth of camera equipment with
>> > me.
>> > >> In
>> > >> > other words, I don't fit at all the profile of someone who will
>> > overstay
>> > >> his
>> > >> > visa/visit.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Can anyone else confirm this? Anyone dressed like a businessman who
>> > >> > still
>> > >> > was asked for proof of an onward ticket at the aeroport? For those
>> who
>> > >> were
>> > >> > asked for this, how were you dressed, and what kind of luggage did
>> you
>> > >> have
>> > >> > (ie, what did it look like to an outside observer?)?
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Wade, quick-thinking on your part, to call your hotel and get a
>> flight
>> > >> > number to provide. From now on, whenever I do make a flight without
>> an
>> > >> > onward ticket, I will spend the 5-10 minutes on-line in advance, so
>> > that
>> > >> I
>> > >> > have (fictitious) flight information that I can provide if
>> necessary.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > -josh
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >> >
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> ------------------------------------
>> > >>
>> > >> Yahoo! Groups Links
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Sent from my mobile device
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>



--
Yes, I have a life.  It's quite different from yours.

--- In RTWers@yahoogroups.com, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...> wrote:
>
> i was almost not let on the plane to the phils  last night due to lack of
> onward/return ticket.  if you actually get on board you are OK  as the
> immigration dont actually ask about it in most big international airports
> at least if you are a westerner
>
> The problem is that the airlines have been told they would be fined about
> 1500 USD  if  they let someone on board without an onward ticket so your
> check in staf may get very difficult. I said  i had  booked a return flight
> online,  but they needed evidence .  Finally they agreed that a flight
> number was enough so i was able to call my hotel get them to search online
> for a return flight number 9with another airlline so they couldnt check on
> their booking  system) and they let me  through.  Last person on the  plane
> big rush  etc etc
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>


Lucky you got on...great thinking.  Same thing happened to me, but I bought a
100% refundable ticket.  Got the money back in 4 weeks.  No biggie.  But was NOT
allowed to check in with a one way ticket.

Yes i spoke to a guy hee tonight who said that his travel agent had refused
to sella one way ticket and would only sell him the ticket if he  bought an
onward ticket to Singapore he didnt want.  of course if  you book online
thyou can get around this.

On 2 February 2010 21:56, craigt <craigt@...> wrote:

>
>
>
>
> --- In RTWers@yahoogroups.com <RTWers%40yahoogroups.com>, Wade Allsopp
> <wade.allsopp@...> wrote:
> >
> > i was almost not let on the plane to the phils last night due to lack of
> > onward/return ticket. if you actually get on board you are OK as the
> > immigration dont actually ask about it in most big international airports
> > at least if you are a westerner
> >
> > The problem is that the airlines have been told they would be fined about
> > 1500 USD if they let someone on board without an onward ticket so your
> > check in staf may get very difficult. I said i had booked a return flight
> > online, but they needed evidence . Finally they agreed that a flight
> > number was enough so i was able to call my hotel get them to search
> online
> > for a return flight number 9with another airlline so they couldnt check
> on
> > their booking system) and they let me through. Last person on the plane
> > big rush etc etc
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
> Lucky you got on...great thinking. Same thing happened to me, but I bought
> a 100% refundable ticket. Got the money back in 4 weeks. No biggie. But was
> NOT allowed to check in with a one way ticket.
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Besides clothing ad toiletries is there anything I should bring ? I
have some water purification tablets but I don't plan on going to
remote villages, just doing the golden triangle tourist trek.

Also, I got my hep a and b shots. They recommend a bunch of others but
I don't really have too much time to get them, should I be fine?


Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 31, 2010, at 6:59 AM, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...>
wrote:

> i guess you have discovered the Lassiwalla  LOL
>
> Actually I  covered this route  back in 2008. we rented a car +
> driver  .
> From Jaipur we went to Rathambore.
>
> Raihambore is  not unmissable. As in general with Indian nat parks the
> wildlife  is  rather thin on the ground adn here a good  tiger
> siting is
> not guaranteed, butthe  scenery is great with  old  jungle  book style
> ruins  etc. It used to be  easier to see tigers at Panna but they
> got wiped
> out by poachers i read.   The  chinese who buy that stuff  really
> ought to
> be  ashamed.
>
> Bundi is quite pleasnta for day or  two, less touristed than the
> other raj
> towns as untiul they  fixed the roads recently it wasnt so easy to
> get from
> there  via  Chitta to Udaipur
>
> I think Chitta is worth a afternoon stop but maybe  missable,  Udaipur
> worth 3  days, Jodhpur  2  days, Jaiselmere which is  everbodys
> fave  is
> worth 4 .  Most people fit in a  camel safari along the way  Ive
> done them
> at both Khuri and Bikaner and rate Kouri more highly,  The route
> back is
> something of an anti climax,  Bikaner is missable people used to
> stop there
> more but as the roads have improved  you can drive  right through
> now and
> reach the places with the  Havalis  there are 2 or  3  towns there i
> would
> recommend Mahansar which is  less touristed than some of the others.
>
> Once  youve seen one havali you have kind of seen them all but the
> reral
> reason to  choose Mahansar is to stay at the  Narayan Niwas
>
Castle<http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_\
Niwas_Castle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
> >.
>
> This is a TOP TIP  and may well be  the most memorable  place you
> stay in
> India
>
>
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_Niwas_C\
astle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
>
> If you go there you prob need to book  ahead get clear instructions
> how to
> get therre and their no in case your driver gets lost.
>
> The owners are kind of down on their luck nobility who live in a
> sprawling
> castle  most of which is  run down but the habitable parts  are
> really
> charming think 6 meter high ceilinmgs  with wall paintings  covering
> the
> walls.  Its a unique  place to stay and at least a couple of years
> ago  was
> very affordable. May be  worth staying a couple of days just to soak
> up the
> atmosphere.
>
> On your  way back to Delhi you couuld stay a night in Bharatpur
> hwere they
> have alot of  wetland  birdsd and deer etcits a pretty nice  place
> to  rent
> a cycle around, then you provblay want to stop at fatupr  Sitri.
> OK  enough
> for  now
>
> Wade
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Pushkar  is  well worth while if the camel fair is on otherwise
> misable,
>
>
>
> On 30 January 2010 21:21, chris <email.christopher@...> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I'm a bit pressed for time - and hate traveling this way - my visa
>> expires close to the end of Feb and I'm trying to work out an
>> itinerary for the rest of my time. I'm in Jaipur now and will
>> probably
>> go as follows: Jaipur - Bundi - Udaipur (perhaps via Chittoragarh
>> stopover) - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Delhi/Jaipur/Agra (not
>> sure how i'll pass thru this part but may skip Dehli) - Varnessi -
>> Kolkota from where i'll head back to Malaysia. Just wondering if
>> anyone has any comments about these places, the Rajastan ones all
>> sound like 'winners' in the guidebook. I'm not sure about Pushgar,
>> didn't really understand what LP was trying to say about the place...
>> Maybe I should go back and reread it, but i seem to recall thinking
>> it
>> came across as India's version of Vang Viang (hope I spelled that
>> right.) Anyway, I'd only have about 3 days in each. Heck, right now I
>> might be perfectly happy just spending the rest of the time here in
>> Jaipur (grin)
>>
>> --
>> Sent from my mobile device
>>
>>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Wade mentioned a while back that it's easier to hire your own car for
a tour rather than to go on a prepackaged tour. How would I go about
this? Would I just flag down any random taxi and ask him his rate?

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 3, 2010, at 10:00 AM, Michael Heenan <heenan1@...> wrote:

> Besides clothing ad toiletries is there anything I should bring ? I
> have some water purification tablets but I don't plan on going to
> remote villages, just doing the golden triangle tourist trek.
>
> Also, I got my hep a and b shots. They recommend a bunch of others but
> I don't really have too much time to get them, should I be fine?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 31, 2010, at 6:59 AM, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...>
> wrote:
>
> > i guess you have discovered the Lassiwalla LOL
> >
> > Actually I covered this route back in 2008. we rented a car +
> > driver .
> > From Jaipur we went to Rathambore.
> >
> > Raihambore is not unmissable. As in general with Indian nat parks
> the
> > wildlife is rather thin on the ground adn here a good tiger
> > siting is
> > not guaranteed, butthe scenery is great with old jungle book style
> > ruins etc. It used to be easier to see tigers at Panna but they
> > got wiped
> > out by poachers i read. The chinese who buy that stuff really
> > ought to
> > be ashamed.
> >
> > Bundi is quite pleasnta for day or two, less touristed than the
> > other raj
> > towns as untiul they fixed the roads recently it wasnt so easy to
> > get from
> > there via Chitta to Udaipur
> >
> > I think Chitta is worth a afternoon stop but maybe missable, Udaipur
> > worth 3 days, Jodhpur 2 days, Jaiselmere which is everbodys
> > fave is
> > worth 4 . Most people fit in a camel safari along the way Ive
> > done them
> > at both Khuri and Bikaner and rate Kouri more highly, The route
> > back is
> > something of an anti climax, Bikaner is missable people used to
> > stop there
> > more but as the roads have improved you can drive right through
> > now and
> > reach the places with the Havalis there are 2 or 3 towns there i
> > would
> > recommend Mahansar which is less touristed than some of the others.
> >
> > Once youve seen one havali you have kind of seen them all but the
> > reral
> > reason to choose Mahansar is to stay at the Narayan Niwas
> >
Castle<http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_\
Niwas_Castle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
> > >.
> >
> > This is a TOP TIP and may well be the most memorable place you
> > stay in
> > India
> >
> >
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_Niwas_C\
astle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
> >
> > If you go there you prob need to book ahead get clear instructions
> > how to
> > get therre and their no in case your driver gets lost.
> >
> > The owners are kind of down on their luck nobility who live in a
> > sprawling
> > castle most of which is run down but the habitable parts are
> > really
> > charming think 6 meter high ceilinmgs with wall paintings covering
> > the
> > walls. Its a unique place to stay and at least a couple of years
> > ago was
> > very affordable. May be worth staying a couple of days just to soak
> > up the
> > atmosphere.
> >
> > On your way back to Delhi you couuld stay a night in Bharatpur
> > hwere they
> > have alot of wetland birdsd and deer etcits a pretty nice place
> > to rent
> > a cycle around, then you provblay want to stop at fatupr Sitri.
> > OK enough
> > for now
> >
> > Wade
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Pushkar is well worth while if the camel fair is on otherwise
> > misable,
> >
> >
> >
> > On 30 January 2010 21:21, chris <email.christopher@...> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> I'm a bit pressed for time - and hate traveling this way - my visa
> >> expires close to the end of Feb and I'm trying to work out an
> >> itinerary for the rest of my time. I'm in Jaipur now and will
> >> probably
> >> go as follows: Jaipur - Bundi - Udaipur (perhaps via Chittoragarh
> >> stopover) - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Delhi/Jaipur/Agra (not
> >> sure how i'll pass thru this part but may skip Dehli) - Varnessi -
> >> Kolkota from where i'll head back to Malaysia. Just wondering if
> >> anyone has any comments about these places, the Rajastan ones all
> >> sound like 'winners' in the guidebook. I'm not sure about Pushgar,
> >> didn't really understand what LP was trying to say about the
> place...
> >> Maybe I should go back and reread it, but i seem to recall thinking
> >> it
> >> came across as India's version of Vang Viang (hope I spelled that
> >> right.) Anyway, I'd only have about 3 days in each. Heck, right
> now I
> >> might be perfectly happy just spending the rest of the time here in
> >> Jaipur (grin)
> >>
> >> --
> >> Sent from my mobile device
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've never appreciated having wet wipes and anitbacterial gel so much in my
life. Also, those facial wipes (like for acne even if you don't need them). I
never found places to wash, and I really appreciated having them. I like to camp
and get dirty, so I'm not a wuss. I'm just sayin... :)

Connected by MOTOBLURâ„¢ on T-Mobile

-----Original message-----
From: Michael Heenan <heenan1@...>
To: "RTWers@yahoogroups.com" <RTWers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 3, 2010 17:05:15 GMT+00:00
Subject: [RTWers] Packing for India

Besides clothing ad toiletries is there anything I should bring ? I
have some water purification tablets but I don't plan on going to
remote villages, just doing the golden triangle tourist trek.

Also, I got my hep a and b shots. They recommend a bunch of others but
I don't really have too much time to get them, should I be fine?


Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 31, 2010, at 6:59 AM, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...>
wrote:

> i guess you have discovered the Lassiwalla  LOL
>
> Actually I  covered this route  back in 2008. we rented a car +
> driver  .
> From Jaipur we went to Rathambore.
>
> Raihambore is  not unmissable. As in general with Indian nat parks the
> wildlife  is  rather thin on the ground adn here a good  tiger
> siting is
> not guaranteed, butthe  scenery is great with  old  jungle  book style
> ruins  etc. It used to be  easier to see tigers at Panna but they
> got wiped
> out by poachers i read.   The  chinese who buy that stuff  really
> ought to
> be  ashamed.
>
> Bundi is quite pleasnta for day or  two, less touristed than the
> other raj
> towns as untiul they  fixed the roads recently it wasnt so easy to
> get from
> there  via  Chitta to Udaipur
>
> I think Chitta is worth a afternoon stop but maybe  missable,  Udaipur
> worth 3  days, Jodhpur  2  days, Jaiselmere which is  everbodys
> fave  is
> worth 4 .  Most people fit in a  camel safari along the way  Ive
> done them
> at both Khuri and Bikaner and rate Kouri more


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

No the way you do it is to viist a couple of  tour cos  who specialise in
hiring drivers and cars  for trips around Rajesthan etc.  In Delhi they are
mostly to be foundn in the Connaught Square area if I remember rightly.

Speak to 2 or 3  and see who has the best deal.  Obviously the price
depends on the size of the car and petrol consumption which  will be  a
function of the  route  you select.

The drivers time and indeed having the car sit around idle fopr aday isn't
so expensive.  If  i recal rightly these trips tend to work out at around
$50-75 a day

On 4 February 2010 01:07, Michael Heenan <heenan1@...> wrote:

>
>
> Wade mentioned a while back that it's easier to hire your own car for
> a tour rather than to go on a prepackaged tour. How would I go about
> this? Would I just flag down any random taxi and ask him his rate?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 3, 2010, at 10:00 AM, Michael Heenan
<heenan1@...<heenan1%40cox.net>>
> wrote:
>
> > Besides clothing ad toiletries is there anything I should bring ? I
> > have some water purification tablets but I don't plan on going to
> > remote villages, just doing the golden triangle tourist trek.
> >
> > Also, I got my hep a and b shots. They recommend a bunch of others but
> > I don't really have too much time to get them, should I be fine?
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > On Jan 31, 2010, at 6:59 AM, Wade Allsopp
<wade.allsopp@...<wade.allsopp%40gmail.com>
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > i guess you have discovered the Lassiwalla LOL
> > >
> > > Actually I covered this route back in 2008. we rented a car +
> > > driver .
> > > From Jaipur we went to Rathambore.
> > >
> > > Raihambore is not unmissable. As in general with Indian nat parks
> > the
> > > wildlife is rather thin on the ground adn here a good tiger
> > > siting is
> > > not guaranteed, butthe scenery is great with old jungle book style
> > > ruins etc. It used to be easier to see tigers at Panna but they
> > > got wiped
> > > out by poachers i read. The chinese who buy that stuff really
> > > ought to
> > > be ashamed.
> > >
> > > Bundi is quite pleasnta for day or two, less touristed than the
> > > other raj
> > > towns as untiul they fixed the roads recently it wasnt so easy to
> > > get from
> > > there via Chitta to Udaipur
> > >
> > > I think Chitta is worth a afternoon stop but maybe missable, Udaipur
> > > worth 3 days, Jodhpur 2 days, Jaiselmere which is everbodys
> > > fave is
> > > worth 4 . Most people fit in a camel safari along the way Ive
> > > done them
> > > at both Khuri and Bikaner and rate Kouri more highly, The route
> > > back is
> > > something of an anti climax, Bikaner is missable people used to
> > > stop there
> > > more but as the roads have improved you can drive right through
> > > now and
> > > reach the places with the Havalis there are 2 or 3 towns there i
> > > would
> > > recommend Mahansar which is less touristed than some of the others.
> > >
> > > Once youve seen one havali you have kind of seen them all but the
> > > reral
> > > reason to choose Mahansar is to stay at the Narayan Niwas
> > > Castle<
>
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_Niwas_C\
astle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
> > > >.
> > >
> > > This is a TOP TIP and may well be the most memorable place you
> > > stay in
> > > India
> > >
> > >
>
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_Niwas_C\
astle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
> > >
> > > If you go there you prob need to book ahead get clear instructions
> > > how to
> > > get therre and their no in case your driver gets lost.
> > >
> > > The owners are kind of down on their luck nobility who live in a
> > > sprawling
> > > castle most of which is run down but the habitable parts are
> > > really
> > > charming think 6 meter high ceilinmgs with wall paintings covering
> > > the
> > > walls. Its a unique place to stay and at least a couple of years
> > > ago was
> > > very affordable. May be worth staying a couple of days just to soak
> > > up the
> > > atmosphere.
> > >
> > > On your way back to Delhi you couuld stay a night in Bharatpur
> > > hwere they
> > > have alot of wetland birdsd and deer etcits a pretty nice place
> > > to rent
> > > a cycle around, then you provblay want to stop at fatupr Sitri.
> > > OK enough
> > > for now
> > >
> > > Wade
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Pushkar is well worth while if the camel fair is on otherwise
> > > misable,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 30 January 2010 21:21, chris
<email.christopher@...<email.christopher%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
> > >
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> I'm a bit pressed for time - and hate traveling this way - my visa
> > >> expires close to the end of Feb and I'm trying to work out an
> > >> itinerary for the rest of my time. I'm in Jaipur now and will
> > >> probably
> > >> go as follows: Jaipur - Bundi - Udaipur (perhaps via Chittoragarh
> > >> stopover) - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Delhi/Jaipur/Agra (not
> > >> sure how i'll pass thru this part but may skip Dehli) - Varnessi -
> > >> Kolkota from where i'll head back to Malaysia. Just wondering if
> > >> anyone has any comments about these places, the Rajastan ones all
> > >> sound like 'winners' in the guidebook. I'm not sure about Pushgar,
> > >> didn't really understand what LP was trying to say about the
> > place...
> > >> Maybe I should go back and reread it, but i seem to recall thinking
> > >> it
> > >> came across as India's version of Vang Viang (hope I spelled that
> > >> right.) Anyway, I'd only have about 3 days in each. Heck, right
> > now I
> > >> might be perfectly happy just spending the rest of the time here in
> > >> Jaipur (grin)
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Sent from my mobile device
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

That doesn't sound too bad, I assume that is not a per person charge right?  My
friend and I are going to stay at a place near the airport the first night.  Do
you have any recommendations on where to stay in central delhi? Also, I want to
try to visit Rajasthan and Udaipur, do you think 10 days is enough to do the
Golden Triangle (delhi agra jaipur) and have enough time to fit those two in?


On Feb 3, 2010, at 11:10 AM, Wade Allsopp wrote:

> No the way you do it is to viist a couple of  tour cos  who specialise in
> hiring drivers and cars  for trips around Rajesthan etc.  In Delhi they are
> mostly to be foundn in the Connaught Square area if I remember rightly.
>
> Speak to 2 or 3  and see who has the best deal.  Obviously the price
> depends on the size of the car and petrol consumption which  will be  a
> function of the  route  you select.
>
> The drivers time and indeed having the car sit around idle fopr aday isn't
> so expensive.  If  i recal rightly these trips tend to work out at around
> $50-75 a day
>
> On 4 February 2010 01:07, Michael Heenan <heenan1@...> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Wade mentioned a while back that it's easier to hire your own car for
>> a tour rather than to go on a prepackaged tour. How would I go about
>> this? Would I just flag down any random taxi and ask him his rate?
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Feb 3, 2010, at 10:00 AM, Michael Heenan
<heenan1@...<heenan1%40cox.net>>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Besides clothing ad toiletries is there anything I should bring ? I
>>> have some water purification tablets but I don't plan on going to
>>> remote villages, just doing the golden triangle tourist trek.
>>>
>>> Also, I got my hep a and b shots. They recommend a bunch of others but
>>> I don't really have too much time to get them, should I be fine?
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jan 31, 2010, at 6:59 AM, Wade Allsopp
<wade.allsopp@...<wade.allsopp%40gmail.com>
>>>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> i guess you have discovered the Lassiwalla LOL
>>>>
>>>> Actually I covered this route back in 2008. we rented a car +
>>>> driver .
>>>> From Jaipur we went to Rathambore.
>>>>
>>>> Raihambore is not unmissable. As in general with Indian nat parks
>>> the
>>>> wildlife is rather thin on the ground adn here a good tiger
>>>> siting is
>>>> not guaranteed, butthe scenery is great with old jungle book style
>>>> ruins etc. It used to be easier to see tigers at Panna but they
>>>> got wiped
>>>> out by poachers i read. The chinese who buy that stuff really
>>>> ought to
>>>> be ashamed.
>>>>
>>>> Bundi is quite pleasnta for day or two, less touristed than the
>>>> other raj
>>>> towns as untiul they fixed the roads recently it wasnt so easy to
>>>> get from
>>>> there via Chitta to Udaipur
>>>>
>>>> I think Chitta is worth a afternoon stop but maybe missable, Udaipur
>>>> worth 3 days, Jodhpur 2 days, Jaiselmere which is everbodys
>>>> fave is
>>>> worth 4 . Most people fit in a camel safari along the way Ive
>>>> done them
>>>> at both Khuri and Bikaner and rate Kouri more highly, The route
>>>> back is
>>>> something of an anti climax, Bikaner is missable people used to
>>>> stop there
>>>> more but as the roads have improved you can drive right through
>>>> now and
>>>> reach the places with the Havalis there are 2 or 3 towns there i
>>>> would
>>>> recommend Mahansar which is less touristed than some of the others.
>>>>
>>>> Once youve seen one havali you have kind of seen them all but the
>>>> reral
>>>> reason to choose Mahansar is to stay at the Narayan Niwas
>>>> Castle<
>>
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_Niwas_C\
astle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
>>>>> .
>>>>
>>>> This is a TOP TIP and may well be the most memorable place you
>>>> stay in
>>>> India
>>>>
>>>>
>>
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_Niwas_C\
astle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
>>>>
>>>> If you go there you prob need to book ahead get clear instructions
>>>> how to
>>>> get therre and their no in case your driver gets lost.
>>>>
>>>> The owners are kind of down on their luck nobility who live in a
>>>> sprawling
>>>> castle most of which is run down but the habitable parts are
>>>> really
>>>> charming think 6 meter high ceilinmgs with wall paintings covering
>>>> the
>>>> walls. Its a unique place to stay and at least a couple of years
>>>> ago was
>>>> very affordable. May be worth staying a couple of days just to soak
>>>> up the
>>>> atmosphere.
>>>>
>>>> On your way back to Delhi you couuld stay a night in Bharatpur
>>>> hwere they
>>>> have alot of wetland birdsd and deer etcits a pretty nice place
>>>> to rent
>>>> a cycle around, then you provblay want to stop at fatupr Sitri.
>>>> OK enough
>>>> for now
>>>>
>>>> Wade
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Pushkar is well worth while if the camel fair is on otherwise
>>>> misable,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 30 January 2010 21:21, chris
<email.christopher@...<email.christopher%40gmail.com>>
>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm a bit pressed for time - and hate traveling this way - my visa
>>>>> expires close to the end of Feb and I'm trying to work out an
>>>>> itinerary for the rest of my time. I'm in Jaipur now and will
>>>>> probably
>>>>> go as follows: Jaipur - Bundi - Udaipur (perhaps via Chittoragarh
>>>>> stopover) - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Delhi/Jaipur/Agra (not
>>>>> sure how i'll pass thru this part but may skip Dehli) - Varnessi -
>>>>> Kolkota from where i'll head back to Malaysia. Just wondering if
>>>>> anyone has any comments about these places, the Rajastan ones all
>>>>> sound like 'winners' in the guidebook. I'm not sure about Pushgar,
>>>>> didn't really understand what LP was trying to say about the
>>> place...
>>>>> Maybe I should go back and reread it, but i seem to recall thinking
>>>>> it
>>>>> came across as India's version of Vang Viang (hope I spelled that
>>>>> right.) Anyway, I'd only have about 3 days in each. Heck, right
>>> now I
>>>>> might be perfectly happy just spending the rest of the time here in
>>>>> Jaipur (grin)
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Safe Voyages Tours has over 7 years experience providing Tour Operator,
Adventure Holidays, Tour Package , Golden Triangle Tour, Ground Transportation
Car / Coach Rentals, Rajasthan tour, Historical and Cultural Tours , Wildlife
holidays, Airport Transfers and even Half or Full day Tours and excursions. With
competitive and unbeatable prices, Travel to India and Nepal We are specialists
in FIT, Small Groups Single travel, We are offered good rates for our Agents and
Customers and Good Service.

If you need any information feel free contacts us

SAFE VOYAGES TOURS ( Regd )
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New Delhi - 110030 || India.
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* Air Tickets * Hotel Reservation * Holiday Packages  * Car Rental 24 X 7 *

no  u  pay per car.  i let through a post fom an Indian tour organizer  even
though its against the normal
no commercials policy,given that it related specificaly to an enquiry you
had  made.  Maybe you can email then adn ask if tehy can come up with an
itinery  to  suit your  needs, then check withn a couple  of  others  when
you arrive  to  see if they are price competitive?

I think my tlast trip was 15  days .  In just 10 days you prob cant hit
varanassi  and the places in MP  but should be able to see most of
rajesthan though quyite  rushed, The roads have been upgraded alot  over
last couple of years so  journey times anre getting quicker, i would have
thought you could get to jaiselmere  but ask the  operators.

Wade



On 4 February 2010 14:47, Mike Heenan <heenan1@...> wrote:

>
>
> That doesn't sound too bad, I assume that is not a per person charge right?
> My friend and I are going to stay at a place near the airport the first
> night. Do you have any recommendations on where to stay in central delhi?
> Also, I want to try to visit Rajasthan and Udaipur, do you think 10 days is
> enough to do the Golden Triangle (delhi agra jaipur) and have enough time to
> fit those two in?
>
>
> On Feb 3, 2010, at 11:10 AM, Wade Allsopp wrote:
>
> > No the way you do it is to viist a couple of tour cos who specialise in
> > hiring drivers and cars for trips around Rajesthan etc. In Delhi they are
> > mostly to be foundn in the Connaught Square area if I remember rightly.
> >
> > Speak to 2 or 3 and see who has the best deal. Obviously the price
> > depends on the size of the car and petrol consumption which will be a
> > function of the route you select.
> >
> > The drivers time and indeed having the car sit around idle fopr aday
> isn't
> > so expensive. If i recal rightly these trips tend to work out at around
> > $50-75 a day
> >
> > On 4 February 2010 01:07, Michael Heenan
<heenan1@...<heenan1%40cox.net>>
> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> Wade mentioned a while back that it's easier to hire your own car for
> >> a tour rather than to go on a prepackaged tour. How would I go about
> >> this? Would I just flag down any random taxi and ask him his rate?
> >>
> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >>
> >> On Feb 3, 2010, at 10:00 AM, Michael Heenan
<heenan1@...<heenan1%40cox.net>
> <heenan1%40cox.net>>
>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Besides clothing ad toiletries is there anything I should bring ? I
> >>> have some water purification tablets but I don't plan on going to
> >>> remote villages, just doing the golden triangle tourist trek.
> >>>
> >>> Also, I got my hep a and b shots. They recommend a bunch of others but
> >>> I don't really have too much time to get them, should I be fine?
> >>>
> >>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>
> >>> On Jan 31, 2010, at 6:59 AM, Wade Allsopp
<wade.allsopp@...<wade.allsopp%40gmail.com>
> <wade.allsopp%40gmail.com>
>
> >>>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> i guess you have discovered the Lassiwalla LOL
> >>>>
> >>>> Actually I covered this route back in 2008. we rented a car +
> >>>> driver .
> >>>> From Jaipur we went to Rathambore.
> >>>>
> >>>> Raihambore is not unmissable. As in general with Indian nat parks
> >>> the
> >>>> wildlife is rather thin on the ground adn here a good tiger
> >>>> siting is
> >>>> not guaranteed, butthe scenery is great with old jungle book style
> >>>> ruins etc. It used to be easier to see tigers at Panna but they
> >>>> got wiped
> >>>> out by poachers i read. The chinese who buy that stuff really
> >>>> ought to
> >>>> be ashamed.
> >>>>
> >>>> Bundi is quite pleasnta for day or two, less touristed than the
> >>>> other raj
> >>>> towns as untiul they fixed the roads recently it wasnt so easy to
> >>>> get from
> >>>> there via Chitta to Udaipur
> >>>>
> >>>> I think Chitta is worth a afternoon stop but maybe missable, Udaipur
> >>>> worth 3 days, Jodhpur 2 days, Jaiselmere which is everbodys
> >>>> fave is
> >>>> worth 4 . Most people fit in a camel safari along the way Ive
> >>>> done them
> >>>> at both Khuri and Bikaner and rate Kouri more highly, The route
> >>>> back is
> >>>> something of an anti climax, Bikaner is missable people used to
> >>>> stop there
> >>>> more but as the roads have improved you can drive right through
> >>>> now and
> >>>> reach the places with the Havalis there are 2 or 3 towns there i
> >>>> would
> >>>> recommend Mahansar which is less touristed than some of the others.
> >>>>
> >>>> Once youve seen one havali you have kind of seen them all but the
> >>>> reral
> >>>> reason to choose Mahansar is to stay at the Narayan Niwas
> >>>> Castle<
> >>
>
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_Niwas_C\
astle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
> >>>>> .
> >>>>
> >>>> This is a TOP TIP and may well be the most memorable place you
> >>>> stay in
> >>>> India
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>
>
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g1397068-d1165215-Reviews-Narayan_Niwas_C\
astle-Mahansar_Rajasthan.html
> >>>>
> >>>> If you go there you prob need to book ahead get clear instructions
> >>>> how to
> >>>> get therre and their no in case your driver gets lost.
> >>>>
> >>>> The owners are kind of down on their luck nobility who live in a
> >>>> sprawling
> >>>> castle most of which is run down but the habitable parts are
> >>>> really
> >>>> charming think 6 meter high ceilinmgs with wall paintings covering
> >>>> the
> >>>> walls. Its a unique place to stay and at least a couple of years
> >>>> ago was
> >>>> very affordable. May be worth staying a couple of days just to soak
> >>>> up the
> >>>> atmosphere.
> >>>>
> >>>> On your way back to Delhi you couuld stay a night in Bharatpur
> >>>> hwere they
> >>>> have alot of wetland birdsd and deer etcits a pretty nice place
> >>>> to rent
> >>>> a cycle around, then you provblay want to stop at fatupr Sitri.
> >>>> OK enough
> >>>> for now
> >>>>
> >>>> Wade
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Pushkar is well worth while if the camel fair is on otherwise
> >>>> misable,
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> On 30 January 2010 21:21, chris
<email.christopher@...<email.christopher%40gmail.com>
> <email.christopher%40gmail.com>>
>
> >> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I'm a bit pressed for time - and hate traveling this way - my visa
> >>>>> expires close to the end of Feb and I'm trying to work out an
> >>>>> itinerary for the rest of my time. I'm in Jaipur now and will
> >>>>> probably
> >>>>> go as follows: Jaipur - Bundi - Udaipur (perhaps via Chittoragarh
> >>>>> stopover) - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Delhi/Jaipur/Agra (not
> >>>>> sure how i'll pass thru this part but may skip Dehli) - Varnessi -
> >>>>> Kolkota from where i'll head back to Malaysia. Just wondering if
> >>>>> anyone has any comments about these places, the Rajastan ones all
> >>>>> sound like 'winners' in the guidebook. I'm not sure about Pushgar,
> >>>>> didn't really understand what LP was trying to say about the
> >>> place...
> >>>>> Maybe I should go back and reread it, but i seem to recall thinking
> >>>>> it
> >>>>> came across as India's version of Vang Viang (hope I spelled that
> >>>>> right.) Anyway, I'd only have about 3 days in each. Heck, right
> >>> now I
> >>>>> might be perfectly happy just spending the rest of the time here in
> >>>>> Jaipur (grin)
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> Sent from my mobile device
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> ------------------------------------
> >>>>
> >>>> Yahoo! Groups Links
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I will second the wet wipes, and antibacterial gel. you will use them, and I'll
add toilet paper and tissues.  You'll find in the smaller towns and cheaper
accommodations, the rolls provided are one use one person size.  Don't bother
with water purification tablets unless you are going treking,   but with the
water bottles just make sure they are factory sealed and not refilled locally.

--Mark





________________________________
From: Stephanie Warren <itakeyocash@...>
To: RTWers@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, February 3, 2010 12:29:31 PM
Subject: Re: [RTWers] Packing for India


I've never appreciated having wet wipes and anitbacterial gel so much in my
life. Also, those facial wipes (like for acne even if you don't need them). I
never found places to wash, and I really appreciated having them. I like to camp
and get dirty, so I'm not a wuss. I'm just sayin... :)

Connected by MOTOBLURâ„¢ on T-Mobile

-----Original message-----
From: Michael Heenan <heenan1@cox. net>
To: "RTWers@yahoogroups. com" <RTWers@yahoogroups. com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 3, 2010 17:05:15 GMT+00:00
Subject: [RTWers] Packing for India

Besides clothing ad toiletries is there anything I should bring ? I
have some water purification tablets but I don't plan on going to
remote villages, just doing the golden triangle tourist trek.

Also, I got my hep a and b shots. They recommend a bunch of others but
I don't really have too much time to get them, should I be fine?

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 31, 2010, at 6:59 AM, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@ gmail.com>
wrote:

> i guess you have discovered the Lassiwalla  LOL
>
> Actually I  covered this route  back in 2008. we rented a car +
> driver  .
> From Jaipur we went to Rathambore.
>
> Raihambore is  not unmissable. As in general with Indian nat parks the
> wildlife  is  rather thin on the ground adn here a good  tiger
> siting is
> not guaranteed, butthe  scenery is great with  old  jungle  book style
> ruins  etc. It used to be  easier to see tigers at Panna but they
> got wiped
> out by poachers i read.   The  chinese who buy that stuff  really
> ought to
> be  ashamed.
>
> Bundi is quite pleasnta for day or  two, less touristed than the
> other raj
> towns as untiul they  fixed the roads recently it wasnt so easy to
> get from
> there  via  Chitta to Udaipur
>
> I think Chitta is worth a afternoon stop but maybe  missable,  Udaipur
> worth 3  days, Jodhpur  2  days, Jaiselmere which is  everbodys
> fave  is
> worth 4 .  Most people fit in a  camel safari along the way  Ive
> done them
> at both Khuri and Bikaner and rate Kouri more

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





       __________________________________________________________________
Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!

http://www.flickr.com/gift/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Is the antibacterial gel enough to clean a toilet seat?

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 4, 2010, at 4:10 PM, Mark Beauchamp <markb666ca@...> wrote:

> I will second the wet wipes, and antibacterial gel. you will use
> them, and I'll add toilet paper and tissues. You'll find in the
> smaller towns and cheaper accommodations, the rolls provided are one
> use one person size. Don't bother with water purification tablets
> unless you are going treking, but with the water bottles just make
> sure they are factory sealed and not refilled locally.
>
> --Mark
>
> ________________________________
> From: Stephanie Warren <itakeyocash@...>
> To: RTWers@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wed, February 3, 2010 12:29:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [RTWers] Packing for India
>
> I've never appreciated having wet wipes and anitbacterial gel so
> much in my life. Also, those facial wipes (like for acne even if you
> don't need them). I never found places to wash, and I really
> appreciated having them. I like to camp and get dirty, so I'm not a
> wuss. I'm just sayin... :)
>
> Connected by MOTOBLURâ„¢ on T-Mobile
>
> -----Original message-----
> From: Michael Heenan <heenan1@cox. net>
> To: "RTWers@yahoogroups. com" <RTWers@yahoogroups. com>
> Sent: Wed, Feb 3, 2010 17:05:15 GMT+00:00
> Subject: [RTWers] Packing for India
>
> Besides clothing ad toiletries is there anything I should bring ? I
> have some water purification tablets but I don't plan on going to
> remote villages, just doing the golden triangle tourist trek.
>
> Also, I got my hep a and b shots. They recommend a bunch of others but
> I don't really have too much time to get them, should I be fine?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 31, 2010, at 6:59 AM, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@ gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > i guess you have discovered the Lassiwalla LOL
> >
> > Actually I covered this route back in 2008. we rented a car +
> > driver .
> > From Jaipur we went to Rathambore.
> >
> > Raihambore is not unmissable. As in general with Indian nat parks
> the
> > wildlife is rather thin on the ground adn here a good tiger
> > siting is
> > not guaranteed, butthe scenery is great with old jungle book style
> > ruins etc. It used to be easier to see tigers at Panna but they
> > got wiped
> > out by poachers i read. The chinese who buy that stuff really
> > ought to
> > be ashamed.
> >
> > Bundi is quite pleasnta for day or two, less touristed than the
> > other raj
> > towns as untiul they fixed the roads recently it wasnt so easy to
> > get from
> > there via Chitta to Udaipur
> >
> > I think Chitta is worth a afternoon stop but maybe missable, Udaipur
> > worth 3 days, Jodhpur 2 days, Jaiselmere which is everbodys
> > fave is
> > worth 4 . Most people fit in a camel safari along the way Ive
> > done them
> > at both Khuri and Bikaner and rate Kouri more
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!
>
> http://www.flickr.com/gift/
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lol. No toilet seats. Holes in ground. :)  Much cleanlier actually

Connected by MOTOBLURâ„¢ on T-Mobile

-----Original message-----
From: Michael Heenan <heenan1@...>
To: "RTWers@yahoogroups.com" <RTWers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thu, Feb 4, 2010 23:12:52 GMT+00:00
Subject: Re: [RTWers] Packing for India

Is the antibacterial gel enough to clean a toilet seat?

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 4, 2010, at 4:10 PM, Mark Beauchamp <markb666ca@...> wrote:

> I will second the wet wipes, and antibacterial gel. you will use
> them, and I'll add toilet paper and tissues. You'll find in the
> smaller towns and cheaper accommodations, the rolls provided are one
> use one person size. Don't bother with water purification tablets
> unless you are going treking, but with the water bottles just make
> sure they are factory sealed and not refilled locally.
>
> --Mark
>
> ________________________________
> From: Stephanie Warren <itakeyocash@...>
> To: RTWers@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wed, February 3, 2010 12:29:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [RTWers] Packing for India
>
> I've never appreciated having wet wipes and anitbacterial gel so
> much in my life. Also, those facial wipes (like for acne even if you
> don't need them). I never found places to wash, and I really
> appreciated having them. I like to camp and get dirty, so I'm not a
> wuss. I'm just sayin... :)
>
> Connected by MOTOBLURâ„¢ on T-Mobile
>
> -----Original message-----
> From: Michael Heenan <heenan1@cox. net>
> To: "RTWers@yahoogroups. com" <RTWers@yahoogroups. com>
> Sent: Wed, Feb 3, 2010 17:05:15 GMT+00:00
> Subject: [RTWers] Packing for India
>
> Besides clothing ad toiletries is there anything I should bring ? I
> have some water purification tablets but I don't pl


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello Group,

We'll be driving to Agra (thanks for the advice on renting a
car+driver!) on April 9th for one night from Gurgaon/Delhi. Has anyone
some advice on where to stay close to the Taj? We want to see the
sunset/sunrise at the Taj, so we prefer only a short drive. Maybe we can
squeeze in a geocache, as well.
I've only stayed at the Park Plaza in Agra, so not sure about any other
places. Oberoj Amarvillas obviously way out of our price range. We are
looking for a clean, safe and simple place.

Happy travelling,
Don

This looks like an ugly development

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7026548.ece

I think people have started to realise that general terrorist attacks are
just one of those risks we take like walking down tyhe road or earthquakes
and statistically they are much less of a danger than say renting a  moped.

It looks as though the Islamic terrorists in India are going to start
specifically targeting tourists which is likley to make people much more
uncomfortable
just as it did with Egypt a few  years ago.  From the point of view of
terrorists seeking to create the maximum amount of damage for minimum
effort  its a smart  strategy unfortunately.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Peter, as the prior poster mentioned; setting things up can be a challenge.  I
always got my SIM in New Delhi.  It's not really a problem, but it does take an
hour or two.  Make sure to bring photocopies of your passport main page + India
visa page, and 2 photos. . . India takes it security very seriously re cell
phones.  When I was in the very NE of India (Darjeeling, Gangtok, etc), it was
not possible for me (USA) to get a SIM card.  They just would not offer it to
me--they all said due to fears that cell phones could be used by Bangladeshi (or
those from Pakistan, I guess) terrorist groups.

I also had difficulty getting a plan where I understood the terms.  But it was
all so cheap, I never ran out of money, and I think I bought 500 R worth, which
lasted me for 2 months of in-country calls.

Thanks for the insight on the mobile situation there, was interesting concerning
the difficulty getting one and one might wonder concerning events of the past
week. I am in bangkok for another week and then flying to Kolkuta. Am debating
on a phone here or there and really just looking for your simple run of the mill
nokia 1200 or similar ones mainly for txting and a few calls. whats the low end
phone go for in India, or better off in bangkok? So on the issue of coverage is
it a matter of having to get a new sim in new delhi then one in mumbai, goa etc?
 
thanks again
 
Peter


"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from
the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Get the phone in BKK.  There might be places in India as cheap, or slightly
cheaper.  But since you are right now in one of the world's best spots for
bargains re phones, don't worry about saving 5 bucks.  I also got a very cheap
and basic phone (calls and a few texts) in Panthip Plaza (spelling??), in
Bangkok.  If you ask around in your hotel or hostel, you undoubtedly will find a
fellow traveler or desk clerk who knows of this place.  It's HUGE, and you can
spend hours looking at computers, phones, iPods, etc in the hundreds of shops in
this 4-story plaza.

I think that you can get a SIM that will work in all of India.  (On my last
trip, my SIM worked in Delhi as well as Kerala in the south of India.

You might also want to post this question on the India forum in Lonely Planet. 
Tons of people there, and I'm sure people have the most up-to-date info.

A note of caution.  You may be tempted to get one of the "China phones" that
are increasingly popular in Asia.  These are generic phones either copies
of  major brands with extra  features  (eg dual sims) or own design.  they
offer much more "bang for your buck in terms of functionality, but tend to
break VERY easily and the  batteries are hopeless - you may  last 4 or 5
hours  on a full charge  compared  with 4 or  5 days on a basic  Nokia

On 19 February 2010 16:47, joshesq <joshesq@...> wrote:

>
>
> Get the phone in BKK. There might be places in India as cheap, or slightly
> cheaper. But since you are right now in one of the world's best spots for
> bargains re phones, don't worry about saving 5 bucks. I also got a very
> cheap and basic phone (calls and a few texts) in Panthip Plaza (spelling??),
> in Bangkok. If you ask around in your hotel or hostel, you undoubtedly will
> find a fellow traveler or desk clerk who knows of this place. It's HUGE, and
> you can spend hours looking at computers, phones, iPods, etc in the hundreds
> of shops in this 4-story plaza.
>
> I think that you can get a SIM that will work in all of India. (On my last
> trip, my SIM worked in Delhi as well as Kerala in the south of India.
>
> You might also want to post this question on the India forum in Lonely
> Planet. Tons of people there, and I'm sure people have the most up-to-date
> info.
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

for what it's worth, I found that if you live in the states that a cheap
unlocked phone on ebay would be adequate and cheaper, on avg, than one of
the phones at mbk.

if you're in the market for a new jazzy phone, then bkk prices are pretty
unbeatable. weight that fact as well.

sorry of this was mentioned before, getting over food poisoning from the
food here... at my workplace....

brian in philadelphia, where it's not always sunny.

On Feb 19, 2010 3:48 AM, "joshesq" <joshesq@...> wrote:

Get the phone in BKK.  There might be places in India as cheap, or slightly
cheaper.  But since you are right now in one of the world's best spots for
bargains re phones, don't worry about saving 5 bucks.  I also got a very
cheap and basic phone (calls and a few texts) in Panthip Plaza (spelling??),
in Bangkok.  If you ask around in your hotel or hostel, you undoubtedly will
find a fellow traveler or desk clerk who knows of this place.  It's HUGE,
and you can spend hours looking at computers, phones, iPods, etc in the
hundreds of shops in this 4-story plaza.

I think that you can get a SIM that will work in all of India.  (On my last
trip, my SIM worked in Delhi as well as Kerala in the south of India.

You might also want to post this question on the India forum in Lonely
Planet.  Tons of people there, and I'm sure people have the most up-to-date
info.




------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm heading to Kolkata tomorrow night as well. I'd say that after
arriving, ask around for the nearest AirTel customer service center
and get your sim from them. Prolly won't get screwed over or otherwise
confused later on. What I've got from indie contractor shop was free
and will actually last for the next 3 years, but is based in Kerala so
roaming applies (even tho it seems they are not charging me extra, at
least any noticable amount, and internet bandwidth is the same price)
... The tricky part is knowing exactly how much to 'recharge' in order
to get *full talktime* ... For the 2 months I've been here, 111 rupees
has given me 111rs. of credit. Other amounts can have huge service
charges or something or be for special packages. This happened to me
once when I misunderstood a sms message advert. From AirTel. The shop
I got my sim in Kerala knew the specials that applied there and
they're the ones who told me about it with warning that it might only
be temp special. My next 111r recharge could end up giving me only 2
rupees of regular credit but unlimited night calls to Kerala AirTel
subscribers for 27 days. Just an example :)

Anyway, official airtel center prolly set you right, all the airtel
signs you'll see are just indie shops selling mobile services and
recharges. Ask locals for the big boys. In Jaipur, they didn't want to
recharge my account cuz they were afraid I might become angry if 111r
didn't do what I expected (and other offices in other states actually
have no clue what others are doing... Mumbai ppl didn't even have
access to my account). Jaipur wanted to give me a new sim just for
tourists that would expire when my visa does or something. Prolly
would have been better, but I didn't want to give up another passport
sized (visa) photo.

One of these threads was talking about india packing tips. As happened
in china, I (and it seems everyone i ask) am sick as hell at the
moment from the dirt/pollution. Terrible cough and nose and throat
problems... You know when you blow your nose aand dirt comes out. So
may want to pack medicines to fight such things and help sleep at
night.

On 2/16/10, Peter Chiochios <prchiochios@...> wrote:
> Thanks for the insight on the mobile situation there, was interesting
> concerning the difficulty getting one and one might wonder concerning events
> of the past week. I am in bangkok for another week and then flying to
> Kolkuta. Am debating on a phone here or there and really just looking for
> your simple run of the mill nokia 1200 or similar ones mainly for txting and
> a few calls. whats the low end phone go for in India, or better off in
> bangkok? So on the issue of coverage is it a matter of having to get a new
> sim in new delhi then one in mumbai, goa etc?
>
> thanks again
>
> Peter
>
>
> "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you
> didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away
> from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
> Discover."
> - Mark Twain
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

--
Sent from my mobile device

I'd be interested to get people's views on this question.

I've just lost around $400 in foreign currency cash from a hotel safety
deposit box.
I'm in the Phils  where theft is a pretty endemic  problem.

I dutifully took the hotel advise to deposit valuables in the safety boxes
(the individual  ones with a 4  number code)
behind reception.

At the end of my stay i only took a brief glimpse at my wallets. only when i
got to the next hotel and tried to pay with USD
did I realise that i had been relieved of all my USD, GBP, EUR and 1000Bhat
notes  except  a single 1USD and my stash of  Indian
and Indonesian ruppee  chinese yuan etc  ie all the non convertible stuff.

In retrospect such deposit boxes are not good. I think tehy are OK if in
your room but if they are in an office  by reception then your money is
wide  open
for any hotel staff  alone at night and tempted to get 3  months  pay  in
one  evening.  These boxes come with a "secret" default number which the
reception staff know and i
   suspect most other staff numbers can find out.

Of  course  i am trying to contact  the  hotel  but they are not interested
and asking me  to  call the manager after the  weekend. As far as i can see
I  have zero  chance of getting the money back as there is  no  documentary
evidence  of  what was iin the box  and obviously in could be  making up the
number,.  Not having checked  my stuff when i emptied the  box was also a
mistake.

I guess i ll have to write it down to experience  I 'm not properly insured
(I  have previously found it too much hassle  getting police  reports to
make  claims etc) .Hope  others  can learn from my carelessness.

Wade


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I wear an Eagle Creek pouch around my lower leg. It's easy to get to
if needed as my pants have leg zippers to the knees, and you cannot
see any indication that it's there, unlike the neck pouches. Waist
belt types are also too common and uncomfortable. Leg ones don't get
sweaty or annoying feeling. I'd never be able to enjoy myself if I
left anything valuable in a hotel or locker.

They have velcro fastened straps that I sew together so it cannot come
off leg accidently.

I think the eagle creek product is called 'hidden'

On 3/13/10, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...> wrote:
> I'd be interested to get people's views on this question.
>
> I've just lost around $400 in foreign currency cash from a hotel safety
> deposit box.
> I'm in the Phils  where theft is a pretty endemic  problem.
>
> I dutifully took the hotel advise to deposit valuables in the safety boxes
> (the individual  ones with a 4  number code)
> behind reception.
>
> At the end of my stay i only took a brief glimpse at my wallets. only when i
> got to the next hotel and tried to pay with USD
> did I realise that i had been relieved of all my USD, GBP, EUR and 1000Bhat
> notes  except  a single 1USD and my stash of  Indian
> and Indonesian ruppee  chinese yuan etc  ie all the non convertible stuff.
>
> In retrospect such deposit boxes are not good. I think tehy are OK if in
> your room but if they are in an office  by reception then your money is
> wide  open
> for any hotel staff  alone at night and tempted to get 3  months  pay  in
> one  evening.  These boxes come with a "secret" default number which the
> reception staff know and i
>   suspect most other staff numbers can find out.
>
> Of  course  i am trying to contact  the  hotel  but they are not interested
> and asking me  to  call the manager after the  weekend. As far as i can see
> I  have zero  chance of getting the money back as there is  no  documentary
> evidence  of  what was iin the box  and obviously in could be  making up the
> number,.  Not having checked  my stuff when i emptied the  box was also a
> mistake.
>
> I guess i ll have to write it down to experience  I 'm not properly insured
> (I  have previously found it too much hassle  getting police  reports to
> make  claims etc) .Hope  others  can learn from my carelessness.
>
> Wade
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

--
Sent from my mobile device

As someone who often travels around with an expensive laptop, having a safe box
in the room where I can use my own lock is a major sell point for me. I've had
stuff stolen from my room before so I love hostels where I can secure my
valuables on my own safe box.


On Mar 13, 2010, at 10:12 AM, chris wrote:

> I wear an Eagle Creek pouch around my lower leg. It's easy to get to
> if needed as my pants have leg zippers to the knees, and you cannot
> see any indication that it's there, unlike the neck pouches. Waist
> belt types are also too common and uncomfortable. Leg ones don't get
> sweaty or annoying feeling. I'd never be able to enjoy myself if I
> left anything valuable in a hotel or locker.
>
> They have velcro fastened straps that I sew together so it cannot come
> off leg accidently.
>
> I think the eagle creek product is called 'hidden'
>
> On 3/13/10, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...> wrote:
> > I'd be interested to get people's views on this question.
> >
> > I've just lost around $400 in foreign currency cash from a hotel safety
> > deposit box.
> > I'm in the Phils where theft is a pretty endemic problem.
> >
> > I dutifully took the hotel advise to deposit valuables in the safety boxes
> > (the individual ones with a 4 number code)
> > behind reception.
> >
> > At the end of my stay i only took a brief glimpse at my wallets. only when i
> > got to the next hotel and tried to pay with USD
> > did I realise that i had been relieved of all my USD, GBP, EUR and 1000Bhat
> > notes except a single 1USD and my stash of Indian
> > and Indonesian ruppee chinese yuan etc ie all the non convertible stuff.
> >
> > In retrospect such deposit boxes are not good. I think tehy are OK if in
> > your room but if they are in an office by reception then your money is
> > wide open
> > for any hotel staff alone at night and tempted to get 3 months pay in
> > one evening. These boxes come with a "secret" default number which the
> > reception staff know and i
> > suspect most other staff numbers can find out.
> >
> > Of course i am trying to contact the hotel but they are not interested
> > and asking me to call the manager after the weekend. As far as i can see
> > I have zero chance of getting the money back as there is no documentary
> > evidence of what was iin the box and obviously in could be making up the
> > number,. Not having checked my stuff when i emptied the box was also a
> > mistake.
> >
> > I guess i ll have to write it down to experience I 'm not properly insured
> > (I have previously found it too much hassle getting police reports to
> > make claims etc) .Hope others can learn from my carelessness.
> >
> > Wade
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
>
> --
> Sent from my mobile device
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sorry to hear this Wade, I was relieved of all my cash while sleeping on a train
in France it's a terrible feeling.

I've never given my money to the hotel desk as I've heard far more stories about
things being stolen from the hotel monitored safes than even from people's
rooms. I'll use the safe if it is the padlock type and I can slip on my own
padlock. I often also switch the lock on the room out for my own padlock. I have
used the in room safes for electronics I keep most of my cash on me. I try not
to have much cash only $300 or so between my husband and I  at a time,
occasionally that has been a problem but I'm usually able to work it out.
On my last big trip I discovered the money belt that hangs down like a pocket.
It loops around your belt with a black or kahki loop then hangs down on the
side. It's comfortable, covert, and for someone to lift it off of you it would
definitely be noticeable.
http://www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/security_id/UnderCover-Hidden-Pocket-40024\
/
I hated all other money belts and neck pouches, and underarm pouches had tried
them all but couldn't stand them. The leg or sock pouches wouldn't work for me
as I'm often wearing shorts and flip flops. The traditional money belt was
uncomfortable and would also work itself out of my pants anyway. I like this new
pouch so much I've started wearing it in the states. For example when I went to
mardi gras last month I wore this just keeping a bit of cash in my pocket so I
didn't have to carry a purse.  We have a similiar product that loops on a belt
and is completely waterproof to hold money while swimming unfortunately it's not
big enough for passports. So with camera, passport computer I just stash it in
the room and hope for the best.  I've also sewn emergency cash into hidden
pockets inside of pants.

Amanda

--- On Sat, 3/13/10, Hector <hectorRTW@...> wrote:

> From: Hector <hectorRTW@...>
> Subject: Re: [RTWers] Where is the safest place to store one's cash?
> To: RTWers@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Saturday, March 13, 2010, 4:28 AM
> As someone who often travels around
> with an expensive laptop, having a safe box in the room
> where I can use my own lock is a major sell point for me.
> I've had stuff stolen from my room before so I love hostels
> where I can secure my valuables on my own safe box.
>
>
> On Mar 13, 2010, at 10:12 AM, chris wrote:
>
> > I wear an Eagle Creek pouch around my lower leg. It's
> easy to get to
> > if needed as my pants have leg zippers to the knees,
> and you cannot
> > see any indication that it's there, unlike the neck
> pouches. Waist
> > belt types are also too common and uncomfortable. Leg
> ones don't get
> > sweaty or annoying feeling. I'd never be able to enjoy
> myself if I
> > left anything valuable in a hotel or locker.
> >
> > They have velcro fastened straps that I sew together
> so it cannot come
> > off leg accidently.
> >
> > I think the eagle creek product is called 'hidden'
> >
> > On 3/13/10, Wade Allsopp <wade.allsopp@...>
> wrote:
> > > I'd be interested to get people's views on this
> question.
> > >
> > > I've just lost around $400 in foreign currency
> cash from a hotel safety
> > > deposit box.
> > > I'm in the Phils where theft is a pretty endemic
> problem.
> > >
> > > I dutifully took the hotel advise to deposit
> valuables in the safety boxes
> > > (the individual ones with a 4 number code)
> > > behind reception.
> > >
> > > At the end of my stay i only took a brief glimpse
> at my wallets. only when i
> > > got to the next hotel and tried to pay with USD
> > > did I realise that i had been relieved of all my
> USD, GBP, EUR and 1000Bhat
> > > notes except a single 1USD and my stash of
> Indian
> > > and Indonesian ruppee chinese yuan etc ie all the
> non convertible stuff.
> > >
> > > In retrospect such deposit boxes are not good. I
> think tehy are OK if in
> > > your room but if they are in an office by
> reception then your money is
> > > wide open
> > > for any hotel staff alone at night and tempted to
> get 3 months pay in
> > > one evening. These boxes come with a "secret"
> default number which the
> > > reception staff know and i
> > > suspect most other staff numbers can find out.
> > >
> > > Of course i am trying to contact the hotel but
> they are not interested
> > > and asking me to call the manager after the
> weekend. As far as i can see
> > > I have zero chance of getting the money back as
> there is no documentary
> > > evidence of what was iin the box and obviously in
> could be making up the
> > > number,. Not having checked my stuff when i
> emptied the box was also a
> > > mistake.
> > >
> > > I guess i ll have to write it down to experience
> I 'm not properly insured
> > > (I have previously found it too much hassle
> getting police reports to
> > > make claims etc) .Hope others can learn from my
> carelessness.
> > >
> > > Wade
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Sent from my mobile device
> >
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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