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Travel

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EVA Air fare and service changes

I've been an EVA frequent flier for years, but the airline, facing financial loses, has announced changes to both it's fare and service structure. Problems within the airline industry are pretty well known and not isolated to EVA. It doesn't look at present that choosing a different airline will result in significant savings. Certainly, the fare increase will bring about changes in my travel habits as I cut back plans and choose an airline based on price versus past experience.

Taipei Times:

EVA Air will raise their air fares by an average of 30 percent for international flights starting next month to reflect surging fuel costs ...

EVA Airways Corp spokesman Nieh Kuo-wei (聶國偉) said that the fuel price for air carriers has risen from US$84 a barrel last year to US$145 a barrel. Fuel costs used to account for 20 percent of the airline’s operations costs, but the ratio has now risen to 50 percent, Nieh said.

“The air carrier has no option but to adjust its air fares,” Nieh said.

In checking orices to Vancouver recently I found the fare increase to be far above 30%.

Evergreen Club release:

1. Silver Card members traveling with any EVA Air's int'l flights can access EVA Air VIP Lounge at TPE / BKK / SFO
2. Silver Card members holding Evergreen Deluxe Class / Elite Class ticket or with confirmed upgrading reservation can access EVA Air VIP Lounge worldwide

You used to be able to access the lounge regardless of the class you were flying. Not much of a concern except when you need access to a lounge for work (and you're traveling on the cheap).

EVA Airlines

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The end of mobility?

One of the questions I have been thinking about for the past couple of weeks is whether or not the lifestyle that I had envisioned for my life and the life of my family will still be possible in the near future.

Four years ago when the seeds of thought for this web site were being planted I was traveling every month. Traveling not so much for work but for a change of scenery for my work. I thought that over time I could see myself working during the winter in various parts of Thailand or other warm locales in Asia. Summer would be spent in Eastern Canada and perhaps parts of Europe. Since starting a family living this ideal has been somewhat more challenging, and now my mobile lifestyle is confined primarily between Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the all to rare trip to Bangkok.

But this challenge pales in comparison to the unavoidable increase in costs of mobility.

Lately with fantastic increases in the price of fuel, and certainly much more increases in the future, living a mobile lifestyle will not mean trotting around the world with laptop in tow but simply moving around the house. The costs of air travel are increasing to the point that even now we are canceling trips abroad. The days of cheap plentiful air-fare are coming to an end making all travel - luxury travel.

There are bigger problems to contend with with the rising cost of fuel, problems like heating a home in winter, but I can't help but feel saddened by the prospect of not experiencing as much of the world as I had hoped.

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Knapsack Personal Travel Organizer

Hoping to make your travel experiences better, Knapsack is a personal travel organizer for planning and reliving your travels. This Mac OSX application includes an itinerary planner with drag-and-drop reordering, printed itineraries, trip checklists, location postcards, a world map to mark locations visited (with links to the Google map of each place), notes and ratings, smart groups, and full iCal synchronization. Knapsack requires Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.

If you require recommendations, a web interface, and a community of fellow travellers you might try the alternatives below:

Alternatives:
Yahoo Trip Planner (activity recommendations but too confusing)
Driftr
TripAdvisor

Link: Knapsack by TinyPlanet Software

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Credit card and money safety abroad

Credit cards are a good way to keep track of expenses abroad. They are generally safer than carrying around cash, but their potential spending power makes them a target for scammers and thieves. A few simple precautions can cut your risk and help you have a trouble-free holiday.

When your credit card goes missing or is stolen in your home country it’s a worrying time but you probably know what to do: report the theft straight away to the police then call your bank to cancel the card and order a new one. While you wait for the new card it is likely that you have access to an alternative source of money. But what if your card is lost or stolen on holiday or just before you travel?

Credit cards are a good way to keep track of expenses abroad. They are generally safer than carrying around cash, but their potential spending power makes them a target for scammers and thieves. A few simple precautions can cut your risk and help you have a trouble-free holiday.

I've always thought of my credit card as my life line to home. If all else fails I feel better with the knowledge that I could 'charge' my way out of a city or country. So like I am sure you do I treat this piece plastic with great care.

One of the most obvious methods I use to safe guard my credit card is limiting it's use to those times when I absolutely need to use it. Otherwise, depending on the location I am traveling, I keep it tucked way in money belt where it is far less likely to get stolen. I don't charge purchases to a business account sso I find more practical to simply use cash.

I also leave the thick heavy wallet at home. I don't need to carry around every single bit of plastic I own. Instead I use a Jimi and carry the essentials. This approach worked so well for me, it's far more comfortable to carry a Jimi than a large leather wallet, that this has been my primary wallet for a couple of years. My expensive leather wallet sits at home gathering dust.

Lastly I safeguard my credit cards and wallet by keeping a small wad of cash in my pocket and at the ready at all times. I take out the cash to pay the receipt and not the wallet. It stays tucked away out of reach.

AllSafeTravels Article

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Save time at airport security

You might as well check your dignity curbside. Soon you'll be shoeless and flustered, spilling comics across the floor as you dig your MacBook from the depths of your duffel. But take a deep breath, frequent fliers: It is possible to pass security with your ego intact.

Luckily I seldom have to brave the extreme security checks that one must go through at US airports. When I go through airport security in this part of the world one very simple tip (their #2) saves me time and frustration. I make sure that all metal objects (coins, phone, keys) are put in one pocket in my bag long before I get to security. As simple as it is, it's amazing to see how many people dig through their pockets, slowing the flow, to find the source of the detector's alarm.

It's also proven to be wise to keep all like objects in your bag organized in different pouches or cubes to allow for easy and orderly inspection. An overly zealous security check at Halifax International had me spilling out all my carefully packed gadgets on the table. It took ages to get everything organized properly again.

Fly Through Airport Security - Wired How-To Wiki. Via lifehacker.

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Avoiding a stomach virus while traveling

I've got a house full of sick people, a wildly infectious stomach virus seems to have reeked havoc in many households with children in our area. I've managed to avoid getting sick for now but I always seem to wait until everyone else is ill to join in the un-pleasantries.

Living in Asia we have become accustomed to dealing with these outbreaks. We have been here so long I have no idea if it is common elsewhere. I certainly don't remember anything like the severity of what we experience here when I was growing up in small town Canada.

If you are traveling to SE Asia on business or pleasure you might be unaware local health conditions and there is nothing worse than having either a stomach virus or food poisoning while traveling. I don't mean to be alarmist but since I have had children I've become more cautious.

Perhaps you do this already, but other than staying healthy, here are a few of the practices we have to deal with this part of life here.

1) I don't get adventurous with food. Many colleagues who travel through China are strongly advised by their employers to eat in the hotel or very expensive restaurants only. Your strict schedule cannot afford you losing opportunities due to illness. When I am traveling I love to sample all kinds of food. Especially low end cafeteria style restaurants or food from street vendors. A stomach virus can be acquired from improper handling of food by those infected as could food poisoning. I've suffered many times as a result but I am more cautious when I'm not the one paying for the trip. This applies when traveling with my children as well. The common advice of not drinking the water applies as well. I've lived here for over 10 years and I avoid it. Ask for no ice as well (not sure if this is purely an 'old wives tale).

2) I carry a bottle of Purell or equivalent. I'm not fanatical about cleanliness in myself or my children but it's a useful product to (possibly) kill viruses you might come in contact with your hands. Your hands are one of the primary means of infection and kids always have their hands in their mouth. Naturally soap and water is effective too. It's not about dirt - it's about potential a virus.

3) Buy medical grade face masks. These are a pretty common sight here in SE Asia as a means of preventing the further spread of a virus. During the SARS outbreak here it was like living in some kind of apocalyptic vision of the future - everyone was wearing them whenever they were out in public. We use them for protection in case of a known outbreak and to help prevent further infection when someone in our family gets sick. It wouldn't hurt to take one with you if you are traveling in higher risk areas (ie. China).

This isn't an extensive list but I hope it gives you some ideas or at least an awareness of the possibility of getting sick while traveling.

Some further reading:
What is viral gastroenteritis?
BRAT diet
What is the best way to treat diarrhea?
Sodium imbalance

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How to deal with long flights

As someone who regularly has to travel 24 hours or more to return home I can say with some certainty that no matter what you do it's going to feel a bit like torture. I find 12 hrs relatively fine but beyond that is certainly an exercise in endurance. There are some things you can do to help.

I always take a midnight flight and try to sleep most of the way through that part of the journey. The flight from Asia to the west coast is always the most enjoyable part of the trip. It's getting across the NA continent that seems to elicit the most pain.

Some quick tips:
Get plenty of sleep during and before the flight. For long flights try to travel at night when you naturally feel like sleeping. Whether you feel it or not traveling is exhausting. Sleep will allow your body to rejuvenate and repair itself.

Drink plenty of fluids as you can get dehydrated quickly inside a plane. If I don't drink I can see a noticeable difference in my skin. It's drier and I feel like crap.

Do a bit of stretching and get up and walk around whenever you can. Avoid sitting with crossed legs. This is far more convenient if you are able to snag an aisle seat. I hate stepping over people all the time.

Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks during the flight as they will lead to dehydration and tiredness. I always like a cup of green tea before arrival. I also try to stick to warm drinks when I can - it's a habit I picked up from living in Taiwan. I can't remember the exact reason but give it a try.

Eat light meals during and before the flight to avoid an upset stomach. Since you are immobile during the flight it's hard to allow proper digestion. Despite having experienced great onboard service, I always feel much worse after eating a big meal. Even the best food is relatively unappetizing. Eat light snacks, fruits and a fresh salad instead (airlines would have to work hard at getting fruit wrong).

Take your shoes off and wear loose socks. Your feet and ankles swell immensely on long haul flights - even with exercise. This will increase your comfort (it took a couple days to remove the 'cuts' from my socks after one particular flight) and reduce your chances of Deep Vein Thrombosis.

I don't recommend bulking up with books, magazines, and every device you own. You won't use them and they only add weight to your bag. A decent airline will provide you with enough entertainment to get you through 3-4 hrs of idle time so it's not necessary.

Inspired by Lifehacker: Handling More Than 12 Hours on a Plane?. Photo via ton3vita.

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How to Find Internet Cafes?

With the popularity of the iPhone, iPod touch, Blackberry, small notebooks, and the seeming endless number of devices that now allow you to stay connected, it would seem odd to be concerned with places to read your email. Finding wifi hotspots would seem more likely. Not everyone wants to lug around a device regardless of it's size a fact made evident by the simple fact that Internet (cyber) Café's everywhere when you travel throughout Asia.

While it's been a popular topic in many guidebooks the most current and thorough resources can be found on the web (and with your feet on the ground). Here's a list of sites to lead you in the right direction:

easyInternetcafe.com has a searchable list of café's around the world. Easy has their own chain of café's but the database contains other businesses as well. The site includes user reviews and Google maps for many locations. It works well but some of my searches came up blank.

The Cybercafe Search Engine lists over 5,000 Internet cafes around the world, searchable by city, state, province or country.

World66 has a worldwide Internet cafe search feature.

Cybercafes.com contains a database of over 4,000 Internet cafes in countries around the world. You can search by city or country.

Internet Cafés tends to be a transient business and what is listed in one of the directories above might have long since closed. Use these as a good starting point with the knowledge that nothing beats asking someone when you arrive where you can find internet access. If you are in Thailand there seems to be one on every corner. Via Independent Traveller.

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7 Reasons To Travel With One Bag

Ian MacKenzie, writing for Brave New Traveler, explains his reasoning for traveling light by summarizing the thoughts of a variety of authors around the web on why you should travel with one bag. It's a good list.

When planning for our 2 month trip to Southeast Asia in winter 2005, my girlfriend and I decided we would only take a single bag.

And no, this wouldn’t be a large, cumbersome backpack like the ones perpetually seen by eager backpackers around the world. We each pledged to stick with a regular size backpack, like one you would fill with schoolbooks and a lunchbox.

What works for me is the reduction of stress, being able to pick far more means of transport, and no more lost baggage. Something that has happened to my family far too many times.

More. Photo via Malias.

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Best US and International Airport WiFi

In my travels around the Asian region I have found, despite reports to the contrary, free access to be all but non-existant. It wasn't always this way but it seems so many terminals try to squeeze revenue from all but the most established services. There are some highlights, including the Virgin Atlantic lounge in Hong Kong, Singapore Airlines lounge in Seoul, and EVA's lounge in Taipei, but these are services for frequent traveller or business class passengers only. Luckily TravelPost and Jaunted have a number of access point lists to help us during the times we don't have the luxury of using such facilities.

TravelPost.com's guide to airport wireless Internet access for major international airports. Though not all are free, it's a decent rundown of what is available.

From large European hubs like London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle to exotic global destinations like Dubai International and Quito - Mariscal Sucre Airport, we provide the most complete listing of wireless access options, airport wifi providers, coverage areas and pricing.

Jaunted writes about the best available wifi in US airports:

... we find that an airport with reliable, free WiFi gets us planning our trip around such signal-strong airports.

But there's hope. Some large US airports are leading the way, while the real innovation is going on at the country's small airfields. Maybe it's due to less red tape, or maybe they just want to get noticed, but regional and less-used airports usually have the best WiFi.

They have an up-to-date US Airport WiFi Map as well.

Also the definitive guide to US airport wireless connections and free airport wifi and the somewhat related Free WiFi in Bangkok.

Picture is of the plastic flowers in the Virgin Atlantic lounge in Hong Kong.

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Travel Thread Kit

An often mentioned essential piece of kit for any long term travelers bag is the sewing kit. I don't remember ever needing one but if I did, this would be my first choice. The Travel Thread Kit is a "much better alternative to the small spool-in-a-box version. Cotton thread to be used on all fabrics, 8 strands per color, 21 colors in total. Pull a thread out piece by piece ... Fits easily into all bags and important if you want to look dashing while traveling as we all do, even if one is backpacking and has not showered in 3 days". $9.00.

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Travel todo and packing list

My travel behavior has in the past been pretty simple. Shop for a hotel online - phone the hotel to book, buy the air tickets online, and pack the day of or the night before departure. I long ago bought into the one bag idea and haven't checked a bag for years. The result of which is that I haven't lost a bag for years (the one time I was forced to check a bag on Air Canada they promptly lost it). Other than some basic research beforehand traveling for me was more about exploring and I was never too concerned or stressed. Lately, my travel excursions have taken a different turn. I have children and I travel because I have to. There are a whole lot of other things I need to remember or think about. Either I'm getting forgetful or I have too much on my mind as I no longer trust myself to remember the things I need to take or the basics of what I need to do. What once was an adventure is now something uncomfortable or stressful (the new travel restrictions don't help). Kids and work can do that to you. Inspired by an engineer friend of mine who plans to the T just about everything, I decided to do what I thought I never would. I created a travel todo and packing list. Lists, lists everywhere you go there are lists but in an effort to reduce stress and keep organized I created one and am offering it to you.

Consider this a draft and I will likely change over time (I'm open to suggestions as well). When time permits I might even make it look more presentable. There are a number of formats from which to choose.

Travel checklist - PDF
Travel checklist - EXCEL
Travel checklist - NUMBERS

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Stranded at the airport?

Perhaps this will help you the next time you are stranded at an American airport.

A few years ago, at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, I noticed something strange on the departure boards. American Airlines had three flights scheduled that afternoon from ORD to Boston, and all were apparently operating on time. United, on the other hand, had three flights scheduled from ORD to Boston, but none were operating on time. In fact, all three United flights showed "canceled."

I smelled a rat. I went to the United counter and asked the reason for the cancellations. "Weather."

Link.

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Travel tips from EVA air

EVA air has a nice feature for those that book online which I seemed to have missed in the past. They had an old email address which would have bounced all their incoming messages. It's a simple feature whereby they send you an email on the date of your departure with some useful information which they organise with the labels: Before departure, Airport arrival, Onboard, and Getting to your destination.

Before departure reiterates your itinerary, gives you the the local and destination EVA contact info., the local and destination weather forecast, current exchange rate, and electrical plug type. Airport arrivals sends you off to a couple links on their site which give you detailed departure tips and your class baggage allowance. Onboard lets you know what onboard movies are playing and getting to your destination sends you off to the local tourism board.

It's not fancy nor is it groundbreaking but it's a nice added touch to what is already a good airline experience.

EVA airlines

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