(03-27-2019, 11:42 AM)Jake Wrote: I've heard rental car companies pretty explicitly ban driving on it?

(03-28-2019, 10:03 AM)Sijray21 Wrote:

(03-27-2019, 11:42 AM)Jake Wrote: I've heard rental car companies pretty explicitly ban driving on it?

Yes, they do. I didn't find out until *after* my trip. I thankfully did not have an issue, so crisis averted. Rental car companies ban their cars to be used on "circular toll ways"... Which there is only one, haha.

(03-27-2019, 11:35 AM)Jake Wrote: Mmmm okay so I had to pick between NASA Championships at Mid-Ohio or a trip to Germany for my 30th this September. Sorry Ohio, but friends/beer/cars in Germany sounds way more fun. Going to get my passport photo and apply for that tomorrow.

(03-28-2019, 09:59 AM)G.Irish Wrote:

Quote:- emergency toilet paper and a small package of wet wipes; sometimes bathrooms are just a hole in the concrete - https://amzn.to/2WuMBBQ

Oh man, totally forgot about this.  When RJ and I went to a Moto GP race at Jerez in Spain, there was literally not one, fucking, square of toilet paper or even paper towels anywhere at the circuit.  Thank god I didn't need to do serious business while we were there.

Public bathrooms in the places in Europe I've gone have honestly been all over the map.  Be prepared.

Apoc Wrote:there was no water, tp, or towels to be found

(03-29-2019, 04:53 PM)ScottyB Wrote:

Apoc Wrote:there was no water, tp, or towels to be found

you're gonna have to finish this story now.  or did you seriously mudbutt it back to civilization?

(03-26-2019, 10:31 AM)WRXtranceformed Wrote: Also, if you're passing into Switzerland, or Germany, or any of those Eurocrazy countries, make sure you declare any nice stuff you have:

This guy got charged $4,000 USD for a few watches he brought with him across the border for press / personal purposes

https://www.fratellowatches.com/beware-swiss-customs-targeting-baselworld-2019-attendees/

(03-26-2019, 11:11 AM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: Long post, but I shared this with Ryan and friends when we went to Prague..

My travel resume:

• Thailand
  
• Vietnam
  
• Netherlands
  
• Sardinia
  
• Canada
  
• Hungary
  
• Israel
  
• Czech Republic
  
• Costa Rica (Oct 2019)
  

Travel in General
1. Packing

• Pack everything you need in a carry-on. There is no reason to check luggage and honestlychecking luggage is going to add time to the entire travel process which becomes an annoyance. If you have a travel backpack or "larger" backpacking backpack that would be a good option. Do some research to see. Going abroad I never let my bag out of sight. In the last 4 years I have never had an issue with my travel backpack. Not a single airline has asked me to stow it below. I don't like the idea of dragging a roller bag through the streets of a foreign country for a variety of reasons (theft) or the possibility of it going under the plane and getting lost.
  
• Get an RFID blocking bag of sorts to keep your passport in when traveling. It doesn't have to be fancy, but I use it to keep my passport, Global Entry card, and cash together and on my persons when traveling.
  
• Packing cubes will change your life
  

Personal Possessions
1. Separate your valuables

• Don't store all of your important things in one bag. I like to keep most of my if not all of my important items in my smaller backpack because I know there is a very small chance that it would leave my possession. However, I do put things that could be easily replaceable in my larger backpack. For the most part I put a copy of my important documents in both my travel pack and my personal pack.
  

2. Get a TSA approved lock

• Simple enough. Lock up your shit. Not only is it good for airports, but it is an extra layer of security for your bags in the apartment
  
• You can leave most of your things like toothpaste, soap, etc.. at home. It's usually cheaper just to buy it in country and helps alleviate any issues with security or things exploding in your bag. Also, it can be easier and cheaper to pack less clothes than you need because you can buy them in country
  

3. Money & Spending
You have a couple of options here. 

• I typically bring my debit card and two credit cards with 0 foreign transaction fees. One is none, two is one.
  
• When arriving I usually pull out about $150 in the local currency with my debit card for spending money/tours at the airport and then use my CC for almost everything else. It's more secure and I've never had an issue. If you are going to pull out cash it is best to pull out more than you might need to reduce the fees your bank will likely charge you for using your debit card if you end up pulling cash out multiple times over the trip.
  

Cell Phones
1. Data use

• See if you current provider has an international plan
  

2. Buy a SIM in country

• I always tend to gravitate towards purchasing a SIM in country. Verizon charges me $10/day to use my phone in foreign countries and I have never found the text/data to be reliable. It can add up quick. You can buy a SIM card in country for like $40 at the airport and get local 4G with 1gb of data. This is more than enough for maps, directions, texting.
  
• This only works if your phone is "unlocked"
  

Thoughts on travel as a whole

• Be open minded and curious. Ask questions, make friends
  
• Take the time to learn basics of the local language. It shows a general appreciation and respect towards the locals
  
• Be prepared for a mind-blowing life lesson about the world. We as Americans generally think that the rest of the world gravitates around us. You'll find that most people around the world don't give a shit about it. Not in a bad way, but just that we're not THAT important. 
  
• It will take some time to assimilate back into US society (at least for me). You learn a lot about things that are just wrong, materialistic, and/or short sighted in our culture and you'll find your views about your current way of life and the US will change
  
• In general for me, it was a eye opening experience that made me despise a lot of things about our culture (wealthy, health/obesity, work, leisure time, etc.) and in general makes me try to be a little better in my life everyday. 
  

(03-26-2019, 02:54 PM)ScottyB Wrote: +1 to having a decoy wallet filled with local currency and some bullshit cards that you can ditch and run if you get mugged.  keep your real valuables hidden physically on your body and make copies of anything important in at least 2 places.

general street sense.  be aware of surroundings, don't go places people don't normally go, be polite and friendly...a handshake and a smile is universally understood in every land.  cash is king, as usual.

i am poorly traveled and i hate that, but trying to fix it.  leaving the US to another country where you're really immersed (i.e. not an all inclusive resort behind a wall) is invaluable.  you get a perspective on life you can't get any other way and its one of the truest forms of adventure.

(03-26-2019, 11:11 AM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: My travel resume:

• Thailand
  
• Vietnam
  
• Netherlands
  
• Sardinia
  
• Canada
  
• Hungary
  
• Israel
  
• Czech Republic
  
• Costa Rica (Oct 2019)
  

(04-10-2019, 04:06 PM)Apoc Wrote:

(03-26-2019, 11:11 AM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: My travel resume:

• Thailand
  
• Vietnam
  
• Netherlands
  
• Sardinia
  
• Canada
  
• Hungary
  
• Israel
  
• Czech Republic
  
• Costa Rica (Oct 2019)
  

This list felt familiar when I read it the first time. I had to report which countries I've visited in the last five years for my Global Entry; turns out the two lists aren't that close. I think it's because Vietnam and Czech Republic are on your list and those easily Top 3 countries for me.

(04-02-2019, 12:33 AM)Eco_Boi_Stephen Wrote: Mugging shouldn't be an issue as we'll be traveling in large groups for the most part but I'll keep an extra wallet just in case after hearing this haha