MM Sticker Found Under A Bus In Switzerland

[Eco_Boi_Stephen]

Did a quick search on the forums and I could not find a TRAVEL thread though I've heard some mentions here and there so lmk if we can move this somewhere else please... 

I'll be studying abroad this May for an International Business Law class in Belgium, Switzerland, and France. I'll be staying in London by myself for a weekend before the study abroad portion begins. This will be my first time traveling internationally so I'm looking for any advice to make my experience as fun as possible! LMK where you've been and what you've learned! 

--I'll add more details about the trip when I'm out of class and not getting stared down by my professor

[Sijray21]

I'm sure Apoc will have a bunch to add, but these are just some safety precautions (which are probably obvious)...

1. When working with luggage, carry cash and valuables with you at all times. First hand experience here with baggage handlers taking cash, jewelry, and even candy...
2. Get a passport holder that you can hang from your neck under your shirt and wear it all the time.
3. More for shorter trips, but book your travel on the Department of State site (STEP) to let the DoS know where you'll be and when in the event you have an issue where you'll need to consulate's help. (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/.../step.html)
4. Try to avoid letting strangers take your picture with your camera (especially with your phone). You may never see that device again; most of the time you'll probably be fine, but I've seen it happen.
5. When leaving luggage in a rental car (this kind of goes for any car at any time), but put it in a trunk covered from site.

While these aren't 'fun' things if you have problems related to any of those points it will be very not fun.

For fun:
1. Do your research about what you would like to do in the area you'll be in.
2. Research time time of year. (ie: France/Paris in some of August is not as much fun because it's apparently a 'holy time' and places close early in the day or are not open)
3. Try to learn the language of the country your in. I found locals tend to help and enjoy teaching for the most part.
4. For me exploring without plans was fun. When i was in Germany for work i wanted to go to the Nurburgring (because Mecca) and the Amerian Le Mans just happened to be racing that day on the race course. Also drove to the Hokenheim Ring and Munich while enjoying a pint on the Marienplatz
5. Try different foods while you're there too and avoid the more mainstream/tourist restaurants. One of the best experiences i've had was eating at local restaurants off the beaten path, especially in Italy.

[.RJ]

^ dont travel with JayRay unless you want your car broken into or stolen

[Sijray21]

^ dont travel with JayRay unless you want your car broken into or stolen

anyone want to steal my mk6? i need an excuse to buy something else, haha.

(no, but seriously, don't travel with me)

[davej]

If you don't speak the language, just talk louder and slower. Works every time.

[Sijray21]

If you don't speak the language, just talk louder and slower. Works every time.

i remember in Paris when i was trying to use my French Level 1 skills i asked if they speak english (les anglais) and i kept getting ice cream (les glaces). i just thought giving away ice cream was a thing.

[.RJ]

For something useful, Switzerland is fucking expensive. Mind blowing expensive. For everything.

[Sijray21]

For something useful, Switzerland is fucking expensive.  Mind blowing expensive.  For everything.

i recall Alissa mentioning that a McD's meal was all she could afford there at the time and it was like $15 or $20 equivalent (in 2005)... stupid expensive.

[WRXtranceformed]

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-s...attendees/

[V1GiLaNtE]

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. 
  

[.RJ]

+1 on the packing cubes/bags/etc. Having a packing system makes it so much easier to move from place to place, compared say, my wife, who shoves everything in one bag with no organization and then has to explode the fucking thing into all 4 corners of the hotel room upon arrival to find anything. Fuck.

[Kaan]

Travel History:
Turkey, Brazil, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece/Greek Islands.

We are cash heavy travelers. we also carry 2 CCs with no fees but rarely use them. I keep the bulk of cash together and have a "throw away" stash in the wallet. If you get mugged... just throw the wallet at them ( I keep my nasa card in there, some other random things... no ID no CC... and $100ish in local currency)... though I have never been mugged.

I find it easier to "speak the language" when you have cash in hand. magically things are cheaper or they are more open for things to be cheaper if you are buying in markets and places like that.

we do pack a big check bag... when we know we have a home base. even if its just a hotel. BUT they can only rummage through my clothes... no valuables are left. I carry my backpack... my uncle carries his... they are called "the banks." Phones, cameras, money, etc. this is why its key to have the throw away IMHO... my uncle is very well traveled and I mimic his system.

we carry our US phones and just upgrade them to international calls with AT&T (its not that cheap but worth it)... for 2 weeks its cost effective-ish, after that I would buy a burner and buy minutes.

we pick up the language in country... with wait staff and the locals... learn key words and life gets easier. We also use a lot of public transit... we always get lost but in a good way. Unless you know the town and the language stay out of cabs.

we put a ton of miles on our shoes too... Make sure you have good shoes and they are already broken in. I think we walked 20km a day shopping on our first day in a hilly Greek town. Then my uncle and I grabbed the local map and found a bus to take us to the top of the mountain so we could drink a beer and look at the view (cost 1 euro)... a local helped get us on the right bus.

[V1GiLaNtE]

For travel clothing I can't recommend anything from Ex-officio enough. Especially their underwear... Their "Give-N-Go" underwear is designed to be washed by hand in a sink, lake, puddle, whatever the hell kinda water it is and dried and ready to be reused. This might be a bit excessive for long-term stays, but it saved my ass (literally) in the sweltering heat of SE Asia.

[ScottyB]

+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.

[.RJ]

Where he's going you dont need a decoy wallet. Just keep it in your front pocket and dont be stupid.

[Ken]

For travel clothing I can't recommend anything from Ex-officio enough. Especially their underwear... Their "Give-N-Go" underwear is designed to be washed by hand in a sink, lake, puddle, whatever the hell kinda water it is and dried and ready to be reused. This might be a bit excessive for long-term stays, but it saved my ass (literally) in the sweltering heat of SE Asia.

 +1 - did the same for me when, despite my constant overpacking of undergarments, I fell short. 

Also remember to take a picture of your passport, print one out and also save it in a cloud drive so you can always reach it (assuming internet access, of course.)

[JPolen01]

Can someone rename this the Travel Thread?

I'm headed to Chicago next week for work. Staying in the east side near the Navy Pier. Any must do/places to eat? I have a short list of seeing the Bean, walking around the pier, and possibly hitting Willis Tower. Going to skip the sky window experience as there seems to be a bar with similar views. I'd rather pay for a couple drinks than $25 to look out a window.

[Apoc]

25 counties here, if we're swinging dicks. I think most everything was covered. Below are my thoughts, which are mostly duplicative of what people have said. I've learned some lessons the hard way.

- pack everything to be carried if you are switching cities a lot; hiking backpacks (we check them) and packing cubes are best
- cash is king; use a debit card at an atm in the country for the best rate and a credit card with no international fee
- research local customs of tipping, common scams, and societal norms; this can help you from getting swindled
- meet locals whenever possible; they will show you what the tourist books cannot (couchsurfing is great)
- talk to your doctor about traveling and request ciprofloxacin and ambien; any stomach bug and jet lag can be overcome by them
- learn a dozen phrases in the local language; most locals truly appreciate you made an effort
- I used to buy SIMs; now I pay the fee because 1% of my travel budget is worth avoiding some of the troubles I've experienced
- silk sleep sack if you're staying in hostels! travel with it anyway because that shit can come in handy
- spend money on your feet and walk a lot; you save money and see things you can't in a car/train/bus
- carry snacks like you're never going to eat again; travel problems happen and some beef jerky can save a relationship
- ask people about their lives; it's why you travel and they'll love you tell you their stories
- splurge on a half day private guide (or more) when you get somewhere; it orients you and you can make friends if they're interested in being a local fixer for you

[V1GiLaNtE]

Can someone rename this the Travel Thread?

I'm headed to Chicago next week for work. Staying in the east side near the Navy Pier. Any must do/places to eat? I have a short list of seeing the Bean, walking around the pier, and possibly hitting Willis Tower. Going to skip the sky window experience as there seems to be a bar with similar views. I'd rather pay for a couple drinks than $25 to look out a window.

Gilt bar and obviously Gino's East Pizza. Gilt bar is one of my all time top favorite places to eat. 

I think I've posted this here on the forums before, but this is my ""Life Map"" of places that I have really enjoyed around the world.

[Jake]

I have nothing to add other than I may be headed to Germany this fall and have enjoyed reading all of these tips.