Swashbuckling Travel Secrets
Date: 10/25/2005International Living Postcards-- your daily escape
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005
Somewhere in the world…
Dear International Living Reader,
Every year, we travel a lot. To places like Argentina, Panama, Thailand, Singapore, Italy, France, and more.
If you travel a lot, too, I'm sure you've noticed how fast you can pile up insider travel secrets about airlines…small towns and out of the way places… hidden restaurants… local tricks…
Things the typical guidebooks won't tell you.
We regularly gather these travel secrets from our contacts all over the world, and circulate them via e-mail among friends, colleagues, and like-minded travelers. (If you'd like to get on this e-mail list, you're more than welcome.)
For example, we recently shared:
How to Get a Second Passport
Few Americans are aware of the fact that U.S. citizens traveling a significant amount of time may qualify for a second U.S. passport. Why would I need a second U.S. passport, you might ask. Well--to take an extreme situation--if you found yourself traveling for work to both Israel and an Arab nation, you could use one for trips to Israel and the other to enter Syria.
But there is a more everyday use. Often you'll be required to send your passport to a country's embassy in order to get an entry visa, but find yourself having to travel somewhere else in the meantime. The colleague who shared this tip reports that this happened to him earlier this year when he had to give up his passport to the Vietnam embassy for a week to get his visa. Meanwhile, he had to make a trip to Croatia.
The second passport is only good for two years and must be authorized by your State Department. The State Department requires a letter stating why you need the second passport--from your employer if applicable.
The Best Cheap Hotels
For hotel discounts, it's usually better to use in-country discounters rather than the big global outfits.
For example, when IL's roving Europe Editor, Steenie Harvey, traveled on assignment to China this year, she used a Chinese hotel reservation service, http://www.sinohotel.com.
She reports:
"In Nanning, a four-star business hotel (Jin Du Hotel) cost $34 per night for a double with breakfast. On the tropical Chinese island of Sanya, I paid $41 for a double in the four-star Landscape Beach Hotel. These turned out to be around half the price of the stated rack rates. Sinohotel also has deals with well-known chains such as the Sheraton. For the Sheraton in Guilin (really classy!), I paid the equivalent of $60 for a double room."
Travel Well in Mexico
Traveling within Mexico in comfort can be very inexpensive--several bus lines compete for your business. If you take these executive-line buses, you can expect to travel in large, comfortable seats that recline nearly all the way back.
You get a snack (usually a sandwich and cookies, and water or a soft drink). There are bathrooms on board as well as a hot water station where you can make yourself a cup of tea or coffee.
Cost is minimal. For example, a bus ride from Queretaro to Mexico City (a three-hour trip) will set you back 220 pesos ($20). A bus ride from Guadalajara to Mazatlan (an eight- to 10-hour trip) costs about $35.
A North American friend living in Mexico for the past three years sent us this tip, and reports that this can be an inexpensive and relaxed way to see Mexico (some bus companies offer vacation packages, similar to airlines). She plans to use one of these bus lines the next time she travels with her husband from San Miguel de Allende to Puerto Vallarta. She reckons they'll save 30% on what they usually spend to make the trip.
For happy travels,
Grant Perry and Elaine Finnegan
The Untourists for International Living
P.S. Tourists follow the guidebooks. Untourists follow their heart… their passions… and interests when they travel. That's how to get so much more out of your travel. We've learned that what you know is more important than what you have in your wallet. That's why we're heading up IL's new free e-letter, The Untourist. We'll tell you how to fly round-trip to South America from $295…how to pay your travel dues with the blues…how to cut your waiting time in airports by two-thirds…and more.
Take a look. Remember, it's free. We look forward to sharing our secrets with you soon.
Also see:
- Need a gift idea? How about The Ultimate Book for the International Traveler.
- The complete guide to offshore residency, dual citizenship, and second passports.
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