If you, too, are as interested as I am in mass transit, then I’ve got some good news– there’s now metro access to Istanbul International Airport (IST). On 29 January the M11 metro line, connecting IST to Gayrettepe transfer station near downtown Istanbul, started operations. For your reference, I’ve added a snippet of the official […]
Travel Hacks
Visa & Entry Requirements Travel Hack
Years ago, when travel for me was all about amassing passport stamps, many times I had to doff my cap to Wikipedia. But muh sources. Sure, like any website, one has to know how to separate fantasy (new nonstops from O’Hare to Midway) from reality. And generally speaking, the Wikipedia entry requirements travel hack did the […]
How to Reserve Train Seats in Japan
The third — and likely final — video in my Japan travel series involves a how-to for Japanese train reservations. Why final? I’m getting out of Dodge soon, so I wanted to get one more helpful video beforehand. It’s also getting tiresome, innit? Anyway, the photo below shows a variety of train tickets acquired through […]
Japan Rail Souvenir … with a Catch
O.K., so you’ve added funds to your IC card, and are using the train to your heart’s content. But how do you keep track of all the places that you’ve been? Yes, your phone is likely stalking your location, but how about a less Orwellian approach? Allow me to introduce you to the following Japan […]
Tokyo Rail Travel Hack
If you’re in the Tokyo area, and are carrying an IC card, I’ve got a Tokyo rail travel hack for you. (I mention Tokyo because I am most familiar with it. This hack may exist in other Japanese cities.) Firstly, if you’re not sure what an IC card is, I will help out. IC cards […]
Downtown Check-In Reopening Next Month in Hong Kong
After more than three years, it appears that downtown check-in is finally returning to Hong Kong. Starting 5 July, passengers on select airlines will once again be able to realize downtown check-in for their flights at the Hong Kong Island Airport Express station, by the ifc Mall in Central. Lamentably, the last time I was […]
Spirit Airlines Status Match
Due to a variety of factors, for 2023 I have airline status with the three biggest U.S. carriers, those being American Airlines, Delta, and United. It’s not anything close to the top tier status, but it’s nice to have a free checked bag, and exit row seat to freely choose. Small potatoes, right? On top […]
Hotel Room Food Hacks
At the end of the day, it’s all about problem solving. You see, in my quest to augment the typical hotel experience, hiccups are an inevitable part of the stay. For instance, the hotel room refrigerator might be broken. Or there’s no mini-fridge. Maybe I forgot a mouse pad (what the heck does this have […]
