Travel hacks and advice

[bennymac]

Re: skis getting lost/left behind

TLDR: put an AirTag in your bag

Anecdotal story - but when transiting through Heathrow (with a 12 hour overnight layover) our skis did not get loaded on the next flight - so when we landed at the next airport and needed to recheck in our skis for flight 3 they did not arrive on the carousel. We spent 30+ minutes running around arrivals to various normal and oversized luggage carousels looking for them - and then when we settled on “they didn’t make it” we had to line up in a long line to file missing baggage claim.

And then we could leave the luggage area and pass through customs - which by the time we did that we had missed the next flight.

So we paid for a hotel that night (while also having paid for accoms at our destination) and then flew out early the next morning still without skis.

The lost luggage people asked “where do you want them delivered?” Well that’s a hard question to answer when every 1-2 days we’re moving to different areas - so it depends on when you find them and when you can get them to us.

They give us a shitty pre-Y2K website we can check to decode info on when bag is found and what plane its being loaded on.

Eventually 48hours later we do a 2 hour round trip to a random airport to retrieve our skis.

All that being said - had we put an AirTag in our ski bag we probably would have known on arrival that our bag never left Heathrow - so we woulda not stressed so much looking for it and instead filed our bag report asap and caught our next flight. That woulda saved stress and the extra $200 in hotel fees.

Plus it woulda probably helped us more easily track its journey from Heathrow to us.

Why a 12 hour layover wasn’t enough to get our skis in the next flight I’m not sure - the flights were on the same ticket, same terminal, same airline alliance. It can’t be cheap for an airline to have to have to deal with this - especially since then also covered $500 of emergency gear purchases that I’ve been reimbursed for.

TLDR: put an AirTag in your luggage - it won’t fix everything but it can’t hurt

[NT]

I always carried on my ski boots until last year I got lazy and of course my bags didn't show up. I will here on revert to always carrying on boots, etc. plus now have an air tag for checked skis.

-ATM for cash. Currency exchange is for suckers.

To add to this:
-debit card checking account with a bank that reimburses ATM fees, including international (I use schwab investor checking- free and I don't invest with them).
-credit card(s) with no foreign transaction fees

And a couple other thoughts specific to your trip:
-check with your health insurance on coverage
-for switzerland specifically: get a Rega membership for heli rescue.

[MakersTeleMark]

Maybe consider an international drivers license if for some reason you might ever need to rent a car.

[alpinevibes]

Maybe consider an international drivers license if for some reason you might ever need to rent a car.

I’ve rented cars in a lot of countries and never had or needed one. I don’t think the IDL is much of a thing anymore

[PNWbrit]

Maybe consider an international drivers license if for some reason you might ever need to rent a car.

Are these required anywhere now? Isn't it just a $20 scam by AAA

Maybe for small/backwoods rental agencies in countries with non-roman character languages?

Certainly they're not needed in Europe.

[MakersTeleMark]

The last car I rented internationally was with an invalid expired US DL. I was just brainstorming. Carry on.

[Yukonrider]

Things that have inverters (think laptop charging brick, USB charging stuff, etc) can change 240v into 120 with a cheap adapter usually sold in country. No need for a bulky travel inverter. I bought one for 2 dollars at a train station and ran my laptop with it all through Europe.

[anotherVTskibum]

Things that have inverters (think laptop charging brick, USB charging stuff, etc) can change 240v into 120 with a cheap adapter usually sold in country. No need for a bulky travel inverter. I bought one for 2 dollars at a train station and ran my laptop with it all through Europe.

If you've got Apple chargers with swappable plugs, it's worth buying the correct plug for the country you're visiting so you don't have a bulky charger precariously hanging from the $2 adapter. I think I got a day of three variations for $12 from Amazon.

It's generally worth taking a quick look at the devices you own to bring to verify they'll accept 240V input; most will and should be marked accordingly. Notably for ski coaches, DeWalt 20V chargers are specific to 120 or 240, but the DeWalt USB-C adapter will let you charge your 20V battery from a normal USB C charger (preferably 100W) and then you can use the battery as a power bank while traveling (just don't try to check it).

[Danno]

Things that have inverters (think laptop charging brick, USB charging stuff, etc) can change 240v into 120 with a cheap adapter usually sold in country. No need for a bulky travel inverter. I bought one for 2 dollars at a train station and ran my laptop with it all through Europe.

I have been reading a lot lately, and everything I have read has said that personal electronics generally do not need any kind of voltage converter at all? Edit: or are you saying just that, that the converter you buy to change the plug from the in-country one to a US one is all you need?

[El Chupacabra]

A plug adapter is all you need for charging a phone, tablet, or camera battery in Europe. Amazon has lots, cheap.

[m2711c]

Are these required anywhere now? Isn't it just a $20 scam by AAA

Maybe for small/backwoods rental agencies in countries with non-roman character languages?

Certainly they're not needed in Europe.

I’ve rented cars in a lot of countries and never had or needed one. I don’t think the IDL is much of a thing anymore

it is very much a thing in Japan. No shit. The Japanese love, bureaucracy and paperwork. They will definitely request your international drivers license when renting vehicles, accept it with all due care and reverence, and then inspect it thoroughly to ensure its compliance with all relevant laws and company regulations… it will be handed back to you with a two handed, bowing gesture of respect. in my case, they weren’t gonna give me that RV my for tohoku trip without it.

Outside of that. Nobody gives a shit. nobody has asked me for my international drivers permit in teh Europe since I was renting cars whilst stationed in Sicily in the 80s. And even that was really just to keep idiot young sailors from renting and wrecking their cars…

[Yukonrider]

Edit: or are you saying just that, that the converter you buy to change the plug from the in-country one to a US one is all you need?

This.

This is the one I ended up with, small and light.

[Danno]

This.

This is the one I ended up with, small and light.

gotcha. I just bought a similar one on amazon yesterday after much reading, so wanted to make sure I didn't screw up!

[Yukonrider]

If in doubt this is the line you're looking for, all chargers should have this rating text somewhere on them. 120 to 240v.

[Lvovsky]

I have been reading a lot lately, and everything I have read has said that personal electronics generally do not need any kind of voltage converter at all? Edit: or are you saying just that, that the converter you buy to change the plug from the in-country one to a US one is all you need?

Converter is only needed for things that draw a lot of current like hairdryers and other things with motors.

[Foggy_Goggles]

This is really geared to Euro ski trips

Travel is increasingly reliant on smart phones so you want to make sure you have your internet access and phone situation dialed.

I just do the Verizon $10day deal. I may be able to sort something cheaper but it's easy and that's my style.

A powerbank is key for peace of mind. Most planes have USB power now but airports are hit or miss. Don't forget your audio cord as if you want the inflight entertainment.

For me, the benefits of packing light outweigh having more stuff and clothes but I suppose that is personal preference. Schlepping to much shit just becomes a headache and takes away from the experience.

A couple other things have I've refined over the years are a. packing cubes or similar. These are specially handy is you have clothes packed in your roller ski bag. Usually you leave your skis and the bag somewhere besides your room in the hotel. b. A few lightweight shopping bags for helping organize whatever.

[fatnslow]

This is really geared to Euro ski trips

Travel is increasingly reliant on smart phones so you want to make sure you have your internet access and phone situation dialed.

I just do the Verizon $10day deal. I may be able to sort something cheaper but it's easy and that's my style.

A powerbank is key for peace of mind. Most planes have USB power now but airports are hit or miss. Don't forget your audio cord as if you want the inflight entertainment.

For me, the benefits of packing light outweigh having more stuff and clothes but I suppose that is personal preference. Schlepping to much shit just becomes a headache and takes away from the experience.

A couple other things have I've refined over the years are a. packing cubes or similar. These are specially handy is you have clothes packed in your roller ski bag. Usually you leave your skis and the bag somewhere besides your room in the hotel. b. A few lightweight shopping bags for helping organize whatever.

Verizon 's new unlimited ultimate plan is $55 month and includes unlimited in quite a few a European countries (10 GB month then goes to 2g). Hell of a lot cheaper than $10day or $100 month).

[Danno]

I have google fi and some of y'all tell me I am already all set for european travel.

[CarlMega]

Verizon 's new unlimited ultimate plan is $55 month and includes unlimited in quite a few a European countries (10 GB month then goes to 2g). Hell of a lot cheaper than $10day or $100 month).

Yeah, that's an outrageous price per day ($10). Cellular is pretty cheap outside of US. Here's a random pay as you go plan for as little as 5-10 pounds (month) depending on data: https://www.o2.co.uk/help/pay-as-you-go/big-bundles via SIM card. Includes virtually all of Europe and a total of 42 countries worldwide.

[summit]

This is really geared to Euro ski trips

Travel is increasingly reliant on smart phones so you want to make sure you have your internet access and phone situation dialed.

I just do the Verizon $10day deal. I may be able to sort something cheaper but it's easy and that's my style.

A powerbank is key for peace of mind. Most planes have USB power now but airports are hit or miss. Don't forget your audio cord as if you want the inflight entertainment.

For me, the benefits of packing light outweigh having more stuff and clothes but I suppose that is personal preference. Schlepping to much shit just becomes a headache and takes away from the experience.

A couple other things have I've refined over the years are a. packing cubes or similar. These are specially handy is you have clothes packed in your roller ski bag. Usually you leave your skis and the bag somewhere besides your room in the hotel. b. A few lightweight shopping bags for helping organize whatever.

Wanna go back to La Grave?

[Danno]

A couple other things have I've refined over the years are a. packing cubes or similar. These are specially handy is you have clothes packed in your roller ski bag. Usually you leave your skis and the bag somewhere besides your room in the hotel. b. A few lightweight shopping bags for helping organize whatever.

I don't know if I am going to do the packing cube thing but thanks for the suggestion of bringing those shopping bags (and pointing out that the ski bag likely won't be in my room like luggage, but the shopping bags will help me transport my stuff from wherever the ski bag is!).

[bennymac]

those cheap IKEA tote bags made out of tarp material are great for lugging wet gear in and out of the rental car

[Buster Highmen]

Today, based on this thread, I have:

• Bought a ski backpack (Gregory Targhee 32) because a mag offered me a sweet discount code (thanks!)
• Bought a travel power strip, because I believe in the always be charging thing and that should make it easier for all my travel; I hate when all the plugs in the terminal are taken up but if I have a power strip I can use a plug without displacing the current user.
• Bought a converter plug for Europe (Switzerland and Germany)
• Changed my outgoing seat assignment to a window because it's an overnight flight and I will need to sleep (I usually go aisle because I hate having to get other people to move so I can pee). Return flight still an aisle because that's a daytime flight.
• Will do a pre-pack well in advance of my trip to see how much gear fills up the ski roller bag and how heavy it gets, how everything else fits, etc.
• Based on how ^^^^ goes, I will decide how I want to bring boots on to the plane, maybe a second backpack? That plus the ski pack will be my carry on and personal item?
• Researched bag policies but it sounds like United international rules will apply (my flights are entirely Lufthansa, but booked through United), and I get one checked ski bag free.

Phew!

Bring your boots on the plane. They're one of the items that if lost can really fuck up your trip. I usually just carry them in one hand and in the 10 trips to Yurp, I've never been hassled.

Also: melatonin, it's helps for the first few days of jet lag.

(and I'd love to ski w/Foggy again...)

[cravenmorhead]

Seconding bring your boots on the plane as a carryon. We had some bag fuckery on our last ski trip (2 of 4 ski bags made it first try) and everyone got to ski all the days because we hand carried our boots. Also pack whatever day 1 stuff you might need (contacts etc.) in your carryon. You can rent skis, shells, etc. if you need to in order to tide you over.

[Danno]

Bring your boots on the plane. They're one of the items that if lost can really fuck up your trip. I usually just carry them in one hand and in the 10 trips to Yurp, I've never been hassled.

Also: melatonin, it's helps for the first few days of jet lag.

(and I'd love to ski w/Foggy again...)

Seconding bring your boots on the plane as a carryon. We had some bag fuckery on our last ski trip (2 of 4 ski bags made it first try) and everyone got to ski all the days because we hand carried our boots. Also pack whatever day 1 stuff you might need (contacts etc.) in your carryon. You can rent skis, shells, etc. if you need to in order to tide you over.

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply I was considering not bringing the boots, just will be figuring out if I have them in my hand or a second carry on bag of some kind. And I figure I will have everything I need to ski (except skis) with me in the cabin. Although if no tele rentals available, having boots won't be much help. Didn't Tri-U go last year or the year before? Wonder if he investigated tele rentals.