Travel

Ben Groundwater is a columnist, blogger, feature writer, and host of Traveller's podcast Flight of Fancy. He was named travel writer of the year by the Australian Society of Travel Writers in 2014 and 2015. "Do you agree to this currency conversion?" This is a new one. I'm standing in front of a Bankomat ATM on the shores of Lapad beach in Dubrovnik, trying to withdraw enough Croatian kuna to get me through the next few days. I've done the standard thing, looked up the exchange rate online, guessed at how much cash I'll need, calculated the rough exchange, and punched the amount into the ATM (using a debit card that doesn't usually attract any foreign conversion or withdrawal fees). READ MORE: Who offers the best pre-paid travel currency card? Holiday spending money gouges could drive uptake of Facebook's digital currency Don't pay in your own currency with credit cards overseas But now something strange is happening. The ATM is displaying its conversion rate, … [Read more...] about I avoided a new travel rip-off simply by pressing a button

A British family said they have been forced to travel to Brazil for a dentist appointment and said it's cheaper than the UK. The Woodmanseys said they travel 6,000 miles from Yorkshire just so they can get a check-up after struggling to get seen by the NHS . Stuart, 43, came up with the solution as an alternative to spending £1,000 on private treatment in the UK. Instead, the security consultant takes his wife Kedma, 41, and their son Jacob to the dentist in Kedma’s home city of São Paulo, when they are meant to be enjoying their holiday. The dad says he last had a check-up abroad just before the pandemic hit, but plans to visit during his next getaway, reports The Sun. The revelation comes after it was found that nine in 10 dental practices were unable to welcome new NHS patients. Stuart, of Market Weighton, East Yorkshire, said: “I can’t get an appointment in our area, I’ve been trying for years. "I have to go in Brazil when we’re there on holiday.” He … [Read more...] about Brit family travel to Brazil for dentist appointment because its cheaper than UK

Japan’s government has announced it will begin allowing small package tours from four countries later this month before gradually opening up to foreign tourism for the first time since it imposed tight border restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito said the tours will be allowed from Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States as an experiment. Participants must be triple-vaccinated and the tours must have guides and fixed itineraries, the Japan Tourism Agency said. Each tour can have a maximum of four people, and a total of 50 participants are expected to join the experiment, the government agency said. Participants will enter Japan on a special visa, not a tourist visa, the agency said. The results will be used to compile coronavirus guidelines for tour operators, hotels and other related businesses, it said. READ MORE: Covid-19 in Japan: One of the world's most difficult countries to enter begins to ease border controls … [Read more...] about Japan to allow tourists into country, but only 50 to start

SUPPLIED The 787 was struck on a recent flight in Australia. The airline said there was no threat to passenger safety. A Jetstar Boeing 787 in Australia will be out of service for up to two months after a lightning strike inflicted significant damage on the jet during a flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast earlier this month. Images obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald show burn marks and dozens of small holes punctured on the underside of the Dreamliner’s fuselage, which airline crew discovered following a flight from Melbourne on May 7. The Qantas-owned budget airline said planes are designed to withstand lightning strikes and continue to fly safely, and that “at no point was the safety of the aircraft compromised”. Aircraft lightning strikes are a daily occurrence, with estimates that every passenger plane is hit once or twice every year, but they rarely result in damage. READ MORE: When a plane is struck by a lightning bolt - 'It's quite a show' … [Read more...] about Jetstar Dreamliner grounded after being badly damaged by lightning

The US Transportation Security Administration said a recent screening of a breastfeeding mother "did not meet our standards." The agency also said it apologised to Emily Calandrelli in the days after a viral tweet on her security screening at Los Angeles International Airport. Calandrelli, host of Emily's Wonder Lab on Netflix, was travelling Monday when a TSA agent flagged ice packs in her carry-on bag. Away from her 10-week-old son for the first time, the mother of two had packed a breast pump and two gel ice packs ahead of a two-day work trip, and was hoping to pump one last time before departing for a flight to D.C. READ MORE: Shawn Johnson says TSA agent 'groped' her when she traveled with breast milk Mum says airport staff ordered her to squeeze her breasts to prove she's lactating What are the rules about taking breast milk on a plane? Because one was semi-frozen and the other was room temperature, the officer said they were in violation of its liquids … [Read more...] about US airport security apologises for treatment of breastfeeding mum

A shocked American tourist is planning to go to the police on the Greek island of Mykonos after being charged close to NZ$1000 for two cocktails and a snack at a beach restaurant. The huge cost also included a NZ$129 tip. Eye-watering prices are not uncommon in Mykonos, but even by most standards this bill has left a distinctly bad taste. The unnamed tourist was with her daughter when she sat down at the restaurant. READ MORE: 'That salad is sadder than my life' - The $11 'rip-off' lunch in Germany Tourists charged $200 for 3 hotdogs and a sandwich in Italy Tourist charged $4500 for kebab platter in Jerusalem In messages to her travel agent and reported by Proto Thema , the woman ordered two drinks and some crab legs and sat on deck chairs on the beach for up to three hours. “While we knew that the bill would not exceed €200, suddenly they ask us to pay €600! In fact, they put three men in front of us when I refused to pay because what they were asking for … [Read more...] about How much would you pay for two cocktails and some crab legs? One Greek restaurant says $1000

SWNS/AP Hair-raising moment Qatar Airways jet navigates bumpy landing with its wheels lifting right off the tarmac. Passengers on a Qatar Airways flight that was supposed to depart Auckland on Sunday evening are facing their third night in a hotel, with the airline offering “no information” as to what happened. The flight to Doha via Adelaide was scheduled to depart at 6.25pm Sunday. One passenger has now been rebooked onto a flight that will depart on Wednesday evening. Jeff Howell, who was meant to be on the original flight, said he was at the gate and waiting to board when an announcement came over the intercom advising the flight had been delayed. Half an hour later, the announcement was repeated. At roughly the time the flight was due to take-off, they were told to make their way back through the airport to the Qatar Airways check-in desk. READ MORE: All the international airlines and routes that are coming back to New Zealand The new accidental world's … [Read more...] about Flight mystery: Qatar Airways passengers stranded in Auckland

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary warns of ‘higher prices’ Discover the best city breaks, beach holidays, cruises and UK travel spots by signing up SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The passenger refused to move when a woman with a young baby asked if he’d swap seats with her husband, who was sitting a few aisles behind them. The man, who shared the experience on social media, explained he didn’t want to move as he had paid for that seat specifically. Related articles Flight attendant explains 'how to ask' for free upgrade - 'I'd give' Suitcase packing: The 'folding' method to 'carry more' in your bag Reddit user u/aerdnaras had chosen the middle seat at the front of a Ryanair flight for a reason. He … [Read more...] about ‘Just plain rude’: Ryanair passenger refuses to move for mum and baby – dividing opinions

Jet2 say they have a "zero tolerance" approach to disruptive passenger (Image: Getty) Discover the best city breaks, beach holidays, cruises and UK travel spots by signing up SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Violet Wilkinson, 65, had just enjoyed a sunny holiday in Gran Canaria when her Jet2 flight was diverted from its destination of Newcastle to Porto on Sunday night. The flight LS542 passenger told Mirror Online the flight had to make an unscheduled landing in Portugal due to a 'disruptive passenger'. She claims the passenger was 'visibly drunk' and 'should not have been allowed to board in the first place'. Related articles Flight attendant shares ‘life-changing’ packing tip Jet2 passenger forces flight to land in … [Read more...] about Jet2 passengers ‘poured vodka into water bottles’ before flight forced to land

Travel hack: Britons should use 'empty lip balm' to avoid being robbed on holiday (Image: Getty) Discover the best city breaks, beach holidays, cruises and UK travel spots by signing up SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info According to the travel website Hotels & Discounts, "many people believe that their valuables are safe deep in a drawer" but this is exactly where holidaymakers should never keep them, they explained. Related articles Flight attendant shares ‘life-changing’ packing tip Spain extends Covid rules - Britons should check documents Hotels & Discounts said the closet is also "one of the worst places to store things". Under the bed, in the fridge, in the toilet tank, under the mattress or in the … [Read more...] about Brits should use ’empty lip balm’ to avoid being robbed on holiday ‘Don’t use hotel safe’