No matter where you go -- whether across the globe or across your state/province -- you need to keep eyes open & wits about you. We discuss destinations, measures, techniques -- anything that will help you get back home safe & sound!
Most of Europe safe to travel despite the conflict in Ukraine
Whenever a situation like the horrific Russian invasion of Ukraine arises, some folks - and this is true especially in the USA - get skittish about travel anywhere within a thousand miles of the trouble. And in fact flight bookings have plummeted especially to surrounding countries such as Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland, by 30 to 50 percent. But the website SchengenVisaInfo.com recently published a reminder that most of Europe - with the obvious exception of the countries involved - Russia and…
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The biggest travel safety tip I can give you? Use common sense. More? See our report today at The World on Wheels on what you can do to travel safely and secure your home while you're gone. We'd also like to see your tips in the comments so we can include them in an update: http://tinyurl.com/aebgj7u
Thanks Ed, this is a fascinating recount. I am not surprised by the reaction of embassy and high commission staff. I don't hold much hope for what those of us who travel can expect from them.
That was an interesting comment about the layers of paint. I'm doing a cruise in March. I shall now look at paint build up around my lifeboat.
A colleague forwarded me this from a friend who was on the Costa Concordia:
Now here's an interesting thought, recently discussed on our blog: are vacation rentals safer than hotels?
@Ed...today, I never left the secure zone changing planes in Atlanta, yet I had to go through security again. I never thought TSA or DHS should have ever been invented. Too much panic after 9/11. Security wasn't the problem then, the terrorists did not sneak anything illegal on the plane, they just exploited our mindset and complacency. Good article.
Today on The World on Wheels...of all the reports we've done, this is the first one that got me "detained" by law enforcement. This is where you don't want to end up staying when you're in L.A., The Dungeons of Los Angeles: http://tinyurl.com/79efcy6
Darryl, sorry I almost missed your question. The answer is, there was no security, no gate, no nothing. You could actually see someone off. And get this: that airport is for a city of 1.1 million people. Maybe one day some madman like the guy who just tried to blow out windows in the White House or the kid who shot Ronald Reagan (What -- to impress Jody Foster!?!?) will wreak havoc in a New Zealand Airport, but until then, this sure was pleasant.
By the way, make sure you've seen Kaleel Sakakeeny's blog on this very subject: http://www.tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/billions-spent-but-are-we-a...
Peter,
Yeah. I shared a villa in Tuscany with the head of security for a major NA airport. He told me of the mistake that lead to finding a handgun in a passenger's carry on. This was after the no-liquid ban went into effect. They had to re-calibrate their scanning equipment so that it would detect liquids. It so happened a man foolishly had a large bottom of shampoo in his carry on. The agents opened his bag and that's how they found the gun. My friend was shocked that the equipment - at least then - couldn't scan for both liquids and metals.
You are experience what we call 'security theater'. This means that we create a series of obstacles that provide you with the impression that we are doing something when in reality, we are doing nothing (except giving you a hassle). Peter Tarlow