While travelling in Bangkok a few weeks ago we were exposed to a few transportation scams. While most were limited to Tuk-Tuks we had a few taxis try them on us as well.

Friendly Man on the Street Giving you Advice
By far the most complex scam we saw. We were in fact briefly suckered into it. After getting off a river boat we stopped briefly to look at our map. A friendly man, who spoke very good English, came up and offered us his assistance. We initially thought he would ask for money but to our surprise he didn't and just said goodbye. The "advice" he gave us:

• It's a Buddhist holiday today and the Grand Palace, our destination, is closed.
• As it's a holiday there are a few temples that are only open during this day.
• The Thai government is sponsoring transportation during the holiday and Tuk-Tuk tours for the day to these temples are only 40 Baht (about a 1.20 dollars).

Our man offering the advice then walked away down the side walk. It seemed he was merrily going about his day and was just a nice guy.

We proceeded to some Tuk-Tuks (giant motored tricycles) that were about 50-75 feet away. The drivers jumped out, offered to take us to the "open only today" temples for 40 Baht for the day. They seemed to confirm everything the man had said.

We get in the Tuk-Tuks. After about 30 seconds in the Tuk-Tuk I get an uneasy feeling. It just didn't feel right. Everything that just happened was too smooth. I whispered to Becky that I thought something was up. The driver saw me whispering and said "Everything is OK, no problems!". That all but confirmed that all was NOT right.

As promised the Tuk-Tuk drivers (we had two tuk-tuks for 4 people) took us to a temple that was nearby. They dropped us off and said they'd be waiting for us. We took everything we had with us and entered the temple. We immediately started looking for someone who would be able to confirm that we were in fact in the midst of a scam. There were a few bus tours at the same temple. I approached one of their English speaking guides and asked if today was special holiday and if the Palace was closed. They confirmed that indeed it was not.

Two of us went back to our Tuk-Tuks, paid them 20 Baht each and told them we were no longer going to need them. They were confused and a little insulted. At least we were in the same boat. The friendly man on the street obviously was working for/with the tuk-tuk drivers at that boat stop.

See another very similar story on BangkokScams.com

Sorry the place you're going to is closed
We walked a few blocks and found another Tuk-Tuk driver and asked him to take us to the Palace. He said "It's a special holiday, it's closed." We said "Please take us there". He wouldn't. So we went on.

We were now a little suspicious that maybe the tour guide didn't know what they were talking about. So we stopped into a travel agency. They also said the Palace was closed until Tomorrow... Weird.

We'll give you a discounted rate... but we have to stop at a few places first
So we hailed a cab and headed back to our hotel. The driver let us know what is going on behind the scenes. Tuk-Tuk drivers, and Taxi drivers, will give you a "discount" rate to get somewhere. They will then take you shops that they receive commission at and pressure you to buy something.

We landed back at the hotel, confirmed the Palace is open EVERYDAY, and tried again. We were successful. We were also able ensure that we were not taken again.

If you've travelled before and all of the sudden feel like something is off then more-than-likely it is. It's better to get out as soon as you can and be wrong then try and suffer through the day, or worse, get into a bad situation.

It's important to point out that this was the first city we've been in that was like this. Everywhere else we've been there is always a negotiation on price but never deliberate misleading/scamming. Being an over suspicious traveller is worse than being taken once in a while.

For a whole list of scams in Bangkok see the great site BangkokScams.com.

We had the absolute pleasure of staying at The Castle for three nights during our recent trip to Chiang Mai. The Castle is a mix between a traditional guest house and a modern hotel. It is very new, very clean, and is home to the best service we've ever received at an accommodation.

We booked our three rooms (for a party of six) via email a few months before our visit. The Castle staff were always quick to respond and their command of the English language was superb. We also, a few days before our arrival, asked to be picked up at the airport. They responded promptly and indeed were there to pick us up at the airport on our arrival. The little van they use is new, the driver was very safe, and it was an adventure, but it definitely might not be everyone's preferred way to travel (we thought it was fantastic).

We arrived later in the evening (8:30 pm or so). On check-in the very friendly and helpful Pearl (I think she may be the owner) let us know that we should check out the Sunday night market. She recommended it in a way that a local would recommend their favourite restaurant. We knew we had to check it out. Even thought it was close by, she offered us a free transport to the market to ensure we had enough time to enjoy the market. Enjoy it we did. It was by far the best market we've ever seen. Over the course of our stay we learned to implicitly trust whatever recommendations she made.

The Castle rooms (we had private bath) were spotless, very well done, and extremely comfortable. Each room had a small balcony, a fridge with free daily water, and very comfortable beds. All rooms had excellent air conditioning units and nice TV's.

Each morning guests are provided a delicious made-to-order breakfast. This is included in your room price. Breakfast was always delicious, made quite quickly, and enjoyable.

To top it all off we rented scooters from The Castle for our last day. The prices, and scooters, were exceptional.

On the day of our departure we were transferred to the train station. All of our transfers were included in the cost of our rooms.

The only negative thing about The Castle is actually a comment on their neighbors. The neighborhood dogs, and roosters, can be quite loud early in the morning. The Castle knows this, warns you about it, and provides complimentary ear plugs.

This is a fantastic place to stay and for a very reasonable price. Our rooms were roughly $30.00 USD per night. There is high quality free wireless Internet and a computer in the lobby for use by guests.

The Castle on Trip Advisor.

A few days ago we stayed for a night at the @ Krabi Pura guesthouse in Krabi, Thailand. What a nice place run by an even nicer owner. We arrived in a van from an airport and were immediately welcomed by the friendly staff/owner. When we started to check in I realized that I had left my travel docket in the seat pouch of the van. Uh oh. Just so you get an idea of what's in my docket: My passport, money, ipod touch, credit cards, debit card, insurance cards, immunization records, etc. The owner immediately understood the gravity of the situation and called all of the taxi services operating from the airport until she found the one that had taken us. Twenty tense minutes later a scooter driver arrived with my docket in hand. Her level of caring was above and beyond the typical hotel front desk service.

The guesthouse itself, as you can see from their website, is very clean, comfortable, and well done. In fact, it's one of the nicer guesthouses we've stayed in. It is immaculately clean, the beds were comfortable, the A/C was top notch, and the bathrooms were very nice. Our only two complaints were the uncomfortable stairs. It sounds weird but the stairs have small stones imbedded in them and it made walking up the two flights to our room a little uncomfortable as you weren't allowed to have footwear on (that's common in Asia). The other complaint was the street noise. Our room was on the street and it was a little noisy for our liking. Rooms on the other side of the building (the river side) would be fantastic.

In the morning the owner insisted that Becky and I be her special guests for breakfast and we were treated to a delicious meal of fruit, eggs, toast, coffee, juice, and whatever else we wanted. It was fantastic. We were sad to leave but had to continue on our way.

If you find yourself in Krabi town and need a place to stay, this is an excellent spot.

This week, while trying to sort out some flights, I ended up calling Aeroplan instead of using their website. A very nice lady answered the phone and was able to solve all of my problems. Throughout the course of answering my questions she let me know that as of last Monday (December 8, 2008) you can now do two very exciting things with Aeroplan points:

1. You can now travel to Asia through Europe. This was, up until now, a no-no.
2. You can travel around the world for 75,000 points! This includes two stop-overs plus your final destination.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I was not able to use either of these awesome new features. I'd love to hear from anyone who has.

Since the Aeroplan website is so fantastically horrible I imagine you'll need to call to book any of the above trips.

We decided a few years ago to be the carry-on only type of traveler. It doesn't matter if we are going for only a day, a week, or over a month of travel. We only bring what we can carry-on the plane. This has forced us to really think about what we pack. We've never regretted packing less. Each trip we take we hone our list even further.

What follows are photos and detailed lists of absolutely everything we currently have with us on our month-long Central American trip.

Over the past few years I’ve collected what I now consider to be a few travel essentials. These are items that have made traveling easier, more comfortable, and sometimes much more convenient. Hopefully some of these items can help you out during your travels.

Travel Docket
It’s basically a big wallet for your passport, travel documents, credit cards, etc. Having done three international trips with one I can’t imagine going without. If you’re the type of person who just puts your passport in a money belt or backpack pocket you should think about converting. If you can remember to always put your important information in the docket you’ll never panic and search through pockets again. I also keep my main stash of cash in my docket. That way I’m able to just throw my docket in the hotel/hostel safe or make sure it’s with me.

Currently I’m using the Blurr Travel Docket - Available at MEC

Pen
Don’t laugh. Next time they pass out border crossing/immigration cards on the plane watch how many people do not have a pen. I keep my pen attached to the pen loop in my docket. This allows me to always have it with me when I need it and when my wife and I travel we both carry one. By having your own pen handy you are never stuck waiting at those little tables that have two pens on them for an entire airplane load of passengers. By carrying your own pen you’ll often be one of the first people through customs.

Fake Wallet
This is perhaps the wackiest of essentials. When traveling I always carry a small fake wallet with old expired credit cards, my old university student ID, some local money (just enough for the day's activities). What is this fake wallet for? If I'm mugged/robbed I will gladly hand it over. There is enough content that it would look real. All I would lose is the day's worth of cash. If I have to carry more than a days worth (or carry an activated VISA, I carry those loose in my front pockets. I'm hoping that if I'm mugged and hand over my fake wallet the thief will assume that is all I have on me.

Watch
I only wear a watch during two activities: Hiking & traveling. I use a Timex Expedition. One of the features I like most is that I can set a traveling time and a home time. One button press and I can see what time it is back home. Make sure you keep track of daylight savings. In Portugal this year we missed a bus because the time had jumped ahead without us realizing it. It’s also used regularly as an alarm clock

Headlamp or Small Flashlight
This may seem silly but you would be surprised how often you’ll find yourself using this. If you stay in a hostel room shared with strangers you’ll appreciate the discreteness of being able to get up in the dark and use the light to find your way. If you are dong any sort of travel to a third world country you’ll find that sometimes (depending on location) the power goes off. Headlamps and flashlights are much easier to manage than candles. If you’re doing any sort of adventure travel you’ll need a headlamp for sure. Make sure your choice is an LED based light. It will last much longer on one set of batteries.

Currently I use the Petzl Tikka XP - available at MEC

Noise Cancellation Headphones
This falls into the luxury department. When on a multi-hour flight you will appreciate the escape from the drone of the plane. If you’ve never had a part of noise cancellation headphones on during a flight you don’t know what you’re missing! I currently use a pair of older and cheap Aiwa NC headphones. I’ve tried the Bose Quiet Comforts and they are worth the extra money. Some prefer the in-ear method of noise cancellation for headphones. I’ve never tried them but all initial reports are positive.

Airplane Headphone Adapter
Most travel headphones/noise cancellation headphones now come with one by default. If you don’t have one I’m sure you can get one at an electronics store. This little two dollar gem will allow you to enjoy the in flight entertainment with your own headphones.

Rain Jacket
A light rain jacket goes a long way to improving your travel comfort. It makes dashes to cabs, waiting for trains, and standing in line outdoors manageable. With a good quality jacket you can stay dry in the elements while everyone else runs for cover. There is no better way to get ahead of a large throng or see a place without crowds if you go or stay in the rain!

Currently I use the MEC Targa. An expensive Gore-Tex jacket from MEC. Much cheaper alternatives will serve you just as well.

Lonely Planet Phrasebooks
Are you going to a country or place that you are unfamiliar with the language? We’ve found the Lonely Planet phrasebooks to be the best quick references. Even if most of the people you come across during your travels speak English it is fun to learn a new language and locals truly do appreciate the effort. Our phrasebooks have also gotten us through situations where otherwise communication would have been impossible.

Carry-On Only Bag
This is more of a philosophy than a travel essential. My wife and I now travel carry-on only. Once you switch over you’ll never go back. With only carry on you’re the first through customs. You never worry about losing your bag, and the simplicity of only having one bag makes traveling much more comfortable. Traveling is already full of choice and stress. We’ve found that having more “stuff” with you only amplifies this. By not checking bags you are also free to switch flights without hassle. Current airline rules & laws do not allow you travel on a different plane than your checked baggage. With just carry-on you are free to try and get a better route, make tighter connections, and run like heck through airports!

My current, and the absolute best I’ve found, travel bag is the Osprey Porter 46. It just barely passes most airlines carry-on size limitations. It also is built to take a beating. You won’t go wrong with this bag.

Airport/Maple Leaf Lounge Access
Airports are not nice places to be. They are designed for people to flow through, not spend time in. Lounges are places that are built to spend time in. It costs a little extra but it’s worth it. We’ve been in Air Canada lounges in Europe and Canada and have nothing but good things to say about them. Free food, free drinks, free Internet, comfortable chairs/couches/washrooms, and in international arrival lounges you can have a shower and get an entire large bathroom to yourself. While they are expensive you need to take into account how much you spend on airport food and entertainment. As in the lounges all food and entertainment (free tv, free magazines, etc) is free it starts to look much more economical. We also raid the drinks fridge and stock our bags with bottles of water and juice before we leave. As airports seem to charge four times the regular world price for these things it’s worth it.

The icing on the cake is that the airport public intercom does not transmit into lounges. Peace and quiet.

Sleeping Pills
Probably the most controversial item in the list. We often use these on overnight flights that precede a full day of more travel or activity. There is nothing quite like wanting desperately to fall asleep but because of noise, temperature, excitement, or that annoying kid who keeps kicking the back of your seat, you can’t. By knocking ourselves out we usually awake rested and ready for another full day of fun. Combine this with a shower and breakfast in an arrival lounge after a red-eye and you are all set.

We use generic diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

Cross posted at CeoBlues.com: http://www.ceoblues.com/archives/2007/september/travel

Last week I had the pleasure of staying in this hotel while in San Francisco for meetings. I hadn't picked the hotel, it was a Priceline purchase. The lobby of the hotel is swank'esque with groups of four nice plush chairs focused around tables. On each table is a classic board game (i.e. Scrabble). Organic fair trade certified coffee is served in the lobby during the morning and local beer & wines are served in the evening.

A few thoughts on the hotel:

• Staff were all very helpful and friendly. The door staff were particularly so
• The rooms were well appointed with large comfortable beds, private bathrooms, and the usual hotel room chair. The decor was nice but not over-the-top
• For an Internet tycoon like myself it was nice to see that high-speed Internet was included
• Excellent Location. A mere two blocks from Union Square
• Rooms were bigger than others I've stayed in in the area (King George Hotel)
• Laundry service was quick and professional
• Parking is expensive (40.00/night). Hybrids park free

Overall a great hotel in a great area. Posted prices were expensive but Priceline solved that. You shouldn't be disappointed staying at the Serrano.

Helpful Links:

• Hotel Website
• Trip Advisor Page on the Serrano Hotel
• Google Map of the Hotel's location