Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Thank you! Bummed to see the high retaining wall still there 5 years later, but at least they've dressed it up a bit. Still pumped to go, nice pics.

Good to see the new spire fully installed, last I saw on a video it was still encased in wiring.

Our last trip we went and watched this:
https://www.flyview360.com/en/experiences/notre-dame

It was pretty good and had many interesting bits. I believe they were originally shooting this as a regular VR of the cathedral and then the fire happened and they pivoted. They got pretty early access into it post fire and have interesting shots from soon after. If you really like the cathedral it would be worth going to.

Notre-Dame: before and after the fire
Its name alone provokes emotion. Exclusively at FlyView Paris, we offer you a unique 360° immersion in the Cathedral, now inaccessible, as if you were there. Better still, you will be able to rediscover what once was thanks to never-before-seen images that bring to life the splendour of this magical place.

Enter the cathedral to relive the beauty of Notre-Dame before the ravages of fire. A unique experience in the world that is waiting for you.

During this complete and unique tour, you will be captivated by the spectacular images filmed "before and after", only a few weeks before and after the fire. These sequences will make you relive the former splendour of the monument. You will then become aware of the scale of the disaster, and above all of the challenge that remains to be accomplished to "save" Notre-Dame.

[marsplasticeraser]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

What do you guys like to use for carrying your passports, travel cash, any paper boarding passes etc? When we go on vacation I seem to be in charge of all the paper work for the three of us, and am always worried I’m going to lose something important. I was considering one of those sling bags, or are those reserved for old wankers (which I am not, yet)

I have one of those old man neck passport wallets. Very useful at the airport as I hate opening and closing my backpack. Basically I put the passport wallet around my neck when leaving the house and take it off on the plane.

I tend to print a lot less now. Usually 4-5 pieces of paper, which fits in easily.

[Ironhorse]

Any best options for a Mexico SIM card? 2 out of 3 of our iPhones are older and don’t have eSIM capability. Last year I went to Walmart but that took a bit of time. Are the ones from Amazon better?

[Johnny199r]

First experience with an Airalo eSim in SE Asia tonight. So frustrating to activate. Never again. Useless instructions, slow, useless support.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

What do you guys like to use for carrying your passports, travel cash, any paper boarding passes etc? When we go on vacation I seem to be in charge of all the paper work for the three of us, and am always worried I’m going to lose something important. I was considering one of those sling bags, or are those reserved for old wankers (which I am not, yet)

I just put passports in an interior pocket of my purse, honestly. A printed boarding pass goes in between the iPad mini and its cover. I carry a forgettable amount of cash so that's not a big deal.

These bags are also pretty well made and have RFID protection. I have one similar to this but I only use it for really sketchy places so I don't use it that often. There are a lot of different styles to fit your look.

https://pacsafe.com/collections/cros...rossbody-bag-4

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

First experience with an Airalo eSim in SE Asia tonight. So frustrating to activate. Never again. Useless instructions, slow, useless support.

So far any time I've had an issue with Airalo, it's been one of two things:

1) The APN for the Airalo e-sim doesn't get set correctly, or at all. The APN varies by country, but with Airalo it virtually always seems to be either: wbdata or globaldata

If you Google your phone name followed by: how to set the apn
you can double check and make sure the APN is set.

(The instructions for your e-sim are supposed to show what the APN should be set to)

2) Occasionally I've had to change the SIM from automatically detecting a network, to manually selecting the network.

And then I try manually selecting different networks that the Airalo SIM is supposed to support.

There was one other time where nothing worked no matter what I tried, and it's definitely frustrating when it happens. So far I've found it to be pretty rare, it's happened once in about 20.

I have also heard that Airalo support has gone downhill.

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by butterfly

I just put passports in an interior pocket of my purse, honestly. A printed boarding pass goes in between the iPad mini and its cover. I carry a forgettable amount of cash so that's not a big deal.

These bags are also pretty well made and have RFID protection. I have one similar to this but I only use it for really sketchy places so I don't use it that often. There are a lot of different styles to fit your look.

https://pacsafe.com/collections/cros...rossbody-bag-4

How is this one as a man-bag? ...as in metrosexual, not too feminine? Actually been trying to track one down but they seem rather expensive.


Can it hold a small mirrorless digital camera with small lens?

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by RichieRich

How is this one as a man-bag? ...as in metrosexual, not too feminine? Actually been trying to track one down but they seem rather expensive.


Can it hold a small mirrorless digital camera with small lens?

From their site it looks pretty unisex

[Ironhorse]

Looks like they have a smaller crossbody one also. Thoughts on this one?

https://pacsafe.com/collections/cros...tech-crossbody

[cral12]

Any tips on travelling to Salzburg, Austria (side trip from Germany coming up in a couple of months)?
(also any tips on travelling in Germany - Stuttgart to Munich relative areas - we'll be training it)

Thanks!

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by cral12

Any tips on travelling to Salzburg, Austria (side trip from Germany coming up in a couple of months)?
(also any tips on travelling in Germany - Stuttgart to Munich relative areas - we'll be training it)

Thanks!

The river boat is a great way to see the city and take a load of your feet for a bit.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by RichieRich

How is this one as a man-bag? ...as in metrosexual, not too feminine? Actually been trying to track one down but they seem rather expensive.


Can it hold a small mirrorless digital camera with small lens?

The one I have is a bit smaller and more feminine (shape and color), so that one probably wouldn't work for you. The design I linked is new since I bought mine about 4 years ago.

It can fit my iPad mini and noise cancelling headphones, plus some passports, cash, and paperwork. If I am flying I will still take my purse with me to the airport but as a day bag it works well.

Once I take the headphones out and leave them at the hotel, it is very useful to hold valuables if traveling in a questionable area. The slash guard, turn lock zipper, and RFID protection are nice features.

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by cmyden

So far any time I've had an issue with Airalo, it's been one of two things:

1) The APN for the Airalo e-sim doesn't get set correctly, or at all. The APN varies by country, but with Airalo it virtually always seems to be either: wbdata or globaldata

If you Google your phone name followed by: how to set the apn
you can double check and make sure the APN is set.

(The instructions for your e-sim are supposed to show what the APN should be set to)

2) Occasionally I've had to change the SIM from automatically detecting a network, to manually selecting the network.

And then I try manually selecting different networks that the Airalo SIM is supposed to support.

There was one other time where nothing worked no matter what I tried, and it's definitely frustrating when it happens. So far I've found it to be pretty rare, it's happened once in about 20.

I have also heard that Airalo support has gone downhill.

What e-sim do you recommend?

[MoneyGuy]

I’m thinking I may start using a man-bag for more than just vacations. They’re so useful.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

First experience with an Airalo eSim in SE Asia tonight. So frustrating to activate. Never again. Useless instructions, slow, useless support.

Interesting, thanks for sharing. I just learned of Airalo recently while watching a VLOG of a European couple traveling through China and Taiwan and they said great things about it, and thus I downloaded it, planning to try it when I get over to Asia.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

What e-sim do you recommend?

Airalo is still the market leader in this space by a country mile. And historically they've always had the most happy customers. I can't really comment on whether or not their support has taken a nosedive (that's just what I've heard), as I've only ever had to contact their support once, and that was a few years ago. >80% of the time someone mentions using an e-sim, it's likely Airalo.

HolaFly, Nomad, and Ubigi are the other 3 I see mentioned the most. I tried Ubigi in Colombia recently and it worked perfectly.

At the end of the day, e-sim providers all essentially work in an identical fashion with the same underlying technology and often use the same providers. Although not always.

When you go to the e-sim's website, and click on the country name, and pretend to go through the steps, you can see who they're *really* using as the provider. (it varies by country) That is about the only differentiating factor for me.




Customer support could potentially be the other differentiating factor, but like I say, on over 20 trips with e-sims I've only had to contact support once about the e-sim not working. So I can't really say how good or bad support really is for any of these e-sim providers. I'd say >95% of the time I see someone mention their experience with using an e-sim, it's a positive experience.

[cral12]

Anyone travel to Germany in last few months affected by these on again, off again train employee strikes?

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Interesting, thanks for sharing. I just learned of Airalo recently while watching a VLOG of a European couple traveling through China and Taiwan and they said great things about it, and thus I downloaded it, planning to try it when I get over to Asia.

Download and activate the esim at home on wifi a day before heading out.

Any person that i know that has had issues is due to trying to activate it at the airport or when they get to the country.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by cral12

Any tips on travelling to Salzburg, Austria (side trip from Germany coming up in a couple of months)?
(also any tips on travelling in Germany - Stuttgart to Munich relative areas - we'll be training it)

Thanks!

Berchtesgarten and Konigsee are very close and beautiful (also Eagles nest is near there).

Youre also close to Fussen and Neuschwannstein Castle (although, if you get a chance, there are a few more King Ludwig spots in the area worth checking out too!

South of Stuttgart is the Black Forest Area and is beautiful to drive though with some quaint inns and restaurants. Triberg is the home of Black Forest cake and has a ton of awesome ####oo clocks you should consider buying

[sureLoss]

Used Ubigi in Japan. Worked straight off the plane, had pretty good connections everywhere except in some buildings.