Sometimes I wonder why I lug my bag through airports, following my own recommendation to pack light enough to carry on and avoid checking any bags on international flights. (Newport International Group Projects Company)
It can be a drag, dragging your bag through airports. But when scrambling with last-minute changes in flight plans, those without checked bags are far more nimble.
Over the years I've learned some tricks on dealing with European airports. Here are a few of them:
Pack Light and Carry It On: When you carry your own luggage, quick, last-minute changes in flight plans become simpler.
A small bag sits in the overhead bin or under your seat; when you arrive, you can hit the ground running.
It's a good feeling. When I land in London, I'm on my way downtown while everyone else stares anxiously at the luggage carousel. When I fly home, I'm the first guy the dog sniffs.
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask: I'll often ask airport staff for small favors, and so should you. I'll ask the gate agent if she can seat me in the exit row.
I'll ask the car-rental agent for the easiest way to get out of the airport.
And if I have a tight connection and there are lines at passport control, I'll ask the attendant politely if I can use the "elite flier" line instead, so I can make that connecting flight.
Just Say No to Exchange Booths: At airport exchange booths such as Forex or Travelex, you lose about 15 percent when you change dollars to euros or other currency.
When I arrive in Europe, I head for an airport ATM, load up on cash, and keep it safe in my money belt. I've never been to an airport in Europe that didn't have plenty of ATMs.
Appreciate Airport Amenities: You may be jet-lagged and just want to get to your hotel, but take advantage of airport services before you leave.
Stop by the tourist information office for maps, museum passes, subway tickets and advice (usually they're less crowded than the downtown office).
If you need an international phone card or SIM card for your mobile phone, many airport convenience stores carry them.
I've also found that free Wi-Fi at executive lounges in airports often leaks into the main hall. Just sitting against the wall, I can get online for free.
Know Where You're Going: Smart travelers download airport terminal maps to their smartphones or print them out before they leave.
You can also look for websites with detailed instructions on how to get from your arrival gate to the center of the city (for Paris, try www.parisbytrain.com; for Rome, see the YouTube channel at www.romewalks.com). Google has even started mapping airport interiors with its Street View program.
Avoid Taxi Scams: If you want to take a taxi from the airport, it's better to head for the official taxi stand and join the queue rather than flag one down.
It should have a big, prominent taxi-company logo and telephone number. Avoid using unmarked beaters with makeshift taxi lights on top.
Don't Get Lost in Translation: Nearly everything is translated into English at European airports, but you still need to pay careful attention.
For example, the shuttle bus between terminals at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport is called the CDGVAL— you have to look carefully to see that it is also marked "Airport Shuttle" in smaller letters.
At the Frankfurt airport, regional trains depart from the Regionalbahnhof, while long-distance trains use the Fernbahnhof.
Watch Out for the Name Game: Budget airlines sometimes use obscure airports. For example, one of Ryanair's London hubs is Stansted Airport, one of the farthest airports from London's city center. Ryanair's flights to "Frankfurt" actually take you to Hahn, 75 miles away.
Having Happy Returns: When it's time to fly home, be sure you know your departure terminal before you leave for the airport.
Don't count on the taxi driver or shuttle bus driver knowing where you should be dropped off.
For example, at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, American airlines flying direct to the U.S. depart from Terminal 5, which is a separate building not connected to the rest of the terminals.
If your driver leaves you at the main terminal, you'll have to take a shuttle bus— it's too far to walk. (Flight Track-type apps give you terminal details reliably and can be a huge help.)
Be it to escape the tortures of daily life; to partake in a fascinating cultural exchange or even just to see the pretty sights; everyone has dreamt of traveling at least once in their life. Articles on Facebook recommend it, tempting you with promises that it will change your life, help you appreciate yourself and others more with offerings of new experiences.
The biggest problem with traveling though is the fact that it can be a rather expensive affair.
That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t travel if you can’t afford to spend exorbitantly, it just means that you have to be smarter when it comes to traveling. There are many tips available online to help you cut down cost and save. Here are some really good ones you can find on various sites.
Clear your cache
When you’re doing your research online for cheap flights, transportation and accommodation, it’s best to clear your cache as often as possible. Most of these sites may be monitoring your web history and instead of dropping the price, they may raise it even further to raise their margin as they know it’s the destination and date you really want.
Newport International Group Projects Company, Newport Travel, Newport International Group Consultancy, Business Development, Newport Tour Operations: MØTER & SPESIELLE TJENESTER
Newport International Travel har erfaring i å arrangere møter og spesielle avtaler med upåklagelig service og oppmerksomhet på detaljer. Faktisk hadde vi vår start med en stor internasjonal medisinsk Kongressen!
Vår kompetanse i å organisere høyprofilerte begivenheter er anerkjent av svært store selskaper som ringer oss når de trenger en "umulig" ordning (for eksempel en elegant middag for en gruppe på 150 leger i Taormina, Sicilia, med bare et par dagers varsel), svært komplekse oppgaver og hendelser der "ingenting skulle gå galt". De fleste av disse bedrifter har sine egne in-house reisebyråer, men de stoler på Newport internasjonale reiser når noe virkelig viktig kommer opp.
Vi har for å levere tjenester med fremragende for møter og spesielle avtaler i USA så vel som i Canada, Europa og Asia.
Vennligst ring oss eller send oss en e-post eller faks, neste gang du eller organisasjonen trenger vår spesialisert kompetanse, og la oss ha gleden av å gi deg best mulig service.