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1500 questions
55
votes
8 answers
Why do many countries in the world still require citizens of states with a high HDI to get visas?
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and income per capita indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human development.
Currently Norway is considered to be the most…
JonathanReez
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55
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3 answers
Why do consulates take away your passport to issue the visa?
As far as my passport is concerned, a visa is a (very fancy) sticker.
Why is it that consulates actually take away your passport and give it back with the visa on it?
Why not just examine your passport, issue the visa, let you keep the passport, and…
user541686
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55
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7 answers
Would a non-business traveler ever benefit from collecting air miles, as compared to simply buying the cheapest ticket available?
Looking at various air miles programs around the world, it seems to me that they're only useful for business travelers, who basically get free flights out of their employer's pocket. However for a regular Joe, who pays out of pocket, all of the…
JonathanReez
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55
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5 answers
As a native English speaker, which two further languages would give me the most travel utility worldwide?
This follows on from a travel conversation a group of us had in a hostel in London. Assuming I am travelling randomly between countries and continents, which two languages in addition to English would provide the most usefulness in any given…
Venture2099
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55
votes
2 answers
Does one need a visa to visit Antarctica?
What is the status of Antarctica in terms of visa regulation? Does one need a visa to visit Antarctica? If so, which country does issue such a visa?
MOON
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4 answers
What rights do you have in China to appeal stuff being taken off you in transit?
I debated this, but I think it's askable. I just flew transit through Beijing. Did NOT enter the country. You still have to go through security though, but whatever, it just takes time. Until I got called aside for questioning about my Anker…
Mark Mayo
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55
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3 answers
Traveled on an invalid ESTA due to prior N Korea trip. How screwed am I?
So long story short:
I went to North Korea for a week as a tourist in 2013.
I received an ESTA in 2018.
In early August 2019, people who have visited North Korea were no longer eligible for the VWP.
I visited the US in late August 2019 — a few…
estafool324
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3 answers
Do countries get the manifest of every passenger that's flying through their airspace? Who knows who's boarded on a plane?
In regards to the Belarus Forces Down Plane to Seize Dissident; Europe Sees ‘State Hijacking’ I wonder if the Belarus intelligence was handed the manifest as a routine or they somehow got access through it using spyware?
In a more general form of a…
Honey
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votes
1 answer
Where is this tower, likely photographed in Belgium about 100 years ago?
This photograph is labelled as "restoration of a Belgian tower" and taken between 1920 and 1930, although both pieces of information might be wrong. However, it must have been taken before 1935 because the photographer died in that year and that…
Pere
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55
votes
2 answers
Airbnb - host wants to reduce rooms, can we get refund?
My family are due to stay in an Airbnb home in the next few days. It's three bedrooms and advertised as having the place to ourselves. We are two adults, and two children (a five year old and a one year old). It is a long drive to get there.
The…
user25730
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55
votes
20 answers
How do you choose a restaurant when travelling?
When travelling almost everyone wants to enjoy a local meal. It's part of the travelling experience. If you're not careful, you may end up in an expensive, "extremely" tourist-oriented place, which may not even represent the local gastronomy.
How do…
nsn
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55
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3 answers
Duty Free in the USA. Why do I have to be given my purchase as I board the plane?
I am not one for buying things in airports but recently my wife asked me to get her an alcoholic beverage while flying from the USA to Ireland (JFK-DUB). I made the purchase in JFK and was surprised to be told I had to collect it when departing for…
medina
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11 answers
Where should I leave my passport and electronics if there is no safe in my apartment?
I will be travelling to Barcelona soon. We are renting an apartment for a week through Booking. The apartment has no safe to keep personal belongings in. No cleaning service will enter the house during our stay.
I will have a backpack that I will…
Summer
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votes
4 answers
Does declining housekeeping deny housekeepers of their income?
Whenever I stay in US hotels I typically decline housekeeping, as I don't want to cause them to have to do extra unnecessary work. But today I wonder whether by denying them the opportunity to clean the room I am also denying them income for…
Jorge Rodriguez
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54
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8 answers
What does "K+M+B 2016" mean in when written on a church wall?
I was recently in Prague, and while visiting churches I saw several times the inscription "K+M+B 2016" (sometimes with a C instead of K) written in chalk on a wall or a door. I only saw this in (Christian) churches so I assume this has some…
N.I.
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