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Flying Around Fall: Where I’ve Been Recently And Where I’m Headed In November

by Anil Polat | Oct 27, 2012 | Site News, Travel Journal | 2

sarajevo Miljacka river

You’ve had a big hand in part of my October travels, yes you right there, as I spent last week in The Best City to Visit in 2012 voted by you. I was amazed by the many of you who live in Sarajevo that found ways to meet up with me all over the city. An incredibly warm welcome that still keeps me speechless as I search for the words to describe it.

I’ll be sharing much more from Sarajevo in the coming months – my writing is often racing to keep up with my movement – and by then I should come up with an adjective or two.

Welcome To India In November

On Monday I’ll taking off to New Delhi, India from Istanbul, Turkey to meet up with Wandering Earl, who will be kicking off his inaugural ‘Welcome To India 2012‘ tour. It will be my fourth time in the world’s second most populous country and I’ll be helping Earl conduct the tour, while sharing my experience from India with the 10 travelers joining us.

This tour will be a unique one, after Earl’s distinct travel style I share much in common with, and know it will give the travelers with us a special India experience.

Earl also recently announced his next tour, across Mexico, from March 11-24th, and we’ll be chatting about what to expect in my upcoming Live Chat (right here across the site!) this Monday, October 29th (11:30pm-1am US EST; Tuesday 9am-10:30am Delhi; 3:30am-5am GMT).

In The Meantime, Catching Up In Istanbul

This weekend I’ll be sequestering myself in Istanbul, writing, going to the gym and running next to the views of Sütlüce Park. I cashed in some Hilton Honors points I earned through travel hacking earlier in the year to spend some of Bayram before my flight in 48 hours, which was kindly sponsored by CheapOair.

Wherever you may be, I hope that your life and travels are happy and carefree.
-Anil

The Best Flight Search Engines

by Anil Polat | Oct 25, 2012 | Air, Money, Tech | 8

airplane windows There are a number of ways to book an airplane ticket, but almost all methods will lead you through a flight aggregating search engine, the kind that sifts through multiple airlines at once. Research from Temple University [PDF] suggests that 86% of Americans use at least one flight search engine, while 44% use 2 or 3 before booking a flight. Using more than one aggregator is a practice I highly recommend so you can learn the average fares you’re looking at plus common flight routes (to potentially save on tickets using multi-city flights).

But searching for rates from engine to engine is time consuming, so if you’re crunched for time or simply can’t be bothered, these are the best aggregators to devote your time to, whether you decide to look further for lower rates or not.

1. Kayak

The search engine I begin my air travel plans with, Kayak‘s clean interface, quick results, and widespread search that includes other flight aggregators provides a solid airfare baseline nearly every time. Kayak is rarely the absolute cheapest option, though it’s often close, the rates it shows tend to shift up after a few searches. (You can avoid paying more throughout the day by using two web browsers to search and book airfare.) One more thing worth mentioning to all of you spontaneous flyers is Kayak Explore: it lets you enter your city, when you want to travel, and shows you all of the possibilities and prices on a map. Pick a spot and go!

kayak search

2. Hipmunk

The rates on Hipmunk tend to agree with Kayak, however if you’re flexible on airports, it can usually give you options Kayak won’t (since it tends to lock you into a single airport). One thing Hipmunk does better than any other flight search engine though, is provide an intuitive visual display of when you’ll be wheels up and down, including any layovers in between. On flights with multiple timezones and connections, Hipmunk can help you avoid booking that accidental 15-hour layover (low airfare dude!) Though if that does happen to you, I’ve got your ultimate guide to sleeping in airports right here, dude.

hipmunk search

3. Orbitz

I know this isn’t necessarily a popular choice among many travelers but I often find low rates on Orbitz, especially when booking last-minute. Nothing spectacularly cheap, but they seem to allocate more special rate tickets per flight, benefiting procrastinating bookers like myself. (Whereas prices sky rocket at the very last minute on most other aggregators.) There are a few other nice elements to the booking process on Orbitz, like a allowing you to specify a meal type (e.g. vegetarian) and entering your frequent flyer account. (Just be sure you’re accumulating all of your points in one place.)

orbitz search

Still Feel Like Searching? Cast A Wider Net With These Aggregators

Generally speaking you’re going to have a pretty good idea of what your airfare price range is after checking out the three flight search engines above. Sometimes though your budget ~~can’t~~ doesn’t agree with your schedule or wanderlust, putting you out on a quest to leave no digital stone unturned. I’m not saying you shouldn’t believe in miracles but don’t get your hopes up either.

Farecompare and Bing Travel – Though I dislike the multiple window pop-ups when performing a search, Farecompare acts like an automated airfare blitzkrieg, combing for cheap plane tickets across a number of other aggregators you specify. Farecompare can usually shave a few dollars off the rates you might find on Hipmunk or Kayak initially but it’s best used in conjunction with another similar service. Bing Travel’s Price Predictor, through the former Farecast service, can tell you whether the ticket you’re about to book is likely to get more expensive (buy now) or drop in price soon (hold off).
Momondo – Hit or miss but when it’s hit, you’ve usually found the lowest rate among the aggregators.
Fly Low Cost Airlines – Includes a number of budget airlines most of the other booking sites don’t.

For The Ultimate Lowest Price Don’t Stop At Aggregation

To come up with the lowest airfare on any given ticket quest however you can’t stick to aggregators alone. They’re one part of a frugal strategy and if you’ve got the time and will, be sure to utilize all of the best ways to look for cheap flights. Finally, don’t take off without being a member of frequent flyer alliance – as accumulated miles can end up earning you a free flight from time to time. Here’s how to get set up in 8 minutes and then 7 ways to bump up your earning immediately after.

What search engines and methods do you use to look for the cheapest airfare? Any of the ones I mentioned, any I missed? Share your search engine travel tactics in the comments below!

Remove All Old Baggage Tags (Including Bar Code Stubs) To Avoid Lost Or Delayed Luggage

by Anil Polat | Oct 23, 2012 | Advice, Air, Luggage, Security | 7

baggage bingo tags

One of the first things we tend to do when arriving home from a trip is toss our checked luggage down, unzipping zipper seams which are holding on with every last strength of their fiber. Prior to your next trip you’ll likely rip off any previous baggage tags that are hanging around your bag handles but might not notice the smaller bag bar codes stickers somewhere on the side or underneath. It’s those nondescript tags that can have your bags going to the wrong place or delayed, so they’re not with you upon arrival at your final destination.

Little Tags Can Make A Big Difference

Anyone who’s flown anywhere commercially is familiar with the large baggage tags that airline employees rapidly stick to one of your bag handles or straps at check-in. Those bags contain your destination airport code, any connecting city codes, as well as flight numbers. There’s also a bar code on the sticker which contains that information and provides real-time tracking as your bags get scanned from one place to the next. Off of that same baggage tag there’s often a smaller sticker with the bar code only, called a “bingo” tag, that’s placed somewhere else on your bag.

The bingo tag is there as a backup in case your other bag tag somehow get detached; that’s called a “tag-off” and only occurs in 3% of lost luggage cases.

Bingo Tags Help Prevent Lost Luggage Only If They’re Not From Previous Flights

Problems can occur when those bingo tags aren’t removed – easy to miss because of their small size and the tendency for them to be stuck to the bottom or side of a bag. Those tags might be scanned by baggage handlers or automated devices (depending on the airport) confusing the system. Such confusion can often lead to a delay while your bag’s information is double-checked (under good circumstances). That might not be a problem in many cases but if you’ve got a short layover, it can mean your luggage misses your connecting flight, even if you don’t.

In bad circumstances, poorly designed automated scanners or careless baggage handlers might actually send your luggage to the wrong destination. And the more connections a piece of luggage has to make, the more likely it will get lost along the way.

Turn Tag Removal Into A Travel Ritual

Airline staff at check-in counters are trained to remove all of your previous bag tags, however, when things get busy (or for self-check-in) that might not occur, so it’s best to do it yourself on a routine basis. For many people, that can be right when you get to the place you’re staying or coming back home to. Though an alternative is to remove the tags as soon as you clear customs. Your baggage tags say a lot about you – where you came from, that you’re arriving from an international location, oh you took business class, how fancy – all of which can potentially draw unwanted attention to you when you arrive in town. If you’ve got a habit of getting lost as I do or have a ways to walk from a subway station, removing baggage tags – not forgetting the bingo tags! – at the airport might be the routine to form for you.

Finally, if you’re bags happen to get lost, here’s how you can best recover lost luggage and how to track and find your stuff if it gets stolen or lost.

Praying With Passion: A Metekhi Moment In Tbilisi, Georgia

by Anil Polat | Oct 19, 2012 | Culture, Pictures and Video | 2

metekhi church tbilisi georgia

This image I took one late morning at Metekhi Church, solemnly standing watch over Tbilisi, Georgia from the hilltop it occupies, could have been one from so many I witnessed in the country. For Georgians pray more passionately than any people I’ve visited in my lifetime. I went from church to church (there are 18 in Tbilisi’s city center alone) around Georgia, expecting spiritual-sight burnout to set in quickly. A condition that occurs when looking at too many buildings at once, regardless of their divinity.

Yet countless times I was mesmerized into sitting in a corner and watching, as no church ever seemed to be empty. Georgian after Georgian was praying intensely, with an occasional vigorous sign of the cross from head to chest. Their eyes conveyed a humble devotion. Whether in a church or not, Georgians are a very endearing people, you want to root for them, like you’re an adopted Georgian. Somehow, they make you feel that way.

That’s not to say other belief systems don’t generate fervor from their followers, including the 16.1% of the Georgian population who aren’t Eastern Orthodox. But the pride extends beyond church walls to minaret tops and synagogue halls. As I drove into Tbilisi a little after 4am, when most international flights arrive, my Muslim cab driver boasted that whatever their personal beliefs, religions in Georgia have tolerated each other exceptionally well for centuries. Despite what you or I may believe or not, it’s worth hoping one of those candles is for humankind to learn tolerance, for I can’t think of anything more worthy of devotion.

Three Weeks Around Asia With A Pair Of Monster Inspiration Headphones: A Review

by Anil Polat | Oct 18, 2012 | Tech | 34

monster inspiration headphones

From Japan to Singapore, for the past 3 weeks or so I’ve been on the move through east Asia, with the sounds of podcasts, Skype calls, and Gangnam Style flowing to my ears through Monster Inspiration (with active noise cancellation) headphones. Monster sent me a pair to give a thorough testing and I was genuinely curious (and ultimately surprised) about the high-end version of this accessory most of us wear in airports, airplanes, and subway trains.

Who Are These Headphones For?

Well they’re not for everyone yet traveling gamers, those serious about sound, and laptop/tablet movie watching enthusiasts or video editors will find the Inspiration headphones a valuable member of your gadget gang. They are large, over-the-ear style headphones with leather cushions to keep your head comfortable. The Inspiration also have active noise cancellation built in, which reduces ambient racket by producing inverse sound waves of what you’re listening to. That is a fancy way of saying, noise plus anti-noise equals no noise. You dig?

Monster MH INS OE SLV NC CUA Active Noise-Canceling Over-Ear...

What Is So Good About The Monster Inspiration?

For starters, the sound quality is amazing. Don’t get me wrong, I love my regular V-MODA In-Ear Vibe headphones, who make Adele sound like she’s singing ‘Someone Like You’ in your living room. (And I do mean yours, I don’t have one.) The Monster Inspiration is like listening to Adele live at the Sydney Opera House. I hope you all like Adele, not one of my favorites, but my other music references were too obscure or inappropriate. So although it’s great to hear amazing voices in venues designed for acoustics, there are some drawbacks like buying tickets and dealing with crowds, bringing me to my next point…

The Drawbacks Of Inspiration

I found the Monster Inspiration headphones to be generally too heavy for my permanent style of travel, the half-kilo (~1 pound) a noticeable change on and in my back[pack]. They also aren’t the type of headphone you can use if you’re active (running all around the world as I do) and these are your only pair. The Inspiration are headphones designed to be plugged in to your laptop, phone, or tablet sacrificing some portability for overall sound quality.

All That’s In The Box

monster inspiration headphones

The Monster Inspiration come with a sleek carrying case, cleaning wipe, and three cables: a straight audio, Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod) volume control, and universal volume control. The latter two cables come with in-line microphones and the headphones themselves have a switch to turn active noise cancellation on and off. Two AAA batteries are also inside the box, needed to power the noise-canceling feature and there’s even an extra headband so you can add some color to the Inspiration.

Should You Buy Them? My Final Verdict

At $299, these aren’t a small investment for headphones but if you’re absolutely looking for quality despite the disadvantages I mentioned above, these Monster Inspiration active noise canceling headphones will make your ears happy. The noise cancellation comfortably cut out background airplane-engine buzz in my usage. Still, if your bag is your home, the Inspiration might prove a bit too heavy if you’re already packing around a ton of tech. For traveling gamers (noob or otherwise), videographers, and music-loving nomads however, the Inspiration might be right up your alley if you’re on the market for some new headphones to seduce your auditory nerves.

Oh, and I should mention that I did not get paid for this post and never do paid reviews. I get sent a lot of products to try out and write about the ones that really grab my interest and I think you should know about. But just reading about gadgets isn’t like using them, so let me send you my pair of Monster Inspiration headphones. The first person who can post or guess the city I was in 12 days ago (October 6th) in the comments below will win. One guess per person, good luck!

Your Ultimate Guide On How To Sleep In Airports

by Anil Polat | Oct 16, 2012 | Advice, Air, Lodging, Security | 10

how to sleep in airports

Whether by choice or by circumstance, if you travel enough, odds are you’ll end up sleeping in an airport at some point or another. An unintended layover or long delay though doesn’t have to be exhausting. Furthermore it can actually be a relaxing experience if you make the best of what most airports have to offer. I’ve slept in many airports, about 3 weeks total over the last 12 months alone, using them as free hotels. Sometimes by choice for inconveniently-timed flights; at other times due to flight cancellations, extreme delays, or when flying airlines with the same name as the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet.

Over many days and nights hanging out in airports around the world, I’ve taken notes on how to make each subsequent stay more comfortable, productive, and ergonomically efficient. Lessons you can use to be the happiest stranded traveler under the glow of control tower lights.

See If You’re Getting Lucky Tonight

Not all airports are created equally so prior to getting on a flight you should first check to see if you’ll be connecting through one of the best airports to sleep in:

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), Istanbul’s International Airport (ISL), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Boryspil International (KBP-Kiev) all would also make my personal list. They’re generally devoid of armrests, have free wireless, plus varied ~~beer~~ food options around the clock. A quick Google search or stop by the information desk can turn up the best gates to hang around, special sleeping rooms offered, massage bars, and other goodies you may have otherwise missed.

Get Your Morning Crap Out Of The Way First

Exchanging money, picking up the gift shop souvenir you forgot to buy your mom, and anything you need to do prior to your flight is best dealt with 3 hours before you go to sleep. Light exercise causes the body to release the hormone cortisol whose relaxation-inducing effects kick in about 180 minutes after you trot from one terminal to the other. Completing your travel to-do list will help you get better sleep – taking care of two birds with one stone. If you happen to be sleeping overnight, the early evenings are when there tends to be shorter lines all around at most airports, just be sure to get to the counters you need before they close.

Finding The Best Places To Sleep In An Airport

Generally speaking, you’ve got three categories of slumbering locales in any given airport (in order of comfort): the gate/terminal area, airline lounges, and special sleeping quarters. Depending on how long you’re staying in an airport and your budget, here’s how to make the most of each one.

Gate/Terminal Area – Advantages: free, close to flight; Disadvantages: not always quiet, limited space, less comfortable benches

I’ve talked about scoping a place to sleep in the airport before and the first step (after getting any money exchanges, etc. out of the way) is to try and find a quiet corner, or at least stepping up ‘camp’ with one wall at your back. This gives any potential opportunistic thieves one less angle to approach you from.

Check the departures monitor in the airport to find out where flights are not leaving from to narrow down the quietest areas of the airport.

You can also try sleeping on the fluffy couches many cafes have in the terminal after they’ve closed – you’ll be woken up as early as 4am – but will be comfortable during the middle of the night. Lastly, one other security precaution is to tie your luggage together, with a string or shoelace, attaching one end to your wrist or angle. Keep the string out of sight and you’ve now got a mini-temporary-home alarm system.

Airline Lounges – Advantages: complimentary food and drink, wireless, soft couches; Disadvantages: potential cost, often not ideal for shorter layovers

first class lounge shanghai airport

Many travelers don’t know that you can buy your way into most airline lounges, even if you’re not carrying a business or first class plane ticket. The cost is usually around $50-75 for stays of 4 hours or longer and you can enjoy all of the lounge amenities inside. Frequent flyers can also use some bonus miles to cover the cost or if you have elite status, perhaps already have access you didn’t know about. Inside the lounge you’ll have unlimited complimentary food with drinks (yes, and usually booze), outlets, Internet access, comfortable seats. Many lounges will also have other nice perks like free massages and showers. Prior to plopping yourself inside, ask the attendant to make a general announcement when your particular flight is ready for boarding so you’re covered in case of oversleeping.

A lot of airports have multiple airline lounges so how do you pick the best one? Generally, you go with the national airline based in international airports (e.g. Malaysian Airlines in Kuala Lumpur); airlines in their hub cities (e.g. United in San Francisco); or any airline alliance members you want to earn frequent flyer miles on without getting more credit cards. Information desks can also give you clues or outright recommend the most luxurious lounge in a given airport.

Special Sleeping Quarters – Advantages: Privacy, convenience, beds; Disadvantages: Cost, availability, lack of food and drink

tokyo metro

Some airports around the world also offer special sleeping rooms you can rent for a few hours. Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport has “sleeping boxes” while Tokyo’s Narita Airport sports sleeping rooms (about $20 for the first hour, $10 after that). Again, information desks or a quick Google search can let you in on any of these creative, personalized sleeping options.

Security, Snacks, And Streaming

Airports provide us travelers with the things evolution drives our species to seek – shelter, food, Internet access, and basic security. Yet the airport wild requires us to seek out these essentials. Snacks – if you’re not taking advantage of lounge food, pick up what you want to eat before shops close down. (I know how cranky you get when hungry,) If you become homicidal upon caffeine withdrawal, set your alarm 15 minutes before the nearest cafe’s opening time.

Sleep with one ear open, that is, not covered by headphones to hear any important announcements, don’t leave your electronics lying about, and as mentioned above – tether your bags. Speaking of (electronic) tethering, if you prefer to do some online browsing before bedtime, iPhone users can user 4sqwifi to find wireless passwords and every one else can check back here for our personal list. Don’t discount Ethernet connections so you can set up your own wireless hotspot to share with friends you may be traveling with. (Ethernet ports tend to be hiding out near airline gates, around check-in desks.)

Finally, if you know ahead of time you’ll be sleeping in an airport, stuff a pair of comfortable sweatpants, loose shirt, and slippers in your carry-on luggage so you can change into them. No matter how nice an airport is, it’s hard to get a good night’s rest in skinny jeans.

About Anil Polat

Hi, I'm Anil. foXnoMad is where I combine travel and tech to help you travel smarter. I'm on a journey to every country in the world and you're invited to join the adventure! Read More