Travel Tips – Page 2 – Before I Kick it Travel

28 July 201910 May 2020

10 Tips Before Traveling to Egypt

Traveling to Egypt can be overwhelming. English is not widely spoken and unless you have grown up in the Middle East, it can be difficult to navigate the culture. Here are 10 tips before traveling to Egypt to help make your journey easy and allow you to enjoy everything the country has to offer.

Arriving in Egypt

Visas are required for Americans traveling to Egypt. It cost $25 for a single entry, 30-day visa, which you can obtain on arrival. You can also get a multiple entry visa for $60. Be mindful that Egyptian immigration officials have denied entry to travelers without explanation, however is rare. If you are arriving from Israel or Gaza, check out the US Department of State’s travel website for additional information.

Departing Egypt

Make sure you have a copy of your flight itinerary with you. You will have to show it to security before they allow you to enter the airport in Cairo.

Safety in Egypt

Crime in Egypt is actually quite low. Occasionally, travelers may have their purses or backpacks snatched off their arms by people riding by on motorbikes, but that is rare. The main concern is an increased risk of terrorism in Egypt, particularly in Cairo. For more information, read my post on is it safe to travel to Egypt in 2019?

Hire a tour guide

You can definitely get around Cairo via taxi, but I recommend that you join a tour group to visit the sites. You can also work through your hotel, but I can guarantee they will be way more expensive to provide the same or lesser experience. I used Emo Tours Egypt. They were very knowledgable and took great care of me during the tour. Egypt Tours also has great reviews. Without a tour guide, you may be subjected to harassment from the locals who want to show you around the city for pay. You may also be taken advantage of and scammed.

Checkpoints

There are checkpoints all over the city, so do not be worried the first time your driver gets stopped. They will generally ask the driver where you are going, how many people are in the vehicle, nationality, are there any VIPs, and your follow-on destination.

Public Restrooms

You generally have to pay a small fee, about 5-10 EGP, to enter public bathrooms. You may also want to keep a small amount of toilet paper with you. Be mindful that sometimes the toilet paper is located at the bathroom’s entrance rather than the in the stalls.

No PDA

You should remember that Egypt is a Muslim country. While there is a mix of religious and secular behavior, public displays of affection should still be avoided. It is a lot more common and customary to see to men greet each other with a kiss as a sign of friendship.

Dress

As I mentioned above, Egypt is a Muslim country, so conservative dress is appropriate. I did see a lot of men and women tourists wearing shorts and spaghetti strapped tops, but I do not recommend it. You will draw lots of attention from the locals and your goal should be to blend in, not stand out. Egypt is blazing hot during the summer, but I still recommend that you not wear shorts. Women should not wear low cut tops or short shorts. Women do not have to cover their heads.

Egypt is warm and hot!

I have been to Egypt twice. I traveled in February, when it was about 70-75 degrees and in July, when temperatures reached almost 120 in Luxor. Most of Egypt’s main attractions and “museums” are outdoors. Being outside for 10 or more hours a day in very hot weather can be rough on most people. I recommend that you pack a hat, sunscreen, and lots of water if you plan to travel to Egypt during the summer.

Be mindful of unlicensed tour guides

If you are wondering the sites in Egypt and it is clear that you are not part of a tour group, locals or uncertified tour guides, will try be helpful and show you around. It may seem like they are just helping you out of the goodness of their hearts and out of pride for their country, but they are looking to be paid. It could be as simple as pointing you in a direction. In Egypt, the art of asking for a tip is called Baksheesh

This also applies to people trying to assist with your luggage when you leave the airport or enter your hotel. If you let anyone take your baggage at any point, they will ask for a tip. There is nothing wrong with this if that is what you want to do. However, be aware that if you pull money out, you may soon have a crowd around you.

Cell phone access. It is worth it!

Taking an unlocked phone or one that will work on the Egyptian network will save you a lot of headache. Many Egyptians do not speak English, so simple things like getting in a cab and providing directions can be a challenge. Being able to use your phone to map out where you need to be or order an Uber, will make your trip much easier.

15 June 201910 May 2020

10 Etiquette Tips for Japan: First time visitor guide

Proper manners are important when visiting Japan and are widely practiced in the culture. Here are 10 etiquette tips for travel in Japan to keep you from committing a faux pas.

Tip 1: Greetings

Shaking hands is not common in Japan. Instead, people bow. Bowing is not only used as a greeting, but as a sign of respect in many situations. The deeper the bow, the more respect one is displaying. Small nods with the head are seen as casual and informal, but completely alright for foreigners.

Tip 2: Eigo o hanashimasu ka? (Do you speak English?)

Many Japanese people speak some English, but it is not widely spoken and you should not expect everyone to understand you. It goes a long way to learn a few Japanese words to help you along your travels.

Tip 3: Slurp Slurp (Eating noodles)

Noodles are everywhere in Japan. A cheap and quick meal that never disappoints. Slurping while eating noodles is common practice and expected. I have heard that it is customary to swallow your noodles whole, which I did not. But I probably also took longer than the average person from Japan to finish my meal.

Best noodles in Tokyo

Tip 4: Chopsticks

I tried so hard to handle chopsticks like the locals. This included me staring at people’s hands constantly to mimic how they properly positioned the chopsticks between their fingers. I FAILED!! However I did learn:

Never point chopsticks at another person
Use the opposite side of your chopsticks for communal eating
Do not pass food from chopstick to chopstick
Do not stick chopsticks into a bowl of rice
When not using your chopsticks, they remain horizontal in front of your plate vs vertical like you would place a fork.

Tip 5: Paying for goods and services

It is very rare to pass money or credit card by hand to pay for goods or services. You should place your payment in a tray that will be placed in front of you instead.

Tip 6: Tipping

Tipping is not practiced in Japan and generally will not be accepted if you leave one. It is okay to tip guides, but always place the tip in an envelope before passing it to them.

Related post

9 Easy Tips for Travel in Japan

Tip 7: Visiting Shrines

Shrines are a large part of the Japanese culture, so approach them with respect. It is customary for people to stop at the purification fountain before entering the shrine. If you want to purify yourself, there are several steps to doing it properly. If you are worried about being disrespectful, you can just watch to see how it is done.

Tip 8: Take off your shoes

You must remove your shoes if you are entering a shrine or temple, Japanese homes, and traditional Japanese hotels. If you are uncomfortable with bare feet in strange places as I am, keep a pair of clean socks without holes with you at all times. Where required, shoe removal is nonnegotiable.

Tip 9: Baths and Hot springs

Hot springs (Onsen) and bath houses (Sento) are very traditional aspects of the Japanese culture, and are interesting and relaxing experiences. I have only visited an Onsen, in which bathing tooks place outside, and had Mt. Fuji as the backdrop!

You must clean yourself before entering an Onsen or Sento
Bathing suits are not allowed
Tattoos are generally not allowed as they are associated with criminal activity
You will be given a small towel, which most people put on their heads while soaking. You should refrain from putting it in the water.

Tip 10: Public Spaces

Speaking on the cell phone on public transportation is not common and considered rude. It is also common to wear face masks in public. While the most common reason is to keep from passing sicknesses, a Japanese guide told me that some women wear them if they have not had the chance to put on makeup or if they are shy.

Either way, it is rude to blow your nose in public, and I swear I did not see a single person cover their mouths when they sneezed or coughed in the two weeks I was in Japan. So maybe the mask is the way to go!

13 June 201910 May 2020

10 Easy Tips for Travel in Japan

Traveling in Japan is much easier than expected and you can get lost in the many cultural surprises you will discover along the way. Let us first start with some 10 easy travel tips for travel around Japan.

Many travelers are not planners and like to remain flexible. However, I recommend planning at least a few things and becoming familiar with Japan before you depart for your trip. This will make it easier and less expensive after you arrive.

10 ETIQUETTE TIPS FOR JAPAN: FIRST TIME VISITOR GUIDE

Easy Ways Getting Around

Taxies are insanely expensive in Japan, so the train and subway are best ways to get around. The rail and subway systems are massive, and some of the stations do not have English translations of the train lines. I recommend either stopping at the JR East Travel Service center in the Narita Airport before heading into the city. You can also order or print maps of the cities you plan to visit ahead of time, which you should definitely do for travel outside of Tokyo.

The rail and subways in Tokyo are like underground cities and are the busiest in the world. Over a million plus people transit some of Tokyo’s stations each day. These are no ordinary train stops, where your only options are to go left or right when exiting.

One of Japan’s largest station, Shinjuku Station, has 200 exits. It is important to have an idea of where you need to end up. Citymapper will give you step by step instructions on how to plan your trips, to include telling you what part of the train you should get on and which exit to take out of the train station to get to your final destination.

Trains arrive and depart exactly when they are scheduled too! If you are late even by 30 seconds, you risk missing your ride.

JR Rail Pass

If you are going to be in Japan for several days, I highly recommend purchasing a Japan Rail Pass. It is a multi-use, discounted ticket for travel on all JR national trains in Japan. The pass includes the Shinkansen bullet trains you take to get around the country. It is a much cheaper way to get around and will save you LOTS of money. Just to paint a clearer picture, a 7 day pass cost me the same amount as a one round trip ticket between Tokyo and Kyoto.

The pass is only available for foreigners and you must purchase it before arriving in Japan. There are options for 7, 14, 21 consecutive days of travel. It takes about 2-3 days for the pass to arrive at your mailing address. I recommend giving yourself some extra time to receive it.

You can validate your pass at the JR East Travel Service Center at Narita airport when you land as well as other areas round the country. The clock starts on the pass after you use it for the first time.

Subway/Metro

You cannot use the JR rail pass on the Subway in Japan, but it’s relatively inexpensive to ride. Tokyo offers a 24, 48, 72-hour metro tickets that are only sold to foreigners. Starting price is less than $8.

Google Maps/SIM cards

If you have an unlocked phone, you should buy a SIM card at the airport. Having the ability to easily use the internet and Google Maps during your trip will make life much easier (Prices start around $30).

You can order a SIM card before your trip, but I like to buy it in country to to ensure I get what I paid for. If buying a SIM card is not an option, I recommend downloading Google Maps to use offline or renting a pocket WIFI router. There are many places where you can purchase one.

Book a Tour

Navigating most new cities can be difficult not matter the country, but it can be even harder when part of the population does not speak your native language. While getting around Japan, I exclusively used the JR and Subway systems, but when I wanted to visit a site and learn more about the location, I booked tours through Viator.com, tokyotravelpal.com, and getyourguide.com

Be on time!

The Japanese are very punctual, more so than in any other country I have traveled to. No matter what you are doing, you need to be on time so you do not miss out. Trains arrive and depart exactly when they are scheduled. Also, tours will start exactly on time. I was five minutes late to one tour because I took the wrong exit out of a subway stop and had to walk a half of a mile to get to the right destination. The tour group left me and I had to spend the next hour catching up with them. Also, the Japanese just consider tardiness to be rude. So, do not be late!!

Where do I put my trash?

I was completely surprised that I could not find a single trash can in public. Okay, there are a few, but they are hard to find. The most stated reason for the lack of trash cans is because of the coordinated terrorist attack on 20 March 1995. A deadly sarin gas was released into subway trains in Tokyo.

No trash cans also means there are no paper towels to dry your hands in bathroom. Where to dispose of them? You should keep a small plastic bag with you for your trash and a few hand wipes without during your trip.

Speaking of toilets…

There are different types of toilets in Japan. The Japanese style toilet, which is low to the ground, modern toilets, and high tech toilets with heated seats. The trick is that you may stand in the bathroom stall scratching your head trying to figure out how to flush them. It is not always obvious and there were a few times I just walked away.

Best Time to Go

You can visit Japan anytime of the year, but when you chose to go all depends on why you are going and what you want to see. I have several bucket list items to check off in Japan and I have completed most of them, but timing is everything and I was unable to do them all in one visit.

March-May and September-November are the best times of year to visit because you can see the beautiful cherry blossoms bloom in the spring and the changing of the leaves in the fall. But, don’t forget about Japan’s ski slopes and beaches.

Sumo wrestling matches happen throughout the year in different parts of the country. But, tickets for big tournaments sell out fast and it takes planning to attend.

Where to Stay

You only need one to two days in most of Japan. It is easier to base in one or two cities and then use your JR pass rail pass to get around to other parts of the country. I chose Tokyo and Kyoto. There is some debate over whether it is better to base in Osaka or Kyoto. I think Kyoto is quieter and has the old world charm. That is why many people are drawn to Japan in the first place.

There are so many options to chose from when determining where you will stay in Japan from traditional Japanese hotels called Ryokan to modern hotels.

Personally I have grown quite partial to Airbnb, especially since I was in Japan for two weeks, which I booked for my stays in Tokyo and Kyoto. There are generally hundreds of options. In Tokyo, I recommend that you stay near one of the larger subway stations. This will help save time getting around the city.

26 May 201910 May 2020

5 Tips for Easy Travel in Kenya

Travel in Kenya is probably one of the highlights of my all of may travel experiences. I love all the many facades of the country. From city life, to the mountains; from the coast to safari parks, there is so much to love about this country. As much as I enjoy traveling on the African continent, it can be a little daunting if it is your first time traveling there no matter the country. Kenya is no exception. Here are my 5 tips for travel in Kenya to hopefully make your experience more enjoyable.

1. Getting Around Kenya

One of the hardest things about travel to Kenya can be getting around the country. If it is your first time in Kenya, I recommend using a Nairobi-based travel agency, Travel Affairs, to book travel around the country and all of your safaris. To get around Nairobi and for day trips to the surrounding areas, you should hire a taxi for the day. It is completely normal and fairly affordable for the amount of things you can see in one day in the city.

I almost exclusively use Moshel Tours and Travel run by a great guy named Moses (+254 726937965/Moses.mbogo@yahoo.com). Moses has a fleet of drivers who you can call anytime of the day to help you get around the city. He even owns a safari vehicle with an open top, perfect for a safari in the Nairobi National Park. I have used and relied on his company since 2012 for almost all of my travel in Nairobi as well as travel outside of the city.

If you would prefer to book a tour, Viator.com, is a great option. I use Viator for most of my travels. Regardless of what you chose, for about 7-8 hours of sightseeing in Nairobi, you should pay no more than $100-120.

I would avoid riding in boda bodas (motorcycle taxi) because traffic is crazy and they are more prone to getting into accidents. I would avoid matatus (van taxi) because they are generally packed with riders, do not follow the rules of the road, and you risk being robbed. Finally, I would not take an Uber in Nairobi. Things may have changed, but Uber drivers occasionally come under attack from other taxi drivers because Uber offers lower prices. Make sure you take reputable taxis. You put yourself at a higher risk of being in an accident in non-reputable taxis. Others may disagree, but I’ve spent a lot of time in Kenya and that is my take.

2. What to Pack: Bring layers

Travel in Kenya will require you to pack for a range of weather you may experience in one trip. The equator runs through Kenya, so one would think that it is blazing hot all of the time. Well, not quite. Elevation in Nairobi is 5,889 feet (1,795 meters) above sea level, so the temperature is fairly pleasant all year, averaging in the 70s. In the winter months (June – September), temperatures can drop to the 40s at night and in the summer (December – March), temperatures can rise to almost 90 degrees.

However, travel to Kenya during all times of the year, it tends to be a tad cooler in the mornings and evenings. It’s best to pack a pair of pants and a jacket regardless of when you travel. This is especially true on Safari. Game drives start early in the morning when it is chilly but can become uncomfortably hot during the day.

Of course, if you are traveling to the mountains, it will be cold, the rest of the country fairly hot all year, and the coast is very humid. Pack a hat or sun visor, and plenty of sunscreen.

3. Shots/Medicine

Before you travel to Kenya, I recommend that you check out the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) travel vaccine and health advice at passporthealthusa.com. You should definitely pack sunblock. The pleasant temperatures, particularly in Nairobi, can be deceiving. Kenya’s proximity to the equator can lead to sunburn even when it does not feel that warm outside.

If you are only traveling to Nairobi, anti-malaria medication is generally not required as mosquitoes do not carry the malaria virus at that elevation. However, it is recommended to take anti-malaria medication if you are traveling to other parts of Kenya. Mosquitos are prevalent no matter what city you are visiting, so pack mosquito repellent.

4. How to Get a Visa for Kenya

I think that before you travel to Kenya, you apply for a visa for Kenya online. It is required for all US citizens and is relatively simple to acquire online. I highly recommend printing off the submitted form and taking it with you to Kenya. From time to time they cannot find a request in the system and having the form may prevent you from having to pay twice.

5. Haggling/Shopping

The only think I really do not like about travel to Kenya is haggling. Okay, so I HATE to haggle, but it is part of many cultures, to include the Kenyan culture. There are a lot of amazing and interesting things to buy in Kenya from affordable souvenirs–what we call Kenyan swag–to beautiful hand-carved furniture, woven and leather purses, jewelry, and clothing from patterned African cloth. It is common to negotiate the price on all of it. Most brick and mortar shops have fairly set prices. However, all outdoor markets expect negotiation.

Don’t be shy!! Unless you are clearly African to the seller, the first price will be way higher than the average price a Kenyan would pay, which makes perfect sense. My philosophy is to negotiate to a price I am comfortable with regardless. If you do not like the price, politely walk away.

If you are unsure about what is fair, ask your driver or tour guide. They generally have an idea of what you should pay. Just remember, people are trying to make a living by selling you their goods. You do not/not have to buy anything, but be polite about it. Just my two cents!

6. Safety First

Before you travel to Kenya, here are a few safety tips:

I recommend checking out the State Department’s Kenya Travel Advisory to get the latest on crime and terrorism.
I love the food in Kenya and there is a lot of variety, but it is definitely possible to end up with an upset stomach. Stay away from street food and consider having your red meat cooked with as little pink as possible.
Credit cards work in most brick and mortar shops and restaurants. You will definitely need cash on hand, but travel with only what you think you will spend each day.
As I mentioned above, you should steer away from boda bodas and matatus, as they can be dangerous in chaotic city traffic. Stick to named taxis for getting around.
Do not travel with a lot of jewelry.