Category: Travel Tips

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Renewing a passport

Renewing A Passport: How To Renew An Expired Passport Fast

Posted on by Michael

Renewing a passport after its already expired, or renewing a passport on an expedited basis, is something I have an unfortunate amount of experience with.

Renewing a passport
It took some doing to get to the point where this stamp became part of my passport.

I would like to think of myself as a a very organized traveler. I would also like to think that blueberry Pop Tarts are a health food. However, as I found myself preparing for a production shoot in Australia and New Zealand as part of The Palette Project, I realized at the last minute, or very close to it, that my passport was not expiring in 2017, as I had thought, but had already expired a few months back. At that point, figuring out how to renew a passport as quickly as possible moved tot he from of the line on my to-do list.

Well, shame on me.

Thankfully, renewing passport is not difficult, even on an expedited basis. Yes I found myself having to deal with the twin troubles of Continue reading “Renewing A Passport: How To Renew An Expired Passport Fast” →

ebags backpack
Hitting the road the minimalist way

Travel Minimalism: Podcast Recommendation

Posted on by Michael
Travel packs
The eBags packs are becoming more popular with digital nomads

Travel minimalism is a big thing, and every now and then, I like to recommend sites and podcasts that shed some light on what makes for a good travel experience. The Travel Freedom Podcast by Tommo and Megsy has been a great resource for me, and it should be on your list also.

This week’s podcast is right up my alley, and if you travel frequently, it should be on your list of favorite alleys, too. The subject this week is all about essentials for traveling with the absolute minimum amount of gear and accessories. Be warned… the discussion and the list is of particular interest to digital nomads and travelers who are focused more  on the journey than the luxury of it al, but I love how they strip it down and explain how to get the most out of your 10-12 kilos (roughly 27 pounds) , the limit today for most carry-on baggage.

Here’s the link to subscribe to the podcast.

In the meantime, news coming up from the tail end of the New Zealand leg of our filming, along with footage from the road, so stay tuned, plus putting some travel advice to the test when it’s a mixture of business and pleasure.

Onwards!

Not a Router in Sight

Phoning it In, Part III: Using Wifi to Make Calls

Posted on by Michael
Using wifi for making calls
We explored the outback for the route, not the routers. Good thing, too, because the wifi was in short supply.

When it comes to using your cell phone while traveling abroad, it’s hard to escape the feeling that you can’t win, that the cellular deck is stacked against you. Somewhere along the way, no matter what your strategy is, you’re going to face some sort of fee that makes you scratch your  head in wonder, amazement or just plain irritation. Is it the $18.95 per megabyte fee for international data? Is it the $4.99 per minute for international calls? Is it the one country not on your international calling plan that just happens to be the country to where you’re traveling? I’m looking at you Fiji. When I consider the machinations of international calling, I can’t help thinking of Joshua, the computer in the 1983 movie “Wargames.” “The only winning move is not to play.”

That’s not really an option. If you’re going to travel internationally, you are almost certainly Continue reading “Phoning it In, Part III: Using Wifi to Make Calls” →

SIM City

Phoning It In, Part II: Using Cell Phones When Traveling Abroad

Posted on by Michael
Using cell phones when traveling abroad
Using cell phones when traveling abroad… it starts with your SIM card.

I love my phone number, but using cell phones when traveling abroad tests my loyalty. I’ve had it since I moved to San Francisco five years ago, and much like the pride some New Yorkers have when it comes to their beloved 212 numbers, I was embarrassingly proud to snag one of the few remaining 415 area codes when I moved here. It is, to date, my longest running relationship.  Now that this area code is officially filled up and there are no more 415 area codes to grab, I can go to sleep at night, secure in the knowledge that my treasured 415 is mine, all mine. I plan to will it to my children.)

So when traveling overseas, the idea of not having that phone number as my point of access is somewhat jarring. However, using cell phones when traveling abroad is not negotiable, and budget is a major factorWhile shooting in Australia and New Zealand, I took my 415 with me, and it served me well. However, there were good reasons not to use this number, or even use my regular phone. When heading overseas, you as a traveler need to think about when the best option is not to use your own phone or your own number. Insisting on using your own phone in all circumstances can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. In the prior post, I made the case for when to use your own phone… and now it’s time to talk about the flip side.

What this often means in terms of using cell phones when traveling abroad, of course, is Continue reading “Phoning It In, Part II: Using Cell Phones When Traveling Abroad” →

KingsCanyon
Red Center Way
Sunset Viewing Deck
Heart Attack Hill
Garden of Eden
Way point marker at King's Canyon

King’s Canyon and Miss Congeniality

Posted on by Michael

I feel sorry for King’s Canyon. Sitting all alone in the back of the Northern Territory of Australia. In the class rankings of Australian travel must-sees, it’s never as popular as the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, or even the less visited but comparatively better known sites like Uluru and Kakadu National Park. King’s Canyon is the Miss Congeniality of Australian travel. In the mix but… you know.

A Miss Congeniality, though, with a wicked temper.

King's Canyon
King’s Canyon is an isolated spot, even for Australia, but well worth the trip.

You don’t take the area lightly. Much like Uluru, where we had just wrapped production for that part of The Palette Project, you have to really want to get there. Actually, you have to want to get there even more than you want Continue reading “King’s Canyon and Miss Congeniality” →