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Packing and Travel Gear
The Hidden Tare Weight Trap That Turns a 23 kg Checked Bag Overweight
The weight of your ticket should be read as a maximum weight for your checked luggage, as opposed to being an allowance for packing (i.e., the size of the bag). This means, for example, that if you have a 23 kg maximum weight for this particular bag, it has already used up a certain amount for the suitcase itself before…
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Packing and Travel Gear
How to Pack Airport Security Liquids Without Exceeding the One-Liter Pouch Limit
A one-litre capacity does not translate into a one-litre capacity for all toiletries in your bag. Typically a one-litre capacity will hold about 6 to 8 mini bottles (or containers) due to the physical dimensions of the containers, and the need for the bag to actually seal correctly around your toiletries! Thus, the best way to begin filling your bag…
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Packing and Travel Gear
Why Your Cabin Bag Fails the Airport Sizer Despite Meeting Published Dimensions
The size number you see on your suitcase and the size number published by your airline usually refer to two different items. One refers to just the packing portion of the suitcase, while the other includes everything else about the suitcase as it gets to the gate (including wheels, handle, pockets). Air France states this in their documentation: their cabin…
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Getting Around
Contactless or Oyster for London: What a Tourist Should Actually Tap in 2026
There are two ways of paying for the same trip at the same cost: oyster and contactless. They have a similar cost (i.e., fares, daily & weekly caps) and a fare table that will always be the same. The main difference is that the Oyster card incurs a £10.50 fee that is never returned, which TFL’s visitor shop continues to…
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Culture and Etiquette
Inside a Japanese Onsen: What Happens Step by Step and Where First-Timers Slip Up
Most onsen visits in Japan follow a similar pattern: complete undress, clean yourself while seated beside the bath, soak with your towel and hair above the water line, then dry off before entering the changing room. This aspect of onsen etiquette is fairly uniform. Tanabe City’s tourism bureau outlines four primary steps and, following that, provides a reminder of a…
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Getting Around
Japan Rail Pass Prices in 2026: What Changes on 10/01/2026, and When a Pass Still Pays
Currently, an adult can obtain a 7-day Japan Rail Pass for 50,000 JPY. Starting October 1st, 2026 you will be able to purchase a 7-day pass through an overseas travel agency for 53,000 JPY. The operator’s own reservation system will not see any price change however. Both of these price tables were available for public inspection by the operator on…
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Getting Around
Navigo Weekly, Navigo Easy or Single Tickets: The Paris Metro Pass Decision in 2026
The best Paris Metro card option for tourists is determined more by the day of the week than your length of stay in the city. The weekly card operates on a fixed calendar and runs from Monday through Sunday; therefore, if you arrive on Thursday, you will have paid for a full week but only have four days of usage…
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Getting Around
Ferries from Athens to Santorini: Piraeus vs Rafina, Blue Star vs SeaJets, and How Tickets Actually Work
Most people who travel from Athens by ferry to Santorini will leave from the Piraeus port. All ferries along this route arrive at the same dock on Santorini, which is called Athinios Port. The main aspect to consider when choosing a ferry is which boat you want to take. In order to determine which boat is best, you should first…
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Culture and Etiquette
Japanese Etiquette for First-Time Visitors: Which Rules Carry Real Consequences and Which Don’t
In Japan, very few social conventions on how to behave will actually lead to an issue for yourself and those associated with the item you are violating, and each of these issues has to deal with something that belongs to everyone else. Items such as a clean floor, peace and quiet while riding a commuter train, and bath water that…
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Getting Around
Suica, Welcome Suica or ICOCA: Which Japan IC Card Actually Fits Your Trip
What distinguishes the Visitor Suica from the Regular Suica? Simply put, the Visitor Suica is available only from an airport, only works for 14 days after purchase, and does not provide you with a deposit that you can get back. The Regular Suica is available from any JR East station, valid for many years, and provides you with a refundable…
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