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4:32 AM
I am going to start putting in questions today
@MarkMayo @JoErNanO and others, I suppose I should append a comment saying the question is prompted by the bonanza?
 
 
4 hours later…
8:33 AM
Excellent questions, Gayot! You sound like the perfect travel companion
 
mts
@GayotFow don't think it's necessary to make the comment but a nice additional promo for bb. Good questions! Actually the way you ask them it shines through like you already know the answer ;)
 
Very interesting set of questions
You going to wait to see if any survive until June 1 in order to post the bounties?
 
mts
Actually bounties can also be put on answered questions :)
 
Why would anyone do that?
 
mts
I'm sure there's some topics out there that need improvements / updating!
I actually have some of those on my short-list
Or we might run out of unanswered Qs to post bounties on
We recently seem to have a fair set of Qs about things going wrong in Italy. The guy with the fine in Florence and the scammy restaurant in Venice
 
8:40 AM
scammy? the per gram thing?
or was that the cover charge?
 
mts
yeah. I guess for the lobster that was fine but he made it look like it was for all the items on the menu
but looking at reviews, they seem to have a bunch of other fishy things going on
 
which Q was it?
 
mts
no pun intended
 
I don't like Venice at all
 
mts
13
Q: Is it normal for menus to be priced in grams in Venice, Italy?

Matas VaitkeviciusI visited Venice recently. In one restaurant menus were priced in grams and not per portion. So this resulted in several times bigger bill when I have originally expected. Is this type of pricing is standard in Italy or Venice?

Very nice place at night when tourists are gone
 
8:41 AM
Oh year, with that bizarre photo of a credit card receipt
 
mts
During the day can be a nightmare
Yeah it didn't say too much there but at least could identify the place
have you read the tripadvisor reviews though?
 
First time I went there I asked for something in Italian and the person didn't speak Italian, only English
that about sums up Venice to me
 
mts
seems they have "coperto" of 12 or 15% instead of fixed 2€
 
Wow. I've never heard of a percentage coperto
 
mts
Seems to be there to rip of Americans I guess
they even call it service charge
maybe they have coperto on top of it
 
8:45 AM
My rule of thumb is if a menu is in more than one language, don't go in
found a receipt online. Massive coperto + service charge
wow. 12 euro coperto. 6 wuro for water, 12.5% service charge
s/w/e
 
mts
yeah, pretty bad
 
and to cap it off, bill converted to GBP with the DCC scam
 
mts
either they don't have a handle or no interest to shut that place down
problem with places where tourists don't spend more than a few hours
 
It blows my mind people go to restaurants abroad without checking reviews online
especially in touristy regions
 
mts
8:52 AM
people don't have internet and just want to sit down somewhere
 
thats where my multi-lingual menu comes in
 
people traveling without Internet is another weird thing
unless they're in the middle of the jungle
 
I think a lot of people are wary about the cost of data roaming
 
local sim cards?
 
Yeah, but not everybody is clued up. anyway, there's lots of free wifi around
or probably 10 euro at Osteria da Nico ;)
 
8:57 AM
I think overall things are getting better. Another decade and it will be impossible to run a tourist trap
 
Figuring out where to find a SIM card, making sure you have everything setup correctly not to incur roaming charges, maybe keeping a second telephone at hand for that and then dealing with maps, apps and reviews on the phone, that's a lot of hassle
 
Yeah, there'll probably be a flashing red banner hovering over the restaurant as you look at it through your HUD
 
I do it but it's not particularly difficult to understand why not everybody likes it
 
I just travel with my work phone and let them pay for it...
 
That's another solution
But I only do it if I am on official business
 
9:00 AM
Same with taxis. I remember traveling as late as 2008 and being afraid to take a local taxi from the train station because you automatically assume it's a scam
then Uber shows up and I take more taxi rides than in my entire life combined
 
Don't know if anybody is paying attention but I don't want to see charges from countries I have no reason to be in to show up on the bill
 
for Uber you mean?
 
yes, with Uber
 
Uber's security isn't the greatest, but as long as you have a strong password I don't think you'll have much to worry about
unlike getting in a regular taxi and scanning your CC each time
 
Part of it is entirely psychological, a restaurant located and a taxi to the airport are probably a bit more expensive than they should be but short of outright scams (like your EUR 10+ coperto), they are convenient and they do the job so why worry?
 
9:03 AM
psychologically I'd rather take the inconvenient bus than risk someone overcharging me
 
(I was talking about data roaming charges)\
Well, that's my point, I get it but it's not too difficult to see why other people make other choices
Plus overcharging is relative
 
My company just pays a flat rate if I'm roaming. 3 quid in EU and 5 quid in US
 
hi all, can anybody help me with this travel.stackexchange.com/questions/69215/…
 
Are we meant to answer Gayot's bounty bonanza questions now? Or do we wait until June?
 
per day
 
9:06 AM
If you are willing and able to pay, say, EUR 40+ for a taxi because that's the price it costs back home, why do you care if a driver charges you 30 instead of 20?
 
I don't like being scammed!
 
I do
 
@Berwyn Were is that? We have a different tyoe if plan, unlimited data and calls at home but roaming charges are per-minute and per-MB.
 
but I'm one who'll take public transport if it's available rather than a taxi
It's what vodafone UK charge
 
And a virtual "wall of shame" for people who run bills in the hundreds...
Ah yes, should have guessed it, you said "quid" after all..
 
I am in the Netherlands, I think what's on offer in the UK is generally better.
@JoelDamien I think Gayot invites us to post questions already because they have to be online for a day before you can add a bounty to them.
But I just logged in here to ask about this because I am not too sure what the plan is!
 
soon it's going to be 0 euros per day to roam in the EU
for all the shit people give to EU bureaucracy, that's one hell of an achievment
 
On the other hand, it's cool to have something like that to motivate people but feel free to do whatever you feel like
 
next year isn't it?
 
@Relaxed Thanks, I think I will post my response anyway as I am more interested in helping people than winning a bounty :)
 
9:11 AM
yes, 2017
 
Is that now voted and everything?
 
European Union roaming regulations (sometimes called the Eurotariff) regulate the imposition of roaming charges within the European Union. They regulate both the charges a mobile network operator can impose on its subscribers for using telephony and data services outside of the network's member state, and the wholesale rates networks can charge each other to allow their subscribers access to each other's networks. Since 2007, the roaming regulations have steadily lowered the maximum roaming charges allowable. A proposed regulation, which has passed the European parliament in April 2014 but still...
 
It's been years they have talked about it but they always managed to post-pone it
Gradually reducing charges but stopping short of entirely getting rid of them
Last I heard, there was a plan to allow a certain number of roaming days per year (30 I think)
And I am not even sure this would include data
 
it's already extremely cheap
I've stopped buying local EU sim cards in 2015
 
For calls and SMS sure, for data I am not so sure...
 
9:14 AM
in 2015 Vodafone started their "fixed rate per day" roaming in Czech Republic
so I could use 100 mb per day for 3 euros
 
Plus there is a different between cheap enough to allow you to use it and not go through the hassle of getting a local SIM and completely free.
Not bad
 
at the end of the day a large barrier is psychological - once people start thinking "Roaming is very cheap", everyone will start using it
and Osteria could say bye-bye to European tourists, at least
 
Yet another country with better options than the Netherlands...
Indeed
That's why being completely free makes a world of difference, you just don't think about it anymore
It's the same for transportation, museums and whatnot, I find this liberating, on a purely psychological level
 
for transportation the solution is contactless payment
London tube is priced like hell, but at least it's easy to pay for
 
mts
@JoelDamien
 
9:19 AM
and you don't think about buying the right ticket
 
mts
Great response, +1
no need to wait and possibly bounties can even be awarded in retrospect to reward outstanding answers, even though that happens less often
 
be good if other countries would offer contactless with credit card. I just bout a clipper card in San Francisco which was useful, but easier if it were a CC
 
@JoErNanO man i just made my first moka cup.. it is just LOVELY.. thanks for the suggestion!
 
In the Netherlands, transit providers are trying to hold out for as long as they can
A PAYG charge from Amsterdam Centraal to the Museum Plein is something like 1.20
A one hour bus/metro/tram GVB ticket is 2.90
 
I've ridden many many transit systems for free simply because figuring out ticketing was too hard
or I didn't have coins
 
9:25 AM
That's 1.70 the company would leave on the table if it was easy for tourists to use PAYG without the hassle of figuring how the system works and paying 7.50 for the chip card
 
at least the clipper card was only $3
 
@mts Thanks dude! I was meaning to do a full article on how I made my application, noting special advice given to me on T.SE, but I'm not sure where I'd post such an article... maybe on medium.com and link it to questions from time to time?
@HeidelBerGensis Do you mean mocha? Definitely my favourite type of coffee as well!
 
@JoelDamien Moka, italian coffee.. i think mocha is different.. not sure though.. Moka is more like a manual espresso .
 
@HeidelBerGensis Ahh right, definitely different, the mocha I was talking about is essentially a latte with chocolate liqueur added.
 
Relevant for the squat toilet Q: bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36394819
 
mts
9:39 AM
@JoelDamien you could also post a Q&A answering your own question here (sometimes it fits, sometimes not) or linking to anything else you published is great (disclose affiliation in that case). keep it up :)
 
@GayotFow wouldn't you wait until June 1st? Isn't that the point of the commitment - that you're committing to post those questions during June?
 
mts
I think there was a week of intensive question posting for end of may part of the original plan
in any case questions take 2 days to be eligible for bounties
I've been trying to post questions over the last few days
however more like a Q a day to get moving towards some badges ;)
 
9:57 AM
@MarkMayo I think Gayot's idea is that a question posted now will only be eligible for a bounty in June
 
10:13 AM
Ah fair point
 
10:27 AM
My attempt then:
0
Q: We're all adults here - how to use a squat toilet if you have trouble squatting?

Mark MayoSo, we have a great question and answer on how to use a squat toilet. However, the answers there basically assume you're healthy and able to do so. A group of us are going to an area with squats next month, and one of the group is currently undergoing treatment for their lower back and post oth...

We should see if we can get 10 questions on the hot list at the same time, driving traffic here ;)
 
How about how to avoid obnoxious passengers on a plane? :)
 
mts
For that to happen people need to get their voting habits up, that's what makes Qs become hot.
There is some site-specific correction on the algo though so I'm not sure you can get it up to 10 ;)
 
I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to vote in with regards to questions
 
i was considering that
something along the lines of the passenger question
@mts we'll see what we can do. Have had 5 in the past at least, if those were on the top few that'd be awesome
 
"I'm a 12 month old child who likes to read books out loud on a plane. How do I avoid obnoxious passengers who might be offended by my behaviour?"
3
 
10:35 AM
@JonathanReez I like it
 
@JonathanReez PLEASE
;)
Guarantee that China one is going to b e on the hotlist within the hour
 
The one about travelling out of China?
that web site is really nice. I was half wondering whether it was a cleverly designed question to get someone to post that site
 
mts
I even thought we had a dupe for that one
 
yeah
wow that's a cool website
 
mts
@Berwyn it would be better if you included some of the points of the website in your answer, as is it is link-only answer and we kind of frown on that (it's even a deletion reason)
 
10:38 AM
Oh dear. ok
 
yeah, it's a great link but handy to quote a bit of it in case it changes / disappears
currently 6/100 hot questions are travel
 
mts
can't believe the venice food scam is still on there. @MarkMayo thanks for the bounty by the way! (on the alat to baku one)
 
@mts no worries
I'm holding all my bounties now until June 1st
 
updated
 
@JonathanReez one of the close reasons is "Questions on price-shopping for specific goods or services are off-topic as prices and availability change frequently in many locations.". Would this not apply to your Tesla question, in your view?
Chinese question is already on the hotlist - called it :)
@JonathanReez ok closing for now, but happy to hear an argument as to why it isn't off topic. Sorry :/
 
10:52 AM
Mark, I think Teslas are rare enough and the EU is wide enough to form an exception
I mean we do have a diving question: travel.stackexchange.com/questions/21435/…
each county has maybe 1 Tesla rental, so it's not too broad either
 
Gah, just posted a repsonse comment
read it and then come back here and we can discuss :)
 
btw, that China question needs editing. The first sentence is incomplete
Not sure what it's supposed to say exactly though
 
@Berwyn fixed
 
cheers
 
Mark, okay, argument accepted. I'll find something else to ask for the bounty month
 
11:06 AM
Would it be acceptable just to ask where you can hire a Tesla?
since there aren't that many places
 
a quick search for me shows 5 in the UK alone :/
 
wow. are there many charging stations for them?
In the US they're all over the place. The hotel I was in on Saturday had one in the car park
 
not sure (I'm posting here from Sydney, AUs)
 
"I have a Tesla and I'm visiting the UK. Where can I charge it?" ;)
seem to be quite common
 
11:36 AM
7/100 now on hot list
 
Is the hotness algorithm described somewhere?
 
11:59 AM
Recommended question for Schengen specialists: travel.stackexchange.com/questions/69255/…
 
12:11 PM
aaaaaand I'm done with the 5 question commitment :)
looking forward to the bounties
 
1:06 PM
Can I run a question past someone?
 
2:00 PM
10k users, I have voted to delete @mindcorrosive 's answer here:
-3
A: Why was this highly upvoted answer deleted?

mindcorrosiveIt's a correct and valid answer -- that's for sure. Just not very helpful. The problem I have with such non-answering answers is that they can be applied to many air-travel questions. Problems with toddlers? Get a private jet. Too little luggage on the flight? Get a private jet. In...

wanna give a hand?
 
@HeidelBerGensis see my updated answer
 
@mindcorrosive was busy trying to bother you :D didnt pay attention to the answer. i will check it now
@mindcorrosive i've read the update, I know the mods will not take an action another mod. you know how things work mate :)
 
I just edited it. In a nutshell, flag the post to a moderator and if any of the other mods disagrees with me, I'm sure they will undelete the post
I won't be offended in any way if they do. I stated my reasoning, and of course you and others are free to disagree. I stand by my decision and I believe it's in the long-term interest of Travel-SE as a community.
 
@mindcorrosive I was hoping that you will answer the request of many of us, based on the 11 votes in my question, and the other 150 upvotes to the deleted answer :/
 
on Stack Overflow there are many old answers with thousands of upvotes, and yet they get deleted
 
2:05 PM
@mindcorrosive true, except this is Travel.SE ;)
 
yet another SE site, if you disregard the volume of posts
 
and, it is the ONLY correct answer, really. ALL other answers are wrong. I am sure @Berwyn will expand his answer a bit once undeleted.
 
I'm not saying it is not correct
I'm saying it is a (potentially) dangerous precedent
 
@mindcorrosive ok, how about, @Berwyn will expand the answer a bit explaining why it is the only option.. will that do?
 
I'll cooperate in any way required
 
2:07 PM
@HeidelBerGensis I can support that
not sure if @Berwyn can update the post when it's deleted
 
@mindcorrosive good, so how about, undeleted it, let @Berwyn edit it, then he'll ping you here, you check the answer. whatever you decision you take later it is final..
will that work?
 
I can't edit it while it's deleted. I can still see it
 
okay gents, you got yourselves a deal ;)
I've undeleted it
 
I'll put my best diplomatic hat on
 
@mindcorrosive i love you man!
thanks a lot @mindcorrosive
 
2:09 PM
@HeidelBerGensis you are welcome ;)
in return, since I'm a bit short on time today, I'd ask you (not you personally @HeidelBerGensis, but rather those with a strong opinion about the answer) to help clear up the comments in all posts in this question
 
@mindcorrosive by flagging?
 
@mindcorrosive i will in a while.. u got that
 
thanks ;)
 
2:25 PM
edited. how does that look?
not sure it's a very answering answer any more...
and that sneaky other answer has now overtaken me in upvotes :)
 
@Berwyn advice, leave thhe first part, people are not aware of the history, especially when the comments are deleted.. so, drop the first part. just saying
 
done
 
just keep the original answer as the first part, then a second part stating that there's no way to avoid kids any place in the airplane. even if you take an emergency exit seat, as kids can be in the row in front or nearby..
the answer was beautiful because it was short and to the point, thats only my opinion of course, i might be wrong.
@mindcorrosive flagged some chatty and not constructive comments in that answer..
 
@HeidelBerGensis thanks for your help
@Berwyn looks much better
 
I'll take out the comments about other peoples' posts. that belongs in comments on their posts I guess
 
2:33 PM
I cleared up some obsolete comments on the post as well
@HeidelBerGensis: your meta post is now
 
Edited it again. How about that?
I see the OP accepted the other answer. Damn, I missed my chance of him accepting mine :)
 
@Berwyn Dude I am so embarassed by that removable bag thing lol!
Legit totally missed it.
 
@JoelDamien That was funny :)
 
It's got 6 likes as well xD
but you got what I meant yeah?
 
of course :)
Interestingly undeleting that answer made zero difference to my rep
 
2:47 PM
@mindcorrosive thank you man for your support and understanding.. u r the best!
 
yeah, cheers @mindcorrosive from me too
 
@Berwyn 42 answers in two weeks? u got to be kidding me.. just noticed :D
that's impressive!
 
So, I was going to put a question up, related to the toddler one
but I think it might be thought of as a bit abrasive
mind if I post it here first?
 
@Berwyn post it directly.. really.. nothing to worry about..
if u think later the question is not well recieved.. delete it before anyone answers it..
 
er...
 
2:51 PM
othherwise u can't delete it..
post it here if u wishh..
 
I have recently taken a San Francisco - London (10 hour) flight, with a toddler in the seat directly behind me. His parents were really proactive in helping keep the child entertained in order not to disturb other passengers. However, that meant that they were reading out loud to him throughout the flight.

One might think that I'd be tolerant to people talking on a flight. One would be very, very wrong.

What specific steps can I take in all of my future flights to mitigate noise disturbance so that this experience will never, ever repeat itself?
:D
 
hahahahaa
u can ask the second part.. but adding the first part.. copy and paste from another question.. mmmm trolling? :D
 
yeah, thought it might be a tiny bit too agressive
I did fly san francisco to london 2 days ago...
and adjust the duration
 
Don't worry I'm with you man
hate babies on flights
 
I don't mind babies actually
 
2:57 PM
I struggle with sleeping on flights as it is
by babies I mean anything under 6 years old :P
 
I got on board on Saturday. fell asleep before they served dinner and woke up for breakfast
 
i am used to them.. between flying and having real kids..
 
I have a pair of QC15s and a pair of QC20s, but they don't do anything for screaming/crying. I was thinking of getting the molded ear plugs. I think shure do them
in the end not much keeps me awake after a few drinks
 
I can't use ear plugs.. It just makes me uncomfortable to an extreme.. makes me feel that my brain will explode or something.. it is just me.
 
not even the foam ones?
 
3:00 PM
i have learned one technique.. I always sleep well before thhe flighhts.. simple and easy,,
I will always think that i won't sleep in the flight.. that's the best.
@Berwyn nothing.. not any type.
can't use them..
 
over ear headphones ok I presume?
 
yes those are fine.
but even when i am a passenger in a long flight, i would know the crew if i am flying with my airline.. i usually use the crew rest areas..
a real bed.. no noise..
 
nice
an answer to the OP's question!
be crew
 
hahahahaha
 
and kids no longer allowed in the cockpit, so a pilot job would solve it too
 
3:04 PM
but u can't sleep in the cockpit.. noisy as hell.. with these calls from ATCs and alerts..
 
What do they do for the 10 hours between taking off and auto-landing?
(don't tell any pilots I said that)
 
@Berwyn they have a lot to do, at least communications..
a lot of that..
 
yeah, only kidding
 
and, they get asked a lot to change altitude and stuff..
 
I keep trying to encourage my son to become a pilot
 
3:06 PM
I enjoy take offs and landings in cockpit.. that's it
@Berwyn my eldest is 5.. i encourage him not to keep toys on the floor.. when he grows i wish he is not in the aviation business.. not at all.
 
I'm sure I'd enjoy that too. don't suspect I'll ever get the opportunity
surely some parts of it are worth being in?
of the business I mean
 
@Berwyn aviation business?
 
yes
 
well,
the thing is, it is not a steady business especially in the western world..
few years ago airlines were laying off people in mass..
now, they have extreme shortage and lufthansa is having problems expanding because of that..
 
so are a lot of businesses though
 
3:10 PM
u never know,, if something went wrong, economic or whatever, lating off people again..
and so on..
that's why, many workers in this field have the feeling that it is a temporary job..
although, a pilot is a good job.. good pay..
good prestige..
but, small cockpit.. lots of responsibilities..
 
yeah, it's a good part of the cycle at the moment. low oil prices, high load factors
and no drinking on the job :(
 
@Berwyn now that i moved to management, i feel better.. especially not facing customers..
 
I was at a client last week and they had a table with 20 bottles of spirits on it and free beer
that's california for you
 
i am not entitled for many of the loyality programs because i am an airline employee..
and because i got all thhhese free tickets and stuff..
 
do you get free confirmed seats as well as free standby seats?
 
3:14 PM
but, my credit cards allow me to enter some of the lounges and shit.. but i always show up late for flights anyway, and i would prefer spending the time in duty free..
@Berwyn free confirmed are limited.. depending on seniority and stuff..
but now, i get 50% unlimited confirmed,
and 3 free confirmed..
unlimited zed fare tickets.. almost free.. on almost all airlines..
but, seat available.. standby
 
I was talking to an FA at LAX a few weeks ago. She flew on AA in F with about 12 other non-revs all on standby
weird. though I guess not many people want to pay for AA F
 
there is a website for this..
i login, i put any damn itinerary, then i get the price..
this site is for employee from all airlines..
 
sounds good
 
prices are almost free.. some provide confirmed seats for little extra money..but generally the prices are 90% of the orriginal price..
90% discount i mean
 
BA have something they call hotline tickets. which are confirmed discounted tickets for staff and frinds
I got one of those once, but it was a bit of a pain
s/frinds/friends
 
3:17 PM
in my airlines, we get them for all direct family members, including siblings and parents..
 
the majority of my travel is for work and a lot of it at the last minute
 
i love last minute travel..
i do not plan..
i just wake up and then decide to travel..
so these standby free tickets are good for me.
 
nice
 
my few planned travels are with the confirmed tickets..
 
 
1 hour later…
4:24 PM
it's amazing that there are two good answers to that dueling scar question. I would have never imagined that
 
 
7 hours later…
11:08 PM
Some eejit is removing comments that link to the META thread. Please stop doing that.
@Berwyn one of those answers should be bountied.
The other appears far too judgemental at the moment.
4
Q: How can a tourist obtain an 'authentic' duelling scar?

Gayot FowIntroduction... The dueling scar, also called schmiss or renommierschmiss (bragging scar), was considered a mark of honor. Young fraternity men proved their valor in these duels, which were considered an essential rite of passage into high society for government officials, doctors and profess...

180+ views per hour since posting. And I haven't shared it yet on Twitter.
Also, props to @JonathanReez who is bringing in views and new people with his bonanza questions........
 

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