Airport.ca the travel blog

MAY

Staying In Touch While Travelling

Over on USA Today, there is a great article about staying in touch while in another country, and the type of forethought that it takes to make sure the cell phone you have brought with you, will continue to allow you to phone home.

Currently, GSM is much more widely used than other phone technologies as more than 185 countries use the GSM system. I don't know how accurate this is, but as far as I know, only Rogers Wireless provides a GSM service and phones in Canada, meaning that it is very likely that you won't have a GSM phone that can be used in other countries.

Not all major U.S. (or Canadian) providers use GSM or CDMA standards. In 2004, Sprint merged with the Nextel wireless service to make them the largest U.S. retailer of iDen products and services. This "walkie-talkie" or "push-to-talk" network is popular among businesspeople for instant communication with colleagues or clients, coast-to-coast or even country-to-country. Some Asian countries with operating iDen networks include the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and parts of China.

Then you have to consider things like roaming charges, the network frequencies supported by your phone, prepaid SIM cards, and calling packages, all which might help you save money, and stay connected while abroad. Make sure you do your research or you might end up carrying a fancy looking paper weight.

Staying in touch while abroad takes thought [USA Today]

TAGS: tips cell phone communication

SEP

The Armchair Diplomat on Europe: The Ultimate Slackers' Guide to Our Continental Cousins

So much pre-travel reading is devoted to 'where to go', and 'what to see'. Melissa Rossi's Armchair Diplomat series of books offers the traveler something completely different; an education on the nuances of history, culture and geopolitics for 25 EU nations. This book was just released in August of this year, and another book titled 'What Every American Should Know about Who's Really Running the World' is expected to hit store shelves by December. In 1996 Rossi wrote a book on Courtney Love and since then has been devoted to travel writing exclusively. This Armchair Diplomat series figures to be a big hit.

It happens all the time: you're watching the Champion's League, pondering Robert Kilroy Silk's unnatural glow, reading the latest newspaper debate about EU bendy banana laws, and thinking: what's really going on in Europe? Does anyone actually know what they're talking about? And where are Riga and Vilnius anyway?

You needn't worry any more. With this armchair guide you'll discover the strange and fascinating world that calls itself Europe - without ever having to leave your own home. There are insights into culture (how to join the Finns beating themselves with birch twigs in the sauna); the lowdown on the people that matter (porn stars turned politicians in Italy); fascinating facts and explanations of historical rifts (and you thought the relationship between Britain and France was bad). You'll find out how to talk like Berlusconi, unravel the workings of the EU and guide yourself from the Baltics to Belgium, Portugal to Poland.

The Armchair Diplomat: Europe offers the basics of euro-education for very little pain. Perfect for slackers with a passion for travel.

The Armchair Diplomat Website [Source Credit]
The Armchair Diplomat: Europe [Penguin UK]

TAGS: tips books europe

JUL

Learning Travel Industry's Lingo Can Help Consumers

Have you ever had a virtual victual before? I hope not. Although, if you travel with kids you've probably seen one. Defined as; "n. an airborne meal comprised entirely of crumbs found in the seatback pocket underneath the ditching card." The lexicon of the travel industry is growing fast. For consumers it can be empowering to be able to talk the talk.

CDW n. optional car rental coverage that is unnecessary for most consumers; alternately known as "collision damage waiver" or "completely disregard whenever."

Code-sharing n. a practice that allows two or more airlines to cross-sell each other's flights using their own airline codes; extensive research has shown the primary benefit is confusing passengers who want to file a complaint.

TAGS: industry tips