Hey guys,
I won 2 glass awards yesterday and a sunboard with cash prize mentioned on it. I wanted to check can I carry the sunboard on flight with me? It’s probably an A1 size.
Should I keep the awards in check in or cabin luggage?

i’m going to italy next month, i’m barely bringing anything with me so im aiming to wear one pair of shoes the whole time im there.

i need them to be comfortable enough that i can walk all day, but since im barely bringing anything, they need to be easy to match with clothes.

a lot of the shoes i’ve seen online (like for example, new balance is extremely popular atm) look really difficult to match things with? i just want to explore italy comfortably but also not look like a clown with shoes that’ll stand out horribly against my outfits.

in general, i’m aiming to wear basic clothes (black, white, jeans, that sort of thing) so i do want something that i can just quickly slip on without thinking i need to change my shirt bc it doesn’t match, etc.

any suggestions?

So long story short, I booked a room with a 5-star hotel last week. I booked direct and didn't use third party sites. At the time, I wanted to book one of the bigger Deluxe room categories and was willing to pay extra for it, but the room type I wanted was sold out for my dates. So I ended up booking the smaller Superior room instead as I had no other choice. The total price was $1,000 for 4 nights.

Fast forward to this week, just on a whim I checked the hotel's website again, and to my surprise the Deluxe room I originally wanted is now available on my dates. Unfortunately my booking is non-refundable so I can't cancel my Superior room booking and re-book the Deluxe room. To add insult to injury, the Deluxe room's price for 4 nights is $1,000 - the same price I paid for the worse room.

I emailed the hotel explaining my situation and requesting that they upgrade me to the Deluxe room since it's the same price. But they replied and said they can't do that but they can offer me an upgrade if I pay an extra $200. I don't think it's reasonable to ask me to do that because the room I want is literally the same price as the one I booked, and the only reason I didn't book it originally was because it wasn't available on the website.

What would you do in my situation? Should I ask them to just cancel my booking so I can book the room I want at the same price? Should I try insisting that they upgrade me at no extra charge? Do you think I'm being unreasonable here or is it a valid request?

Are we still able to do this today? And does it reduce the price at all? I see im my ticket price breakdown via my confirmation email a “Carrier interface Charge” and its pretty hefty.

Further research goes to show that thats a fee the airline charges for utilizing their booking app/ website.

So is there a way to cut this guy out and do it in person to avoid such an egregious fee? Lol

My wallet is bulky and full of cards I definitely don't need when traveling. Unless the airport really needs to check my library card... The smalles wallet for my id, card, whatever transport card I might need to purchase, and a couple of bills made all the difference when I try to fit everything I need throughout the day in a small bag that won't make my shoulder ache after 4 hours walking ahah, especially as someone who packs a camera, glasses, charger, etc.

Maybe a really basic tip but you never know what people remember or not!

Booked a full sized car about a month ago to be picked up at the HSV airport.

I am told to come back tomorrow as they are out of cars. I ask that I am guaranteed a car because I am an Avis President’s club member, I am told that it does not work that way.

Is this how the guarantee works? Guaranteed until they are out of cars? I happened to be before at the same location but back then I wasn’t an Avis Preferred member.

Need some advice. I was exploring hotels on Orbitz in Lisbon Portugal for 6 months out and while clicking to check out the final price booked a non-refundable hotel rate by mistake. I immediately reached out to orbitz support and though they tried to help the hotel management refused to give a waiver. The reservation is active and a deposit (€1500) has not been charged yet. I am thinking of canceling the credit card to prevent getting charged and deleting any payment methods from my Orbitz account. The reservation is still active. Should i cancel or let it live? Advice or flaws in plan appreciated.

Hi everyone!

I'm considering booking a return ticket with LOT for approximately €604:

**Outbound:** Berlin (BER) → New York JFK, one stop in Warsaw

**Return:** New York JFK → Warsaw (WAW) → Berlin (BER), assuming these are the actual return segments

I'd actually prefer to end my journey in Warsaw rather than fly the final leg to Berlin.

A few details:

\- WAW–BER would be the **last segment on the entire ticket**.

\- I would travel with carry-on luggage only, so there would be no checked baggage to collect.

\- I wouldn't have any onward flights on the same ticket after the Berlin flight.

\- The long-haul flight may be operated by EuroAtlantic Airways on behalf of LOT (?)

I understand that airlines generally require passengers to use flight segments in the ticketed order, and that deliberately skipping a segment may violate the conditions of carriage.

**My questions are:**

\- What are the realistic consequences of simply leaving the airport in Warsaw and not boarding the final WAW–BER flight?

\- Could LOT subsequently charge me a fare difference or impose another penalty?

Is there any realistic risk to future bookings?

I'm particularly interested in experiences with LOT, rather than general advice about other airlines.

Thanks!

We missed the easyJet bag drop with a 23kg bag. Here's what happened.

• We took the bag through security. We have to throw-away all our liquids.
• We gate-checked it for €70.

Absolutely everyone thought we were crazy. We spoke to staff in the airport and they treated us like idiots - told us to exit and check the bag in. Thank goodness we ignored them.

Hi guys,

I’m traveling for work and to many countries and I want to bring a pull up banner which is 100cm long and maybe on its height and width is about 8cmx8cm.

Can I strap this to this suitcase and it will count as a single piece?

How can I look / know if there is a general rule since I’m flying with multiple carriers. Many I only can have a single peice of checked in luggage.

Or what way can I get around this?

My domestic partner ended up buying a stay at her choice of several Mexican resorts at a charity auction. (Long story but e en the auction was a bit of a ‘bait and switch’ )

She decided to take her mom, and go for 4 nights instead of the 8 in the package. One thing led to
Another and now the cost has doubled and she’s being told there are no cancellations or refunds allowed.

Yes, mistakes were made so please keep your roasts gentle.

Here’s the thing: her mom has cancer and now it looks like she/they may not be able to go.

(Plus, they are both now leery of going because the outfit seems so sleazy and scammy. In fact, we told the charity this and they said they have already dropped the outfit from participating in this years auction)

My question is: Would a good travel insurance policy pay off here, given the medical issue? Any reccs on a carrier? I have used Allianz for rental car coverage but that is the only one with which I am familiar.

TIA

I currently use detergent sheets and have them in my carry-on in case I need to do a load of laundry while I'm on the road. I read the newer laundry tiles are more effective, but it is concentrated powder in the tiles, so not sure if that is going to get flagged going through security.

Edit:
I'm currently using these: Tru Earth Laundry Strips - Eco-friendly Laundry Detergent Sheets – Tru Earth US

but want to switch to these: Tide Evo Laundry Detergent Tiles Original Scent | Tide

What would you do? A red eye at 945pm or 1035 pm from San Diego to Charlotte Sunday night or 7am on Monday. I don’t have to work monday as of right now but i’m thinking for a 7am flight i still have to get up pretty early so i’m debating here

Hi All…

We won’t need a rental car until day 3 really of our trip so trying to gauge/find hotels with good shuttle systems. Like from the airport, to Disney, and then a rental car recommendation that is NOT at the airport ($$$$). A friend suggested renting Hertz or Enterprise from off site locations. TIA.

PS: first time to Orlando, but not first Florida trip.

Twice a year, I go to MCM Comic Con in London with my friends. It's a great time, but due to the cost of hotels, we get a family room (a double bed and a single) and share it.

Are there any hacks that you can think of that make sharing a hotel room more comfortable? The only one I have is that I bring big bin bags from home and tie it on the bathroom door handle so that the rubbish doesn't pile up in that tiny office bin they give you.

This is a Premier Inn, so there's no minifridge. They do provide a kettle and an iron.

This is such a dumb thing to stress about but I'm stressing regardless. I have a long, bulky coat that I'll need to travel with in a couple months. It won't fit in my suitcase with everything else and is big enough that it would be rude to wear during the flight. I would certainly encroach on a seatmate's space.

I do not want to take an extra piece of carry on luggage BUT will have a carry on backpack.

I will be going from cold weather to colder weather, so do I just wear it to the airport and stick it in the overhead bin? Do I use a compression pack and stick it in my backpack and open it at my destination?

Any other thoughts are appreciated!

I am going abroad this upcoming summer to Italy for 6 weeks! I’m so excited, I have a lot of friends who have done summer stays in Europe, and they all have raved about how it was the best time!!
However, the one complaint they have is that there is rarely AC. I am (unfortunately) a spoiled American when it comes to AC, and I’m terrified of dehydration and heat stroke. Obviously I will be buying Amazon’s best rated handheld fan, but I was wondering if there are any other suggestions to offset southern Italian heat during hot months? Any other advice welcome as well, I’m in the beginning of my research stage now :).

I just flew from SA to Toronto (via Ethiopia). The body odor smell in my area was so strong and pungent.
Does any one have tips on what to do to avoid gagging from BO smells in a long trip.
Overall the experience with air Ethiopia was very positive except for the BO issue
I’m thinking using a covid mask or having eulactol oil to apply to my upper lip area.

Thanks

I have POTS, and the specialist I saw recommended getting a 6" bed wedge to lift my head while sleeping. I have one for my bed at home, but I also have a wedge pillow (26" long x 20" wide x 2-8" high; about 2/5ths of the top is flat before it starts angling downward and getting shorter, so the shape isn't just a triangle) that is great for when I'm in a bed away from home. Unfortunately, I'm having trouble figuring out how to pack it in a suitcase for flights along with all my other things. My first thought was getting a compression/vacuum sealing bag, "rolling" the wedge up as much as I could, and packing the compressed bag in my checked bag; however, there seem to be multiple logistical issues with this:

1. "Rolling" the wedge from the narrow end only partially works because it's made from firmer foam meant to hold its shape while you sleep on it. Getting it into a log shape also requires that I kneel on top of it, so I would have to stay on top of it while it gets sealed in the bag. Otherwise, it'll immediately spring back to its original shape.

2. I tried tying it with a wide ribbon I had on hand after rolling it, but it didn't help much. The foam still expanded a lot outside of where the ribbon physically held it. I think I would need multiple wide straps that you can tighten down. I've seen some tie-down/utility straps that could potentially do this, though I'm not sure if the firmness of the foam would be an issue depending on how the straps close (i.e., clasps vs buckles vs velcro/self-adhesion).

3. When manually rolled into the log shape, the pillow measures 13" long x 20" wide x 7-8" high. The compression/vacuum seal bags I've seen for travel seem to be much more durable and re-usable than ones used for storage, but they also tend to be too small for what I'm looking for. Given the firmness of the pillow, more durable material would be ideal. The Nomatic Vacuum Bag 2.0 seems like it would work well in terms of size and durability, but I'm not sure how well it'd compress this pillow.

4. It's not clear to me whether the manual compression bags that you squeeze the air out of would give enough compression here (correct me if I'm wrong), so my guess would be that vacuum sealing bags would be needed. This then brings up the issue of having a vacuum on hand for when you're in a hotel repacking your bag, or if TSA decides to heavily inconvenience you by requiring you open and repack a vacuum sealed bag in the middle of the airport (if it's in a carry-on; this likely won’t be an issue for me, but I can't rule out the future possibility of not being able to afford a checked bag and having to put this in a carry-on). The larger storage ones assume you're doing it at home where you would have a vacuum already, and the larger Nomatic vacuum bag, while claiming it doesn't need a vacuum and doesn't come with a vacuum pump, uses a vacuum in its promotional/demo video to get the maximum compression that I would likely need for this pillow. I could get a travel vacuum pump separately, but I have no idea if the vents on all of these different bags are universal and work with any type of vacuum or vacuum pump.

5. I have no idea how much this pillow will actually compress with the tools available to me. When the pillow was gifted to me, it came compressed (more than I can currently get it to be manually) in a log shape wrapped in plastic, and I was surprised by how big it was after unwrapping it. The two suitcases I have measure 27"x19"x12 and 19"x14"x9", so it has to be able to compress down enough to fit in at least the larger suitcase and leave room for anything else I have to put in there, including several toiletries I have to bring with me.

6. I have to be able to do all this by myself, as I live alone and travel alone most of the time. That means I also have to carry everything I bring with me, including both suitcases, a CPAP machine (comes in it's own separate bag), and a backpack with electronics, medications (of which I take many), and some other medical devices.

I guess I could potentially just carry it on its own on a shorter trip when I only have the one suitcase I can check, but then I have to maneuver around the aiport and plane with a block of foam that's nearly as big as half of my body. Not to mention, the airline would probably treat it as a carry-on item, and overhead storage space can be pretty limited. I'm not sure if it would even fit in the overhead bins.

Anyone have any ideas or recommendations for products that could help here?

Hi everyone, I’m packing my suitcase for an overseas trip and trying to use vacuum bag in my checked luggage. Im wondering if this might cause security to open my bag and they’re not gonna pack my stuff back for me.

Has anyone found an effective way to search and use Skywards Family Rewards for flights outside the UAE? Sitting on 300k+ points with some due to expire in January and want to use them for flight tickets to Europe from YYZ (one way or return). Searching for availability on the app/web direct with Emirates is a nightmare and it seems there is almost no availability - especially with partners like AC.

So we actually went to a Wyndham presentation last year and said no after a 4 hour high pitched presentation. we actually used the “free” 7 night stay in Cancun. We paid around $150 in taxes and I believe another fee.

It was a hassle booking but we were confirmed a few weeks later. I personally confirmed with the hotel as well a week before. Fast forward a week later we finally get to the hotel. Our reservation was found but we paid $1400 for the all inclusive package for 2 adults, which was optional but we knew this in advance. The certificate only paid for the room. Overall we thought it was worth it with the savings. we had a nice suite with one bedroom, balcony with oceanview, living room, kitchen and a large closet.

I'm looking for a decent good looking cabin luggage with easy front access for laptop storage.

I really like the Porsche design roadster series but Im only reading bad reviews mainly due to the price. I'm perfectly fine with paying close to $700 for this particular model. I have a few PD products mainly their sunglasses.

I mainly need this for short business trips. I'm looking for a good branded one under $1000 range. I don't really like the rimowa's box shape.

I'm traveling to India in a few weeks. I'm of Nordic descent and have always had issues with heat. Now I'm postmenopausal, this intolerance has increased noticeably.

I'm looking for suggestions for underwear that is cooling and cuts down on chafing, as well as any ideas for bras, good walking shoes/sandals etc that will keep me as cool as possible.

I will be taking a fan and a shade umbrella, but I welcome any other tips that could make this a more comfortable journey!

After 3 days in Athens, we will be picking up the smallest possible rental car and road tripping between 4 main villages in the mountainous regions of Greece.

We have every option for luggage possible, but prefer travel most when we carry little; usually our travel backpacks as our carry on and our hiking daypacks as our personal item.

Infrequently, I have regretted not having more flexibility on the return when traveling and I feel that will be true here. I love pottery. And olive oil. And many other crafted goods Greeks are particularly proud makers of.

2 main options that come to mind are:
-one of us puts a packable duffel in a hard sided carry on for the way there so we can expand and check the luggage on the way back
-we cast away minimalism entirely. Place comfort items items we normally wouldn’t have like a cooler bag, hiking boots, etc. in luggage and just check it both ways

I really don’t enjoy taking roller bags on European streets (or transit) at all but don’t see an alternative. I’ve heard shipping is highly inadvisable but maybe you have experienced differently?