Travel Hacks/Tips

[TonyHancock]

My intention is to get another Aldi adaptor and use the cable from it on one of these. (Bought one on eBay for about $25.



USB output is poor though - only 2A.

 

[Pushka]

Was told in DJ today that retailers cant sell os adapters due to safety regulations?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Sounds like the typical response of a salesperson who wants to seem informed, rather than admit that they don't have a clue.

 

[TonyHancock]

Was told in DJ today that retailers cant sell os adapters due to safety regulations?

Sounds like the typical response of a salesperson who wants to seem informed, rather than admit that they don't have a clue.

Whilst I tend to agree with SeatBackForward's appraisal of the salesperson I think there might be something in the comment. Australia does have local electrical standards that differ from the rest of the world. (The cynic in me might well say that there is a spot of protectionism going on there!!!) Without checking I could easily see the salesperson being correct in this case.

I seem to remember similar comments about the sockets in the QF HK Lounge, which are "UK Style" and local regulations there preventing the installation of international sockets.

 

[kaktusdigital]

Make a cheat sheet the size of a credit card and laminate onto a business card or something
list your passport details | hotel address | days overseas etc..

I really dislike going through my carry-on/personal items while on a flight. - so whipping this out when I need to fill in one of those silly arrival cards is easier.

 

[BettyB]

Was told in DJ today that retailers cant sell os adapters due to safety regulations?

This isn't true.

 

[Cynicor]

This isn't true.

Depends what you are trying to buy. Adaptors for Japan have some unusual quirks because ARDs/electrical safety regs mean you cannot have a 3 prong plug that goes into an adaptor with only 2 prongs. The missing prong is earth and mostly redundant unless you are unlucky. 2 prong (i.e iphone charger) plugging into a 2 prong convertor is fine, but a standard plug is not.

Doesn't matter for most countries because the majority of their power points have earth points. Japan is unusual in that you rarely find an earthed wall socket. so you need a 2 prong output that can accept anything (2/3 prongs). The ways around this- buy a multicountry adaptor that allows you to remove the earth plug. Buy a USA 3 prong and hacksaw the lower prong off, or buy from oseas like i do.

 

[Pushka]

Take a photo of your passport info page on your phone.

 

[medhead]

Yeah, retailers can't sell overseas adapters.

JACKSON USB Travel Adaptor World | David Jones

I purchased the adapter I used in japan in Australia. No hacksawing involved.

 

[teamhamsandwich]

My top travel hacks -

Most new laptops have a usb port that charge phones whilst off. Use that instead of lugging a portable battery around. You will also only need the one power adaptor for the laptop too.
Make sure you have your credit card and passport. Everything else can be purchased when you're there if you forget it.
Don't pack too much. My girlfriends hand luggage is always exploding with cough. She takes a pillow and blanket. They give you that stuff on the plane!
Book hotels with cancellation up to the date of arrival. Then cancel and re-book if the rate gets cheaper.
Always ask for passport control to stamp a used page. Passports and replacing visas can be expensive when you run out.
Get a bag that your laptop slides in and out of easily for security screening.
Don't eat yellow snow.
Always change money in the country you are going to.
Street food is always good, the world over. Avoid chicken though.
Find a mobile sim that allows worldwide roaming. My china mobile sim allows unlimited data in most countries for about $12 a day.
Travel insurance!
Google maps is usually way better than apple maps for getting around (except in china).
Probably obvious in this forum... but plan your trips to align with an airline alliance. I'm qantas wp having only flown a dozen or so qantas flights. The rest with partners. Always double check your booking class and earn rate before locking it in.
Do a hotel gold fast track. I did this with Hilton and it's been awesome.
Finally. Bose QC25 headphones..... The best thing I have ever purchased.

 

[mew]

Pocket Earth (for iPhone not sure about android) is better than Google maps as you load country maps before you go and do not use any data while travelling, only the gps on the phone. Its quick and you can load wiki info as well.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Was told in DJ today that retailers cant sell os adapters due to safety regulations?

The flaw in that comment is that you buy the plug to use overseas...not in Australia!

And I doubt that Auastralia would have safety regulations that apply for use in other counttries.

 

[Pushka]

The flaw in that comment is that you buy the plug to use overseas...not in Australia!

And I doubt that Auastralia would have safety regulations that apply for use in other counttries.

My thoughts too. Am about to arrive at MEL airport so will buy one there.

 

[Daver6]

Hang on to those free slippers hotels give you. Once your shoes are off and the aircraft socks on and you need to go to the bathroom, slip those slippers on. Discard at end of flight. Of course, if you are in first or something like Qatar J, even better as they provide said slippers.

 

[Pushka]

Slippers are provided in most J cabins and great for the 'visits'.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Pocket Earth (for iPhone not sure about android) is better than Google maps as you load country maps before you go and do not use any data while travelling, only the gps on the phone. Its quick and you can load wiki info as well.

You can do that with Google maps by searching for the location you want then swiping up.
There's an option to save for offline use.

https://support.google.com/gmm/answer/3273567?hl=en

 

[Warks]

When opening those milk sachets for your tea/coffee put the little serviette over the top as you open it to avoid it exploding all over everything as usual.

It's taken me years to work this out! Used to try and do it slowly but it still sprayed across the table.

 

[medhead]

My thoughts too. Am about to arrive at MEL airport so will buy one there.

Ignoring the fact that David Jones and numerous other stores sell OS adaptors.

When opening those milk sachets for your tea/coffee put the little serviette over the top as you open it to avoid it exploding all over everything as usual.

It's taken me years to work this out! Used to try and do it slowly but it still sprayed across the table.

I also do this for opening a beer.

 

[Pushka]

Ignoring the fact that David Jones and numerous other stores sell OS adaptors.

Except DJ Melbourne which is the store who told me they couldn't.

 

[TonyHancock]

Pushka could you clarify what you mean by OS Adaptor? I took it to mean a universal one with multiple inputs and multiple outputs. (Including Australian ins and outs.)