Gadgets during travel

Gadgets on the go

If travel travails like getting lost or losing touch have kept you from exploring the uncharted havens, take the tech route. Accessories like navigators, Schmap will not only keep you on track but also enhance your roving pleasure. While some may hit your wallet hard, they will be worth the spend.

Navigator: Map your way

If you are travelling to an unknown destination, buy a GPS device and load it with maps of the place. The standalone devices in the market are good, but you can get one from abroad and upload local maps. Or if your phone is GPS-enabled, just get the maps. If it isn't, SatGuide and MapMyIndia offer Bluetooth GPS receivers for Bluetooth-enabled phones. Price: Standalone devices: Rs 18,000 onwards Bluetooth GPS receiver: Rs 3,500 onwards.

Schmap: More than a map

Don't bother carting your Rough Guide or Lonely Planet. Get Schmap, the digital travel guide, on your mobile or laptop. It's detailed, gives you maps, is in colour, shows you important landmarks and even has widgets to show big concerts or matches in the area. Did we mention that it's free? The World Schmap with 200 guides takes 338 MB, but those for individual cities are smaller, around 7 MB. Maps are available for most cities in Europe, North America and Australasia. Go to http://www.schmap.com/ and start travelling.

Source: Outlook Money - 2009

Basic Visa tips

Entry date reminder

Don't forget when will your visa will expire

When applying for a Visa, you’ll need to write an entry date on the application, but backpackers may find it hard to predict the exact date that they’ll arrive. Usually, you can just put down an estimated date. Here’s a tip, pick an earlier date, rather than a later one. If you pick an early date and arrive later, it shouldn’t be a problem, but not the other way around.

If you’re worried about arriving earlier than anticipated, check with the Visa issuer first before you leave. In most cases, the dates can’t be changed, but they can add a remark and things should be fine. Bear in mind that the moment you enter the country, the countdown on your Visa’s validity begins, and you mustn’t make an exit after your Visa has expired!

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Border Crossing Tips

Border crossings can be much more challenging as compared to entry by flight. In most cases, Visa counters aren’t open 24-hours a day at the border. This means, if you arrive during non-office hours, be prepared to wait there!

Basically, there are two main types of border crossings

– ‘international crossings’ and

- ‘local crossings.’

You should also be informed that some border crossings are open only to locals and not foreigners.

One of the most alarming things about border crossings is the scams. Basically, the officials there will ask you for more money for the Visa, etc. Usually, you can worm yourself out of extra payments by saying that you’ve checked with the ministry of foreign affairs and their immigration department, and that you know how much the Visa is exactly. Usually, they won’t make things difficult for you if you know the ins and outs or are prepared.

Don’t be perturbed by this though, border crossings can be fun. Since not many tourist opt for it, things are usually more casual and you have some time to befriend the locals Before attempting a border cross, however, scope the nearest town from the checkpoint and if public transport is available.

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Visa for Kids

Many travellers are unsure of whether or not they need to apply for a Visa for their children, but as a rule, if the child has a passport, he or she will need a Visa, regardless of the child’s age. But, if your child does not have a passport yet, please do speak with the Visa issuer and ask about your child’s Visa requirements before you travel. Applying for a children’s Visa is about the same as applying for an adult’s one, although you may need to submit a few additional documents.

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Getting a Visa

For people who rarely travel, getting a Visa seems like such a hassle, but please don’t worry, as you do have several options. Let’s discuss the three approaches that you can explore to obtain a Visa:

i. Apply from an embassy

If you are planning to visit Vietnam, you can apply for Visa at the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country. To search for an embassy near you, just use key words like ‘Vietnam Embassy in (your country).’ If you can’t find one, you can post your passport to a neighbouring country. Do check with the embassy before you post, or ask a travel agent if they can arrange a Visa run, which is basically the same thing, only they go to the embassy for you. With an embassy application, sometimes, you’ll be asked to attend an interview. Once the embassy issues the Visa, it will be stuck onto your passport before you leave the country.

ii. Visa on arrival

Some countries offer a ‘Visa on arrival’ (VOA) or ‘on-ground Visa’ option. The VOA counter will be clearly marked at the airport. Basically, your Visa will be stamped on your passport when you enter the country you are visiting. Usually, you will need to pay a stamping fee.

Some countries, like China, for example, require their citizens to show a valid Visa before flying out from country. In these cases, Vietnam can issue a pre-approval letter, approval code or invitation letter, which will verify that you will get a Visa on arrival.

iii. Electronic Visa

Countries like Cambodia and Australia have electronic Visas or e-Visas. Your application is performed online, and once approved, your Visa can be obtained by email or by downloading it from their website. You just need to print it out and attach it to your passport.

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What does a Visa look like?

What does your visa look like?

Let’s talk about the forms that Visas take, shall we? Well, some countries issue Visas in the form of stickers, which is about the size of one page in your passport. All you need to do is stick it into your passport, and you’re all set.

Another type of Visa is one stamped directly onto your passport. It usually has a date which states when you’re entering the country and the Visa’s validity period. When you exit the country, they’ll stamp it again with the date of exit.

Last, but not least, is the self-printed Visa, which is usually in the form of an image or just a number that the immigration can use to check your Visa’s authenticity. This also means that you’ll have to make the number ready for immigration counters to cross check with their systems.

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Tips for Online Visas

Useful Tips You Can Use to Apply Travel Visa Online

Picture this scenario, you see a blank page on your computer, you press ‘next’ and it takes forever to load. What’s up? If this happens to you while you’re in the process of applying for an online Visa, make sure that you’re not uploading an image that’s not too big in size. Resize your picture and try again. If not, try with another computer or a different web browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox.

Another good tip is to have your passport with you while you’re making an application, you’ll definitely need some of the info in there. If you’re applying for friends, make sure you’ve gotten all their details and pictures before you start. This will save you a lot of grief.

Other than credit card payments, many online Visa portals accept Paypal. At the payment page, they will prompt you to log in to your Paypal account using your email address, and then you can make the payment from there. In some countries, you’ve got to go through an extended program in Paypal to verify your credit card.

Always enter your application in ENGLISH (Roman alphabet), not in Chinese or Japanese characters, and make sure you review all your information, especially your passport number and date of birth.

If you have two nationalities, pick one to enter. Use the one where you’re most likely to be approved. If you were born in the country you wish to visit, but are now holding a foreign passport, please check with their embassy. In Cambodia, for example, you need to apply for a special Visa, not a tourist Visa if you were born there. And, in Vietnam, if you were born there, you’re exempted from getting a Visa.

All you want to know about going to Europe

Q: I have never been out of India, so my passport is fresh with no visa. I was wondering if it is hard to get European visa. Has anyone ever been rejected for Schengen visa ? Also which embassy i should i try to get the visa easiest. Italy or France or Spain ? Should i use visa agent ? Also if I have a friend who will host me what should i tell them about my host or still show hotel booking. I asked one of my friends from italy to send me invitation and she says that to send visa invitation they have to open an account on my name with 15000 euros in it.

A: Since you have a fresh passport...you will have an interview with the embassy..now which embassy which depends its not necessary to have a Schengen Visa of the country which is your Entry point .I had an Austrian Schengen Visa but i entered from Amsterdam. I would recommend you to apply in Spain Consulate or Italy. Relatively easy. You should choose which the easiest place to get a visa from is. - German embassy is quite easy and you can apply directly by VFS (i am not sure you really need an agent - they kind of really pile it up).

Show money, show job, show property - reasons for you to come back.

I don’t think that there is a need to show bank account - have never heard of that one and have been invited many times (because no matter how many times you have been to Europe, you still need that).

You need atleast 2 days confirm hotel booking when u arrive or some one sending a letter of intent to sponsor your stay . Most of the time an invitation letter from your host is enough. Basically you have to convince them that you are coming back. Show family back home - tell them you live with them. Girlfriend/ wife… all help.

If you planning for Central Europe then Czech republic and Austrian consulate.

For most Schengen countries, you need to proof that you have 60 euros/ Rs 4,000 per day during your stay.Link

www.new-delhi.diplo.de/Vertretung/newdelhi/en/01/Visa__Requirements/UB__Schengen__Visa.html

Source: (http://www.couchsurfing.org/group_read.html?gid=915&post=9044219#gpid9044219)

Q: How to book hotels cheaply ? (source interesting blog :

http://thedromomaniac.com/alternative-travel/hostels/)

A: Max Schneider says:

Actually, in developed countries I always book ahead online because it is usually cheaper than if you do it in person for the same night at the reception.

A short story: I went to the US and wanted to visit Washington DC but I didn’t know the exact date I was going to be there. I found an IYHA Youth Hostel downtown, saw on their website that it was 16 $ a night in the dorm and wrote down the address.

When I arrived the dorm bed was suddenly going to be 28 $ instead of 16$. WTF?! 16 $ was their online price the receptionist explained, 28 $ the walk in rate. He would not budge.

There were some Internet computers for a dollar a pop just across from the reception in the lobby. So if I went online for a buck couldn’t I just reserve online, copy down the reference number and then get the bed for 16 $ + 1$ for the Internet? Not for tonight, but for tomorrow night, yes. The receptionist even pointed me to some hostelbooking site where exactly the same bed was only 12 $. So that’s what I did. I paid 28 $ for the first night and 12 $ each for the second, third and fourth night at the Internet terminal that was only a few meters from the reception….

The other day I was in a hostel in London (10 pound a night) and because London was so great I decided to stay an extra three days. So I went to the reception and asked if I could stay another three days. Sure, lots of beds available. Great. So I hand over 30 quid and the receptionist informs me that won’t be enough because the rate is 15 pounds a night. I say: “But online it’s a third less” – “Well online, but we are here offline”. Fine.

So I trek over to the computers in the lobby, pay a pound for 15 minutes of the Internet and reserve my bed in exactly the same hostel for – you guessed it – a tenner. Walk over to the reception, pay 30 quid for three nights and thought how ridiculous this was.




The Dromomaniac says:




Isn’t it an insane system? Lately I have been talking to hostel owners and they say that these days very few people are just “walk-ins”; everyone books in advance.

Lucilla says:

My general rule is to book only the first night, especially when I’m flying in late in the night (which is usually the case given I take the cheapest flight available). I don’t bother too much on how close to the pictures the venue might actually be (it never is very similar, anyhow) and usually spend a part of the next day checking out the other cheap hostels I looked up. But then, I often don’t change as I am pretty adaptable (or lucky to stumble upon a good one?).