Travel Tips from a (sorta) jet-setter

Some tips from my own travel experiences!

(note, I travel primarily [but not exclusively] to African countries so YMMV)

(last updated 20180825)

1. Pack a container or tupperware
1. Often you may need "padkos" and have nowhere to store it
2. A container (like an ice-cream tub) can also be used to do handwashing if your place doesn't have a decent sized hand basin or lacks a bath;
   
   the ice-cream tub can also store more fragile things a lot more reliably than leaving said fragile things loose in the bag;
   
   ice-cream tubs lose their value in their larger volume ... a slim or small multi-compartment container (e.g. lunch or snack box) can be much more versatile for snacks if you go on day trips.
   
2. Toilet paper
1. Particularly in African countries - the last thing you want to discover is that the bathrooms don't have toilet paper - this has happened often enough that I've now learned to pack my own bogroll :)
2. Also useful for flights and such - you never know what's going to happen on the plane! 'Loo rolls are handy for all sorts of situations - wiping up spilled drinks, tooting your nose, wrapping something up with a little padding, and even if you need fire: Crazy Russian + Toilet Roll
   
3. Check-in online whenever you can!
1. Not only does this alleviate last-minute stress about completing check-in but it also gives you the best shot of a decent seat on the plane
2. ALSO if you don't have to go to a check-in counter at the airport you can sometimes get away with a larger than normal carry-on bag (dimensions are usually hard to cheat on but if it fits the dimensions, and hasn't been weighed, you're golden).
   
   Chances are, if you approach a check-in counter for any reason and have a carry-on in tow, they will weigh it. Even 0.5kg over the limit and your bag will need to be checked.

I'll continue to update this if / when more bright ideas surface from my travel escapades ;)

Applying for a US visa on SA passport

Recently I had my UK passport stolen and had to fly out to the USA 2 weeks later. I was in Botswana at the time of the theft so I really had pressure.

I was able to apply online for an appointment at the US Consulate General in Cape Town and initially it said the earliest appointment was 4 November. I needed to get it done way sooner than that. I phoned the US Consulate General later that day and was advised that the booking slots had changed and I could get to them on 31 October. First lesson to learn:

Where NOT to travel

I've been doing some random reading lately, and came across this interesting list of "top ten most dangerous places on earth" and I'm proud to say that South Africa is on the top ten! Not sure how recent this article is, but since it mentions RSA as being the 2010 World Cup host nation it must be fairly recent at least.

What's most interesting for me is that my point about ABSOLUTE crime in USA being worse than RSA has now finally been proven correct, and the rest of those dissenters against my comments can now finally eat their words and offer me an apology I am long overdue :)

http://listverse.com/2008/04/08/top-10-most-dangerous-places-on-earth/