The free Facebook groups that seasoned travellers are ditching their guidebooks for
SEASONED travellers are ditching their guidebooks for free Facebook groups – here’s why.
David Alwadish, the founder and boss of ItsEasy passport paperwork company, recommends this tip so you can get the best local travel advice.
Mr Alwadish, 67, certainly is an experienced traveller, notching up some 60,000 air miles every year and more likely more if he takes his family on an overseas vacation or two.
While you can get lots of information from guidebooks its best to join Facebook groups about the country your visiting so you can get the low-down on tips, places to go and what to avoid.
He told the Miami Herald: “Browse or join expat Facebook groups in your destination for local travel advice and insights.
“It’s better to use those groups than Google, because you can ask the questions you might have when you land but of someone who’s already done it.
“It’s a preview of what your experience might be: real people, real questions, real timely things. And Facebook is a lot friendlier than, say, Twitter.”
When he had to go to South Korea for work, he studied the expat groups to get the best tips and discovered Seoul’s market district is the best place to go for food.
He also revealed the best way to nab a better seat on a flight.
Counter-intuitively, he said it was best to be the last one to board.
While everyone is rushing to board, he just calmly sits and waits and then boards.
Although you may end up in the middle seat at the back of a plane, if you’re the last to board, you can scan for which other seats are empty as you walk down the aisle and you can grab that one instead.
The advice comes after another experienced traveller explained why fliers shouldn’t put your bags in the locker above your head.
Cabin thefts are more common than people think – and thieves usually go for the bags filled with valuables such as wallets, laptops and cameras, cash and important documents including passports.
Travel expert Jonathan Frankham, General Manager UK at World Nomads Travel Insurance, has shared an extremely useful tip to avoid being robbed.
HEADS UP
Mr Frankham advised flyers not to keep cabin luggage in the locker just above their heads during long flights.
He suggests that doing so prevents flyers from keeping an eye on their luggage, giving thieves a chance to nose into the luggage.
He said: “Store larger bags in overhead lockers to keep them safe.
“If the space is available, it can be useful to place them across the aisle so you can easily see if anyone is foraging through them who shouldn’t be.”
The expert also advised to keep mobiles, wallets, passports and cash in your pockets always in sight – and avoid leaving them unattended in any case.
“The best practice is to use a secure waist pouch or carry them in your pocket.
“Avoid leaving them unattended altogether and always keep them in sight. This not only minimises the risk of theft but also ensures that insurance claims are not negatively impacted due to negligence.”
Another savvy traveller has advised that buying a more expensive ticket could actually end up saving you money.
It comes after a flight booking expert revealed the best ways for passengers to save money when buying flights.
And this travel expert explains why he always picks the worst seat on the plane.
Elsewhere, an expert has shared some useful tips to cure sickness while flying.