Hope you all made it to the fabulous, mind-blowing Fall Festival in Portugal.
It's time to close down this website, but before we go know that you can see Festival videos of the teachings, reviews and meditations on YouTube and photos on Facebook, including a description and photos of the play.
I also wanted to alert you that the Empowerments of Heruka and Vajrayogini will be given next year in Hong Kong! I'm very much hoping to attend. In addition to the Cantonese dialect of Chinese, they speak English. I've been to Hong Kong a few times and would be happy to provide travel tips if there's interest. It's surprisingly easy to visit and enjoy, starting with the food ...
I'm also planning to set up a version of this website with a few travel tips for Summer Festival, having had the great good fortune to attend many of them. Here's the link to some basic info about Summer Festival 2014. If you enjoyed the Fall Festival, you'd almost certainly enjoy the annual Summer Festival at our Mother Center in the Lake District of England. Here are 2 videos about Festivals at Manjushri KMC:
A Tour of the Summer Festival
International Spring and Summer Festivals 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
International Roaming on T-Mobile
T-Mobile is rolling out a new addition to most of their existing rate plans as of Oct 20 that includes unlimited international roaming texts and data, plus 20c/min for calls. There are 100 countries on the list, and Portugal is one of them. For more information, see T-Mobile's International Roaming
Thanks to Alexis for this.
Lekmo adds that "The T-Mo plan is being rolled out on October 31st. To get it early you just need to call their customer service (dial 611) and ask to have it added to your account early. That’s what Jody and I have done. There is no charge for this service. There are times you might want to turn your wifi OFF because doing this will be cheaper than going through wifi e.g., texting via wifi will cost".
Festival Info for Getting from Lisbon to Cascais
From the "ARRIVING IN PORTUGAL - 2013 Fall Festival News - October 17, Issue #7"
TRANSPORT INFORMATION
TRANSPORT INFORMATION
If you would prefer to make your own way to the Festival site, you can either take a train or a taxi from the airport. [If you are leaving from a hotel in central Lisbon and are close to the Rossio metro station, that is on the green line, so you do not need to change metro lines. See the Lisbon metro map with streets.]
Metro/Train: From the airport take the Metro Red Line to Alameda. At Alameda change and take the Green Line to Cais do Sodre. Change at Cais do Sodre and take the Cascais train line to Cascais (last stop on the line). The Metro from the Airport to Cais do Sodre will take about 35 minutes and will cost €1.40. The Train from Cais do Sodre to Cascais will take about 40 minutes and cost €2.15. Useful links: Metro/Train map, Metro website, and Train website.
Aerobus/Train: From the airport take the Aerobus to Cais do Sodre. At Cais do Sodre take the Cascais train line to Cascais (last stop on the line). The Aerobus from the Airport to Cais do Sodre will take about 30 minutes and will cost €3.50. The Train from Cais do Sodre to Cascais will take about 40 minutes and cost €2.15. Useful links: Aerobus website and Train website.
Taxi: A taxi from the airport to Cascais will cost around €35. It is always wise to ask the taxi driver first approximately how much the fare will be.
Cascais & Sintra Tourist Bus Info
Scottub is the local bus company for Cascais, but they highlight routes for tourists on their website.
Diagram of Cascais route with info; note that the bus runs in a circle.
Cascais interactive map; scroll in then click on a red icon to get more info about the sight and the bus lines that go there
Sintra interactive map
Which local bus goes to which site; note that they have tourist routes for Cascais & Sintra:
Fares and how to buy tickets
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Getting in Touch with Sangha at Festival - Phone List
Tom suggested - and Noreen agreed - that we have a phone list that will be kept at the Festival Bookshop so that others can contact you, if you'd like to supply your local number (hotel, apartment or mobile).
2 Seats on Inbound Festival Shuttle
Sangha members have 2 seats on the Fri, Oct 25, 3pm shuttle from the airport they're giving away to anyone who can use them. First reply gets them both.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Festival Schedule So Far
Did you notice the Festival schedule, which doesn't have specific times yet but does say which day particular teachings and the empowerment will be?
Friday, October 11, 2013
Travel Article about Lisbon
If you're visiting Lisbon, you may be interested in this Seattle Times article from Feb 17 this year:
"Walk through history in Lisbon's alluring neighborhoods"
"Walk through history in Lisbon's alluring neighborhoods"
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Know of Accommodations for Festival?
I am still hearing from students looking for a room. If you have a room or are looking for a roommate, please let me know so that I can try to connect you.
meredw AT Hotmail.com if you don't have my personal email.
The Festival Accommodations page says that places are still available, but that was on Sept 10.
Thank you.
meredw AT Hotmail.com if you don't have my personal email.
The Festival Accommodations page says that places are still available, but that was on Sept 10.
Thank you.
Emergency Contact
If you have a dad like mine, your family would like to know how to get in touch with you in case of an emergency. Usually there is a phone number for the Festival for that purpose, but I got a definitive answer that there will not be because there is no phone at the venue. When you think about a hippodrome (the word for a Greek stadium for horse racing and chariot racing) and see a photo of the one in Cascais, it makes sense: It's basically a big grass infield where the Festival will build some kind of structure, such as a marquee tent, for the teachings, with auxiliary tents for other uses, I'm guessing.
That means if people need to contact you while you're in Portugal, you'll have to give them the number at your accommodations and possibly your mobile # if you have one or get one over there.
That means if people need to contact you while you're in Portugal, you'll have to give them the number at your accommodations and possibly your mobile # if you have one or get one over there.
Rooms Available Before Festival
I know of 2 people who have rooms:
* Lisbon female dorm for Tues & Wed night, Oct 22 & 23
* Cascais apartment with 5 other roommates Oct 22-25
Let me know if you're interested and I will connect you.
If you don't know my personal email, you can reach me at meredw AT Hotmail.com
* Lisbon female dorm for Tues & Wed night, Oct 22 & 23
* Cascais apartment with 5 other roommates Oct 22-25
Let me know if you're interested and I will connect you.
If you don't know my personal email, you can reach me at meredw AT Hotmail.com
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Train from Lisbon to Cascais
For the most recent info, see the post Festival Info for Getting from Lisbon to Cascais
You may have seen this on the Festival Travel Info webpage: "Trains from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré (Metro: Cais do Sodré) run to Cascais along the scenic coastal line via Estoril. Trains leave twice an hour and stop at Estoril, Estoril Monte and Cascais." The Festival team is working to add more information about this.
You may have seen this on the Festival Travel Info webpage: "Trains from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré (Metro: Cais do Sodré) run to Cascais along the scenic coastal line via Estoril. Trains leave twice an hour and stop at Estoril, Estoril Monte and Cascais." The Festival team is working to add more information about this.
Because some information, such as the price of tickets, on the definitive website of the train can be so hard to find, even though in some ways the English version of the site is useful (see For More Information below), I am trusting that this information is correct until we get more information:
The short answer, based on http://wikitravel.org/en/
"Cascais is easily reachable from Lisbon by train (40min), from the Cais do Sodré station. A return ticket costs 2.30€ and can be bought from the automatic ticket machines. Remember to keep the ticket as it will be checked and punched by the conductor in both directions."
The English call a round-trip ticket a "return," so that's cheap (about $3)! That page was last updated in August; it looks like the price has gone up 20 cents.
For More Information
Lisbon-> Cascais Train Schedule - helpfully added to the Festival Travel Info webpage from the Portugal train website; much easier to find! With a helpful diagram of the route with stops.
Portugal Train Website in English - the site is well organized, but when you follow the links, you end up at pages like this:
- Price of tickets, which are only in Portuguese, as far as I can tell.
- For the NetTicket feature on the main page, click Timetable and Prices (I didn't find the Lisboa - Cais do Sodré or Cascais stations in the drop-down list of the default tab), but the results say that it's a 3-hour trip, when everywhere else I've read said it's 40 minutes?? The price for a "poupou" (which even my linguist friend couldn't find a relevant translation of, but in context I take this for at least a regular adult one-way ticket, if not a round-trip) is 2.50 euros.
Rejoicing in the Efforts of Festival Organizers
I’d like to step back from my own preparations for Festival to
appreciate all the effort that is going into the Festival preparations. By
implementing Venerable Geshe-la’s vision, the organizers and their teams are
giving us what I like to think of as a once-in-a-lifetimes
opportunity. I have a strong sense that there will be vast benefits for us, the
people we know, and the world, but also know there are depths to it I won’t really
comprehend until I am farther along the spiritual path.
This Festival grew from the smallest seed: My memory is so
unreliable these days, so please forgive me if this isn’t completely accurate –
maybe someone will email me with a correction or a confirmation – but I think
the first Festival was held in the North Wing gompa at our Mother Center in
England, and that room only fits 50 (?) people. Hey, maybe there’s hope for me:
If the Festival can grow like this over just a few decades, maybe my little Dharma
seeds can grow like that too.
When I first learned about rejoicing, and that it was a
practice you could even do lying down, I thought, “ooh, this is for me!” So
this morning I was lying in bed trying to imagine what it was like to try to
put this event together. Festival planning is always so much work, and this
Fall’s Festival is by far the biggest event the New Kadampa Tradition has ever
put together, by thousands of attendees.
One of the things I love about the NKT is that it’s not run
by a bunch of flakes: There are managers
who have given up lucrative professional jobs to be in service of our Guru and
his vision, and very skillful people who could have much easier lives working
elsewhere. There are volunteers with a wide array of skills, from contractors to
artists to cooks to accountants … who offer their talents generously. Many of
them have been working for a long time, and I’m guessing planning for this very
special event started more than a year ago. I suspect they must be exhausted by
now, and there is still a final push these last few weeks to pull it all
together. Gen-la Dekyong says that energy comes from compassion, so I rejoice
in the enormous compassion they all must have. (They do not have time to lie in
bed rejoicing!)
It’s hard to imagine what it’s going to be like at the Hipódromo
Manuel Possolo in Cascais, even having been to some very large Festivals. Picture turning the Hipodrome, which is usually the site of big summer concerts and horse events ...
into something like this ...
When
there was a big Festival in Berlin 2005, I was stunned by the enormity of the
marquee tent that served as the meditation hall. I still can’t imagine how you
put up something like that.
Think of the planning, much less what was involved in the implementation of
the plan:
· Researching venues that
could hold thousands, then negotiating a contract with them.
· Researching possible
Festival accommodations, and then working out terms with them.
· Building the Festival website to convey all this information clearly.
· Putting together the online
registration system, then keeping track of everyone’s choices, and then their
changes. That is not an easy job.
· Planning shuttles to get
Festival-goers from the airport to their accommodations, and giving us information
about other transportation.
· Figuring out how everyone’s
going to eat, in a country where the diet is mostly meat-based, and even adding
on the lunch options, with photos of the meals!
· Planning the meditation
hall:
o
Planning the seating, with sections
for the disabled, the hard of hearing and translation in, I’m guessing, 40+
languages. Arranging for native speakers who can give simultaneous translation
of the teachings and meditations Figuring out the mechanics of the headphones …
o
Putting together a plan for
the Teacher’s throne and the shrine …
· Arranging security for the
Teachers and attendees …
· Putting together the bookshop. Just wandering around in the shop, you can think of the kindness that went into preparing all the Tharpa items (books, CDs, postcards, etc.); other Dharma items, such as mandala kits and malas; and the array of gift items, including the greeting cards, which allow us to express our gratitude to our Teachers. Shopping as a cause of enlightenment!
·
Lest I forget, there's also all the work that goes into putting on the "cherry on the cake," as Kadam Morten called the play.
· Organizing volunteer efforts to help in all of these
areas during the Festival.
To say nothing of the new Temple in Sintra, which must have
been years in the planning:
· The decision that the
latest Temple would be in Portugal – when there are so many countries that
desperately need a Temple.
Remember to rejoice in your own contributions to the
International Temples Project (ITP) that funded the project. Even registering
for Festival creates enormous merit. Buying a cup of coffee at Festival too. It
all goes to building more holy places like Temples, and schools, and retreat
centers, and who knows what else. We are all part of that.
· Scouts searching for suitable
properties ...
· Geshe-la’s design for the
building and grounds, the architects and other planners who worked with him to implement it, and the builders and craftsmen, artists and landscapers who carried it out ...
· Planning the tours of the
Temple and grounds, arranging for shuttles to get us there and back, as well as
translation …
And of course, the immeasurable kindness of Geshe-la, who is
coming out of retirement at 82 to give us the blessing empowerment of the Buddha of Higher
Wisdom, Prajnaparamita, and commentary to the practice, as well as on The
New Heart of Wisdom book, the new Yoga of Inconceivability sadhana,
and the new Vajrayogini sadhana The Blissful Path. How will we ever
repay him?
Security Issue with Passports and Credit Cards
Wanted to alert you all to a security issue I just learned about. Some passports and credit cards have embedded RFID (radio frequency identification) chips that transmit a signal, as do work badges, packages, etc. Scammers can pick up the signal and steal your identity. I don't have time to research all the issues, but am summarizing the little bit I've heard and providing links to more info if you want to look into it and verify what's here.
There are cheap and easy ways to shield the chip. See the 3 easy steps for protecting your passport with aluminum foil at http://epic.org/privacy/rfid/
Or you can buy shields at places like REI, Amazon or travel-supply shops. Passport shields run about $5; shields for credit cards are cheaper.
For more information, see:
Lots more info on the Web, including on Wikipedia.
There are cheap and easy ways to shield the chip. See the 3 easy steps for protecting your passport with aluminum foil at http://epic.org/privacy/rfid/
Or you can buy shields at places like REI, Amazon or travel-supply shops. Passport shields run about $5; shields for credit cards are cheaper.
For more information, see:
- Researchers See Privacy Pitfalls in No-Swipe Credit Cards - by the NY Times
- RFID-enabled credit card theft - on CNet, which I consider a reliable source; a good article with an awful layout; I copied the text into a Word file that I uploaded to GoogleDrive.
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems - by EPIC, a well regarded organization whose privacy enewsletter I was already subscribing to
- House of cards: Why your accounts are vulnerable to thieves - by Consumer Reports
- A Threat Analysis of RFID Passports by ACM, the Association for Computing Machine, the "world’s largest educational and scientific computing society"; I used to belong, and I trust their information: The long article says in part: "Six pieces of information can be stolen from the RFID chip on a U.S. passport: your name, nationality, gender, date of birth, place of birth, and a digitized photograph.1 Numerous problems of identity theft could arise from someone taking that information, but this article focuses on the financial risk."
- What is RFID? by the RFID Journal, which I've never heard of but has a nice summary about the technology.
Lots more info on the Web, including on Wikipedia.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Learning a Bit of Portuguese
My linguist friend pointed me to this well organized BBC site about learning Portuguese that I thought was even better than the videos I'd seen on YouTube. It includes audio clips as well as video, transcripts and other features.
A Guide to Portuguese - 10 facts about the Portuguese language - 10 facts about the language, key phrases and a description of the alphabet, which explains and has audio for how to pronounce vowels and consonants.
Greetings
Meeting and greeting people
Meeting and greeting people
Introductions
Self, family and friends
Self, family and friends
A Guide to Portuguese - 10 facts about the Portuguese language - 10 facts about the language, key phrases and a description of the alphabet, which explains and has audio for how to pronounce vowels and consonants.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
More Preparations
Documents
- Passport - make sure it is "valid for at least 3 months after the end of your stay," per the Festival's General Info page
- Airplane tickets
- Festival confirmation letter
- Hotel reservations
- Transportation details, maps, guidebooks, etc.
- If you have a pet, arrange for their care.
- Unless you've arranged a house-sitter, stop the mail at the Post Office's online Hold Mail Service.
- Make sure you have contact info for key people (family & friends at home).
- Send contact information to a family member or friend, so that they can get hold of you in case of an emergency. The Festival doesn't yet have a number to contact.
- Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on the house and give them your travel dates.
- Consider setting vacation notice on email if you're not going to be checking it regularly.
- Gather phone numbers for credit cards you're taking with you, so that you can contact your bank in case they're lost or stolen.
- Call your credit card companies to tell them you're traveling overseas. This is standard travel advice you will read in many places, but if you forget it probably won't be an issue, especially if you bring more than one credit card. Your karma may vary ; )
- If you want a vegetarian meal or need a wheelchair, contact your airline.
- Double-check your airplane seats and see if you can get better ones. For a long trip, it's worth doing, even if you have to ask again when you check in.
- Make sure your airline has your frequent-flier #. If you're not a member of their program or an alliance, it's probably worthwhile to sign up for their program because you'll accumulate so many miles on this long trip.
- Label all your bags. I use an initial for my first name for a bit of security.
How to Pronounce "Cascais" + Audio
I asked a linguist friend who's been learning Portuguese how to say the name of the Festival town.
kush (rhymes with rush) kah-eesh
For those who understand this kind of notation, here's the phonetic description:
kɐʃˈkajʃ
To hear it spoken, click here to download the file from Google Sites Cascais.mp3
You should get a window that looks like this:
Click the blue arrow at the bottom right to download.
Note that if you then choose Open rather than Save, it may take a few moments to play.
If you have problems, email me.
kush (rhymes with rush) kah-eesh
For those who understand this kind of notation, here's the phonetic description:
kɐʃˈkajʃ
To hear it spoken, click here to download the file from Google Sites Cascais.mp3
You should get a window that looks like this:
Note that if you then choose Open rather than Save, it may take a few moments to play.
If you have problems, email me.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Google Map of Cascais & Festival Venue
Some people are finding this direct Google Map link very helpful, whereas others can find it for themselves.
The venue is the Hipódromo Manuel Possolo, Cascais. As you may know, you can learn how far away your accommodations are and the estimated walking time by clicking Get Directions, entering your address, then clicking the icon of the person walking. Note, however, that the farther inland you go, the steeper it gets, and I don't think Google has taken topography into account. That's a way of saying allow extra time.
It's too bad that clicking the icon for public transportation, which normally would give you extra data about public-transit options and even schedules, doesn't work. Helpfully Google has message saying it "appears to be outside our current coverage area."
I must say that the Google map of Cascais has gotten more accurate since spring, when I found it completely inaccurate.
The venue is the Hipódromo Manuel Possolo, Cascais. As you may know, you can learn how far away your accommodations are and the estimated walking time by clicking Get Directions, entering your address, then clicking the icon of the person walking. Note, however, that the farther inland you go, the steeper it gets, and I don't think Google has taken topography into account. That's a way of saying allow extra time.
It's too bad that clicking the icon for public transportation, which normally would give you extra data about public-transit options and even schedules, doesn't work. Helpfully Google has message saying it "appears to be outside our current coverage area."
I must say that the Google map of Cascais has gotten more accurate since spring, when I found it completely inaccurate.
More on Phones
But not from a moron this time - sorry, a dumb play on the first words of the title of this post, for those of you not used to my sense of humor - but from Tom, who I used to envy for having a working mobile at Summer Festival, just like the Brits and other civilized people. (Aren't Americans supposed to be the tech-y ones?) He was one of the first people I know to demonstrate the benefits of the iPhone in a way that I valued. His email is quoted here, with some interjections in brackets from me:
"Having a phone is only really necessary if you have people to call - if you are traveling or your other friends have arranged to have phones. If your friends do have phones, then having one yourself is quite useful.
[In case of emergency, it makes a huge difference to have a phone. Not that anything ever goes wrong in samsara, of course ; )
Other possible people to call might include family members coming to Portugal who aren't attending the teachings, so that you can coordinate your activities. However, note that for calling from Portugal to the U.S., it's far cheaper and easier to get a phone card. I can't be responsible for your mobile bill if you're calling to the U.S. on your usual phone or if you're using your smartphone to check the Internet while you're there: I just read of a traveler who ran up a $4,000 bill! I'm bringing an IDT/Costco phone card, which only charges 4 cents a minute for calls from Portugal to the U.S. Jody has used that card for many years to call home from Summer Festival and highly recommends it. After you buy it, before you leave the U.S. you need to call the toll-free customer service on the back of the card. I already had the card, but called their excellent service to get the number in Portugal (800 813 000 but double-check) to "top up" (add minutes) and confirm the rate. If you're not a Costco member, there are lots of places you can get a cheap phone card before your trip. After all, immigrants use them all the time for calling their home country.
Speaking of friends, I've started thinking about how I'm going to find Sangha friends who I only get to see at Festival - and there are going to be 8,000+ people there! Can't really imagine what that's going to be like. In that case, too, it helps to have a working phone. There are other low-tech ways we can find our friends at Festival, of course. I'm expecting there will be some kind of message board, as usual. It helps to know where they're staying. Or for people you really want to see, you can contact them before you leave and arrange to meet: "After the empowerment in the bookstore," for example. Or ask the Buddhas to have your friend appear before you. It works, as many longtime Festival-goers will testify! Who needs technology?
If you're leaning toward buying a cheap mobile that works in Portugal (and pretty much the rest of the world except the U.S.), there are a few more advantages I can think of:
OK. Long digression Back to Tom ...]
The simplest option is to have your traveling companion get a phone, then stick close to them.
"Having a phone is only really necessary if you have people to call - if you are traveling or your other friends have arranged to have phones. If your friends do have phones, then having one yourself is quite useful.
[In case of emergency, it makes a huge difference to have a phone. Not that anything ever goes wrong in samsara, of course ; )
Other possible people to call might include family members coming to Portugal who aren't attending the teachings, so that you can coordinate your activities. However, note that for calling from Portugal to the U.S., it's far cheaper and easier to get a phone card. I can't be responsible for your mobile bill if you're calling to the U.S. on your usual phone or if you're using your smartphone to check the Internet while you're there: I just read of a traveler who ran up a $4,000 bill! I'm bringing an IDT/Costco phone card, which only charges 4 cents a minute for calls from Portugal to the U.S. Jody has used that card for many years to call home from Summer Festival and highly recommends it. After you buy it, before you leave the U.S. you need to call the toll-free customer service on the back of the card. I already had the card, but called their excellent service to get the number in Portugal (800 813 000 but double-check) to "top up" (add minutes) and confirm the rate. If you're not a Costco member, there are lots of places you can get a cheap phone card before your trip. After all, immigrants use them all the time for calling their home country.
Speaking of friends, I've started thinking about how I'm going to find Sangha friends who I only get to see at Festival - and there are going to be 8,000+ people there! Can't really imagine what that's going to be like. In that case, too, it helps to have a working phone. There are other low-tech ways we can find our friends at Festival, of course. I'm expecting there will be some kind of message board, as usual. It helps to know where they're staying. Or for people you really want to see, you can contact them before you leave and arrange to meet: "After the empowerment in the bookstore," for example. Or ask the Buddhas to have your friend appear before you. It works, as many longtime Festival-goers will testify! Who needs technology?
If you're leaning toward buying a cheap mobile that works in Portugal (and pretty much the rest of the world except the U.S.), there are a few more advantages I can think of:
- It's so much easier to call a taxi or even a local restaurant or museum, etc.
- If you're not a big traveler - or you want to help finance future trips - you can resell it when you get back, and probably make some money on it, judging by what I've seen when I investigated getting an international phone here. Check out eBay, for instance.
- If are a traveler or you're planning to go to Summer Festival and/or other international Festivals, it will come in handy. We bought a very basic international mobile when we were abroad, and now we can simply buy a SIM card for whatever country we're traveling in.
OK. Long digression Back to Tom ...]
The simplest option is to have your traveling companion get a phone, then stick close to them.
The simplest solution may be to get an international plan from your current provider. These are expensive. ATT's was about $70 for the minimum use of voice and text. But it is not that much more expensive than unlocking your phone or buying another phone and it is much simpler. If you want simplicity and don't anticipate that much use, this may be the best option.
[I don't think this is an option for most of us, but check with your carrier/phone company. One reason I consulted Tom is that his experience has been so different from mine, partly because as a computer programmer he's much better at technology than I am, but also because it's very different if you're with ATT vs. others. I haven't been able to find a reasonable way to use my Verizon smartphone abroad, and I have looked into it.] The next option is to use your own phone. There are two requirements for this: it must be unlocked and it must be compatible with the cell network in Portugal. If you bought your phone with a contract, it is probably locked to that carrier. Different carriers have different policies about unlocking phones. I think Verizon is fairly liberal and your phone may already be unlocked or can be unlocked with a call to customer support. [There are U.S. laws that prevent unlocking phones, but there are efforts to overturn them. For more information, you can start with this CNet article.]
ATT does not unlock phones until they are out of contract. However, with some effort I was able to discover that I could end my contract by paying an early termination fee and that the termination fee would apply to my next payments. I didn't know about it being applied to your next payments. In my case, 1 year into contract, the fee was $215. This will apply to my next 2.5 monthly payments. In effect, you are just making an early payment. As long as I stay with ATT until that payment has been fully applied to monthly bills it costs me no extra money. My service with ATT continues at the same rate but my phone is now "out of contract" and they unlocked it for me.
I don't know about policies of other carriers but give them a call.
As for compatibility, that it a little more complex. I believe that most of Europe uses "GSM." [Don't even ask why doesn't the U.S. doesn't simply adopt the otherwise universal standard of the rest of the world? Hmm ... think metric?] ATT uses "GSM." My iPhone has worked in England. I expect it to work in Portugal. Verizon's network uses a different technology and Verizon phone's may or may not be compatible. You can find out by researching what frequencies your phone supports and what frequencies are used in Portugal. [A few years ago when I was shopping for a new phone, you needed buy an expensive "dual-band" or even "tri-band"phone to get those frequencies.]
I don't plan to do the research. I'm just going to hope it works and move to alternate plans as needed: "B" (buy a phone there), "C" (stick close to a friend with a phone), or "D" (hang out with whoever happens to appear). It will be what it is.
Buying a phone there is potentially very simple or very complicated. If you search on the net you will find companies who will sell you European SIM cards and phones. If you buy and use one of those, it is pretty simple. If you think: "but are they giving me a good price? Maybe I can find a better price. Maybe I want an unlocked smart phone" and then look on eBay for options, that quickly gets very complicated. [That was definitely my experience.] You may then think: "I'll just wait until I land in Lisbon. Surely there will be phones for sale there and they should all work in Portugal. Guaranteed." There probably will be and probably for a good price. This could be very simple. Unless it is complicated or impossible. It will certainly be one of those: simple, complicated, or impossible. If you then think: "I don't like leaving that up to chance, urm, my karma." Then you could buy a phone off the internet and be content with the price you paid, which is probably pretty good. [Not that I could find, and I did a pretty thorough search.] But you should compare that to just adding international service to your own plan…" [When I contacted Verizon a few years ago, it was prohibitively expensive.]"
OK we're done talking now. You can hang up. : )
What I Like to Pack
In case you're interested, here are a few items I like to bring that mostly aren't on the usual packing lists. What finally ends up in my bag depends on how much room there is, but I'm hoping reading this may stimulate your own ideas for what might make your trip a bit more comfortable. Just don't drive yourself crazy with details!
IMPORTANT
Electrical converters! You already know about them if you followed the link to Rick Steves' packing list in an earlier post called Packing Thoughts & Lists, where he has a link to a nice explanation at Electric Europe: Adapters and Converters. Wise and experienced traveler LindaL helpfully reminded me to emphasize this: "For those who are bringing cell phones and other electronic gadgets, they will need to figure out a proper electrical plug adapter and maybe a converter. Our standard US plugs won't fit. I wouldn't count on the hotel, because everyone might be requesting to recharge cellphones. At a minimum you need to have a compatible electrical plug adapter."
Think through your everything you're bringing that uses electricity. Are you bringing an iPad? an eBook reader? (By the way, I got Kindle as a gift and find it great for travel. Did you see that Tharpa has ebooks for The New Heart of Wisdom and The New Guide to Dakini Land, as well as Eight Steps and Modern Buddhism and some sadhanas? It's nice that most of the books are also available as audio MP3s, for listening to on the plane with an iPod, for example. The Kindle only comes with a USB recharger, and I'm not planning to bring anything with a USB port, so I went looking for a wall charger. Amazon had various ones for around $20, but for $5 more, you can get a wall charger that comes with 6 adapters for international travel, as well as a long cable.)
It might not just be recharging your cell phone. (By the way, is your phone even going to work over there? Click the Phone label in the right column of this website to get more info; warning: potentially complicated!).
Linda and I both thought this page had some useful details: Electrical Plug/Outlet and Voltage Information for Portugal. See also the post Electricity in Portugal
Safety travel pouch - for keeping your passport, a credit card, and other essential items close to your body, away from thieves. They come in different forms, such as money-belts and over-the-neck pouches. You can see some of the styles at the Rick Steves Travel Store, all of which are reduced in price through the end of the day. For more information, see the excellent Rick Steves' article Travel with a Money Belt: Your Portable Safe.
FOOD/DRINK
Travel Food - I like healthy energy bars (especially Lara Bars, which taste good and have a short, simple list of ingredients) and nuts or trail mix. Trader Joe's seems to have the best prices on both. For the first leg of the trip, you can bring food like carrot sticks, peanut butter sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs (stored in a egg container, such as the cardboard container they're sold in the store pared down to fit the number of eggs you're bringing), along with salt & pepper packets. The bars and nuts are good for later in the trip. I like knowing that if there are delays and I'm stuck somewhere, I won't go hungry and won't have to overpay.
Go Greens - a health-conscious Sangha friend uses these all the time. A powder made of organic fruit and vegetables that comes in small, light packets that are easy to add to a bottle of water and are reasonably priced. I got mine at Vitacost, and I know they sell various kinds on Amazon, but saw online that they also sell them at Costco. Note that there are other products named "GreensToGo" that are much more expensive, which seem to be sold by possibly dubious alternative healers.
Emergen-C - the supplement mix that has vitamins C and B, electrolytes,
nutrients, and antioxidants, for preventing colds and infections. It comes in travel-friendly light packets, but check the ingredients for the somewhat healthier flavors with less sugar. The Lite version, which the Vitacost website which helpfully lists the ingredients of the supplements they sell, says it has 1g of sugar (vs 6g in some of the other flavors), but I'm the not sure if that's sweetened with one of those more dubious chemicals such as Aspartame. It's cheaper at SuperSupplements and Trader Joe's.
Teabags - I love tea and always carry around a few of my favorites in my bag. When I travel I bring various flavors, including some chamomile in case I need a mild sleep aid. Traveling tends to constipate some people; I recommend a senna-based tea such as Smooth Move, a mild but effective laxative. Some places don't offer green tea, and some have really bad black tea.
Coffee drinkers may want to get some of those instant Starbucks Via packets, which I've heard are pretty good for instant and sometimes appear at Costco.
Water Bottle - I don't like water in plastic bottles, because they're not environmentally friendly, the water is not good quality (although it presents itself as healthier than drinking from a tap) and I have reason to believe the plastic leaches possibly toxic substances, particularly if the bottles have been in the sun. They are convenient, however, and I do buy them occasionally, particularly for Go Greens or Emergen-C so that I don't have to clean out my bottle.
Travel Mug - optional if there's room, but I've found I'm happy to have it. I often put my teabags inside, to save room and keep things organized.
By the way, if you want to save money on meals, even if you don't have access to a kitchen, there are some tips on things to pack that will allow you to prepare simple meals at Self-cater Meals in a Hotel Room: What to Pack
OTHER
NoJetLag - see the post Jet Lag Remedies for more information.
Thumb drive - for a few essential computer files. I'm going to try to learn how to encrypt the info. Apparently Windows comes with an encryption program, and I know there are others on the Web. Do I need to warn you about installing software from the web on your computer? Find a trusted site, possibly CNet?
Travel Pillow - finally decided to get one when I saw my acupuncturist with hers at Summer Festival. Certainly nice to have on the plane. For me it's a very optional item, only if there's room.
Headlamp - useful for safe, hands-free walking at night and for reading in bed.
Compass - a quirky item, I admit, but there have been so many times I've wished I had one. I don't have a good sense of direction. I'll have a good map but not know what direction I'm facing.
Map - because I like them, especially paper ones. If you've gotten used to relying on your smartphone, you'll want to think through how that's going to work in Portugal.
Speaking of maps, I've found some interesting or useful ones online.
For example, there's a post Good Cascais Map Showing Attractions, Hotels, Grocery Stores
Other Travel Info - for example, because I'm a vegetarian and a lot of countries have largely meat-based diets (ever been to Scotland?), I research vegetarian restaurants for the cities I'm going at websites like Lucky Cow and Lonely Planet, then and pack a printout. For more info, see the Vegetarian Restaurants & Portuguese Desserts post.
IMPORTANT
Electrical converters! You already know about them if you followed the link to Rick Steves' packing list in an earlier post called Packing Thoughts & Lists, where he has a link to a nice explanation at Electric Europe: Adapters and Converters. Wise and experienced traveler LindaL helpfully reminded me to emphasize this: "For those who are bringing cell phones and other electronic gadgets, they will need to figure out a proper electrical plug adapter and maybe a converter. Our standard US plugs won't fit. I wouldn't count on the hotel, because everyone might be requesting to recharge cellphones. At a minimum you need to have a compatible electrical plug adapter."
Think through your everything you're bringing that uses electricity. Are you bringing an iPad? an eBook reader? (By the way, I got Kindle as a gift and find it great for travel. Did you see that Tharpa has ebooks for The New Heart of Wisdom and The New Guide to Dakini Land, as well as Eight Steps and Modern Buddhism and some sadhanas? It's nice that most of the books are also available as audio MP3s, for listening to on the plane with an iPod, for example. The Kindle only comes with a USB recharger, and I'm not planning to bring anything with a USB port, so I went looking for a wall charger. Amazon had various ones for around $20, but for $5 more, you can get a wall charger that comes with 6 adapters for international travel, as well as a long cable.)
It might not just be recharging your cell phone. (By the way, is your phone even going to work over there? Click the Phone label in the right column of this website to get more info; warning: potentially complicated!).
Linda and I both thought this page had some useful details: Electrical Plug/Outlet and Voltage Information for Portugal. See also the post Electricity in Portugal
Safety travel pouch - for keeping your passport, a credit card, and other essential items close to your body, away from thieves. They come in different forms, such as money-belts and over-the-neck pouches. You can see some of the styles at the Rick Steves Travel Store, all of which are reduced in price through the end of the day. For more information, see the excellent Rick Steves' article Travel with a Money Belt: Your Portable Safe.
FOOD/DRINK
Travel Food - I like healthy energy bars (especially Lara Bars, which taste good and have a short, simple list of ingredients) and nuts or trail mix. Trader Joe's seems to have the best prices on both. For the first leg of the trip, you can bring food like carrot sticks, peanut butter sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs (stored in a egg container, such as the cardboard container they're sold in the store pared down to fit the number of eggs you're bringing), along with salt & pepper packets. The bars and nuts are good for later in the trip. I like knowing that if there are delays and I'm stuck somewhere, I won't go hungry and won't have to overpay.
Go Greens - a health-conscious Sangha friend uses these all the time. A powder made of organic fruit and vegetables that comes in small, light packets that are easy to add to a bottle of water and are reasonably priced. I got mine at Vitacost, and I know they sell various kinds on Amazon, but saw online that they also sell them at Costco. Note that there are other products named "GreensToGo" that are much more expensive, which seem to be sold by possibly dubious alternative healers.
Emergen-C - the supplement mix that has vitamins C and B, electrolytes,
nutrients, and antioxidants, for preventing colds and infections. It comes in travel-friendly light packets, but check the ingredients for the somewhat healthier flavors with less sugar. The Lite version, which the Vitacost website which helpfully lists the ingredients of the supplements they sell, says it has 1g of sugar (vs 6g in some of the other flavors), but I'm the not sure if that's sweetened with one of those more dubious chemicals such as Aspartame. It's cheaper at SuperSupplements and Trader Joe's.
Teabags - I love tea and always carry around a few of my favorites in my bag. When I travel I bring various flavors, including some chamomile in case I need a mild sleep aid. Traveling tends to constipate some people; I recommend a senna-based tea such as Smooth Move, a mild but effective laxative. Some places don't offer green tea, and some have really bad black tea.
Coffee drinkers may want to get some of those instant Starbucks Via packets, which I've heard are pretty good for instant and sometimes appear at Costco.
Water Bottle - I don't like water in plastic bottles, because they're not environmentally friendly, the water is not good quality (although it presents itself as healthier than drinking from a tap) and I have reason to believe the plastic leaches possibly toxic substances, particularly if the bottles have been in the sun. They are convenient, however, and I do buy them occasionally, particularly for Go Greens or Emergen-C so that I don't have to clean out my bottle.
Travel Mug - optional if there's room, but I've found I'm happy to have it. I often put my teabags inside, to save room and keep things organized.
By the way, if you want to save money on meals, even if you don't have access to a kitchen, there are some tips on things to pack that will allow you to prepare simple meals at Self-cater Meals in a Hotel Room: What to Pack
OTHER
NoJetLag - see the post Jet Lag Remedies for more information.
Thumb drive - for a few essential computer files. I'm going to try to learn how to encrypt the info. Apparently Windows comes with an encryption program, and I know there are others on the Web. Do I need to warn you about installing software from the web on your computer? Find a trusted site, possibly CNet?
Travel Pillow - finally decided to get one when I saw my acupuncturist with hers at Summer Festival. Certainly nice to have on the plane. For me it's a very optional item, only if there's room.
Headlamp - useful for safe, hands-free walking at night and for reading in bed.
Compass - a quirky item, I admit, but there have been so many times I've wished I had one. I don't have a good sense of direction. I'll have a good map but not know what direction I'm facing.
Map - because I like them, especially paper ones. If you've gotten used to relying on your smartphone, you'll want to think through how that's going to work in Portugal.
Speaking of maps, I've found some interesting or useful ones online.
For example, there's a post Good Cascais Map Showing Attractions, Hotels, Grocery Stores
Other Travel Info - for example, because I'm a vegetarian and a lot of countries have largely meat-based diets (ever been to Scotland?), I research vegetarian restaurants for the cities I'm going at websites like Lucky Cow and Lonely Planet, then and pack a printout. For more info, see the Vegetarian Restaurants & Portuguese Desserts post.
Good Cascais Map Showing Attractions, Hotels, Grocery Stores
Thanks to a Sangha member for suggesting this tip.
You can see where grocery stores - as well as attractions, hotels, etc. - are on MapQuest, which seems to work much better for this than Google Maps.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get a direct link to work, but if you go to MapQuest, enter "Cascais, Portugal" in the Search box at top left, then click the Get Map button, you'll get a map of the Festival town. Click the grocery shopping cart icon above the map, then click Grocery Stores. You can then zoom in.
There are 2 grocery stores near train station, with the big Jumbo just inland from train station. You can even look online to see what Jumbo stocks.
The big shopping center, Mercearia Central De Cascais, which has the Pingo Doce Supermarket, is also nearby.
You can see where grocery stores - as well as attractions, hotels, etc. - are on MapQuest, which seems to work much better for this than Google Maps.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get a direct link to work, but if you go to MapQuest, enter "Cascais, Portugal" in the Search box at top left, then click the Get Map button, you'll get a map of the Festival town. Click the grocery shopping cart icon above the map, then click Grocery Stores. You can then zoom in.
There are 2 grocery stores near train station, with the big Jumbo just inland from train station. You can even look online to see what Jumbo stocks.
The big shopping center, Mercearia Central De Cascais, which has the Pingo Doce Supermarket, is also nearby.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Lisbon Hotels
If you are sightseeing in Lisbon before or after Festival, or you want a hotel near the airport because you have an early flight out, when the Festival shuttles aren't running, here are some places Sangha have booked:
Central Lisbon
Airport
If you have an early-morning flight, another option is to book an airport shuttle from your accommodations in Cascais; for more information, see the post Transportation from Lisbon to Cascais.
By the way, there is more transportation info here.
For example, if you are staying in Lisbon but traveling to or from the airport at a reasonable hour, take the Aerobus.
Note for those who are getting these posts via email: I am hoping that others who book Lisbon hotels will send me info about where they're staying, so that I can add them to this site. Which means you will have to check here for updates. (Unlike a regular website, with a blog I'd normally make a new post for new info and give it the same label, but that seems unwieldy for this scenario.)
If you don't have my personal email, you can reach me at meredw AT Hotmail.
Central Lisbon
- Grande Pensao Residencial Alcobia
- Independente, which is both a hostel and a hotel
Airport
- Holiday Inn Express - doesn't have a shuttle, but is 1 mile so taxi affordable. Note that taxi scams are common, especially for the airport, and that one of the ways to prevent being overcharged is to know the direct route, so here's a map showing the trip from this hotel to the airport. For more about taxi scams, see the post Transportation from Lisbon to Cascais.
If you have an early-morning flight, another option is to book an airport shuttle from your accommodations in Cascais; for more information, see the post Transportation from Lisbon to Cascais.
By the way, there is more transportation info here.
For example, if you are staying in Lisbon but traveling to or from the airport at a reasonable hour, take the Aerobus.
Note for those who are getting these posts via email: I am hoping that others who book Lisbon hotels will send me info about where they're staying, so that I can add them to this site. Which means you will have to check here for updates. (Unlike a regular website, with a blog I'd normally make a new post for new info and give it the same label, but that seems unwieldy for this scenario.)
If you don't have my personal email, you can reach me at meredw AT Hotmail.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Know Anyone Needing a Room at Festival?
I know of a couple of openings. Contact me.
If you don't have my personal email, you can reach me at meredw AT Hotmail.
Likewise if you have a room and are looking for a roommate. I will try to facilitate the connection.
If you don't have my personal email, you can reach me at meredw AT Hotmail.
Likewise if you have a room and are looking for a roommate. I will try to facilitate the connection.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Transportation from Lisbon to Cascais
Note: Except for what I added here at the bottom about the bus and taxi from the airport to Cascais, if you signed up for the KMC Washington Portugal Festival enews group, you've already gotten this info in email.
A very kind Sangha told me about an affordable shuttle she found, which can pick you up at your door and take you at any hour to Lisbon Airport. You don't even need to prepay, although you can.
A very kind Sangha told me about an affordable shuttle she found, which can pick you up at your door and take you at any hour to Lisbon Airport. You don't even need to prepay, although you can.
According to her, it "is 56 euros for 1-4 people. You can prepay in USD using PayPal or give cash to the driver. It's 72 euros for 5-9 people."
This option probably works better for everyone who has an early flight or accommodations that aren't booked through the Festival. (Another option would be to book a hotel in Lisbon the night before your flight, especially if they have an airport shuttle that runs in the early hours, although you could take a taxi. Warning: I've read of many taxi scams from Lisbon Airport, so you have to be careful. See, for example, How to Catch a Cab from the Airport without Being Ripped Off. The Lisbon Metro (subway) doesn't run between 1am and 6:30am, according to their website,
The bus is more complicated. On the official website of the main bus company in Lisbon, STCP, it says they have "services that run all night." You'd want to investigate further before planning on the bus.)
If you're arriving early in Lisbon, before the scheduled Festival shuttles are running, and they don't add a shuttle time that works for you (which you can request from your booking cart), it sounds like the train from Lisbon to Cascais is the best option: affordable and scenic. When you go to that train link, you'll see in the diagram of the route, at the right it says Cais do Sodré, which is Lisbon. According to Wikipedia, "Cais do Sodré is the railway station in Lisbon, Portugal, serving westbound suburban route to Cascais resort. It is adjacent to the Lisbon Metro station of the same name which is the terminus for subway's Green Line (Linha da Caravela). ... The complex is situated at Duque da Terceira square in central Lisbon on the bank of the Tagus [river]." For the Green Line, see this useful Lisbon Metro map.
Some travelers online have said that taking a taxi from Lisbon to Cascais is reasonably priced. Again, you'd want to be careful about being overcharged.
There's also a bus between Lisbon and Cascais. I started looking into the bus, but it's complicated! Lots of bus routes, websites only in Portuguese, various companies that go to different places ...
There's also a local bus in Cascais, run by Scotturb, that goes to places like Sintra, and it's not simple either. No wonder there isn't more info yet on the Festival Transportation page!
Visiting Lisbon? Aerobus between Airport and City Center
If you're planning to visit Lisbon before or after Festival, I've read in various places that the Aerobus is the best option for transportation between the city and the airport. As it says on their user-friendly website:
The local Carris bus company runs a bus transport service connecting Lisbon's airport to the city centre passing by the main transport hubs such as Comercio Square and Cais de Sodré.
This service is called AeroBus and passes by dozens of Lisbon hotels, thus providing tourists arriving at the airport with easy access to their accommodation.
An alternative to the bus is the metro.
TIMETABLE
07:00h to 23:00h (departures from Airport)
07:45h to 22:30h (departures from Cais do Sodré [the Lisbon train station])
FREQUENCY
Every 20 minutes (every 30 mins after 9pm)
PRICE: €3.50
The local Carris bus company runs a bus transport service connecting Lisbon's airport to the city centre passing by the main transport hubs such as Comercio Square and Cais de Sodré.
This service is called AeroBus and passes by dozens of Lisbon hotels, thus providing tourists arriving at the airport with easy access to their accommodation.
An alternative to the bus is the metro.
TIMETABLE
07:00h to 23:00h (departures from Airport)
07:45h to 22:30h (departures from Cais do Sodré [the Lisbon train station])
FREQUENCY
Every 20 minutes (every 30 mins after 9pm)
PRICE: €3.50
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Save Money: Easy ATM Card without Fees
Most of us are on budgets, so I wanted to recommend getting a Charles Schwab ATM card that doesn't charge fees, even abroad, which is rare. Even credit unions charge flat fees and/or percentages, as does the bank hosting the ATM where you're withdrawing money.
In my experience, the best way to get foreign currency is at ATMs in the country you're visiting, so you can save a lot of money if you're not paying extra fees.
The only place I know of that offers this is Charles Schwab. I just signed up for an account, and the process was easy. In fact, I was very impressed with their support. (I had a more complex situation, so I used their chat, and they had someone phone me a few minutes later, on Sat afternoon!) For most people, you can easily fill out an application online.
The minimum deposit is $1, and there don't seem to be other fees associated with the account.
They told me I would get my ATM card in 1-1/2 or 2 weeks, so there's still time to do this.
If you just want a checking account, you can read about it and sign up at http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/banking_lending/checking_account
If you want a linked brokerage account as well, which has $0 minimum balance, or might want it in the future, go to
http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/investing/accounts_products/accounts
(Schwab told me that it's impossible to add the brokerage account to an existing checking account later.)
If there's a Schwab office in your area and you prefer doing it in person, you can go to their office and someone will walk you through the application process; take your checkbook with you.
Note: I have no stake in whether you go to Schwab or not, and of course you should review the details carefully because finance is not my area and you need to see if it will work for your particular situation.
In my experience, the best way to get foreign currency is at ATMs in the country you're visiting, so you can save a lot of money if you're not paying extra fees.
The only place I know of that offers this is Charles Schwab. I just signed up for an account, and the process was easy. In fact, I was very impressed with their support. (I had a more complex situation, so I used their chat, and they had someone phone me a few minutes later, on Sat afternoon!) For most people, you can easily fill out an application online.
The minimum deposit is $1, and there don't seem to be other fees associated with the account.
They told me I would get my ATM card in 1-1/2 or 2 weeks, so there's still time to do this.
If you just want a checking account, you can read about it and sign up at http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/banking_lending/checking_account
If you want a linked brokerage account as well, which has $0 minimum balance, or might want it in the future, go to
http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/investing/accounts_products/accounts
(Schwab told me that it's impossible to add the brokerage account to an existing checking account later.)
If there's a Schwab office in your area and you prefer doing it in person, you can go to their office and someone will walk you through the application process; take your checkbook with you.
Note: I have no stake in whether you go to Schwab or not, and of course you should review the details carefully because finance is not my area and you need to see if it will work for your particular situation.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Jetlag Remedies
NoJetLag
There's a natural remedy called NoJetLag that was recommended by Mel, who used to do a lot of long-distance international travel (Seattle to Australia, for ex), and I've found it really works.
There's a natural remedy called NoJetLag that was recommended by Mel, who used to do a lot of long-distance international travel (Seattle to Australia, for ex), and I've found it really works.
For example, it used to be that when I went to Summer Festival in England, I would be falling asleep at the introductory teaching Friday night, constantly jerking my head up to try to stay awake. With
NoJetLag I had no trouble with sleepiness and felt good overall, not "laggy."
You can check out the ingredients - they seem healthy and natural. Scroll down on their Ingredients page to see nice drawings and descriptions of what it contains (arnica, chamomile, etc.):
For some reason, I've never found it in a drugstore, but they sell it at AAA and REI.
You can see here where they sell it in your area: http://www.nojetlag.com/
It's about $12 for a pack that should cover a few trips.
Salt & Soda Bath
Another Sangha friend recommended taking a bath in salt and baking soda to detox from the airplane crud as an aid to getting over jet lag when you arrive at your destination. Some websites say you should use a cupful of Epsom salts and baking soda in a tub of warm water.
Other Tips
Other basic advice is to drink lots of water; don't drink coffee or alcohol. Some people recommend melatonin or a sleeping pill but others disrecommend them.
For more information about jet lag, see this National Sleep Foundation page.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Summary of Money Advice
Start by reading Rick Steves' advice, Cash and Currency Tips, then click to read his pages with more information about cash vs. plastic, ATMs and credit-card fees.
I was told there's still time, although it's getting tight, if you want to get an ATM card and/or a credit card that doesn't charge transaction fees abroad.
For more tips, click the Money link in the LABELS list in the right column of this blog page.
I was told there's still time, although it's getting tight, if you want to get an ATM card and/or a credit card that doesn't charge transaction fees abroad.
For more tips, click the Money link in the LABELS list in the right column of this blog page.
Packing Thoughts & Lists
I'm a bit of a Girl Scout (motto: Be Prepared!), but I've found that when it comes to travel, it's been helpful over the years to start thinking ahead about what to bring, and the Festival is only a month away.
On the other hand, when a bunch of us were headed off for Summer Festival, my first Dharma Teacher laughingly said that we think a lot more about what we bring on a trip in this world than we do about what we're taking with us to our next life. I've always loved the teaching about being travelers in this life, just passing through - no need to get so wound up about everything.
I also find the baggage metaphor helpful. When you have a big ego, it's like carrying around a bunch of bulky shopping bags, struggling to carry and keep track of them, and always bumping into things and people. In fact, I used to have a recurring dream about traveling where somewhere along the way, overwhelmed and exhausted, I had to stop and deal with all the luggage I'd accumulated. At first I'd spend some time working on how to bungee it all together. Then I'd find myself thinking, "How did I end up with so much stuff?" and realize I needed to pare it down, letting go of the things that were bogging me down and even unnecessary. Hmm ... I wonder what those dreams mean? : )
There's certainly a middle way, and people have different approaches that work for them.
I use a list. I have a standard packing list as a Word document that I use as a starting point and modify for each big trip. Knowing I have a good list, I feel confident about packing at the last minute if I need to. One part of the list is what to pack, with a section of what to wear and carry on, and another on what to put in my main bag, knowing that it might be checked or deciding ahead of time that I will check it. (By the way, even though almost all airlines charge for checking a bag for domestic travel - unless you're a frequent flier or have the airline's credit card, which may allow you to check the first bag free, as United does - on international flights usually you can usually check one bag without paying. Do check with your airline.)
Within that list of carryon's is a subset of essentials, such as passport, money (cash, credit card, ATM card) and tickets - and *medication.* As long as I have those, I know I can buy whatever else I need when I get there. (My husband and I have a ritual when we're leaving the house on a trip where we ask each other: Money? Tickets? Passport?)
I also have a folder that I carry on that has all my travel info: Flight, hotel, car rental, etc. Now a lot of that can be stored on a device like a smartphone or a iPad if you're savvy that way. If you're traveling abroad, however, make sure you'll have access to them.
There's also a subsection for Dharma items. Don't forget your mandala kit! Of course, I bring my mala so that I can recite mantras, especially on takeoff and landing. You'll be able to buy Dharma items at the Festival shop, but if you already own the books, sadhanas and office supplies (notebook, pens, pencils, etc.) you need, you can pack them. In the past the Festival registration email would include suggested sadhanas. At Portugal the empowerment is Prajnaparamita, so I'm bringing The Yoga of Great Mother Prajnaparamita (not The Great Mother, which is for those who don't have the empowerment). I always bring Wishfulfilling Jewel and Geshe-la's Long Life Prayers, so that I can loan them to someone sitting nearby who doesn't know them and didn't get a loaner copy when they entered the Temple. I heard we're also getting commentary on the new Vajrayogini sadhanas, The Blissful Path and The Uncommon Yoga of Inconceivability.
The other page of my packing list is preparations beforehand, such as stopping the mail, arranging care for pets and plants and buying anything I think I'll need. I've also heard that it's good to call your bank beforehand to tell them you're going abroad so that they allow credit-card transactions to go through. The State Dept has some good advice about what to do before you leave, although I don't agree with all of it (I bring cash but not travelers' checks, for example).
Travel "guru" Rick Steves (who has popular travel shows on PBS and happens to live in the Seattle area and even has a travel store just north of the city) has excellent travel advice on his website, including packing tips here. It's a good starting point, but his suggestions are for travelers who are making multi-city visits, so a lot of the emphasis is on packing light. For the Portugal Festival, if you're not traveling before or after, I'd recommend bringing more stuff so that you're comfortable, but not overdoing it. I've never regretted having a lighter bag. There are going to be Festival shuttles to take us from the airport to Festival accommodations and back, so you shouldn't have to carry your baggage too far.
By the way, I've found that Rick Steves' travelgear is well designed and affordable. (I'm considering getting his Civita daypack, which is only $25 and looks like it's a good size but packs small. It isn't waterproof, however.)
On the other hand, when a bunch of us were headed off for Summer Festival, my first Dharma Teacher laughingly said that we think a lot more about what we bring on a trip in this world than we do about what we're taking with us to our next life. I've always loved the teaching about being travelers in this life, just passing through - no need to get so wound up about everything.
I also find the baggage metaphor helpful. When you have a big ego, it's like carrying around a bunch of bulky shopping bags, struggling to carry and keep track of them, and always bumping into things and people. In fact, I used to have a recurring dream about traveling where somewhere along the way, overwhelmed and exhausted, I had to stop and deal with all the luggage I'd accumulated. At first I'd spend some time working on how to bungee it all together. Then I'd find myself thinking, "How did I end up with so much stuff?" and realize I needed to pare it down, letting go of the things that were bogging me down and even unnecessary. Hmm ... I wonder what those dreams mean? : )
There's certainly a middle way, and people have different approaches that work for them.
I use a list. I have a standard packing list as a Word document that I use as a starting point and modify for each big trip. Knowing I have a good list, I feel confident about packing at the last minute if I need to. One part of the list is what to pack, with a section of what to wear and carry on, and another on what to put in my main bag, knowing that it might be checked or deciding ahead of time that I will check it. (By the way, even though almost all airlines charge for checking a bag for domestic travel - unless you're a frequent flier or have the airline's credit card, which may allow you to check the first bag free, as United does - on international flights usually you can usually check one bag without paying. Do check with your airline.)
Within that list of carryon's is a subset of essentials, such as passport, money (cash, credit card, ATM card) and tickets - and *medication.* As long as I have those, I know I can buy whatever else I need when I get there. (My husband and I have a ritual when we're leaving the house on a trip where we ask each other: Money? Tickets? Passport?)
I also have a folder that I carry on that has all my travel info: Flight, hotel, car rental, etc. Now a lot of that can be stored on a device like a smartphone or a iPad if you're savvy that way. If you're traveling abroad, however, make sure you'll have access to them.
There's also a subsection for Dharma items. Don't forget your mandala kit! Of course, I bring my mala so that I can recite mantras, especially on takeoff and landing. You'll be able to buy Dharma items at the Festival shop, but if you already own the books, sadhanas and office supplies (notebook, pens, pencils, etc.) you need, you can pack them. In the past the Festival registration email would include suggested sadhanas. At Portugal the empowerment is Prajnaparamita, so I'm bringing The Yoga of Great Mother Prajnaparamita (not The Great Mother, which is for those who don't have the empowerment). I always bring Wishfulfilling Jewel and Geshe-la's Long Life Prayers, so that I can loan them to someone sitting nearby who doesn't know them and didn't get a loaner copy when they entered the Temple. I heard we're also getting commentary on the new Vajrayogini sadhanas, The Blissful Path and The Uncommon Yoga of Inconceivability.
The other page of my packing list is preparations beforehand, such as stopping the mail, arranging care for pets and plants and buying anything I think I'll need. I've also heard that it's good to call your bank beforehand to tell them you're going abroad so that they allow credit-card transactions to go through. The State Dept has some good advice about what to do before you leave, although I don't agree with all of it (I bring cash but not travelers' checks, for example).
Travel "guru" Rick Steves (who has popular travel shows on PBS and happens to live in the Seattle area and even has a travel store just north of the city) has excellent travel advice on his website, including packing tips here. It's a good starting point, but his suggestions are for travelers who are making multi-city visits, so a lot of the emphasis is on packing light. For the Portugal Festival, if you're not traveling before or after, I'd recommend bringing more stuff so that you're comfortable, but not overdoing it. I've never regretted having a lighter bag. There are going to be Festival shuttles to take us from the airport to Festival accommodations and back, so you shouldn't have to carry your baggage too far.
Note that it's still possible to sign up for the shuttles by adding them to your booking cart; see the "Fall Festival confirmation letter" you should have gotten after you registered and click on the link called "your booking cart" toward the bottom; in the booking cart at the left, click Add an option. This is also the process for adding lunch or for pre-paying for recordings of Festival teachings, two new options that haven't been offered for Festivals before.
You may have seen the NKT e-newsletter about the lunch option, which said: "Each day during the Festival, teams of Festival volunteers will provide a wide selection of healthy, affordable vegetarian lunch options. These will be served at the Festival site in a food court style dining area. As there will be a limited number of meals available each day, you will need to pre-book through the Festival booking system if you wish to benefit from this new option.")
By the way, I've found that Rick Steves' travelgear is well designed and affordable. (I'm considering getting his Civita daypack, which is only $25 and looks like it's a good size but packs small. It isn't waterproof, however.)
Weather in Cascais in October
According to Accuweather's historic average for Cascais, the low is 12 Celsius (54 F) and the high is 18 (64 F).
Of course, it's best to check the predicted forecast shortly before departure, because we all know it's highly variable these days.
For example, here's the 10-day Forecast on the Weather Channel, or you can use whatever weather site you prefer.
According to first-hand reports, as well as a site called Holiday Weather (which I've never seen before), Lisbon averages 11 days of rain in October and November.
Probably it's from living in Seattle, but I always pack a rainjacket (helpful for wind too) and sometimes a small umbrella.
On the other hand, it may be warm and sunny, so I'm also going to pack a sunhat and even sunscreen (because my skin is sensitive to the sun).
Of course, it's best to check the predicted forecast shortly before departure, because we all know it's highly variable these days.
For example, here's the 10-day Forecast on the Weather Channel, or you can use whatever weather site you prefer.
According to first-hand reports, as well as a site called Holiday Weather (which I've never seen before), Lisbon averages 11 days of rain in October and November.
Probably it's from living in Seattle, but I always pack a rainjacket (helpful for wind too) and sometimes a small umbrella.
On the other hand, it may be warm and sunny, so I'm also going to pack a sunhat and even sunscreen (because my skin is sensitive to the sun).
Car Rental
From a travel-savvy Sangha member:
If you're planning to rent a car, which isn't necessary unless you're going to be traveling before or after Festival, and trains and buses won't work for you (and in Europe, of course, public transportation tends to be very good, unless you're going to more remote places), book it with American Express card if you have one because it offers lots of advantages, particularly on insurance.
I've also read on the Internet that a lot of travelers say not to rent from Hertz abroad.
If you're planning to rent a car, which isn't necessary unless you're going to be traveling before or after Festival, and trains and buses won't work for you (and in Europe, of course, public transportation tends to be very good, unless you're going to more remote places), book it with American Express card if you have one because it offers lots of advantages, particularly on insurance.
I've also read on the Internet that a lot of travelers say not to rent from Hertz abroad.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Cheap Internet Device + New Heart of Wisdom eBook & Video + Portuguese Travel Phrases App
More tips from Sangha:
For people who would like Internet access but don't have a really portable device, Barnes and Noble has lowered the price temporarily for the Nook HD and HD+ to $129-$179 for a wifi-only tablet.
On the Tharpa site there is a beautiful YouTube video when you look at the New Heart of Wisdom ebook page. Very inspiring!
There is also a Nook Fodor travel phrases app for $1.99. With this app you click on a phrase and can hear it spoken.
For people who would like Internet access but don't have a really portable device, Barnes and Noble has lowered the price temporarily for the Nook HD and HD+ to $129-$179 for a wifi-only tablet.
On the Tharpa site there is a beautiful YouTube video when you look at the New Heart of Wisdom ebook page. Very inspiring!
There is also a Nook Fodor travel phrases app for $1.99. With this app you click on a phrase and can hear it spoken.
More on VISA card with Chip
From a Sangha member:
I am getting a chip and pin VISA card from Andrews Federal Credit Union
https://www.andrewsfcu.org/credit_cards_and_loans/credit_cards/globetrek_rewards.html
The card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no cash advance fee, and can be used in ATM's. I joined the American Consumer Council (online, for free) and were then eligible to join Andrews Federal Credit Union. I filled in an online application and mailed them a signature card. I completed the application for credit cards online and received documents to sign digitally via email. I should be receiving the cards shortly.
I am getting a chip and pin VISA card from Andrews Federal Credit Union
https://www.andrewsfcu.org/credit_cards_and_loans/credit_cards/globetrek_rewards.html
The card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no cash advance fee, and can be used in ATM's. I joined the American Consumer Council (online, for free) and were then eligible to join Andrews Federal Credit Union. I filled in an online application and mailed them a signature card. I completed the application for credit cards online and received documents to sign digitally via email. I should be receiving the cards shortly.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Rick Steves' New Report from Portugal and Spain
From his friendly, funny June enews letter:
Dear Traveler,
I've just wrapped up a trip through Spain and Portugal to update my guidebooks for that wonderful corner of Europe [I don't mean to be pushing his stuff, but FYI the Portugal 2013 updated book, the 7th Edition, is available now for $20 ($15 on Amazon)]. I especially enjoyed spending time with the local guides we recommend. It occurred to me that a guide should not only be a fine teacher, but also a window into how the locals think and communicate.
For instance, as I was exploring a tiny Algarve village with my guide, I commented that anyone who lives here must know what everyone else is up to. He said, "Yes, when you kick one person in this village, everyone limps." Later, sitting down to a nice plate of sardines and salad, I kept asking questions. Finally, the guide interrupted: "My mamma said when we eat we fight against death. So let's stop talking and eat!" In Portugal, on a popular beach, I heard a local refer to the sun-burned English travelers as "steaks." Did I hear right? "Yes, steaks! We call them 'beefs' too. The English get very burned in the sun."
Opening these little windows into other cultures are some of the delights of travel that you can never really plan for — but they are guaranteed to happen when you travel as an extrovert, and find ways to connect with people along the way. Great local guides — like the ones in my books and on my tours — can help make that happen.
Dear Traveler,
I've just wrapped up a trip through Spain and Portugal to update my guidebooks for that wonderful corner of Europe [I don't mean to be pushing his stuff, but FYI the Portugal 2013 updated book, the 7th Edition, is available now for $20 ($15 on Amazon)]. I especially enjoyed spending time with the local guides we recommend. It occurred to me that a guide should not only be a fine teacher, but also a window into how the locals think and communicate.
For instance, as I was exploring a tiny Algarve village with my guide, I commented that anyone who lives here must know what everyone else is up to. He said, "Yes, when you kick one person in this village, everyone limps." Later, sitting down to a nice plate of sardines and salad, I kept asking questions. Finally, the guide interrupted: "My mamma said when we eat we fight against death. So let's stop talking and eat!" In Portugal, on a popular beach, I heard a local refer to the sun-burned English travelers as "steaks." Did I hear right? "Yes, steaks! We call them 'beefs' too. The English get very burned in the sun."
Opening these little windows into other cultures are some of the delights of travel that you can never really plan for — but they are guaranteed to happen when you travel as an extrovert, and find ways to connect with people along the way. Great local guides — like the ones in my books and on my tours — can help make that happen.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Packing a Mandala Kit + Learning How to Make Mandala Offerings
Based on Geshe-la's advice, Gen-la Dekyong has been encouraging us to make mandala offerings every day with a mandala kit, because it will help us quickly gain realizations.
At Summer Festival last year, she also suggested everyone bring their kit with them to the Portugal Festival, because it would be a wonderful offering to Geshe-la. (She said we could take out our large bottle or conditioner or our fancy shoes to make room for the kit.)
If you don't know how to make offerings with a mandala kit, you can ask your Sangha.
In Seattle we have a Guru Yoga and Mandala Offerings Retreat this Saturday through the following Thursday at KMC Washington. If you'd like to learn, I'm sure there will be someone who is happy to teach you, especially if you arrive a bit early. Note that we have some new meditation classes, so there won't be retreat sessions at the Temple during those times.
At Summer Festival last year, she also suggested everyone bring their kit with them to the Portugal Festival, because it would be a wonderful offering to Geshe-la. (She said we could take out our large bottle or conditioner or our fancy shoes to make room for the kit.)
If you don't know how to make offerings with a mandala kit, you can ask your Sangha.
In Seattle we have a Guru Yoga and Mandala Offerings Retreat this Saturday through the following Thursday at KMC Washington. If you'd like to learn, I'm sure there will be someone who is happy to teach you, especially if you arrive a bit early. Note that we have some new meditation classes, so there won't be retreat sessions at the Temple during those times.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Self-cater Meals in a Hotel Room: What to Pack
Some suggestions from a Sangha friend for how you can prepare meals cheaply in a hotel if you bring a few small items:
- A flexible cutting board (lots of real estate for preparing meals and cutting bread and veggies but light and easy to fit in a suitcase). [I saw a thin MSR Alpine Cutting Board that rolls up at REI for $5 but haven't used one and didn't find any reviews from searching online.]
- One re-usable plate, bowl, and mug per person (also consider getting a mug at Jumbo market in Cascais and save weight and space in your suitcase). [For more about Jumbo and other shopping in Cascais, see Shopping in Cascais, Estoril & Carcavelos.]
- One set of knife, fork and spoon made of Lexan or other durable material. [Lexan is very strong, light and inexpensive.]
- A sharp knife, with a sheaf for safety, for cutting bread, veggies, cheese and so forth.
- A small can opener of some type in case you want to buy anything in a can.
- Resealable bags of several sizes.
- Clothes pins for closing bags. [Binder clips work well too.]
- Small scissors for getting into packaging.
- Extra shampoo or liquid soap for cleaning up after the meal. [Dr Bronner's all-in-one soap is another option; it comes in a 2oz plastic bottle with a flip top that's great for travel, and is Fair Trade and organic. You can use it as a shampoo, body soap, and dish soap. I just read that the company "caps all executive compensation at 5 to 1 to the lowest paid warehouse position, and dedicates all profits not needed for business development to worthwhile causes and charities worldwide."]
- Quick-drying scrubber for cleaning dishes.
- A bag for transporting the meal to an outdoor location for a picnic.
Shopping in Cascais, Estoril & Carcavelos
The Portuguese Wal-Mart, Jumbo, is across the street from and within sight of the Cascais train station.
Pingo Doce, which is the biggest grocery chain in Portugal, is inside the Cascais Villa Shopping Center, which is next door to Jumbo; map here. Their website has photos of what they carry with prices; it's in Portuguese but you can make a lot of it.
The Farmer's Market, is Wednesdays until 2pm [and some Saturdays? conflicting info on the Web], near the intersection of Avenida 25 de Abril and Avenida Dom Pedro, 5 minutes' walk from the Cascais train station; map here.
USA Today says to buy clothes at "CascaiShopping, a major shopping mall on the outskirts of town. Cascais Villa and Jumbo both have cheap clothing, but if you want anything nice you should go to CascaiShopping. This mall is well beyond walking distance and using buses to reach it is overly complicated and time consuming, so take a taxi. The mall has a taxi-stand, so there is no need to keep the taxi after arriving."
More Resources
CascaisPortugal.com Shopping - a nice overview, including suggestions about what gifts and souvenirs to bring back and where to get them, as well as short descriptions of shopping centers.
Markets, fairs & shopping centres in Cascais, Estoril & Oeiras, which has a zoomable map and a table of days and times.
Virtual Tourist Info about Shopping in Cascais - including everything from street markets to shopping centers to supermarkets.
Frommer's Info about Shopping in Cascais, which includes addresses and phone numbers but doesn't cover grocery stores.
Insider Cooking on Markets and Groceries in Cascais, Sintra & Lisbon - also lists the market in Carcavelos and the Cascais textile market. Note: "bio" means organic.
Tips about the Carcavelos market from Cascais-Travel.com:
"If you are looking for a bargain this is the place to go. Carcavelos market, opposite the Train Station in Carcavelos is on every Thursday from 8am. Cheap clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, linen, towels, etc. Some weeks have better quality goods than others. It's alright to haggle a little. Best go early."
Pingo Doce, which is the biggest grocery chain in Portugal, is inside the Cascais Villa Shopping Center, which is next door to Jumbo; map here. Their website has photos of what they carry with prices; it's in Portuguese but you can make a lot of it.
The Farmer's Market, is Wednesdays until 2pm [and some Saturdays? conflicting info on the Web], near the intersection of Avenida 25 de Abril and Avenida Dom Pedro, 5 minutes' walk from the Cascais train station; map here.
USA Today says to buy clothes at "CascaiShopping, a major shopping mall on the outskirts of town. Cascais Villa and Jumbo both have cheap clothing, but if you want anything nice you should go to CascaiShopping. This mall is well beyond walking distance and using buses to reach it is overly complicated and time consuming, so take a taxi. The mall has a taxi-stand, so there is no need to keep the taxi after arriving."
More Resources
CascaisPortugal.com Shopping - a nice overview, including suggestions about what gifts and souvenirs to bring back and where to get them, as well as short descriptions of shopping centers.
Markets, fairs & shopping centres in Cascais, Estoril & Oeiras, which has a zoomable map and a table of days and times.
Virtual Tourist Info about Shopping in Cascais - including everything from street markets to shopping centers to supermarkets.
Frommer's Info about Shopping in Cascais, which includes addresses and phone numbers but doesn't cover grocery stores.
Insider Cooking on Markets and Groceries in Cascais, Sintra & Lisbon - also lists the market in Carcavelos and the Cascais textile market. Note: "bio" means organic.
Tips about the Carcavelos market from Cascais-Travel.com:
"If you are looking for a bargain this is the place to go. Carcavelos market, opposite the Train Station in Carcavelos is on every Thursday from 8am. Cheap clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, linen, towels, etc. Some weeks have better quality goods than others. It's alright to haggle a little. Best go early."
Electricity in Portugal
Electrical Plug/Outlet and Voltage Information for Portugal shows useful photos of different kinds of wall sockets and which kinds of plugs work in Portugal. Hint: Not ones from the U.S.
It also says:
"But the shape of the socket is only half the story!
Electrical sockets (outlets) in Portugal (República Portuguesa) usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need.
But travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 220-240 volts the socket is supplying. North American sockets supply electricity at between 110 and 120 volts, far lower than in most of the rest of the world. Consequently, North American appliances are generally built for 110-120 volts.
But that doesn't mean that your specific appliance isn't already compatible with the higher voltage -- it may very well be."
According to this Adapter and Converter Finder:
"If you are bringing an American appliance or electronic device, you will need an Adapter Plug for almost every country in order to plug into their electrical outlets.
If that appliance or electronic device is not dual-voltage and you are visiting a country with 230 volt electricity, you will need either a Voltage Converter or a Transformer.
If you are planning to run your non dual-voltage appliance or electronic device continuously, you will need a Transformer."
Adapters are light and cheap but transformers are heavier and more expensive.
If you have questions, I'd recommend going to a travel store, such as Wide World Travel Store in Wallingford or Rick Steves' in Edmonds.
It also says:
"But the shape of the socket is only half the story!
Electrical sockets (outlets) in Portugal (República Portuguesa) usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need.
But travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 220-240 volts the socket is supplying. North American sockets supply electricity at between 110 and 120 volts, far lower than in most of the rest of the world. Consequently, North American appliances are generally built for 110-120 volts.
But that doesn't mean that your specific appliance isn't already compatible with the higher voltage -- it may very well be."
According to this Adapter and Converter Finder:
"If you are bringing an American appliance or electronic device, you will need an Adapter Plug for almost every country in order to plug into their electrical outlets.
If that appliance or electronic device is not dual-voltage and you are visiting a country with 230 volt electricity, you will need either a Voltage Converter or a Transformer.
If you are planning to run your non dual-voltage appliance or electronic device continuously, you will need a Transformer."
Adapters are light and cheap but transformers are heavier and more expensive.
If you have questions, I'd recommend going to a travel store, such as Wide World Travel Store in Wallingford or Rick Steves' in Edmonds.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
ATM and Credit Cards for Travel
Start by reading Rick Steves' advice, Cash and Currency Tips, then click to read his pages with more information about cash vs. plastic, ATMs and credit-card fees.
From the NY Times Travel section:
"As You Travel, Making Money Work for You" of March 6, 2013:
"Q. Where do you have your bank accounts?
A. In addition to the bank you use at home ... I suggest opening a checking account with Charles Schwab Bank to use abroad. It doesn't charge any A.T.M. fees and even reimburses you for fees other banks charge anywhere in the world.
Q. What about credit cards?
A. I recommend using one of Capital One’s No Hassle Rewards cards while you travel because none of them charge foreign-transaction fees. Neither does Chase Sapphire Preferred. You don’t want to pay 3 percent on every transaction; suddenly the cost of your trip has gone up 3 percent.
If you really want to get in on the mileage game, I recommend getting a general rewards card and one that’s branded to a specific airline or hotel to use at home. Make sure the rewards card allows you to transfer points to that particular airline or hotel; this way you can add to your miles or hotel rewards. ..."
But see also the blog post Credit Card with Chip
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