Blogs

What is the site to solicit a trip trade? I knew it along with many other things at one time and forgot. Thank you

There is a lot of high quality counterfeit money floating around China. I was given some in change at a restaurant near the hotel in Shenzhen. For more specific information on how to spot it, go to: http://www.xian-travel.com/china-travel-guides/chinesemoney/ For the executive summary, click on "Read More"

I know there are plenty of you that go to the orient and get your custom embroidered bag tags made by little kids for next to nothing, but for those of us that don't cross the pond too often, there is a good option here.

I just bought an embroidered tag from Tags for Bags (www.tagsforbags.com) and dig it.

$10 per tag, whatever you want it to say.

Damn durable, too.

Now maybe I won't lose my bag as much in that sea of black bags in the AOC.

OK, this is my kind of problem: this year I have driven my crash pad car about 5 times. Recently it had been almost 2 months since I started it. Guess what? The battery was dead.

If this happens to you, go to the guard shack to get a jumper batttery, worked like a champ.

To avoid having to do this in the middle of the night in the pouring rain, I just bought a solar battery charger. You plug this thing into your lighter, set the panel in the window and it keeps you battery charged.

I got a Solar BatterySaver SE from battery stuff. The $30 it cost is well worth it.

I paid attention and noticed that between the AOC and Greens at Irene, the best gas price by at least a nickel is the Luv's just prior to getting on the highway from the AOC.

FYI

There is a good area near the Crown Plaza that is either 15 min walking or a 10 min cab ride. It is called Portofino and is a residential area with a pedestrian mall by a lake. It has a really good Italian restaurant, a popular Chinese restaurant, and a few bars and cafes. I have only eaten at the Italian one, really good pizza, good German beers, and a very talkative owner. Great food, cheap prices.

Okay so how to get there:
Out the main door, take a right
After the 7-11 and before the KFC turn Left
Follow road around the curve, past the City Inn Cafe (haven' tried)
Past 2 private entrance ways to a Golf Store on Left

Be advised that the Dubai Hotel blocks most all external communication. This includes Skype, AIM, MSN Messenger, iChat, many phone calling cards, and others. I've been told that Sprint and AT&T cards work, and that Yahoo! Messenger works sometimes.

The hotel says it is their internet provider and not them. The Hotel Committee and FedEx are aware of this, but say nothing can be done at the present time.

Monty

I've got a luggage question that I'd like feedback on. If I'm going to spend about $400 on a roller bag which option makes the most sense:

Purdy Neat, which is the cool pilot bag to have

or

Brigg & Riley, which is a foo foo bag that more expandable than the Purdy Neat AND has a lifetime warranty, no questions asked.

I've looked at the Briggs & Riley and "collapsed" is it the size of a normal roller bag and will fit in the overhead. With the flick if a handle, the thing expands to be another 4 inches deep.

The unconditional lifetime warranty is what has me thinking about it, whereas the Purdy Neat is warranteed against manufacturer defects.