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About us
January 1, 2011, 12:31
. Thank you for visiting the site. You will find it adds to your enjoyment of travel, will save you money, and you will have more fun for your buck! Kathlee…
Legal
January 26, 2011, 20:39
Privacy No personally identifiable information about visitors is retained on our servers. However, commercial partners may retain information according to…
Online check-in links
August 24, 2011, 21:46
Airline online check-in links Click on logo for airline Home Page Online Check-in link Notes Aer Lingus Note: must have Adobe Acrobat to…
Book Hotels
October 16, 2011, 19:27
Locate a hotel that meets your needs and book yourself a room. . . We advise that you do research on the location of the hotel as well as the star rating and…
Contents page
October 23, 2011, 17:26
From this page you can directly access all articles and reports on the site. If you remember specific text from an article then using the search facility may…

Blog Posts

Category: Uncategorized (1)
- DIY Travel Expert site updates by: DIY Travel Expert
  July 2, 2014, 16:24
  While we upgrade our offering we are putting a focus on retaining access to the articles. Additional articles will resume shortly.
Category: Air travel (58)
- Unaccompanied minors - children flying safely solo by: DIY Travel Expert
  March 12, 2013, 19:55
  Image credit: Adadahass 2008 Most of the major airlines other than the cheapies accept unaccompanied minors. The number of unaccompanied minors permitted…
- FAA questions safety of Boeing 787 by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 13, 2013, 06:35
  Image credit: Strower, 1 November 2012 Following a week in which there was a Boeing 787 safety incident each day, the FAA has ordered a safety review. …
- How to get your money back from a bankrupt airline by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 19, 2012, 20:52
  If an airline goes bust after you have paid by credit card, but before you travel, your best way to get your money back is to lodge a dispute via the bank that…
- Air Asia "quiet zone" planned by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 19, 2012, 05:59
  From February 2013 Air Asia will have a “quiet zone” on their flights. The front 14 rows, 7 of them economy, will be reserved for passengers 12 years old…
- Airport Security survival guide by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 13, 2012, 21:25
  Image by Danpaluska, no rights reserved These days the process of going through airport security raises the blood pressure considerably. It is unpleasant…
- Calm your nerves during landing by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 31, 2011, 23:47
  For a 90 minute flight the final approach and landing usually take less than four minutes. A Boeing company analysis of all accidents (not just Boeing-made…
- Save Money - Ripoff card fees by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 23, 2011, 22:34
  Passengers booking online pay £265,000 per day in unfair card transaction fees in the United Kingdom alone. These fees are added by the airlines. When…
- Youth air tickets by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 20, 2011, 20:14
  There are many advantages of being young: most youths feel good and have a lot of energy. Here’s another one: you could also travel for less. Youth or…
- Ryanair fees go up by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 13, 2011, 19:03
  Ryanair has advised passengers to “travel light”. This is their way of indicating that they have put up their fees. Food and drinks A beer on board…
- Save travel money on flight bookings by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 6, 2011, 21:06
  When planning your next holiday that includes air travel, here are a few things to consider that will benefit your back pocket (or wherever you personally keep…
- Qantas compensation for non-residents by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 5, 2011, 16:51
  Qantas have provided details of their compensation for victims of the grounding who are not Australian residents. Travellers affected by the grounding will…
- Avoid aircraft cabin flu by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 29, 2011, 18:56
  Many travellers return from their journeys with colds, flu or upset stomach. While some of the colds may have resulted from frolicking in the wet grass, in a…
- Cheap flights - beware of ticket class by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 21, 2011, 18:56
  You have spoken to your travel agent and you got a price for a flight on a particular airline to a specific destination for a given day. Then you go online and…
- Apply for Qantas free flights by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 12, 2011, 12:20
  If you are an Australian resident and your flight was cancelled between 29 and 31 October then you are likely entitled to a free flight. For your convenience…
- Qantas to give away 100,000 flights by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 6, 2011, 12:39
  As part of a massive public relations exercise projected to cost m (Australian), Qantas have announced that they will be giving away 100,000 flights within…
- Qantas flight disruption end October 2011 by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 1, 2011, 22:37
  Without prior warning, from 0800 GMT on Saturday 29 October all Qantas flights were cancelled worldwide. In at least one case an aircraft was already on the…
- Fear of flying - turbulence! by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 18, 2011, 20:51
  Turbulence is experienced to varying degrees on just about all flights. Below is an example of what to expect and an explanation of what is actually…
- Anxiety and panic at 30,000 feet by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 10, 2011, 22:08
  You are strapped in to your seat in the aircraft, looking forward to your journey ahead. The unpleasantness of the security checks and the bother of the…
- First Time Flyer – what to expect during take-off by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 9, 2011, 08:35
  Take-off is an exhilarating experience which can give you a small adrenaline rush. It is like zooming along a very wide road in a sports-car. If you are…
- Brace yourself properly – save your life! by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 4, 2011, 22:47
  The chances are that even if you listen to every safety announcement and diligently read the safety chart, you will have little idea of how to do the brace…
- Flying when you are ill - what to do by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 1, 2011, 23:07
  A surprising number of people become ill or suffer minor injuries while travelling. It could happen to you. We cover some of the most frequent troubles, and…
- Meet and assist – air travel by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 10, 2011, 20:20
  If you have restricted mobility, poor or no vision, or a problem that makes it hard to navigate through the check-in process then Meet and Assist may be an…
- Wheelchair booking requests by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 8, 2011, 12:35
  Most people book wheelchairs because they need to and don’t have a choice. There are also some people who are medically capable of the walk from the plane…
- Booking meals – Air travel by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 6, 2011, 19:56
  Booking meals can be easy or hard, depending on who you have done the booking with. If its through an agent, it’s a quick call. If its an airline, be…
- Missed connection – what to do by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 1, 2011, 22:11
  The last thing anyone of us wants to hear is that boarding has closed for our connecting flight. Or, as in my own case, that the flight was already taxiing…
- DIY flight bookings – Minimum connecting time by: DIY Travel Expert
  August 30, 2011, 21:43
  One way that a journey can go wrong is when you have connecting flights. One of the most frustrating of these can be when you end up running from one…
- New online check-in page! by: DIY Travel Expert
  August 24, 2011, 22:13
  We have a great new resource on the website that gets you directly to the online check-in for a number of the world's leading airlines. You will see that you…
- Bypass the queue - check-in online by: DIY Travel Expert
  August 3, 2011, 21:52
  We are glad to announce that our promised check-in page is now available. It has details for many of the worlds major airlines and can be accessed from the…
- Peace vs babies by: DIY Travel Expert
  July 10, 2011, 19:29
  Mark Twain famously declared that a baby is “a loud noise at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other”. While he was clearly not a fan, it is…
- Airport Transit – Keep the boredom at bay by: DIY Travel Expert
  May 14, 2011, 22:45
  Some airports are better than others, depending on ones interests, if you are stuck with a long connection time. The experience varies from small island…
- Deep Vein Thrombosis – protect yourself by: DIY Travel Expert
  May 9, 2011, 21:27
  Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns about Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Even if you are not in the high risk category, one’s medical history…
- Anxious when flying? Ways to help calm down by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 17, 2011, 20:30
  Here are a few ideas to help calm down before and during a flight, if you experience flight anxiety. Don’t dwell on your fears. When you’re sitting there,…
- In-flight safety – hazard awareness by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 31, 2011, 22:24
  Awareness of safety hazards in-flight.
- Business class upgrades – Loyalty programmes by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 26, 2011, 20:45
  The more definite way of upgrading from economy to business class on flights for "free", using air miles.
- How to get a business class upgrade for free by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 22, 2011, 14:00
  Three ways, abiding by the airline's rules, to try and get a free upgrade to business class.
- Basic aircraft safety by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 6, 2011, 22:08
  Much of airline safety depends on the airline, and guess what? Most times you get to pick the carrier.
- Choosing a comfortable aircraft seat by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 2, 2011, 12:06
  Choosing where you sit can be key to an enjoyable flight.
- Preseating for a flight by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 31, 2010, 20:03
  Preseating can give you an advantage.
- Category: Check in (5)
  - First time flyer: How and where to check in by: DIY Travel Expert
    March 9, 2013, 09:23
    Image credit: Leonid Mamchenkov June 2007 Not very long ago I had a passenger who, despite being well on time, kept phoning from the airport to report that…
  - Avoid being bumped off a flight! by: DIY Travel Expert
    March 4, 2013, 21:57
    How can you avoid the evil that plagues the industry, namely that of airlines over-booking, resulting in you being ‘bumped’ off your flight? While there…
  - Airport Security survival guide by: DIY Travel Expert
    October 13, 2012, 21:25
    Image by Danpaluska, no rights reserved These days the process of going through airport security raises the blood pressure considerably. It is unpleasant…
  - New online check-in page! by: DIY Travel Expert
    August 24, 2011, 22:13
    We have a great new resource on the website that gets you directly to the online check-in for a number of the world's leading airlines. You will see that you…
  - Bypass the queue - check-in online by: DIY Travel Expert
    August 3, 2011, 21:52
    We are glad to announce that our promised check-in page is now available. It has details for many of the worlds major airlines and can be accessed from the…
- Category: comfort (6)
  - Air Asia "quiet zone" planned by: DIY Travel Expert
    October 19, 2012, 05:59
    From February 2013 Air Asia will have a “quiet zone” on their flights. The front 14 rows, 7 of them economy, will be reserved for passengers 12 years old…
  - Air Malaysia child-free upper decks on A380 craft by: DIY Travel Expert
    April 11, 2012, 19:59
    Air Malaysia have announced that no passengers under the age of 12 will be permitted on the upper deck of their A380 aircraft. The economy section of the…
  - Look good and feel great on longhaul flights by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 26, 2012, 06:54
    You get on the plane full of excitement, with a bounce in your step. A day later you arrive at your destination looking ten years older, smelling like you…
  - Peace vs babies by: DIY Travel Expert
    July 10, 2011, 19:29
    Mark Twain famously declared that a baby is “a loud noise at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other”. While he was clearly not a fan, it is…
  - Choosing a comfortable aircraft seat by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 2, 2011, 12:06
    Choosing where you sit can be key to an enjoyable flight.
  - Preseating for a flight by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 31, 2010, 20:03
    Preseating can give you an advantage.
- Category: Finding airport (1)
  - First time flyer - Find the right airport, get to the correct terminal by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 23, 2013, 15:43
    Image credit: Andrey Belenko, January 2010 The first stage in taking a flight, particularly for the first time, is to get to the right airport and the…
- Category: health (3)
  - Sleeping pills don’t work and they can kill you by: DIY Travel Expert
    March 3, 2012, 09:58
    Sources of travel advice very frequently recommend the use of sleeping pills to grab sleep when travelling. That is ill-advised of them because that is…
  - Yet more in-flight health and beauty tips by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 4, 2012, 07:55
    Here are some additional beauty tips that have been provided by friends and associates. As you might expect, a number of these are personal brand choices. …
  - Avoid aircraft cabin flu by: DIY Travel Expert
    November 29, 2011, 18:56
    Many travellers return from their journeys with colds, flu or upset stomach. While some of the colds may have resulted from frolicking in the wet grass, in a…
- Category: Jet lag (1)
  - Jet Lag - What it is and how to cope with it by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 2, 2012, 06:12
    Jet lag is when your body’s sleep cycles are still attuned to your home location, but they are out of phase with the region that you are now visiting. The…
- Category: Low vision (1)
  - Low vision – Choose the right Airline! by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 14, 2011, 20:10
    Low vision travelers can achieve a great deal of independence. Some airlines have meet and assist services.
- Category: luggage (2)
  - Australia - strict customs rules, confiscation and fines - what must I declare? by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 9, 2013, 12:42
    Australia is quite literally a land apart. While Australia is welcoming to visitors and emigrants, even from England, from the perspective of nature they…
  - Crafty tricks for packing your bags by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 30, 2012, 19:27
    On one trip I saw baggage handlers roughly flinging bags several metres through the air into a trailer. “Do they always handle bags like that?” I asked…
- Category: meals (1)
  - Booking meals – Air travel by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 6, 2011, 19:56
    Booking meals can be easy or hard, depending on who you have done the booking with. If its through an agent, it’s a quick call. If its an airline, be…
- Category: Meet and assist (1)
  - Meet and assist – air travel by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 10, 2011, 20:20
    If you have restricted mobility, poor or no vision, or a problem that makes it hard to navigate through the check-in process then Meet and Assist may be an…
- Category: safety (14)
  - Dreamliners safely back in service by: DIY Travel Expert
    May 12, 2013, 09:02
    Image credit: Brandrodungswanderfeldhackbau October 2007The Dreamliner’s battery enclosures have been redesigned. The first first commercial flight took…
  - Singapore risks: medicines, drugs, death sentences and tourism by: DIY Travel Expert
    April 16, 2013, 11:25
    Singapore has the lowest reported recreational drug usage in the world. There are reasons for that – drug users are punished with severity, and people…
  - Dubai Danger - medicines, drugs and you by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 27, 2013, 15:39
    Dubai has a very strict, zero-tolerance anti-drugs policy, as does the whole of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The problem is that the policy goes way, way…
  - All Boeing 787 Dreamliners grounded by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 17, 2013, 21:54
    Image credit: Altair78, 22 December 2009 The European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) has followed the lead of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in…
  - FAA questions safety of Boeing 787 by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 13, 2013, 06:35
    Image credit: Strower, 1 November 2012 Following a week in which there was a Boeing 787 safety incident each day, the FAA has ordered a safety review. …
  - Airbus A380 wing cracks could cost 100 million Euros by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 14, 2012, 05:01
    Der Spiegel has reported that repairs to the hairline cracks detected in a few ‘L’ brackets in Airbus A380 aircraft wings could cost nearly €1.5…
  - International Airline safety in 2011 by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 24, 2012, 09:52
    In 2011 some 507 passengers and 14 people on the ground perished in 28 crashes of multi-engine airliners. These global statistics were collected by the…
  - Brace yourself properly – save your life! by: DIY Travel Expert
    October 4, 2011, 22:47
    The chances are that even if you listen to every safety announcement and diligently read the safety chart, you will have little idea of how to do the brace…
  - Flying when you are ill - what to do by: DIY Travel Expert
    October 1, 2011, 23:07
    A surprising number of people become ill or suffer minor injuries while travelling. It could happen to you. We cover some of the most frequent troubles, and…
  - Avoiding illness while travelling – General precautions by: DIY Travel Expert
    June 15, 2011, 23:45
    A number of travellers experience upset stomachs. The symptoms can include diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea. It can ruin a holiday or even kill you. …
  - Deep Vein Thrombosis – protect yourself by: DIY Travel Expert
    May 9, 2011, 21:27
    Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns about Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Even if you are not in the high risk category, one’s medical history…
  - In-flight safety – hazard awareness by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 31, 2011, 22:24
    Awareness of safety hazards in-flight.
  - Basic aircraft safety by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 6, 2011, 22:08
    Much of airline safety depends on the airline, and guess what? Most times you get to pick the carrier.
  - Preseating for a flight by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 31, 2010, 20:03
    Preseating can give you an advantage.
- Category: Save travel money (2)
  - Money-grabbing Airlines and you by: DIY Travel Expert
    April 5, 2013, 20:43
    Airlines are looking to cut costs and increase revenue where they can. A range of things are being packaged as ‘value added services’. Some services…
  - Save travel money on flight bookings by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 6, 2011, 21:06
    When planning your next holiday that includes air travel, here are a few things to consider that will benefit your back pocket (or wherever you personally keep…
- Category: seating (3)
  - Bypass the queue - check-in online by: DIY Travel Expert
    August 3, 2011, 21:52
    We are glad to announce that our promised check-in page is now available. It has details for many of the worlds major airlines and can be accessed from the…
  - Choosing a comfortable aircraft seat by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 2, 2011, 12:06
    Choosing where you sit can be key to an enjoyable flight.
  - Preseating for a flight by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 31, 2010, 20:03
    Preseating can give you an advantage.
- Category: sleep (2)
  - Sleeping pills don’t work and they can kill you by: DIY Travel Expert
    March 3, 2012, 09:58
    Sources of travel advice very frequently recommend the use of sleeping pills to grab sleep when travelling. That is ill-advised of them because that is…
  - How to sleep on board an aircraft by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 6, 2012, 08:10
    Sleeping on an aircraft is an elusive goal. The average traveller gets poor quality sleep or none at all. The sad news is that the environment is so awful…
- Category: Take-off (1)
  - First Time Flyer – what to expect during take-off by: DIY Travel Expert
    October 9, 2011, 08:35
    Take-off is an exhilarating experience which can give you a small adrenaline rush. It is like zooming along a very wide road in a sports-car. If you are…
- Category: terminal (1)
  - First time flyer - Find the right airport, get to the correct terminal by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 23, 2013, 15:43
    Image credit: Andrey Belenko, January 2010 The first stage in taking a flight, particularly for the first time, is to get to the right airport and the…
- Category: Transit (3)
  - Meet and assist – air travel by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 10, 2011, 20:20
    If you have restricted mobility, poor or no vision, or a problem that makes it hard to navigate through the check-in process then Meet and Assist may be an…
  - Missed connection – what to do by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 1, 2011, 22:11
    The last thing anyone of us wants to hear is that boarding has closed for our connecting flight. Or, as in my own case, that the flight was already taxiing…
  - Airport Transit – Keep the boredom at bay by: DIY Travel Expert
    May 14, 2011, 22:45
    Some airports are better than others, depending on ones interests, if you are stuck with a long connection time. The experience varies from small island…
- Category: Upgrades (2)
  - Business class upgrades – Loyalty programmes by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 26, 2011, 20:45
    The more definite way of upgrading from economy to business class on flights for "free", using air miles.
  - How to get a business class upgrade for free by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 22, 2011, 14:00
    Three ways, abiding by the airline's rules, to try and get a free upgrade to business class.
- Category: Wheelchair bookings (1)
  - Wheelchair booking requests by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 8, 2011, 12:35
    Most people book wheelchairs because they need to and don’t have a choice. There are also some people who are medically capable of the walk from the plane…
Category: Airline news (1)
- Qantas moves Asian hub, drops pork by: DIY Travel Expert
  April 10, 2013, 05:13
  In a deal announced last September but implemented now, Qantas have abandoned their Singapore hub. In future all flights to Europe will pass through…
Category: Anticompetitive (1)
- Johannesburg to Hong Kong illegal ripoffs by: DIY Travel Expert
  March 28, 2012, 20:18
  If you flew between Johannesburg and Hong Kong in recent years, on Singapore Airlines or South African Airways, then you were probably illegally ripped…
Category: crime (1)
- Beware of airport theft by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 10, 2011, 11:13
  637,000 laptops are lost or stolen each year at US airports. Security at airports has become intrusive and inconvenient so one would assume that it is one of…
Category: Cruises (8)
- First cruise – what to expect by: DIY Travel Expert
  March 12, 2011, 16:07
  A shipboard cruise, whilst not available on doctor's prescription, may be just what a jaded soul may need. &n…
- The Hidden Costs of a Sea Cruise by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 20, 2011, 18:41
  When you are on a sea cruise you are on your own floating hotel and most of the costs are factored in already, so it offers good value. These days we are all…
- Booking Cruises - How? by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 17, 2011, 21:05
  I’d like to do a cruise, how do I book it? There are three means for this one: through an agent, via the Internet or direct. Travel agent Unlike the…
- Category: general cruise advice (1)
  - First cruise – what to expect by: DIY Travel Expert
    March 12, 2011, 16:07
    A shipboard cruise, whilst not available on doctor's prescription, may be just what a jaded soul may need. &n…
- Category: hidden costs (1)
  - The Hidden Costs of a Sea Cruise by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 20, 2011, 18:41
    When you are on a sea cruise you are on your own floating hotel and most of the costs are factored in already, so it offers good value. These days we are all…
- Category: Safety at sea (5)
  - Royal Caribbean fire on the Seas by: DIY Travel Expert
    May 28, 2013, 06:05
    Image by Citking, February 2009 Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas is the latest cruise ship to suffer a mishap at sea, on 28 May. The fire spread over…
  - Recent Carnival Cruises fleet status by: DIY Travel Expert
    April 2, 2013, 06:11
    Image Credit: US Coast Guard, February 2013 The recent status of the Carnival Cruises fleet is that most vessels continue to operate while the safety review…
  - Carnival Cruises - dismal safety record by: DIY Travel Expert
    March 16, 2013, 10:38
    Carnival Splendor adrift at sea without powerImage credit: US Navy The safety record of Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Costa Crociere, the…
  - Cruise safety drills in harbour by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 13, 2012, 06:56
    Passenger safety instructions will in future be provided on cruise ships prior to leaving port. This is effective immediately for cruise lines belonging to…
  - Be safe at sea on a cruise ship by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 14, 2012, 08:40
    A cruise at sea has been said to be the ultimate prescription for relaxation and to revive flagging spirits. One is waited on hand and foot and entertained…
- Category: booking cruises (1)
  - Booking Cruises - How? by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 17, 2011, 21:05
    I’d like to do a cruise, how do I book it? There are three means for this one: through an agent, via the Internet or direct. Travel agent Unlike the…
Category: Destination Planning (2)
- Staying in touch by phone by: DIY Travel Expert
  June 20, 2011, 23:19
  Staying in touch while you travel can be difficult - hotels view phone-calls as a source of revenue, “roaming” outside of your home country is expensive,…
- Check on special events at your destination by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 28, 2011, 18:25
  Make sure that if there is something exciting happening at your destination, that you planned to be there when it happens!
- Category: Special events (1)
  - Check on special events at your destination by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 28, 2011, 18:25
    Make sure that if there is something exciting happening at your destination, that you planned to be there when it happens!
Category: Destinations (17)
- West Ireland in a day by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 28, 2012, 07:17
  Copyright Diytravelexpert.com Ireland is compact enough to criss-cross very readily in just one day and be back in your hotel in time for dinner. For this…
- A day in Dalian, China by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 24, 2012, 16:23
  Binhai Road, Dalian, 8 April 2006 by Jeremi Dalian in the North East of China is a popular tourist destination for locals and some international visitors. …
- A day in Guangzhou by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 5, 2011, 20:53
  The city famous for the trade fair every two years, attended by retailers from across the globe. It is so popular that changes are made to the standard visa…
- Another day in Istanbul by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 24, 2011, 22:13
  One often has a choice between packaged tours and independent travel. This time we show how you can explore the heart of the Old City on foot in a day, even…
- A day in Cape Town by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 20, 2011, 22:44
  It has been said that “in Africa, Cape Town is the closest place to the rest of the world”. While it is geographically at the furthest point of Africa it…
- Stay safe at your destination - part 2 by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 17, 2011, 20:16
  Further to our first article covering safety, we have a few more suggestions for staying safe during your travels. See stay safe at your destination part…
- Stay safe at your destination - part 1 by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 14, 2011, 21:56
  Travel should be fun. Even business travel, if we dare to admit it. While we may laugh at things that go mildly wrong (some now, some only years later)…
- A day in Dubai by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 5, 2011, 20:15
  First impressions of Dubai as you come into land are of a vast desert city with a central body of water running through, dividing Deira and Bur Dubai. Should…
- A day in Maputo by: DIY Travel Expert
  August 29, 2011, 19:08
  The first impression one gets of Maputo is of what might have been. It is a city that is in many ways trapped in its own past. It is quaint for an African…
- A day in Beijing by: DIY Travel Expert
  August 18, 2011, 22:49
  So many people, a constant noisy bustle of every sort of traffic on the roads and the ever present haze in the air. For many visitors that describes Beijing…
- A day in Istanbul by: DIY Travel Expert
  July 3, 2011, 22:08
  Istanbul has been around a very long time – for longer than the Turks have been in Turkey. It swarms with people, having once been the largest city in…
- A day in Hong Kong by: DIY Travel Expert
  June 1, 2011, 21:15
  It is an oft-stated goal of the government of Hong Kong to make the city a New York or London of the East. In our view they are succeeding and the British…
- First time to London? Things to do and places to see by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 5, 2011, 10:57
  Must-see places and things to do in London.
- Category: Dubai (1)
  - A day in Dubai by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 5, 2011, 20:15
    First impressions of Dubai as you come into land are of a vast desert city with a central body of water running through, dividing Deira and Bur Dubai. Should…
- Category: Dubrovnik (1)
  - A Day in Dubrovnik by: DIY Travel Expert
    January 15, 2013, 05:00
    Bokar fortress, Dubrovnik. Image credit: CC2.5 Daniel Ortmann, 16 April 2006 Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its medieval city…
- Category: Guangzhou (2)
  - China opens longest high-speed rail line in the world by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 26, 2012, 09:27
    Image credit: Baycrest - http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Baycrest - ?????? License: CC-BY-SA-2.5 Following successful high-speed test runs on 24 December,…
  - A day in Guangzhou by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 5, 2011, 20:53
    The city famous for the trade fair every two years, attended by retailers from across the globe. It is so popular that changes are made to the standard visa…
- Category: Hong Kong (2)
  - China opens longest high-speed rail line in the world by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 26, 2012, 09:27
    Image credit: Baycrest - http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Baycrest - ?????? License: CC-BY-SA-2.5 Following successful high-speed test runs on 24 December,…
  - A day in Hong Kong by: DIY Travel Expert
    June 1, 2011, 21:15
    It is an oft-stated goal of the government of Hong Kong to make the city a New York or London of the East. In our view they are succeeding and the British…
- Category: India (1)
  - India tourism reels following sexual attacks by: DIY Travel Expert
    April 1, 2013, 10:00
    Image credit: Nomad Tales, November 2008 In the last three months the number of foreign tourists to India from Western lands has plummeted by 25% overall,…
- Category: Istanbul (2)
  - Another day in Istanbul by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 24, 2011, 22:13
    One often has a choice between packaged tours and independent travel. This time we show how you can explore the heart of the Old City on foot in a day, even…
  - A day in Istanbul by: DIY Travel Expert
    July 3, 2011, 22:08
    Istanbul has been around a very long time – for longer than the Turks have been in Turkey. It swarms with people, having once been the largest city in…
- Category: London (1)
  - First time to London? Things to do and places to see by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 5, 2011, 10:57
    Must-see places and things to do in London.
- Category: Maputo (1)
  - A day in Maputo by: DIY Travel Expert
    August 29, 2011, 19:08
    The first impression one gets of Maputo is of what might have been. It is a city that is in many ways trapped in its own past. It is quaint for an African…
- Category: West Ireland (1)
  - West Ireland in a day by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 28, 2012, 07:17
    Copyright Diytravelexpert.com Ireland is compact enough to criss-cross very readily in just one day and be back in your hotel in time for dinner. For this…
- Category: Australia (1)
  - Australia - strict customs rules, confiscation and fines - what must I declare? by: DIY Travel Expert
    February 9, 2013, 12:42
    Australia is quite literally a land apart. While Australia is welcoming to visitors and emigrants, even from England, from the perspective of nature they…
- Category: Beijing (2)
  - China opens longest high-speed rail line in the world by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 26, 2012, 09:27
    Image credit: Baycrest - http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Baycrest - ?????? License: CC-BY-SA-2.5 Following successful high-speed test runs on 24 December,…
  - A day in Beijing by: DIY Travel Expert
    August 18, 2011, 22:49
    So many people, a constant noisy bustle of every sort of traffic on the roads and the ever present haze in the air. For many visitors that describes Beijing…
- Category: Cape Town (1)
  - A day in Cape Town by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 20, 2011, 22:44
    It has been said that “in Africa, Cape Town is the closest place to the rest of the world”. While it is geographically at the furthest point of Africa it…
- Category: destination safety (2)
  - Stay safe at your destination - part 2 by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 17, 2011, 20:16
    Further to our first article covering safety, we have a few more suggestions for staying safe during your travels. See stay safe at your destination part…
  - Stay safe at your destination - part 1 by: DIY Travel Expert
    September 14, 2011, 21:56
    Travel should be fun. Even business travel, if we dare to admit it. While we may laugh at things that go mildly wrong (some now, some only years later)…
Category: DIY vs Agent (1)
- DIY Travel Expert or use a Travel Agent? by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 25, 2011, 19:06
  When its the right time to use an agent
Category: Eco tourism (1)
- How can I become an eco tourist? by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 17, 2013, 14:21
  Image credit: Abu Shawka November 2010 Many today wish to contribute in a meaningful way to the environment when they travel, or at the very least to avoid…
Category: Fear of flying (3)
- Fear of flying - turbulence! by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 18, 2011, 20:51
  Turbulence is experienced to varying degrees on just about all flights. Below is an example of what to expect and an explanation of what is actually…
- Anxiety and panic at 30,000 feet by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 10, 2011, 22:08
  You are strapped in to your seat in the aircraft, looking forward to your journey ahead. The unpleasantness of the security checks and the bother of the…
- Anxious when flying? Ways to help calm down by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 17, 2011, 20:30
  Here are a few ideas to help calm down before and during a flight, if you experience flight anxiety. Don’t dwell on your fears. When you’re sitting there,…
Category: fitness (1)
- Holiday preparation – A free, easy exercise programme by: DIY Travel Expert
  April 7, 2012, 10:47
  For those of us in sedentary occupations our vacations are an opportunity to be a little more active. Even if we do not wish to partake in heroic levels of…
Category: Footwear (2)
- Shoes to help your feet survive your holiday by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 28, 2012, 08:30
  Many a holiday crashes in ruins with these words “I can’t walk another step – my feet are killing me!” Travellers, tourists and even day-trippers…
- Suitable shoes for trouble-free travel by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 18, 2012, 20:10
  When you step out to see the sights you are very likely to do extensive walking. Sometimes people ignore their footwear and end up hobbling in smart shoes…
Category: Fun stuff (1)
- Chicken Wings comic - Dreamliner simulator by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 24, 2013, 18:54
  Cartoon by Micheal and Stefan Strasser Cartoon courtesy of Chicken Wings Comics - they usually cover "general aviation", but sometimes their cartoons are…
Category: Hotels (6)
- Auction sites - Cheap accommodation by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 17, 2011, 06:22
  The Dutch Consumer Association recently investigated whether one consistently gets cheaper accommodation via online auctions. Their conclusion: often, but not…
- Cheap hotels – tips for getting a good price by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 20, 2011, 21:13
  Here are a few tips for how to go about getting a better price on your next vacation or business trip, if your dates are flexible. Weekend rates Many…
- Cheap hotel rooms - avoid the pitfalls by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 15, 2011, 18:47
  Don’t you just feel great when you score a good bargain? A cheap hotel need not be a nasty hotel, though some of them are. One expects clean bed linen and…
- Save Money – How to get cheap hotel room rates by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 12, 2011, 18:52
  How can one save money when booking hotels? Booking online is one immediate answer and it is a good one, but the only sure-fire to be certain that you are…
- Be safe and secure at your Hotel by: DIY Travel Expert
  June 26, 2011, 21:27
  Hide your room number Keep your room number hidden as you move about the hotel. This will prevent unwelcome calls or visits, particularly for female…
- Category: Save money (3)
  - Avoid Tourist Traps by: DIY Travel Expert
    December 25, 2011, 19:39
    There are tourist traps in every country that work in pretty much the same way. We believe in letting your buck go further and in line with that, here are…
  - Cheap hotels – tips for getting a good price by: DIY Travel Expert
    October 20, 2011, 21:13
    Here are a few tips for how to go about getting a better price on your next vacation or business trip, if your dates are flexible. Weekend rates Many…
  - Save Money – How to get cheap hotel room rates by: DIY Travel Expert
    October 12, 2011, 18:52
    How can one save money when booking hotels? Booking online is one immediate answer and it is a good one, but the only sure-fire to be certain that you are…
Category: medical (2)
- Singapore risks: medicines, drugs, death sentences and tourism by: DIY Travel Expert
  April 16, 2013, 11:25
  Singapore has the lowest reported recreational drug usage in the world. There are reasons for that – drug users are punished with severity, and people…
- Dubai Danger - medicines, drugs and you by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 27, 2013, 15:39
  Dubai has a very strict, zero-tolerance anti-drugs policy, as does the whole of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The problem is that the policy goes way, way…
Category: Online booking (1)
- Save up to 30% on flights - avoid online booking traps by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 15, 2012, 05:57
  Loyalty can cost you A warning about online airline ticket pricing. If you have previously booked through a particular site, or in some cases if you have…
Category: Other (3)
- Venice Connected - nice try but many problems by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 27, 2012, 21:50
  Can you spot the Venice Connected kiosk? When visiting Venice one can pre-book a number of services online with Venice Connected. When it works it must be…
- Screaming babies as loud as chainsaws by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 17, 2012, 05:57
  Image: Dave Buchwald, 2009 We all know that babies can be noisy, but how noisy? Some screaming babies have been measured at over 110 decibels of sound…
- Where are the Panic Alarms for paying guests? by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 9, 2012, 22:27
  On Wednesday 8 February 2012 it was announced that the Hotel Association of New York has agreed to provide hotel staff with panic alarms that they can use if…
Category: Planning (2)
- Travel tricks - use a packing list by: DIY Travel Expert
  March 29, 2012, 19:22
  A trick that a number of independent travellers have found useful is to have a packing list. This is simply a list of all the items that you intend packing…
- How to plan a good overseas holiday cheaply by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 21, 2012, 22:58
  With crafty planning you can have a good overseas holiday cheaply. These techniques may enable you to enjoy a much better holiday than you would otherwise…
Category: Quicktips (11)
- Phrase book by: DIY Travel Expert
  September 7, 2011, 15:35
  Going on business for a quick trip to a country where little English is spoken? Our suggestion is to buy a small phrase book of the most widely spoken…
- Time zones by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 11, 2011, 19:01
  Experts on jet-lag advise one to set your watch to your destination’s time zone when you have boarded a flight that will carry you into a different time…
- Back up your pictures by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 11, 2011, 18:59
  Copy your pictures from your phone or camera to your computer as soon as you are able. Portable devices are often less reliable than your computer and if you…
- Take a camera by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 11, 2011, 18:58
  Take a camera with you rather than just relying on your cellphone. Cell phone cameras can often be too slow to catch a snatched shot. You will also not be able…
- Wear a watch by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 11, 2011, 18:56
  Travel with a watch. Many of us, particularly younger people, now use our phones for the time and do not usually wear a watch. Wear a watch when you travel…
- Health precautions by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 5, 2011, 20:54
  When travelling to Africa, South America or the Far East, take special care to find out the recommended and required health vaccinations, at least six weeks…
- Pre Seating by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 5, 2011, 20:52
  Try to check in at least half an hour earlier than the recommended time. This is of special value for those of us travelling on an airline that requires…
- Take your own food by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 5, 2011, 20:26
  On many low cost airlines, you are permitted to take your own food on board. This is a good idea if you’re either on a budget or not partial to pre-packed,…
- Avoid credit card blues on board your cruise by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 5, 2011, 20:18
  If you want to make your cruise holiday even more stress-free, pay the room deposit in cash. This way, you will avoid a double block on your card that takes up…
- First time travellers to London by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 5, 2011, 20:15
  First time traveller to London? Be sure to get a Travelcard for zones 1 and 2. This card allows access to the trains and buses for central London and discounts…
- Laundry for the lazy hiker by: DIY Travel Expert
  February 5, 2011, 19:00
  Someone suggested that you take three socks with you and wash one each day.
Category: Railway journey (2)
- China opens longest high-speed rail line in the world by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 26, 2012, 09:27
  Image credit: Baycrest - http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Baycrest - ?????? License: CC-BY-SA-2.5 Following successful high-speed test runs on 24 December,…
- An Epic Rail Journey Across China by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 9, 2011, 21:18
  From Beijing to Guangzhou by rail. A 2200 kilometre journey through China’s heartland, from North to South. Who could resist? We also…
Category: Staycation (1)
- Cheap Travel - stay-cations by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 12, 2011, 21:20
  In the tuckshop queue at junior school we used to joke that for our vacations we were going to “Romania”. (A deliberate mispronunciation of “Remain…
Category: Tour operator (2)
- Thomas Cook refinanced with significant restrictions by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 26, 2011, 11:51
  Thomas Cook has been given the lifeline that it sought. The recent £100m loan has been withdrawn and has been replaced by a £200m facility offered by a…
- Thomas Cook in cash flow crisis by: DIY Travel Expert
  November 23, 2011, 05:47
  Thomas Cook, the company that bears the name of the man who invented tourism, is in deep trouble. The company is trying seemingly desperate measures to keep…
Category: Transiting (1)
- Airport Transit – Keep the boredom at bay by: DIY Travel Expert
  May 14, 2011, 22:45
  Some airports are better than others, depending on ones interests, if you are stuck with a long connection time. The experience varies from small island…
Category: Travel Insurance (4)
- Travel insurance - Find the right medical cover by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 25, 2011, 22:31
  Travel insurance is a necessity and not a luxury. Very often when purchasing travel insurance travellers go on price, and sometimes on the reputation or brand…
- Travel Insurance – a must for every overseas trip by: DIY Travel Expert
  April 24, 2011, 18:24
  A lot of travellers forget about insurance, or perhaps consider it unnecessary. It is tempting to take a chance and save a little bit of extra money for…
- Category: General (3)
  - Staying in touch by phone by: DIY Travel Expert
    June 20, 2011, 23:19
    Staying in touch while you travel can be difficult - hotels view phone-calls as a source of revenue, “roaming” outside of your home country is expensive,…
  - Avoiding illness while travelling – General precautions by: DIY Travel Expert
    June 15, 2011, 23:45
    A number of travellers experience upset stomachs. The symptoms can include diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea. It can ruin a holiday or even kill you. …
  - Travel Insurance – a must for every overseas trip by: DIY Travel Expert
    April 24, 2011, 18:24
    A lot of travellers forget about insurance, or perhaps consider it unnecessary. It is tempting to take a chance and save a little bit of extra money for…
Category: visa (1)
- Tips on how to get a visa by: DIY Travel Expert
  March 27, 2013, 19:30
  Image credit: Shujenchang, 29 May 2012 Visas are probably without exception the most frustrating and vexing part of organising a trip. Especially if you…
Category: Website (3)
- DIY Travel Expert for Mobile by: DIY Travel Expert
  July 13, 2014, 15:37
  The web site is now serving pages also optimised for viewing from Mobile devices.
- All new Contents Page by: DIY Travel Expert
  January 29, 2012, 05:10
  Our Contents Page has been changed completely. Previously, articles could only be located via key words. The majority of users of the site did not find this…
- Special Features of DIY Travel Expert web site by: DIY Travel Expert
  October 22, 2011, 08:50
  DIY travel expert helps you achieve a number of travel goals: We provide authoritative travel information, We give you expert DIY travel advice, We…
Category: Youth Travel (3)
- Unaccompanied minors - children flying safely solo by: DIY Travel Expert
  March 12, 2013, 19:55
  Image credit: Adadahass 2008 Most of the major airlines other than the cheapies accept unaccompanied minors. The number of unaccompanied minors permitted…
- Youth air tickets by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 20, 2011, 20:14
  There are many advantages of being young: most youths feel good and have a lot of energy. Here’s another one: you could also travel for less. Youth or…
- Youth travel tours by: DIY Travel Expert
  December 15, 2011, 21:22
  Fun! Adventure! Excitement! These are adjectives that are used when advertising the youth travel tour market. There is a large youth travel segment that…

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